Kal's trial, Ally's, Surin's and Salix's days off
Subject Salix's testimony
Salix remains quiet throughout the trial. Despite being half-Elf himself, he feels more out of place in this setting than he did in the whole of the battleground. When his name is called, he takes the stand quietly and speaks:
"You have heard already the details of the circumstance that led to the charges. I won't dispute any of them. What I can add, though, is that I was given a charge from our appointed leader, Harp, which was foiled directly by the actions of the accused. Some in my group have intimated now or back in the battle ground that because of what types of creatures turned out to be the victims of Kal's random violence it is somehow less severe. In my training, all creatures who dwell in our world, whether under its Sun, it's oceans, or in Cities, or in the dark, dank places beneath us, all of these are creatures are of nature and have a place therein. I won't dispute that many have a nature that leads them (especially in groups) toward certain tendencies we may find beneficial or troublesome, but that should not allow any of us free reign to destroy on sight (or even less in this case). This is especially important when a creature has the ability to communicate in a common tongue.
"No one here," and Salix looks pointedly at the Judges and military leaders in the room, "No one can say for certain that these creatures would certainly have attacked us if we had been genuine in our appeal for peace, (indeed, if we had been able to actually offer it).
Perhaps these creatures are known for viciousness and lack of sympathy or mercy. There are other creatures who, as a group, have such a reputation," here he looks toward Harp. "But you have all seen that when given the proper chance and guidance, such natures can be shaped towards compatible ends. Harp showed leadership and wisdom far beyond anything even I would have expected from an Orc among the other races, but his Orcish strength, cunning, and steadfast pursuit of the goal was instrumental in the success of our mission.
I offer this, not as a digression, but to show that at least from one point of view what Kal did was *not* any more excusable because the victims were not 'blind beggars'. And as to Kal's state of mind, there were times during the rescue of Rochelle that I thought Kal would kill Harp if given half a chance to do so simply because of Harp's 'nature'. We can see how poor that judgment would have been. Is it too hard to imagine his rashness might not have caused a slaughter where one could have been avoided? The truth is, we'll never know what might have been.
"I know that your ways are not the way of the Druids. Were I to stand accused as Kal is, I would expect to be stripped of my status and probably shunned by my community if I showed as little remorse for willful disobedience ending in slaughter. However, I also realize that Kal has not taken the oaths I have taken and therefore should not be judged by them. Although I appear to be the only one who speaks for the true victims of his rashness and disobedience, I make no demands of this court. Do with Kal as you see fit. If necessary, I can work beside him in the coming troubles, but I would have a hard time trusting him to follow me, and I could never serve under him, at least not so long as his primary loyalty seems to be himself."
Salix turns and takes his seat.
(OOC - Mark, if it's OK, I'm going to assume that Salix has spent the last week in the garden and in the forests around the city. He's still awaiting word from The Order from the Great North Wood. I'll write up that scene and his leveling as taking place after the testimony, either while the court is adjourned or after the verdict, if one should come quickly. You can go ahead and send that turn. Hopefully I can get my leveling turn in tomorrow. Sorry for the delays. I'm a bit swamped at work and at home.)
From: Jason
Subject Ragnar
Incidentally, I'm looking forward to Ragnar's first time using Holy Smite. He's under the assumption that everyone in the party is basically a good person, and while no one is actually evil, there are a few neutrals amongst us :)
From: Porter
Subject Mund and Salix
Karl, did you get my post where Mund asks Salix to wrassle again?
From: Mark
Subject Mund and Salix
Yes, sorry. Trying to deal with too many things at once today.
Salix will accept Mund's challenge. (When does this take place? Before or after testimonies?)
Salix asks, "Would you like to 'wrassle' a bear? Or something else this time" ;-)
You can write up the match if you want.
From: Porter
Subject Mund and Salix
OOC: I dunno when this should take place. I'm fine either way.
IC:
"Well, you kicked my butt as a bear. Iff'n you've got something tougher than a bear, I think I'll wait until I can hold my own with your bear."
OOC: Anbody want to write this up, or shall I do it again? I probably won't be able to do it until tomorrow.
From: Mark
Subject Mund and Salix
If you want I will work on it tonight.
Make sure that all the relavant stats are updated on Sakeriver
From: Mark
Subject Kal's trial
As far as I can tell we have heard from all the witnesses.
Josh, you can write up Kal's defense and then I will write up the conclusion.
From: Karl
Subject Salix's days off
Write it up for just after testimonies. I'm working on Salix's leveling which I will make take place immediately after the wrassling and before Salix knows the verdict. He'll find out what happens with Kal when he gets back. (Mark you can go ahead and write that up if you want.)
From: Josh
Subject Kal's defense
After everyone else finishes, Kal rises to speak for his actions.
"The events were as everyone described. Allistar's recollection wasthe most accurate, and the story I would tell matches his, although heleft out some very important details.
I was uncomfortable negotiating through the door. Either we had to kill the creatures inside or we didn't. If they were evil, we would kill them. If they were benevolent, we wouldn't.
In either case, negotiating through the door did us no good, and had the potential to cause us harm.
If they were malicious in nature, our conversation was only serving to give them information they didn't have and give them time to prepare for the coming fight.
If they were good natured, then they wouldn't be enraged to combat at the sight of a human, a half-human, and an elf. Especially considering our armament. We would just be negotiating face to face, without any secrets or fears.
However, this was not enough for me to act unilaterally. I spoke my mind to Salix and Mund, and told them how I felt. I hoped for us three to make a descision together to open the door immediately, but I would have bended to the will of the majority.
That is, until Mund said something that deeply disturbed me, something that made me afraid that he would betray the mission for his own motives.
As others have testified, I said that these were likely creatures of evil intentions, orcs or goblins it seemed to me at the time, and that we needed to slaughter them without mercy if that was the case. My exact words were:
`Friend Salix, you're wasting your time with these creatures. They're pawns of chaos and evil. Treacherous to the core. Lets kill them quickly. If we return them to their homes they're probably be out pillaging and raping in a week.`
Munds response will forever be burned into my mind:
`Oh, that's rich, coming from an Elf. I've seen first-hand how kindly your people deal with others. I've seen the burned villages and dead bodies."
"Yes, orcs and goblins are known for their banditry. But what's not known is that it is carefully orchestrated by the elves."
"Orcs and goblins aren't even allowed in most cities. And when they group together to try to raise some crops, you dirty, cowardly, manipulative elves come and destroy their villages, including the women and children."
"The only way that an orcish or goblin community can hope to survive is by turning into what the Elves want them to be -- theives."
"Oh, yes. The elves want the orcs and goblins to be bandits, because that keeps everybody else afraid and more maleable for the sneaky elves to manipulate them."
"Maybe there are some people around here who deserve death because of their blood, but they aren't on the other side of the door. They are right here.`
Kal stops speaking for a moment, allowing Munds words to sink in, and then repeats, louder this time:
"Maybe there are some people around here who deserve death because of their blood, but they aren't on the other side of the door. They are right here."
Again, he lets these words echo throughout the chamber before he continues:
"Once I heard him speak those words I no longer trusted in his loyalty to the mission, and I doubted, and still do, Mund's loyalty to our cause. I felt he was even capable of taking up arms against us if it suited him."
And so I acted immediately to prevent any betrayal. I opened the door to reveal what was inside and to prevent any trechery on Mund's part. Mund, the fool, tackled me from behind, and left us both stranded in the room, in the dark, with an unknown amount of some unknown creatures.
Mund is the one who endangered our mission, not I. He is more deserving of a trial today than I am."
Kal continues:
"I am shamed that I even need to say these following words, but I will for the sake of clarity. There was never any danger of me killing an innocent creature. I would not attack until attacked or until I saw with mine own eyes that they were creatures of evil."
Kal pauses to gather his thoughts, and then continues:
"My fears about Mund's loyalty were confirmed when we reached the chamber of Lothanar. We were presented with a choice; we could take the Gem, or we could take a table full of treasures. Harp asserted that, as the leader of our group, he would speak for us all and take the Gem. Mund didn't seem to like the idea of that one bit. He responded:
`Not so fast, orc-boy. You ain't my leader. Hell -- you ain't a real leader of anybody -- you were appointed. A real leader takes leadership or is given it by those who follow. I sure ain't given you no leadership, and,` at this point he grabs his Axe, `you ain't orc enough to take it from me.`
My actions were always for the best of the mission, and through that for the best of the elven nations. I did no wrong, and I stand by every one of my actions in the testing grounds."
Kal sits after saying this, eyes forward, his thoughts seemingly far away. To anyone looking closely, his eyes reveal his sadness.
From: Ashley
Subject Surin's time off
Here is Surin's level-up turn, with slightly fewer grammatical errors than when I originally sent it. Enjoy!
Surin makes a line in the dirt with his heel, lining his toes up to it before letting loose towards the target. With a satisfying clunk his hatchet stuck out right in the middle of the unsuspecting tree trunk, just like he thought it would. Tentatively, he takes a few steps back from his line, pulling out his other standard hatchet. He grits his teeth, and throws it as hard as he can. Unsurprisingly, it goes wide and low, landing blade-down in the ground about a foot from where he wanted it.
Unable to resist any longer, he draws his new gift from Lothnar. The shiny new hatchet had a different heft than his old ones, and he swings it a little in front of him to get a feel for it before turning his attention back to the tree trunk. Then, taking a deep breath, he throws it as hard as the last one. It twirled through the air and hit just under the first hatchet in the tree trunk, right where he wanted it to go. With a whoop, Surin almost runs toward it, barely remembering to mark another line with his heel. He spends the rest of the morning testing out the limits of his fancy new toy, delighting in every step backward he could take. He keeps practicing until he can eyeball the hatchet's sweet spot, the farthest he could get before risking its accuracy.
Surin took the afternoon to unwind, walking around the merchant's quarter getting a few sundries and looking around for something to burn his earnings on. He found himself picking through mounds of crud that some lower-end merchant tried to pass off as heirloom valuables. Useless trinkets made to look rich with a spot of paint, and then sold to unsuspecting folks who didn't know better. A poor farmer's wife looked longingly at a 'priceless' string of pearls until Surin managed to point out an obtrusive scratch straight to the glass marble underneath the luster. The woman left in something of a huff, not even noticing the extra weight in her coin purse that wasn't there earlier. Everybody deserved something pretty for themselves, Surin figured, even if that something was the satisfaction of making ends meet with a few coins to spare. Maybe it would giver her enough surplus to treat herself to something authentic down the line.
The last booth in the row Surin might have missed completely, if it weren't for a chance glance towards the ropes of braided...was it hair?... hanging over the booth's frame in every color seen in nature, and several that weren't. Wigs, ready-made beards, eyepatches, scarves, even face paints...all number of things with the unassuming label of "Novelties", but Surin knew better--the man dealt in disguises.
Spotting Surin coming towards him, he started in on a demonstration of a curious wax he'd procured (with great effort and at much cost), warming it between his hands like clay and laying it to rest on the back of his hand, his business pitch acting as background noise. Within a few minutes an array of products left his hand covered in warts, scars, and liver spots. Surin was humorously reminded of the phoney jewelry salesman he'd just removed himself from--putting a false sheen on a simple surface to fool the onlooker seemed to be the norm for the vendors in this particular area. But he had to admit the man was some kind of artist--only upon close examination could Surin see where skin ended and the false surface began.
"Should I be wrapping anything up for you, Master Halfling? I just happen to have a special today on some skin-lightening powders--today only I might add..."
"--I'm just browsing, thanks," Surin said. "All that getup seems a lot of effort...to get away with it I'd almost have to belong to..."
"--the circus? But ain't you with that crowd running the bigtop outside town? Plenty of the performers been coming my way since last Tuesday..."
Surin stared hard at the man for a full minute as the merchant babbled on obliviously. He snaps out of it, then manages to get the man's attention with a hearty laugh and a slap on the table. "Well sir, I do believe you have me convinced. I'll buy a bit of everything, if you don't mind showing me how you made your hand look like that. Should make for a good trick for some family members of mine."
---0---
It took a while, but he caught on quickly, and before the sun had started to set the merchant insisted his own mother wouldn't be able to recognize him. Surin figured anybody who really knew him would recognize him instantly, but he kept his hood up and made his way to the edge of the town towards the familiar-looking tent, giving the tired-looking doorboy the silver piece for admission and quietly falling in with a crowd of drunken dwarves before realizing that his disguise was actually working. He settled himself in the back row and, still keeping his face hidden, and watched the show as a spectator for the first time.
The Bitteroot family circus was, amazingly enough, almost exactly the same as when Surin had left it all those months ago. Lily's hair had all grown back from that mistake during her fire-twirling act, and most of the young ones had developed flashier moves or better jokes. All were sporting goods from Surin's "Novelties" vendor. But the acts, and the people, never changed.
Not even the pickpocket trying to separate his from his hard-earned gold. With one lightning-fast whip from Surin's hand, the would-be thief got a knock to the head sharp enough to shake the moneybag from his grip, catching it and testing its weight in his other. "You don't try to play a player, son" he said, trying to keep his voice gruff, but he knew the jig was up. He moved his hands to hush the mouth just as it was about to exclaim, "Uncle Surin!"
"Kinnit, hush!" he whispered, smiling, reciprocating the embrace the young halfling was happily dispensing. They moved out of earshot through a convenient flap in the tent. "Would've thought you learned your lesson the last time I caught you trying to do that, eh?"
"Pshaw, nobody's caught me since the last time you knocked me upside the head..." He smiled, and Surin remembered why he liked the kid. "What ever happened to you, Surin? Mama said you ran off with some tree hugger and went and got yourself killed. What are you doing back here?"
"Your mama was almost right more than once," Surin said darkly. "I've been...doing a favor for a friend, and some other business. I'm in town, thought I'd stop by and check up on you. You're a lot taller since last time I've seen you. How's things?"
"Ain't too different--when you left I came and took up the slack. Speaking of which, I gotta get back to work..."
"This should handle it, for tonight," Surin said, slipping a few gold coins into his hand, then, as an afterthought, added more, a solid handfull. "Wait till you move out, then say it's from Surin with love, huh?"
"You ain't coming back?" Kinnit's face fell. "Not even for a little while?"
"We both know my leaving wasn't exactly well-received." Surin said. The boy said nothing to object to the statement. "Give 'em the gold and it might soften 'em up a bit, but I'm through theivin' for them--you'll note that gold was earned honestly, by my own sweat. I'll probably be leaving myself before the week's out, but I don't know where to just yet. It was good to see you again, at least. Take care of things for me, would you?"
Kinnit nodded in agreement, gave one last hug, and disappeared back into the tent. Surin took his leave, making his way back to his room at the chapter house. His hatchet was waiting for him, practically begging for another round. Surin would oblige in the morning, but in the meantime he lay awake in his bed, thinking about the rag-tag family he'd run away from to save ladies and find priceless artifacts. The circus might not have changed, but he sure had. With that last thought, he falls asleep, spent from the day's events.
From: Mark
Subject Surin's time off
Ashley,
That was great.
From: Karl
Subject Salix's time off
Salix returns to the Garden outside the Chapterhouse after delivering his testimony. Though he didn't say it, he was glad to have the opportunity to burn off some of his renewed frustration at Kal by wrassling with Mund, but now he was in sore need of some rest in a nice quiet greenspace. But the garden isn't exactly peaceful when he returns. He hears Noctis hooting fiercely at something which is chirping and whistling back at the Great Owl most irritably. Salix follows the sound to find his owl friend apparently greatly agitated at a small sparrow. Salix notices the scroll on the little bird's leg and hushes Noctis. "Don't be a bully," he says giving the owl a firm pat. "He's just doing his job."
Salix retrieves the note and gives the little birds a sizeable chunk from a piece of bread he'd saved from breakfast. He offers the rest to Noctis who turns away with a low hoot, clearly insulted. "Hey, I had to make up for the rude and ungracious way you play host. Now you'll just have to make do with this little bit." Salix unrolls the scroll, expecting word from The Order and hoping to hear from the Stormfather, but the writing isn't any he recognizes. He reads:
"Salix, Wealdward, Come quickly to the grove where you last met the Stormfather. You are needed urgently. MtnS Sephira"
"Sephira" Salix says to himself. "A Mountain Sister?" Something strange must be happening for them to have sent her instead of one of the Fathers, or even one of the Brothers. He grabs his pack and whistles for Noctis and gathers his horse from the Chapterhouse stables. A little less than an hour later, as the sun is just disappearing behind the trees, he is in the now familiar grove where he last saw the Stormfather and where he learned the Wild Shape, among other things. He notes with disappointment that the altar is now bare. He had hoped for some ceremony like last time. Maybe The Order was displeased with his service in the battleground. He remembers Lothnar's criticims about the cavalier way Salix summond the hippogriffs to their deaths and his heart sinks.
"Salix!" a voice calls from the far side of the grove. Salix looks and sees a woman a few years older than himself, but nowhere near as old as the Stormfather. She is sitting on a rock near a pool of water at the edge of the grove. Salix did not remember the pool from his last visit, but then again he had not explored much of the grove beyond the altar. He dismounts and ties up his horse, leaving it and Noctis near the entrance to the grove and approaches the pool.
"I am Mountain Sister Sephira," the woman says. "The Stormfather sent me to meet you."
"Yes, I have heard of you, Mountain Sister" Salix replies. He wants to ask why no Brother was sent, but thinks better of it. The Stormfather would be displeased at the rudeness implied by the question. Nevertheless something of his confusion must have registered on his face. The Mountain Sister's face clouds briefly but she quickly brightens.
"Please call me Sephira," she says. "We are not so far apart in age or experience, so I've been told, and you are practically a Brother yourself."
"But I still have another endowment due before The Brotherhood," Salix says. "And I see the altar has not been prepared for that. The Stormfather must have heard about my failures in the battleground."
"Failures? My heavens no! Everyone has heard of the success of your party by now, and the Stormfather himself mentioned to me that your name came up during a chance meeting he had with a Xorn recently. Acer - I mean The Stormfather, has often said you are too hard on yourself.
"But enough of that. I'm here because you *are* to receive your next endowment. Stormfather Acer has seen fit to send me to officiate. Yes, I know it is strange to receive an endowment officiated by a Sister, or for a Brother to officiate in one for one of us, but it is not unheard of."
Salix had heard the Stormfather in the past speak with what seemed to be displeasure at the segregated rituals that had grown up between the two genders over the past centuries. Some said he'd even called the separation "unnatural", though Salix could barely imagine the Stormfather using strong language like that, especially in reference to Druidic rites. Still, he felt a little odd at the idea of performing a "female" ritual, but he couldn't deny he was at least a little bit curious. "I do not know what to do - " he begins.
"Of course not," Sephira says. "That is why I am here. As you've probably guessed by now we will not be using the altar. Or rather, the altar we will be using is the one inside of you." Salix looks quizzically at Sephira. "Each of us is an altar to The Great God in our hearts, Salix. Just as you have His emblem over yours, all that you do with sincerity of purpose is marked as an offering to Him.
"The first part of this ritual is a cleansing so that His spirit may reach you unsullied by other, more mundane cares. After that you will be given the gift of further knowledge of His path. Shall we begin?" Salix nods.
"Stand, then and remove your clothes, Salix, Wealdward of the Great North Woods."
Salix stands with a start, red-faced with embarrasment at such a direct command from a Sister, nevertheless her tone is not one to be argued with. He removes first his leather then his robe, and then his tunic and trousers. He pauses briefly, standing in only his underclothes, but with a nod from Sephira he removes them, too. It is chilly, naked like this in the early evening air and Salix is embarrassed to be seen by a Sister in what he would consider his less than ideal presentation.
"Step onto this stone," Sephira continues, indicating a flat ledge just inside the pool. Salix does so and is pleased that the water is very warm around his ankles. The pool must be fed from a hot spring. Then, to Salix's surprise, Sephira stands, drops her robe and steps down into the pool next to him. He cannot help but notice that her duties in the Mountains have been good for her body, and despite the cold he can't help but show her that he notices.
She stoops and gathers a large handful of dried grass from the edge of the pool and holds in under the water, softening it in the warm wetness. Was she surpressing a smile? Salix couldn't tell. After what seemed like a very long minute, Sephira stood again and raised the grass bundle over Salix's head, squeezing it so the water ran through his hair and down his face and back. She repeated this, each time squeezing the water out a little lower along his body and lightly brushing his skin with the grass. Salix closed his eyes and by the time she was to his knees, he had relaxed and let the ritual itself occupy his thoughts.
"Enter the waters," he heard her voice command, and felt her hand on his forearm, leading him deeper into the pool. The water here was much hotter, almost uncomfortably so, but Salix soon grew accustomed to the heat. "Drink" her voice said and Salix felt a cup pressed to his lips. He drank and soon felt a strong sleepy sensation creep over him. He felt himself slipping down into the waters, and began to panic, but Sephira calmly said, "Breathe the waters of life." Before the battleground, there was no way Salix would have been able to obey, but just as in the fountain there, Salix found he could breathe the water as if it were air, though his lungs had to work a bit harder.
The warmth of the water and the growing darkness brought on a kind of trance. Salix vaguely sensed his body being held supended in the waters by gentle arms as a vision like the last one he had in this grove took him. In the vision he again heard a voice commanding him to hear and repeat a series of prayers, but he did not see the outward effects of these prayers even though in his mind he could clearly see their intent and power. After some time, hours? days? again he had lost track, Salix felt himself being lifted up to the surface of the pool, and he awoke coughing and spitting as he exchanged water for air.
He opened his eyes to see Sephira looking calmly down at him. "Not so violent as last time, was it?" she asks impishly.
"Well, I wouldn't have put it that way, but I guess you're right," Salix replies cautiously. "It was rather nice."
"No, you're right. I shouldn't strengthen the divide even in jest. You may have guessed this but one reason Acer - I mean, The Stormfather, - sent me was in hopes that you might gain experience of the variety of ways one may touch the power the The Great God. I received my last endowment using the Brother's method and thought it was uniquely thrilling and powerful. It is my hope that such exchanges are more frequent and available across the order. I believe that is the hope of The Stormfather as well. "
Salix wants to ask if Stormfather Acer officiated when she received her endowment at an altar of stone, but it was forbidden to ask questions about another's endowments. Sephira could volunteer the information if she wished, but Salix was hardly acquainted with her enough to expect such intimacy at this point.
"You said this was 'one reason' for the Stormfather to have sent you. Was there another I should know about?"
(OOC - Yeah, this is insufferably long, I know, but I'm gonna break it here. I'll write up a second part (hopefully shorter) this afternoon.)
From: Derek
Subject Allistairs time off
Finally having some free time to study for the first time in months, Allistair takes a letter from Angelwing to take to the local mage guild. The letter apprises the guildmaster of Allistair's situation with the Order, and gives a somewhat abridged apprisal of the situation with the crown, Mesodar's descendant, etc. The guild has a close relationship with the Order, and the chief wizard is glad to hear of their success on obtaining the first gem. In the letter, Angelwing asks if Allistair may have permission to study at the guild library for the next few weeks, so that he might be able to expand his skills and be of greater assistance to the Order's efforts in the future. With Angelwing's word and reputation, the wizard is more than happy to grant Allistair full access to the library. The rest of the day is spent with Allistair being taught the means of entering the guild and pertinent areas of the library without triggering the safeguards meant to ensnare thieves or students without permission.
The next day, Allistair meets again with the chief wizard. After hearing Allistair's description of their sojourn in the pocket dimension, the chief wizard replies, "That is too bad about Lothnar's spellbooks. He was a wizard of great renown, and he helped found this very guild and library many centuries ago. However, I doubt that his books and other effects were simply destroyed. He was very powerful and insightful, and as such he was not wasteful. They will most likely be found by someone at a time and place in the future to help further the cause against the legacy of Mesodar."
When Allistair asks about what new magical skills he should study, the chief wizard says: "You certainly have cultivated an ability to deal a large amount of damage in a conflict. Those fireballs and magic missles are the mainstay of a battle mage, and you use them well. However, it seems that there were many situations when less direct spells may have allowed your party to continue without any fighting at all. I think that is where you should concentrate your studies."
From: Derek
Subject Allistairs time off
Allistair considers in what ways he can broaden the use of his magic. He considers what things he wish he could have done while they were in Lothnar's dimension. If they could have known what was behind the doors before opening them, they could have certainly avoided battle in several occasions, and in others it would have at least given them an advantage when a battle couldn't be avoided. Also the ability to stop or immobilize creatures (or allies, sometimes..) would have been indispensible.
After a couple of days of study in the library, Allistair has a better idea of what kind of spells he wants to learn. Allistair was extremelly impressed by Salix's ability to summon wild creatures by the grace of his god. After some research, Allistair found that there were spells that would allow him to summon creatures from the outer planes that acould assist in battle or other tasks.
Lothnar also mentioned that the other gems were scattered around the entire world. Who knew what kind of environment they might be in? The usefulness of his fly spell had already been proven. What about underwater? Allistair finds a spell that allows him and his friends to breathe underwater, and decides to learn it too.
Allistair also repents of his neglect of divination spells, and decides to learn a spell that will allow him to view and hear things from a distance, as well as a spell that allows him to read the thoughts of an individual.
Invisibility having proved useful before, Allistair researches a more powerful form that will allow the invisible person to attack without cancelling the spell. He also decides to enlarge his illusory repertoire, and decides to learn a spell that will allow him to create illusions that trick the senses of the target.
Finally, Allistair decides that the ability to shapechange could be highly useful. He researches a spell that will change one person into any type of beast or creature that he so chooses. This could be extremelly helpful in all sorts of difficult situations.
From: Derek
Subject Allistair time off
After several days of finding the appropriate scrolls and books, Allistair is almost ready to begin learning the new spells. It is a slow and laborious process, since the greatest difficulty in learning magic is that it works differently for every person, and only the most general aspects of its internal workings apply to all wizards, even though the end result was often the same. After understanding how to shape the raw energies by the force of his will, he then has to scribe them into his spellbook in a magical pseudo-code that will allow him to set up the constructs for the required spell in his memory, allowing him to release it at a moments notice.
Doing this isn't cheap, though. One of the prices that wizards have to literally pay is that the required ingredients are often rare, and therefore expensive. The ink requires a very pure silver with extracts from various magical beasts, depending on the spell. The shapechanging spell requires the ink to include blood from a lycanthrope, and most of the other spells have similary exotic (and therefore expensive) requirements. Most of these are available for purchase through other wizards, so Allistair does some shopping around and has agreements made on the prices for his ingredients. When he calculates the total price for all of the ingredients, it comes out to 1750 gold! The reward he got from the order would barely cover half of that! He was loath to sell the magic items he had already acquired, and had little else of value.
Allistair looks up his brother in a tavern on the cheaper (Mund used the word 'interesting') side of town. "Mund, I'm currently trying to learn some more additional magic. I believe the Order will ask us to continue the quest for the gems, and I think I will accept thier offer. I know you don't agree with the Order on a lot of things, but I think they will ask you to join the quest too. I'd like you to seriously consider accepting, though I won't pressure you beyond that."
Allistair then explains to Mund the different types of magic he is going to try and learn, and how they would be useful. "Imagine being able to fight while invisible, or turning into a bear like Salix! I could even summon creatures to our aid, have us breathe underwater, or spy on someone from a distance."
"I won't pressure you any more to stay with us, but I am going to ask you for a favor. To research these spells, I need ingredients. Expensive ingredients. In fact, the 1000 gold pieces I recieved from the order won't cover it. I need an additional 750 gold to be able to learn all these spells. Could I ask you for a loan? If not the full 750, at least as much as you are willing?"
From: Derek
Subject The potion
After talking to Mund about the 750 gp loan, Allistair takes Mund's potion back with him. The next morning he will memorize the identify spell and cast it on the potion.
From: Karl
Subject Surin's time off
That's a nice one, Ashley. Good touch with Kinnit.
From: Jason
Subject Natures ally
If it eases Salix's conscience any, I don't think that the hippogriffs actually died. This line is an excerpt from the cleric spell Planar Ally:
A nonhazardous task requires only half the indicated payment, while an especially hazardous task might require a greater gift. Few if any creatures will accept a task that seems suicidal (remember, a called creature actually dies when it is killed, unlike a summoned creature).
So it seems that when they "die" they are probably just banished back wherever they came.
From: Karl
Subject Natures ally
Hey, Mark, can I get a ruling if this is necessarily the case for Salix's summoned creatures? If so, that could be worked into my next write up since it's somethign that's bothering Salix.
(Or if not, that could be worked in, too. Let me know.)
From: Mark
Subject Natures ally
I was going to respond to Jason's comments that Salix had not summoned a planar ally.
Summon Natures ally pulls a creature from somewhere in the natural world. Summon Planar ally pulls a creature from the upper/lower planes. The summons Monster spells specify that the monsters are not from the material plane.
Here is the first sentence of the Summon Monster spell : This spell summons an extraplanar creature (typically an outsider, elemental, or magical beast native to another plane).
I would have said that creatures summoned from the outer planes would not die if killed on this plane, since thier "souls" exist on the other plane. However, natural creatures would die, since they are from this Prime Material plane.
Let me do some more research.
From: Kevin
SubjectSalix's time off
OOC: For a second there, I thought we were going to get a "DaVinci Code" moment with a goddess ritual.
From: Karl
Subject Salix's time off
"You said this was 'one reason' for the Stormfather to have sent you. Was there another I should know about?" Salix asks.
"The Stormfather could not come because he was needed to investigate a disturbance in the Wildlands Forest. He has asked me to bring you back along with any of your companions who are willing to make the trip, and to send you on to assist him with all haste."
"And you're only telling me this now?" Salix asks. "I should have left last night. The ritual could have waited."
"Do not second guess the Stormfather," Sephira interrupts. "It was his command that the ritual be carried out first, and neither of us wanted worry for his sake to cloud the sacred nature of your advancement within The Order.
"You are to go back to the Chapterhouse. Quarion has been advised by messenger-bird that your duties will no longer be under his direction for the time being, and that you must return with me along with any who are able to give aid to The Stormfather. You are to meet me on the road half a day's ride from the city. I will look for you by noon tomorrow, sooner if you are able."
This new development weighs heavy on Salix. There must be something very wrong for The Stormfather himself to go to the Wildlands. And how much worse it must be if The Order is seeking assistance from the outside. Sure Salix knows the ways of The Order, but the others are from people as often at odds with the Druids as not. And how will he convince any of his companions to come with him? They have just returned home from an arduous task and have barely had time to put their lives back in order, much less actually get any rest. They will not want to take off again, especially at the behest of The Order. The dawn, now fully broken, casts its light cheerfully into the grove. Salix feels the warmth and only then realizes he is still sitting beside the pool, only half dressed. He throws on the rest of his clothes and hurries to his mount. "I'll meet you on the road, Sister. I can't guarantee how many will join me, but those who come will be friends, indeed, and good allies."
Salix makes his way as quickly as possible back to the Chapterhouse and reports to Quarion.
(OOC - Mark, do you want to take it from here? I can write up something with Salix actually asking for assistance from the others, if you want, but you should probably write up something getting us all that far. Let me know.)
From: Karl
Subject Salix's day off
Yeah, like I could do *that* convincingly. ;-)
From: Kevin
Subject Salix's day off
Haven't you ever heard of poetic license? You just change a few things around, and, presto, a full fledged celebration of nature and the earth goddess.
From: Porter
Subject Salix's day off
Yeah -- make it a game of Tiddly-Winks instead.
From: Mark
Subject Turns
After Kal does his defense and I do the results of the trial and I write up Salix's and Mund's battle, I will write up a bit were Salix calls the party together.
From: Ashley
Subject Salix's time off
ooooh, a side quest! :)
From: Karl
SubjectSalix's time off
Or maybe not. ;-)
(Disclaimer: I don't actually know anything about what's ahead, but unspecified "dark things" that have a top-level druid vexed could very well have something to do with the over-all story arc. Just guessin' though.)
From: Porter
Subject Salix's time off
I'm waiting to see if the ancient prophecies indicate that the wildlands are where the next gem can be found.
From: Karl
Subject Salix's time off
(Oh, and I didn't mean to impose a time table on you down there. I just felt like her message was urgent and needed a deadline to make it seem so. Feel free to retcon that as you see fit.)
From: Derek
Subject Kal's defense
OOC: This will be interesting for Mark. Keep everyone together IC without inviting later backstabs.
From: Josh
Subject Kal's defense
OOC: I have no idea how Mund and Kal are gonna be able to get along enough to be in the same party.
From: Porter
Subject Kal's defense
OOC: That was an interesteing approach. At first I thought it was a mis-step, but then I remembered that Kal is being judged by fellow bladesingers. It just might work.
Of course, this is going to make it even more difficult for him to remain in the party with Mund and Salix.
And if Salix is going to be the leader for this next leg of the campaign, it will be even more difficult.
From: Mark
Subject Bear vs. Bear
After their testimony Mund and Salix ride a bit out of the city, trying to find a place where there are not too many people. It is surprisingly hard, but with Noctis' help, the eventually find a small grove of trees with a clearing in the middle. Mund takes off his armor and puts down his shield. Salix walks around the clearing getting a feeling for the land. Mund looks up. "You ready?" Salix nods. The two take up positions a few feet from each other. They nod at each other. Salix's form shifts and Mund finds himself standing across from the same black bear he had fought several weeks before.
Initiative: Mund (20), Salix (6)
Mund ducks forward and snaps a fist at the bear's nose (AC13, 14+10=24,hit, damage 6). Salix makes a snuffling noise as pain flares in his nostrils. Mund takes advantage of this and snaps another shot at the side of the bears head (AC13, 16+5=21, hit, damage 4). He catches Salix on the ear, but the bear seems not to notice to much.
Salix swings at Mund, making sure not to hit with his claws. His right paw catches Mund upside the head (AC15, 19+8=27,hit, damage 9) and his left paw comes around and smacks Mund a solid blow on the ribs (AC15, 9+8=17,hit, damage 6). Mund lets out a woof of pain and Salix tries to head but him (AC15, 11+3=14,miss). The barbarian pulls his head back at the last moment, tasting the bear fur as it passes.
Mund steps to the side and throws another punch at Salix's mid section (AC13, 4+10=14, hit, damage 6). He lands a solid blow and follows it up with another (AC13, 17+5=22,hit, damage 5). This time it is the bears turn to woof as Salix gets the wind knocked out of him.
Salix swings his massive paws at Mund again and catches him in the cross swipe (AC15, 17+8=25, hit, damage 9, 18+8=26,hit, damage 7). Both paws slam into Mund, almost cracking ribs. Salix takes advantage of Mund's position and tries to head but him again (Ac15, 10+3=13,miss) but the barbarian is able to duck drop down between the two paws and duck out of the way.
Mund moves around to the bears back and strikes another solid blow to the bears trunk (AC13, 9+10=19, hit, damage 4). He follows up with another blow to the trunk and it crashes in to Salix's ribcage (AC13, 13+5=18,hit, damage 5).
Salix whirls and both paws come swinging around one high and one low. Mund hesitates, not sure if he should duck or jump and it costs him dearly (AC15, 16+8=24, hit, damage 8, 12+8=20, hit, damage 7). Mund grabs onto the bears arms, trying to keep himself from falling to the ground. Salix drives his head forward and smacks Mund right in the face (AC12+3, hit, damage 7). Blood flows from Mund's nose and he feels teeth shift in his mouth.
Mund takes advantage of Salix's close proximity and smacks the bears ears with his hands(AC13, 5+10=15, hit, damage 6, 13+5=18,hit, damage 6). Salix howls in pain as his ear drums ring with pain.
Salix pulls Mund in to his chest and starts to crush the barbarian (AC15, 7+8=15, hit, damage 9, 9+8=17, hit, damage 9). Mund feels a couple of his ribs crack. He ducks his head as Salix tries another head butt (AC15, 5+3=8, miss).
Mund, still in Salix's grip, kicks at the bears stomach, and lands a blow (AC13, 3+10=13, hit, damage 4). He kicks again, trying to hit the groin (AC13, 3+5=8, miss) but misses, not being sure exactly where the groin is on a bear and being much to involved to make a close examination.
Salix squeezes again (AC15, 8+8=16,hit, damage 6, 20+8=28, critical threat, critical threat roll, 11+8=19,hit, critical hit, damage 15) and Mund groans as the air is forced out of his lungs. The last thing he sees before he looses consciousness is Salix's slavering grin above his head.
OODM: Fight is over. Mund will be unconscious for three hours. Salix is at 3 HP left.
From: Karl
Subject Kal's defense
That was a really good turn. I know because it really pissed me off. ;-)
From: Karl
Subject Bear vs. bear
Well, on his way back to the garden, Salix will see that Mund is delivered to Ragnar for some healing. He'll check in on Mund as soon as he gets back and speaks with Quarion.
From: Mark
Subject Bear vs. bear
Mund and Salix's damage is non lethal. Both should be ready to go by morning.
Just a couple of buddies kicking the shit out of each other and then going to a bar.
From: Mark
Subject Kal's trial
As Kal sits the room grows quiet. The three elves look at each other and one stands. "We have heard all of the testimony in this case. We will retire to debate the judgement. We will convene tomorrow morning at the third bell to render judgement. Please, if everyone would return then." The three then file out of a door in the back of the room.
Everyone goes their seperate ways. Mund and Salix head out together and the other split up, each heading off to run their errands for the day.
OODM: I will write up the decision and Salix's calling the group together tomorrow.