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Post by Dead Greyhawk on Aug 28, 2006 7:02:47 GMT -5
.The city of Longspear has seen better days. While the city is somewhat intact, the spirit of the city is somewhat broken. Only the apparently indomitable will and irrascible character of Sir Highstrider, the Governor, keeps the populace in line and fighting. Sir Highstrider is notably impressed by your destruction of the garguantuan creature and capture of a prisoner. As such, effectively in exchange for your prisoner, he offers to incorporate you into his circle of advisors. He also points out that he has ways of making people talk, ways that you probably lack. As I understand things, you all want to: 1. Train Hugh 2. Train Adrienne 3. Train Jasper 4. Train Pfiffwin 5. Locate and buy some pearls 6. Write some spellbooks 7. Identify some items 8. Get the alchemist to identify some potions 9. Question your prisoner 10. Train Oaklock 11. Train Jasper in Heavy Crossbow and Javelin 12. Take stock 13. Send Cedrus to the Knot for Holy Water 14. Have Cedrus write scrolls 15. Make some potions with the alchemist What else should I add to this list?
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Post by Mr. Trommer on Aug 28, 2006 7:47:36 GMT -5
I vaguely remember that on some document we found it implicated Imaraell the Merchant as part of this evil network. Did that document actually name him? I was thinking that we might want to try and see what he is up to and if we could expose him all the better.
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Post by Ginger on Aug 28, 2006 7:58:55 GMT -5
A bunch of people need to adjust weapon proficiencies. Jasper needs to pick up heavy crossbow and javelin. We've got a +1 Halberd that no one uses. Anyone who doesn't have anything better to use might want it.
Additionally, we might want to take stock of our excess weapons and armor. As we traded a scimitar to the gnomes for a shield, we might want to trade something here.
Oaklock also needs training.
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Post by Dell on Aug 28, 2006 8:44:21 GMT -5
We'd like to write some scrolls and buy some new spells. Dell wants some druid scrolls to use. Perhaps Cedrus can head back to the Knot, write some scrolls of his own, and pick up some druid scrolls for Dell.
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Post by Ginger on Aug 28, 2006 9:10:07 GMT -5
If we part with the prisoner, we'd like to get his posessions. They're likely evilly enchanted, and since Cedrus is probably the most powerful priest left in town, he should be the one to handle the evil stuff. Perhaps Adrienne could cast detect magic before we hand him over, just to check him out. Also, is Sir Highstrider aware that it's possible the captive is a demon and not a human?
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Post by Dell on Aug 28, 2006 10:36:35 GMT -5
Someone should be helping the alchemist make magic potions - I'm sure that the local lord would be glad to have a potion of giant strength available. If we train Oaklock, that means Oaklock and Winthrop can't write scrolls or make potions - so the only one able to do that would be Dell.
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Post by Ginger on Aug 28, 2006 11:06:24 GMT -5
Someone should be helping the alchemist make magic potions - I'm sure that the local lord would be glad to have a potion of giant strength available. Yes, I'd love to have one of those available.
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Post by Ginger on Aug 28, 2006 11:30:57 GMT -5
What's the war situation like? I'm all fine with us spending a month getting trained in Longspear, writing scrolls and making potions, but the enemies outside might dictate otherwise. I guess it depends on what the captive says.
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Post by Mr. Trommer on Aug 28, 2006 11:44:13 GMT -5
Also need to see if it is possible to get some Holy Water.
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Post by Dell on Aug 28, 2006 12:24:54 GMT -5
Also need to see if it is possible to get some Holy Water. The equipment that is required to make holy water was recently crushed by a giant demon... thing.
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Post by Ginger on Aug 28, 2006 13:16:34 GMT -5
It's odd that the giants and orcs would clear out the temple district before the undead arrived given that our clerics seemed to be so ineffective against the zombies.
As tactfully as possible, we should ask if we can disinter the bodies of the high priests who died in the fighting so we can consult with them. Maybe they'll have some insight, especially the priests of Pelor.
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Post by Dell on Aug 28, 2006 13:44:56 GMT -5
It's odd that the giants and orcs would clear out the temple district before the undead arrived given that our clerics seemed to be so ineffective against the zombies. It's probable that the orcs (dull, superstitious brutes that they are) are afraid of the zombies. Either that, or they didn't want to be stepped on by a 40 foot demon. It's hard to say.
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Post by Mr. Trommer on Aug 28, 2006 13:45:25 GMT -5
What are the odds that the main evil priest location is the same Nerullite temple we bashed in the hills just under new management? That altar is probably still in use under the new management.
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Post by Ginger on Aug 28, 2006 13:54:25 GMT -5
It's odd that the giants and orcs would clear out the temple district before the undead arrived given that our clerics seemed to be so ineffective against the zombies. It's probable that the orcs (dull, superstitious brutes that they are) are afraid of the zombies. Either that, or they didn't want to be stepped on by a 40 foot demon. It's hard to say. It seems somewhat clear that the giants and orcs strategically decided to squash the temple district first, and didn't really push into the rest of the city. That would make a lot of sense if they have tons of zombies which the priests would turn into dust effortlessly. However, these zombies were not in the least bit troubled by our 3 high level clerics. It seems like a lot of trouble to go through for very little payoff. Why have an unstoppable titan squish already destroyed temples when he could have flattened the whole city? I can understand a jealous god and all, but that seems like a waste.
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Post by Dell on Aug 28, 2006 14:19:10 GMT -5
What are the odds that the main evil priest location is the same Nerullite temple we bashed in the hills just under new management? That altar is probably still in use under the new management. That altar was de-eviled by the Pelorites, before we led them to their deaths. It seems somewhat clear that the giants and orcs strategically decided to squash the temple district first, and didn't really push into the rest of the city. The priests and zombies only recently arrived - the giants and orcs were probably told to hold that area until they got there. And given the power of these zombies, it only stands to reason that they exist in fairly limited numbers.
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Post by Dead Greyhawk on Aug 28, 2006 22:07:49 GMT -5
I vaguely remember that on some document we found it implicated Imaraell the Merchant as part of this evil network. Did that document actually name him? I was thinking that we might want to try and see what he is up to and if we could expose him all the better. Imraell the Merchant was implicated as being part of the Monmurg smuggling operation. As far as I remember, I don't think that he was implicated in anything in Longspear. If we part with the prisoner, we'd like to get his posessions. They're likely evilly enchanted, and since Cedrus is probably the most powerful priest left in town, he should be the one to handle the evil stuff. Perhaps Adrienne could cast detect magic before we hand him over, just to check him out. Also, is Sir Highstrider aware that it's possible the captive is a demon and not a human? That depends on what you tell him. While the prisoner is frozen in time, he radiates a whole lot of magic and can't be distinguished from his items. Lord Highstrider, being, as I mentioned above, impressed by your dedication and power, is willing to let you keep any spoils you might have gained from the fight. What's the war situation like? I'm all fine with us spending a month getting trained in Longspear, writing scrolls and making potions, but the enemies outside might dictate otherwise. I guess it depends on what the captive says. Yup. You going to hand him over to the Governor? If so, what questions would you like him to be asked? It's odd that the giants and orcs would clear out the temple district before the undead arrived given that our clerics seemed to be so ineffective against the zombies. As tactfully as possible, we should ask if we can disinter the bodies of the high priests who died in the fighting so we can consult with them. Maybe they'll have some insight, especially the priests of Pelor. You track down Maximilian, who is still among the living. Word of his amputation is much overstated; his leg is merely crushed. He limps a bit, but a little bit of work from Cedrus cures his serious wound. Maximilian is able to identify both the clerics and the zombies for you. The clerics are dressed as an obscure cult of Erythnul, the Howling God, that specializes in slowly draining the life from their captives in painful rituals over days. Rather than wear the traditional red of Erythnul, they wear instead what they call the "color of clotted blood" - a matte black garb with only the eyes visible in their cowl. The zombies so created in these rituals are immensely powerful, as the tortured minds of the zombies are still very functional and the bodies are not decayed as most of the undead are. The rituals take a long time though, so the number of these zombies generally are limited. Max agrees with Dell that the zombies would be frightening to most anyone, orcs included. Max, in hearing about the undead in Sterich and the priests camping outside, poses that the defilement and destruction of the temples is especially troubling because it removes the hallowed ground within Longspear. On consecrated ground, the priests are more powerful than when traveling, able to call upon their god's minions, those that normally provide them with their prayers, in times of trouble. The destruction of those grounds would stop such supernatural aid from arriving. He posits that either many weaker undead could now be used in an assault on the city, or that supernatural aid might be invoked by the orcs, giants, and priests of the dead god. Why have an unstoppable titan squish already destroyed temples when he could have flattened the whole city? I can understand a jealous god and all, but that seems like a waste. Maybe that was the plan, but the Company interfered with it? The zombies and the big creature didn't seem to have any problems laying waste until the Company arrived.
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Post by Ginger on Aug 29, 2006 7:43:52 GMT -5
I vaguely remember that on some document we found it implicated Imaraell the Merchant as part of this evil network. Did that document actually name him? I was thinking that we might want to try and see what he is up to and if we could expose him all the better. Imraell the Merchant was implicated as being part of the Monmurg smuggling operation. As far as I remember, I don't think that he was implicated in anything in Longspear. I think he's confusing his merchants. The document he's refering to is the one which implicated the merchant we freed along with Oaklock who had a "paper thin" story and disappeared as soon as he was safe. I think that we looked at it and could pick out the names that were in Common, but we didn't magically read the map.
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Post by Ginger on Aug 29, 2006 7:47:52 GMT -5
I guess the first order of business is for the remaining clerics to inspect the temple district and see if the temples were fully defiled.
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Post by Dell on Aug 29, 2006 9:24:12 GMT -5
It only takes a 7th level cleric to consecrate the ground, so we can have Cedrus do it if it's really necessary. And I want to know everything the evil priest knows about everything related to the war, the dead god, all that stuff. If we can get him to tell us what his magic items do, that would be a nice bonus. Oh yeah, ask him about the evil necklace with the inverted ziggurat that we got off that undead a while back.
Also, Dell needs to talk to Lord Highstrider about getting his stuff out of the safety deposit box.
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Post by Ginger on Aug 29, 2006 9:38:47 GMT -5
We might as well ask him about the circlet as well.
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Post by Dell on Aug 29, 2006 10:13:09 GMT -5
We might as well ask him about the circlet as well. I'll just put it on and wear it during the interrogation, and see if he has anything to say about it. Also, is there any chance that I can get a discount on buying the land around the hall? Invading armies of undead are lousy for real estate prices, and he probably is in dire need of funds right now. Not to mention that we're big damn heroes right now.
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Post by Ginger on Aug 29, 2006 10:29:23 GMT -5
We might as well ask him about the circlet as well. I'll just put it on and wear it during the interrogation, and see if he has anything to say about it. Just make sure you have your gloves off when you do it, so I can shoot you if you turn evil. ;D
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Post by Ginger on Aug 29, 2006 11:14:34 GMT -5
What's the situation like in the immediate aftermath of our battle? Have the giants and orcs moved reoccupied the temple district or did the militia ride in to protect it? How big were the openings in the walls?
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Post by Dell on Aug 29, 2006 11:26:50 GMT -5
I'll just put it on and wear it during the interrogation, and see if he has anything to say about it. Just make sure you have your gloves off when you do it, so I can shoot you if you turn evil. ;D There's only one person in the company that's ever been turned evil, and that's you. Besides, it was my understanding that the circlet radiated neither magic nor evil - we'll have the clerics doublecheck that.
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Post by Ginger on Aug 29, 2006 12:54:52 GMT -5
There's only one person in the company that's ever been turned evil, and that's you. Besides, it was my understanding that the circlet radiated neither magic nor evil - we'll have the clerics doublecheck that. If it radiates neither magic nor evil, maybe it's been depowered, like the Nerullite amulets and map.
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Post by Dell on Aug 29, 2006 14:43:51 GMT -5
We'll find out when I try it on, won't we?
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Post by Mr. Trommer on Aug 29, 2006 15:26:47 GMT -5
That is Dell's speciality. I however prefer to bring the house down.
Do you think the evil priest will know how the black globes are created? Wouldn't eliminating them be part of Lord Raven's goal of garnering fame as he rolls back the evil into the mountains as he crosses Sterich? He may know the name of the mage that toasted Snookums, what the red demons and that giant we just fought are.
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Post by Dell on Aug 30, 2006 8:55:31 GMT -5
Well, we've been told that the globes allow those that are sufficiently powerful to penetrate them, where they are taken to a land of what I assume is eternal pain and torment. We should be powerful enough to get in there now, so let's go in and see.
I hope it doesn't take you to Ravenloft or something.
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Post by Ginger on Aug 30, 2006 10:56:27 GMT -5
Quoth the Cloud Giant: The black dome is the work of one of the banished one's minions as well. It captures the leaders of the invaded lands, first by providing an inpenetrable barrier and then second by allowing only the most powerful through it at a later date. Thus, the leaders and those who would save the leaders are taken. The dome is a portal to an unknown place, where the banished one's minion deals with those taken.
Why do we want to go there? If it's in another plane, how would we get back?
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Post by Dell on Aug 30, 2006 12:03:00 GMT -5
Why do we want to go there? If it's in another plane, how would we get back? We want to go there to foil the evil people's plan. If the bad guys want to do it, then we should want to undo it. As for planar travel, if Cedrus ever gets 5th level spells he could Plane Shift us out. Teleport Without Error also allows for interplanar travel, but we only have the one scroll.
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