The Lost Sanctuary

[at]

The prince seems genuine in his concern, and exhausted. Likely more conflict has struck the city in the last two weeks than he expected to see in his lifetime.

[crazydave]

"I will help."

[at]

The prince seems relieved but momentarily at a loss as to his next course of action before waving to his guards, "I will show you the way but if you need anything, anything at all then please tell me. I will have those that returned through the portal brought here as well".


(as mentioned - chance to swap NPC or replace Moriana with a PC character - also to take stock of your gear and trade up with the merchant ship before heading through the portal)

[crazydave]

I'd like to keep the DMPC for now. How should we go about checking our gear? Is there a guy we can pay to appraise them?

[at]

Jan 12, 2023 1:50:33 GMT -5 crazydave said:

I'd like to keep the DMPC for now. How should we go about checking our gear? Is there a guy we can pay to appraise them?

The prince will have his advisors identify them if asked - it's up to the party to decide their order of actions, for now he was taking you to the portal unless you wanted something/somewhere else.

[harknail]

We should get things identified first. And then check what the merchants have for us (if we can aford any of it). Since the portal has been here for days, a bit of time to prepare would be good.

[at]

A group of guards and advisors join the prince, clearly uneasy about the danger he is putting himself in. The doors beyond the room are guarded and reinforced despite there being no apparent threat in the corridors beyond and the same sight is repeated at each door beyond as the group move towards the centre of the palace, runners sent on ahead to ensure safety.

The prince explains, "we do not know exactly how many came through but we are as prepared as we can be if they come back. I have been advised to collapse the room around the portal to prevent it but to do so would forever deny us the chance to discover or stop whatever plans these creatures had."

The room is reached quickly enough, the approach innocuous enough through rooms that appear to have been used as living quarters for palace staff. While there are no bodies here there are many signs of dried blood and recent conflict. Perhaps more curiously the patterns carved into the walls, pillars, and floors seem oddly familiar though the group cannot place their origin until they reach the portal chamber itself - a towering crimson mirror in the middle of the room formed between a curiosly shaped set of archways and light fixtures.

There are many guards here and signs that something large and powerful smashed its way in from one of the side entrances. The groups eyes are drawn to the etched patterns though as eerily familiar to those within the nagas cave.

"Those who have crossed through are able to return, but speak of a place of shifting paths. Those who search beyond the portal have not returned, perhaps lost or perhaps worse". He takes a bundle of parchments from one of the advisors that had followed him here handing it to Vadania, on each is scribed images of pathways and the presence of the portal in many show that they seem to shift and fade to nothing with each new attempt to map them.

"I will aid you as I can in your preparations, ask and it will be done."

[harknail]

Vadania requests, "We picked up some magic items while we were out, but don't know what they do. If you can help us identify them that would help. Also I would like to visit the merchant to see if he has anything that would be useful."

Until we level up, Vadania needs to have someone that can interpret for the Dragon. Once we level up, Vadania can spend some skill points to learn draconic herself.

[at]

The prince nods, "at once, and I will have quarters set for you nearby as I am sure your journey has been hard." It seems that the groups return is the only good news the prince has had recently and the party is quickly moved to a more lavish area of the palace, though they are still close to the portal and the advisors look somewhat nervous as they bring their research forward along with Ylva, the dragon, and a veritable feast.

The books and notes taken are somewhat extensive and will take time to review if indeed the party wishes to, after their recent travels a little time to rest would not go amiss.


====================================


(i'll have to go back over the full notes to dig out every item the group has collected - post up anything that I have missed)
Lyrias Daggers: Spectral daggers - deliver 'chill touch' at will
Ciridans Spider Rod: able to fire entangling threads/webs and poison melee attacks, each 3/day
Ciridans Stormstrider Boots: increase speed by 5'. A character needs 'spring attack' to use them fully, 1/day turning into a lightning bolt while making the spring attack.
Dragons gloves of Energy Admixture: 3/day can change the element of an elemental weapon, spell, or attack (fire, ice, acid, lightning, sonic) - effects last one whole turn per use
Dragons Spellsing Scarab Brooch: Reduces hitpoint damage taken from a spell by 2d6 damage, three times per day. Reducing damage to 0 negates secondary effects (such as catching fire with a flame spell).
Dragons substantial brazen bracers: Exotic shield(bazubands +1) enchanted as +1 bracers of armour - total AC bonus +3.
Dragons shiftweave linen robe: Can change appearance between five different outfits

[harknail]

Vadania will take a look at the notes and books to see what she can glean from them. Neera isn't interested in them at all.

Some other items to have them try and identify are:
Glowing staff head that had repelled the darkness
The tarp with a magical symbol that glows in the moonlight. She's had that one for quite a while, and still hasn't figured out if it would be a good idea to let it activate.

[at]

The staff head, and the staff atop which it now sits, defy all attempts at identification - the magic is old and beyond the understanding of even the greatest sages here but they say its power is similar to tht of the portal itself, perhaps even created by the same spellcaster.

The power of the tarp is determined to be illusionary though not without difficulty as spells mask the enchantment, indeed everything about the tarp appears to be designed to hide its properties and function even though the function itself seems to be to display the symbol under set conditions. The power of the tarp ensured the resultant image was precisely displayed and given form, and speculates that it could be used for ritual, summoning, or perhaps even as a sure anchor for teleportation. Moriana confirms the latter as the tarp was large enough to land on if unique in design but thought it unlikely to be its original purpose.

As the adept talks Vadania recalls an argument between George and Xana months past and turns to Lynette with the query who responds, "Xana called them summoning seals, i'm surprised you still have it after all the fuss George made about it being a temptation of Orcus."

(Brenner can make a knowledge:religion roll to try to identify the symbol)


(item list updated for other items)

[crazydave]

toRWXJYup_1-20+12 = 29

(odds are good!)

1-20

[at]

Brenner recognises the symbol, and more than that he has some knowledge of the seal itself.

Vadanias old companion was not entirely wrong in raising the name of Orcus as the symbol is that of Tenebrous, the shadow that was. Though generations past the rise and fall of Tenebrous was recent in the divine scale of things and its brief existence largely unknown outside of the ranks of divine scholars, for it was the demon lord Orcus somehow risen again as a deity, a god of death.

The existence of Tenebrous was brief and violent and the circumstances under which Orcus lost his divinity are unknown to Brenner but scattered throughout the realms some still worship Tenebrous and recieve power from the tatters of godly power that remain. A seal such as this could be used to summon a fragment of such power thought it was no simple magical item to be wielded with a command work - merely one part of a more complex ritual unknown to Brenner.

Despite its connection to a demon prince and one time death god the tarp itself does not appear to be dangerous, any more than a sacrificial knife or scented candle.

[harknail]

Thoughts on items:

Lyrias Daggers: Spectral daggers - deliver 'chill touch' at wil
Might be good as backup melee weapon for Neera (she only has her sword). I think everyone already has better weapons (Vadania has several)

Ciridans Spider Rod: able to fire entangling threads/webs and poison melee attacks, each 3/day
This could be good for any of the backline fighter, as another type of ranged attack. Does Brenner want it?


Ciridans Stormstrider Boots: increase speed by 5'. A character needs 'spring attack' to use them fully, 1/day turning into a lightning bolt while making the spring attack.
I think these might be good for Brenner, if he doesn't move at 30 already. Second choice would be Nerra (so she can reach melee faster), but I don't think she can wear boots in hybrid form..


Dragons gloves of Energy Admixture: 3/day can change the element of an elemental weapon, spell, or attack (fire, ice, acid, lightning, sonic) - effects last one whole turn per use
I don't think anyone has an elemental weapon. Neera is doing lightning damage from bracers, Vadania's bow can already do most of those anway.


Dragons Spellsing Scarab Brooch: Reduces hitpoint damage taken from a spell by 2d6 damage, three times per day. Reducing damage to 0 negates secondary effects (such as catching fire with a flame spell).
This looks like it would be good for anyone. This is definitely a keeper! The only question is who keeps it...

Dragons substantial brazen bracers: Exotic shield(bazubands +1) enchanted as +1 bracers of armour - total AC bonus +3.
I don't think these combine with armor, which means neither Neera nor Vadania can use them. Does Brenner wear armor? Otherwise I think only our NPC wizard could use these.


Dragons shiftweave linen robe: Can change appearance between five different outfits
Neither Vadania nor Neera care what they look like, so neither is interested in this item. Is Brenner interested?

Any comments from Brenner or our NPC wizard?

[at]

DM Notes / clarifications
Lyrias Daggers - these deliver attacks as touch attacks with no bonus from strength
Stormstrider Boosts - the bulk of their power is tied up in having the spring attack feat (though you gain the speed boost regardless)
Gloves of Energy Admixture - this changes what you have, so for example Neera could use her lightning bracers as sonic or fire bracers for a few rounds, Vadania could fire ice arrows, etc.
Bazubands - the armour bonus doesn't stack with actual armour, but the +2 shield bonus does (though IIRC Vadanias cloak is a shield bonus)

Moriana will take her fair share based on what the PCs do not take.

[crazydave]

Brenner will take the spider rod. He does not wear armor so the bracers would also help increase his AC.

He's already got 30 move, so it would probably best be served elsewhere to help close to melee. I would also think that the frontline folks would be the target of spells, so the spell absorbing item would best be given to them. The robes are mildly interesting but Brenner's probably not going to try to decieve people very much.

[harknail]

Brenner is welcome to the spider rod and the bracers. As for the cloak, I wasn't thinking of it as something for disguise, but rather to have the appropriate cloak for whatever occasion Brenner finds himself in. Assuming he cares about such things, Vadania and Neera don't.

I agreed Nero would be a good match for the boots, but I don't think the weretiger hybrid form can wear boots. GM, can you confirm?

I agree that Neera is a good choice for the Dragons Spellsing Scarab Brooch, for the reasons you gave.

Vadania can't use the Dragons gloves of Energy Admixture, since she's already wearing Gloves of the Starry Sky, and already has varied elements with her bow. But since it will work with Neera's Bracers of Lightning, I think that would be a good match for her as well.

It looks like Vadania won't be getting anything (other than the staff head), but she's fine with that.

On another note, Will we have time to change our spells before going into the portal?

[at]

With the items identified and somewhat sorted by relative value in the eyes of the adepts here the party are offered escort across the city to the docks. Vadanias keen ears pick up discussion between a few of them outside the quarters over mistrust of the trader but also a tinge of fear - it seems that there is more than simple respect of property that has prevented the prince and his men simply raiding the vessel for weapons to use against the attack.

Jan 19, 2023 18:36:16 GMT -5 harknail said:

On another note, Will we have time to change our spells before going into the portal?

Yes, if you wish to delay entry for half a day.

The trader will drive a hard bargain but if there are any specific types of objects you want a number of the items you have picked up have a high gold/trade value - so here is your chance to grab anything specific to helping your build or covering your weaknesses.

[harknail]

My problem is I don't know what I should want :-)

The one item I can think of is another Wand of lesser vigor. That's our primary healing between fights. We've used up the first one and about half the charges on the second.

Does the merchant (GM) suggest anything we might be interested in?

[at]

With the party agreed that they should visit the merchant before making further decisions a group of guardsmen assemble to escort them through the streets. As with their arrival there seems to be little sign of attack from above though the concequences of the sudden freeze are clear and many buildings are still barricaded up, perhaps fearing fresh attack.

The merchants ship is clearly visible as the group approach the docks, far larger than those around it and clearly an ocean going vessel its masts and black sails tower overhead. It is questionable if any of the smaller vessels moored beyond could stop it should it wish to leave and none of the city guard are visible on its decks. Several gangplanks allow access and netted crates sit on the dock nearby - perhaps the prince has refused loading or offloading of the goods to entice the merchant to stay.

The sailors on the dock are armed and roused by the groups approach, though not openly hostile. One steps to the fore, "Capt'ns not takin' on passengers".