1504 replies to this topic

[Beleg33]

Khark is really annoying with SCS

[Usurper]

On Carsa's unfortunate corpse, we find a Knave's Robe and a Protection from Fire scroll.With that we consult the crude maps we have drawn and take a look around. We seem to have explored the entire area.



Now, to enter the maze, after we rest and recuperate that is.



Then, it is time to finally enter the Firewine Ruins. When we get in there, we have a strong feeling of deja vu. Coran, as our only functional thief, goes ahead to scout the twisty passages.



He finds a couple of dead ends.



When he finds the correct way to go, he not only spots enemies but also springs a trap!



Coran retreats from the enemies, but Kagain rushes right in. Right into a full kobold raiding party!



I manage to get him to come back and we make our stand at the corner.



Someone casts Chaos over the fight. I am hit.



But Imoen is able to clear things up with her own Dispel Magic. You go girl!



A second later, though, a Confusion hits us all. Coran is the only one confused by it.



I throw a few Minute Meteors, and the Shaman dies. Ha!



But the Kobold Scribe casts Hold Person and gets both Kagain and Yeslick.



I feel as though I must intervene. I open Rhialto's Spellbook and throw a Dispel Magic at a very carefully-selected distance. It is enough to remove the Hold Persons from the dwarves and the Confusion from Coran, but my Minute Meteors remain. Score!



Soon the kobold line breaks, and we advance towards the casters in the back.



The scribe hits Yeslick with a lightning bolt!



And while we are trying to get more people to maneuver in to take him out, he does it again!



Thankfully the little people take him out before he can do any real damage.



We search the bodies of the kobolds. Many of them are carrying poisoned daggers and poisoned arrows.





The kobold scholar is carrying an extremely important spell scroll!



Gameplay note: This is it! This is the spell that will some day let me create four of myself to rain down destruction upon mine enemies. An illusory copy that can cast the same spells as I. Can you imagine?

I squirrel that away for Firebead to copy down as well. Then we advance into the big room. Looks like we have three paths to choose.



We choose the northeast path, and Coran follows it until he finds another kobold.



He calls out the signal and the rest of us rush in to help.



We slaughter them left, right, and center, but the kobolds just keep coming.



Imoen tries to get into position to snipe, and springs a trap.



And Finch takes out what looks to be the last of them.



We follow the passageway up, up, and around, and end up in what feels like a northern edge of the area.



I am a little apprehensive about what is around the corner. I send Coran in first. He doesn't actually find anything in that passage, but he does see some strange lights flickering around the corner.



He comes back to us. We prepare to go down the hallway together when Imoen looks behind her and screams!



I throw out a Remove Magic. This is a high-level mage, surely I must be able to interfere here!



Except.. maybe not. Finch kills Lendarn in one mighty blow!



The poor dead mageling was wearing a Robe of Electric Resistance and a Ring of Protection +2.





He was also carrying around scrolls of Lightning Bolt, Fireball, and Ghoul Touch. Psh. Amateur.

I give the ring to Imoen. It complements her nicely.



We have to wait longer for Lendarn's teleport field to dissipate than we ever did fighting him. His one sad legacy, up in a poof of spent magic. Pitiful.



Around two corners we see a monster just sitting there waiting for us.



We rush to attack, but then hear evil cackling up ahead. Uh oh!



What's Gullykin? And I'm tired of killing ogre magi.

Couldn't we have a peaceful solution to this? I'm sure you don't really want to fight a powerful foe like us.

Of course me do! Me just pester half-people so fools like you come racing in! You powerful? Good! Powerful fools have best treasure! Now you die like all else!

Huh. That's actually a pretty good plan. But I bet he didn't count on people who can one-shot kill an ogrillion!



Finch considers this to be a good time to draw upon the divine might of Deneir.



And Yeslick does something that I have never seen him do before - he calls down a Holy Smite on all the kobolds and ogrillions.



He obliterated over half of them! Damn! But the effects of the ogre mage are beginning to be felt. Kagain gets spooked by him.



I prepare for my showdown with the Ogre Mage by casting Minor Globe of Invulnerability. Then I try to go around the corner and face him, but the kobolds are blocking the way. And in trying to fight my way through them, I am poisoned!



There are no antidotes left and I am immune from magical anti-poison spells! What a unique problem. I'm just going to have to wait this out. I do, and I make it past the kobolds, and walk up to where the ogre mage must be. But he is gone.



I call out, "Finch? Where is he?" She peers around with the aid of her helmet. I'm not sure if she helps or not, but I see the bastard down a side passage.



I cast my spell. The ogre mage melts into a pile of green goop. This is becoming routine.



The ogrillion beside me actually gets a hit in. I drain the life from him in response.



Then I simply strike him down with my staff and move on to kill the goop that was the ogre mage.



Finch kills the other ogrillion in a shower of gore. I use the scroll of Ghoul Touch to try to harm the ogre mage, just for fun.

[Usurper]

But before I can even connect with the goop properly, Yeslick's divine hammers destroy the ogre mage utterly.



I start to clean up the mess we have created, and Yeslick strikes up a conversation with Coran.



I admit it's more the prospect of the rewards that take me down this path, but I suppose there is a certain nobility in the hunt. Romance, even. Yes, there is room enough for a portion of selfless bravery that I daresay appeals to you.

Oh, aye. Wyverns were somethin' o' a menace that needed bashin' where I grew up. Every now an' then we had ta march out an' take a few down. That were me job, often... leadin' the patrols down into the nests ta break some skulls an' smash some eggs.

So there was a great tradition of wyvern-slaying amongst your clan, then? Handy.

Wouldn't say it were a tradition or anythin'. Just somethin' that had ta be done. Difficult, too. One o' them big scaly buggers did fer me dad long ago...

Oh... Sorry, bearded one, I didn't know.

No, no, nothin' wrong. Long past grievin' fer the gruff ol' bugger, anyhow.

Where the ogre mage was standing, we find a stairway up. Interesting.



I feel that we have a lot more to explore down here first, however. So we go back the way we came.



This time we take the central path. A few twists down the passage and we find some more kobolds.



The magic user among them, the kobold witch doctor, makes the mistake of drawing attention to himself by casting Armor. Coran takes him out.



The rest of the kobolds are blown away by our munchkin murder machine of Yeslick, Kagain, and Finch. Finch, the one out ahead, is the one who gets addressed by a strange Undead Knight.



They do not have any trouble at all in granting the knight's request.



After him are more kobolds! They are also not a threat.



We clean things up. The undead knight was wearing some Ancient Armor.



We try to keep going in the halls, but the passages twist in on themselves and become extremely confusing. I'm half convinced that we are lost.



A lone kobold guard that we find looks just as confused as we are.



We relieve him of the need to know where he is. Then Imoen springs a trap on herself.



I also trigger a magic missile trap trying to explore a side passage.



I wish Imoen would hurry up and remember how to be a thief again. Several twists and turns later, we see a ghostly set of adventurers. They are six in number - the same as we are. Hmmmmm.



Well that's quite a nice sentiment really. Not leaving a brother behind and all that. I try to talk to more of them. They all say the same thing. Is there someone missing of their number? Can that crazy bard back on the surface be correct? Should we find a thief ghost to help them or something?

Coran goes exploring again, finds a single kobold guard, and takes him out.



We keep exploring and are hit with another trap!



A fireball trap. Ouch! Coran goes another direction, and finds someone new.



Put away your weapons! I mean you no harm!

Wait, you're not kobolds, I... please, don't hurt me.

We were sent here... the kobolds, there were too many, and the... that creature. He killed my friends. Killed them all.

It was an ogre-mage. Please, you need to help me kill it!

If you mean the one commanding the kobolds, then he is already dead.

Truly? Then... then I would leave this place as quickly as possible. My companions are... gone. Please, take me with you!

You don't seem like much of a warrior, if you were defeated by kobolds and a few mages. Why should I let you come with us?

But... but I can prove myself! We were not expecting the kobolds to be so... organized. It was an ambush, and they overwhelmed us.

If you give me a chance, I really will prove my worth!



Gameplay note: Well, there's your choices. I had forgotten about this NPC. Lets take a look at her.



She is a half-elf fighter/mage multiclass. She's at 75,996 xp, which is only 4,000 less than myself and just 2,000 more than Yeslick, so she is on par with the best of us in xp. She's got two stars in Long Swords, one in Spear, one in Short Bow, and one in Two Weapon Style. She could dual-wield some long swords. We don't really have anyone that uses long swords aside from Coran. Let's take a look at her spells.







She doesn't know many spells at all, but with a little monetary investment we could fix that. She's not so great on equipment, though.



She's got a broken sword, a short bow, and a custom suit of armor.



Pretty nifty. So, what should we do with this chick?



Choice 1: Add her temporarily, escort her out of the dungeon, and send her off to the Jovial Juggler. She'll become part of the party roster and we can vote her in or not at the next party vote.
Choices 2&3: I will count both of these together as adding her to the party permanently. Please specify who you want her to replace as well. She will go at the last of the party popularity order and be replaced first when we are required to replace someone for upcoming quests.
Choice 4: We leave her to her fate, not even at the Jovial Juggler. She just gets left here, alone.

Cast your votes!

[hook71]

Choice 2 - replacing Yeslick.

[Beleg33]

Not Yesliiiiiick (Finch gets new battle cries after a certain banter between the 2 - if you haven't had it already) !

I choose 2 - Replacing Kagain

[Justify]

Choice 1, we've got a full party at the moment, but might as well take her along later.

[Usurper]

Oh, yes, that happened with Finch! Yeslick threatened to burn her books or something, and she said she'd fight him for it. No wonder she sounds a lot more confident now!

[AmyAE]

3 and replace Kagain.

[Usurper]

Here's what the votes look like. Since There was one vote for "not Finch," one for "not Finch or Imoen," and one for "not Yeslick," they all got piled onto Kagain.

Choice 1: Add her temporarily ............
Choices 2&3: Add her permanently 33332222222222222222222
Choice 4: Leave her   

Have her replace:

Yeslick ...
Kagain ........
Finch ...
Coran 
Imoen 

(1 for not Finch)
(1 for not Finch or Imoen)
(1 for not Yeslick)

Voting is still going to be open for the next half-day or so. I'll check the thread for any late/changed votes before playing the next update.

[Lurker of the north]

2 - Finch

[Usurper]

13 Alturiak, 1370

Coran calls out to me. I come over and he introduces me to some chick he picked up right here in a dank dungeon full of monsters underneath the earth! This guy is shameless!



I'm always looking for new companions. (I go through the old ones so quickly.)

You won't regret this! My friends will be avenged, and then we can escape this horrible place.

We decide to say goodbye to Kagain. He has been serving as the main tank and trap detector for quite some time - he deserves a break. And, quite frankly, I am almost overjoyed to send someone back to the Jovial Juggler without getting them killed first!



Our paths must run apart for a while. If I should need your help again, though, we should rendezvous at the Jovial Juggler in Beregost.

As it happens, I do have some business in them parts. Look me up there if you ever need any more dwarven muscle.

We wave goodbye, and then prepare to learn more about Indira, but before I can even turn around Coran is flirting again.



Huh, to be honest, Coran, thieving's not much to my liking...

The trick is to take from those who can spare it.

*giggles* How'd you know that? Do you come up to a person and ask if he can afford to be robbed? Or do you leave a message in a house you have just picked clean with your address, so they can reach you in case they'd want stuff back?

If such thoughts trouble your pretty head, maybe you should think of trying out something else?

Then, in order to equip Indira, we teleport to the Refuge right away. I could visibly see her sag in relief from fear of death. Oh yeah. We got the high life here.



We give her the flaming Long Sword +2 Fire Biter (not the talking one, that's mine), and also Varscona +2. She's got fire and ice damage, one in each hand. We also give her a Helm of Glory, some Boots of Speed, the Cloak of Displacement, and a Girdle of Bluntness. The Ring of Protection +2 from Imoen and the anti-missile ring round out her equipment.

We also teach her the spells of Blindness, Resist Fear, True Strike, Lightning Bolt, Invisibility, Dispel Magic, Larloch's Minor Drain, Improved Invisibility, Ghoul Touch, and Fireball.



Then we introduce Indira to Firebead.



It turns out that Firebead has great respect for fighter/mages and has always wished he could be one himself. But, alas, he was already set in his ways before he met his first one, and it is too late for him to go back and relearn everything about magic now. He does insist on helping out Indira, though, by teaching her Mirror Image. He knows how important it is for her style of fighting.



I also show the scrolls of Power Word Stun and Project Image to Firebead. I offer the scrolls to him, saying that he can in turn write them out for us, but he just chuckles as if entertaining a child. He says that he cannot now memorize such powerful spells, and that he probably will never be able to before he dies from old age. He tells me to simply copy them down into my own spellbook and maybe some day I'll get to cast them. So I do.



We rest and wake and are ready to go in the morning. We discuss tactics and put Indira on point. But she seems a little hesitant about it.

Um, are you sure you want me at the front? I mean, ah, I have my swords but I'm all puny and stuff!

I assure her that everything will be fine. Then we teleport back to Firewine Ruins.



We are almost finished with our explorations in this maze, actually. The place isn't going to keep its secrets much longer. Or its traps.



That was a nasty one for poor Yeslick. Unfortunately he finds another not a minute later.



A few twists and turns and we are actually back to where we started.



We have explored the entire area!



Gameplay note: Don't ask me why the map is so tiny, I have no idea.

Yeslick mentions that he saw a stairway leading up from one of the passageways to the south. Since we are nearby, we decide to take it.



We climb up and up and eventually find ourselves in... a very cosy cellar!



Coran seems to know where we are.



Perhaps later on, Coran.

Ah, nothing is better than an evening in gentle company by the fireplace after slaughtering a ghost or two...

I couldn't agree more. But where are we?



Hello again, goodman Alvanhendar.

Indira! You look different from last time I saw ye, young one... there's grief in yer eyes. Yer companions be different as well, and belike ye need say no more, for I know what has transpired. Dallillia guide the poor souls of your old friends, and may ye preserve their memories.

Are ye in need of blessings or healing?

Yes, we'd like to see what you have to offer us.

It turns out that we are in the Temple of Yondalla, who sounds like a halfling god of some sort.



There isn't much here at the temple, except for the Helm of the Trusted Defender.



Looks pretty good; costs 23,460 gold. Nobody wants to move any magical merchandise on this entire coast, I feel. Indira shows us the way out, and we go out. We find ourselves in a tiny little town of some sort.



But when we try to camp out until morning, we are ambushed by kobolds!



Indira doesn't do too bad against them.



We go back into the temple to sleep the rest of the night away. In the morning, we decide to go take a look at this little village. A village sign confirms it. We're in Gullykin!



I talk with some of the tiny villagers.



Gandolar Luckyfoot is a lot more hospitable.



Done and done. The satisfaction of knowing we've put an end to that menace means more to me than any amount of gold could.

He gives us 125 gold. Not much but more than I was expecting for going to Firewine Bridge. I just came without expecting anything, honestly. With a smile on my face, I turn to speak to the next halfling woman.



Why should there be such a ruckus? Are visitors so uncommon here?

Oh no, we get quite the traffic as far as merchants and caravans go. It's just the wandering adventurer that raises the eyebrows. No doubt you shall feel like quite the spectacle during your stay, but it's only because the small folk admire the spirit of Littleman that you possess. He was our greatest wanderer in all of halfling history. You are an oddity, but also to be admired. Welcome to you, and enjoy your stay.

Aww, isn't that nice? We explore the rest of the tiny little village. It seems to be nestled at the top of some cliffs. It is little bigger than the bandit camp we slaughtered so long ago.



But not all of the little halflings are so nice as that woman.

[Usurper]

One of them sounds positively monstrous.



What is this Precious you speak of?

Whats Precious they asks? Precious is nice shiny ring yes. Yes very shiny, very nice ring Precious is. Now you go get Precious from nasty smelly goblins yess?

Yes we'll help you recover this ring. We will return once we get it back.

I'd promise anything to not have to talk to him anymore. Geez!

We decide to go check out some of the houses here. I've never been in a halfling house before!



My apologies, but the door was unlocked and I thought your burrow deserted. I did not mean to intrude upon your home.

Any insult from your entry is forgiven by your courtesy. The door is always open to friendly folk, regardless of their... parentage. Stay a while if you wish.

We do wish, and so we stay and make polite conversation. Well, almost all of us do. Coran slips downstairs for a bit.



He takes a bit of a look around. Finds a few things.



Not much though. We say our goodbyes and move on to the next house. Arlond's house.



And you had better listen to her! The Firewine Ruinds, or any other dungeon, are no place for a child like you!

A baby! I'll show you AND Nanna! I just gotta get a little bit older and I'm off and running. I'll go everywhere you have and better! You'll see!

Man, Indira seems to be quite invested in this village. She has obviously spent a lot of time here. Coran once again wanders downstairs, hoping to not get noticed. But he does get noticed.



My apologies for disturbing your humble burrow, but I was unaware anyone was within.

That is only because the homes of our village are kept warm and inviting whether the owner is in or not. No need to apologize, you would be welcome regardless. Little to excite you wandering types here though, just a simple day spent by the hearth. It's all the treasure I seek or need.

Coran smiles, nods, and tries to open a nearby chest. But it is not sufficient stealth, and the halfling calls guards!





[Charisma] - This is simply a misunderstanding, I assure you. I will gladly pay the appropriate fine and resolve this issue peacefully.

Very well. According to the rule book, the appropriate fine for this misbehavior would be...

1000 gold pieces.

I don't have that much gold.

In that case, I must confiscate all of your belongings instead.

Not a chance! I'm not giving you anything.

Resisting arrest? To arms then!

Crap! Crap crap crap!



Coran comes running up the stairs shouting run run run! We all instinctively turn tail and get out of there.



No one seems to be following us but we don't stop until we go out the front gate of the village.



I give Coran a Look. That had better not cost us anything in the future! We go out for a patrol, looking for those goblins that Smeagol was going on about. We find them pretty quickly.



Indira is like some kind of scythe of doom.



I try to cast Fireball on a second set of kobolds that show up...



Instead the Weave just decides to silence their leaders and magic users.



A lot of poison comes flying through the air on arrows and knives. Finch and I are hard-pressed to cure it all.



But in the end we are victorious.

We find an odd ring among the bodies.



I identify it with Finch's glasses, but it just becomes more odd.



I have the almost overwhelming urge to put it on, which undoubtedly means it's evil. Poor Smeagol. We turn to go back to town, but there's another party of kobolds behind us!



Indira takes care of business. We think we have everything wrapped up but then some bears ambush us from the right. One of them just up and rips Coran in half with one swipe of his paw. Ack!



Imoen and I both attack the brown bear in a panic. I throw some chaos daggers and she fires an arrow. The bear falls.



But the problems just keep coming. Yeslick is seriously injured by a lightning bolt.



He calls us over to his side and also calls down Clangeddin's might upon our foes. They are awash in white fury.



Indira and Finch take out the second black bear, and the battle is probably won.



It is, but also lost. For Coran is dead. I guess that might be karma, striking him down for trying to steal from the little innocent halflings. Maybe? Either that or it is my fault.

We go back to Smeagol, but we don't feel like we accomplished much.



He gives us 4 gold. Wow. I might be able to buy an apple with 4 gold. Coran died for this! I sigh in the rain. I just don't feel like I want to stay here anymore. We can explore the area around Gullykin another time.



Resurrecting Coran is 800 gold. Thankfully we had been collecting all of those poison daggers that the kobolds used, so we are able to raise enough to resurrect him.



And drop him off, of course. You know who we need in this party? We need Kivan again.



We equip Kivan in the gear to which he is accustomed.



Then we head out. We have some business with a ghost.



During our journey we are assaulted by a gigantic force of xvarts and gibberlings.



It is a shockingly quick slaughter, and we simply keep going on our way.

[Usurper]

We are also attacked by undead warriors upon our arrival at Ulcaster.



Finch is seriously injured in the fight and has to retreat to heal herself.



Our old buddy Kivan is the one to kill the first skeleton warrior.



As well as the second.



It's good to have our murder machine back! I pat him on the back. He remains deathly serious. The darkness seems to cause Indira to whisper.



'ere there, am I hearing things?

Shh, it's me, Indira. I just have a question to ask of you, and I don't want the others to hear.

Oh. Hrm... well then, certainly. What can I do for ye, young miss?

Thanks Yeslick. Okay now, you see, I've never actually met a dwarf, but I've heard stories about them back in my village and then on the road, and I can tell that some are obviously just stories, and others are real, but there's one thing I've never been too sure about.

And what's that?

I... No. No, never mind. It's silly.

Oh, go on, Indira. There's more to this old man than meets the eye. Can't ruffle my feathers that easily.

Well, if you're sure.

I was wondering. Do... do dwarven women REALLY have beards?

HO-hohoho! Many's the time I've been asked such a question by curious young 'uns, and you know what Indira?

What?

Even we dwarves don't know whether dwarf women have beards!

We see Indira and Yeslick laughing together and ask what the joke is. They look to each other and laugh again, but don't tell us. So we just have to start fighting our way towards Ulcaster. We encounter a vampiric wolf lord next.



He frightens Indira! I don't want to deal with his death-calling abilities, so I prepare to goop him.



The spell lands, and Yeslick and Finch summon divine hammers and pound the goop into the ground. It is the perfect combo!



Going up onto the plateau shows us another skeleton warrior.



With so many ranged attacks we are devastating him, until he gets a good hit past indira's mirror images.



A retreat, a heal, and a deathblow later, and we are okay.



That leaves us free to talk to Ulcaster, who is wandering by even during the fight.



To think all he wanted was a book so he could teach. Makes you kinda wonder.

Oh! Syvishtara, you'll get whatever I want so I can rest in peace if I die, right?

Farewell...

He says farewell, but he doesn't leave. So I give him the Ancient Armor too. In exchange, he gives us a vampiric sword!



Gameplay note: There was a string reference wrong here. I can't show the screenshot of the exchange because Ulcaster inexplicably says, "What it is with these mines? You cleared it of those little dogs weeks ago and now we've got a spider infestation!" I have no idea what string that is supposed to be for, but it is definitely not appropriate for the ghost of Ulcaster, giving him ancient armor, or receiving a vampiric sword in return. It was rather hilarious though.

Now we can complete the so-called tiny quest that Imoen convinced me to start on, oh so long ago. We eagerly head north to start on the journey back to the Song of the Morning Temple. But we are interrupted by three red-cloaked men.



Edwin?!

Hi there fellow. Those are some fine looking magical items you got there.

That they are. Why don't you just hand them over.

We would be able to put them to better use than you simians ever could.

I like that necklace, it gives off a distinctive glow. I think it would look good with my outfit.

It would look better on your bare skin while you are on my bed Erica.

Ha! As if she would have anything to do with you.

Well you weren't there a couple of nights ago were you? That's what happens when you drink too much ale my friend, you miss out on the finer things in life.

What? Nonsense! She wouldn't have anything to do with a primate like you.

I got your primate right here pal!

Enough already you two! Lets get these fine magical items and leave.

I don't think they want to give us their loot.

We didn't ask, we're telling you. Now hand over those items and you monkeys may survive this encounter.

We're not giving you clowns anything. Why don't you beat it beore we decide to take YOUR magical items.

Did you hear what these apes said?

Clowns? We'll show you how funny we are. Attack!

Hostile enemy mages? I don't even have to think. I just throw out Remove Magic, certain that they are going to buff. And I'm right.



Arrows and spells go flying. Finch casts Chant on us, while Kagain casts Holy Smite on the mages. Jeniek had managed to throw up a Minor Globe of Invulnerability but it doesn't protect against Imoen's poisoned arrows. He falls first.



Perhaps these mages might have had a chance against me, before I had descended the depths of the Ulcaster school and received my extreme mage duel training. But now that I have survived and learned, they are simply no match for me. I throw a Blade Shower at Taneth, and he falls next.



I know from long experience that my blade shower of daggers made of chaos stuff bypass spell protections. I also know that casting Dispel Magic at just the precise location behind your target to strike them and not you is the best practice for it, and I had previously told Indira so. She pulls it off beautifully.



And it doesn't matter how many times you re-cast Stoneskin or Mirror Image. When you've got five people beating on you, you will just die.



Here I feel is my final exam from the Ulcaster School, and here I pass with flying colors.

[Usurper]

And I reap my rewards: 20 Potions of Super Healing!



3 Red Wizard Robes!



3 Slings +2!



2 Daggers +3!




A Dagger +2 that also gives 50% electricity resistance!



40 Ice Bullets!



80 Bullets +2 "Forge Fire"!



20 Fire Bullets!



And 5 Bullets of Detonation!



We are rolling in the loot. Absolutely rolling in it. With huge smiles on all our faces, we hold our heads high on the journey back to the Song of the Morning Temple.



When we get there we have to fight our way throuh a pack of hobgoblins.



But we eventually make it to the strange cave in the rocks that used to scare us so very much.



We go down the passageway to find the three ghosts of Torquion again.



Or you come here to kill me...? Do you?

No, I'm here for just a while... Farewell!

I had forgotten about the holy water. I have to go get it. When we get out of the cave, Imoen begins speaking to Indira.



Erf. It has? I guess it's stubborn stuff. Like me, I suppose. It's always trying to escape.

I know what you mean. I would always just keep it pretty short at Candlekeep, but now it's been growing out since we left.

I have the same problem! Back home I'd just get my sisters to braid it, and it could stay like that all day, but these days I never have the time!

I tell ya what. When Syvishtara calls the next rest, I'll do up your hair, and you can do mine. Whaddya say?

That'd be great! I can't believe we didn't think of this earlier!

We make our way back to the Song of the Morning Temple, and find that Holy Water costs 600 gold!



I sell the non-magical weapons we collected, all the jewelry and gems, and end up having to sell two Scrolls of Protection from Acid to be able to afford one vial of Holy Water.



Then it is one more trip back to Torqion.



The three-ghosts-in-one all die. I suppose that's freedom, for a ghost. One of them also dropped the Vampiric Sword, so I get it back!



Without the ghosts to block the passageway we move into the room beyond. There is loot in the center.



20 Arrows of Striking.



A Proximity Bomb...



Ankheg Plate Mail +2.



And scrolls of Stinking Cloud, Monster Summoning II, and Flame Arrow. Indira doesn't know any of those, and Imoen doesn't know one or two, so we will work with Firebead to make those available for all of them.

Gameplay note: I give the Ankheg Plate Mail +2 to Indira. For a +3 spellcasting time she can go from 0 to -5 AC. That's huge, and I think it's worth it.

There are also some more items on a kind of altar on the far wall.



The book is the History of Calimshan and the other item is a Wand of Chain Lightning.



Gameplay note: That doesn't sound like chain lightning that sounds like a lightning fireball effect. Awesome!

This seems like a great time to take a break, and so with nobody dead, and no reason to visit, we stop by the Jovial Juggler for some good times and good songs. When we get there, Finch is deep in conversation with Yeslick.



The only thing of value in this world is people, child. Ye need 'em to share a wealth of love and friendship, and their loss makes ye ache a vein of sadness.

But, in a way, writing can make people and places live again, long after they are gone. I keep my journal, and, sometimes, when I long for my parents or my siblings, I read my old entries about the times we had together, and it is like they are with me again.

It makes me think of your family, Yeslick.

My clan is long gone.

And you barely speak of them. Their history is buried within you. One day, when you have passed on, they will be truly dead, the story of their lives and deaths lost forever.

Knowledge should not be lost like that, not when people could learn, appreciate and remember. That is what I do. Not scribbles on paper, but legacies. My service is to spread histories and reflections, so that they might live forever among those who would understand.

Ye mean well, girl, but there are stories better off forgotten. These loose lips have done their damage this lifetime, and I'll not be persuaded from that end.

You may be firm and stubborn, your family lost -- that troubles me, by Deneir, that does -- but you wll not escape remark, Yeslick.

I have written of you in my journal. Time and away from this place, when we no longer travel this road together, I will read my words, and I will remember you. Yes, my gruff friend. I will remember you.

Hmph. Keep it to yerself, girl.

I will too, Yeslick. I will too.

[Beleg33]

Damn I forgot about that quest, is that NTotSC? Too many mods messing with Vampiric sword I'll have to consider it when updating The Vault...

[Usurper]

Anybody know what would happen if I put on the Very Odd Ring? Are there any consequences to that?

[AmyAE]

What's the item code for the ring?

[Lollorian]

Very Odd Ring is very odd

Spoiler

Cursed
75% Chance of miscasting any spell
Halves your Constitution

but...
Gives you Nondetection

[Usurper]

17 Alturiak, 1370

Back in the welcoming and celebratory arms of the Jovial Juggler, we all relax. There is so much unspoken and unrealized stress from wandering this wide world - it is much better to just relax with a mug of ale in the hand, talking about old times, and later listening to Finch read a story. She loves to read stories and we love to hear them. Tonight it is the History of the Dead Three:

...and over time he built his power into a kingdom unchallenged by any other god. Eventually, however, he grew tired of his duties for he knew them too well. Without challenge there is nothing, and in nothingness there is only gloom. In such a state, the difference between absolute power and absolute powerlessness is undetectable.

During this dark era, there arose three powerful mortals - Bane, Bhaal, and Myrkul - who lusted after the power Jergal wielded. The trio forged an unholy pact, agreeing that they would dare to seek such ultimate power or die in the attempt. Over the length and breadth of the Realms they strode, seeking powerful magic and spells and defying death at every turn. No matter what monster they confronted or what spells they braved, the three mortals emerged unscathed at every turn. Eventually the trio destroyed one of the Seven Lost Gods, and they each seized a portion of his divine essence for themselves.

The trio then journeyed into the Gray Waste and sought out the Castle of Bone. Through armies of skeletons, legions of zombies, hordes of noncorporeal undead, and a gauntlet of liches they battled. Eventually they reached the object of their lifelong quest - the Bone Throne.

"I claim this throne of evil," shouted Bane the tyrant. "I'll destroy you before you can raise a finger," threatened Bhaal the assassin. "And I shall imprison your essence for eternity," promised Myrkul the necromancer.

Jergal arose from his throne with a weary expression and said, "The Throne is yours. I have grown weary of this empty power. Take it if you wish - I promise to serve and guide you as your seneschal until you grow comfortable with the position." Before the stunned trio could react, the Lord of the Dead continued: "Who among you shall rule?"

The trio immediately fell to fighting amongst themselves while Jergal looked on with indifference. When eventually it appeared that either they would all die of exhaustion or battle on for an eternity, the Lord of the End of Everything intervened. "After all you have sacrificed, would you come away with nothing? Why don't you divide the portfolios of the office and engage in a game of skill for them?" asked Jergal.

Bane, Bhaal, and Myrkul considered the god's offer and agreed. Jergal took the heads of his three most powerful liches and gave them to the trio that they would compete by bowling the skulls. Each mortal rolled a skull across the Gray Waste, having agreed that the winner would be he who bowled the farthest.

Malar the Beastlord arrived to visit Jergal at this moment. After quickly ascertaining that the winner of the contest would get all of Jergal's power, he chased off after the three skulls to make sure that the contest would be halted until he had a chance to participate for part of the prize. Bane, Bhaal, and Myrkul again fell to fighting as it was obvious their sport was ruined, and again Jergal intervened. "Why don't you allow Lady Luck to decide so you don't have to share with the Beast?"

The trio agreed, and Jergal broke off his skeletal finger bones and gave them to the players. When Malar returned from chasing the skulls, he found that the trio had just finished a game of knucklebones.

Bane cried out triumphantly, "As winner, I choose to rule for all eternity as the ultimate tyrant. I can induce hatred and strife at my whim, and all will bow down before me while in my kingdom."

Myrkul, who had won second place, declared, "But I choose the dead, and by doing so I truly win, because all you are lord over, Bane, will eventually be mine. All things must die - even gods."

Bhaal, who finished third, demurred, "I choose death, and it is by my hand that all that you rule Lord Bane will eventually pass to Lord Myrkul. Both of you must pay honor to me and obey my wishes, since I can destroy your kingdom, Bane, by murdering your subjects, and I can starve your kingdom, Myrkul, by staying my hand."

Malar growled in frustration, but could do nothing, and yet again only the beasts were left for him.

And Jergal merely smiled, for he had been delivered.

A strange tale to read before bed, and I go to sleep wondering about life, death, and the effects of ultimate power. I dream of storming the gates of hell and fighting my way through entire planes of existence. When I wake up, I remember the dreams, and laugh at myself a bit. That'll be the day!

Gameplay note: I try to work these books that we find into the narrative but its slow going. We still have 13 unread books in Finch's bookbag!

The next morning we stop by the Refuge to do some spell copying. We find out that everybody except Indira knows Flame Arrow and Stinking Cloud, so she gets both of those scrolls. She copies them down. The third scroll, Monster Summoning II, is the big win for us. Neither Firebead, nor Imoen, nor Indira know it. So Firebead copies it down in his spellbook and then prepares to dole out copies to everyone. But then he realizes he's out of ink, and money to buy more. We are going to have to sell some more equipment in order to afford these spells.



We don't have much non-magical equipment to sell. We end up selling the Excellent War Hammer that Yeslick used to use, and also the Poisoned Arrows we picked up from the kobolds in Firewine, since there's a small chance that they can poison the shooter. It gives us 273 gold.



That gives us enough money to scribe one scroll.



We decide to give it to Indira, since she is the more experienced spellcaster among us. She loves it. She loves it so much she feels like all this spell learning has permanently increased her abilities!







We teleport back to the Refuge and drop Firebead off again. When we do, he asks us if we are ever going to help that poor boy Samuel. OH! RIGHT! Samuel! I had almost forgotten!



I teleport back to the Thunderhammer Smithy and then rush away, making the journey to the Friendly Arm Inn in record time.



When we get there, I am confronted with a woman in shining gold and red platemail, named Najara. She steps up to me with a sneer of disgust on her face. Shield, sword, and righteous fury - must be a paladin.



OH GOD THEY'VE FOUND OUT AND COME FOR ME WHAT DO I DO WHAT DO I DO?! Ok, wait, just play it cool. Play it cool. Fuck, Imoen is looking right at me! Shit!

Whoa what's this about me being a killer of innocents?

Do not feign ignorance lout! You raided a village and killed all who lived there. Who knows what else you have done in your evil ways.

She's going to draw that sword and cut me down right here and now and then... wait, village? What village?

That is wrong, I never raided a village or killed anyone. You must have me confused with someone else.

Enough of your lies. You are beyond redemption in the Light. Come, my friends, justice will be swift and final!

Shit.




She's got followers. I don't notice those at first. But I do when a huge column of flame roars out of the heavens and incinerates Indira.



I order Finch and Yeslick to cast Hold Person on Najara. But they just shake their heads in shock. They even back away from the fight! What the hell is going on here?! I react the same way I do to all spellcasters - I try to cast Corporeal Instability on the guy who called the column of fire. But the Weave doesn't cooperate, and another column of flame falls on my own head at the same time.



Imoen and Kivan both start aiming for the spellcaster. Yeslick and Finch apparently get over their shock - Yeslick comes in to melee and Finch starts throwing rocks. Yeslick eats the third column of fire.



We all try to hit Vallius, but the only result is that a scream tears itself out of my throat as I am enveloped in yet another Flamestrike.



Kivan saves me. He strikes down the cleric, and gives me a healing potion. I drink it as quickly as I can with my cracked and burning lips.



Then it is just us against the paladin. I do not trust the Weave to help me in this situation, so I simply pull out Meta Infernum and get to work. I feel slightly comforted as the five Mirror Images around me mirror my movements.



She isn't easy to hit, but every once in a while a hammer from Finch, or an arrow from Kivan or Imoen, gets through, and you can see the toll it takes on her. The paladin retreats and I begin to hate myself a little for doing this.



Isn't there some way to stop the fight? I look for something to do, or something to say, to stop it. But Najara does not want to talk.



It is actually Finch that deals the final blow.



Who was she talking about as she died? I wince to think of which god is going to be pissed at me because I killed his paladin. I immediately gather the rest of the party around and tell them that no one must ever know of this day. They all nod, solemnly. Then we look through the loot.

Vallius isn't carrying much, but it is powerful stuff. He has a Full Plate Mail +1, the Small Shield +5 "Divinity," and The Enlightenment Star +3.





Gameplay note: A buckler that is +5 on defense? Holy crap! This would be perfect for Viconia except that evil alignments can't use it. As it is, I think it is perfect for Finch. Finch can use Medium Shields because she is strong enough, but Viconia can't.



Gameplay note: +1 wisdom is nice, but will only help with spellcasting if the wielder never switches to a ranged weapon. It also has increased attacks, though, so the next time we find someone who enjoys maces we can turn them into a murder machine. Well the next time we find a cleric or paladin who likes maces.

The body of Najara is the greater treasure trove here. Sad to think of it that way, but it is. She is wearing her own customized Plate Mail +3, a Girdle of Defense, some Boots of Health, the Helm of the Flame, a Shield +3, the Cutlass +2 Scorcher, 5 Potions of Critical Healing, and 5 Elixirs of Health. Plus she is carrying a note.



Gameplay note: This is apparently not quite as good as the Full Plate Mail +2 that I got off the genie, but it is nevertheless pretty awesome. It is an upgrade for Finch and it is golden.





Gameplay note: Perfect tank equipment right here. But since our tank has just died I think that it might be best for Yeslick to wear, for the time being. He can be the replacement tank.



Gameplay note: Wearer can cast heal spells, get +1 to AC and +10 to hit points?! Again, perfect ideal tank boots. Yeslick is currently wearing the Boots of the Forgotten Ones but Finch can take those off him. Oh no wait, Yeslick is neutral right now because of the Ankh of Acceptance and can't wear them. If he took off both the Boots of the Forgotten Ones and the Ankh of Acceptance, he would lose 2 spells from levels one to three. Hmmm.



Gameplay note: Another perfect tank item. Goes on Yeslick and gives him 20 con, which equals regeneration.



Gameplay note: Of course a pretty amazing shield. However, Yeslick's current shield gives him 10 extra hit points and gives everyone standing near him a +2 to AC. For some reason Finch can use this shield, and it gives her the same AC boost as the small shield while also protecting against missile weapons. So she gets it.



Gameplay note: There seems to be a lot of misunderstandings between modders about what a cutlass actually is. Some classify it as a short sword, and others classify it as a scimitar. This one is classified as a short sword. It does acceptable damage, too, although not so amazing compared to all the other weapons we have.

Finally, we take a look at the note.



I wonder who P.W. is? It doesn't sound like anybody associated with the Iron Throne. The latest name I had gotten about the Iron Throne was Sarevok. But This P.W. person is also putting bounties on my head and siccing paladins on me! Is there no one who is ok with me being alive in this whole wide world?

We sadly go to the Temple of Wisdom to complete our quest. We approach Gellana Mirrorshade, but she already seems to know why we come.



This man is named Samuel. We were told to bring him to you.

It seems you have brought him too late. He has expired from his injuries. This is such a great loss, but I guess there was nothing you could do.

Heh. Yeah. Nothing we could do. Oops, I guess? I mean, you can't succeed every time, can you? You win some, you lose some, and you leave some in interdimensional space until they expire from their wounds, right? Right guys? Heh... heh.

That paladin should have killed me. I deserved it.

The next order of business is the resurrection of Indira. I can't simply just take her out of a hostile dungeon and get her killed a few days later, and then leave her to rot. I've got to resurrect her. The problem is that we have no money. I think about things long and hard, and finally I decide to sell the Cutlass. Nobody we know uses short swords, anyway. And I don't want to look at it. Also, Gellana is offering 3,000 gold!



We are able to resurrect Indira and have plenty of money left over for other matters too.



Then it is time to have a talk with Indira. This is going to have to be delicate. She seems very insecure about being wanted.



I explain to her about death and rest and relaxation. I tell her that she's done great work so far and she'll definitely be high on the list for next time. She seems to understand but she also has a look of concern on her face.

Our paths must run apart for a while. If I should need your help again, though, we should rendezvous at the Jovial Juggler in Beregost.

Okay then.

We go back to the Refuge and get another copy of Monster Summoning II for Imoen. Then we trudge the long, lonely road back to Beregost and the Jovial Juggler. On the way I wonder aloud what we should be doing now that we've saved the three-in-one ghost behind the Song of the Morning Temple. Kivan speaks up then, saying that he'd like to take a trip to the Shipwreck Coast. Also, Imoen reminds me that way back in the day, Keldath Ormlyr asked Gavin to find out what was wrong with the upper crust of Beregost. I perk up then. Oh yeah! I had completely forgotten about that too! We should probably pick up Gavin and look into that.



Yes. Good to have you back.

[Usurper]

Gavin gets his things together and packs to go. It's like he never left at all.



Er, thanks! I'll take that.

Hey! This is my sketchbook!

I just wanted to see what you've been drawin', Gavin. I was gonna give it back!

You could have asked.

It's more fun my way. Besides, you'd let me see it, anyway, wouldn't ya?

That isn't the point.

Nice picture of that fox, though.

I used you as a model.

We go to the Refuge to get him suited up. Actually, maybe I should start calling this place the Armory. It is where I keep all the weapons, after all. With the help of Yeslick and Finch, and some shuffling of armors and weapons around, we get Gavin outfitted in an ensemble of shining gold!



He wears Najara's Plate Mail, a Helm of Glory, and holds the Heart of the Dragon shield. Those are what sparkle and shine. We don't tell him where Najara's Plate Mail comes from, of course. He's also got the Ankh of Acceptance, the Girdle of Bluntness, a Cloak of Protection +1, the Boots of Ensured Quickness, and the Unfailing Missile Deflector ring. With the Enlightenment Star +3 to wield, he has the same chance of hitting with double the number of attacks per round. Surely he is a paragon of a Morninglord!

We decide to do Kivan's thing first, and then to come back to Beregost to finish Gavin's quest.



We arrive without incident. I'm surprised, actually. I was expecting at least some bandit activity. We even camp out and rest and the morning greets us with no death. It's amazing!



But upon exploration of the area we do find hostile entities. A sirine, for instance.



She is dead before she can get off her first spell.



The next creature is not so eager to fight.



Accompany me and I will make certain you are safe!

Wonderful! Perhaps a kiss to show my appreciation?

Far be it from me to turn down a kiss from a comely lass.



What the hell!!

We all attack instantly. But then the nereid screams in protest at us.



Restore my fallen and explain your actions, else I shall continue!

I would not be here at all, but my shawl is held by Ogre-Droth. It is my essence he commands, so to him I listen. If was a lark for a while, but no longer. I do not want to harm you further, but if he so wills, then I must. It is all I can do.

Then I shall fight as best I can to release you from his grasp.

Oh. That could be interesting. Yes, do that.

And then she resurrects Kivan, right there, for free even!



All 3 of our clerics move in to heal Kivan, and as we do, an ogre-mage strolls up, plain as day.



It is not my fault, Ogre-Droth. They are stronger than I.

Pah! They are meat for larder and gold for purse! Kill them we shall!

As you say, so shall it be.

By what right do you keep this creature captive, Ogre? Return what is rightfully hers.

She told you this? You struck soundly to addle her mind so. 'Tis true that I possess her shawl, but water-child my mate. Envy o all others I am! I am Ogre-Mage Droth! I kill and kill WELL!

Ahh, but I am Syvishtara, Wild Mage, last student of the fallen magical school of Ulcaster, and Avatar of the Weave, and I will rip your very essence asunder.



He does what no other pile of goop I've made has ever done before. He begins to goop away! Imoen fires a few magic missiles at him.



Finch tells Gavin what to do next, and they both cast Spiritual Hammer. Gavin gets the deathblow on this two-bit ogre-mageling.



He doesn't even have any good loot. I turn to address the nereid.



Gavin, in a kind of shocked happiness, says that he's never even met a nereid before, much less saved one so quickly. He loves the whole experience.





Gameplay note: I gave him a point in maces. Also all his savings throws were reduced (In second edition DnD that is a good thing).



We find more sirines. They fall quickly.



I guess these sirines don't communicate with the ones near the lighthouse. Otherwise they'd be friendly. We keep walking around, seeing what there is to see, and find a tiny little gnome standing around singing to himself.



Popple the Rock took stock of the lock and thought he was better off darning his sock (wertle-woo, wertle, wertle, woo-wertle, wooooo...)

He keeps repeating that verse of his crazy little song every time I try to talk to him. I can't get a word in edgewise. He's a crazy loon he is.

We keep on going, and explore quite a lot before we find a sea troll!



It doesn't really affect us.



The next thing we see are three sirines together. I decide to use the Proximity Mine on them. I throw the skull and it explodes.



Gameplay note: Basically that looked like it was a potion of Skull Trap. Weird.

We finally get to find out what spell all these sirines are trying to cast - Improved Invisibility. I would have bet on Charm Person myself.



Oh no Dire Charm is the second go-to spell. So close!



As Yeslick charges our lines, screaming his dwarven war-cry, I tell Imoen to take care of it.



She does. And Kivan takes care of the Sirine.