The Map, Garyth the Competent
Subject: Re: Back on the path; ancient maps
"How necessary," Mission pauses. He'd been whispering. He clears his throat, and starts again, "How necessary is it to go throwing magic around? The map is readable-- and where else would a dark god and his followers be, but in a temple."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Back on the path; meetings
ROTFL
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Back on the path; ancient maps
"So you want to do what? Just walk up to the temple and tumble through the door? Are you really that anxious to play pincushion again?" Farron interjects with a chuckle. "Personally, I think we need to proceed very carefully here. As well traveled at this path is, clearly there have been dozens, if not hundreds of people to come this way recently. I imagine they've also gone right up to the temple. The difference is that we're not exactly invited guests." He casts a quick involuntary glance toward Cadfael before continuing.
"We need to find out as much as we can and right now this monument seems to be the best place to start. Wouldn't you feel a little foolish walking blind into the middle of a hundred dark priests if it turned out one of these symbols means 'secret back door'?" Farron says this last with a wink and a grin to show he doesn't actually believe they'd be that lucky, but the point is still valid.
"I'm sure I can glean some more information, but I prepared more for a battle today than for research, so it will take me some time to prepare."
(OOC - Ty, is there any way to replenish a spell list other than take a full night's sleep? If I want to add just a spell or two can't I study an hour or two and then take a nap? :-D )
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Back on the path; ancient maps
Mission keeps his voice soft, but his anxiety is making him edgy. "Somehow, I doubt that this obelisk details the positions, numbers, religion, and boot-sizes of our enemy. Look at it-- it's a map, Farron. An ANCIENT map at that. Not a roster.
"But if you go throwing magic around, who's to say your legions of dark priests won't hear you?"
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Back on the path; ancient maps
"I never said it was a roster," Farron replies with a tinge of irritation. "I agree it looks like a map. I'm saying that since the only OBVIOUS feature on it is the temple (and I imagine if we follow the best worn path it will lead there), it might be a good idea for us to check out the features of the map that AREN'T so obvious.
"And as for being heard," he continues, "The leggy dame spoke of Cadfael, though he was not in our party when we met her. She saw Rennik retreat towards the tower. For what if not to get reinforcements? Do you really think they don't already know we're here?"
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Back on the path; ancient maps
"All the more reason to get moving," Mission says, and falls silent.
Ty: are there any buildings round about? Anything but jungle?
From: Raja
Subject: Maps in a mirror
"Mission," Sa'id interjects, "undead we encountered so far only seem sensitive to clerical magics." He pauses. "Your prudence is wise, but I'm not sure our course of action can be made clear without reading the map."
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Back on the path; ancient maps
"Ty: are there any buildings round about? Anything but jungle?"
No. No visible buildings. Though, this far into the jungle, a building could be 50 feet away and be invisible.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Maps in a mirror
"Cast away, then, Farron," Mission says, as if a dare.
Too much movement in the trees, too much cover for enemies. . . Mission looks around for some sort of shelter to escape to if they're attacked, anything more than greenery. . . and sees nothing.
Flesh be stone. "Well? Go ahead, mage."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Maps in a mirror
"I did say I'd need some time to prepare," Farron says.
Unless something else comes up or someone stops him, Farron moves a little away from the group and sits near the base of the obelisk. He retrieves his spellbook and to all appearances quickly becomes lost in its pages, periodically closing his eyes and mumbling to himself in strange syllables. This goes on for about 15 minutes.
Farron walks to the obelisk. He has a pinch of a black powdery substance in one hand and what looks like a few grains of salt in the other. While mumbling a string of strange syllables, he grinds his palms together. As he pulls his hands apart, there is a small spark and a puff of smoke that rises from between his palms. Farron, eyes closed, leans forward as if inhaling the smoke. When he opens his eyes, they seem to have a very faint glow. Farron then walks over to the obelisk and puts one hand on each side of one face. He will study this face for a few minutes, then move to the next face until he has studied the entire obelisk.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Maps in a mirror
It is a map, and now that Farron can read it, it is hauntingly similar to any of the maps he has known. There are streets marked with names like 'Hassalo', 'Quickarrow', and 'Greenfallow'. Names that might mark a street in Nesalin.
Seeing the city as it exists now, utterly destroyed, swallowed by the jungle, the names of the buildings and places are heartbreakingly familiar. Places are marked as tanneries, pubs, hostels, market places, blacksmiths. The cultural level of the city is apparent from the large number of public buildings like libraries and schools. A large block called 'Hedgerow Park' marks the area near where the party stands now. Perhaps it had been a place to congregate after the work day; where children played and adults took picnics. Whatever it was when the city was alive, it is nothing but jungle now.
The temple around which the city grew is named simply "The House of God." The god is clearly Pelor, though what the denizens of this city called him is not known.
Farron searches more closely the area near where the party stands. A special mark seems to indicate the locations of these map obelisks. The path that continues on past the map goes almost due east. By looking at the map, Farron can see that the path follows very closely one of the streets that used to exist. At the end of that street is a mark for a building that catches his eye. It says simply, 'Public Sanitation.'
[Mike, I am sending this to you so you can archive it.]
From: Karl
Subject: The Map
Farron turns back to the group with a somewhat-less-than-excited look on his face. "Well, we were right. It's a map.
"Other than the sheer size of this city and the fact that it apparently had a very rich culture, there isn't much that helps our present situation. What we've correctly guessed as a temple is simply labeled 'The House of God', and it's pretty far away. I'd guess about 20 miles at least. The path we're on seems to be leading to a building marked 'Public Sanitation'. That building, or at least the spot where it stood, should be only a few hundred yards away," Farron concludes, looking at anyone but Mission, pointedly avoiding any I-told-you-so type looks he might see otherwise see from the monk.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: The Map
Cadfael follows slowly behind Sa'id, bringing up the rear of the party. He no longer scans the woods warily but is intently focused on the ground, completely lost in thought. It is not difficult to tell what thoughts must fill his head. Why does Elise want him? Why is he important? And most importantly, how is it that there came to be a temple dedicated to Pelor that the current priesthood knows nothing about?
He is deaf to the conversation around him and nearly bumps into the mages when they reach the clearing. His eyes narrow slightly at the site of the black pillar and he seems to hope that the symbol of the sun on his shield will differ from that on the pillar. It is hard not to notice his disappointment when they do not.
Restless, he paces the perimeter of the clearing while Farron memorizes a new spell, clenching and unclenching his left hand as if the fingers were stiff. Once Farron inhales the smoke and begins to read the stone Cadfael stops, secures his shield to his arm and hauls out his mace, resting it over his shoulder until Farron has finished.
"Well then, why waste the remains of Pelor's Daylight? Lead on Rennik, it seems there is only one road to take."
OOC: While we're all giving weapons to Mr. Breaks-his-toys, didn't Garyth give him that halfling's mace from the lodge? I believe it was too heavy for the panty-waist to carry so Rennik agreed to be his mule ;).
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The Map
(OOC: C'mere and let me break some more toys... :glares: Actually, Rennik took an extra waterskin and Garyth held onto the mace. He used it as an offhand weapon against Garth, if I remember correctly.)
"One road, to public sanitation?" Rennik looks a little disappointed. "We've been walking all this way toward a shithouse?"
He doesn't know what he expected, but the map caused Rennik an emotional letdown. Sprawling rich civilization, a temple to the sun god... then an oversized outhouse. It seemed so anticlimactic.
He looks over the party, trying to gauge their readiness to delve deeper into the jungle. Garyth seemed as uncomfortable as ever with the mixed company and distance from civilization, but he continued to put on an air of authority and leadership. If he could get his head out of his ass a little, Rennik would be far less worried about him. Mission was as pensive as he had been since the inn, despite his efforts to seem calm and collected. Farron and Sa'id still hadn't fully grasped the danger everyone was in - not from their enemies, but from predators. And Cadfael seemed incredibly distracted, even moreso since they arrived at the map.
Rennik frowned at the suggestion to continue on in this state, but it seemed there was no other real option.
"We should continue on, but we must be more cautious.
"The halflings have lived in the forest for generations, living with its dangers and learning to adapt to them. The predators, though fierce, are manageable with knowledge and skill - and numbers. The jungle is avoided even by the hardiest of halfling tribes. Many die on their rights of passage, spending only a few nights within its boundaries - and these are seasoned woodsman, raised tracking wolves and giant cats."
"There is good reason to avoid this place. The woods are filled with unseen dangers. The swamp dragons are the worst, giant lizards with powerful jaws. They can sneak up on you or lie silently still in ambush. If we encounter one, stay back! Close combat would mean almost certain death, except for the very lucky. They have thick hides and are deceivingly fast - plus, their strength is enormous. They aren't malicious, only predatory, and if their prey seems too much effort, they are likely to back off."
His words are very serious, and his eyes dance from their faces to the woods as he speaks, caught by the constantly moving branches and changing light patterns.
"If one attacks, it would be best to attack from a distance, or perhaps to get up in one of the larger trees until the creature has passed on. But swamp dragons are not the only dangers, and I will have a difficult time just scouting the trail ahead. Keep your eyes open, weapons drawn, and close attention to our sides and back... and please, don't get me killed. I've already avoided that fate once today."
He smiles with that last, and then leads on down the trail once everyone is prepared.
(OOC: he'll wait til we're moving on, then just lead he way)
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Map
Garyth scratches his chin thoughtfully. "If a path still exists to the sanitation place, that means that people are still going there. It might be worth stopping to investigate." He shrugs. "It's in the same direction we're already going, so we wouldn't be losing any time."
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The Map
Before they set out, Rennik takes a moment to gauge the his newly acquired halberd, feeling it for weight and balance. It is an extraordinarily well crafted weapon, but it is too long for him to wield. Giving it a careful examination, Rennik decides what would be an optimal length for him to trim the haft to. He wants leverage and power, but without the stick whacking the ground behind him and without it being blade-heavy.
He'll consult Garyth on the proper length, knowing the guardsman has some knowledge of weapons, then will take his handaxe from his pack, place the haft as though he were chopping a piece of firewood, and shorten the polearm. If the excess piece is long enough, he'll stow it in his pack to use as a makeshift axehandle later on. Also, if Garyth feels he can do a better job, Rennik'll turn the handaxe over - he doesn't want to screw the weapon up totally, just modify it a bit.
That done, he'll use a length of rope to secure the axe head to his belt, stow the halberd in the large leather flap sheath he uses for his axe, and proceed with bow drawn.
(OOC: I'm guessing none of the mages picked up on the subtle "boy it would be nice if someone could cast Identify on this" undertone of my previous email. :)
When they're ready to go, he'll remind them again of the dangers.
"We will likely be attacked often, but smaller predators looking for an easy meal. We are not known in the jungle, and we look like weak and stumbling prey. Hopefully the attacks will be light and easily turned off, but there is no way to know. Be alert."
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Map
OOC: Not sure this will help, but Garyth has 4 ranks in Weaponsmithing. But I don't know what kind of check, if any, Ty will be making for altering the halberd's handle.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Map
Actually, my plan was to take away the weapons magical bonus to hit, plus add an additional -2 for putting the weapon off balance. However, if Garyth can make a DC20 weaponsmithing roll when he trims the halberd shaft, I will reduce the penalty to -1.
Does that sound fair? It's the best he can do without proper tools.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Map
OOC: That sounds good to me.
From: Ty
Subject: Back on the path; garyth the competent
While Farron finishes looking over the map, Rennik places the halberd on a fallen tree and begins measuring the haft for shortening. He makes a mark, and takes out his handaxe, though he looks none to sure of his choice. Before he strikes he says, "Garyth. You know something of weapon smithing. Can you test the heft of this weapon? Does my mark seem true?"
Garyth seems surprised by the request for help from the independent halfling, but takes up the halberd anyway. After a few moments of putting it through its paces, he begins questioning Rennik on use. "I've noticed you swing from the back foot, so you will want a bit longer reach. Where do you usually place your grip? What face will you defend with?"
After a few moments consultation, Garyth rubs out Rennik's mark, and moves it a bit further down the handle. "This length should be truer to your style, though the weight of the head is wrong for it. It's balance will never really be true."
Rennik shakes his head, "Don't worry. That's still better than throwing rocks at my enemies."
He then takes the handaxe, and following Garyth's direction, makes his cut [Weaponsmithing roll 22 versus DC20; successful]. He picks up the newly shortened weapon, and swings it a few times. "You're right, the head is too heavy for this length. The weapon will tend to pull me out of my stance in powerful swings. I'll need to be careful with that [weapon loses magical to hit bonus; additional -1 penalty to hit for imbalance]. But it's better than I expected."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The Map
(OOC- Farron did pick up on the hint, but #1, I was distracted by other issues in the narrative, and #2 I was hoping I could offer in the morning so I don't have to waste a scroll.)
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The Map
Farron interrupts to suggest, "Maybe altering it will damage whatever enchantment is on it. Perhaps we could wait to alter it until it can be identified.
"After a good night's rest I could identify it without using one of the scrolls I obtained from the dead mage, but if you feel it is imperative to have it ID'd now, I'll be happy to use a scroll."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The Map
(OOC - Well that puts me in a quandary. If they alter it before it is ID'd then ask Farron to ID it it will come up non-magical and a valuable spell will be wasted. However, Farron doesn't know that so in fairness he wouldn't refuse to ID it even though *I* know he's wasting his time.)
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The Map
> No, it is still a magical item, and can still be identified.
>
> It just lost its bonus to hit. There are other enchantments on it.
OK, Farron will offer the suggestion now since I wasn't online in time to suggest it prior to alteration.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The Map
OOC:
I'm pretty sure it doesn't matter one way or the other, actually. My axe is still magical, even though the wooden stick is broken. It still carries its +2 to damage and its tracking properties, even if I can't effectively wield it as a weapon.
Same with the halberd. It still carries its magical properties and added damage, it just isn't whole and complete, offering the balance and workmanship that provides the to hit bonuses. So, identifying it in the morning shouldn't really be too much of a problem, really - at least the way Ty's been running things.
So far as I've gathered from conversations, magical enhancements are focused on the bladed parts of the weapons, not on the hafts. Though, I'm sure a magical staff would have its enchantment on the wood part, for obvious reasons.
Whether this is a modification on Ty's part or no, I'm not sure. The rules don't seem to clear on what causes a magical weapon to lose its magical properties. It's a gray area in an otherwise overly-specific rules system.