Temple Row
Bruenor Sedricson:
In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 365):
Bruenor wasn't the type to exercise extensively. He had loathed the calisthenics back at the castle for all men at arms. So he had presumed that he'd be easily bested by the High Priest of Wrestling.
But, he mused with a wry grin, perhaps swinging his sword at every foul beastie from here to the ocean shore was better exercise than he'd realized.
"The pleasure was all mine, Brother. And I look forward to having some free time to spend around real sportsmen in this town. Farewell to you!"
Pleased with himself, Bruenor headed back to the temple to drop off his first ingredients.
Brother Xeric waved Bruenor farewell as he returned to the Temple of Boccob. Once an acolyte had returned him to Sister Page's workshop, he found her with her nose in a book, six more piled up next to her, and an array of tools, bottles of various powders and liquids, and an incense burner already lit scattered across the bench. She looks up when Bruenor enters, and puts on gloves to take the items from him.
"
Admirably prompt, Sedricson. I have a working theory on the necessary magical components, and I am finalizing the needed paeans and prayers. Once we have the comfrey roots, I will be ready to start creation. A most exciting time!"
--
Killdagger Stables
quote:
"Thank you, Narthian," she says, but her eyes are sympathetically affixed to the pale horse. She approaches the horse, one hand upon the gleaming symbol of Pelor, the other outstretched. "[Language unknown: Ho e o hiskorratrea. Re ho nd bewind sanantrat sanbe ssle liome fing ee chilli, intek ure hi ha ieni saons she u ev.]" She speaks in a comforting tone, running her hand from the neck down to the scars. She seems to be sorting through a thousand thoughts as once. When she comes to a decision, her voice takes on the tone of a preacher. "[Language unknown: Korpretha Prehatare pl Uninri Ssur po po wirewh al! Pe ainwhiomeessfor all. Sanastter onsei reon o ndedinthoint ll Not fice e o! Onsourshe pler is sain korainare lar a ecwali t ngta Ivmice!]" She looks at Narthian and Cenna, a huge smile on her face. "Behold Lux Aurea! The Golden Light! A comet shining bright within the Light of the Shining One! Together we will face the Night and banish it!"
The horse formerly known as Ghost shies a little at Farian's booming recitation, but then sidles a little closer at her friendly body language. Lux Aurea wickers slightly and shakes his head, ears pointing towards Farian in evidence of interest.
Cenna just chuckles. "
Well then, I'd say that's your horse. I'll round up his gear, and you can get your payment ready." She'll head to the tack room to get Ghost's saddle and bridle (as he's already wearing a halter), coming back with sturdy, plain gear. "
Coin, gems, or Goldsmith note?"
---
Mages' Guild and Adventurers' Guildhall
Volsh son of Vor:
<quote>
Volsh nodded and signed the documents after Haazheel had had a chance to review them. "All of that works for me. Thanks for working with me. As for markings...?" he shrugged and continued, "for the gauntlets perhaps some stylized wolves in place of arms. For the horseshoes, eagles over winds blowing. Those will do."
He handed over what ready cash he had to spare for these projects. "This should be 500 down for each and the pre-payment of the fee to hold this money and projects until I can pay in full."
"I hope to have you the full amount... well soon enough."
"
That will do to hold it," the man says. He takes a moment and sketches out some simple drawings of running wolves, and then soaring eagles over rushing wind. "
So I don't forget. Once you have payment in full, I'll refine these for the actual designs." He smiles and shakes Volsh's hand as they conclude getting the contract in order.
quote:
He paid for each of his potions and thanked the acolytes at each location before returning to the Guildhall to meet with the others.
A pat on the back for Haazheel's help with his contract and a nod to others as they gathered.
"Well, have we found out the details on the smuggler's job? Can it push a week or so or does the stress of the town mean it needs to be started tomorrow? I'm all set to go visit Old Rue and meet him, give him some things in thanks for what he did for me."
It's Sir Aberlayne who has taken point on the smugglers' job, and she answers Volsh. "
Probably can push the date. The wheels of justice grind slowly, and anyways the coastal ship that the wine cask was to go out on is 'delayed' in port for some emergency repairs. They'll divert the cargo to a caravan, but they can delay that for long enough for us to get back. The more information they can squeeze out of all the people involved before we go will be all to the better, because we'll be going in prepared."
Yondalla, the goddess Sir Aberlayne serves, is the Goddess of Community, amongst others, and the smugglers have made a fine mess of this one; it's clear Sir Aberlayne feels it is past time for this to be set right.
--
Averdante:
Trying to decide whether he needs enchanted armor, or simply an amulet with a protective enchantment on it, Dante also considers buying an enchanted blade. Even as poorly as he weilds one, the recent journey had impressed on him that he needed some way other than his bow to harm the more unnatural monsters. The blade with the snowcat hilt interested him at the one shop, but he also found the Phase Blade interesting as well, moon-bound as it was. A theme of cats could become iconic, should he gain a significant measure of fame, but a lunar focus could end up advertising a dangerous weakness....
He was pleased to find the old woman and boy he'd noted before near the market, too. They were a trail that had been unneeded in the search for Pearl, but he still thought them a contact worth making... and people in need of an extra bit of kindness.
He's not expecting the fortune they give him, though, and grows pale hearing it. No question it was a true foretelling, and the thought of having made such an enemy is rather alarming. He's a little distracted as he drops a half a dozen gold coins into the bowl in front of them. "Thank you for the warning, Elder, child," he tells them, giving each a nod. "I am grateful to have it." Even if it does leave him chilled in a way the warm sunlight cannot touch.</coral>
The old woman raises a hand in blessing for Averdante's generosity. "Fair wind upon you!"
<quote>In the morning, he's up early while the sun is bright in the sky, to return to Salt of the Earth Leathers and find out more about their enchanted armor. He's particularly interested in the one with the eyes; it's a little creepy, but blue is his favored color. After that, he revisits An Extra Edge, to investigate the possibility of getting the snow cat sword enchanted.
At Salt of the Earth leathers, he finds the half-elf journeyman apprentice, Salwyn, who is happy to answer his questions about their goods. "
Ah, this one is the armor of eyes, made from the hide of a gauth combined with that of a amphisbanea. 'Tis good for the wary and those who need to watch their back. It heightens your senses and makes you nearly impossible to sneak up on. Can give you a bit of a paranoid feeling, though, so most only don it when they have need. Twill be four thousand for that one."
At Extra Edge, you'll learn that the snow cat sword has a basic enchantment for accuracy, and can be had for a reasonable price of 1,320gp.
quote:
He'll probably end up back at the Mage's Guild eventually, but he hasn't quite decided what it is he wants, yet. And he'll go back to Ehlonna's Glade later, too, to use the comfortable familiarity of a forest around him to think, and to pray. For the time being though, he gets Mask from the stables and goes for a ride on the beach, seeking the distraction of new sights and exercise in the sunlight to burn off the chill from his bones.
Out on the beach, he, Mask, and Prreet can trot through the sunlight, enjoying the sparsely-populated coast. Away from the bustle of the port, most of the homes along here are small fishing steads and the occasional freeholder, and those are few. You spied a group of young wizards from the local Pultain School of Polymorphing, out on an expedition for something, a few lone fisherfolk, and a wealth of shorebirds and seagulls out looking for food. He seems a few little coves with small boats in them, and a few boys, perhaps twelve or fourteen, preparing for a sail in a one-matched ketch.
--
Brotherhood of Alchemy
Haazheel Thorn:
Haazheel has been spending his time researching spells and working an an alchemist's shop, usefully, for Haazheel has become an efficient alchemist in is own right. He also meets some interesting customers when he works the counter, for instance, a well-muscled woman with a missing breast, a beautiful helf-elf just past her prime, a halfling whose darting movements remind him of a hummingbird, and a helf-orc with fierce eyes who has a hook for a left hand and a peg right leg.
[“If it squirms, it's biology. If it stinks, it's chemistry. If it doesn't work, it's physics. And if you can't understand it, it's mathematics.”
― Magnus Pyke]
He spends some time with Volsh, who is making progress with reading and writing. Still, he's happy to hep with the contract. He reads it aloud slowly, moving two fingers along and underneath the lines of text while Volsh looks at the words.
When the party is ready to move, Haazheel can contribute [with the GM's OK]
Acid, 3
Antitoxin, 4
Burn Salve, 1
Elf Hazel, 1 [heals scars]
Garlic Charm, 2
Gash Glue, 2 [stabilizes wounds]
Healing Salve, 2
Sunrod, 4
Tanglefoot Bag, 4
Tindertwig, 4
He doesn't plan to carry these; they are for companions to use.
The Brotherhood of Alchemy can rent Haazheel space for his work for a fee of one gold piece a day, and has supplies for his workings at a reasonable market price. They're happy to have a fellow crafter busily working away, and will cheerfully chat with him about the effects of different ratios of comfery versus aloe in burn salves, or the techniques for applying gold on a sunrod.
--
Adventurers' Guildhall
Dellas Nump:
Dellas spent his time mostly in his room at the adventurers guild, as he studied his way through his book and the necromancer's book. Once he had a couple pearls he would take to identifying the items that they had gained from the necromancer.
Vish ran about the room, scurrying under things as the small grey gargoyle gave chase. Dellas would look up and laugh from time to time.
The jeweled dagger is a curious case - it bears a simple enhancement enchantment, but also will draw blood from the wound and store it in a bulb inside its handle. Excellent for scrying, alchemical processes, and necromancy. Or a snack, if one is a vampire. It is called Vampire's Kiss.
The clear spindle gem is an
ioun stone. When set near someone's temple, it will orbit their head, and in the case of the particular stone, it will sustain them without foor or water indefinitely.
The winged key is a
Quall's Feather Token, of the key variety. With it one can open any locked door, provided it hasn't been sealed by magic, and can even open up a hole in a wall. It will only work once, however.
The
potion of false life is precisely what you thought it was, with no impurities or other hidden effects.
The key with the iron skull is not magical, and you're not certain what it opens as of yet.
The dozen onyx gems are worth about 100gp each.
The book could be sold to an interested spellcaster for about 4000gp.
Vish and Kelvren the gargoyle lead each other on a merry chase as Dellas studies, providing moments of needed levity during his studies of the rather dour necromantic text.