OOC: I am so glad to hear you ask that! Mystara is based on our planet earth 165 million years ago. It is the third planet orbiting around the sun, and all of the other planets you know are present and visible in the solar system. There is one visible moon.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:22, Wed 08 July 2015.

Lavinia opens her mouth to answer that question but is stopped by the entire room rumbling and the five alcoves spread around the room rotating in place - each of them revealing a very large chest.

Lavinia's eyes twinkle. "I guess my father thought that they had two eyes, huh Logan?" The young lady laughs in relief at seeing the treasure found safe and sound. She takes a step foward.

"Oh, I suppose you want to check for traps? Although it would be pretty mean for my parents to put a trap in at this point!"

OOC: Ah, I think I remember hearing that at some point.  So a moon and other planets.  Does it specify anywhere in the Mystara setting what average people know about that?  Not that it matter much, but do they know their world is round?  That it orbits around the sun?

Logan nods to Lavinia, his excitement apparent.  "I think you're right, that your parents would have counted on that snake, then this puzzle to keep their treasures safe.  But it never hurts to check."

Logan moves forward into each of the five alcoves, checking each one carefully for traps as he does so.

Logan isn't able to find any traps on any of the chests, so Lavinia happily takes a step forward to the first chest. She gets down on her knees, and then opens the big chest... and the smile dies on her face - the chest is empty.

"What? But how?" she asks, almost falling over in shock. She scrambles over to the next chest on all fours and flings back the lid.

The second chest is empty.

"Oh no! Oh no, oh no!" she screams, she sprints to the next chest in a crouched run and opens it.

The third chest is empty.

Lavinia shrieks and sobs at the same time and springs to the fourth chest.

The fourth chest is also empty.
OOC: Damn. Looks like the party ain't gunna get paid!

Lavinia is sobbing heavily as she moves to the last chest. With a despairing shake of her head she slowly opens it.

The fifth chest is full to the brim with gold and platinum.

OOC: Ha! Fake out!

Lavinia's crying turns to gasping sobs of relief. "Thank you <sob> mom <sob> and dad <sob> I won't forget you <sob> and I will make the family <sob> great again."

Lavinia looks at the masses of coins and nods her head. "I think it will be enough. At least for a couple of months until I can stabilise the finances," she says in an evaluating tone.

She notices a book on top of the gold coins and opens it. "Oh my goodness. This is my mother's writing - look, she has written it in Sylvan but I recognise her handwriting... so elegant." After leafing through a few pages she gasps. "Look at these sketches... a jungle island... exotic animals... great thunder lizards... wild natives... what is this place?"

Excited about the entire treasure hunt, Celene is both thrilled and sorry to apparently be at an end here. But as Lavinia opens first one, then another, empty chest, she turns sad, and furious at the actions of Vanthus, whom Celene holds to the blame. All the more her astonishment when the final chest opens to a hoard of wealth. Even though Celene has a rather practical perspective on money, not desiring it much, but realising the usability of it, she feels a shiver going up her neck at the sight of this amazing fortune.

Trying to shake of the thoughts of all that money, she tears away her gaze. Going to the side of Lavinia, she smiles at her luck, and joins the choir against her brother, “Well, at least he missed one chest! I am glad this didn't turn out as dreadful at the first chests promised.”

Looking at the book that Lavinia so adores, she wonders out loud, “why did your mother write in Sylvan? Is it a rare language, so most people wouldn't be able to read it? Or did she just fancy it?”

At least being able to fathom the sketches - if not the language - of creatures and landscapes, she appreciates the artistic value. “I'm not familiar with much outside this city, and not much in it anyway, but perhaps Kassius or Alohan  can shed some light on it, if you're curious?”
This message was last edited by the player at 19:14, Wed 08 July 2015.

Alohan was going to open his mouth about the note left with the signet ring but the Shadowshore boy had already begun to spin the pillar. He watched in admiration as the boy went about solving the puzzle and unlocking the Vanderboren vault. His wonderment increased when the entire structure began to shift to reveal modest sized chests. He wasn't entirely eager to get paid; just satisfied Lavinia could finally get the peace she deserved. Of course, her dismay whilst opening empty chests sent a pang of regret through the Native. He wanted to reach out and console her but recognized it wasn't his place.

At Celene's beckon, Alohan stepped forward to peek at Lavinia's book. "Let me be a lookin,'"he grumbled, peering over their shoulders. Lavinia flipped through the sketches, giving Alohan the chance to observe but he was coming up short. He recognized some of the more common depictions but anyone could notice them.

He shook his head at a loss.

---

15:32, Today: Alohan Nuari rolled 9 using 1d20. Know(Nature) vs Book.
Looking to see if the pictures match something that might be on the Pearl Islands
This Dice Roller plagues me

This message was last edited by the player at 19:35, Wed 08 July 2015.

Kassius peered into the final room with interest, his face impassive as Lavinia opened one after another empty chest. He wondered what the lady would do if there was no treasure in all, grimacing slightly. He hated crying womenfolk. It reminded him of his mother. Father had always seemed to know what to do, Father always knew just what to do, but he was dead, and Kassius wasn't half the hero that Kull the Konquerer had been.

Thankfully, the last box was not empty, although Lavinia was still apparently crying. Kassius did perk up when he heard the comment about jungle islands and exotic animals. He stepped up, giving his own look-over at the book. His knowledge was quite limited, but he knew more than these city people.



Knowledge (geography) would probably be more appropriate, but I don't have that. So hopefully knowledge (nature) will give something useful.
16:27, Today: Kassius rolled 14 using 1d20+3. knowledge (nature).

Angati's face as the chests were opened was a poem to sourness. A hint of a smile appeared at her mouth when the coins were found... but quite frankly, she expected much much more. It made no sense that someone capable of constructing a place like this, of putting together the resources and will to do it, would have only left an amount like that and not wonders upon wonders...

As she approached to console Lavinia, she said "I do not suppose any of us can see invisible objects right ? maybe there is something more escaping our perception" she said as she casted attuned to the passing of time to be able to detect magic, and gave a round to the room and passed her hands by the chests before meeting the others around Lavinia.

OOC: I am not sure if Elven is the same as Sylvan... if it is, Angati can speak it... else... nope.
Anyway, let me know if anything is detected as magical please.

"Oh, my mother, Larissa Vanderboren, was a famous druid you know. She felt that Sylvan was a language much closer to nature than the common tongue. I doubt she wrote it in that language to stop it being read, after all there are plenty of people who know Sylvan."



Alohan thinks he recognizes one of the sketches... was it a fern? Didn't they have ferns on his islands? He is pretty sure that they do, but he'd never taken much notice of them, well, unless they were on the skirts of the girls dancing the hula, oh, that he could remember, with all their jiggling bits and swaying skirts, sometimes her would just kick back in his throne room and watch for hours, hula, girls, hula, girls, girls, girls, erection…

Alohan's mind wanders and he don't make any progress on the sketches.

OOC: Jeez, did you bully the dice roller when he was a kid or something?



Kassius' approach at trying to recognizing the contents of the sketches is more focused but ultimately not much more successful. Giant lizards? Surely those sketches were not to scale? That would that creature as big as a house with teeth the size of a man! He doubts the sketches are of real living creatures unless they are magical constructs.



Angati does not locate anything magic in that final vault room or in the preceding snake room. She does notice again that judging from the disturbed dust in the first room, there were a lot of objects stored there until recently. Maybe the Vanderboren family did have a lot of stuff prior to it all going... missing recently. Although, probably not as much as was jammed into the much bigger Lidu vault around the corner!

The chests appear entirely non magical and normal.



OOC: Yes, Sylvan is the same as Elven.

Angati is actually able to read a bit of the book over Lavinia's shoulder, although with Celene, Alohan and Kassius all also trying to get a look it is getting crowded! She reads the front cover 'The Ecology of the Isle of Dread - being an account of the magnificent fauna and flora of the Isle as discovered by Larissa Vanderboren during her travels.' But then Lavinia hugs the book to her chest and starts speaking.

"I will translate it. My mother would have liked that. Okay, let's more this all back!" she exclaims. Many large sacks are procured from the clerk in the castle, and all filled up with gold and platinum coins. Then with each member of the party taking a sack (except for Alohan who takes two) they trudge up the stairs and onto a private gondola. Surprisingly little interest is taken of them - apparently the castle staff are used to the great families of the city making large deposits and withdrawals.

They head back to Vanderboren manner and leave the sacks in the family safe, which Lavinia closes and locks after taking out a couple of handfuls of platinum coins. She turns around and addresses the entire party.

"I am so happy with what you have done for me. Without your help I know I would never have gotten the signet ring back or gained access to the family treasure. At least what was left of it," she mutters. "So, here is your payment, given with great satisfaction from my behalf." She hands 20 platinum coins to each of you (well, not Kibeti, he works for free).

"But, I hope our involvement can go further! I would like to make you all a business proposal. I will pay you each 100 gold crowns a month to be continue working for me - sort of a replacement for the Jade Ravens if you like. And I will have your first job for you if you come... well, not tomorrow, let's take a day off... but be hear at eight o'clock the day after tomorrow and I will tell you about it. Are you interested?"

OOC: Questions?

Logan's emotions had run quite the roller coaster, from surprise and pain at the snake, to elation at unlocking the puzzle, to mounting despair as the chests revealed themselves to be empty, then joy and finally just stunned shock.  First at how much money was left, but second, the tantalizing clues as to how much money there once had been.  If all of those rooms had been filled the same way...maybe if Lavinia was successful, they would be once again?  And Logan would be there to help, and gain his rewards.  The last thought was the rational thread Logan clung to rationalize not stealing one of the bulging bags of gold and disappearing into the city.  His growing attachment to his teammates, even to Lavinia herself, he ignored for the time being.

Back at Vanderboren manor, Logan thanks Lavinia: "100 gold a month?  For jobs like this, that sounds great."  The rogue tries to temper his enthusiasm a little, not wanting his new employer to realize how incredibly amazing her offer is.  Maybe he could even convince her to increase it?  The rogue rubs his wounded shoulder.  "Well, I could go without the biting snakes in the future.  That would certainly be nice."  He glances to Alohan, shivering at the memory of the islander's belly laid open by the creature on the boat, thankful that worse things hadn't happened to him.  (Though there had been those undead creatures in Aubreck's secret basement...

Logan brought his attention back to the present.  "Yes, day after tomorrow.  I'll be here at 8!"

And Logan left, already thinking about the new places he could afford to live with a steady stream of income far beyond what he thought was possible.  The thief sighed.  His mother might not care, but it would make him feel better.  Maybe he could even get one of the temples to see her?  As a matter of fact...

Logan turned back to the Vanderboren estate, waiting for Celene to leave and talk with her.  When the young acolyte appeared, Logan approached her.

"Celene, I need some advice on dealing with a personal matter.  I don't want to trouble anyone else, but I need some help for my mother.  Do you have  time to spare?"

Just to be clear to everyone, that 100/month income must be consumed by your character's lifestyle and cannot be used to buy equipment. You can live a 'weathly' lifestyle with this money.



So spend it on renting a place to stay, nice meals, training, books, services like getting weapons sharpened and armour cleaned, magic lessons, or just give it away.

Celene was obviously intrigued by such an offer. How could one not be tempted? But how would this affect her life from now on? "That is a very generous offer, Lavinia. And it is not that I am saying no, but there's more than just securing a salary in this. Does this mean that we're bound to you from now on? Can you dispose of our time any time you like. After all, I have other obligations and things to attend to. And does the tasks we are to do cover equally fetching a bag of money from the bank, as well as fighting an undead legion of vampires month after month without end? Will our employment keep us from other avenues of income? After all, we just earned double the monthly salary for a days work. As I said, I am certainly not saying no to such a generous offer, but I would like to think this through - and perhaps get your own oppinion on all my concerns? But count me in for the moment, I will be here on the morning of tomorrow, ready for your proposal." She then lets Lavinia make any comments on this that she may feel like.

That said, Celene sees the others drifting off, and decides to take her leave as well. "See you all soon again, I hope! And keep your eyes out for Vark, he's still out there. And Vanthus!"
This message was last edited by the player at 05:52, Fri 10 July 2015.

As Logan came to her, asking about his mother, Celene reckoned it was rather personal, and not something he did not want to share with too many, so she beckoned down the street. "Of course, any time! If I can help in any way, I will. Come, let's walk along and you can tell me about it?"

In reply to Celene (msg # 54):

Logan breathes a sigh of relief as Celene agrees to talk with him.  The rogue is silent for a half-dozen paces, unsure of how exactly to start.  Finally, he clears his throat.  "Sorry, this is hard to talk about.  I'm not used to divulging personal things like this.  Among the people in my community in Shadowshore, it can be a...liability.  There's honor among thieves, more or less, but some of them fall to the decidely less.  If the wrong person found out what I was about to say..."  Logan shook his head, then clears his throat again.

"Anyway...it's my mother, like I said.  When I was a boy, my father was killed.  At the time, he was a wealthy merchant.  After his death, my mother just stopped...everything.  Caring, trying.  We filtered down through the city as she spent what money we had, and came to rest in Shadowshore.  I learned how to...work on the streets, making enough money to get by, but enough to do much more.  And my mother kept getting worse.  Now, she's mostly catatonic.  Just sits and stares out the window most days.  I can get her to eat, but that's about all.  I never had the money to do any more than that.  Even the temple healers cost money.  Not that they'd even give the time of day to someone that looked like me in Shadowshore!"  Logan gives a hurt-sounding laugh.

"But now that can all change!  I have money.  More than I ever thought I'd have.  But I don't know where to start.  And I thought you could help me.  Find a temple that could see if there's anything to be done.  Or at least help look after her.  Or maybe I just need to get her out of Shadowshore.  Get a better place somewhere, maybe that'll be enough to improve her spirits."

Logan looks to Celene, waiting for her reply.

The Native simply sighed at Lavinia's offer. Living in affluent luxury was one of the reasons he left the Pearl Islands. He didn't need it nor did he want it. The feeling of loss and loneliness brought on by the grandeur of his life, unable to escape the prison of a royal welcome. His time here in Sasserine had been refreshing. He was just another person, another face in the crowd. He could picture Remmi's reaction. Most likely his friend would squeal in delight and jump at the opportunity. And maybe he should! Remmi had been ever loyal and obedient -he deserved a bit of a break from Alohan's soul searching escapade in Sasserine.

Still, there was another woman in his life, one that would reciprocate his advances and temporarily fill a need that seemed to continuously consume him.

"I be thankin' ya Lavinia," was all Alohan could muster. He failed to give her a proper answer but decided everyone would be too distracted by their recent turn of luck to notice the Native's reluctance. Given the proper time, he slipped out of Vanderboren manor, avoided Celene and Logan in discussion, and went to find his ipo ahi.

---

DM: Alohan would like to spend the night with Rowyn. Is this possible? I also wanted to have some dialogue with her about her job opportunity. It doesn't seem appropriate doing it in the other thread. Maybe here?
This message was last edited by the player at 20:32, Thu 09 July 2015.

Kassius merely grunts at Lavinia's offer. Whatever the half-orc feels of it, he's apparently not saying much right now. He does look intently at Lavinia after Celene's barrage of questions. He has many of the same, and listens carefully to the answer.

Inside, his mind is slowly picking over the idea. A regular income would allow him to live completely independent of his mother and grandfather. Was that actually a good thing? Kassius wasn't sure. Still, having the money would be better than not having it, and the work for Lavinia had been interesting enough so far. As he walked back to his family's estate, he felt himself leaning towards accepting.

Angati thanked Lavinia profusely and promised to be there the day after the morrow. Before moving on though she tried to catch a word with her companions. Trying to keep Alohan from leaving right away before Logan finished talking with Celene.

Once they were together she went right to the heart of the matter "Ok... it seems to me that many of us are seriously considering this work... I am quite convinced for it, I like the girl and she tries to live up to her promises, and I think that will be more than we can hope for if we try to find another job offer of this sort.... anyway, I think that many of us are going to be changing quite a bit from our lifestyle up to now, and given that we might be moving to live in another place, and given that much of our work will be together and that... let's face it... thanks to this work we will be making common enemies. I wanted to suggest we try to find a spot to live were we don't need to go across town to find each other, and were we can defend ourselves should the need arise. Maybe a tavern or maybe renting a house or whatnot, if that's in your interest"

In reply to Angati (msg # 58):

OOC: i would like celene to have an answer from lavinia first, if possible?

In reply to Logan (msg # 55):



Celene appreciates how difficult this it for Logan, both due to his experience on the street, but also because of his anguish. "Of course, Logan. This remains between the two of us."

"I will do whatever I can to help you and your mother. But I must be frank with you - my influence within the temple of Wee Jas is very small. I am not even a cleric yet, although my ordainment is very close. AND our temple is hardly known for being kind and caring. To
be honest, the clergy cares for anything but people - excepting themselves. Still, I feel at home there, and they took me in when I was alone and vulnerable. That is why I wish to be part of the church, and follow the goddess. I hope to do better, though, with whatever power I may recieve. And perhaps even one day change this. For the moment, though, the church of Wee Jas is not our best option for helping your mother."

"But there are other temples in Sasserine that we can seek out for aid. Particularly, in the Sunrise district, there are several temples that I can think of, that may be able and willing to help us. From what you say, your mother is not afflicted by a disease, but by grief and sadness, from the loss of your father, yes? So I doubt a normal healer will be able to help. Her condition is in and of herself. She needs perhaps peace and comfort, and help to come to terms with her loss. That I think she is most likely to be able to get in Sunrise. The shrine of Rao, god of peace and serenity, could be one place, or perhaps even Pelor, whose followers may heal her with his brightness, bringing light back to her. I will help in any way I can to get her what she needs there.

But.. I do not mean this in any scornful way, but what is it that so burdens your mother with her loss. Was something extraordinarily special between your father and her? Because, in most cases when we loose another, we grieve and feel sad and lost for a time - but the grief burns much of the loss, allowing us to let our loved ones go to the beyond. What is it that is so special that your mother is unable to let your father, and her own grief, go?"

"Oh my, no, it's not like that! I would merely have 'first rights', meaning that you should work preferentially for me over other clients, but if I had no work then you would be free to pursue other interests - as long as you let me know if you were going to be away for extended periods. Think of it as being more of a retainer fee."

"And of course you are free to refuse a mission if you think it is just too dangerous or there is a better course of action - so no fighting legions of vampires! We could even prepare a legal contract if you wanted... feel free to bring one with you when you visit in two days"



OOC: Sure, thread for sexposition on its way!

Logan listens to Celene, glad he has found a source of assistance.  Finally the rogue nods.  "Thanks for your words.  I didn't know what the temple of Wee Jas stood for, or that they wouldn't be the best people to see.  In truth, none of the temples in Shadowshore seemed particularly good.  But now that I have more options..."  The rogue trails off, thinking of the money he carries, and the monthly retainer that Lavinia has promised them.  Suddenly he looks up, face deep in thought.  "I wonder if our new employer would be willing to provide any sort of...post death benefits for our families?  If wouldn't do any good for my mother if I were caught in some horrible trap tomorrow or next week and she ended up back on the street again."  Logan shakes his head.  "For another time, I guess."

The rogue looks thoughtful again, considering Celene's questions.  "As to my mother and father.  Well, as you might be able to tell, I'm not full-blooded human.  I'm a half-elf, and not just 'one of my ancestors was an elf long ago.'  Tessara, my mother, is a full-blooded elf.  My father, Theodric, was a human merchant.  My mother knew she was giving a lot away when she accepted his marriage proposal.  At the very least, she'd outlive him by centuries, but she thought it was worth it.  Unfortunately, she didn't even get the two score years she thought she would.  Soon after I was born, my father was killed in an accident."  Logan shakes his head.  "I've thought the same thing as you many times.  It seems as though, given that she knew she'd have to face his loss anyway, facing it sooner almost shouldn't have been this bad."  Logan shakes his head sadly again.  "Maybe she was just grieving at what she saw for our future, and now she grieves still for what she's down to all of us, and for a happiness that never really happened.  Or maybe she realized that every elf that opposed her being with my father was right, and she's reaping exactly what they all saw happening.  Or maybe my father really was special, and Tessara knows that she lost something unique."  Logan looks away, obviously trying to hide his emotions.  "I wouldn't really know, since I don't even remember him."

Finally, he turns back to Celene, emotions in check.  "But if you think Pelor or Rao would offer what she needs in Sunrise, that's a lot better than I can offer her now."  The rogue smiles again.  "Thank you, Celene."

A sudden thought occurred to Celene at Logan's words, making her halt his final dismissive words. "Wait, your speech about your mother's possible ailments makes other ideas spring up. If she does grieve for things not borne to fruition, or words not said with your father, there may be avenues that our temple in fact may be uniquely competent at." Celene shivers involuntarily at the thought, as this is the part of her faith she's least accustomed to. "Wee Jas is not just Goddess of Law, Magic and even Love, but also Death, in a natural way. I am not saying you should do this, it's entirely your descision, but priests of Wee Jas may fascilitate a communion between your mother and your father. Or you and your father if that may actually be beneficial, since you admit you've never even known him."

Changing avenue of thought, she adds "What do you know of him? What was the accident that happened to him? How did he and your mother meet?" Putting a hand on her chin, a finger tapping her temple, she thinks out load, "do these questions perhaps hold any clues to your mother's situation - and yours?"

Sighing, she shrugs. "Ah, well, maybe all she needs is peace and caring. And you near her? If so, I believe the orders of Pelor or particularly Rao would be the place we visit. And yes, I am quite certain Lavinia will add a compensation to closest relative if we perish during employment. If not, I'll make sure she agrees to one, and one that will take care of your mother for a long time."


OOC: GM, i've just ad hoc'ed it so far, based on the Sasserine background info doc. Any information relevant to this Celene might have? Knowledge  checks (or is it up to me to determine what to try?)

Note that C will make sure a proper clause on a compensation in case of death is added to our contract:-).

Logan listens to Celene, then shivers.  "You might think I'm superstitious, but talking to my dead father sounds...frightening.  And not just because he's dead!  What would say, if he saw how I'm living?"  The rogue shakes his head.  "I'm not even sure that's what my mom needs, though I don't know exactly what she needs, so I could be completely wrong!  It's possible that it could help Tessara speak with Theodric, though it's also possible it might just hammer home how much she's lost.  We can try that option if we really need to, I suppose, but let's start with something simpler first."

Logan thinks for a second before answering.  "I don't know all that much about my father.  I know he was a powerful businessman in Sasserine, traveling the world and such to procure expensive things for himself, which is how he met my mother in the first place.  Whenever Tessara speaks of how he dies, it's always 'the accident', and from what else I've been able to piece together, it was just that: an accident in the streets.  I think it was a runaway cart that crushed him before anyone could stop it - just a terrible accident in the city, but something that happens.  Maybe the fact that there really was no one to blame for it all, except for fate itself, is what started this whole thing, but I don't know."  Logan shrugged.  "It's possible there's more to it, but questioning my mother too much only seems to make her depression worse, so I try not to do that.  The rare moments of life in her are when she sees something that makes her forget the past, so maybe getting her out of Shadowshore into more peaceful surroundings is what she needs."

Celene: Talking to Logan's dead Dad sounded fun, may be you can convince him to give it a try further on down the road. But which spell were you planning on using? For 'speak to dead' you need the corpse, and Logan's Dad was worm food many decades before.

Logan: If you decide to move your Mom out of Shadowshore to a new location then I want to describe her reaction.

Dungeon Master:

Celene: Talking to Logan's dead Dad sounded fun, may be you can convince him to give it a try further on down the road. But which spell were you planning on using? For 'speak to dead' you need the corpse, and Logan's Dad was worm food many decades before.

No particular one, didn't look it up, just assumed it may somehow be possible. If it's something Logan wants to explore, I'll dig in to see if it's possible. Otherwise we'll buy an Ouija board.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:36, Tue 14 July 2015.