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Post by harknail on Jul 28, 2009 23:47:50 GMT -5
Early in the morning of the day when frost covered the ground Bradly Hendale approached the group and expressed his concerns that another night of increasing cold would destroy the crops and cause a famine in the months to come. He asked for the group that had returned the town's magic mirror to save the town from the mysterious change in weather blowing in from over the re from over the ridge. He suggested that they talk to Curuvar the Brazen, and old tiefling warlock, and Zachary Tempest, a young human wizard. Again, he stressed the urgency of this quest.
After being introduced to Curuvar the Brazen, the old warlock was able to tell the group about Draigdurroch's Tower. "Three decades ago a Dwarven warlock by the name of Draigdurroch came and built a tower in the Ridge Forest. He was doing some kind of magical research there. After about a year, he stopped coming into town for supplies. When some people were sent to check on him, they found his tower encased in ice. <cough> Although it's been 3 decades since the tower was incased in ice, the ice has never melted. While I can't say for certain that the source of the cold is related to that tower, it's the best clue I can offer you. The other possibilities would be much harder to track down. <cough> The other options would be some ancient spell from when there was a city there ages ago, or a new portal to the primal chaos. <cough> I'd like to see what that dwarf was up to. <cough> If you can bring me his reasearch notes or his ritual books, I'll pay you 100 GP. If you can bring me both, I'll pay 200 GP. "
<Any questions for Curuvar?>
After Curuvar, the group is introduced to Zachary Tempest. Zachary hasn't been in town all that long, but he does know about the tower and has actually been out to see it for himself. He also knows something about Karse, the Netherese that stood where the Ridge Woods now grow. According to legend, the City had a patron demigod Karsus who tried to achieve full godhood but died in the attempt. According to legend the entire Netherse empire fell soon afterward. Zachary offers to come along and help find the tower.
<Any questions of or by Zachary?>
Doran declines to come along this time. He says he's made other arraignments, but won't go into details.
I'm going to assume that all items requested from the group treasury have been bought, since no one objected. That's 220 GP of ritual components, 2 sunrods and an everburning torch that will fit Harknail's light slot or can be carried normally. Are there any other preparations before setting off?
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crysun
Veteran of the War
Zynthis
Posts: 482
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Post by crysun on Jul 29, 2009 3:43:18 GMT -5
Zynthis asks Curuvar "Do you think this Ice Tower is warded? And besides the items you mentioned, do we get to keep what we find? And finally do you have anything to help protect us from cold magic?"
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Post by Ogremind on Jul 29, 2009 9:03:18 GMT -5
Zack doesn't have Endure Elements in his spell book, so he's been having to rough it with heavy clothing if he's gotten very close to it (either that, or he's been maintaining a flaming sphere at a safe distance to take the edge off the cold). Actually, folding up a cloak and then casting Prestidigitation to warm it for an hour also looks like a good idea.
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elricz
Veteran of the War
Posts: 271
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Post by elricz on Jul 29, 2009 10:34:34 GMT -5
Thursagan will go with the proven route of sturdy winter clothing. And ale. Can we buy a barrel to go?
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Post by harknail on Jul 29, 2009 11:17:27 GMT -5
Harknail will have Bharash cast his newly learned Endure Elements ritual on him. That works much better for a cold blooded construct. Come to think of it, it works much better than winter clothing and ale too for warm blooded folks too.
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Post by harknail on Jul 29, 2009 11:21:01 GMT -5
Zack doesn't have Endure Elements in his spell book, so he's been having to rough it with heavy clothing if he's gotten very close to it (either that, or he's been maintaining a flaming sphere at a safe distance to take the edge off the cold). Actually, folding up a cloak and then casting Prestidigitation to warm it for an hour also looks like a good idea.In the past (before the weather went wonky), Zack didn't need any sort of warm clothing to reach the ice covered tower. The chill only extended a few feet from the tower, and even right next to the tower it was endurable (as in above freezing). Of course the situation is very different now...
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Post by harknail on Jul 29, 2009 11:24:27 GMT -5
Zynthis asks Curuvar "Do you think this Ice Tower is warded? And besides the items you mentioned, do we get to keep what we find? And finally do you have anything to help protect us from cold magic?" "<cough> I imagine that there is some sort of warding. Draigdurroch seemed like the sort that didn't want others prying into whatever it was he was doing in there. <cough> I do have an endure elements ritual I could cast on 5 of you."
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crysun
Veteran of the War
Zynthis
Posts: 482
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Post by crysun on Jul 29, 2009 11:40:26 GMT -5
Zynthis replies "Yes, that spell would help us. Is there anyway we can get a copy of that spell to take with us? I fear it will run out before it warms up."
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Post by Ogremind on Jul 29, 2009 11:57:34 GMT -5
Endure Elements works on multiple people per casting (5, I think). How many characters are in the party?
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Post by harknail on Jul 29, 2009 12:00:49 GMT -5
Endure Elements works on multiple people per casting (5, I think). How many characters are in the party? 8 (2 of each role). So it will take two castings to protect everyone. But Curuvar the Brazen is only offering one casting (since the cost is coming out of his pocket).
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Post by harknail on Jul 29, 2009 12:04:05 GMT -5
Zynthis replies "Yes, that spell would help us. Is there anyway we can get a copy of that spell to take with us? I fear it will run out before it warms up." "If you don't already learned the ritual, then it would take a day or two to learn it. <cough> I don't think the town could survive the delay." Fortunately, Bharash selected Endure elements as one of the rituals he learned from the old book of rituals that he found in the goblin warrens. He also stocked up on ritual components, so he's all set to cast the ritual as many times as is needed.
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crysun
Veteran of the War
Zynthis
Posts: 482
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Post by crysun on Jul 29, 2009 13:10:30 GMT -5
"Why are you coughing? Are you not well?" Zynthis is curious and is wondering if maybe he could help him.
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Post by harknail on Jul 29, 2009 13:25:16 GMT -5
"Why are you coughing? Are you not well?" Zynthis is curious and is wondering if maybe he could help him. His tail lashed as he answered annoyed, "No, I'm not well. <cough> I'm an old man and I can't breath so well anymore. All I need is a cure for old age. <cough cough> I'm just not willing to do what it would take to become a lich. Now get going and save the town!"
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Post by Ogremind on Jul 29, 2009 13:45:57 GMT -5
Zack is willing to contribute some Alchemical regents to the second Endure Elements ritual. It costs 20 gps worth. Once we're done, he will lead the way to the tower.
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Post by harknail on Jul 29, 2009 13:55:12 GMT -5
Zack is willing to contribute some Alchemical regents to the second Endure Elements ritual. It costs 20 gps worth. Once we're done, he will lead the way to the tower. Zack was encountered after the NPC warlock, but Bharash has enough spell components to cast Endure Elements many times!
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elricz
Veteran of the War
Posts: 271
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Post by elricz on Jul 29, 2009 13:58:03 GMT -5
Harknail will have Bharash cast his newly learned Endure Elements ritual on him. That works much better for a cold blooded construct. Come to think of it, it works much better than winter clothing and ale too for warm blooded folks too. Thursagan will accept the ritual with no complains. But he will still get winter clothes and, due to all the warning, switch the ale barrel to a dwarven spirits one, smaller.
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Post by Ogremind on Jul 29, 2009 16:44:17 GMT -5
Zack is willing to contribute some Alchemical regents to the second Endure Elements ritual. It costs 20 gps worth. Once we're done, he will lead the way to the tower. Zack was encountered after the NPC warlock, but Bharash has enough spell components to cast Endure Elements many times! Hey, we're low level, and 20 gp matters!
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Post by similar on Jul 29, 2009 17:04:15 GMT -5
Bharash quietly mentions to Zynthis and the others that, "Oh. I have been reading up on the ritual he mentioned in this book the goblins had" Bharash waves the book. He had been browsing it as they spoke. "I think I can renew the effect myself if we need to. It does seem to usually only fully affect a slightly smaller group then we have gathered."
"Thank you for offering to help us endure the cold Curuvar. May I assist in the ritual?" Bharash asks.
20gp to cast endure elements effecting 5 people sounds like 4gp per person. If Bharash assists can we add 12 gp of components to the ritual to effect all of us?
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Post by harknail on Jul 29, 2009 17:24:07 GMT -5
Bharash quietly mentions to Zynthis and the others that, "Oh. I have been reading up on the ritual he mentioned in this book the goblins had" Bharash waves the book. He had been browsing it as they spoke. "I think I can renew the effect myself if we need to. It does seem to usually only fully affect a slightly smaller group then we have gathered." "Thank you for offering to help us endure the cold Curuvar. May I assist in the ritual?" Bharash asks. 20gp to cast endure elements effecting 5 people sounds like 4gp per person. If Bharash assists can we add 12 gp of components to the ritual to effect all of us? My first thought was no, it takes the full 20 GP for each group of 1 to 5 people. But the more I thought about it, the more I like the idea of four GP for each person over five. :-)"Yes. Yes. <cough> Come back when you are ready to leave town and we'll cast the ritual." Remember, at this point in the story you still have Doran with you and don't have Zachary yet.
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crysun
Veteran of the War
Zynthis
Posts: 482
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Post by crysun on Jul 29, 2009 18:02:29 GMT -5
To the party Zynthis asks "Are we going to cast the spell twice or are we going to leave 3 people out in the cold?"
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