With the elemental taken care of and moved off the supplies, Stringfellow moves over to where Snorri is laying. "What forces does Kalvo Tvasi have available to pursue us with?"

He then casts truthsayer once Snorri answers.


16:50, Today: Stringfellow Hill rolled 7 using 3d6.  Truthsayer 15.

"We continue on with what goods we can manage," Oren said, "And mislead our pursuers into a trap... or at least somewhere inconvenient. Can we have the elemental sit here and wait for them?"

In reply to Oren (msg # 959):

"Perhaps I can repair our large earthen friend, so he can both carry our supplies and assist us in dealing with our pursuers. What signal were you to give them that we had found it?"

The basket is beyond repair... but if we could recreate it, it would give us both height and speed.

In reply to Stringfellow Hill (msg # 958):

"He has two or three of his people, including that damn skin changer  and he aligned himself with some religious group. They had money, his nest egg was gone. I guess at least one is some kind of spellcaster, as they could track the pennies."

[PRivate to Kirpich Rockson: make a theology roll about this big guy and your relationship]

In reply to Snorri Roslovich (msg # 962):

"Yes, but what was the signal we had the payroll?"

[Private to GM: Theology roll 3 under.]
This message was last edited by the player at 21:06, Sun 28 Feb 2016.

Oren took a careful look at the elemental's control wand.

[Private to GM: Hidden Lore (Magic Items)-15. Passed by 7. Oren wants to know how much control it gives, what the chances are the golem can break free, etc. See if it's a good idea to keep the thing with them.]

Danos busies himself taking an inventory of what equipment is salvageable from the mule packs.

In reply to Danos (msg # 965):

From the look of things, the assorted harnesses and
 saddlebags are good, but at least half of the food is soaked through its paper casibg and ruined.

[Private to Oren: this is a thing of legend, the Rod of the Builder, capable  of forcing an elemental to resist control with its will, and not its strengh. It is priceless]

"This is a priceless artifact," Oren whispered. "Listen. Friends. This is the Rod of the Builder, a legendary object that allows great control over elementals. It's worth far more than anything we can find in Shevnia. Literally priceless."

"Snorri is near dead, our mule is crushed, our supplies are ruined. We should seriously consider cutting our losses and returning to Northport to sell the rod."

In reply to Oren (msg # 967):

"I am not sure I like the idea of handing control of elementals to someone that simply has cash. Also, I am sure that this poor guy can be healed and can help us in place of the mule, and I can create food. I do not see the problem of pausing here fo a day to heal him, before continuing on."

"We're going to sell the rod either way," Oren said. "That's in the magical contract we all signed: Any material goods we acquire will be sold upon our return, and the monetary value split among us.

"Our only question is whether we want to bother continuing towards Shevnia or to return with the ridiculously valuable magical rod we have."

If we heal the elemental, he becomes our ally... How much easier will he make our efforts? how much faster? and as an ally, he can do much to dissuade those who would attack us. When we get back, perhaps Kirpach's benefactor will reward us for obtaining it. Then elemental's are not abused, and everyone is happy.

"Sure, if Kirpich's benefactor can make us a fair price for the wand, I have no problem selling it to him.

"But the question is: Run back to Northport and sell the rod, or continue on to Shevnia, knowing that we might lose the rod along the way?

"Again, this thing is far more valuable than anything we'll find in Shevnia. I don't want to risk it getting lost or broken... because its value comes out of the share of the person who loses or breaks it. You will be in debt to the rest of us for a long, long, long time."

So what sort of money are we talking here? And is there a market? Many valuable things sell far below their expected price, as no one is willing to pay up... could that be true here?

Oren launched into a long-winded and very detailed description of dungeon-crawler economics, economy of scale, and the realities of the market.

"...but what it boils down to is that anything you sell is only worth what someone is willing to pay you for it. For something like this? What they will offer is whatever they can afford. Our most likely client would be a rich eccentric like Sakemono... or the wizard's guild."

And a reasonable sum to expect would be?

Oren considered the matter.

[Private to Narrator: How much does Oren think he could get for the rod, selling it in Northport to the highest bidder?]

In reply to Oren (msg # 975):

Kirpich set about to see what was needed to heal the elemental.

Danos' mind is reeling at the thought of coming this far only to have a much greater treasure dropped into their laps from an unexpected quarter.

"If this thing is so valuable, why did this bizarre wizard use it in a foolish lone attack on us? What twist of fate put it in his hands, and what made him basically hand it to us?"

In reply to Danos (msg # 977):

[Private to Oren: make another hidden lore: magical items roll]
Pm

PM

[Private to GM: Passed by 8.

13:38, Today: Secret Roll: Oren rolled 7 using 3d6.  Hidden Lore (Magic Items).]

"That is a good point about the wizard who just attacked us, if he was in fact a wizard.  I would not be adverse to returning temporarily to the city to both deal with the rod and resupply our group.  By first I would lime more answers from Snorri and to find out what we can from our attacker."

Stringfellow waves at whoever is holding the rod, "If you could have the elemental either lay down, or drop the remains of the basket and wizard, I would like to search both for clues as to the reasons for the attacks around here.  Having a giant elemental attack small farms and travelers while using a priceless artifact makes little sense, there must be more to this, and possibly another mind behind it, unless the man was just crazy."

Stringfellow goes over to await access to the basket and the attacker it contains.


Ooc: Thread count is getting high.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:37, Wed 02 Mar 2016.

In reply to Stringfellow Hill (msg # 980):

"I am pretty sure my church would like to purchase the rod, but it is not in Northport. The nearest is in the Valdassyan mountains."

OOC Who has the rod now?

[Private to GM: Made the Theology roll...was that the private messages?]

In reply to Oren (msg # 979):

New thread: In Shevnia

[Private to Oren: the last known wielder of the rod of the builder was some Shevnian wizard named...Estrevan]


continued in In Shevnia
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:53, Sun 06 Mar 2022.