[] The Girl in the Mirror
(While exploring the school, Dorian and his friends discover a magic mirror.)
[] The Enemy Within
(While exploring the school, Dorian and his friends discover that the school is much less safe than it might at first seem.)
[] The Gods of Little Pebbles
(At the weekend, Dorian and his friends set out to deliver the kobolds back to their homes.)Just did this one.
[] Grand Ballroom Evening
(For one night only, Opernus Prentigold opens up part of the school to a selection of rich aristocrats, political figures, and successful alumni. Most of the student body have been told to make themselves scarce for the night, but Green Flame has to be there to look decorative, so she's suggested that Cadre 1F could act as waiting staff, serving drinks and snacks. It's a chance for you to earn a small amount of money and learn some political stuff.)
[] Midterm Exams
(It's the earliest possible opportunity for Dorian to test out of Literacy!)
[X] Just because there's little we can do now, doesn't mean there's nothing we can do in the future is what Professor Greenflame meant I think.
I will vote for [X] The Girl in the Mirror as the ballroom sounds like one big awkward moment, midterms can wait till we are more skilled, as can more danger XD
...I would personally advise patience, and preparation.
But well...I'm not really sure what/how to word that, and also not sure that's the right lesson here?
...I would personally advise patience, and preparation.
But well...I'm not really sure what/how to word that, and also not sure that's the right lesson here?
[x] Just because there's nothing we could do then doesn't mean we can't do anything now
-[x] Ask Green Flame if, now that we're out of the Elm King's territory, if we gave her a rousing speech to give the kobolds, whether she thinks she could take the Elm King
I feel like not all hope is lost yet, though I hesitate to ask this much of Green Flame
[x] Just because there's nothing we could do then doesn't mean we can't do anything now
-[x] Ask Green Flame if, now that we're out of the Elm King's territory, if we gave her a rousing speech to give the kobolds, whether she thinks she could take the Elm King
I sort of want to see if we can heal the Elm king. If we do we'd get a really awesome reward because I think it was mentioned that he's insane from the lack of elm trees.
'It seems unfair,' you say. 'We went to a great deal of trouble to return the kobolds to their home, but by the time we got there, their home had already been conquered by the cruel tyrant they'd been fighting against. I was hoping that their story would have a happy ending, but…'
'The world is cruel and filled with injustice,' says Green Flame, very matter-of-factly. 'What are you going to do about it?'
'I'm not sure there is anything we can do,' says Venta, miserably. 'We're first-year students. It's not like we can change the world.'
In the privacy of your own mind, you imagine what you will be able to do when you become a powerful wizard in your own right. Eventually, you will be strong enough, skilled enough, and with puissant magic enough that you will be able to surmount all obstacles in your way. When you have reached your full strength, you will be unstoppable. One way or another, you will etch your will upon the world. And then you will never again have to bow to monsters such as the Elm King, or stand idly by while injustice is being done. Someday.
Green Flame looks rather unsure of herself. She purses her lips, blinks a few times, grimaces, and finally says, 'I… hope that by the time you leave school, you will be able to do something about it. And that, by then, you will still care enough to want to do something about it.'
'If you didn't have to look after us, would you have been able to defeat the Elm King?' you ask her.
She adopts a more normal expression as she considers how she will answer your question. 'It depends,' she says, after a lengthy pause. 'If we were only fighting in hand-to-hand combat, or blasting each other with magic I think that I would have a good chance of beating him. However, in my experience, fairies are especially difficult opponents because they tend to have so many esoteric abilities which are difficult to defend against. For example, I could not win if he were to transform me into a toad, teleport me halfway across the world, or trap me in another dimension for a hundred years.'
'He can do that?' you ask, aghast.
'Maybe. Maybe not. I have no way of knowing,' says Green Flame. 'Excuse me for a moment.'
She strides on ahead, calling out to Philander, 'Don't go off on your own. Although we are no longer in the Elm King's territory, these lands are not safe. I would prefer it if you did not get killed by bandits or wild beasts.'
'What do you mean you "would prefer it"?' he fires back.
'Ah… it would be bad if you were killed,' she says, looking bewildered. 'Wouldn't it?'
'Do you really care?' he asks. 'Or is this just a role you are forced to play?'
Seeing that Green Flame looks increasingly distressed, you stop Philander before he can go any further, saying to him, 'That's enough. I know you're upset, but there's no need to take it out on Green Flame. She doesn't always know the right things to say, but she does her best, all right? You know that, don't you?'
Phil looks abashed. 'Sorry,' he murmurs.
'I'm not the one you need to say sorry to,' you say.
He sighs. 'I'm sorry, Green Flame.'
'That's all right, Philander,' she replies. 'I know that the events of today have been unsatisfying for you.' She glances around at you and the others. 'For all of you.'
'This may not be the team any of us would have chosen,' you say, looking from Green Flame to Philander to Venta and Isolia. 'But we are a team, like it or not. We need to work together because what we can achieve when we're together is much greater than when we're apart. And we'll go on getting better and become more capable. But not if we start fighting among ourselves.'
Green Flame gives a nod. 'Well said, Dorian.'
'In future, we should think about scouting ahead or getting better information before we head into unknown territory,' says Venta. 'We could have avoided having to deal with the Elm King if we'd known in advance that he'd taken over the kobolds' hill.'
'It's a pity Mr. Ophidiens didn't tell us that,' you mutter. 'But I suspect he didn't know.'
Having exhausted your supply of conversation, for the time being at least, you continue along the path back towards the city of Tyrepheum. Along the way, you stop and eat the food you brought with you on this journey. Waste not, want not, and so on.
That's the end of this particular storyline. I'm going to give Dorian 5xp towards Willpower and 5xp towards Durability as your reward for finishing this.
The next storyline will be 'The Girl in the Mirror'. Look forward to that!
I don't like failing to win at the end of a quest, but it's oddly satisfying to feel like the chance of victory didn't materialize because of the in character reasons of them being kids.
'I… hope that by the time you leave school, you will be able to do something about it. And that, by then, you will still care enough to want to do something about it.'
'If you didn't have to look after us, would you have been able to defeat the Elm King?' you ask her.
She adopts a more normal expression as she considers how she will answer your question. 'It depends,' she says, after a lengthy pause. 'If we were only fighting in hand-to-hand combat, or blasting each other with magic I think that I would have a good chance of beating him. However, in my experience, fairies are especially difficult opponents because they tend have so many esoteric abilities which are difficult to defend against. For example, I could not win if he were to transform me into a toad, teleport me halfway across the world, or trap me in another dimension for a hundred years.'
Green Flame looks rather unsure of herself. She purses her lips, blinks a few times, grimaces, and finally says, 'I… hope that by the time you leave school, you will be able to do something about it. And that, by then, you will still care enough to want to do something about it.'
'In future, we should think about scouting ahead or getting better information before we head into unknown territory,' says Venta. 'We could have avoided having to deal with the Elm King if we'd known in advance that he'd taken over the kobolds' hill.'
Yeah, scouting would be appropriate in the future, good call Venta. Another arrow of solid, by-the-numbers planning in the quiver for Captain Sensible!
I am extremely tired right now because of work and my various other commitments. I know that if I were to start the next story arc now, I would struggle to update it once a week. Therefore, I'm going to take a break and come back to this in the new year.
Good luck to you all. Let's hope the next year will be better than this one, eh?
'If you didn't have to look after us, would you have been able to defeat the Elm King?' you ask her.
She adopts a more normal expression as she considers how she will answer your question. 'It depends,' she says, after a lengthy pause. 'If we were only fighting in hand-to-hand combat, or blasting each other with magic I think that I would have a good chance of beating him. However, in my experience, fairies are especially difficult opponents because they tend have so many esoteric abilities which are difficult to defend against. For example, I could not win if he were to transform me into a toad, teleport me halfway across the world, or trap me in another dimension for a hundred years.'
You know, I was thinking a little more about this - how much spell resistance does Green Flame have? I can't imagine it's just a little, because magical subversion has been the key way to capture powerful creatures since time immemorial, and elves are crafted by very powerful beings. I wonder... how much of a risk would she really be under, for being transformed or shunted elsewhere?
I'd guess spell resistance is a combination of factors. There doesn't seem to be a "resist magical change" effect in setting. The more of one type of magic, the greater the resistance to its opposite. That kind of thing.
Also, since casting isn't instant, perhaps there's a large measure of spell disruption, via brief interference with a more complex forming spell.
Anyway, that's just my guesses, but it's an interesting question.
You know, I was thinking a little more about this - how much spell resistance does Green Flame have? I can't imagine it's just a little, because magical subversion has been the key way to capture powerful creatures since time immemorial, and elves are crafted by very powerful beings. I wonder... how much of a risk would she really be under, for being transformed or shunted elsewhere?
I'd guess spell resistance is a combination of factors. There doesn't seem to be a "resist magical change" effect in setting. The more of one type of magic, the greater the resistance to its opposite. That kind of thing.
Also, since casting isn't instant, perhaps there's a large measure of spell disruption, via brief interference with a more complex forming spell.
Anyway, that's just my guesses, but it's an interesting question.
It depends on a number of factors:
1. Green Flame doesn't know how strong the Elm King is, but it's entirely possible that he's strong enough to overcome her spell resistance.
2. There are strange and esoteric types of magic which might be able to completely bypass her spell resistance. Powerful as they were, the Elder Gods couldn't plan for every possible angle of attack.
3. For many years, Green Flame has been a slave of humans who have purposely lowered her spell resistance so that she is less able to resist the things they do to her.
Thank you for your comments, by the way. I'm pleased to see that there are still some people who are interested in this.
It depends on a number of factors:
1. Green Flame doesn't know how strong the Elm King is, but it's entirely possible that he's strong enough to overcome her spell resistance.
2. There are strange and esoteric types of magic which might be able to completely bypass her spell resistance. Powerful as they were, the Elder Gods couldn't plan for every possible angle of attack.
3. For many years, Green Flame has been a slave of humans who have purposely lowered her spell resistance so that she is less able to resist the things they do to her.
Thank you for your comments, by the way. I'm pleased to see that there are still some people who are interested in this.
It depends on a number of factors:
1. Green Flame doesn't know how strong the Elm King is, but it's entirely possible that he's strong enough to overcome her spell resistance.
2. There are strange and esoteric types of magic which might be able to completely bypass her spell resistance. Powerful as they were, the Elder Gods couldn't plan for every possible angle of attack.
Makes sense, and that's interesting that Spell Resistance isn't a blanket effect but rather a patchwork of resistances to specific magics. That makes things both harder and easier.
3. For many years, Green Flame has been a slave of humans who have purposely lowered her spell resistance so that she is less able to resist the things they do to her.
Tbh ever since you announced the hiatus until the new year, I have been checking here anyways, in some kind of vain hope that things would magically be there when you said they wouldn't. But it's the new year now! 2021! I figured, if nobody was talking about anything, I should take matters into my own hands.
Anyways anybody know how to do a poll on here I wanna start a best girl flamewar
No idea, and I'm pretty sure you mean a greenflame war, as even her versus everybody else isn't much of a fight. Either in terms of an actual fight or flamewar
No idea, and I'm pretty sure you mean a greenflame war, as even her versus everybody else isn't much of a fight. Either in terms of an actual fight or flamewar
