Eolar moved away from the forge. He was sweating and exhausted and was holding the white glowing chain mail with the tongs. He looked at the armour and was satisfied. It was hard to work the mithral but with the help of the local blacksmith who he had paid to use his forge he finally managed to finalise his work. He dropped the metal into the bucket of water and started to clean up. He had learned a lot in the last couple of days. The blacksmith had taught him how to heat and work the metal and how different metals can be used for different purposes.
He met Thes-Hiss in front of the tavern and handed over the new armour. After trying it out the lizardman had to agree that it was less noisy and less restrictive to move in it. Eolar was pleased. Another happy customer and more money for his monastery. Soon he can think about the refurbishments he had in mind for a while to provide better study rooms for the growing number of acolytes. He looked over to the few stalls that were on the market today. A nice piece of leather caught his eye. If he could use the forge again to make some smaller studs he might be able to also fulfill the dwarfs wishes....
[Thesis gets Enhanced Elven Chain +1 (Silent Moves) and gives Eolar 5000gp]
Friday, October 30, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Exile
Upon their return to Gom Dalat, Chen retires to a modest and quiet hotel suite to contemplate what they have wrought. Gazing into the mirror, shaving his head, he meditates on the release of the Pit Fiend into Fissa.
Of course he wanted the Balance restored - he and his friends had done too much Good in recent times... Stopping an evil monk and restoring warring factions to peace, helping to halt a Dragonborn invasion fleet, the list goes on. Of course, then, it is only right that some Evil is done to redress this state of affairs...
But a Pit Fiend loose in the world?! This is too much...
Chen makes the decision to take a leave of absence from his friends and return to his monastery. News of this magnitude can not be delivered by carrier pigeon. He says his goodbyes and departs.
The journey is long, but uneventful and swift, and he soon arrives back at the monastery to lay himself prostrate at the feet of his Sifus. He explains what came to pass in the mountains near Gom Dalat - how the elves failed to warn him of the dangers the Black Cloaks threatened though he had tried on numerous occasions to communicate with them, and how the elves instead had formed an unlikely alliance with an ork army. He admits his role in holding off the orks until the Pit Fiend appeared, only then knowing the full depths of the Black Cloaks' betrayal.
As a penance the elders order him to clear the Great Courtyard free of all the cherry blossoms with nothing but a pair of chopsticks. As soon as one blossom is collected, another falls to the ground in its stead. It is an impossible task. The days and weeks pass slowly in backbreaking labour, but Chen's mind is free to wander - free to explore the possibilities that are now laid out in front him. Eventually, one of the masters bids him to stop and walk a while.
"Why did we give you an impossible task Chen?"
"The task was meaningless, Sifu. But the time it gave me to think was invaluable."
"Just so, Chen. You learn quickly... Now tell me, of what did you think?"
"I thought on how to restore the Balance. On how to send the Pit Fiend back to the Hell from whence it came."
"Just so. Just so. And how do you intend to do this?"
"I... I don't know."
"Just so. The other masters and I have reached the same conclusion. We do not possess the answer to this problem. We understand that you will not learn how to do this by clearing the courtyard of cherry blossoms. You have let a great Evil into this world Chen, and it is your responsibility to right this wrong.
"Yes, Sifu."
"You will return to your band of adventurers; you will grow stronger; you will learn how to combat the daemon; and you will banish him from this land forever...
"Then, and only then, will you be permitted to return to us here."
Of course he wanted the Balance restored - he and his friends had done too much Good in recent times... Stopping an evil monk and restoring warring factions to peace, helping to halt a Dragonborn invasion fleet, the list goes on. Of course, then, it is only right that some Evil is done to redress this state of affairs...
But a Pit Fiend loose in the world?! This is too much...
Chen makes the decision to take a leave of absence from his friends and return to his monastery. News of this magnitude can not be delivered by carrier pigeon. He says his goodbyes and departs.
The journey is long, but uneventful and swift, and he soon arrives back at the monastery to lay himself prostrate at the feet of his Sifus. He explains what came to pass in the mountains near Gom Dalat - how the elves failed to warn him of the dangers the Black Cloaks threatened though he had tried on numerous occasions to communicate with them, and how the elves instead had formed an unlikely alliance with an ork army. He admits his role in holding off the orks until the Pit Fiend appeared, only then knowing the full depths of the Black Cloaks' betrayal.
As a penance the elders order him to clear the Great Courtyard free of all the cherry blossoms with nothing but a pair of chopsticks. As soon as one blossom is collected, another falls to the ground in its stead. It is an impossible task. The days and weeks pass slowly in backbreaking labour, but Chen's mind is free to wander - free to explore the possibilities that are now laid out in front him. Eventually, one of the masters bids him to stop and walk a while.
"Why did we give you an impossible task Chen?"
"The task was meaningless, Sifu. But the time it gave me to think was invaluable."
"Just so, Chen. You learn quickly... Now tell me, of what did you think?"
"I thought on how to restore the Balance. On how to send the Pit Fiend back to the Hell from whence it came."
"Just so. Just so. And how do you intend to do this?"
"I... I don't know."
"Just so. The other masters and I have reached the same conclusion. We do not possess the answer to this problem. We understand that you will not learn how to do this by clearing the courtyard of cherry blossoms. You have let a great Evil into this world Chen, and it is your responsibility to right this wrong.
"Yes, Sifu."
"You will return to your band of adventurers; you will grow stronger; you will learn how to combat the daemon; and you will banish him from this land forever...
"Then, and only then, will you be permitted to return to us here."
Creationism
Eolar took his bow and aimed at the target in the distance. The arrow flew and hit the target spot on. Eolar had a pleased smile on his face. He had spent every free minute in the last 7 days enhancing it and it seemed to have paid off. The bow was more balanced and aiming was easier. It was the first weapon he had worked on after strengthening his chain shirt and crafting the amulet at the monastery. The stone for Chen had been easy but the amulet had taken him 16 days to finish. He looked at the piece of jewellery hanging from his neck. It had a strong transmutation spell woven into the material which improved his abilities noticeably.
He was pleased. His crafting skills had improved but he was still far away of being a master of the trade. But he was learning quickly. He enjoyed creating powerful items. If only he had more time to spend on his new obsession. But there was always some time where he could find some peace and quiet to get his tools out. He was already looking for some more materials for his next creation. He looked at the dust on the ground and remembered the dust Telfis once had. It could store water. That was something to try while he was searching for materials. Shouldn't be too difficult!
[Eolar created a periapt of wisdom +4, increased the enhancement of his chain shirt from +1 to +2, imbued his bow with a +1 enhancement plus bane(human) and created some dust of dryness. XP deducted in last XP post from Scott. In total 27000gp and 27days were spent]
He was pleased. His crafting skills had improved but he was still far away of being a master of the trade. But he was learning quickly. He enjoyed creating powerful items. If only he had more time to spend on his new obsession. But there was always some time where he could find some peace and quiet to get his tools out. He was already looking for some more materials for his next creation. He looked at the dust on the ground and remembered the dust Telfis once had. It could store water. That was something to try while he was searching for materials. Shouldn't be too difficult!
[Eolar created a periapt of wisdom +4, increased the enhancement of his chain shirt from +1 to +2, imbued his bow with a +1 enhancement plus bane(human) and created some dust of dryness. XP deducted in last XP post from Scott. In total 27000gp and 27days were spent]
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Treasure
You search Hobliah's and Lerrius' bodies and the temple and you find quite a haul, considering the ease with which you cleared the temple. After separating what rightfully belongs to the villagers, and sneakily using some of the famous Pearlglen pearls to identify items (!) you are left with:
Hobliah's horde contains:
1xMoss Agate (10gp)
2xMoonstone (40gp each)
1xAmber (80gp)
1xEmerald (1000gp)
1xStar Sapphire (1100gp)
4000gp
1xScroll of Expeditious Retreat (25gp)
1xPotion of Eagle's Splendour (300gp)
1xBracers of Armour +2 (4000gp)
Lerrius' pin-cushion of a corpse:
1xMasterwork Studded Leather Armour (175gp)
1xMasterwork Buckler (165gp)
1xMasterwork Longsword (315gp)
1xMasterwork Composite Longbow (+2 STR) (600gp)
20xArrows (1gp each)
1xSilversheen (250gp)
1xOil of Magic Weapon (50gp)
1xPotion Cure Moderate Wounds (300gp)
1xScroll of Bless Weapon (100gp)
1xTanglefoot Bag (50gp)
2xSunrods (2gp each)
3xVials of Holy Water (25gp each)
Hobliah's unwashed body:
1xMajor Circlet of Blasting (23760gp)
1xPotion of Cure Moderate Wounds (300gp)
1xPotion of Magic Fang (50gp)
1xSilvernecklace, set with an Obsidian gem (190gp)
Hobliah's horde contains:
1xMoss Agate (10gp)
2xMoonstone (40gp each)
1xAmber (80gp)
1xEmerald (1000gp)
1xStar Sapphire (1100gp)
4000gp
1xScroll of Expeditious Retreat (25gp)
1xPotion of Eagle's Splendour (300gp)
1xBracers of Armour +2 (4000gp)
Lerrius' pin-cushion of a corpse:
1xMasterwork Studded Leather Armour (175gp)
1xMasterwork Buckler (165gp)
1xMasterwork Longsword (315gp)
1xMasterwork Composite Longbow (+2 STR) (600gp)
20xArrows (1gp each)
1xSilversheen (250gp)
1xOil of Magic Weapon (50gp)
1xPotion Cure Moderate Wounds (300gp)
1xScroll of Bless Weapon (100gp)
1xTanglefoot Bag (50gp)
2xSunrods (2gp each)
3xVials of Holy Water (25gp each)
Hobliah's unwashed body:
1xMajor Circlet of Blasting (23760gp)
1xPotion of Cure Moderate Wounds (300gp)
1xPotion of Magic Fang (50gp)
1xSilvernecklace, set with an Obsidian gem (190gp)
XP aka I told you it was easy aka don't expect too much!
So, maybe the encounters weren't that challenging to adventurers as heroic as you.
Mendez: Level 16: 122344
Eolar: Level 16: 122032 [1434 deducted for crafting]
Bodush: Level 14: 96925
Wer: Level 14: 96348
Thes-hiss: Level 14 (16): 93994
Elogyn: Level 13: 83297
Durin: Level 13: 78634 - LEVEL UP!
Please don't hurt me. I'll do better next time...
Mendez: Level 16: 122344
Eolar: Level 16: 122032 [1434 deducted for crafting]
Bodush: Level 14: 96925
Wer: Level 14: 96348
Thes-hiss: Level 14 (16): 93994
Elogyn: Level 13: 83297
Durin: Level 13: 78634 - LEVEL UP!
Please don't hurt me. I'll do better next time...
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Are we nearly there yet?
Already badly burnt and tired from the second leg of his journey, Mendez struggles forward.
The group of women and children he's escorting on this difficult journey are exhausted but still he has to drive them on.
Carrying both of the small children, Mendez reminds himself that Paradise is only half a day away.
The group of women and children he's escorting on this difficult journey are exhausted but still he has to drive them on.
Carrying both of the small children, Mendez reminds himself that Paradise is only half a day away.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
The Shrine of the Feathered Serpent
Everyone looks around, surveying the destruction they have reaped. 8 dead gargoyles, a gnome, a spirit naga, and a gigantic behir. They all realise they had gotten lucky. The fight may have been an easy one in the end, but Bodush had come closer to death than he would ever wish for and the battle may well have taken a horrendous turn for the worst had Thesis not the strength of character to resist the naga's diabolical gaze.
As Thesis wipes the behir's stinking stomach fluids from his armour and the clerics heal Durin and Bodush, Wer and Mendez set about clearing up the old temple. Wer respectfully buries the bodies of the nymphs and other forest dwellers and Mendez burns the corpses and animal skins which Lerrius had been curing. Between them, Hobliah the spirit naga and Lerrius the gnome ranger had not only separated the villagers from what wealth they had, but they had also reaped untold damage on the local wildlife - something that would take the eco-system ages to recover from.
Eventually, the party decide to return to the village. Thesis carries the statue of the Couatl, glinting in the late afternoon sunlight. Upon their return, they are greeted by Hettag - the remaining cleric of Pelor. Seeing the statue he almost breaks into tears of gratitude: Tears he cannot hold back once he also finds that the party have returned Kalina's armour, signifying that which he not yet brought himself to accept - that she was dead.
The party are welcomed as heroes by the villagers of Pearlglen and during their stay are put up in the most comfortable of the inn's rooms, are waited upon hand and foot by the village maidens, and eat and drink freely across the village. The statue is returned to the Shrine, but the party are not allowed to visit for the duration of their stay.
During this time, the party learn that - in the case of the old Warden's and Cleric's murders - Hettag has requested Pelor to send a new cleric. Eolar (of course) offers his and St Cuthbert's support but this is politely, yet firmly, declined. The village decide to elect a new council of village elders and experts - with this council rotating every two months so that any futher attempts to dominate their government will be much harder in future.
On the morning of their departure, Hettag asks the party to meet him at the shrine. Here they are met by the entire village, and a huge celebratory feast of a breakfast is unveiled. The party are ushered into the shrine to finally gaze upon the magnificence of the pearl-encrusted statue.
Set pride of place within the shrine, calmly lit only by sunlight reflected from cleverly placed skylights and mirrors, the statute of the Couatl glints like diamonds as the pearls reflect light around the domed room. It truly is a masterpiece, and makes the spirit naga's magically enhanced impersonation of Tlanextic seem all the more weak. The features on the old priest's tomb are also cunningly highlighted - showing him to have possessed great strength of mind and, however unlikely it may be, the party can easily see how the villagers would believe that it was he who originally brought the extra-planar couatl to rescue Pearlglen from the plague.
Once the initial awe has faded slightly, everyone is able to take in the rest of the room. Placed in such a way that their vigilant gaze never wavers from the tomb and statue, seven pearl-eyed stone-carven busts of Bodush, Wer, Eolar, Elogyn, Durin, Thesis, and Mendez stand atop simple and elegant pedestals in a circle around the edge of the shrine. Behind these around almost the entire circumference of the shrine a tapestried wall hanging recounts the story of the Saviours of the Shrine of the Feathered Serpent.
As Thesis wipes the behir's stinking stomach fluids from his armour and the clerics heal Durin and Bodush, Wer and Mendez set about clearing up the old temple. Wer respectfully buries the bodies of the nymphs and other forest dwellers and Mendez burns the corpses and animal skins which Lerrius had been curing. Between them, Hobliah the spirit naga and Lerrius the gnome ranger had not only separated the villagers from what wealth they had, but they had also reaped untold damage on the local wildlife - something that would take the eco-system ages to recover from.
Eventually, the party decide to return to the village. Thesis carries the statue of the Couatl, glinting in the late afternoon sunlight. Upon their return, they are greeted by Hettag - the remaining cleric of Pelor. Seeing the statue he almost breaks into tears of gratitude: Tears he cannot hold back once he also finds that the party have returned Kalina's armour, signifying that which he not yet brought himself to accept - that she was dead.
The party are welcomed as heroes by the villagers of Pearlglen and during their stay are put up in the most comfortable of the inn's rooms, are waited upon hand and foot by the village maidens, and eat and drink freely across the village. The statue is returned to the Shrine, but the party are not allowed to visit for the duration of their stay.
During this time, the party learn that - in the case of the old Warden's and Cleric's murders - Hettag has requested Pelor to send a new cleric. Eolar (of course) offers his and St Cuthbert's support but this is politely, yet firmly, declined. The village decide to elect a new council of village elders and experts - with this council rotating every two months so that any futher attempts to dominate their government will be much harder in future.
On the morning of their departure, Hettag asks the party to meet him at the shrine. Here they are met by the entire village, and a huge celebratory feast of a breakfast is unveiled. The party are ushered into the shrine to finally gaze upon the magnificence of the pearl-encrusted statue.
Set pride of place within the shrine, calmly lit only by sunlight reflected from cleverly placed skylights and mirrors, the statute of the Couatl glints like diamonds as the pearls reflect light around the domed room. It truly is a masterpiece, and makes the spirit naga's magically enhanced impersonation of Tlanextic seem all the more weak. The features on the old priest's tomb are also cunningly highlighted - showing him to have possessed great strength of mind and, however unlikely it may be, the party can easily see how the villagers would believe that it was he who originally brought the extra-planar couatl to rescue Pearlglen from the plague.
Once the initial awe has faded slightly, everyone is able to take in the rest of the room. Placed in such a way that their vigilant gaze never wavers from the tomb and statue, seven pearl-eyed stone-carven busts of Bodush, Wer, Eolar, Elogyn, Durin, Thesis, and Mendez stand atop simple and elegant pedestals in a circle around the edge of the shrine. Behind these around almost the entire circumference of the shrine a tapestried wall hanging recounts the story of the Saviours of the Shrine of the Feathered Serpent.
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