Uncaged

[at]

Osbern writes out notes of credit for the group, easier to carry than gold until they have finished their purchases here. Ka'lion departs with his to purchase the magical rope - which he manages to haggle down to 1400gp - and the services of builders and labourers.

Vadania and Brennen meanwhile are directed down to Vassily in the old vault beneath the keep, Osbern for some reason seeming to think that would be their next port of call. Vadania discovers why soon enough as the old vault contains a piled mass of objects, clothing, armour, locked chests and unlabeled potions amongst which she can clearly make out the magical hammer that Ka'lion had taken from beneath Clearwater and the amulet their old friend Aelos had entrusted him to carry to Merebas.


There are many miscellaneous low-value items here to spend you gold on (out of the dmg/mic) and a few plot hooks if you want to go searching for them - depending on whether your intentions are to be pulled into a new adventure or if you have somewhere within the Steadlands you want to head to next, like the sword or sunken ship

[harknail]

At this point Vadania trying to support the fight against the demon by gathering items to be used against it across the fell (with short side quests along the way). She plans to retrieve the sword from the tomb in the lizard man valley and bring it to the Silver Flame. Hopefully they'll give the group something in return, but she'll be doing it anyways. She also still plans to check out the sunken ship in the lake, but that's a side quest.

I was thinking that the ring of protection would be good for her (another +1 AC), but the hammer might also be useful in fighting the demon. From what Ka'lion was saying, it might give active guidance to someone using it. So she'll take the hammer (if her payment is enough for it). With the plan of delivering both it and the sword to the Silver Flame monks.

[at]

The price of two thousand gold is acceptable to Vassily. As Vadania hefts the hammer it begins to glow and briefly she can see more glows around the room from the magical items arrayed around her.

[harknail]

OOC: Did Orns also get 2000 GP? Is he selecting a magic item as well? Also, I assume Brennen is here as well.

Vadania was surprised that the hammer was letting her see magic auras, she didn't remember Ka'lion mentioning such an ability. She looked at the different aura's to see if there was any difference between them that might give a clue to how powerful a magic item is or what it does. She use the items she already knows about for comparison.

OOC: I'm guessing that it's just detect magic, and that Vadania would need spell craft to distinguish between the auras.

After looking around the room at the magic items she's not getting, Vadania turns her attention back to the hammer in her hands. From what Ka'lion had mentioned, there was a spirit in the hammer or attached to it. Feeling a little self conscious about talking to an apparently inanimate object, "I'm not the person that can use you effectively, but I will be bringing you to someone who can find such a person."

Turning to Brennen, she asks, "Now that I've bought this hammer, can you tell me something about it's current abilities? It looks like it's letting me detect magic at the moment.I expect that like my wooden sword, that it's abilities will grow over time."

OOC: I may be confusing the hammer and the axe blade. But that's OK, Vadania could be making the same mistake...

[Jasmine]

Brennen flashes a thumbs-up and examines the hammer with his monocle.

Brennen would really like to find a magical item to boost his caster level for the purpose of summoning a familiar, so that's what he'd be looking for. Assuming he doesn't find one, his next choice would be an anklet of translocation.

[at]

(Orns does get a share if you give it to him, and the hammer's power is detect magic of a type - though Vadania does not have the ability to activate it again until she establishes control over the weapon and does not that not all items she knows to be magical glowed in it's presence.
She does gain it's other hidden benefit while she carries it however)

Brennen examines the hammer through his monocle but it shows no sign of magic despite glowing, and when he touches it the aura burns him (no damage). Beyond that he can see that the hammer bears the symbols of Pelor and pulsing runes of gold (spellcraft check)

Sept 6, 2015 20:54:23 GMT -5 Jasmine said:

Brennen would really like to find a magical item to boost his caster level for the purpose of summoning a familiar, so that's what he'd be looking for. Assuming he doesn't find one, his next choice would be an anklet of translocation.

The anklet is available.
I'm not aware of a familiar-level boosting item save perhaps a 'practised familiar' style feat granting item, but that it beyond Brennen's current means.

[sageaqua]

Ka'lion will meet up with the group at the tavern. He's hiring the people he needs to clean up his new home including a handful of guards to keep those people safe. He gives the people going a simple map and dirrections. And a clear warning about the dangers inside the place that the party knows about. When the parties finished with the water and the lizards Ka'lion plans to drop by to see how things are going and to pay the people working for him.

[at]

Ka'lions cash brings some interest, both from locals and from merchants from Merebas who claim to know more talented masons and architects who could travel north - for the right price.

There are also questions as to what Ka'lion wants done with the place, whether he simply wants the underground area restored, or the upper buildings, or new structures entirely.

[sageaqua]

"Ka'lion just wants the place cleaned up first. Ka'lion simple wants the place safe to use, repaired and clean and he'll hire a few arcatects to draw up a few ideas and one of them is to convert the dragon hall into a fuctional kitchen.

[at]

Vadania and Brennen make a cursory examination of other items within the room while Orns picks out something for himself. There is a variety of outlandish clothing and armour here, some made of most unusual materials, and many sealed crates and chests - Vassily notes that they were likely sealed away for a reason as this vault was traditionally used for anything considered unsuitable for the grand vault for one reason or another.

Vadania finds herself unable to rekindle the power of the hammer, though it continues to glow to differing degrees when brought closer to or further from Brennen. The warlock himself finds magic but little of real power until he comes across a small wooden chest that is cold to the touch, and inside a fist-sized lump of what appears to be ice. As the box is opened a swirl of snow begins to form around it, about a foot in radius, and the temperature of the room begins to noticeably fall. The power of the magic from the ice is considerable and growing, and Brennen thinks better than to touch it - closing the box and sealing the miniature snowstorm back inside.

Vassily mentions a story of one ill-begotten thief who was said to have broken into the vault many years past and was never seen again, and advises the party to stick to those things not boxed away, though Brennen can't help but wonder what might be buried under all of this.


---------------------------------------

The group settle down in one of the town's inns, finding the place full until a table is brought out for the heroes of the siege and their new companions. Food is on the house and one of the bar maids asks eagerly about her friend Lynette and the groups adventures to the east.

The food is better fair than the group has been used to, fresh from Merebas and the now restored bakery - not since their first visit to Clearwater had Vadania and Ka'lion eaten so well. Their arrival inspires a bard to ply his trade in a somewhat embellished story of the siege and battle against the Ibixian which soon turns to stories of the Tempest's rise.

Brennen in particular notes that the tone when speaking of the town's ruler is somewhat more cautious and unaware of much of the history of the town inquires with a local. He hears a story of how the town had originally been settled by the first tempest, a man with great power over the elements, and his line had ruled ever since. The power had faded as latter generations understood, at first, and later feared the cost and risk that came with it. The town's current ruler Lady Alara however had rekindled the old magics in the wake of the siege and there was still much uncertainty, but with the fall of Clearwater and the Hollow and rumours of mages rising in the lands a powerful Tempest was also something for the townfolk to rally around.

[sageaqua]

Ka'lion listen to the song of the siege paying attention to what happened before the party arrived - after the bards finished Ka'lion will ask for a copy of the song to be written for him. It's something to take home to his family at a latter date. He'll also select a formen to get started on his house. He'll go with a strong grandmother type. He'll send them off in the morning. "When do we leave?" asks Ka'lion knowing the still have the lake trip to go on.

[harknail]

Vadania also listens with interest to the story the Bard is telling, especially the parts that happened after they left. She realizes that her storm cloak may have special significance in this town, even more so than the other cloaks.

OOC: I think we passed the lake to go straight to Burrtown, and that to go there now we'd have to backtrack. How far (in travel time) is the lake from Burrtown, and how far is the lizard man valley?

[at]

The lake lays to the eastern side of the chain of hills and crags that separate Burr and Clearwater - Vadania recalls that Altar called the place Serran Falls, the lake with the remains of a sunken ship where they met George, half a day away.
Past the falls the old millhouse and beyond that the foothills where they had first met Altar, by Vadania's estimation not all that far north of the spot where they encountered the ogres the previous day.


The lizard valley however is much closer to the fell, beyond the hills but to the west. Travel around the western edge of the hills will avoid the swamplands that the party encountered when they first came from the direction of Clearwater, but each step west was a step closer to the Fell and the dangers that it brings.


Looking at the map he had purchased some time ago Ka'lion notes the route he and George had taken through the hills themselves, westwards at first as far as the ruins of the sunless citadel and not far from nightfang spire. Placing the map on the table he shows Vadania and Brennen a route that continues on east past the old citadel rather than cutting back through the hills, a day and a night to reach the citadel and three more to circle around to the valley.

[harknail]

So Ka'lion's proposed route doesn't bring us anywhere near the lake with the sunken ship?

Looking at Ka'lion's proposed route, Vadania comments, "Looks good to me, we can check on the sunken ship on the way back."

[at]

Sept 8, 2015 18:24:10 GMT -5 harknail said:

So Ka'lion's proposed route doesn't bring us anywhere near the lake with the sunken ship?

No, though the group could travel to the falls and back within a day.

There is no route marked on the map from the falls or mill beyond heading west, Vadania recalls that the lake itself was surrounded by steep hills on three sides. It's presence on Ka'lion and Altars' maps suggests that it is not some lost oasis though the how a ship managed to get there still puzzles her.

[harknail]

Her original plan was to stop at the lake on the way to Burrtown. But those plans changed when Ka'lion acquired such a heavy load that we needed to travel by road. So it makes sense to visit it on the way back from Burrtown to the Silver Flame monastery.

[sageaqua]

"We are going to have a few problems going after the sword, The wolves well need to be left top side. They wont fit down the rabbits hole nore well anyone in heavy armor. So Orin may wish to find other work. Likewise the lake job will need good swimmers - so I'm going to need to release Scar and gain the servious of a water creature. Vadania your going to need to do the same. Wild animals are entitled to their freedom. Our companions are not pets nore should they ever be treated as such. I think it's time to let them go. They are getting to big to stay in places around people. They are not dogs. Treat this trip as your last time together. Wolves need to be free to mate and they can't do that with us." said Ka'lion.

[at]

With the benefit of having been there before the group has some idea of what tools they would need to expand the route they took out, though the route they too _in_ might be easier.


The bard's story speaks of both the darkness before the siege and of the great storms that followed. Little detail is given over to the actual rise of the new Tempest, rather talk of the town's history and times long past. Both Vadania and Ka'lion can relate to the talk of the shadow creatures and walking dead that preceded the fall of Clearwater though Burr had avoided the worst of it.

Recalling what Lynette had told her of the town's past the cloaks were relics of an old order or warriors but their connection, if any, to the tempest was unknown. Their descendants certainly possessed some slight elemental power as demonstrated by Lynette herself but the storms Ka'lion and George had seen over Burr on the night of the ascension ritual dwarfed anything that Lynette could have hoped to have achieved.

------

It is only mid-day, the group could make good progress towards their goal if they wished to leave now.

[sageaqua]

Going fine with Ka'lion. He's board.

[at]

Does the party intend to leave or dismiss any animals/Orns here or buy any mundane tools/supplies before they leave? (Ylva/Scar/Dandelion)