Plathstream is very enthusiastic about the idea of learning new spells and agrees eagerly.

As is Silverglade. We should make sure that we get a good spread of spells between us, but I suspect the magic missile will damage the shadows.

Plathstream does already know Magic Missile.

Lanliss shakes his head and whispers back to Plathstream.

"I do not know Magic Missile, so will gladly take that. And the food and water are gratefully received, of course."

"With that settled, then, are there any among you who would join us in our praise and dedication to Usamigaras?  He has allowed us to distribute these few gifts to you, but the Laughing Master of Coin has other gifts for the faithful as well."  The man looks expectant, but not demanding, and the others in the room have brought forward spellbooks for the elves in the party to peruse.

<OOC:  For those who cast arcane spells, of which we seem to have only elves at present, go ahead and pick any two additional first level spells each and add them to your spellbooks.>

Plathstream is a good polytheist and gladly offers some worship to Usamigaras.

I was wrong, I didn't have Magic Missile--I had Sleep. I added it and Detect Magic to my list.

Sherborne raises an eyebrow at that last statement but otherwise remains silent and watchful.

"None of you, then?" the man asks, after a significant and somewhat awkward pause.  He then continues, "Ah, well.  Let us hope that the gifts of his holy spells will be sufficient to see you through, along with the provisions that we have provided.  Will you be requiring anything else before you can get started on your way?"

"No one else, then?" the man asks, after a significant and somewhat awkward pause.  He then continues, "Ah, well.  Let us hope that the gifts of his holy spells will be sufficient to see the rest of you through, along with the provisions that we have provided.  Will you be requiring anything else before you can get started on your way, or can we simply proceed to our new brother's admittedly brief induction ceremony?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:15, Tue 06 Dec 2016.

Albricht was a little disappointed that these worshipers of laughter magic didn't have some racks of humorous, gold-encrusted, war axes hidden in some back room. But the food was good.

He stuffed as much bread as he could carry in his mouth and pockets and topped off his water-skin.

"A-hm weady 'oo go..." somehow made it out from behind a mouthful of crumbs...

"Information," says Silverglade. "Maps or information on monsters would be particularly useful."

<OOC:  I just completely bulldozed what Plathstream said.  I'm editing my prior post to refelct this, so skip back a bit to catch up.>

"Is fire effective against the monsters?"

Plathstream waits placidly until the others get their questions answered.

"I am sure Usamigaras is most worthy of praise.  Perhaps once this is over and we return I can learn more," Sherborne adds diplomatically.  He is also curious about anything folks can figure out regarding what they are likely to face.

"Unfortunately, we don't have a lot of information about the creatures that you might encounter as you head down from here," he explains.  "It has been all that we could do to hold the areas that we do, and the followers of Madura and Gorm are in a similar situation, from what I understand.  Some of the creatures can be damaged by fire, I'm quite sure, but I can't honestly tell you that I know that they all can.  The shadows that you referenced, if that is indeed what they were, are some that cannot be.  I'm afraid that you'll have to find much of this out yourselves."

Seeing no further responses or questions, the silver crowned man takes Plathsteam aside.  The congregants clothe him in one of their rainbow colored robes, strap a sliver dagger to his waist, and put one of their silver masks on his face.  The leader briefly intones something between a sermon and advice to Plathstream, involving taking joy from life, laughing often, and seeking profit wherever it can be found.  At the end of this ceremony a small, blue, five-pointed star magically appears on the palm of Plathstream's dominant hand.

The congregants begin to congratulate Plathstream, and the leader moves behind the altar, fiddle around with something, and rises holding a beautifully worked mace.  He approaches Plathstream and offers it to him, saying, "Perhaps this will help you in your journey.  I believe that it is magical, but none of us are particularly martially adept.  You look to also know the way of the warlike physical weapons.  Use it well in the service of Usamigaras, for as we aid him, he aids us."

With that, the silver crowned man, along with the other congregants, files out of the room, leaving the party alone.

"Mace... just in case."

Plathstream takes all of this in placidly. He smiles at the sigil on his hand--something pleasing about this to him. He bowed when he received the mace. "Thank you, brethren. Usamigaras be praised."

He turned to the others. "Come, friends, let's continue exploring. This will help us against the shadows, I think."

"Yes, while I might get a slap down if I changed allegiances so quickly, Usamigaras is indeed worthy."  Sherborne readies his hammer and his spirits are visibly on the upswing.

<Where to now, guys?>

"Great. He's a paladin... he'll be even harder to live with now!"

Albricht snorted at Vsaati's comment. "I thought they said they didn't know anything about magic weapons... Bah! I be thinkin' this Usamahgras might just be the God of used pick-axe salesman!" He exclaimed after the priests had left.

"Well then, downward I say! Ever downward..."

OOC: Following the route the spear-women told us about I suppose?

"The route the women showed us sounds good to me," says Silverglade. "Let' see how that mace fares in combat."

"What praytell is wrong with used pickaxe salesmen?  I would think that dwarves of all people should appreciate the value of good, affordable mining equipment."

Plathstream leads the party on the route that the spear-women told us about.

Plathstream leads the party back to the rotating room, presses the fifth symbol from the top, goes forward to the T, then right, forward right, and through a door into the ruined chapel with the smashed stone altar.  The word "Zargon" is still visible, scrawled on the altar.  The section of the floor that swings down is easily located, and the party descends to the next lower tier.

<I'll stop this post at this point, and move the action to:>

link to a message in this game
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:53, Mon 12 Dec 2016.