Olven stood close to the lever on his side of the first portcullis when D'aden walked around the corner beyond the other portcullis. He was pursued by a female, elven like, apparition with hellish red pinpricks for eyes, dressed in a black robe.

D'aden ignored her attacks, but then her incorporeal arms seemed to pass through him without effect.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:56, Mon 27 Mar 2017.

"Hey!  D'aden!  There's some kind of ghost trying to grab you!"  Olven Wolf still holds his spear and shield.  The mercenary wrinkles his forehead.  He isn't quite sure how to go about fighting something that doesn't actually have a body.  "Hey!  Ghost elf!  Are you friend or foe?"

OOC:  Is this a pretty elf ghost?  That does make a difference.  (They're usually the super evil kind.)

[OOC: She's average for an elf, which means she's Attractive. Though I note I forgot to mention her eyes in the first post, updating that post now.]

D'aden walks towards Olven, ignoring the apparition. "Yeah, I know. But it's like it isn't there. I can't touch it and it doesn't hurt MEEEE!"
The last swipe of the elven maid finally got through, and D'aden rushed forward assuming it wouldn't follow.

"Here, let me try."  Hefting his spear, Olven Wolf steps forward and jabs at the phantom with his spear.  He doesn't expect the attack to do anything, but the ghost seems hostile.

OOC:  Attack!

The heroes pulled the levers and opened their portcullises and took one step towards the opening portcullises. The apparition swiped again and D'aden was able to avoid one of them. And fortunately the other didn't harm him further.

D'aden rushed forward to Olven's side and past the DOOR on his left. And Olven stepped between him and the pursuing apparition. His spear went through the apparition twice, seemingly with no effect whatsoever. The apparition ignored Olven and swiped at D'aden again. This time the bard was able to avoid both of them.

[What do you do?]
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:45, Tue 28 Mar 2017.

D'aden seems to figure something out, and he begins to actively dodge the phantom. "Can you get that door open, it won't bother you while it's after me."

Olven opened the door. The room beyond was about 50 feet long and half that wide, with their door in the middle of the long side. The ceiling was about 50 feet above them.

In the center of the room was a large table, surrounded by ten skeletons fighting five spectral minions. Had they just jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire?

But Roisin was in the mouth of the corridor to the right. She cast a fireball that brought one of the spectral minions to the ground. And the undead in the room, now having noticed both Roisin and Olven, split up. With five skeletons and two spectral minions going for each of them.

D'aden had been correct though. The apparition continued to focus on him. One of her swipes missing and D'aden dodging the other one.

Apparent exits: Door (Olven, D'aden). Door in the middle of opposing wall. Corridor to the right (Roisin). Corridor to the left.

[Olven you have one step remaining in this turn, you cannot attack. D'aden, you have a complete turn ahead of you. Both of you will get full turns before the undead acts again. So you can post for both now.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:39, Wed 29 Mar 2017.

"Roisin!" Olven calls out.  More undead, skeletons and ghosts this time.  He grins as Roisin's fireball takes out one of the spectres.  "Let's try to reach her," he says to D'aden.  He drops his spear and draws his axe.

OOC:  Drop spear.  Draw axe.

Use Step and Attack maneuvers to attack whatever enemy is closest, prioritizing skeletons.  Move toward Roisin.

Roisin flashed a quick smile as she prepared another fireball for the consumption of the undead in the room.

D'aden begins heading straight at the undead melee. "I've got an idea," he says, "maybe my malefic leman will leave me for another she has more in common with. I'm pretty sure I can avoid them all for a bit."
Dodging what he can, he attempts to lead the vengeful spirit that chases him into the other group of undead.

OOC: His overconfidence is getting a workout lately.

Olven brought down two skeletons, leaving only piles of bones, as he moved as close to Roisin as he could. The undead facing Roisin were now "surrounded," but so was Olven.

Roisin brought down another spectral minion. And D'aden moved out of the corridor and into the room, pursued by the apparition.

The apparition continued to ignore all other targets and swiped at D'aden again. He was able to avoid the first, but the second past right through him and for the second time ripping some of him away.

D'aden was able to draw away one spectral minion from Olven, that swung its very normal sword at him, which D'aden tried, but failed to avoid. Fortunately his armor protected him.

Three skeletons attacked Olven. Two of them missed. He failed to avoid the third, but his armor protected him from almost all of the damage. His shield blocked the spectral minion's attack.

Ochre took care of one of the skeletons and only three of the four skeletons could get to Roisin. All three attacked, one of them missed, and she was unable to avoid either of those attacks. Injuring her so deeply that she was barely holding on to consciousness.

Ochre led the remaining skeleton and one spectral minion on a merry chase away from his master.

Apparent exits: Door (Olven, D'aden). Door in the middle of opposing wall. Corridor to the right (Roisin). Corridor to the left.



D'aden: HP 14/14. HT = 5 (That swipe was worse and lowered HT permanently by 5, also affecting your HT-based skills. Only high level magic will be able to restore your HT back to normal.)
Olven: HP 16/15
Roisin: HP 8/0
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:37, Thu 30 Mar 2017.

Olven Wolf watches, eyebrows raised, as D'aden launches himself right into the scrim.  Battling his way to Roisin, he tries his best to support her, but gasps as one of the skeletons rips into her.

He turns his head as Ochre leads the two more undead away, and then he stands beside Roisin, ready to face more fiends.

OOC:  Remain close to Roisin and attack any undead that come within range.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:29, Thu 30 Mar 2017.

D'aden continues to move, turning towards Roisin and advancing. As he does so, he swings his staff at the spectral minion attacking him, "I know I can beat you, at least."

OOC: move and attack with staff (-14), D'aden Tor VIII rolled 8,8 using 3d6,2d6+2.  strike and damage.

Roisin motioned to D'aden to return to her side, as she wove yet another spell to take care of the spectre close to D'aden. She could see he was in deep trouble and had no idea what he was facing.

Olven reduced another two skeletons to pieces.

D'aden's staff passed through the spectral minion.

Roisin cast a fireball at the apparition, which brought it to the ground. She continued to cling to wakefulness.

Ochre dealt with the skeleton pursuing it.

The four remaining skeletons all turned on Olven. Two of them missed and the warrior defended against the others.

Ochre continued to evade the pursuing spectral minion.

Two spectral minions turned on D'aden. One missed and D'aden dodged the other.

Apparent exits: Door (Olven, D'aden). Door in the middle of opposing wall. Corridor to the right (Roisin). Corridor to the left.

Skeletons: 4 left
Spectral Minions: 3 left
Apparition: Down

D'aden: HP 14/14. HT = 5 (That swipe was worse and lowered HT permanently by 5, also affecting your HT-based skills. Only high level magic will be able to restore your HT back to normal.)
Olven: HP 16/15
Roisin: HP 8/0; FP 12/5

Roisin wanted to express her exasperation at D'aden's foolhardiness. "You can't hurt them" she said before she started speaking in Magius, drawing from the words to invoke another fireball against the spectral figures D'aden was fighting. As the fireball flew she turned to the construct. "Utrecht, destroy the skeletons"
This message was last edited by the player at 08:26, Tue 04 Apr 2017.

Olven Wolf's axe gets a workout, shattering bone as he takes on the remaining skeletons.  "D'aden, come to us!  Let Roisin deal with the spectres!"  His axe in his right hand, his shield in his left, he blocked another skeleton's attack as he swings once more.

OOC:  Attack!

As he attempts to get out of Roisin's line of fire and swings a misguided blow at a skeleton, D'aden says, "I don't mind letting her do that, because they're certainly doing a good job of dealing with me!"

OOC:19:39, Today: D'aden Tor VIII rolled 14,13 using 3d6,3d6.  overconfidence(-12),on the edge(-15).
Still thinks he can take 'em!
19:40, Today: D'aden Tor VIII rolled 16,10 using 3d6,2d6+2.  attack skeleton/damage.
but misses anyway

Roisin fireballed another spectral minion into oblivion.

Olven brought down another two skeletons

D'aden attacked another skeleton, but missed.

Ochre delt with a skeleton.

The skeleton swung at Olven, but he blocked.

One Spectral Minion attacked D'aden, but he evaded.

The other spectral minion attacked Ochre, but it evaded too.

Apparent exits: Door (Olven, D'aden). Door in the middle of opposing wall. Corridor to the right (Roisin). Corridor to the left.

Skeletons: 1 left
Spectral Minions: 2 left
Apparition: Down

D'aden: HP 14/14. HT = 5 (That swipe was worse and lowered HT permanently by 5, also affecting your HT-based skills. Only high level magic will be able to restore your HT back to normal.)
Olven: HP 16/15
Roisin: HP 8/0; FP 12/4

With a few more slashes, Olven Wolf chops first one, then another skeleton.  "Almost done!" he shouts, and turns his attention to the last skeleton.

OOC:  Close with last skeleton and attack it.

The combat had taken a toll on Roisin. She steeled herself and threw another fireball towards the spectral minion near D'aden, hoping that Ochre could remain apart from the minion chasing him. She sent waves of encouragement to the pseudodragon.

Olven finished the final skeleton.

Roisin's fireball dealt with the spectral minion.

The final spectral minion missed Ochre.

Roisin threw another fireball and felled the final spectral minion. She then promptly collapsed from her injuries.

Apparent exits: Door (Olven, D'aden). Door in the middle of opposing wall. Corridor to the right (Roisin). Corridor to the left.

Apparition: Down

D'aden: HP 14/14. HT = 5 (That swipe was worse and lowered HT permanently by 5, also affecting your HT-based skills. Only high level magic will be able to restore your HT back to normal.)
Olven: HP 16/15
Roisin: HP 8/0; FP 12/2; Unconscious, you get a HT roll at the end of every hour to return to consciousness.

[OOC: I'm covering two turns in this post, as there weren't many choices what to do with the final spectral minion.]

Olven Wolf finishes off the final skeleton with his axe, and then turns back to Roisin.  He drops by her side and checks for a pulse, then checks to see if he can administer first aid.

"It's a good thing she could deal with those spirits," he says.  "Our weapons had no effect on them, D'aden."

OOC:  Use First Aid to check on Roisin's condition.

Olven checked Roisin. She was still alive. Considering recent events, she was likely not sleeping or paralyzed. But he couldn't find out for sure if she was in a coma or merely unconscious.

But she was wounded and he could help with that. He took a minute and bandaged her.

Apparent exits: Door (Olven, D'aden). Door in the middle of opposing wall. Corridor to the right (Roisin). Corridor to the left.

Apparition: Down

D'aden: HP 14/14. HT = 5 (That swipe was worse and lowered HT permanently by 5, also affecting your HT-based skills. Only high level magic will be able to restore your HT back to normal.)
Olven: HP 16/15
Roisin: HP 8/1; FP 12/2; Unconscious, you get a HT roll at the end of every hour to return to consciousness.

[OOC: If you want to help Roisin restore additional HP, you can spend 30 minutes and make another First Aid roll to restore an additional 1d6-4 HP. Yes, even with a successful roll, that's more than 66% probability for no effect at all.]

"Roisin needs healing," Olven says as he applies first aid.  "D'aden, see if you can find a way out of here.  I'll see if I can do anything else to help her."

OOC:  Olven will use First Aid again and take 30 minutes this time to see if he can help with any of her other injuries.

D'aden went to the door opposite them, and attempted to open it. "Yeah, we got to get away from here. I don't know what that thing did to me, but I think I'ld prefer getting hit by a sword."

Olven started making Roisin as comfortable and warm as he could. And D'aden looked in behind the door.

D'aden looks back to Olven, and says, "I think we should bring her, and everyone else, in here. It looks like it was some sort of library, and was probably where those that passed these trials came to. If that's the case, we should be able to avoid further spirits in there."

"Is it safe to move her?"  Olven looks doubtfully at Roisin.  Then he says, "OK, I'll pick her up, but can you grab my spear?  I dropped it over there when I engaged the skeletons.  Oh, and here, carry my shield, too."

Olven removes his shield and places it on the floor.  Then, gently, he kneels down to pick up Roisin and carry her to the library that D'aden found.

Olven carried Roisin to the library. As it turned out, the library had been destroyed by fire and everything was covered by soot. The shelves were charred and empty. The reading table was charred and pocked, and supported a single book under a layer of soot. And there was a pile of ash in one corner

"This, ah, doesn't look like an ideal place for someone to recuperate from her injuries," Olven says, stopping at the doorway.  He looks for a place (hopefully not soot-covered) outside the library to gently lay Roisin's body down.  He then retrieves his equipment and sits down near Roisin to guard her while they wait for her to regain consciousness.

Olven cared for Roisin for half an hour and about half way through that process, Roisin woke up.



Apparent exits: Door (Olven, D'aden). Door in the middle of opposing wall. Corridor to the right (Roisin). Corridor to the left.

Apparition: Down

D'aden: HP 14/14. HT = 5 (Only high level healing magic will be able to restore your HT back to normal.)
Olven: HP 16/15
Roisin: HP 8/2; FP 12/2.

Roisin groaned loudly from the floor, as she regained consciousness, her forehead wrinkled in an expression of pain. She tested opening her eyes as she looked around the room "Ah....I see we made it. That was lucky." her hands reached out to pet Ochre lying lengthwise beside her, who was looking at her inquisitively "No, old friend, we need to get moving." She winced as she sat up, before giving up and remaining on the ground "Maybe in a short while."

"Get your strength back, Roisin," Olven Wolf says.  "D'aden and I will look for a way back to Grettanah."

Collecting his gear, Olven begins searching the room, looking for any clues that might lead them outside and back to where they last saw Grettanah.

Most is but ash and soot.

But Olven removed the soot from the book on the reading table and flipped through it.



Apparition: Down

D'aden: HP 14/14. HT = 5 (Only high level healing magic will be able to restore your HT back to normal.)
Olven: HP 16/15
Roisin: HP 8/2; FP 12/2.

Roisins focussed on trying to recover. She sat cross-legged, with Ochre lying across her lap. "A library? I could spend weeks in here." she said sounding excited. "So what to do from here? I think we're all too badly hurt to continue...right? I'm also pretty much exhausted."

Nodding his head, Olven Wolf says, "Yeah, there's probably a lot of stuff in these books that's worth knowing.". He flips through the soot-encrusted book on the reading table, and then examines the inside cover.  "Huh.  Here's something.  'From study.  Pass pillars three to the door.  Left and pass two.  Left and to the sanctum.'  I guess those are the three pillars we were messing with heifer we got ourselves trapped in here?  This should come in handy."

He reads through the passage several more times, committing it to memory.  then, in response to Roisin, he says, "I'm fine.  I think D'aden's more hurt than he lets on, and we need a place for you to recover.  Unless you can heal yourself?  And Grettanah is somewhere out there.  We need to get everyone together in one place."

Frowning, he looks around the library.  "I don't want to stay separated, but I know you aren't in any condition to move.  I'll see what I can find out about a way out.  Maybe Grettanah can come join us in here."

Olven leaves the library and prowls around the chamber outside, checking the exits from the room.

OOC:  Check for exits from the larger chamber.

Not counting the burnt out library or the two directions the heroes had come from, there was only one exit remaining.

"I have some poultices and herbs that might ease the pain. Staying here might be problematic in the long run. The sooner I get on my feet the better." Roisin rummaged in her bag, looking for anything that might help.

Going to the door in the opposite wall, Olven tries to open it and look through.

Olven opened the door and from appearance, it seemed that he had found another entrance to the magic corridors. ten by ten foot pillars ten feet from each other as far as he could see, which wasn't very far in the darkness.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:47, Sat 13 May 2017.

Olven turns around and retraces his steps back to D'aden and Roisin.  "It looks like there's another way out of here, back to that hallway that never seemed to end.  Do you two want to try to find Grettanah now, or should I try to go fetch her?  That hall is confusing, though."

D'aden levers himself up, leaning on his quarterstaff. "We should stick together. If I have to dance with one more of those crazy elf maidens, I'm sure I'll be completely done in."
He starts walking over to look out the door.

And as expected, there were columns in regular intervals, but because of the darkness, he couldn't see past the second in any direction.

Roisin stood up "I agree...we shouldn't go anywhere without each other. It's just too dangerous and right now I think a common housecat might be beyond my abilities to defeat. On the other hand, we need to find Grettanah. A real dilemma. Given that draconians are still wandering and may still pose a threat I suggest we be on the move."

The heroes left the library behind and gathered at the door to the magical corridors. Columns at regular intervals, but too dark to see beyond the second in any direction.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:51, Mon 22 May 2017.

Roisin sent Ochre out to make sure their path would be unimpeded as they looked for Grettanah.

Olven looks back the way they came.  "Hopefully we can retrace our steps back there," he says quietly.  He looks back in the direction Ochre left.  "This hall makes my head hurt."

D'aden pushes off the surface he was leaning on, and begins to move down the hallway, saying "there's nothing like a good song to reduce a headache" before he begins to sing a soft ballad;

Olven Wolf grins wryly at D'aden's tune.  "I like your songs, D'aden," he says.  "Cedric should not advertise his presence to the Black Prince, but this Elaine sounds like she's worth it."

He follows D'aden, warily looking 'round.  The hallway with columns had been very confusing the last time they were here.

D'aden nods as he turns to the left and tries to peer down between the columns. "It's an old ballad. If I remember the story correctly, it was the troubadors that saved the day. You have to wonder about tales like that. You would think the king would be suspicious of any member of the court calling themselves 'The Black Prince' out loud."



OOC: https://youtu.be/jj8qqN-Hb4g?t=357

D'aden looked down the corridor to the left of the entrance.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:10, Wed 24 May 2017.

Roisin sighed at the song "You know if it were me, I'd prefer a man that wasn't so clingy. There is no reference in the song as to whether Cedrics attention was wished or desired. Perhaps the Black Prince is nearby just to discourage unwelcome attention from Cedric. Most women don't know how to fireball like I do."

"To my best recollection, the king wasn't happy with Cedric and Elaine's affection. Cedric was a blacksmith, and there were no male heirs. The tale suggests it isn't right to let a common tradesman become king. Of course, the tale was likely told, first, by someone at court."
"Stories and ballads have the ability to affect us. If enough individuals are affected by the same story, great events that shape society for decades afterward can have their genesis in the imagination of a cunning storyteller. One of my few memories of my mother is her warning me to keep my stories to myself till I really needed them."
Taking a half dozen paces down the left hand corridor, D'aden turned around and walked back. "I believe it would be best if we navigated these corridors with someone who can throw fireballs at the helm. What I see makes no sense."

"Love can make people act like fools, I suppose.  I wouldn't want to be a blacksmith and have a nobleman and his entourage to deal with, although blacksmiths can be pretty tough."  Wolf continues to walk along, sticking close to D'aden and Roisin. "Still, it would be something to have someone to risk my life for.  This Cedric sounds foolish, but brave, too."

[OOC: As none of you seem to be able to make up your mind about where to go, I rolled a die.]

The heroes went to the left. Following what should have been the wall. But even there, there was only one pillar width of wall before a corridor impossibly went in that direction.

As they were passing the third pillar, they noticed up on their right that one pillar was missing. It's almost as if this was a room, three times the width of a corridor, with two corridors on every side and every corner.

In the center, where the missing pillar should have been, there was a pool circumscribed by a low wall. The water was clear and placid and it the place filled you with peace.

"This place makes my head hurt," Olven Wolf growls as the wall turns inexplicably into yet another corridor-lined hallway.  He walks forward, looking around, expecting more dracs or other enemies to show themselves.

Coming to the pool, he stops and looks at it suspiciously.  "Do you feel peaceful all of a sudden?  Maybe there's magic at work here.  I wouldn't go near that pool.  Could be a trap."

OOC:  Look around the pool area for anything suspicious.

"It could be a trap, but I'm starting to think the more magical areas aren't really traps so much as puzzles to help those with the gift learn to better harness it. It reminds me of the training poles the militia used in Caergoth. They would spin easily and had a morning star attached to the arm opposite the shield. If you were running through the training area and pushed a shield out of the way the business end of the morning star smacked you right between the shoulder blades. Of course, those with any experience learned to duck."
"This is sort of like that, except the only one with any experience seems to have stayed behind, and we keep shoving right into the shields."
D'aden puts his back to a column and slides down to sit. "I can't seem to get my wind back. Don't feel right, give me a minute."

"This is a place to train wizards and while the Test itself is deadly, this is not a tower of high sorcery. It's a place of learning. It might be misdirection, but there won't be anything truly lethal at play. It's more to train your mind to adapt and be flexible...and as you've noticed cooperative." Roisin looked in her bag for anything that might help D'aden.

Roisin took some time to examine D'aden.




D'aden: HP 14/14. HT = 5 (Only high level healing magic will be able to restore your HT back to normal.)
Olven: HP 16/15
Roisin: HP 8/2; FP 12/2.

Roisin sat down at the poolside with a sigh "D'aden there's nothing I can do for you. My magic comes from Solinari, the magic to heal you must come from elsewhere." Roisin frowned as she looked at the pool "Well, we've endured a lot to get here. And even in a school, a place must exist for respite from testing. I believe this is such a place."

Roisin, placed a waterskin into the pool and drew from it, before drinking some of the pools water.

Roisin filled her waterskin and drank from the pool.



D'aden: HP 14/14. HT = 5 (Only high level healing magic will be able to restore your HT back to normal.)
Olven: HP 16/15

Roisin felt relieved as she drank the water, the weariness disappearing from her bones. "There's a notion of some sense to this place. I would suggest you both try the water. It should help."

Wolf looks at the fountain suspiciously, but he takes out his waterskin from his pack."OK, Roisin, if you think it's safe."  He refills his water and takes a swig.

OOC:  Refill water and have a drink.

D'aden pushes himself up, walks to the pool, and kneels. He uses one hand to cup water and bring it to his lips, as he drinks, he says, "I was thirsty, anyway. But you would think if this were a truly magical place, this would be a pool of ale, or perhaps mead."

Roisin rolled her eyes at D'adens comment "Not everyone enjoys ale or mead, yet pretty much everyone can tolerate water."

The two men drank from the pool, Olven also refilled his waterskin.




D'aden: HP 14/14. HT = 9 (Only high level healing magic will be able to restore your HT back to normal.)

A wave of refreshment washes over Olven.  "Now that feels good," he says, smiling.  "This really is a magical place."

He laughs at D'aden's comment and Roisin's rejoinder.  "True, everyone does not, Roisin, but I usually enjoy the company of those who drink more than those who abstain."  He grins.  "I can't remember the last time I've felt this good.  Now, let's go find Grettanah."  He waits for the others to do what they want to, and then he continues in the direction they last were heading.

OOC:  Continue in the same direction.

[OOC: Olven suggests continuing moving in the same direction you did to get to the pool. As the group spread out around the pool, are you taking the corridor to the left or the right of the pool? You can take the same or different corridors as you like. Or go in a different direction. FYI you got to the pool in the left corridor.]

D'aden has moved a bit away from the pool and is dumping his wineskin. "I'll be right with you, I just want to see if the best part of this is the substance or the location."
Whatever rejoinders, he merely shrugs and opines, "someone had to ask."

The heroes continued down the same corridor, with the pool on their right. They only past one pillar before they encountered another pool, this one on their left. The pool itself was much like the previous one. A low wall about the same width as one of the pillars.

But the surface of the pool was black and brackish and a tall skeleton in dark armor stood in  a wide stance in its center with water up to its knees, holding a rusting sword in its frozen bony hands. Its empty eye sockets seemed to stare at them.

There's something in the water between the skeleton's legs.

The corridors continued as normal, two in each direction, surrounding the pool.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:54, Sat 10 June 2017.

Olven slows as they reach the second black pool.  "OK, that one probably poisons or kills," he says.

He thinks back to the king's instructions and intelligence about the Lyceum.  "The King talked about this place," he says.  "He mentioned the strange hallways that were straight one moment and curved the next.  There's supposedly a treasure here protected by lightning."

He looks suspiciously at the skeleton with the sword.  "Roisin, do you have a spell to see what's in the water, beneath that skeleton?"  He drops his spear and pulls out his axe and walks closer, but he doesn't touch the pool.

"No...well, yes, well, maybe." Roisin frowned "well, sometimes alternative solutions might present themselves. Utrecht, could you please fetch what is in the pond, between the skeletons legs?" she asked the golem politely.

The stone statue obeyed and picked up a black orb, its surface tarnished by the filthy water.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:30, Mon 26 June 2017.

After the orb was removed from the pool, D'aden nodded. Taking his wineskin, he dribbles some of the water onto the floor to test his theory about the location affecting the water.

D'aden dribbled some of his water on the floor and creates a puddle of water. It still looks the same as when he filled it.

"Let's continue.  We need to find Grettanah," Olven says, and he continues walking west.

OOC:  Go left.

"And find the red orb." Roisin looked up to Utrecht "Ummm...why doesn't someone else take the orb? I mean...it's likely to have some negative consequences if I hold it."

"I'll take it.  I can carry it in my pack," Olven says.  He stops and holds out his hands for the orb.

Having made their arrangements, the heroes turned left again and kept going. Having past just a few more pillars, they discovered a door on their right. This set of golden doors were engraved with the image of wizards kneeling in meditation, facing each other.

"I hate this place," Olven Wolf says quietly.  "These confusing corridors are really doing a number on my head."

He looks over the doors, seeing if he can see any traps, and then tries to open one.

After checking the door and the lock, Olven tried to open the door. But it was locked.

"You know, this looks like another place where the mundane has been turned into a wizard test. Perhaps you open the door by thinking at it, real hard."
D'aden puts three fingers of his right hand on his right temple and squints at the door, ostensibly willing it to open.

"Yeah, probably another door that only wizards can open," Olven says.  "Roisin, what do you think?"  He examines the image of the wizards kneeling, and then tries to mimic their posture.  He kneels facing D'aden and tries his best to think wizardly thoughts.

Despite all of D'aden's and Olven's efforts, the door remained closed.

[OOC: You are getting close to the end of this adventure. You need one more orb, you need to get to the locks those unlock, and then there's the final room. Followed by some sort of denouement, including a report to the King and getting paid for any elemental water that might still be in your possession. Of course there's still the case of the missing teenager (Merilyn).


But then what? There's Jason's request to get the Icon of Truth he lent to the King back, so yes there's room for a sequel or three. If that's something you want. Send me a PM to let me know what you want in a future adventure. Any particular goals you would like to reach/fulfill. More puzzles? Less puzzles? Different kinds of puzzles?

I know these corridors didn't work for you, fortunately they are soon over. Just to give you an example on how twisted they are.

Olven shared a clue with you how to get to this door. 'From study.  Pass pillars three to the door.  Left and pass two.  Left and to the sanctum.' Or in other words, if you had walked straight ahead when you entered these corridors after the fight with the spirits, passing three pillars, turned left at the door, and passed two more pillars you would have reached this place with the golden door to your left. Instead you immediately turned left, passed six pillars, turned left again and passed four pillars. You still got to the same door, but it's now on your right.

And everything about these corridors were as it was on the original map, I haven't changed anything. Doing so would only have complicated things even further.

One more things, for the players. I'm running a solo adventure with Grettanah, that I had planned to throw in your way as you returned to the King. But that would probably have taken another seven years and I can feel the end beckoning. And it gives her a chance to stretch her legs. I'm not expecting her to rejoin you. Your characters, of course, knows nothing of this. Nor do they know that there is a NPC healer waiting just outside your grasp.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:50, Wed 28 June 2017.

Roisin looked at the lock expectantly "It's almost as if they expect a lock in a place of magical education to be locked by a normal key." Roisin spoke out loud to Ochre "Hmmm. I know, why not try magic to unlock it?"

OOC:Try out lockmaster to unlock the door.

Roisin spent a few seconds at the door, weaving her magic and then the lock clicked.


D'aden: HP 14/14. HT = 9 (Only high level healing magic will be able to restore your HT back to normal.)
Roisin: FP 12/9

The heroes opened the door.

A corridor led between three sets of facing alcoves, each at least 25 feet tall. A statue of a robed wizard in each of them, almost as tall as the alcove itself. The first set of statues were carved out of red granite, the second out of black stone, and the third out of the purest white marble.

Each statue was otherwise identical, stooping slightly, with their hands cupped in front of them about ten feet above the floor. And beyond each set of alcoves, rippled continuous sheets of lightning. Each covering the height and breadth of the corridor.

"This is it," Olven Wolf says, looking around the area.  "Beyond that lighting is our goal, but we only have two of the three spheres.  We still need to find the last one."  He looks at the statues and their cupped hands.  "I guess we put the three orbs there, eh?"  He frowns in thought.  "But we still haven't found the girl.  I'm afraid we might be too late to save her."

OOC:  Search this room for anything else that Olven can find.

Olven looked around the intersection.

[OOC: This is just a normal twisted corridor, there’s no room, per se. The only difference is that there’s a door and a normal corridor beyond it. The map below shows what it looks like when the door is closed.


.X.X.
.....
.XDX.
..h..
.X.X.

X = pillar
D = Door
. = corridor
h = Heroes' location

Isn't it nice to have a clue?]
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:25, Wed 05 July 2017.

Olven Wolf rubs his chin.  "I get the feeling there's a clue here somewhere, but I'm not picking up on it," he says.  "Let's look for that final orb."

OOC:  Go left from the golden door and see what's down that way.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:59, Thu 06 July 2017.

The heroes continued down the corridor. Having past another two pillars, they discovered a door to their left. This one unlocked. Beyond it was a short corridor into a room that was about 25 feet deep and somewhat wider. Archways, to the far left and far right, exited the room in the opposite direction. Sounds of rushing winds could be heard from beyond the archways as well as the rising and falling cries of the dead.

On the far side of the room, a ten foot, or so, iron lever was held pointing to the left by a long dead, robed individual.

D'aden: HP 14/14. HT = 9 (Only high level healing magic will be able to restore your HT back to normal.)
Roisin: FP 12/9

Roisin walked forwards to investigate both the iron lever and the robed individual. They were clearly looking for a red globe now, but there were many more mysteries to be solved at this place. Especially if she wanted to reopen its doors as a place of magical learning.

Roisin moved forward and examined the lever and its holder.

In spite of himself, Olven Wolf shivers slightly.  "Seems we've come to a more deadly part of the Lyceum.  Think we should trust the dead guy?  What if it's a trap?"

Shrugging, Olven says, "Well, let's give it a try.  Stand back, everyone."  He walks up to the level and pulls it.

Olven walked up to the lever, noticing that the skeleton was tied to the lever with a strip of cloth of the same material as the robe it wore. It wore a copper medallion of faith around its neck with the symbol of a flame.

He unceremoniously cut the strip and pushed the skeleton to the side, letting it fall to the floor, clattering.

The lever was indeed rusty and Olven really had to put his back into pulling it. But with effort he was able to pull the lever until it pointed to the right.

The rushing sound of the wind from the two archways changed momentarily, but then returned to its normal whine.


[OOC: Olven, if you you prefer a different way of handling the skeleton, feel free to post that.]

Roisin frowned "I thought his holding the lever was to prevent something from crossing into this room. I'm probably wrong though and it's irrelevant...we need to find the red orb. Yes."

Shrugging, Olven Wolf kneels down and removes the medallion from the skeleton's neck.  "I have no idea, Roisin.  I guess we'll see soon."  He slips the medallion into his pocket.  "Let's try left first."

OOC:  Go left.

D'aden has been staring at the two archways, and says, "Before we try either direction, can we try to center that lever? If that wind is as fierce as it sounds, it might be easier if we could make it cease. We should at least toss something in to see how strong the gusts are."
So saying, D'aden retrieves the strip of cloth previously holding the skeleton to the lever and balls it up before tossing it through the archway.

A platform, without a retaining wall, looked out over a shaft about 25 feet in diameter. You could see neither ceiling nor floor. It might just be going forever. A blur of objects rushed past you on their way upwards. And when D'aden threw the strip of clothing into it, it also vanished upwards in a blur.

You only got impressions of these items, as they moved too fast to get a good look. A glint of metal. The sound of weeping. An occasional streak of dull red.

Roisin chewed her lip as she watched the strip being tossed into the wind. "Hmmm...curious. Yet another way to test students." she sighed "So...the lever may need to be maintained to provide a counterbalance to us as we cross the area?" she suggested more talking to herself than anyone "Hmmm, but who could hold the lever and move it to the desired position. Not you. Hmmm...Utrecht? But how would he hear your commands if the lever needs to be shifted? Spells?"

"Or I can stand here and move the lever," Olven offers.  He grunts.  "This seems like a death trap to me."
This message was last edited by the player at 08:32, Wed 27 Sept 2017.

???


D'aden shrugs and approaches the lever. He attempts to move it slowly through its travel, observing the area between the pillars for any change.

D'aden pulled the lever.

Olven Wolf watches closely, endeavoring to see any changes.

Roisin and especially Olven, noted that the various objects in the shaft slowed down, until they didn't move at all, and then they started falling. Soon returning to the same speed as before, but now in the opposite direction.

Roisin looked pleased with herself "A hypothesis proven! But....how to maintain the lever at the desired state while we progress? This one lever might control yet more pits as we pass through....or worse yet. There might be other levers as we pass."

D'aden walks from the lever to join Olven and Roisin. "So, did you see a door or passage in there when the lever was moving? The way I think it, that has to be either a odd sort of locked door leading to a new passageway, or a puzzle which rewards the proper solution with some magical prize. Maybe if you figure out how to still the wind the  red orb rolls out of a hidden chute?"

Olven shakes his head.  "We must progress through this part, yes?  I saw some weapons and two people in there.  They may be hostile."  He grips his spear and shield.  "Let's fashion a way to hold the lever in place and then go through when it is still."

OOC:  Look about for something that will hold the lever in place so that nothing inside is moving.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 15:07, Wed 02 Aug 2017.

The skeleton had used strips of his robe to tie the lever earlier. Olven tried to determine what position to hold the lever in. The items stopped moving after he had passed the middle point. But holding it there didn't stop them from moving in the opposite direction.

He then held it in the middle position and a little time after that, the items stopped moving, but then changed direction again.

Holding it slightly before the middle point didn't affect the items speed or direction at all.

Continued attempts to find a way to freeze the movement, only changed their direction a few more times.

Over the several times that the flow stopped, you could see several weapons, a couple of people, a few spectral minions, and a red sphere that must be the final orb. But none of the objects were within grabbing range from the platform.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:20, Sat 05 Aug 2017.

D'aden contemplates the two pillars, and approaches the area. "See if you can get the things to stop, again. Maybe I can grab one of those things when the wind stills. It might not amount to anything, but at least we'll know if we can do it."
D'aden takes out his staff and prepares to do some 'air fishin'.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:33, Tue 08 Aug 2017.

Olven experiments again with the lever, moving it slowly to see if D'aden can grab something with his staff.

"Perhaps I should try to go in there.  I can't help but think there are giant blades that will gut me, but we can't stay here forever."

Roisin frowned "We can't all be here while someone holds the lever. I think Utrecht might need to do that. We just need to figure out a sequence that he can hold to let us get through and return safely. I think his mass might cause problems trying to cross this wind bridge anyway." Roisin chewed on her lip for a moment "If only I knew that cantrip. No, well, it didn't seem relevant at the time."

Olven Wolf rubs his chin.  "We still have to find the missing girl.  Shall we just enter?  I can go first, and if you hear me screaming, you'll know to stay out."

Olven experimented with the lever and D'aden with his staff. He was able to knock some items out of their trajectory and one of them far enough that it moved in over the platform and landed with a metallic clunk. A sword.

Roisin raised an eyebrow "Well....if we can pull things out just by using a stick, I think we might be better off doing that than risking anyones life trying to cross it?" she suggested

Olven Wolf bends down and picks up the sword.  He hefts it to feel its weight and get a sense of its quality.  "I'm game, Roisin, but it looked like there were people in there.  Maybe that's where the girl is."

OOC:  Check the sword.  Olven can carry the sword himself or give it to one of the others if they would like to carry it.  Olven will move the lever some more to give D'aden more chances to fish things out, but Olven wants to go through to see who's inside.

The sword seems to be a normal broadsword.

Olven continued to pull the lever back and forth and the faster he pulled the lever, the shorter was the time between two moments of stillness.

D'aden was able to scoop in another few weapons, but they also saw a group of spectral creatures in the "tower."

Roisin winced "I'll need to be careful. Spectral things can only be hurt by my magic. We need to come up with a plan to help keep them at bay while I kill them all....and hopefully stay conscious."

Olven Wolf frowns.  "I will go first.  If I die, find another way through this place."  Gathering his gear, Wolf steps into the shaft.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:03, Tue 29 Aug 2017.

D'aden frowns at Olven, "perhaps we could tie a rope to you so we could pull you out or follow you in depending on your eventual de... uh... resolution to the issue."

With his gear Olven stepped off. Perhaps he didn't hear D'aden's suggestion. And as things were moving downward now, so did Olven. Every so often he reappeared from above, just to vanish downwards again.

"You know, sometimes that man should just listen instead of jumping in.....yes I know. What will we do? I guess we could just throw down a rope and hope he can reach it?" Roisin pursed her lips "uh...well, I don't have any rope with me."

D'aden steps over to the lever and prepares to actuate it. "Well, this is interesting. I'll see if I can manipulate this lever so that Olven slows or stops at this opening. When he does so, perhaps he can be convinced to come back and tell us what he's seen."
Having said it, D'aden commences to attempt it, approaching the lever and moving it back and forth to get a feel for it. He calls to Roisin, "let me know when you can see Olven in the opening, maybe we can throw him a line or something."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:47, Sat 09 Sept 2017.

D'aden pulled the lever back and forth, changing the direction a few times. When Roisin called that she could see Olven and D'aden pulled the lever, Olven was already out of sight. He passed the archway one more time, slower now, but was out of sight when things stopped and then started moving in the other direction.

From Olven's point of view, things around him fell at the same speed he did. Wheather they were falling in one direction or another.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:50, Wed 27 Sept 2017.

"Woooooooooooo!" yells Olven Wolf from freefall as he falls first up, then down.  "Keeeeeeeeeep tryyyyyyyyyying toooooooooo sloooooooooooooow meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee doooooooooooooooooooooooooown!"

The ledge was close enough for Olven to reach it with his foot and with foot on ledge he clawed himself closer. He could feel himself start moving upwards, but was able to get himself completely over the ledge before it was out of reach and he dropped down onto it.

Walking through the archway and looking around, Olven noted that D'aden was on his right rather than his left.

And D'aden and Roisin noted Olven walking out of the other archway.

"I saw the red sphere!  It's inside!" Olven says excitedly.  "Shift the lever back and forth again, D'aden, and I'll try to grab the sphere.  Perhaps I can snare it in my backpack."

He squats down and empties out the contents of his backpack on the floor, his torches, rations, bandages, rope, whetstone, and wineskin.  Once the backpack is empty, he picks it up and jumps back through the doorway.

OOC:  Try to snag the red sphere in his backpack.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:58, Wed 27 Sept 2017.

D'aden started pulling the lever back and forth again and Olven timed his jump to when the red orb was close to the entrance. When he came close, the body near it moved.

It wasn't dead as he had supposed. Well, she wasn't dead.

When he jumped in across the chasm, the spectral figures descended on the two of them.

"You shouldn't have done that," she said. But then helped putting the red orb into Olven's pack, grabbed his arm, and pushed off from the wall with her legs with as much power as she could.

Towards the arch.

And the duo landed on the platform. Hard. Very Hard. Despite all the pain, Olven was somehow still alive and as well as could be expected after a fall like that. The elven female landed badly on her left leg and Olven could see broken bone penetrating her clothing.

Having crashlanded, the spectral creatures avoided them and the platform, continuing down, down, down.

[Olven is at -18 out of 16hp. But he succeeded at both HT rolls, so he is still alive and awake.]


[OOC: With the Dungeon Fantasy RPG pdfs in my possession and seeing the streamlined version of GURPS used there, I've been thinking I should introduce some of those into this game. Now seemed like a good time to do that with falling damage. Standard rules would give Olven 20d6 of damage from this fall. The streamlined rules only 9d6+1. But still fairly suicidal, which likely is why she hasn't tried it earlier.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:46, Wed 27 Sept 2017.

D'aden and Roisin heard a loud thud from the other archway.

D'aden turns toward the noise at the arch, and starts towards the two people as quickly as he can. "Considering the precipitous nature of your arrival, should we assume there is something coming behind you that must be avoided?"
Despite his words, his immediate actions involve tending, as best he can, to the wounds the two received upon their arrival.

OOC: 00:26, Today: D'aden Tor VIII rolled 8 using 3d6.  First Aid (-14)

Many things go through Olven's mind when he jumped back into the archway.  This is a bad idea was one of them.  I hope this doesn't kill me was another.  But nothing prepared him for the dead person inside to not actually be dead.

A sudden panic at the spectral creatures was followed at the next with Holy crap!, but Olven Wolf and the elf somehow make it through.  Olven lands hard on the stone floor, and as he winces and  turns to the elf, he sees that she has a serious injury.

"Don'f worry about me, D'aden!  She's hurt!" he says, trying to push through the pain.

OOC:  Lie still.  Try not to die.

"I'll be fine," the beautiful, extremely charismatic, olive skinned elf said between coughs. "Quen Illumini is with me." She was dressed in black, desert garb, matching her braided hair. Lying on her back.

As D'aden tended to her, her eyelids closed over her dark eyes. She was lying there, doing nothing but breathing. She had four small golden looped earrings in her left ear, starting at her earlobe and going backward and upward along the edge of her ear.

None of the heroes had seen an elf that looked like that before.

D'aden was barely halfway through his ministration when the bone retracted into her leg.

"That feels so much better," she said.

Olven Wolf pulls himself up into a seated position.  Every muscle in his body screams in agony, but the elf has transfixed his attention.

"I'm Olven," he says quietly.  "That's D'aden, and she's Roisin.  Thank you for saving me in there.  I was surprised to find anyone else inside."  He grunts in pain.  "You know, for a supposedly abandoned complex, there are an awful lot of people running around here."

Olven sat up and fortunately the pain didn't overtake him.

"I'm Alvin," she said and placed her left hand on Olven's thigh. Whispered words of a prayer crossed her lips and Olven was infused with health and vitality. She whispered the prayer again and more healing goodness filled Olven.

"It's good to meet all of you. Good to be finally out of that place. If I had known I would survive that, I would have jumped a long time ago."


[OOC: Olven is now completely healed.]

D'aden gave a sideways glance to the elf, "how long ago do you mean? I thought I knew elves, yet you are not like any I've been near."

"Years, I'm sure," Alvin said. "As for my heritage, that's a story for another time." She paused.

"Should I assume that you are looking for the orbs too?" She had a very melodious voice and still carrying on her conversation with the heroes, she returned to the lever room. It seemed she had stashed most of her gear in one of the corners of that room, something the heroes hadn't noticed until now. Probably so focused on the corpse and the lever.

She removed the empty pouch she was wearing, put on a belt with a knife on her left hip and a quiver on her right. Looking around the room, she noted the dead body and hurried to it. "No!" she cried. Knelt by its side, touched it, and remained that way for a minute while whispering another prayer.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:24, Thu 28 Sept 2017.

Olven stands and walks around a moment, testing out his leg.  He breaks out into a rare smile.  "Thank you, Alvin!  As good as new!  You are as gifted as you are beautiful!"

He watches soberly as she kneels beside the dead body.  Probably a former adventuring companion, he figures.  "I'm sorry for your loss," he says quietly after she finishes her prayer.  "Yes, we've been looking for the orbs as well.  Thank you for helping us.  Would you like to accompany us through the Lyceum?  Perhaps our goals align.  We're here to recover anything of value for the King of Kalaman after the kingdom was ravaged by war."

Alvin smiled warmly at Olven in response to his compliment.

"Thank you," she said later. "I had not expected to find him dead."

"The war is over then. That is fortunate. I would like to accompany you, even though I did not come here to help the king."

She returned to her things, put on two pouches, a waterskin, a small backpack, a wooden case, and a bow. And taking a staff in her hand.

D'aden leans on his staff, trying not to show the weakness he feels. "My curiosity has always been my greatest weakness. Could you tell us if the Lyceum was deserted when you stepped through that arch?"

"Oh yes," Alvin said. "It had been abandoned for years. They wouldn't have liked intruders traipsing around. How many of the orbs have you found?"

D'aden nods, and says, "then why were you traipsing around? I know, you helped Olven, but the last elven maid we met here seemed to suck the life right out of you. You're a bit more solid than she, of course, and perhaps more lissome. So I do apologize, but I also worry."

"Apparently the same thing you are," Alvin said. "Only not on the orders of the King."

"I've never really had a problem with curiosity," Olven Wolf says, grinning.  "She smells ok to me, D'aden.  I don't blame you for being cautious, though."

He gathers up all of his gear and bundles it into his pack.  "With this orb, we have all three," he says.  "I'd love for you to join us, if that's your wish.  Don't forget the tiefling, too, D'aden, and the two kids.  Not everyone we've met here has been an enemy."

OOC:  Let's head back to the alcove with the three statues.  Roisin, is there anything you want to add?
This message was last edited by the player at 15:13, Thu 05 Oct 2017.

Roisin looked distracted before coming to her senses at Olvens words. She ran the conversation back in her head "Uh....no, I think you covered all the salient points. We have all three orbs...oooo that means we should be able to progress."

The heroes left the lever room through the doorway into the magical corridors, turned right, walked for a little bit, and turned left at the guardians.

Three sets of facing alcoves stood thirty feet tall on each side of the hall. In each of the alcoves stood statues of robed wizards. The first set was carved of red granite. The second was carved of black stone. The third of the purest white marble. Each statue was identical, stooping slightly with their hands cupped in front of them some ten feet above the floor. Just beyond each set of statues, lightning ripples in continuous sheets, barring the way.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:50, Mon 09 Oct 2017.

"So, I guess we put the orbs up there?"  Olven looks above him.  He takes the red orb out of his pack and stretches up on his tiptoes to see if he can put the orb in the hands of the red statue.

OOC: Try to place the red orb in the hands of the red statue.

Roisin looked at the statue for all of a few seconds before talking "What? Yes, I know. I skipped that class, but it is absolutely not an insurmountable problem." She looked back at her erstwhile guardian "Utrecht, could you be a dear and please lift me up?"

Utrecht did as he was commanded, which was no problem as there was only about a foot between Utrecht's head and the statue's hands. As the red orb was placed in its hands, the first rippling sheet vanished.

Roisin beamed a smile to the others "If you could now take me to the dark orb please?" Roisin was much more reticent about actually touching the black orb using some of her robe to create a barrier between herself and the orb.

As Utrecht began to carry Roisin to the statue for the dark orb, D'aden said, "oh, sure, do it the easy way." before running a few steps and leaping to the arms of the black statue and pulling himself up.
"Ok, now toss me that black ball."

OOC: Jumping is sixteen, which gives him a standing vertical leap of 4'. I've assumed D'aden could reach the statue's arms with that leap and then pull himself up.
D'aden Tor VIII rolled 14,10 using 3d6,3d6.  jumping (16), climbing (14)
Besides, the player really wants to see what sort of trap is on the statues, while the character needs to be overconfident, on the edge, and something of a people pleaser.

D'aden ran a few steps, jumped up, grabbed the hands, and pulled himself up as if it was no difficulty at all. He climbed up one arm a little and was given the black orb. He placed it in the hands of the statues and the next lightning sheet vanished.

The corner of roisins lips curled up in a smile as she pulled the white orb from her herbalist bag, almost holding it tenderly as she nodded to Utrecht to take her to the white statue "if you could please?" she carefully placed the white orb where it needed to be.

"Show off," Olven, grinning, says to D'aden.  Wolf checks all of his gear to make sure everything's in order.

D'aden climbs down, shrugs, and admits, "not exactly, I just feel like I've got to be a part of the solution to avoid being seen as part of the problem."

The final orb was soon in place and the final sheet of lightning vanished. Beyond that was a room about 50 by 50 feet, illuminated by red glowing orbs that provided a ghastly light. There were doors in the left and the right walls. The ceiling was over 50 feet above them, but it was broken and provided a way into the room above.

Wide steps led up to a platform on the far side, on which there was a large statue of the three moons of magic. Apparently slumped against it was the small form of a girl. She was surrounded by what looked like shards of black stone. Next to her stood a tall man in red dragon highlord armor, stroking her hair.´The chuckles of a dragon could be heard in the sanguine gloom.

D'aden calmly pulls his bow and nocks an arrow. "I don't think this particular draconian would like my song, so I'm going with my other skill set."
Rather than fire, he waits for a fuller understanding of what the draconians have in mind.

"Looks like we found the girl," Olven says.  "And a dragon.  Well, one enemy at a time."  He advances, shield in his left hand, spear in his right.

OOC:  Walk forward.  Stay in front of D'aden and Roisin.

Roisin frowned as she looked the highlord up and down. She frowned. Red armour implied a red dragon and she'd only focused on fire magic herself to which both dragon and highlord might be nigh on invulnerable. She was about to speak before she caught herself "Ummm...to whom might we have the honour of speaking?"

The dragon highlord, about ten yards in front of the heroes, picked up a crossbow as he turned around and fired it at Roisin, but missed.

A red dragon, about twice the size of a human in length and ten yards off to their right, breathed fire at them, which Olven and Alvin were able to dodge. Roisin's Guardian stepped into the path of fire and it was large enough to keep her safe. And D'aden threw himself to the floor and barely got away.


D'aden is prone.

[What do you do?]

As D'aden slides and twists on the ground, he's already pulling an arrow into position. Once he's kneeling, he begins to aim at the dragon while he mutters, [Language unknown: pre nde ivelartio ith she].

OOC: fast-draw to ready arrow (21:58, Today: D'aden Tor VIII rolled 7 using 3d6 ((3,1,3)).), step maneuver to go from prone to kneeling, aim maneuver at the eye of the dragon
This message was lightly edited by the player at 01:52, Fri 20 Oct 2017.

"I guess that's one way to answer," Olven Wolf says, and he begins running forward toward the dragon highlord.  It strikes him that they may die here in this room against the full might of a dragon.  Very well.  If Olven is to die, let it be a good death.

OOC:  Shield in left hand, spear in right.  Use full Move to get close to the dragon highlord.  Once Olven is close enough, begin attacking.

Alvin dropped her staff and readied her bow.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:16, Mon 23 Oct 2017.

D'aden rose to kneeling, drew an arrow, and started aiming at the dragon.

Olven hurried towards the highlord.

Alvin readied her bow.

The Dragon Highlord dropped his crossbow and readied his greataxe.

The dragon moved closer to D'aden.


D'aden is kneeling.

The dragon is three yards from most of the heroes.

Olwen is seven yards from most of the heroes.

The dragon highlord is about ten yards from most of the heroes, but three yards from Olwen.

Olven Wolf circles around to his left, trying to position the dragon highlord between himself and the dragon.  He looks at the highlord's greataxe and mentally imagines it ripping through his armor.  "Come, then," he calls out to the highlord.  "Time to dance."

OOC:  Close with the dragonlord.  Spear is in Reach-1.  When close enough, attack!

Roisin grimaced unsure that D'aden could handle a dragon on his own. Thinking that Utrecht might be their only chance against it. She motioned to the golem to attack the dragona s she began casting a spell.

OOC:Resist Fire on Utrecht.

D'aden mutters [Language unknown: O ineur u po, icart we O beeein ar testre The man o i arntha k he oltapa, thoad rutichwhe somticson es haad'foit] before his eyes turn hard and he lets fly with his arrow.

OOC: aim maneuver longbow acc 3 + determined attack 1 + skill 16 - range 1 - size ?, damage is 1d6+2;
"That dragon used to be an adventurer, then he took an arrow in the eye."
23:37, Today: D'aden Tor VIII rolled 13,6 using 3d6,d6+2.  shoot the arrow strike, damage roll.

Olven closed in on the dragon highlord, from the side, and attacked him twice with his spear. The first one missed and the highlord avoided the other.

Roisin cast her spell on the walking statue.

D'aden fired and the dragon didn't even attempt to avoid the arrow, which hit its scales and fell to the floor without any apparent effect.

The guardian ran right into the dragon at slamming speed and toppled it over by shear force.

The dragon rose to a kneeling position.

The dragon highlord attacked Olven with his axe and the warrior took it on his shield.

[The dragon is kneeling.
D'aden is kneeling.]

[OOC: The dragon is SM +2 with its wings folded, so fairly young.]

Olven grunts as he blocks the dragon highlord's attack.  Wolf's attention is on his opponent, but he silently cheers when the dragon is knocked down.

"You're fast," he says, jabbing out twice more with his spear.

OOC:  Two more attacks.

D'aden tosses his bow behind him as he stands, then draws his borrowed sword and prepares to dodge a dragon.

Alvin fired her bow at the dragon highlord.
This message was last updated by the player at 04:54, Fri 03 Nov 2017.

Olven attacked and the dragon highlord avoided the first thrust, but not the second.

D'aden rose and switched weapons.

Alvin's arrow hit the highlord, but didn't penetrate his armor.

The dragon rose to its feet.

And as soon as it had done so, the statue grappled it.

The dragon highlord swung his axe against Olven, but Olven used his shield to protect himself.

"What do you want here?" Wolf snarls, taking the dragonlord's attack on his shield.  He jabs forward again with two quick thrusts.

OOC:  Step forward if necessary to stay in range. Two attacks.

Roisin was pleased that Utrecht had managed to hold on to the dragon making it easier for everyone to hit. That left one immediate danger...the highlord. She knew she was close to knocking herself out again, but she needed to make an effort. Gritting her teeth, she cast a fireball at the Dragon Highlord.

D'aden ran cautiously at the dragon, intent on avoiding the area in front of the dragon's head, and preparing to attack.

OOC: all out defense, increasing dodge, half-move to get near dragon's side

Alvin fired an arrow at the dragon highlord.

The Dragon Highlord ignored Olven's question, but Olven's first attack hit him, while he avoided the second.

Roisin started concentrating on her spell.

D'aden moved to the dragon.

Alvin fired another arrow at the highlord, but it didn't penetrate his armor.

The guardian waited and when the dragon rose to its feet, it tried to take the dragon down, but failed and lost its grip.

The dragon tried to bite the guardian, but it was able to avoid it.

The highlord swung his axe at Olven, but he blocked the axe.



The dragon is three yards from most of the heroes, but next to D'aden.

Olwen is ten yards from most of the heroes.

The dragon highlord is about ten yards from most of the heroes, but next to Olwen.

Seeing that he's getting no answers from the highlord, Olven Wolf sets about taking the enemy general down.

OOC:  Two more attacks.  If one is successful, use 1 HP for a Mighty Blow.

For a moment, D'aden seems to think the dragon is some sort of bovine. First he yells, "yeehaaa" and leaps to the dragon's back as if riding it. As he holds on tight and starts swinging his sword at the dragon, he begins singing, because that's just what he does,

So I fight the dragons and I storm the castles
And I win a battle or two
Then comes the day it's time,
I'm packing up and I am bringing all my stories home to you

OOC: 22:46, Today: D'aden Tor VIII rolled 3,13,7 using 3d6,3d6,3d6.  leap to dragon back, hold on, slice dragon.

Alvin started praying out loud.

Olven stabbed his spear twice, with more effort than previously, and the Dragon Highlord failed to avoid them.

D'aden tried to mount the dragon, but it wouldn't let him. So instead, he tried to slice it. The dragon was unable to avoid the swing, but it couldn't penetrate its scales.

Roisin cast a fireball, that hit the dragon highlord and brought him to the ground.

The Guardian moved away from the dragon.

Alvin started praying out loud.

The dragon tried to claw D'aden, but he avoided it.





Roisin: Spending 3 FP, total FP 12/4
Olven spent 2 FP


The dragon is three yards from most of the heroes, but next to D'aden.

Olwen is ten yards from most of the heroes.

The dragon highlord is about ten yards from most of the heroes, but next to Olwen.

Two quick stabs, and then Roisin envelops the highlord in flame.  Olven takes a moment to see if the dragon highlord is truly down before turning to face the dragon itself.

OOC:  Check to see if the highlord is merely injured or if he is unconscious.  Turn to face the dragon and move toward it.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:35, Thu 07 Dec 2017.

Roisin looked mildly surprised at the result before focussing on another spell.

OOC:Start focusing onResist Fire to one of my friends.

Alvin continued to pray.

Olven checked on the Dragon Highlord and moved to the dragon.

Roisin cast a spell, protecting Olven from fire.

Alvin continued to pray.

The guardian ran towards the dragon again, slamming into it a second time. Knocking the dragon down again.

The dragon rose to a kneeling position.


Roisin: Spending 2 FP, total FP 12/2

The dragon is three yards from Roisin and Alvin, but next to D'aden, Olven, and the Guardian
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:09, Fri 29 Dec 2017.

Gripping his spear and shield, Olven Wolf stares down the dragon.  He has never fought such a beast before, and truthfully, he is glad this is the first time he has had to face one.

Taking a deep breath, he hefts back his spear for two quick stabs.

OOC:  Two attacks.

The scales had been, so far, proof against his borrowed sword, but D'aden figured he could at least provide some distraction to improve Olven's chances of overcoming the mythic beast, so he stabbed at the dragon, loudly shouting, "towards thee I roll, thou all-destroying but unconquering beast; to the last I grapple with thee; from hell's heart I stab at thee; for hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee!"

attack, D'aden Tor VIII rolled 10,4 using 3d6,1d6.  attack (skill smallsword 14), damage (thrusting, 1d6 imp, I think).

Alvin continued to pray.

Olven stabbed the dragon twice, the first time the spear only slid of the scales. But the second time it did draw a little blood.

D'aden stabbed the dragon with his sword, but it didn't penetrate the scales.

Alvin continued to pray.

The guardian ran away from the dragon.

The dragon rose to its feet.


Olven: Spending 2 FP, total FP 14/12

The dragon is three yards from Roisin and Alvin, but next to D'aden and Olven. And five yards from the Guardian.

"Nice poetry, D'aden!" Olven calls as he jabs twice more at the dragon.  The dragon's hide has proven quite impervious to harm.  He hopes that the others will have more luck than he has had thus far.

OOC: Two more attacks.  Spend 2 FP for Mighty Blows.

Olven stabbed at the dragon twice, the first time drew a little blood, about the same amount as last time, but the dragon seemed a little wobbly on its feet. But it avoided the second stab as if nothing had happened.

Alvin continued to pray.

The guardian ran crashingly into the dragon again. And again the dragon dropped to the ground.

But this time it didn't rise.



Olven: Spending 2 FP, total FP 14/10

The dragon is three yards from Roisin and Alvin, but next to D'aden and Olven. And five yards from the Guardian.

Roisin waved towards the dragon "There's nothing more I can do here. I've got nothing left. She motioned to Utrecht to continue beating the dragon."

Olven isn't sure if the dragon is dead, but he isn't taking any chances.  Again, he stabs at the dragon.

OOC:  Two All-out Attacks (Strong) per round.

Alvin stopped praying.

Olven and the Guardian continued beating on the downed dragon and it remainined unmoving.

"I don't think it's getting back up.  Keep an eye on it and the highlord, just in case they're really good pretenders."  Still gripping his spear and shield, Olven Wolf jogs over to where the girl is leaning against the statue.

"Are you all right?" he asks with concern in his voice.  He examines the black shards around her to see if they are somehow trapping her.

Roisin called out to Utrecht "Stop, and return to my side please....and thank you." she said, suggesting that she thought of the golem as a person.

"No," the girl said. "I want to go home." This has definitely been a distressing experience for her.

The guardian returned to Roisin as she commanded.

The mercenary nods his head.  "We'll get you home," he assures her.  "We've already rescued your brother."  He extends a hand to help the girl to her feet.

OOC:  Olven check the dragon highlord for any useful equipment/weapons/keys/spare change.  Then, he will explore the rest of this room.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:14, Sat 06 Jan 2018.

She clasped his hand and rose to her feet. "Is he well?"

There is a large hole in the ceiling high above them, leading up to the floor above. And there are two doors on opposite sides of the room that the heroes haven't explored yet.

"He's safe now," Olven says.  "We freed him from his prison, and he's waiting outside.  We'll take you back to your father soon."

Olven looks up to see if he can see through the hole in the ceiling.  He then removes the dragon highlord's weapons and stows them in his pack.  "We can come back for his armor, unless you want to take it now," he says.  "Now, let's see where those doors go."

OOC:  Take the highlord's weapons.  Randomly choose one door and go to it and check it for traps.  If it looks clear, open it and look through the door.

Olven picked up the weapons.

And going to the left room first, he found it empty.

In the right room, he found gold plated chests, their lids open and mostly filled with platinum coins, but with the odd jewel here and there.

Agog at the wealth on display, Olven stares at the chests for a moment.  "Well, this is going to go a ways toward rebuilding the kingdom," he says, shocked at so much wealth.  He examines it for a moment to determine if it is a trap or an illusion.

"Alvin, we were commissioned by the king to find what resources we could here to help rebuild Kalaman, but you're entitled to a share of this wealth for your help, I'm sure.  Roisin, do you think your golem could carry one of these chests?"

OOC:  Look for traps or evidence of an illusion.  If it looks safe, begin filling his pack with loot.

How much treasure are we talking about here?  Can we carry it out in one trip, or will we need to make several trips?

"Rebuilding the city is a good cause," Alvin said. "How much would my share be?"

The four chests were small. About seven inches, or so, wide. But that would still mean thousands of platinum pieces.



[OOC: 1,000 platinum pieces is $500,000]

D'aden is examining the dragon, and occasionally glancing at the high lord. He turns and says, "what's the going rate for dragon teeth?"

"Fancy aarmor made from dragonhide?  Although that would give dracs one more reason to hate you if you wore it."

To Alvin, he says, "I'm not sure, but I'm sure the king will richly reward you.  Come with us back to the capital."  Olven examines the armor from the fallen dragon highlord.

He looks around the room.  "Well, I guess this is it, right?  Let's return the kids to their father and report back to the king.  We've explored everywhere here in the Lyceum, haven't we?"

OOC:  Remove the highlord's armor and bring it along, too.

D'aden attempts to remove dragon parts, focusing on those portable enough to carry. "I wasn't thinking about the hide, skinning a dragon isn't a skill I managed to pick up. But I suspect the scales, claws, and other smaller pieces would be rare, and therefore valuable."

Roisin raised an eyebrow at D'adens comment "Perhaps dragons teeth are too costly to sell at any price." she motioned to the dragons body and chests "Utrecht, be a dear and please carry all of this for us."

"Might as well," Alvin said. "I don't think I've ever worked for a King before."

The guardian picked up the four small chests under one arm and the head and feet of the dragon in the other.

"I hope that he grants us title to the lyceum. It would be a superb place to train up and coming wizards." Roisin mentioned as she followed the others.

Olven nods his head.  "It's a fine idea, reopening the Lyceum as a place of learning."  He takes the point position and begins walking back toward the entrance.  "Though I can't say this place has much hold for me."  He grins.  "I'm a fighter, not a scholar.  Though if all these dracs are any indication, we may have another incursion on our hands to beat back."

OOC:  Are we finished exploring?  If so, head back to the entrance.

"It may hold no particular hold over you my friend, however wizards, especially the fledgling ones that I hope will be trained here, will all have need of some protection and defence. Sadly in the world at large, we're not held in high esteem. Fear perhaps, but not esteem." she shrugged <Blue>"Nevertheless, you hold a large sum in your hands. With it, the kingdom will be rebuilt, but more than that...what are your intentions with your share?"

Olven Wolf shrugs his shoulders.  "I don't know, to be honest.  Before this mission, my goal was to one day become the Captain of a lord's guards.  Perhaps I could found my own mercenary company."

He laughs, crinkles appearing at the corners of his eyes.  "Whatever we do, I feel like we've accomplished something here, clearing this place of the draconians."  He sniffs the air.  "We should stay on guard, however, in case we didn't find them all.  Enemies may still be lurking nearby."

"Share? Oh, I forgot about that."
Seeing the Guardian had the carrying well in hand, D'aden approaches the statues, and examines the "shards of black stone".
"No use counting eggs, they're not all gonna be chickens. Which makes me think, why do you think they brought the little girl here? Could it have anything to do with the significance of these statues? Just where did these black pieces come from, anyway?"

Pausing as D'aden goes to inspect the shards of rock, Olven raises an eyebrow.  "I have no idea.  No doubt they were going to use her for some dark purpose."  He looks to the girl and then back over to D'aden.  "Whatever they were going to do, we stopped them from carrying it out."

[OOC: You are done here. Or almost done. As I recall, the books you found in the library are still there. If you want to bring them with you. The first half of msg #7 in the Recap thread recaps your first interaction there.]

Alvin joined D'aden at the statues and the shards. She looked at the girl and back to the rocks.

"Worst case scenario," she started, "they were attempting to open a portal to the Abyss so that the Queen of Darkness could return in full force, as she did in the war. It would probably be best to turn those rocks into dust."

D'aden nodded, but said, "you would think that would require more than a single highlord and one fairly young dragon, but maybe that's a good thing. If these two were the dragon equivalent of a rogue faction, we might not have to worry about more being nearby."
"You know, if we went back to the library and asked nicely enough. Those draconians we left behind might be able to tell us about this highlord and the red. If nothing else, their reaction could prove enlightening."

"Well, that does seem to be serious."  Olven Wolf walks back to where Alvin and D'aden are standing.  "So I guess we grind these rocks down to powder?"  Using the butt end of his spear, he jabs down at one of the pieces of rock.

OOC: Try to grind up the rocks.

Olven tried to dust one of the rocks with the butt of his spear, but the rock didn't let him.

Roisin sighed "Look destroying rocks is something we can evaluate at a later date. Let's go back to the library and recover the books so they're safe, at least for the time being until we can properly reopen the lyceum."

"Let's take along a few of these rocks, then.  Perhaps someone can tell us what their purpose is."  Olven also takes the dragon highlord's helm and stuffs it into his pack as well.

Looking at the others, he says, "Let's go retrieve those books and then get the kids back to their father."

OOC:  Return to the library for the books.  Then head back for camp and escort the teenagers home.

Olven picked up some of the rocks and the helmet, found their way out of the winding, confusing corridors going everywhere at once, and back up to the library where they only found books and a dead body, just as they had left it the second time they visited.

Most of the books were still protected by a blue semitransparent force field. But they found seven unprotected books.

In the library, Olven Wolf examines the force field protecting the books.  "Shall we try to disable the field now or leave it for later?"  He loads up the seven books in his pack and then searches for the source for the magical protection.

He rubs his chin.  "I know nothing of magic.  Do we need some spell to disable the field?"

OOC:  Take the seven books.  Look for a way to turn off the force field.

Roisin looked at the wall "Look, let's just take the books we can. The magical force will protect the others for the time being. There's nothing to say that there might be some of the draconians left on our way back to the city. We, or I, could always return here to recover these artifacts....but I'd rather keep a small modicum of magical power, just in case things don't go our way on the return. We can keep some of the rock and run some tests on it....well, after I can buy some tools and take a look." she looked at the forcefield "On the other hand we are here."

OOC:Exactly how exhausted am I?

Olven rubs his chin nods his head.  "Sure, that's fine with me.  We can come back to retrieve the rest of the texts when you come to reopen the Lyceum."  He looks over the books once more.

OOC:  Unless Roisin wants to stick around, Olven will return to camp.

"Especially since we're certain to encounter more draconians; I could have sworn we left a few here." To accompany his statement, D'aden plunks the first bar of "Brave, Brave Draconians" on his mandolin.

The heroes returned to camp. The siblings rejoiced to be reunited and free, even though Garth was the worse for wear. And Alvin was able to help him too. As the others prepared a late evening meal and put their treasure in the wagon.

Lunitari was full and Solinari would be full in another two nights. And the stars dotted the sky, like sprinkles on ice cream.


[OOC: As we're out of combat, we might as well have you rested so that your FP is back. Any HP loss could have been covered by Alvin

As for the draconians in the library, the first time you left, you left some draconians behind just as you remember. When you returned the second time, they were gone. And now the third time, they are still gone. Perhaps there were some in one of the secret corridors, with the other wizard, but I don't recall for certain.]

"Finally." Olven Wolf happily divests himself of the treasure he carried out of the Lyceum and sets about getting the camp ready for evening.  "The dracs that got away may return, so we need to be on our guard," he says, chewing on a piece of dried fruit.

He spends the rest of the evening making sure the two youths are comfortable.  Later, he sits on a rock he has repurposed as a stool and looks up at the two moons.  He feels at peace.  More fighting may wait for them between here and the capital, but he is satisfied in a job well done.

"I'll take first watch," he volunteers.  "First thing in the morning, we can take the kids home."

The heroes ate and rested, spending a quiet and uneventful night in camp. The next morning, the sun rose quietly to the peaceful twittering of small birds. Everyone was well rested and back to normal and full potential.

Well, everyone except Olven.

His things were there, but Olven himself was nowhere to be seen.

Roisin wiped sleep from her eyes as she looked around, figuring that Olven had gone to relieve himself or something similar. It was only after several minutes had passed she began to worry. "No...I'm not sure." she spoke out loud "Hmmm. Ochre... ummm can you tell if Olven is around?"

She looked at Ochre's disdainful baneful look.

"Don't give me that. You've been around him for long enough and he reeks to the high heavens. Is he nearby? Can you lead us to him?"

D'aden heads for a tree, and starts climbing. "I'll try a more mundane approach, perhaps I can spot him, nearby. He's probably just doing what I'll be doing as soon as I get out of the tree and out in some bushes."

Neither of them saw Olven anywhere.

The heroes spent some time looking for Olven to no avail and decided to return the kids to their father before they continued their search.

Having returned the siblings to their home, their father insisted on offering their hospitality. And the heroes stayed for lunch in the family's farm house.

Roisin was pleased for the food. It felt like it had been an extremely long time since she'd eaten and she'd hoped that the meal would provide inspiration in the search for Olven. After the food and seeing the family pleased, she decided to broach the subject with D'aden "So...well, I don't know about you, but my conscience won't let me leave Olven behind. Now that the children have been returned, I will go back to look for Olven. I think I've recovered enough that I should be able to use some of my magic to help find him." she let out the heavy sigh of someone who had eaten well "Assuming of course, I can even stand up."

When they arrived at the farmer's place, the children lost much of the tension they had carried since their rescue. Similarly, D'aden seemed to loosen a little. Strangely, he stopped humming his draconian doggerel and said, quietly, "now, this is familiar."
As they approached the farmer to explain about the children, D'aden stepped right to the trace and helped push the treadwheel as they talked. As the farmer left the treadwheel to hug his children, D'aden kept going as he whistled a little tune to time his footsteps.
After a lunch that left D'aden swamped by childhood memories, he nodded in response to Roisin's announcement. "If we could find any of Jarl's men about perhaps we could convince them to take what we've got so far back to the city. That would give us freer reign in searching for Olven."

Roisin shook her head "We can have Utrecht guard the spoils. He's fairly formidable....and at the moment obfuscation might serve us well. While returning here to leave the children required our presence....I think we need to make haste to try to recover Olven. We can give the parents some coins to keep quiet about Utrecht and our discoveries."

D'aden says, "They won't need coins. We returned them that which is most precious to them. If we ask, they won't give us away. Besides, if we bring their name before the king, they'll be grateful for that, as well."
"Let's send the bulkiest items back and go look for Olven. I think I'll hang onto one of the swords, though. Never know when such a thing could be useful."
D'adne asks the farmer if he could borrow a jug or waterskin of some sort (as his is filled with some elemental stuff that he's loathe to drink).

"Let me quickly check to see if any of things we've retrieved are magical. We can return the coins to the King and quickly head back to find Olven." Roisin asked. "Take a coin or two from my measure and pass it to the parents. It's a hard time for all."

OOC:Detect Magic on all of the gear we discovered in the lyceum.

Roisin spent a substantial amount of time casting spells on all the stuff they had discovered in the Lyceum, resting when she needed to.

Olven walked up the dirt road towards the farm. Dressed like a scarecrow in too small clothes. It may have been the ill-fitting clothes, but he looked stronger than he used to. And there was something different about him, perhaps the way he walked.

Roisin separated the spoils of the venture into the magical and non magical. She nodded towards Da'dens hood, the amulet, the bracers, the cloak, the potions, the knife, the dragonlords armour and the blackened silver tube. "These are all magical. The rest is..mundane...sorry, not magical. Given enough time I can determine the function of each."

***************************

As they watched Olven approach, Roisin frowned, wondering if it was indeed Olven. She whispered to Ochre "Stay hidden and go see if it's really him. Use your smell. Yes, I am being serious. Something is odd here, and I'm not convinced it's really him. He's walking all differently."

OOC::Sorry, had a lot happening in the last few days.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:50, Wed 31 Jan 2018.

Roisin's pseudodragon Ochre flew up to Olven and circled him a couple of times before returning to his master.

[OOC: No worries. We got you all back together.]

Roisin stepped forward a worried frown on her forehead as she hugged Olven "We thought we'd lost you. We were about to drop everything and come look for you...but teh children needed to be returned before we did that.....what happened?"

When Olven Wolf arrives back at the farmhouse, relief breaks out across his face, but the expression quickly changes to wariness.  He eyes Ochre as the pseudodragon flies around, and when Roisin approaches, the once friendly Olven steps back a pace.

"Something has happened to me," he says quietly, "And quite frankly, it scares me to my core.  I am not safe to be around, not anymore.  I'll collect my things and meet everyone back in Kalaman."

Roisin stepped back, her eyes looking deep into Olven's with nothing more than concern for him filling them. "A moment please." her eyes pleaded with Olven to stay "Whatever it is. You can talk to us. We've come through the lyceum, we've shared much and have many stories to tell, of bravery, of song, of life itself. We understand you're scared. If I could only tell you of the things that confront me in the nights when I sleep that continue to haunt me during the days." she carefully stepped back from Olven aware she was making him feel uncomfortable "We've not walked many roads together, but the roads we have walked tell me that you are strong and trustworthy, and I hope that they tell you the same of us. We can help you Olven. Why not take a risk and tell us what has happened? If we can't help you presently, at least we'll understand what to do to keep you and others around you safe"

Keeping his distance, Olven licks his lips nervously.  The clothes scavenged from the scarecrow ill-fit him and accentuate his clearly larger muscles.  "I am not in control," he says quietly.  "And what's more, I have a deep distrust of others that didn't have yesterday.  I went to sleep contented last night, looking forward to reporting back to the king of our success.  You and D'aden must go now before him, alone, without me."

He looks around himself nervously.  Gone is the confident mercenary who had explored the Lyceum.  In his place is a man paler, with haunted eyes.  Physically, he may be stronger, but his eyes dart to and fro, and his body tenses like an animal ready to bolt.

"I had noticed odd things, how people and creatures smelled different than before, for instance.   It's like I could smell their feelings.  And yesterday."  He shudders.  "There was a hunter's trap.  Its jaws ripped into my skin.  But look."  He pulls up the leg of his borrowed trousers.  "It's clean.  Not even a scar.  My flesh healed itself before my very eyes."

He licks his lips again, afraid, ready to bolt.  "And then there was a rabbit.  The most delicious smelling thing I'd ever smelled.  I killed it with a rock.  And then - "  He shudders.  "I - I can't tell you what happened next.  I need to understand this on my own.  But I believe it's related to what happened to me in Kalaman.  Do you remember?  It was only a few days ago, but it feels like years.  No, I've said too much."  His eyes shoot back and forth.  "Just - just let me take my gear.  You and D'aden go back to report our success.  I don't know where I should go, but I need to stay away from populated areas.  Maybe back to the Lyceum.  I can keep an eye on the place in case more dracs show up.  I'm not safe to be around any more, not for any of us.  Except - "

He remembers the dwarf, who had had a solution to this dilemma.  The dwarf would know what to do, how to prevent Olven from hurting anyone else.

"Please, Roisin," he says weakly.  "I'm not in control, not any more."

Roisin nodded slowly. "I...." her voice faltered as she watched Olven silently for a few moments "I accept your choices. I think you'd be better off involving us. At one time in my life..." Roisin took a long pause, almost running an internal debate in her head "I needed to control everything around me. I wanted power. I still do.. I think all magic users do, but now, my search for power does not come at any cost. Friends are everything, Olven. The connections that bind us to others is the most powerful magic there is. So, I hope when you come to realise this and need our help, you will come back to us. In the meantime, is there anything we can do to help you on your journey?" Roisin tried not to let the sadness show on her face at the prospect of Olven leaving. She already knew in her heart he'd want to travel on his own, but she'd never forgive herself if she didn't at least make an effort to try to persuade him to rejoin them.

D'aden had been quiet, watching Olven, and listening. Finally, he says, "it sounds like you think you're a danger to us, Olven. We're traveling in the same direction, even if we travel separately, we'll not be far apart. How far away from us would you need to be to feel we're safe from you?"

The mercenary nods his head at Roisin's words.  "Yes, friendship is a kind of magic, perhaps the only one I understand, even partially, and friendship compels me to tell you as much as I have already."

He turns to D'aden.  "You have the cart.  You'll probably make better time than I.  I'll give you a day's head start and then follow to Kalaman after that.  If I camp in the forest, I should be safe.  Shall we meet in 3 days' time at an inn in the city?  You can tell me how the interview with the king went."

Alvin hadn't known him very long. She hadn't known any of them very long. Hours really.

"What about your portion of this," she asked while gesturing towards the wagon.

"I don't know," Olven Wolf says, troubled.  Before setting out on this journey, he had had an idea of becoming captain of a lord's guard, or perhaps even founding his own mercenary company, but now, after what had happened to him in the forest, what good were spoils of war or a king's favors?  He does not yet fully understand what has happened, or how he can reverse the result.  Or even if he should.

"I suppose I should go with you to present myself before the king," he says slowly.  "The king has protection.  I think he would be safe from me.  Perhaps if you lot do the talking and I stand there, quietly."

He shakes his head in frustration.  "I awoke in the forest with none of my belongings, no weapons, no clothing, nothing.  I honestly don't know how to stop this from happening again.  It's not a question of if it will happen again, but when.  Until I learn more about this affliction, it's hard to see much value in material wealth, other than in a potential cure that it might buy me, or transport to someplace where I cannot endanger anyone else."

OOC:  I don't want to bog things down here, but Olven will agree to see the king.  He will still want to travel separately so as not to endanger the others.  He will accept whatever portion of a reward he is given by the king.

The heroes started heading home to Kalaman. They traveled for the rest of the day and made camp. They would be back tomorrow at about lunchtime.

Roisin spent the trip mainly thinking to herself as the journey progressed. She wondered what happened to Olven that he would be so reticent to even speak of it, knowing she was an accomplished healer and somewhat talented mage.

She looked around every now and again, just making sure everyone was where she thought they would be as they got closer to their return.

Olven waits until the other have disappeared down the road and then leaves town to find a secluded area to wait.  He decides to give them half a day to travel on.  So, making himself as comfortable as he can, he waits for the next day.

OOC:  Olven will wait until the next day and then travel to Kalaman.

D'aden returns to the position he started the trek in. On the seat, driving the wagon, darning his socks. Occasionally he adds a new verse or two to what he has decided will be his magnum opus. Perhaps fortunately, perhaps not, the other travelers heard snatches of the tune and never the whole thing.

A little while after the heroes had made camp, a rider approached. And even before they could see him, they could hear that he was an excellent singer, even better than D'aden, with an attractive voice, much like Roisin's, but a tenor.

Closer, they could see that he was dressed in leather armor under a dark green hooded cloak. On the cloak was fastened a brooch of black metal in the shape of an equilateral triangle, with the point upwards, circumscribed by a circle. He was armed with a long knife and had a three-quarter filled backpack on his back with a wineskin, a wooden case, and a wide scroll case about as long as his arm fastened to it.

He stopped near the heroes' camp. "Greetings fellow travelers," he said congenially. "I am Gareth the bard, could I perhaps share your camp this evening?"

D'aden looks to Roisin and nods a smile her way, "perhaps he's a tune or two to drive that brave draconian ditty from my ear. It's my own fault, but it keeps circling my mind and is sure to drive me mad before too long."

Roisin laughed at D'aden's comments "You are welcome to share our fire and our food. Truth be told I am weary of the incessant meandering warbles coming from my friend. Perhaps you could teach him to sing properly this evening...and if I even dare, a song about something other than introspection and the easy clutches of despair, and keeping secrets that lead inevitably to parting of the ways and a short, painful death alone and apart from others." she said teasing her friend. She held up a warning hand "Anything bawdy and it may be you that ends up in the fire."

With a look of surprise, D'aden gasps at Roisin, "meandering?!"
But despite his indignant beginning, he can't help the smile that grows on his face as he continues, "I like meandering! Surely you wouldn't have me stop, who would ineffectually whack our foes with a stick while you subdue them with arcane power?"
"No, now you must answer me. Do I or do I not make you look good?"
This message was last edited by the player at 05:43, Wed 14 Feb 2018.

"Thank you," Gareth said and dismounted, tied his horse to a tree, removed his backpack, and the horse's saddle.

"I am certain I can think of something to elutriate your senses."

Roisin rolled her eyes "D'aden, you make everything and everyone around you look good. Even Utrecht himself is as an Adonis hewn from nature. Why, I may even go so far as to admit that having a kender as a best friend might look good in comparison to you.... being on an alter as a ritual sacrifice to She of Many Faces might look good in comparison....no that's not fair. I'd need to think about that one." Roisin shrugged "Maybe 50-50"

She smiled to the newcomer "I'm Roisin, by the way, and this is D'aden, a self styled troubadour and troublemaker. What brings you this way?"

"Pleased to meet you both," Gareth said. "My muse brings me this way. The song takes me many places. What brings you this way?"

Roisin smirked as she responded "My song merges with another. The song that merges with mine belongs to the King....and it has a commanding voice and is more than a little insistent that I...." she looked back over her shoulder at D'aden "that... we return and join the chorus."

"That sounds like a very interesting tale," Gareth said. "What brings the king's business this far east?"

"Not a tale that can readily be retold, as it is the Kings business, and not my own....and..." she smirked as she pulled at the silver circlet of metal around her neck "I have enough interesting tales of my own that others seem so much more mundane by comparison."

"Please go on," Gareth said. "What is the tale behind such adornment on a wonderful woman such as yourself?"

D'aden gives Roisin a sardonic smile and speaks to Gareth "even with a tale difficult in the telling, it is easy for a melody to convey the feeling. Besides, I have a melody that does capture one part of our adventure. For reasons we aren't aware of, there seemed to be quite a few of the scaly human/dragon people. They weren't interested in talking, which I completely understand. It must be SUCH work with those large mouths and heavy teeth. Anyway, I have a song about the whole thing that I, frankly, planned to sing to end the evening. Perhaps you would have one, as well, to take the foul taste of my poor voice from the ears of my companions. Would you sing for us?"

"Certainly," Gareth said. He opened the wooden case, picked up the lyre inside, and plucked it a little bit while tuning it. He then started to sing, accompanying himself on the lyre. He sang of a handsome, low ranking Solamnic Knight and his heroics. How he met a most beautiful Kagonesti female and how they fell in love. How war came and dragons followed and they, despite all conflict and hardship remained together.

He sang about the evil dragons and how their victories multiplied and threated to cover the world in darkness. And about the lovers fleeing to safety, where their love could flourish and the duo could be together forever.

But he stopped. He could not escape honor. He had to protect his people at any cost. And his love revealed herself as a silver dragon in elven form. And with the power of the gods in his arm, riding a dragon of his own, Huma risked the life he could have had with her to save the world. And as he banished Takhisis, the silver dragon was mortally wounded. And in his wrestle between love and honor, he had won one and lost the other.

His performance was exquisite. A true masterwork.

Roisins eyes widened as she heard the song. "I.... words escape me. A performance worthy of the Gods themselves. I'd suggest that you travel with us and make your songs known to the King, but if you travel seeking inspiration, you must do so. It would almost be criminal not to. I wish we could help you seek that inspiration, but our story is mundane." she looked somewhat saddened as she lifted the silvered slave collar around her neck "As for this. I'm afraid I cannot speak of how I earned it. There are powerful magics binding it to me, and me to it, and as I.." Roisin paused struggling as she tried to continue "umm travel through life, I may not discuss it."

Roisin looked sad as she spoke "I feel blessed to have heard your song. Powerful and old."

D'aden sits silent, staring at something a quarter mile away, then he turns to Roisin. "You see. That's why I annoyed you with my little dittys. If I could have done that, perhaps we wouldn't have had to bash in as many skulls, or maybe those ghostly elves would've taken less of my spirit. The only way I know to get closer to what he did is to practice, constantly."
Bowing to the gentleman, D'aden says, "I am in your debt, such a fine performance can not help but teach something to such a poor performer as myself."

"Thank you, both," Gareth said. "I am going towards Kalaman, but my road doesn't take me in front of the king." He looked at D'aden, "I wouldn't mind hearing you sing."

Roisin raised an eyebrow at D'aden's comment "I fear that what you call practice, I consider an assault on the ears, unlike Gareth's singing which is a feast, both sensitive, responsive and delicate to my sensibilities." she smiled at the bard "You'll soon regret saying that." she grinned as she sat back to listen to D'aden feigning covering her ears to block out the noise.

D'aden retrieves his mandolin, carefully arranges himself and fiddles with the tuning, then smiles and says, "Ok, this is a song I wrote about a gypsy lass I knew... once upon a time..."
After a short intro which includes tapping the mandolin's body as will as some acrobatic picking, he sings,
Farther on up the road
Someone's gonna hurt you like you hurt me
Farther on up the road
Someone's gonna hurt you like you hurt me
Farther on up the road
Baby you just wait and see

You got to reap just what you sew
That old saying is true
You got to reap just what you sew
That old saying is true
Like you mistreat someone
Someone's gonna mistreat you

Now you're laughing pretty baby
Someday you're gonna be cryin'
Now you're laughing pretty baby
Someday you're gonna be cryin'
Farther on up the road
You'll find out I wasn't lying

Farther on up the road
When you're all alone and blue
Farther on up the road
When you're all alone and blue
You'll ask me to take you back baby
But I'll have somebody new


https://archive.org/download/B...RoadDukeOrig1957.ogg
https://archive.org/download/B...RoadDukeOrig1957.mp3
OOC: I apologize and take full responsibility for this bit of whimsy.
20:11, Today: D'aden Tor VIII rolled 13,13,16,10,12 using 3d6,3d6,3d6,3d6,3d6.  Breath Control -12,Musical Comp -12,Mandolin -12,Performance -13,Singing -14.

OOC edit: Still, can't nobobdy complain about a little Bobby Bland
This message was last edited by the player at 05:30, Thu 22 Feb 2018.

"You have some good instincts and techniques," Gareth said. "But some of it was a little weak in execution. Your singing is fine, better than most who make a living at it. I have a feeling your companion may have her issue more with your material than with your singing. But I've just met you and probably shouldn't make such remarks considering your hospitality." Gareth then proceeded to give D'aden some musical pointers.

"I'm sorry if I gave you the impression I hated his singing. I don't really mind it. I just like teasing him about it." she smiled "I sing sometimes too, but mostly for my own amusement. My real talent is in languages...but that's to be expected in a mage, is it not?"

"I see," Gareth said. "Don't worry about it. I am aware of the teasing now. And I think everyone sings. More or less. And if not, magic can sing for them."

"It is always good to understand and to be understood."

D'aden smiles, turns away from Roisin and winks at Gareth before saying, "I grew up on a hold sharing space with nine other children of similar size, but not age. If someone wasn't teasing me, I'ld probably do something to get them started. You know, just to feel at home."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 02:21, Wed 28 Feb 2018.

Roisin nodded "Worry when we stop teasing. Not when we do."

"Point taken," Gareth said.

D'aden nodded, "besides, I'm like any old farm boy. I'd do handstands to see a pretty girl smile."
Standing, he starts rummaging through their provisions, "like right now, I really wish I'd paid more attention when this old guy was showing me how to properly prepare a squirrel for stewing so I could cook something for everyone."
"I didn't pay attention, so the squirrels are safe, for now."

Roisin frowned "You know Ochre considers himself a good hunter....and perhaps more to the point, he can fetch something perhaps a little less meager than squirrel."

Roisin ordered the Guardian and her familiar to stand guard over the group as they slept. She also cast a spell. And they had an uneventful night.

They continued their travels until they were back at Kalaman. As they approached, they could see a few giants carrying large blocks of stone both on their side and on Kalaman's side of the Vingaard River.

Roisin smiled to herself as they approached the city. It wasn't that it was safer, except in a more general sense. It was more the sense of familiarity... and the fact that at long last she might be able to afford a place of living with a slightly higher living standard than "hovel" and perhaps a horse too. Walking was painful. She sincerely hoped she could persuade the King to gift her the Lyceum to reopen it. She needed a good place to teach and learn and she was sure the lyceum still had more secrets to uncover.

She frowned as she saw the giants "Construction underway? or perhaps fortifications?"

One of the giants on this side saw the heroes dropped his block of stone on the ground and approached them.

Roisin stepped forward trying to recall from her studies the most commonly used dialect giants used in this area. "Greetings. We are merely passing through this area on our way into Kalaman. Can you tell us any news of interest on the local area?"

D'aden waves to the giant, and says to Roisin, "we did meet a giant on the way to the Lyceum. It appears our advice was useful, and the giants have garnered gainful employment in the reconstruction."

As the giant came closer, you recognized him as the giant you met a couple of days ago on your way to the Lyceum.

"Thank you," the giant said. "My family and I thank you for alerting me to the needs of Kalaman. We have jobs and food, though no place to live yet."

The giant was four times as tall as the heroes, the rest of him proportional to his height, so finding a place for him and his family to live might be a little difficult.



[OOC: For a reminder, see link to a message in this game, starting with msg #175.]

OOC: It strikes me that the lyceum might have enough space for the giants....would that be true?

After a brief discussion with the giants and Roisin taking a note of the giants names and how they might be contacted, Roisin led the group to her home. A small But respectable place off a side street in a reasonable part of town. As she opened the door, Ochre bolted past her to jump up onto a perch near the fireplace, coiling himself around it, his nose scanning the area before he settled.

Roisin motioned to Utrecht to enter, lowering his head before he came in. Then finally she bid D'aden enter. "Cup of tea? I only have one bottle of wine, but I was saving it for dinner." she moved in her home, motioning towards the one empty chair near the fire for D'aden to sit in, as she emptied her backpack. "I have a question to ask. Do you mind if I keep the magical things here? I was going to study them all to see if I could discern anything about their origins." She placed all of the magical items onto the desk "If not, it's grand. It's just it's hard to figure out whether they should be sold or kept and for that matter knowing what they do is likely to be helpful."

She stacked some kindling in the fireplace, whispering softly and a fire crackled to life.

D'aden nods, accepting her invitation, "tea would be nice. But I won't stay long. There's something wrong with Olven, and I suspect it began before we left this city. I'm going to visit Reorx; I first met Olven when he was coming out of the temple."

Roisin set the kettle on the fire and prepared the tea, remaining quiet as the kettle slowly boiled. Only when she'd poured the cups and sat down did she speak "I...well, I worry about him. If there's one thing I have learned though, it is that if someone needs help, they should ask. If we try to help him without his asking for it, it might be that he ends up hating us for it. I did offer to help, and was flatly rejected. I was rather hoping that it was a magical affliction brought on by some of the things we recovered from the lyceum. That way, at least, I might find out what happened in an indirect manner."

[OOC: Each of you gets 10 CP.]