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Jubilex
Posts: 3237
(5/5/04 10:02 am)
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The Cairnhollow, Part VI
Covered in blood and weary from constant battle, the companions gather up their gear and begin piling the mound of loose coins into whatever backpack, satchel, chest or coffer they can find. Madragar locates a number of potions among the loot, but also discovers a small wooden box which contains a quartet of healing scrolls. Since potions are inherantly more valuable than scrolls, Sangraal makes use of one of the small leather squares to restore Pogar to consciousness. The dwarf is woozy but walking.
The pile of treasure, and its attendant containers, present a new problem since the awkward mass is both bulky and extremely heavy. Utama patiently watches as the companions gather the loot and then scratch their heads in contemplation of how to move it all. Then, producing a pair of ceramic tablets, the dragonewt conjures up a 3' diameter, slightly concave disk of shimmering force, and hands a scroll to Madragar for the wizard to create a second. Soon one of the disks is piled high with a massive wooden chest and an assortment of smaller coffers and saddle bags full of coins and other treasure. The second disk is reserved for Ruglan, who (after Utama brings down the wall of stone) the companions find exactly where Madragar left him, alive but catatonic.
At a slow walk the group heads back toward the Fortress. Along the bridge, picking their way through piles of dead duergar, the chillserpent mercifully does not make an appearance, though the dragonewt merely shrugs when the threat of the Chaos-tainted beast is mentioned. It seems Utama is not concerned.
As they reach the far northern side of the lake few fail to notice that the ubiquitous gray light has faded, and soon the flicking orange glow of Irigaal is all that remains. Without the presence of its rival, the pervasive light of Irigaal seems much brighter.
[Madragar identifies a number of healing potions: seven Cure Light Wounds, two Cure Moderate Wounds. Sangraal and Ulwe also find three more Cure Moderate Wound scrolls and a single Cure Serious Wounds.
Draxim and Pogar are moderately wounded.
Janes is critically wounded.]
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Tarondor
Madragar
Posts: 1105
(5/5/04 10:15 am)
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Re: The Cairnhollow, Part VI
Madragar hesitates a long second before using that scroll!
During the long walk back, Madragar tries to question Utama. "You say you have waited a century for this opportunity, Master Utama? Why? Who are you? We know little of your people."
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yucatanyeti
Sangraal
Posts: 1000
(5/5/04 10:22 am)
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Re: The Cairnhollow, Part VI
Sangraal approuches the shaking Janes as the treasure is loaded up. With a gentle hand Sangraal passes on the blessings of Yelms Benediction.
[OOC: Sangraal casts his last Cure Lights wound 1d8+3 on Janes]
[Janes is fully healed, but still shaking like a leaf. -GM]
Edited by: Jubilex at: 5/5/04 10:28 am
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Jubilex
Posts: 3238
(5/5/04 10:48 am)
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Re: The Cairnhollow, Part VI
"You would be an old man before I could completely explain the true nature of my people. We live much like you do, human, though I believe you would find some of our customs alien and disturbing. But the dragonewts are not so hard to understand in principle. We are ruled by three commandments, and our lives are measured by whether or not we are able to stay true to these virtues."
"The First is duty to our ancestors. The Second is duty to one's lord. The Third is the repayment of favors. That is all, and it was to satisfy all three of these commandments that I began this adventure before the birth of your father's father."
"Long ago, under the influence of the Jade Root I beheld the convergence of Shadows that was to descend upon this land, and the terrible ending that your people would suffer. In Thargomindah, disguised as a Lunar scholar, I researched what little was known of Moagara and found the tale of Hralma and Irigaal. I believed it was the fiery Shadow, a potent weapon still clinging to existance somewhere in this land, that drew the other Shadows hence. With difficulty I discovered the means of finally destroying Irigaal."
"As I said, I am no warrior, but the short lives of humans makes them predictable. It was then I devised a false prophecy and saw that it found its way into the hands of the Emperor - a promise of immortality to lure him into gathering together the ingredients for the destruction of the Shadow. With characteristic avarice the Emperor's son unwittingly pursued my prophecy, and used the undeniable power of his people to locate the mace of Irigaal and the last descendents of Hralma himself. The Illuminating Orb was constructed and everything gathered together here in the Cairnhollow."
"I included a referrence to my own flesh, a so called exile, to ensure I would be here as well, though that didn't transpire quite as I expected."
Edited by: Jubilex at: 5/5/04 10:48 am
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yucatanyeti
Sangraal
Posts: 1001
(5/5/04 11:15 am)
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Re: The Cairnhollow, Part VI
Sangraal looks perplexed, " So the Emperor is not a threat? no fear of him returning?"
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Jubilex
Posts: 3239
(5/5/04 11:24 am)
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Re: The Cairnhollow, Part VI
Utama subtely inclines his head. "Zulquerzharen is dead, and shall remain so."
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Atan
Atan Finith Ring
Posts: 791
(5/5/04 11:27 am)
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Mr. "T" is a Dragonnewt?!
Quote:
'Scrolls', it might be noted by the sharp-eyed, that look a lot like those Madragar was using during the battle.
[That is one of my questions, another has already been answered and the third I think will be explained shortly.]
Atan grunts under the load on his back. Although not one to be overly influenced by gold and silver, he can't help but to be bewildered by the sheer volume of treasure carried by the party.
"Where is Thargomindah? I am not familiar with that town. What favor did you owe Moagarans and why is your race considered "exiles" by the Lunars?"
[Atan grabbed 20 arrows from the broo.]
Edited by: Atan at: 5/5/04 11:34 am
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squarefodder
Khelzhad
Posts: 231
(5/5/04 11:31 am)
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Re: Mr. "T" is a Dragonnewt?!
[Are the metal shields of the Broo better than the wooden shield Khelzhad already has? If so he will trade up for the least damaged one.]
[The broo had small steel shields, +1 AC but more durable than wood. If Pogar had a large wooden shield, +2 AC, he should probably stick with it. If he had a small wooden shield then by all means take one from the broo. Just mark it down on your equipment list. -GM]
Edited by: Jubilex at: 5/5/04 11:35 am
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yucatanyeti
Sangraal
Posts: 1002
(5/5/04 11:37 am)
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Re: Mr. "T" is a Dragonnewt?!
"No fear of the emperor then, the only one we have to worry about is the Broo, the leader got away and I am sure he will be waiting in ambush above."
Sangraal loads himself up and the glowing disk with treasure. He carefully liberates the magic items from Juros garments and takes a look.
"You birthright?" he asks Madragar. " Is your linage less fisherman then previously stated?"
[Sangraal takes as much of the treasure as he can carry and loads the disk up to.
What are the items in Juros pockets?]
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Jubilex
Posts: 3240
(5/5/04 11:39 am)
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Re: Mr. "T" is a Dragonnewt?!
Amiable and eloquent, Utama seems happy to answer any question posed to him.
"Thargomindah is the capital of the Lunar Empire. It is the seat of power of the Emperor himself. And my Lord has great affection for the horse tribes as they once performed a valuable service, though the consequences of that service have yet to be resolved."
"On the topic of exiles, there are those of my kind that abandon our way of life, and refuse to follow the three Virtues. They call themselves free, but to us they are apostates... exiles. I made myself known to the Emperor's henchmen as one such creature, hence my willing capture and transportation to the Fortress of Lead."
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Jubilex
Posts: 3241
(5/5/04 11:41 am)
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Re: Mr. "T" is a Dragonnewt?!
In Joru's stachel are two books. One is a small notebook with a green leather cover. The other is only part of a book, but is massive and appears quite old. It looks to have been ripped in half and only the back cover and some dozen or so pages remain.
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doggius
Pogar Stonecrusher
Posts: 730
(5/5/04 12:06 pm)
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Re: Mr. "T" is a Dragonnewt?!
As Pogar regains conciousness he turns to his cousin.
"I feared that I was going to meet our brethren, Cousin. It seems as though Death does not want me at this time." he whispers with a wink.
Turning to his comrads, "I was on my way to meet my brethren in the Halls of Glory, but they didnt want me, said I smelled funny". He states with a little smirk.
Turning and noticing the DragonNewt, Pogar jumps back a little. "Whoa" is all he says. Once he feels the warmth of the healing from Sangraal, a feeling that Pogar is growing accustomed to, he will stand up and help with the treasure. Seeing a steel shield laying on the cold ground, Pogar quickly discards his current wooden shield and grabs the steel shield. Walking to Ulwe, Pogar states "I wish for you to bless this shield, remove the taint of chaos.....Friend."
[Last part was not for the actual spell, but for dramatics.]
Edited by: doggius at: 5/5/04 12:09 pm
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squarefodder
Khelzhad
Posts: 232
(5/5/04 12:28 pm)
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Re: Mr. "T" is a Dragonnewt?!
[Khelzhad and Ulwe grab metal shields as well.]
On the road, Khelzhad addresses Utama:
"Ancient one - were you here when the Fortress of Lead was constructed and if so, have you any knowledge whence the Guraskalli engineers who helped to build it have gone?"
Edited by: squarefodder at: 5/5/04 12:29 pm
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Jubilex
Posts: 3242
(5/5/04 12:33 pm)
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And thus did the wizard get a boner.
"I am sorry, young Ghuraskalli," Utama replies. "I was trapped in stone during the construction of the place."
Using Sangraal's enchanted vision, he, Ulwe and Madragar poke through the piles of loot to retrieve as much of the magic treasure as possible. During the slow walk (the disks can't move fast) the trio catalog everything they've found.
[Note that Khelzhad can cast any arcane spell from a scroll that is "on his list." That is, any spell on the Bard spell list. Same goes for Atan, but he is limited to Divine spells on the Ranger spell list.
Furthermore, Sangraal and Ulwe are limited to Divine spells on the list for their sect. For instance, Bull Strength is limited to Urox worshipers, so neither Sangraal nor Ulwe can use a scroll of Bull Strength.
Finally, the scrolls listed below are made of a wide array of different materials: tooled leather, ceramic, wood, silver, bronze, iron, etc.. The material itself isn't important in determining the potency of the scroll.]
Arcane spells:
4 leather scrolls of Magic Missile, cast at 3rd level
1 leather scroll of True Strike, cast at 1st level
2 iron scrolls of Shocking Grasp, cast at 5th level
1 silver scroll of Glitterdust, cast at 5th level
1 bronze scroll of Darkvision, cast at 5th level
3 silver scrolls of Hypnotic Pattern, cast at 7th level
2 oaken scrolls of Phantom Steed, cast at 6th level
1 iron scroll of Halt Undead, cast at 7th level
Divine spells:
3 leather scrolls of Cure Moderate Wounds, cast at 5th level
1 obsidian scroll of Poison, cast at 7th level
2 bronze scrolls of Lesser Restoration, cast at 5th level
1 silver scroll of Cure Serious Wounds, cast at 7th level
2 oaken scrolls of Endurance, cast at 5th level
1 bronze scroll of Bull Strength, cast at 7th level
1 bone scroll of Enervation, cast at 9th level
3 bone scrolls of Desecrate, cast at 5th level
Also among the treasure (beside the shortsword and longspear that has already been found) Sangraal finds a silver chain that radiates magic, and what appears to be a matching silver ring. Furthermore he locates a pair of magic javelins and a hollowed out thigh bone that contains a single magic arrow.
Edited by: Jubilex at: 5/5/04 12:37 pm
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Tarondor
Madragar
Posts: 1106
(5/5/04 2:01 pm)
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Re: And thus did the wizard get a boner.
Quote:
It was then I devised a false prophecy and saw that it found its way into the hands of the Emperor...
Madragar barks with laughter, the merriest sound the wizard has made in months. The humor in this simple yet devious plot seems to lighten his soul.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quote:
"You birthright?" he asks Madragar. " Is your linage less fisherman then previously stated?"
Madragar smiles. "That is the inheritance of my flesh. But among wizards the line is considered to run from master to servant. If I had both son and apprentice, my worldly goods would go to the son, but my spells and books would go to the apprentice. Edrigan had no children..only me. The spells of Aen and Uftali were his by right. And now mine. Fear not, Sangraal. I am not greedy, and will share. No doubt Khelzad will also benefit from their discovery, as will we all, indirectly."
"Folly to speak of of it until the books are found, however."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quote:
In Joru's stachel are two books. One is a small notebook with a green leather cover. The other is only part of a book, but is massive and appears quite old. It looks to have been ripped in half and only the back cover and some dozen or so pages remain.
Madragar's eyes light up when he sees the old, tattered book. Is it the spellbook?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quote:
4 leather scrolls of Magic Missile, cast at 3rd level
1 leather scroll of True Strike, cast at 1st level
2 iron scrolls of Shocking Grasp, cast at 5th level
1 silver scroll of Glitterdust, cast at 5th level
1 bronze scroll of Darkvision, cast at 5th level
3 silver scrolls of Hypnotic Pattern, cast at 7th level
2 oaken scrolls of Phantom Steed, cast at 6th level
1 iron scroll of Halt Undead, cast at 7th level
Allahu Akbar! Madragar's gonna need a few minutes alone, boys.
Then, me and Khelzad gotta talk.
Edited by: Tarondor at: 5/5/04 2:03 pm
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Jubilex
Posts: 3243
(5/5/04 2:11 pm)
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Re: And thus did the wizard get a boner.
It seems that Joru did, in fact, hold on to a single damaged tome that was once one of the spellbooks of Uftali Riverwarden. It will take time for Madragar to digest its contents.
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Tarondor
Madragar
Posts: 1107
(5/5/04 2:31 pm)
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Re: And thus did the wizard get a boner.
"May I have that, Sangraal?" Madragar indicates the tattered book.
When he receives it, he handles it lovingly, and reads through it carefully until Atan indicates that it is time to go.
[The group is already moving, marching slowly back to the Fortress of Lead. -GM]
Edited by: Jubilex at: 5/5/04 2:32 pm
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yucatanyeti
Sangraal
Posts: 1003
(5/5/04 2:57 pm)
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Re: And thus did the wizard get a boner.
Sangraal smiles at Madragar's misinterpration of his question as he hands of the damaged texts.
"You are full of suprises mage and my question was an attempt to clear up some confusion on my part. Every time I turn around you seem to be more then what you have lead on." Playfully Sangraal begins ticking off events with a free hand.
"Lets see... oh yes Ravensgate, everyone and their mothers trying to put a knife in you, and you burn down half the city. Then just now Juro kidnapps you and then lets you go. And you used a scroll obviously given to you by the Dragonnewt, yet you never mentioned it as if its an everyday occurence." Sangraal rambles on for a few more sputtering seconds before finally feeling like he got his point accross.
"I guess I already knew the answer to my question. You are more then just a fishermans son."
Edited by: yucatanyeti at: 5/5/04 2:58 pm
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yucatanyeti
Sangraal
Posts: 1004
(5/5/04 2:59 pm)
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Re: And thus did the wizard get a boner.
"Atan maybe we should have you scouting ahead, I bet though broo are just waiting..." he lets his question trail off.
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Tarondor
Madragar
Posts: 1108
(5/5/04 3:30 pm)
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For it makes them soggy and hard to light.
Quote:
"You are more then just a fishermans son."
"The hours are long and the pay low, but being a wizard has a few benefits. The aura of mystery is one of those," says Madragar. It's hard to tell whether he is joking.
"Utama appeared to me during the fight and lent me some of his scrolls. He was more useful still, for he also walled in the combat, both physically and spiritually. You recall that greenish glow? That was the physical manifestation of a powerful incantation, the purpose of which was to keep Urukavas from fleeing into the Outer Worlds. Thus the Watcher of the West ensured that our victory was not hollow."
"It must be said that we have been lucky, if luck it was, in our friends."
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Atan
Atan Finith Ring
Posts: 792
(5/5/04 3:47 pm)
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Re: For it makes them soggy and hard to light.
"Before we entered here Ro'kura's band consisted of ten plus him, Haran and the human child Stig. If it was human and not Joru in disuise or some other form of sorcery. No Khelzhad, if my math is right we have accounted for all except a now naked Ro'kura who is probably fleeing as fast as possible. Although there may be more Duergar at the fortress of lead." Atan scratchs his head in thought and thinking better of it, moves forward, recurve in hand.
[Atan will scout 30 yards ahead but always staying in ear shot of the party.]
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