Kalitharsis II: Of wishes and of Swords

[Jair Barik]

(balance check please)

[Emperor Ing]

here we go, dismal check.
[roll0]

[Jair Barik]

Stiekel nimbly crosses the makeshift bridge and enters the tower. The floor she is currently on has stairs headed both up and down. Most of this floor is covered in old broken tables and racks, these in turn covered in thick layers of dust and cobwebs which hang over broken and clouded jars and bottles.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel heads upward.

[Jair Barik]

The next floor appears to be a burnt out library. Nothing remains upon the shelves but cinders and ash.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel feels very much annoyed by this. She continues to the next floor.

[Jair Barik]

The next floor is also significantly burned, so much so in fact that it is only solid stone foundations keeping it from falling down. Perhaps at one point these were bed chambers, it is hard to tell now though.

[Emperor Ing]

Damn it, is there anything here that wasn't on fire?!

Stiekel goes up another floor, expecting more "oh hai this place was on fire"

[Jair Barik]

The next floor up has an unusual floor. A strange coloured blend of metals coat the floor and areas of the walls, from the looks of things having melted here only to harden coating much of the surface.

[Emperor Ing]

Well that is strange. Most metals melt at unreal temperatures. Even the hottest metal slags aren't liquid. She goes up once again.

[Jair Barik]

Strangely the next room up doesn't appeared burnt at all. It has all sorts of bronze machinery in it such a telescopes and measuring tools.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel takes the time to examine the room.

[Jair Barik]

There is all manner of machines and gadgets in this room, many fashioned of bronze. Amongst these are an orary of sorts, a telescope, a spyglass, a large bronze clock at the centre of the room with far too many hands for you to understand its meaning, a map of the stars hung upon one wall, a very small clock mounted upon a leather strap, a tiny bronze box with a lid that seems to twist back to reveal a little metal stub with a ridged wheel upon it, a skull with two dice attatched to its sockets, a ten foot pole that stands upright and a bronze talon attatched to a bronze stick.

[Emperor Ing]

Suck on a Detect Magic spell.

[Jair Barik]

Once more Stiekel awakes on the floor of the room with a s light nose bleed. You are unsure just how long you have been out but it can't have been too long or you would feel better rested.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel gets up, wondering how she got knocked out so quickly. The blood is wiped off her snout as she looks around again. Judging by the blood, there was probably either physical contact or...wait, maybe there's something magical in this room that is incredibly magically powerful.

[Jair Barik]

At the moment there is no sight of other movement in the room.

[Emperor Ing]

facing the wall which she is certain is nonmagical, she turns on detect magic again, and will very slowly turn towards the magical auras, stopping when they start coming off strong

[Jair Barik]

Though the experiment seems to confirm your hypothesis as to the cause of the blackouts it doesn't seem to determine the source. You awake remembering standing to face the wall but it from your position on the floor it seems as though you didn't even turn before lapsing out.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel keeps this room in mind as she goes up another one yet again.

[Jair Barik]

The next floor up consists of a large vault door and a stairway up. The door hangs wide open, the vault empty.

[Emperor Ing]

Next floor...

[Jair Barik]

The next floor is completely open. It looks as though there were stairs headed further up at one point but the floor is nearly completely demolished, sitting in ruins with nothing intact and only the 'sky' above you.

[Emperor Ing]

Out of sheer curiocity, Stiekel will go two floors down to the painfully magical room and remove the brass talon-on-a-stick. She'll bring it up to the "top" floor and cast detect magic. Surely this thing can't be so overpoweringly magical without it's overpoweringly magical buddies, can it? Can it?

Just for good measure, because she's tired of waking up with a pain on her head, she lies down forward before casting.

[Jair Barik]

Once again unconsciousness follows.

[Emperor Ing]

Well at least she doesn't have a bump on her head. But still, this unconsciousness thing is really starting to get on Stiekel's nerves. She decides to, out of boredom, check out the open vault a bit more thoroughly.

[Jair Barik]

The vault is completely empty. Either the owner cleared it out completely or somebody robbed him quite thoroughly.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel goes back into the excessively magic room (bringing the talon-on-a-stick) and begins a more thorough search of the room.

Taking 20 on Search

[Jair Barik]

The search reveals nothing else of particular interest that your initial search didn't discover.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel pockets the tiny box and the skull. They're likely incredibly powerful magical artifacts. She decides to carry around the talon-on-a-stick for some reason. It's shiny.

After all is said and done, she'll go out of the tower the way she came and head for that big mansion thing she saw while on the roof of the jail.

[Jair Barik]

En route to the mansion you stumble upon a colossal metallic spire that stretches up into the darkness above. Piercing through the earth itself the monstrosity is completely motionless but rises upwards at an angle.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel circles and examines the spire.

[Jair Barik]

The spire appears to be relatively smooth and rounded, made of some unkown metal it feels cold to the touch.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel examines the ground around it. Did it jut out of the ground, in which case rubble would pile around it, did it fall from the sky, where a crater would be around it, or was it built here, in which case there is no rubble?

[Jair Barik]

The rubble indicates that it crashed into the ground, though there is less than would be expected from something of this size.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel ignores it for now and continues to the mansion.

[Jair Barik]

The mansion also appears to have sustained some major damage.The doors are firmly closed and barricaded as are the windows (though the glass is all gone) but fire damage and scorch marks can be made out across the walls.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel looks for some sort of way in.

[Jair Barik]

It appears as though the building is thoroughly sealed up. There are no holes or breaches in the main walls to allow access.

[Emperor Ing]

Any underground passages? Alternate entrances like the tower?

[Jair Barik]

There are no 'secret' passages you can see and no obvious signs of entry like with the tower.

[Emperor Ing]

Can I blast my way in, say, Scorching Ray versus one of the barred windows?

[Jair Barik]

By the rules yes. It would recieve its DR though.

[Emperor Ing]

I call it: enough damage to pierce through the DR

[roll0]
[roll1]

oh, now I roll a 20 to attack. :smallmad:

[Jair Barik]

Stiekel manages to blast a hole in some of the wood.

[Emperor Ing]

Is it big enough to squeeze through?

[Jair Barik]

Yes, after you pull aside some lose bits of wood you can easily squeeze through into the next room. The room you enter is cavernous and dark. Perhaps at one time it was a hall of sorts but now its finery is gone, replaced with scars in the wood and upturned tables. Pieces of weaponry and armour lie about the place, discarded, but there is no sign of life. There are doors leading off of the room but these are barricaded.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel is starting to get annoyed. If there are no ways further into the house, stiekel will grab some sort of discarded weapon that she can lift and start smashing the barricades.

[Jair Barik]

(how long are you willing to keep at it until you break through?)

[Emperor Ing]

Several minutes.

[Jair Barik]

After three minutes of trying it becomes clear that Stiekel is just not strong enough to break down the barricade on her own.

[Emperor Ing]

FIREBALL!! (from a safe distance of course)

[roll0]

[Jair Barik]

The fireball blows a hole in part of the wood work plenty big enough for you to continue through. The passage you enter has a curiously sticky floor, its walls and even ceiling covered in some strange gooey mass.

[Emperor Ing]

Something still has adhesiveness what has to be centuries after it should've crusted over? She takes 20 searching the room for anything else interesting.

[Jair Barik]

The passage seems to lack any other interesting features. All of its surfaces are covered in this substance giving it an almost rounded shape.

[Emperor Ing]

She looks around for any other passages

[Jair Barik]

There isa few passages leading off of this one both left and right but they are also covered in the strange substance.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel follows the right passage down.

[Jair Barik]

At the end of the passage are a cluster of semi spherical objects each with parts cracked off. They are quite hard but brittle and full of a solidified goo.

[Emperor Ing]

Huh, usually the pasted thinned out parts exposed to the air solidify before the contents of the container.

She'll backtrack to the left side.

[Jair Barik]

Backtracking to the left side you find similar tunnels though these lack the spheres. There is still no evidence of habitation or life in the area.

[Emperor Ing]

Any other barricaded doors or something that Stiekel can blast through?

[Jair Barik]

There are more doors back in the main hall but none that you can see in the strange passages.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel goes back to the main hall and blasts open another door.

[Jair Barik]

The second door also leads into a number of passages coated in the strange substance. More cracked spheres are found down these.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel tries picking up and tossing one of the semispheres

[Jair Barik]

Pieces of it crumble off in your hands but the object itself is firmly stuck to the ground.

[Emperor Ing]

If Stiekel can't remove it then, for some reason, she has the bright idea of sticking her hand in one of them. Specifically, one of the semispheres she hasn't thrown yet.

[Jair Barik]

Nothing untoward happens when Stiekel does this. The goo at the bottom still feels slightly sticky but it is mostly dried out by now.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel will put down the semisphere where she found it. Are there any other doors or passageways anywhere?

[Jair Barik]

(There are oddly no doors in any of the sticky passages. You cannot put the object back down because you were never able to pick it up in the first place. Some pieces came off but the bulk remained put.)

[Emperor Ing]

This means that she has to go back down to the main...area and look for doors there.

[Jair Barik]

There are still another two doors leading off of the main area that have been barricaded up.

[Emperor Ing]

Kaboom

Moving on.

[Jair Barik]

Same story. No doors, funny walls, cracked orbs,

[Emperor Ing]

Last fireball...last door...

[Jair Barik]

See the above posts for a description :smallamused:.

[Emperor Ing]

Is the gooey stuff edible...?

[Jair Barik]

Is that what Stiekel is doing then? It looks like you could scoop some up and eat it, or eat it off of the walls if you wanted to.

[Emperor Ing]

Yep. At least taste it. :smalltongue:

[Jair Barik]

The substance tastes foul, exactly the same as chicken in fact. Oh wait, no, it tatses disgusting, aged, rotten, disgusting and all manner of other words used to describe horrid things.

[Emperor Ing]

Apparently someone a LONG time ago thought it would be funny to fill these rooms with chickens, and explode them all at once, covering everything in maimed chicken. Yes, Stiekel figures that she's better off killing and cooking rats.

She leaves the manor, noticing how she's pretty much out of spells save a couple of cantrips. She leaves the mansion and goes around looking for any more intact buildings.

[Jair Barik]

As she noticed earlier despite the general appearance of age and ruin many of the buildings appear repaired to some degree and so most are inhabitable. Stiekel has her pick of where she might want to rest in relation to the various points of interest.

[Emperor Ing]

She'll probably choose somewhere close to the Great Pointed Stick of Random Ex-God.

[Jair Barik]

Stiekel can find a dwelling adjacent to the spire in which to rest if she so desires.

[Emperor Ing]

She will do so.

[Jair Barik]

You sleep for the night and awake undisturbed. You have no point of refrence as to what time of day it is above but you are aware as you wake that something is nearby. You can here the chittering of some massed group of creatures, their eyes glowing red in the darkness. Numerous rats eyes peeking out from gaps in the woodwork and holes in the walls.

[Emperor Ing]

Hey! Breakfast is served!
Magic Missile on one of the rats closest out of the wall (reduced to 3 missiles because otherwise it would be overkill)

[roll0]

[Jair Barik]

"Ekten,vrau."

The words echo about the room, draconic words of magic that nullify your missiles before they even leave your hands.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel looks around, suprised, looking for the counterspeller. Kobolds know Draconic fluently, the translation should come easy.

[Jair Barik]

There is no sign of anyone else in the room. The words have no meaning to them, they are simply spoken words of draconic used to dispel your magic in the same way you can produce your own magic by uttering such words.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel tries casting Silent Magic Missile on one of the rats.

((I'll use the previous damage roll

Also, out of curiocity how close would you say I am to meeting other groups operating in your world?))

[Jair Barik]

(Other groups? You mean as in parties or organisations? Are you not interested in keeping this a solo game then?)

You hit one of the rats and it drops dead. You are then suddenly and violently thrust against one wall.

"Fool! You dare to assualt us? What business do you have here within our empire?"

The voice echoes at you from all around.

[Emperor Ing]

((I'm still interested in keeping this a solo game, I just occasionally see people post in your other games (I lurk when i'm bored :smalltongue:) and i'm just curious.))

Stiekel looks around, very much startled. She probably won't see anything unusual, but it's a natural reaction. What? W-who are you? I don't know what you're talking about.

[Jair Barik]

"We are the joining of the minds and you dare to trespass within our dominion. Once this city may have belonged to the surface dwellers but no longer. When the world above burnt mankind built a city upon the rotting carcass of the old one here. They abandoned that which was to the darkness carving sewers from some of its remains and then they forgot. But we did not forget. We claimed the city as our own and made it our kingdom. Now you have the gall to defile our land with your presence!"

You suddenly gain the impression that the echo is not a result of sound reverberating back but is numerous voices all speaking as one in near perfect unison.

(This is the longest running of the games. A number of the others have died due to players not posting but I have another going with the party at level two headed out towards the shifting sands, and possibly another game starting depending on wether the players are still around.)

[Emperor Ing]

I...don't even know what you are, and coming here was not my choice.

[Jair Barik]

"Then leave this place! Begone and never return here within your lifetime lest you awaken our wrath. We are without mercy, our numbers live in eternal hunger, a hunger unsated by the offerings the sewers give."

[Emperor Ing]

You are...the rats, are you not. Unfortunately I do not know the way out.

[Jair Barik]

"Then we shall remove you ourselves! Now will you go willingly or not?"

[Emperor Ing]

I will...but...I do not know the way out.

[Jair Barik]

"We shall take you! Blindfold yourself."

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel gets the feeling they're taking her for a ride. You...cannot just take me there?

[Jair Barik]

"No! Already your eyes have seen more than they should have. But we are lenient and merciful. Should you not look upon our passages and so be unable to return whence you came then we shall spare your life."

[Emperor Ing]

Very well, however I have just a few more questions if it is alright.

(( test ))

[Jair Barik]

"Then speak quickly kobold, you try our patience as it is!"

[Emperor Ing]

What is that metal spire outside? Stiekel takes out the scabbard. eventide.

[Jair Barik]

The sheathe moves slightly to point upwards and at an angle.

"A leg of the ancient being that dwells above the cityscape. The metal beast that sends out its minions to scavenge the city from time to time."

[Emperor Ing]

What can you tell me about the beast and its minions?

[Jair Barik]

"It awakens from time to time to send its little ones about the city making repairs as they search for something. We know not what. It preceeds us and has always been here."

[Emperor Ing]

Now then, what are you? And what is your purpose for being in these...ruins?

[Jair Barik]

"Irrelevant, interloper! We have no need to tell you this. Who are you, what is your reason for being here, where is your origin, destination and what is your aim?!"

[Emperor Ing]

My name is Stiekel, I have fallen into this ruin against my will, I come from the Northern Sands (however I expect you to not know what that means,) and my current aim is to learn the history of this place and what happened that caused it to fall like it did.

[Jair Barik]

"ha! You underestimate us kobold. We know of your new geography, of the surfaces beliefs and politics and vile intrigues. You fell by accident you say? Then we shall remove you from this place so that you may go back to where you intended to travel in the first place. A blindfold! Put one on!"

[Emperor Ing]

Very well. But tell me how this place fell.
She looks around for something that can be used as a blindfold.

[Jair Barik]

There is nothing immediately obvious for such usage excluding items you posess.

"It fell as the world fell, amidst fire and magic, the ruination of creation itself."

[Emperor Ing]

...I don't think so. I have reason to believe this place was attacked. And that reminds me, what do you know about this thing or place called "Endergan?"

[Jair Barik]

"Endergan was a citadel east of ere. Bastion of mankind it was a place where they mustered long ago. But enough questions! You stall for time!"

The rats advance from the shadows and you notice each and every one of them has an exposed brain.

[Emperor Ing]

Hey! Calm down, it is just I am curious and I want to know stuff. The only thing I have to gain by asking questions is gaining answers and the only thing you have to lose by answering them is taking the time to answer the question. Stiekel looks arounf for something that can be used as a blindfold.

[Jair Barik]

One of the rats leaps forwards and rips a length of cloth from stiekels sleeve spitting it out onto the floor. It would make a good enough blindfold.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel carefully picks up the piece and ties it around her eyes. Okay, you can calm down now whatever you are.

[Jair Barik]

You suddenly feel a surge of movement as you are knocked off your feet and fall onto what feels like a bumpy moving carpet.

[Emperor Ing]

oh....great. Stiekel tries to remain still while being moved.

[Jair Barik]

The carpet begins to take you on a long and bumpy (and often smelly and wet) journey) do you wait it out?

[Emperor Ing]

After 10 seconds... Are we there yet?

Stiekel casts Summon Ghost Nappa. :smalltongue:

[Jair Barik]

"No impatient wretch! You must wait"

[Emperor Ing]

You chose to get me out of this place instead of leading me non-blinded out of the city, or for that matter just leaving me alone until I accidentally found my own way out. Now you have to deal with the consequences. Are we there yet?

[Jair Barik]

Part of the carpet of rats bites your heel. "Silence lest we decide to throw you in some sewer machine instead of returning you to the surface!"

[Emperor Ing]

Ow! Stiekel pulls back her leg. not necessary.

[Jair Barik]

"Then stop with your incessant speach!"

[Emperor Ing]

Fine. Jackass.
Stiekel will wait...unless something...unusual stimulates her senses.

[Jair Barik]

It takes some time but eventually you abruptly stop and are dropped uncerinmoniuosly upon the floor in a puddle of water.

"There! take the ladder and you are out."

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel gets up and removes the blindfold, noting that bite in her leg still stinging. You...things really have a wonderful way of treating guests. I'll be sure to refer you to all my friends. By the way, she forgot to thank them for collecting in such a tight group. As soon as she is able, she'll cast Silent Fireball on the grip, aiming the radius so it incinerates all of them while just missing her.

Assuming it works, she knows she didn't kill the hivemind, but it makes her feel better. After that she'll take the express ladder upwards.

[Jair Barik]

By the time you have got the blindfold off the group has already dispersed, nowhere to be seen. The ladder leads up to the surface into a back alley somewhere in the city.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel growls under her breath. That thing on her ankle is probably not helping the mood. She'll climb up the ladder and then cast Disguise Self to turn into the dwarf.

[Jair Barik]

Back in the streets you have no idea where you are in the city but can safely assume from the passers by that you are not in the very centre and are not in the eight quarter.

[Emperor Ing]

She uses the scabbard again to call Eventide.

[Jair Barik]

The scabbard is brighter now. It points the way but without geographical landmarks you cannot say for sure what compass direction this is.

[Emperor Ing]

(She disguise selfed into the dwarf) She goes out into the streets and looks around.

[Jair Barik]

(I know)

Out here in the streets. Some of the commoners fight for their meals. Some get their backs into their living... From the numbers of people anbd attire you appear to be in a market based area of town, likely the second ring in from the outside.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel goes amongst the commoners, looking for some sort of magic shop.

[Jair Barik]

No such shops appear to be around which is hardly surprising seeing as how magic is so strictly controlled by law and suspicion.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel looks around for any clues as to which way a particular compass direction is.

[Jair Barik]

....
That is incredibly vague. What are you actually looking for? A massive compass built into the ground? Based upon the fact that the city walls form a perfect centre and it is impossible to tell which quarter you are actually in the walls are hardly going to help as an indicator. You haven't been around town enough to tell one place from another reliably.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel decides it's probably not necessary at the moment. She'll follow the general direction the scabbard pointed at.

[Jair Barik]

Following the direction of the scabbard you eventually come to one of the gates. It looks as though it leads into the adjacent quarter as opposed to deeper into this one. Some of the gates iconography is recognisable as that which was common in the first section of the city you visited.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel attempts to move through the gate and continue following the direction.

[Jair Barik]

The guards give you no hastle with this gate but following the scabbard from here on takes you deeper into the heart of the city. Eventually you reach the gate that you were escorted through from the inner ring of this quarter, the richer part of town.

[Emperor Ing]

The city is built with rings within rings. Can Stiekel judge by the movement of the scabbard that it's definitely in the inner ring, or is it that it's on the quarter on the other side of the city and the scabbard is telling her it's a shortcut to move through the inner-city ring?

Less movement = it's on the other side of the whole city
More movement = in inner city ring

[Jair Barik]

By moving backwards and forwards along the wall it would appear that the sword is likely within one of the inner rings (the fact that it moves at all seems confirmation of your theory that it is within the city).

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel looks for an inn that appears to have a room that overlooks the door. The plan is to see how often things come in and out, which would involve opening the gate. Then, she will disguise, wait, when the door opens go invisible, go inside, grab the sword and dimension door the hell out.

[Jair Barik]

The gate is actually open at all times it appears. It is simply guarded and can be closed should the need arise.

[Emperor Ing]

In that case the previous actions didn't happen. Stiekel activates the scabbard again, and looks for a hidden alley where she can go invisible.

[Jair Barik]

Finding such an alley is quite simple. Stiekel can happily go invisible without being detected.

[Emperor Ing]

Just as planned.

Following the light, Stiekel will attempt to move quickly to wherever it is pointed, trying very hard not to bump into anyone.

[Jair Barik]

You pass undetected into the richer part of town. Surely it would have been easier to do this rather than treck through the sewers earlier. Following the light of the scabbard you eventually come to one of the towers. Based upon the movements it seems likely eventide is inside. The tower in question is the same one you visited earlier.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel feels a bit of irritation at this revealation. If there is a closed door, Stiekel will cast Ghost Sound a bit off of the tower to mimic the sound of a man screaming in terror to get someone inside to get out. If the door is open or non-existent, she'll just slip inside.

[Jair Barik]

The door is sadly closed.
When you create your sound the door situation does not change but a number of guards in the immediate vicinity do notice it and begin to prowl around, looking for the cause.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel figures that since this isn't quite going as planned, she might as well attempt to slip in. She opens the door as quietly as possible, only just enough for her to slip in.

[Jair Barik]

The door is locked and has two guards standing on either side of it in addition to this.

[Emperor Ing]

Ah skrew it. Dimension Door into the building.

[Jair Barik]

You appear on the other side of the door. You are in the lobby of the building with numerous guards and scribes going about their day to day business.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel attempts to go to a hidden place to activate the light to follow.

[Jair Barik]

As far as hidden places go there is a distinct lack of them. The building is quite full of people with the stairs in near constant use and most of the doors closed or open into rooms that are already in use.

[Emperor Ing]

Go to a corner of a room and summon the light again.

[Jair Barik]

It points upwards.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel attempts to go upstais, careful not to bump into anyone

[Jair Barik]

How far upstairs? You are in a tower and there is a large spiral staircase.

[Emperor Ing]

As high as the light says she should go.

[Jair Barik]

Several floors up the light begins to swing about erratically no longer pointing in any consistant direction, by now it is very bright.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel looks for some sort of room to look around in.

[Jair Barik]

The corridors here are quite heavily guarded, most doors are either flanked by two guards or have a construct standing in front of them. Everything about the place seems somewhat familiar though...

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel thinks about the tower down in the ruins. Does it have a similar layout?

[Jair Barik]

No, the tower here is much more spacious and office like, a work place not the private study of some lone man.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel thinks to other places this place might be similar to. A similar layout to that...excessively fancy brass city, some facility as seen up in the northern sands....

Intelligence check
[roll0]

[Jair Barik]

Thinking about it occurs to you that is the exact floor that you were in a week or so ago when the guards brought you in under suspicion.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel looks around to count how many doors there are on this floor where the light is flipping out, or if there are any swords strewn about that just happen to be in arm's reach.

[Jair Barik]

The light is flipping out as soon as you enter the floor. There are no obvious swords on the floor and in the region of ten doors leading off from the central passages.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel backs down the floor slightly to where the light isn't flipping out to see if it's pointing to any door in particular before coming into this jamming field.

[Jair Barik]

You only start getting a reading on the scabbard when you head offof the floor. You cannot tell what door it is pointing to.

[Emperor Ing]

((I sense a disturbance...)) are there any clues as to where the sword could be?
Search
[roll0]

[Jair Barik]

Stiekel can find no such clues but thats hardly saying anything she can't really find anything at the moment... is that a wall? Maybe, yes thats a wall.

(Crit fail....)

[Emperor Ing]

yeesh. Any clues whatsoever?

[Jair Barik]

No. There are multiple doors and all of these are guarded. You actually think that whoever stole the sword would leave it lying around unprotected in plain sight?

[Emperor Ing]

((Yes. :smalltongue:))

Spellcraft check to determine if the light is attempting to point at one particular door?
[roll0]

[Jair Barik]

It would appear the light is attempting to point at a door but failing to do so due to some sort of local interference against it. Whatever the effect is it doesn't seem to be within the hallway itself but its nature makes it nigh on impossible to determine what door the sword is trying to point at.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel activates Detect Magic

[Jair Barik]

The hallway is buzzing with magic. There are various protections on some of the doors, the constructs are run by magic and some of the rooms beyond the doors feel like they have lots of magic within them as well, some more than others.

[Emperor Ing]

For a society that is repulsed by magic, they sure do like to use it. A lot.

((Am I supposed to figure something out?))

[Jair Barik]

((In all honesty I hadn't actually expected you to try and use the scabbard within the city so you are actually doing much better at aquiring than I anticipated :smallamused: that said these challenges with wonky magic auras were always intended to be here. Also bare in mind that magic items give off auras as well as do certain constructs, plus the laws hardly apply to the rich and powerful do they? As for what to do next theres always process of elimination, random guess work or reasoned logic as to which door it is likely behind))

[Emperor Ing]

Dimension Door to the room that has the smallest and/or weakest aura(s)

[Jair Barik]

The room seems to be some sort of a study. It appears to have three torches on its walls shining a luminescent green glow that illuminates the room. It appears nobody is here but piles of paperwork clutter the shelves and desk that adorns the room.

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel browses over the paperwork in order to discern what the subject material is. Preferably, anything related to a sword.

[Jair Barik]

Predominantly the papers seem to be beurecratic in nature. Dealing with taxes, religious matters and a few reports of social unrest. Nothing strikes you as having relevance to your current quest.

[Emperor Ing]

(Bureaucratic)
Stiekel will DD into the room with the largest aura.

[Jair Barik]

The room is cluttered with various piles of books, scrolls and shelves as well as numerous trinkets and contraptions lying about. It is not a small room and the desk and carpet are both exquisite in design. On one wall hangs a large map of the world as it is, covering both the Northern and southern deserts. A number of pins have been stuck into this linked together by brightly coloured threads of cotten. On the opposite wall hangs another map of several circles each cut into eight segments, you now recognise this as being a map of the city. You quickly realise exactly where you are when you notice a handsome young man sitting at the desk with a quill in one hand. Councillor Alderbrac. He lifts his head up from his work and looks bemusedly in your direction.

"Well I must say that this is a surprise..."

[Emperor Ing]

(Counselor [/grammarnazi])
You can say I have come full-circle if you appreciate comedic license. First off, I doubt you are that suprised at all. The second is a more complex issue. Third, I appear to have forgotten the layout of your...tower for lack of a better word.

[Jair Barik]

The counselor smiles in a coy manner.
"Quite. I had a feeling we would meet again but I didn't anticipate it being quite so soon. Of course I gathered from the cities most recent hmm... visitor if you can call him that, that you were still within our walls. But that is for the time being unimportant. To the second matter, and I think I know what it is, perhaps you could enlighten me as to how you think this is all going to pan out?"

[Emperor Ing]

The second matter is of no importance. I will be honest, I am tracking down a particular magical artifact that was lost to me. Did I mention this already? I have tracked it down to being in one of these rooms unfortunately there are certain magics around scrambling my means of precisely locating the artifact.

[Jair Barik]

The smile on Alderbrac's face widens.

"Then...But you mean... Oh that is quite hilarious. But go on. continue, it amuses me."

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel examines her hand to see if she's still invisible. A sword to be more specific. I believe it is in this floor of the tower, in one of these rooms. The sword would have turned up recently I believe. The spark of suspicion is beginning to enkindle a flame of doubt. And what is so amusing?

[Jair Barik]

Your hand is still invisible.

"For starters something you appear to have just noticed. In a wider sense your comparitive naivety. Did you know for example that there is a dragon outside the city walls waiting for you? It is quite eager to meet you. Meet you again I believe was the exact phrasing of it."

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel is confused for a moment. What is the color of this dragon? A part of her is REALLY hoping it's the dracolich.

[Jair Barik]

This statement seems to perk Alderbrac's interest.
"Such a factor is relevant then is it? You know multiple dragons or at the very least have had important dealings with one dragon then. How many have you met I wonder?"

[Emperor Ing]

Please just tell me what color is the dragon. I will tell you about the three possibilities who would know me. Two of which I am not sure if they would know my name.

[Jair Barik]

"Very well then. It was a sort of grey colour, pallid you could say. Furthermore it didn't know you buy name, simply as the kobold with the elf things. Now you said you had three posibile names. Care to name them?"

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel lets off a sigh of relief. I have met three dragons. The object of cult worship in a city upon the northern sands, the formerly restless soul in one of the tombs of Gecis, and his dracolich guardian. It appears the latter wishes a word, no doubt regarding the departure of his former master. The kobold with the...elf things? Okay, Stiekel may be the only Kobold in the city but what are these "elf things?" May I have my sword?

[Jair Barik]

Alderbrac lets out a little laugh, fading into a snigger.

"No. What a foolish idea. Why would I go to so much trouble to aquire such an item only to give it away when asked? The services of our... mutual aquintance with a 'mindful' diet do not come cheap. Furthermore there is very little you can do to hurt me here. I am a powerful man, my death would be investigated and you would inevitably be discovered as the culprit. Balgziva and Athgan already petition the city and the senate to unite with them and go to war against the north, fearful of certain 'military' actions occuring within your lands. An influential figure such as myself being murdered in cold blood by a Kobold sorceress, with draconic blood no less.... Well suffice to say it would cause the city to aquiesce to their demands and then the senate would quickly fall in line."

[Emperor Ing]

Heh, I get what is so funny now. Wow, this is awkward.

[Jair Barik]

"You see real power doesn't come from magic swords or psionic power. It comes from the knowledge that you are important enough that when somebody murders you the world will be thrown into a state of turmoil, in this case war. Flthixsyz, Darden and the three fool brothers, correction, two fool brothers are all monsters in the eyes of the world. They die and yes a few heads may roll but the world does move on. Alarev is an idealistic nobody, his death would be of as much consequence as that of a penniless traveller lost in the desert. Thretik.... he is a slightly more noticeable threat due to his connections, but even amongst his allies he is not well liked. As for Vashernis, well he is on my pay roll for the time being but just as likely to switch sides as suits his own cause. Much like Alarev though he can be removed with little consequence. Which I believe leaves you Stiekel. Where do you think you fit in all of this?"

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel can beat him...with SMRT!! Let me put this into perspective. Flthixsyz can call upon unimaginable terrors to execute his whim with a simple flick of the wrist. A cosmic horror of incredible power. To him, the entire world thrown into a single great battle is as common as the sands blow off dunes. If you appreciate mathematics I am a two, you are a six. The difference between us is four, but the difference is almost non-existent in comparison to the difference our friend is able to call upon with a passing thought. From the perspective of our friend, you, me, and a thug from the eighth quarter are equal.

[Jair Barik]

Alderbrac leans back in his seat and puts his palms together resting his lip upon the end of his fingers. Then he calmly picks up two dice from his desk and rolls them around idly in one hand.

"For the time being his army is my army. Whilst he is on my payroll that is. Of course I would hardly bet his loyalty on a roll of the dice. His army is not without limit though. True he has done a good job of preparing his forces and rallying his troops but his resources are limited and rapidly running out. The last of his kind? Perhaps... Once his kind may well of towered over us as Gods if they so pleased, a million to our one and four perhaps. But with the scourging. Well, the tables have turned. His army may be numerous and strong but intelligent? Gods no. From what I have seen they are mindless beasts bred to follow his command. With a little effort he could wage bloody war all across the land. But to what end? He could never rule it by himself and inevitably the forces of the dragons would eventually stir and muster against him. His is brilliant in his own manner but it is only a matter of time before he meets one that is his superior."

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel laughs. Oh wow. The bards should be writing the epic of this deception, a piece which should be sung for centuries to come. Have you heard the expression "knowledge is power?" A simple...err...what is the Common term? <figure of speech.> The bracketed parts were spoken in draconic. Pardon my draconic. The tables continue to turn Alderbrac. Flthixsyz has woven a fabulous web. You really should see it it is quite remarkable.

[Jair Barik]

Alderbrac's smile continues unphased.
"Really? Then perhaps you would enlighten me and in doing so turn me upon my ally. How has he betrayed me."

[Emperor Ing]

Re-examine my role in this situation, then look at yourself. I shall be blunt. You idiot, he wants me to kill you.

[Jair Barik]

With a click the dice grind against each other in Alderbrac's hand and then stop.

"Has he asked you to kill me directly or do you merely reason this from something he has said. Tell me, what makes you say this. The manner in which you appeared certainly did not give the impression that you had come here with the intent of killing me, furthermore you are not that effective an assassin if that was your intent. Rather than do the deed you have spent much time speaking with me."

[Emperor Ing]

He told nobody anything about your assassination. I only figured it out a minute ago. Consider this. Stiekel attempts to mimic Alderbrac's voice "I have your sword. To get it back would mean you have to kill me, which could trigger war between the northern and southern sands." Exactly what Flthixsyz wants. Pardon me my impersonatory skills are limited. You stand to gain something at the risk of losing absolutely everything. I do not want to kill you because I see the splendid web, and I know that you are greater than others I know. You can be reasoned with.

Cha check for mimic [roll0]
It is a very bad impersonation. :smalltongue:

[Jair Barik]

Alderbrac smiles at the awful impersonation.

"Now even I know that I don't sound anything like that. I suppose he does have something to gain from you killing me but I find the idea that he sent you hear to be laughable. I am quite confident that he is still in the north and based upon what you have already divulged to me I am going to assume that means it has been some time since the two of you have spoken. Now, I think it is time that I am 'reasoned with' don't you? Swords like the ones you are looking for are not exactly easy to come by so if you leave me this one I will be more than happy to tell you the location of another. You can run off and find it for Alarev if that is where your loyalties lie and you will know exactly where eventide's edge is if you ever decide you simply cannot live without it. Now doesn't that sound reasonable to you?"

[Emperor Ing]

I do not think you sound like that either. Nontheless your assumptions can be erroneus (is that the word?) but I can forgive you for being ignorant of what you could not possibly know. Did you know there is a great ruined city directly below our feet? Beneath the sewers?

[Jair Barik]

"The old city? Been there during your stay here have you? The locals not give you too much hastle did they?"

[Emperor Ing]

((Hassle))
Oh they have been quite hospitable if I do say so myself. You should really plan a vacation down there, they absolutely adore visitors. Stiekel sounds very sarcastic.

[Jair Barik]

"No I have already seen the sights and exhausted my interest in that place. I make it my business to know things Stiekel. Do you think I wouldn't seek a full knowledge of the city in which I live? Did you for example know that due to the shape of the city a cult or wizard could with enough well placed runes use the city walls as a summoning circle to bring some of the most powerful demons from the furthest depths of the planes into the world as we know it? Quite fascinating really..." You have the feeling that Alderbrac is quite serious, there is no sarcasm in his voice.

[Emperor Ing]

Most interesting indeed.((although due to gravity and how when size doubles, mass octuples, something that big can't possibly exist in our plane of existence without getting obliterated)) Why though? Really, why would one need a summoning circle that big?

[Jair Barik]

Alderbrac smiles.

"Why indeed."

[Emperor Ing]

Is there any indication that the summoned creatures, should someone actually activate the circle, would be under the control of the summoner?

[Jair Barik]

Alderbracs smile turns into a frown, perhaps even a glare.

"I think perhaps it would be for the best if we spoke of other things. I for one would not like you leaving this room and running off to summon a demon. That would be irresponsible of me."

[Emperor Ing]

That was never my intention. I thought about it, but I would not know where to begin. I can promise to keep the demon population in your city to a minimum if I can help it. If I am capable, I would also destroy them on sight. We both know the world is a harsh enough place without it being overrun by hellish entities.

[Jair Barik]

"Quite."
Alderbrac rises from his seat and begins rolling his dice around in one cupped hand.
"Now then, do we have business here or are you intending to leave? I am a generous man Stiekel. Where possible one way or another I do try avoiding making enemies that will only come back to strike me. So, what will it be?"

[Emperor Ing]

You are in a most interesting position Counselor. Prior to the meeting with the locals Flthixsyz came to me. Once again refusing to reveal himself. He told me that he wanted me to have the sword again. He gave me the scabbard of Eventide's Edge to boot, and with it I tracked the sword to this tower.

Bluff (please please please please please don't roll a 1)

[roll0]
Yes!

[Jair Barik]

Alderbrac seems to consider this for a few moments before speaking again.
"That is an...interesting claim. I certainly had wondered about the whereabouts of the scabbard. I had assumed Alarev had given you the scabbard to track the sword, and it certainly would account for you being here today. How curious. Curious but not altogether unexpected. It is something I may have to look into. Tell me, did he give any evidence as to how his efforts to seperate Supernal Clarity from its current owner were going?"

No looking:smallwink:

[roll0]

[Emperor Ing]

Stiekel thinks for a moment. Tait? No, I do not believe so. I assume that is the name of the sword you were going to refer me to?

[Jair Barik]

Another laugh.
"Hardly. I already have Flthixsyz working on that one. No I was thinking one that is closer to your current geographical location. Except that in a manner of speaking it really isn't close at all... It is a complicated matter but irregadless of geography the sword in question is named Umbral Awn, it is the sword of the shadow hand."

[Emperor Ing]

Hmm...I am unfamiliar with this "shadow hand." It occurs to me that the other swords have other such organizations surrounding them. Prehaps you could explain them to me?
((I have ToB, so you don't need to do that much explamation outside of "Alderbrac explains the nine swords."))

[Jair Barik]

"Not an organisation of such. Before the scourging there were nine schools of techniques for use with different swords and weapons. Each with a different focus and ideology. The techniques of the shadow hand, the sword to which Umbral Awn belongs, were dedicated to trickery, deception and using the shadows themselves as weapons and defences."

(I assume then you know where your going to have to go to find it :smallamused:)

[Emperor Ing]

((That's metagaming. :smalltongue:))
Do you have any references to the other schools I may look at?
((However, if Alderbrac is inclined to give Stiekel the book of weeaboo fightan magic...))

[Jair Barik]

(gish kobold sorceress? Not planning on dual wielding scimitars I hope :smalltongue:)

"Nothing here I am afraid. There are few writings left on the swords themselves most information either being passed down by word of mouth or in a few cases transcribed on ruins or large blocks of stone."

[Emperor Ing]

((I don't care what people say Battle Sorcerer is a lot of fun. Unfortunately (or fortunately) there's very little I can do with Stiekel now that would make her a viable gisher without completely reformatting huge chunks of the character. I still need to find a way to cast Identify...a lot. I'm assuming you've had problems with players using kritzkreig builds?))
You have one of the swords. Copy what is written on it on paper.

[Jair Barik]

(Kritzkrieg builds? No why? What does the build do and what rules do I use that make you assume I've had problems with it?)

Quickly transcribing a few notes Alderbrac hands you a piece of paper reading what he writes as he writes it.

"Eventide's edge is the sword of the setting sun discipline. Its focus is not on using the wielders own strength, more on using the enemies strength against them. As I recall it was generally passed down through halfling bloodlines."

[Emperor Ing]

Basically, maximizing the effectiveness of a weapon's critical hit. 8 levels in Disiple of Dispater and Improved Critical (NEVER KEEN!!) give the Schimitar a crit range of 9-20. A few crystals you can easily purchase from the MiC with your WBL if you can pull off the 9-20 allow you to crit constructs and undead. Pick up weapon enhancements that do more damage on critical hits (I like Sonic Blast (http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/SRD:Sonic_Blast_(Epic_Weapon_Enhancement))) or improve crit multipliers, one-level dipping into Lion Totem Barbarian also helps a LOT!! and you become a juggernaut of death who threatens a crit at least once every round. Mix it in with Two-Weapon fighting (I have an epic build that pulls off 8 attacks with 9-20 x3+9d6 kukris on a full attack, and has the Pouncing Charge maneuver. He's gestalt so that helps a lot) for even greater hilarity.

I figured you mentioned Schimitars because their base crit range is 18-20. It might be a reference to the character that EVERY SINGLE FRICKIN' DROW IN EXISTENCE revolves around, however I doubted it.

Alarev mentioned the former holder of Eventide's Edge was a halfling king. ((Who's name is still strikingly similar to a certain robotic quasi-hive mind (http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/Geth)))

[Jair Barik]

"Quite likely. Now anything else you wish to know?"

(I was actually referring to said Drow gish aka. the entire species of drow all of whom are gish dual scimitar wielders based on said rebel)

[Emperor Ing]

((Incorrect. Actually the entire drow species is either copypasta of Drizzt, or are the true rebels and are trying specifically not to be Drizzt. Look on the bright side, you learned a new optimized build!))
Well, what can you tell me about the other 7 swords? You have...stimulated...? my interest.

[Jair Barik]

"Well you have desert wind, named after its discipline focused upon speed,agility and the firey nature of the desert sun, faithful avenger of the devoted spirit, dedictaed to piety and purity, supernal clarity of the diamond mind, that prized mental discipline above all else, kamate of the iron heart, a discipline dedicated souly to mastery of the blade, unfettered of the stone dragon that balances strength with endurance and tiger fang of the tiger claw that seeks to immitate the savegry of wild animals."

[Emperor Ing]

Interesting. Now then I have almost forgotten. I have several more questions about the old city. Mainly, what happened to it?

[Jair Barik]

"Oh an ancient relic of the times before the scourging. Quite interesting really. You see lots of buildings and such submerged beneath the desert sands, a few above them, the shifting sands are a special case but the old city... Well. It is different. So well preserved, probably one of the largest ruins I am aware of and arguably still inhabitable. Likely the earth round here can be held partly responsible for its existance. It is much more stable than elsewhere and is in fact the reason for the city of the seven being built here. Without the firmness of the ground we would have been unable to build such sturdy walls, or the sewers that run beneath us."

[Emperor Ing]

So what happened? I found a reference within it that suggests that it fell before the actual scourging.

[Jair Barik]

"What happenned before the scourging.... Is something best left unsaid. I will leave it at that. Now, excluding slight complications Umbral Awn is within the half city. I am uncertain as to precisely how the dragon tracked you here but I imagine he is something you would be better off going around than facing head on. It seems doubtful he has come to find you for a polite conversation."

[Emperor Ing]

Ooooh I think that goes without saying. Prehaps finding his phylactery amongst the hoard would have been the wiser move. But...I think I know how he could have found me. Why though is a mystery. If I were to find he is more hostile than I would like I would like to have a contigency prepared. Now then, you know Flth wants me to have Eventide's Edge. And I believe you also know he intended me to kill you. I think we can both agree that the latter option would be mutually sub-optimal so what say you?

[Jair Barik]

"I say that where you will likely be going it would be much better for everyone concerned if Eventide's edge stayed nice and safe within this city as opposed to being taken out to a group of ruins where it could easily be lost forever if it fell over the edge. That is what I say."

[Emperor Ing]

Hmmm....very well. You have a point. It would not be the first time I did not do what Flth asked me to do anyway. All I require now is the location of my dracolich friend as well as the location of this "Half City" and I shall leave you in peace.

[Jair Barik]

"The Dracolich is currently settled down in some hills due west of the city. For the time being its existance has been kept secret to avoid panic and so long as it is leaving the cravans alone that is how things will remain. The half city is due precisely due northe east of the city of the seven but realisticly you will need to head north west and make your way round the edge to get there. You will also have to cross the shadewater which shouldn't be a problem for you but it will mean you will be heading through lands under the control of Rathgan, whose relationships with the kobolds have never been good due to their proximity to one another. When you get to the city though there is a slight problem I have determined in that the sword is not within the half of the city that is still there. According to our scrying attempts it seems as though its position is actually floating in mid air out in the clouds of the edge."

[Emperor Ing]

I believe I should be fine as long as I can keep a low profile moving through his land. Just two more questions. One, what can you tell me about the half-city and two, what do you have that can, say, identify the enchantments of certain magical goods?