Post by Dead Greyhawk on Nov 5, 2007 22:44:24 GMT -5
The leadership of the Company becomes ensconced with Castellan Calhoun and Oaklock, who appears to have some authority with the Geoffish soldiers. Some sort of plan is being made, or at least discussed, but the rest of the Company is left in the dark. Diego and Alouicious involve themselves in trying out the alcohol left in the Red Gargoyle Inn. Dell, out of current favor, mutters darkly, trying to resist the urge to pull the circlet from the magical box and don it. The horrifying experiences that Eig and Antonus withstood while traveling through Sterich have tested their bodies and spirits. Herbert agrees to aid Eig in expanding his understanding of the natural world. Being reunited with his mentor provides Antonus a perfect opportunity to increase his magical powers and scope. "Master Dell," asks Antonus one afternoon, "may I please be taught some magics that might possibly have an offensive use?"
"What?" exclaims Dell. "When I learned my magic, we didn't get offensive spells until we were journeymen! You've got to work with what you have, not with what you wish you have. Think! How can you use what you have in offense?"
"I could summon a mount up in the sky and drop it on my enemy," answers Antonus after many minutes of hard thought.
"Good, good," says Dell, whose mind is far away at the moment. "Don't do it in front of Hugh. He hates it when summoned constructs are misused. Plus, parallax is a problem. You'll have to remember to account for wind too. It was easy when Siggy was around, but now I have to estimate it on the fly."
"Master Dell," begins Antonus, "may I attempt to summon a familiar?"
Dell looks at Antonus. The man appears thinner and harder than when they first met. Perhaps the mage may be of use someday. Dell nods. "I'll transcribe the spell for you and show you what reagents to buy. Familiars are finicky creatures, and you'll need to try your hardest to keep the ritual open for as long as possible." Antonus nods in agreement, certain that he will meet the ritual's needs.
Late that night, ritual in mind and piles of incense and alluring reagents surrounding him, Antonus begins his magics. The chanting and posing lasts for hours, and Antonus, though he thought he knew what to expect, finds himself depleted and exhausted. After many hours of repetitive droning, Antonus can no longer maintain the ritual, and the magical skein that surrounds him collapses. No creature has been drawn into its web, and Antonus remains alone.
Dell is surprisingly supportive when appraised of Antonus's failure. The two of them talk of how to maintain stamina while casting such long rituals, how the preparation ahead of time is almost as important as the casting itself, and how to lure in the creatures that most closely meet the caster's personality and wishes. Rearmed with this information, Antonus spends the afternoon preparing for yet another night of ritual spellcrafting.
The second night of the ritual seems harder than the first, but goes more smoothly. The experience of the failed ritual smoothes Antonus's way, as he now knows what to expect. After a full night of casting, Antonus starts to despair when the light of the morning sun begins to peek over the horizon. Just as he begins contemplating giving up, a small brown hand and then a small boot reach over the sill of the window. A tiny brown man greets Antonus, introducing himself as Bobbwin, come to help Antonus in solving the problems of the bigguns' world.
Herbert and Eig, accompanied at all times by Jasper and Eats Salmon, who still pines for a sheep, spend similar time roaming around the outside of the keep and then eventually Oytpass itself, looking for and collecting berries and roots, leaves and buds. Herbert's training has been very different than Eig's, likely a mixture of both their different deities and their different heritages. While Herbert doesn't learn anything new from Eig, he certainly gains a different perspective to view what information he already has in his head. What Herbert does note is that Eig is remarkably coordinated, much more so than he, and quick to recover from spill or imbalance. Herbert suspects that Eig has skills not yet tested by Otto, or the others in the Company.
"What?" exclaims Dell. "When I learned my magic, we didn't get offensive spells until we were journeymen! You've got to work with what you have, not with what you wish you have. Think! How can you use what you have in offense?"
"I could summon a mount up in the sky and drop it on my enemy," answers Antonus after many minutes of hard thought.
"Good, good," says Dell, whose mind is far away at the moment. "Don't do it in front of Hugh. He hates it when summoned constructs are misused. Plus, parallax is a problem. You'll have to remember to account for wind too. It was easy when Siggy was around, but now I have to estimate it on the fly."
"Master Dell," begins Antonus, "may I attempt to summon a familiar?"
Dell looks at Antonus. The man appears thinner and harder than when they first met. Perhaps the mage may be of use someday. Dell nods. "I'll transcribe the spell for you and show you what reagents to buy. Familiars are finicky creatures, and you'll need to try your hardest to keep the ritual open for as long as possible." Antonus nods in agreement, certain that he will meet the ritual's needs.
Late that night, ritual in mind and piles of incense and alluring reagents surrounding him, Antonus begins his magics. The chanting and posing lasts for hours, and Antonus, though he thought he knew what to expect, finds himself depleted and exhausted. After many hours of repetitive droning, Antonus can no longer maintain the ritual, and the magical skein that surrounds him collapses. No creature has been drawn into its web, and Antonus remains alone.
Dell is surprisingly supportive when appraised of Antonus's failure. The two of them talk of how to maintain stamina while casting such long rituals, how the preparation ahead of time is almost as important as the casting itself, and how to lure in the creatures that most closely meet the caster's personality and wishes. Rearmed with this information, Antonus spends the afternoon preparing for yet another night of ritual spellcrafting.
The second night of the ritual seems harder than the first, but goes more smoothly. The experience of the failed ritual smoothes Antonus's way, as he now knows what to expect. After a full night of casting, Antonus starts to despair when the light of the morning sun begins to peek over the horizon. Just as he begins contemplating giving up, a small brown hand and then a small boot reach over the sill of the window. A tiny brown man greets Antonus, introducing himself as Bobbwin, come to help Antonus in solving the problems of the bigguns' world.
Herbert and Eig, accompanied at all times by Jasper and Eats Salmon, who still pines for a sheep, spend similar time roaming around the outside of the keep and then eventually Oytpass itself, looking for and collecting berries and roots, leaves and buds. Herbert's training has been very different than Eig's, likely a mixture of both their different deities and their different heritages. While Herbert doesn't learn anything new from Eig, he certainly gains a different perspective to view what information he already has in his head. What Herbert does note is that Eig is remarkably coordinated, much more so than he, and quick to recover from spill or imbalance. Herbert suspects that Eig has skills not yet tested by Otto, or the others in the Company.