Wait, hang on.
What are you hoping to get from this?
I thought that Mina was hoping to repurpose it into something that drains high levels of necromantic energy from a small space relatively quickly, and that we were vaguely intending as a thread to try something like that.
What does "improved versions" mean in your eyes, because I think that using the engine to provide motive force is... asking for trouble that we don't need, and isn't worth getting.
If we need an engine of some sort there's probably something that you dump spell slots into that we can buy with a bit of effort, without needing to use socially unacceptable fuel sources.
Also, using it to provide motive force would prevent it being used for ecological clean-up, which is what I thought was the plan.
Sorry, that's what I thought we were planning for it, to be a siphon for large amounts of free floating necromantic energy. Wasn't even thinking about using it as an actual engine at this point.
Sorry, that's what I thought we were planning for it, to be a siphon for large amounts of free floating necromantic energy. Wasn't even thinking about using it as an actual engine at this point.
Probably should, cuz' I didn't get that read at all.
Honestly, it might be better to expand that explanation of our intentions from "siphon for large amounts of free floating necromantic energy" to -> "siphon for large amounts of free floating necromantic energy and do something with it or transform it into something that won't cause problems. Hopefully it'll be useful to people Ustalav"?
Also, the "might want to move out" comes from a place of wanting him to be safe, but to me it does appear a little insulting. He has survived centuries in broader drow culture. He can probably look after himself.
Also, he needs good access to markers, and anonymity in crowds as opposed to being figure of gossip in a more rural area.
As far as I understand, "necromantic energy" is "negative energy", which is not synonymous with "anima" the engine uses for fuel. The notes detail precautions for how to disallow contamination of the anima, because that's how you get undead and/or haunted engine.
Syphoning out anima prevents bodies from being raised as undead (who also run on anima), hence Mina's interest.
I clarified our intent for lending Saenar the engine and funding his research, specifically to continue developing it until a Wide Scale Anima Tap device can be created.
[X] Investing In The Future
-[X] Sell the ship for 12,000 gold (4,000 gold for us).
-[X] Lend Saenar the device and its creator's notes, with the understanding that he will share what he learns of it with us free of charge and that he won't subject it to destructive testing. He must also agree to source corpses legitimately, rather than killing others or paying intermediaries to do so, when he needs fuel to test the device.
--[X] Provide Saenar with the 4,000 gold we made from selling the ship to help fund his research into the workings of the device (and probably to purchase fresh corpses to fuel it), specifically to continue improving upon the design in order to create a Wide Scale Anima Tap, as it's creator proposed, a version of the device able to extract anima from corpses in a large area.
--[X] If he learns to create a W.A.S.P., we will be able to purchase one of them at cost.
--[X] If Saenar doesn't agree to these stipulations, we'll keep the device until we can find someone else to work with it.
-[X] After dealing with Saenae, move on to:
--[X] Speaking with Oka to determine if he wishes to remain in Cassomir or return with us to Augustana before leaving our employment. Either way, we're going to pay him 1,000 gold as a severance bonus.
--[X] Speaking with Leontas and Pisca about splitting up and/or selling the pirate loot.
--[X] Examine the loot taken from the Drow when we raided the barge, deciding on what to keep and what to sell.
So I think that this is the bit where we need to talk with Oka and ask him if he wants to be paid now and stay, or come teleport with us and be paid at our destination.
....And we need to go back and count up the loot that needs to be split.
Has that bee done yet? If not then I'll do so (in 35 min when my ritialin kicks in so it'll not be boring).
----
Re. Plan: I do have a tendency to overexplain, but hopefully DP will just have Mina explain that this WASP, a device built upon the principles used for an engine that uses the anima of recently dead sapients as fuel; is intended to help people, not harm them!
(i.e. that Saenar is told that we want to use this to help Ustalav, not just "siphon Anima from a large area for [unspecified reasons]")
----
Edit: Oh! and we should have Sirim buff up Linguistics (Pepper attempts Aid Another (Linguistics)) and break that code on the demon summoner spell book back from when we fought the hags. Well, ran away from the hags because they were scary.
I think we're reporting that coven when we get back to Andoran, and the spellbook is part of the evidence, so we should do that beforehand.
Edit: And if we are leveling Kori up, I uh, I really do hope to have a scene where Sirim goes about and samples a bunch of different foods and stuff while Kori just reads while in shadow form, and then Kori says "so, have you picked out what foods you're going to try tomorrow"?
[I'm not suggesting hat they do this every day, but a few times a week for a few hours in a "safe" place, and every so often while on the road.]
I've updated the plan to include notes at the end about speaking with Oka, dealing with Leontas and Pisca in regards to the pirate loot, and sorting out the loot we took from the Drow.
Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Dec 2, 2024 at 1:55 PM, finished with 24 posts and 6 votes.
[X] Investing In The Future -[X] Sell the ship for 12,000 gold (4,000 gold for us). -[X] Lend Saenar the device and its creator's notes, with the understanding that he will share what he learns of it with us free of charge and that he won't subject it to destructive testing. He must also agree to source corpses legitimately, rather than killing others or paying intermediaries to do so, when he needs fuel to test the device. --[X] Provide Saenar with the 4,000 gold we made from selling the ship to help fund his research into the workings of the device (and probably to purchase fresh corpses to fuel it), specifically to continue improving upon the design in order to create a Wide Scale Anima Tap, as it's creator proposed, a version of the device able to extract anima from corpses in a large area. --[X] If he learns to create a W.A.S.P., we will be able to purchase one of them at cost. --[X] If Saenar doesn't agree to these stipulations, we'll keep the device until we can find someone else to work with it. -[X] After dealing with Saenae, move on to: --[X] Speaking with Oka to determine if he wishes to remain in Cassomir or return with us to Augustana before leaving our employment. Either way, we're going to pay him 1,000 gold as a severance bonus. --[X] Speaking with Leontas and Pisca about splitting up and/or selling the pirate loot. --[X] Examine the loot taken from the Drow when we raided the barge, deciding on what to keep and what to sell.
There are, you note, certain advantages to being wealthy. You could, with all the gold now inscribed to your name in the ledgers of Abadar, buy land and titles in Taldor, or homestead on the plains of Carpenden, but it seems a small and narrow concern before the vastness of the world and all its secrets. Such is the engine whose breath is soul stuff... But that doesn't mean you have any interest in dragging it with you back to Andoran. Gorok's gift shield will not ward away the eye of the Eagle Knights. "We'd stand to lose it and more beside," you muse half to yourself. "But seeing as there's one here with an interest in its study already looking to make themselves a home among the more... permissive aristocracy of Taldor, why not give it to him to study and to learn from?"
"We can't just let him have it!" Mina's worries are as many as they are rational. It's one thing to trust such as Saenar not to try to hunt you down, and another to entrust into their care a work of such dangerous magic.
"Of course not, but we can ask him that he take care where he acquires his bodies," you do your best to soothe her worries. "It's not as though he was willfully cruel, simply uncaring. If he should have to follow a few simple conditions to study such a thing..."
The alchemist in question clears his throat. "Am I to understand this refers to legal possession of the bodies by the law of the land?"
That wouldn't be enough for Mina, you see it in her eyes. She too has considered the obvious loophole, masters owning the bodies of their slaves even in death.
"Sir Pisca," a thought comes to you. "Can we be count on you in this matter?"
The knight looks on with some wariness, but he gives a shallow nod to show he's listening just the same. "What manner of accounting?"
"To ensure such studies do not go against the mores of the Empire as much as its laws," Sirim interjects smooth as silk, or perhaps as smoke.
The knight considers for a moment what it is to keep such company through days and months ahead. Perhaps had his head not been so light with drink caution might have won out, but now he readily agrees and with that Mina is satisfied. She might not have the best of his sense, but other than shaking travelers down for gold on first meeting he's shown himself an honorable man.
That is perhaps less than could be said of the next man you speak to, the cook Oka whom you had hired in hopes of poisoning your once patron and had instead left you all to almost get sent off to sleep and robbed. On the other hand, the meals he conjured on the journey had made it less dull by far. He did his job fairly enough and so Gorok offers him honest pay, here or in Augustana.
"I'll stay here, it was about time for a new port, even if I did come here by land," the cook declares, setting his hands on his hips with a satisfied look at the respectable sized pile of gold. It might be merely a quarter of that you had promised Saenar in exchange for sharing his studies, but it's also paid on the spot. "Maybe a ship of my own soon enough. She'd have to be small and light, but I'll not fear the waves."
Lost 1,000 gp
"And with good reason" Sirim's thought passes silent through the air. "The Power he calls upon is reviled here as the asura ranas are through all the lands where gods hold sway. Should we warn the governor that we are leaving him as a... subversive element?" From the weight he gives those last two words you would guess he has a particular meaning in Nidal, but he does not seem inclined to argue one way or another.
[] Yes, you value your reputation with Bozbeyli
[] No, it's no concern of his what Oka worships to get clear skies
[] Write in
OOC: Not the most exciting update, but I think the characters deserve to get settled properly.
@DragonParadox, Kori shouldn't have made that Diplomacy check against Pisca. He doesn't even get his CHA bonus to Diplomacy attempts. That sort of thing should be in Sirim's wheelhouse instead, since he has the skill and won't damage anyone's relationship with us via curse.
I don't see any reason to inform anyone or Oka's questionable worship. Not our business.
[X] No, it's no concern of his what Oka worships to get clear skies
[X] Learning Scrolls
-[X] Sirim begins using one of our new Scrying scrolls to learn the spell, then Sure Casting, then Magic Aura.
-[X] Mina begins using our Secret Coffer scroll to learn the spell, then Ashen Path, then Summon Monster III.
-[X] They'll help each other with Aid Another, Investigative Mind spells, and Fortune Hexes, as necessary.
@DragonParadox, Kori shouldn't have made that Diplomacy check against Pisca. He doesn't even get his CHA bonus to Diplomacy attempts. That sort of thing should be in Sirim's wheelhouse instead, since he has the skill and won't damage anyone's relationship with us via curse.
[X] No, it's no concern of his what Oka worships to get clear skies
I mean, it might cause problems if Oka gets caught and is forced to reveal that we knew what he was doing, but you have people worshipping shitty powers all over the place, no need to single out Oka imo.
And I really don't want to throw him under the wagon.
I've updated my level up plan for Sirim to change his Spell Specialization from Shadow Enchantment to Shadow Conjuration.
It will let him cast Shadow Conjuration at 10th level. That will make it better at getting through Spell Resistance, on top of increasing range, duration, damage, etc. And it will be 12th level if cast using Wild Arcana.
Also, Sirim is gonna have a Pseudodragon assistant from now on.
He can duplicate Draconic Ally using Shadow Conjuration and it will last for 10 days per casting. It isn't much good in a fight, but Pseudodragons have some useful abilities, including telepathy, flight, Blindsense, sleep poison, and they're quite stealthy. If nothing else, it will be great as an extra pair of eyes for reconnaissance and playing lookout, and it can deliver messages for us, too.
It can even serve as a target for him to cast Marionette Possession on if he needs a physical body. He could even pretend to be a Pseudodragon Familiar. They have much better PR than Smokeshade.
But Shadow Conjurations creatures would be significantly weaker than the real deal:
A shadow creature has one-fifth the hit points of a normal creature of its kind (regardless of whether it's recognized as shadowy). It deals normal damage and has all normal abilities and weaknesses. Against a creature that recognizes it as a shadow creature, however, the shadow creature's damage is one-fifth (20%) normal, and all special abilities that do not deal lethal damage are only 20% likely to work. (Roll for each use and each affected character separately.) Furthermore, the shadow creature's AC bonuses are just one-fifth as large. A creature that succeeds on its save sees the shadow conjurations as transparent images superimposed on vague, shadowy forms. Objects automatically succeed on their Will saves against this spell.
[X] Learning Scrolls -[X] Sirim begins using one of our new Scrying scrolls to learn the spell, then Sure Casting, then Magic Aura. -[X] Mina begins using our Secret Coffer scroll to learn the spell, then Ashen Path, then Summon Monster III. -[X] They'll help each other with Aid Another, Investigative Mind spells, and Fortune Hexes, as necessary.
But Shadow Conjurations creatures would be significantly weaker than the real deal:
A shadow creature has one-fifth the hit points of a normal creature of its kind (regardless of whether it's recognized as shadowy). It deals normal damage and has all normal abilities and weaknesses. Against a creature that recognizes it as a shadow creature, however, the shadow creature's damage is one-fifth (20%) normal, and all special abilities that do not deal lethal damage are only 20% likely to work. (Roll for each use and each affected character separately.) Furthermore, the shadow creature's AC bonuses are just one-fifth as large. A creature that succeeds on its save sees the shadow conjurations as transparent images superimposed on vague, shadowy forms. Objects automatically succeed on their Will saves against this spell.
Yeah, that's a downside of the spell. The creatures it duplicates are extremely fragile.
That's one of the reasons I said the Draconic Ally wouldn't be much good in a fight. Just looking at it too hard might cause it to pop. Outside of a fight, however, it still has the full utility of an enhanced Pseudodragon.
Since it also gets the abilities from one of the various Form of the Dragon 1 spells, the Draconic Ally can be customized for different environments and situations, too. For example, giving it the abilities of a Nightmare Dragon provides it with the See in Darkness power, it would get a fast Swim speed with Gold Dragon abilities, etc.
And even though I said it wouldn't be good in a fight, there is one exception to that. It gets a 1/day Breath Weapon it can use which inflicts 6d8 damage. Sure, the targets will get an extra saving throw to disbelieve the damage, but that's still pretty nice and basically a free source of damage for us in a fight. And the damage can be customized based on Dragon type selected, if we know we'll be facing enemies vulnerable to a particular sort of energy.
The rain rolls in, cold and uncaring of the grandeur of princes, the gold and blue of the princess' standards made dull beneath heavy clouds and the voice of gilded trumpets broken up by the rumble of distant thunder. Only the seabirds seem to pay as much attention to the column of riders passing under through the Vintners Gates because they have learned that when many riders and horses pass there are sure to be scraps for the taking. And yet you are curious to catch a glimpse of royalty, these great lords that by right of kinship almost impossibly remote claim lordship over vast realms. Would she be angry that the sky had not seen fit to welcome her in light, or would she rush through the streets throwing up water into the eyes of those who had come to see her, the sooner to get under cover and warmth?
As silence falls a final time, the trumpets lowered at last, a brace of white horses so much akin they might have been born to the same mother approaches at a measured clip. The woman at the fore is garbed in rich silks of red and black that you are told are traded with distant Tian Xia or with the elves of Kyonin, trimmed with gold and the white fur of northern beasts, though you note her skirts are not so elaborate as to get in the way of footwork and her collar is lower than many you had seen about the necks of Taldor's nobility. Upon her brow a small golden crown is afixed to seven feathers of some exotic bird that in more clement weather might give her an air of defiance against convention. Here and now her her expression will have to play the part. Eutropia Stavian looks like she's about to dare Gorzeh to ruin her entrance more than he already has, and judging from the corona of many-hued protective magics that blazes around her to those with the second sight, she might be able to take a lightning bolt or two.
"Well, I'm less worried about those Shaxians," you says to no one in particular, drawing a laugh from Oka. The cook had chosen to come along with the rest of you to watch the show, as free as any other stranger in Cassomir to do so, his own odd choice of devotion unknown by all save those who would keep the secret.
"Oh aye, if those who would mount the Lion Throne didn't have hide thick enough to cast off a few bolts they'd have been long dead from all the wars they've fought. And that's not even accounting for the Ulfen..."
It's only then that you tear your eyes off the defiant beacon that is the princess and look to her guards. More men of the North, the likes of which you had seen from Augustana to Almas to here in Cassomir, wherever the seas and rivers reach and there's something more to drink than water as the saying goes. But these aren't common warriors in mail, with spear and axe of iron or shield of common wood, they are the huscarls of that have seen House Stavian weather storms far more dire than this one.
Just as you watch them so too does one of the one of the riders turn his head to look right at you, blue eyes seeming to pierce through your veneer of a mannish form.
You shake your head and look away. Good thing Saenar isn't here.
The Lord Governor had been gracious to the newest inhabitant of Cassomir, but he had made it clear that he should stay away from royalty. Leontas and his soldiery make for far more presentable company as heroes of the city to had unveiled a plot to 'poison the the lifeblood of commerce with greed'.
Bozbeyli rides up to meet the princess and formally invite her to the palace, not into the city as a non-royal high nobles might be called on, and starts to speak when thunder rends the air. Too close, too low, your senses scream a warning, though they are drowned out by the panic of the crowds shouting what might be the least likely word to hear in the middle of a crowded city.
"Giant! Giant!"
You barely catch a glimpse of a humanoid figure some ten feet tall, towering over the houses of Abbey Green, a great bow in hand as he looses arrow after arrow aimed towards the governor. One of them digs a deep shallow trench into the street where it falls while the other two pierce horse and man together in a tangle of limbs and blood. Then in the blink of an eye the colossus is gone like smoke and shadow.
??? Attacks (vs Flat Footed AC 20): 19, 35, 20 (Miss, Hit, Hit)
Bozbeyli takes 40 Damage -> Now at -2/38
"Assassin!" the princess calls out, a rapier glinting in her hand as she drives her horse forward. "Form up protect the governor!"
The guards freeze, not from fear at the sudden violence you judge, but from being commanded to pay attention to something other than their charge with an assassins on the loose.
Leontas, for his part, has no such hesitation. The lance in his hand is tipped with cold iron for all the ribbons wrapped around it in celebration.
What do you do?
[] Charge in to protect and heal the governor, that favor he owes you isn't going to be worth anything if he's dead
[] Between the guards and Leontas they should have this, head west down the street to find the assassin
[] Write in
OOC: Loot will be split after this, we've had a bit too much bookkeeping in a row I reckon.
How far away are we from the governor, @DragonParadox? Is our group recognized as part of the governor's greeting party, or are we just going to seem like random gawkers?
How far away are we from the governor, @DragonParadox? Is our group recognized as part of the governor's greeting party, or are we just going to seem like random gawkers?
You are 20 ft away, but you are not part of his party, Gorok didn't see the point of getting involved in what he saw as puffing up one's chest and rattling weapons to the empty sky.
