Aye good sir. Those are the type of supplies I was referring to, Hidari replied. "Many thanks for the generous support." With that Hidari moved through the opening in the counter and opened the door.

As Hidari walked through the doorway and into the warehouse he was a bit taken aback at first as to the size of the space. Clearly a dimensional pocket of some sort, similar to his pack, he quickly surmised. "Well met Ms. Jade," Hidari said in greeting as he walked over to the corner taking in all the different items strewn about on the tables. "Thank you for your hospitality. Hidari took off his pack and placed it on the ground next to one of the chairs. He then grasped the container of wine and poured himself a goblet of the dark crimson liquid. He took a sip of the wine, enjoying the delicate melange of flavors as it passed over his tongue. Although far from an expert, Hidari knew enough to know a quality wine when he tasted it. He looked over to Vatra and picked up the container of wine again gesturing to the gnome. "Do you care for a portion? It really is quite good, he offered.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:46, Fri 06 July 2018.

Vatra watches as Hidari exchanges words with Zarek and moves through the opening in the counter. "Yes Zarek," the Gnome says almost awkwardly, "Thank you for greeting us so well." He begins to follow The Half-Elf but stops abruptly before the threshold of the counter. What was it my not-Gnome friend told me about etiquette? Riiight.... always leave with a compliment...

"Ummmm Zarek..." the sorcerer begins, turning to the grey haired man, "I think it looks really great how your nose fits so well on your face. I've seen some freaky faces in my time, but yours seems to fit everything together quite well."

There is a slightly-too-long stare before Vatra spins on his heels and makes his way into the seemingly impossible warehouse. That went well, he thinks, smiling proudly to himself.

Once he steps into the warehouse he sees Ariana and his lower jaw drops, mouth agape and eyes wide. "Whoa! Your hair is so cool! Like fire," he exclaims, the irises of his eyes flaring up and moving like embers in a soft breeze. He watches her face way too intently as she speaks. Once she directs Hidari to the corner, he follows along, craning his neck to see whats going on in the far warehouses on either end of the room.

When Hidari offers him wine the Gnome peels back his lips from his teeth in a eerily terrifying,mock grimace. "Eeeeeeeee....no, no, no ,no. If I drink the booze," he leans in and stage whispers somewhat loudly, "I get a little weird" He pokes the center of his forehead a few times to accentuate some unknown point.

Artie, Vatra's weasel familiar, looks on from the tall Gnome's dark, leather pack with a perpetually bored expression.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 06:20, Fri 06 July 2018.

Part of Hidari wondered what "I get a little weird" meant; especially since it seemed the tall gnome was quirky enough to begin with.

Putting the bottle back down, Hidari shrugged and made his way to the bookshelf. He examined the books for something interesting that might be of some import or use as he continued to enjoy his wine.

02:44, Today: Hidari C'athyl rolled 12 using 1d20+11. Perception check to see if there is anything interesting in the bookshelf.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 06:22, Sun 08 July 2018.

Returning to the JAGSS Headquarters' teleportation circle is always disconcerting.  Chas looks about, head swiveling on his fat neck, piggish eyes sharply taking in the familiar scene.

He sighs contentedly and clambers awkwardly from the large...obviously undead...horse he arrived on.  His heavy burlap sack rattles with heavy bones as he gains his feet and waddles out to the warehouse.  He shuffles about, humming to himself while he files his report on the burial and the actual remains of the Butcher of Seville.

Returning to the supply rack last to replenish his few needs...primarily food, but also to recharge his ring.  He seems to have a poor sense of personal space as he pushes in close to reach things from the shelves.

He smiles at all he meets though, and once he has a scone from the snacks available, he chews, and announces to the new agents also equipping themselves, "Hullo. CHas Flyd, retired mortician, at your service."

((OOC: Was just waiting for the other two new players to get on board. If they are still interested, they'll just have to catch up...))


Ariana returns in 15 minutes or so.

"I was just doing some last minute auguries," she explains. "That's if you are ready to go right now?" She makes the last sentence a question, not because she's expecting anyone to back out, but in case they had something else they had to do.

"The auguries were not good for the Ruins of Ral'Thaggorym, only slightly positive for Tower of Vergeron, and just a bit more for retrieving the Green Sword from the Swamp of Doom. Don't you just love the names locals come up with for places?"

"The only really positive result was for Novo Vereker, so that's where I will be sending  you."

"Novo Vereker lies in the Valley of Mists, but no one is quite sure where the Valley lies. It was the personal stomping grounds of a dozen wizards, so rumors persist that the Valley moves. It seems likely, though, that the mist was created by one or more of those wizards."

"Each wizard is supposed to have a private retreat, residence or secret laboratory somewhere in the Valley. All indications are that these places are all up on the walls of the Valley, rather than down on the floor of it."

"Each wizard is also rumored to have a specialty... or theme... for his place. We think that Thanik Ym is the wizard who built Novo Vereker. He was reputed to be an accomplished alchemist, but the them of his place is hexagons. I don't know what that might mean, other than that each room is supposed to be hexagon-shaped."

"Any questions so far?"

A quick staccato of knocks drums on the door of the JAGSS headquarters door, and a brawny looking human lets himself in after a moment's hesitation.

"Excuse me, please," he said, his face coloring a little with embarrassment. "I'm looking for the JAGSS headquarters, and was told this was the place. Hopefully, the few copper I paid for that info was well spent."

He peered around the room, looking for someone who seemed to know their way around the place, and who could direct him to someone in authority.

"With whom should I speak?" he inquired, brushing back a lock of light brown hair that flopped over his right eye.

Chas leans over and puts a heavy sweaty hand on Ather's shoulder, "That's Mistress Jade.  looks like you are just in time.  She's got us an interesting investigation for us."

Chas otherwise listens intently to the result of Ariana's divinations, awkwardly inserting himself among the others looking for new assignments.  His poor personal hygiene is evident...magnified by the fact he had only just arrived from his own recent mission.

"Are we likely to encounter these other wizards from the Valley of Mists at the Novo Vereker?  I would love to meet these specialists if there is an opportunity."

"Greetings, Ather," Ariana says to Ather. "Please, join us."

"Some cataclysm devastated the Valley. Again, not sure how badly, or what it was, but the few wizards that survived have mentioned it, and a few of them think it may have been magical in nature."

"We also provide equipment. You can help yourself to whatever is over on the end tables there." She indicates the last row of tables along the same end of the warehouse where the meeting table is.

"Survival packs include 100 feet of silk rope, sunrods, tindertwigs, thunderstones, holy water and two healing draughts ((CSW)). There are also tents, blankets and bedrolls, but we don't expect you to take those if you don't want. And there is a week's trail rations for each of you with canteens of water."

The survival gear packs are laid out down on the long sorting tables in the warehouse, the ones to the extreme right. There is backpack with each group so each person can see what is there and can pack to his own preferences. Between every two packs is a 2-person tent.

There are 10 sunrods, all held together with a wide leather strap that can be re-tightened as a sunrod is used.

The twindertwigs come in a small 'scroll case'--a small bone tube that holds 20 tindertwigs. It has a bone cap with thick wax inside. When placed over the end of the bone tube, the wax makes the inside of the tube watertight.

Each pack has folding shovel and a hatchet (hand axe). There are two dozen metal pitons and a ball of string, as well as 6 pieces of chalk.

There is a scribe's kit--a wooden box (lid open) that holds a dozen sheets of paper, two bottles of ink and four quill pens.

There is also a lantern between every two packs, and 3 flasks of oil.

There are 4 potion bottles, packed in a small, straw-filled wooden box. Two are clear with a faintly glowing liquid; this is the holy water. Two are green tinted; these are the healing potions.

"Well met," Hidari stood and replied to Chas as the large unkempt man appeared. "My name is Hidari." He continued to sip on his goblet of wine until Ariana approached. At which time he quickly finished the portion and placed the goblet of wine on the table. He didn't know how long he would be gone but he had a feeling that it would be a while before he was in a good quality tavern, or even a dodgy one, in the near future.

"I'm prepared to leave as soon as I can grab a few supplies for the journey," he stated as he moved to the equipment and quickly surveyed the items. He began to grab select items and throw them into his bag/pack that had been slung across his back, forgoing the pack on the table. Once he had packed the items he needed Hidari thought for a moment and asked Ariana, "Ms. Jade, are we expected to be in any harsh climates on this journey?"
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 03:47, Tue 10 July 2018.

"Not that I'm aware of," Ariana answers. "The Valley of the Mists is... or at least was... in a temperate region. Even if Novo Vereker has slide down the Valley sides to the floor, it should still be temperate forest... though it might be swamp."

"No desert, no arctic wastes, no underwater location, no jungle, no extreme mountain elevations. My auguries would have indicated something like that."

Once Hidari stands and speaks with the piggish eyed, pink skinned not-Gnome, the diminutive sorcerer follows suit. His fire ember eyes scan the new comer with interest and when the retired mortician introduces himself, small bits of food are thrown from his mouth. The quirky Gnome leaps backwards, using a seat as cover. "Whooooa.... incoming!" He peeks over the chair, his discerning gaze unfiltered and unapologetic.

As the woman with the cool hair returns, Vatra turns his full attention to her and listens with a great focus, seemingly digesting each word visually as it passes her lips. When she mentions hexagons, the quirky Gnome raises an eyebrow quizzically.

Before he can say he has no questions so far, yet another not-Gnome (this one he's pretty sure is one of those super short lived races) approaches the group. After a short introduction and a run down of the equipment JAGSS supplies, Ariana continues to reveal the Valley has been devastated.

Vatra joins Hidari and begins placing equipment he might need in his perpetually light pack. His eyebrows knit as he seems to form a question before blurting, "Are these wizards still alive? I thought you went after the old stuff."

"Hullo Hidari.  I am Flyd.  Chas Flyd, at your service, as it were." Flyd fails to make proper eye contact, but beams a simpleton's smile none the less.

He chuckles at the gnome and chews even more enthusiastically. Chas points with his elbow since his hands are full, "Who're you little man?"
This message was last edited by the player at 05:43, Tue 10 July 2018.

After asking about the wizards, Vatra casts a glance back towards Chas. "I'm Vatra Praxx," the sorcerer replies, turning his body towards the rotund Investigator, "and I'd shake your hand, like not-Gnomse like to do sometimes, but you're grubby and I want my hand to be clean." The sorcerer smiles warmly and stares, keeping an almost uncomfortable level of eye contact as he does so.

It seems, upon first impression, the Gnome sets all his attention to whatever task or whim is present in any given moment. This moment is no different.

A black weasel looks languidly around Vatra's head, it's eyes half mast in an almost hypnotically bored expression. "Oh! Chas...this is Arthur Brown...but his friends call him Artie." He eyes the brutish adventurer, red eyes dancing slowly. "You might have to call him Arthur Brown for a little while yet, though. He's sensitive to strong smells, so the jury's out on you."

Again, the charismatic sorcerer smiles disarmingly, leaving no doubt his words are simply blunt and have no cutting intent.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:18, Tue 10 July 2018.

Ather's head spun as he processed everything that happened after entering the building.

He vaguely remembered being ushered into an office, where he was interviewed by an older man and told to select a ring, which now adorned his left hand. His finger still stung where he pricked it to activate the band's magic with his blood.

After entering the back room, he listened quietly as the red-haired woman described what - to him - sounded like a great opportunity for adventure.

"A valley where a dozen magicians studied and experimented with their spells? Sounds like a wonderful place!" he exclaimed. "I'd be glad to help explore that area -- and perhaps learn a bit more of the mystic arts."

He turned to Chas, Hidari and Vatra in turn, bowing slightly to each, and introduced himself.

"I'm Ather - as you probably heard - and just recently left my apprenticeship behind. In my travels, I heard about JAGSS, and it sounds like it's reputation is well-earned. Is this the first mission for everyone else?"

While awaiting responses from the others, he turned to the tables where the gear was displayed, and selected items to fill his own pack.

Satisfied with Ariana's answer Hidari quickly threw in the scribe's kit as the last item for good measure, cinched up the bag, and slung it across his back. As a force of habit his hands lightly and subtly went to where his weapons were in order to double-check their placement and that they were secure. "Much thanks Ms. Jade, Hidari said as he strolled over from the table to the others in the group. He nodded to Ather when he introduced himself. "I believe with the exception of Chas it is our first excursion," he said simply.

Although not rude or curt Hidari kept his words short and efficient most of the time, a left over remnant of his time in the military. A good wine or ale surely loosened his tongue on a occasion but those times were best spent after the work had been done and now it was about time to get to work.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:57, Tue 10 July 2018.

Chas looks a little perplexed at the gnome and lifts his hand to his face and sniffs carefully.  He squinches up his eyes and pulls the hand away, shrugging.

"Oh! Arthur Brown!  So adorable!  I would very much love to pet your weasel." Flyd's puffy face is alight with interest, much like a child's.

He cannot take his eyes away from the little animal as he also confirms Hidari's statement, "Yes, I have been on a few of these little excursions...never boring.  Always snacks when you get back."  He scoops up scones from somewhere and holds them up in his fist to illustrate the point, then tries to coax Arthur Brown with a tiny piece.

The bulky man has surprisingly dexterous fingers.  He switches tactics and a ghostly hand appears and pokes the bit of scone at the weasel tactlessly.

Artie looks at the scone with apathetic eyes and yawns before sliding back down into the sorcerers' dark, leather pack. Vatra looks back at his retreating familiar and shrugs, "I suppose the jury is no longer out...This just in!!" The odd Gnome shouts, splaying his hands before him and staring at a point on the horizon that doesn't exist...intense eyes searching.

"Weasels don't like scones..." He accentuates each word as if he were pasting a giant headline onto a wall.

A grin takes over the magic users' face, lighting up at an indiscernible thought. "That's another thing I can add to my don't-feed-Artie-these-things list. So far I have scones, broccoli pate, and anything with ghost peppers."

"No, the wizards are no longer alive," Ariana answers Vatra. "The cataclysm happened around 1,000 years ago. Some of the wizard's retreats were probably destroyed, some damaged and remain in ruins, and a few possibly escaped unscathed. It is uncertain what happened to the wizards. Some may have died in the cataclysm, but I suspect most survived... being wizards and all."

"On the other hand, if the cataclysm was magic-based, it's always possible that the wizards did it to themselves. That's something I'm hoping you can determine."

"I've got one more member for your group."

At that moment, a woman walks in. While she is dressed in typical adventuring garb, it's rather obvious that she's a cleric.

"May I present Sister Xanthe."

The man who informed Archibald of career opportunities in Diobel was right. "Finding the right street here was confusing", but once he had the street, the signage above the doors was a relief that he was close.

Straightening his elven dress, making sure the proper amount of buttons were done, he stiffens up his posture and tucks his rod under his left arm as he pushes open the door to JAGSS and introduces himself before he even sees who he he is introducing to.

Hello good sirs and madams. I am Archibald Lewis the Third. 
He looks around to make eye contact with whom he believes to be in: charge, the oldest, or gentleman (in that order)

As Sister Xanthe is introduced, Vatras eyes scan her clothing. The moment he realizes she is a cleric his eyes go wide and his gaze slowly slides over to the (what he has now concluded to be a half-Ogre) mortician. His head then snaps back and forth between Chas... Xanthe...Chas..XanthaChasXanthe. "Oh snap! You two are going to go together like fine wine and cheese," the Gnome observes, nodding emphatically.

"If fine wine was a delicate porcelain and cheese was a rampaging bull!" The sorcerer laughs mirthfully and does a little happy dance, looking at the woman with the cool, red hair. "Oh Ariana...this trip is sounding more and more eventful by the moment!"

Vatra throws a wink at Chas before completely changing his facial expression to discomforted annoyance. He shoos the ghostly hand away from him with a loud PSSSSSTT!, as if he were chasing a cat of a porch. "Get outta' here, ghost hand!"

As the magus finished packing up gear in his now bulging pack, he hefts it to his back, and settles the weight evenly across his shoulders.

"Ooof, that's a bit more of a load that I'm used to," he muttered to himself.

He watched with amusement as Chas attempted to coax the gnome's animal friend out, and Vatra's running commentary.

When Ms. Jade introduced the cleric who'd be tagging along, he strode over to make his introductions. Never hurt to make friendly with the healer, right?

The appearance of yet another prospective party member brightened his mood even more -- the more bodies, the more hands to perform the humdrum chores of adventuring. "Hi there. Grab some gear, we're just about ready to move."

"Greetings, fellow travelers!" Xanthe says to the others. "I normally work over on the sorting tables, but I'm one of the people Ariana keeps on stand-by... in case a particular skill set is needed for a mission."

"It's been awhile since I've been on a mission, but I think I still remember how it's done. And I've got my pack all set."

"Well, then. If everyone is ready, follow we into the next warehouse," Ariana says, and leads everyone over to the warehouse door and through into another warehouse. Going to the right and following the right hand wall, she leads you to the corner where a magic pentagram has been inlaid into the stone floor in silver.

"Everyone step into the pentagram, please. It's a teleportation circle, and it's how I will transport you to the location. If you aren't familiar with teleport, it's perfectly safe. You cannot be teleported into a location where you are in danger, such as burning fire or in mid-air over a chasm. On the other hand, you could appear in the middle of a hobgoblin picnic... but that's not too likely."

After everyone has stepped into the magic pentagram, Ariana makes sure no on is panicking, and then makes an arcane gesture as she recites some arcane formula.

There's a bright flash of blue light, and then everything around you has changed.

Avoiding eye contact at all costs, and certainly not qualifying as in charge, oldest, or a gentleman, Chas Flyd offers "Grab a pack Mr. Archibald Lewis the Third. We are just starting out."

To Sister Xanthe, Chas implements a completely inappropriate but effective curtsy, "Greetings Sister.  Most pleased to make your acquaintance!"

Then he waddles into the teleportation circle with a horse and overfull pack...and...POOF.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:42, Thu 12 July 2018.

Taking a look at the equipment and the bags, Archibald leaves out most of the iron and steel items, taking a few extra supplies and repacks.
Grabbing one of the rings that catches his eye (even if they all appeared the same). He heads confidently for the teleportation circle.