Burning Witch Adventurers Session #10 (Including Maps)
Much has been happening at the Burning Witch of late. The neophyte magic-user known has Phasmo rented the attic of the tavern to establish a laboratory of sorts. A prisoners, rumored around the tavern to be a member of the Order of the Illuminated Eye, was brought the attic against bar keep Rosie's protests. Patrons heard her yell at Phasmo, "She no stay here. This tavern, no prison!"
A party of adventurers coalesced days later in the tavern common room, reflecting upon newly acquired intelligence from the prisoner before setting out to "The Complex". They were:
Here are maps from the excursion as drawn by Journeyman Crannoc's player Aleks:
A party of adventurers coalesced days later in the tavern common room, reflecting upon newly acquired intelligence from the prisoner before setting out to "The Complex". They were:
- Journeyman Crannoc (Level 1 Magic-User)
- Many-faced Gene (Level 1 Assassin)
- Phasmo (Level 1 Magic-User)
- Scamaneros (Level 1 Magic-User and fellow to Journeyman Crannoc & Phasmo in the Transcendental Congress of the Aureate Prespets)
- Kiddo (Level 0 Scrappy Youth)
- Sergio Cankersore (Level 1 Half-Elf)
- Sir Basileus (Level 1 Fighter and Knight of the Morningstar)
Loot
- A library of books and scrolls (approx. 10 boxes weighing 30 lbs. in quantity) worth 10,000gp
- A tome of knowledge--When a magic-user, elf, gnome, or half-elf of neutral alignment studies the book uninterrupted for 1 week, he gains enough XP to be midway through the next level of experience. After the book is used in this way, it vanishes and the character cannot use a similar tome again. Bad stuff happens to folks not of the proper class of alignment that tries to read it.
Experience Points
- 10,000 xp for treasure
- Undead creature defeated 1 x 10xp
Player Character Cut
- 2,502 xp ea.
Business to be resolved in Comments
- What is the party going to do with the library?
- Any downtime activities can be posted.
1. As regretful as it is for Crannoc; he needs some seed capital for spell research, carousing, and new luxurious outfits. He will seek a buyer for his share of the library.
ReplyDelete2. He will check in on his beast friend
3. If finding a buyer for his share is not a downtime action, he will try to either research the spell Detect Magic or coax a fellow of the Transcendental Congress to allow Crannoc to copy it from them.
1.) The quickest paths to selling his share of the library for Crannoc would be to either:
DeleteA. Sell a random assortment of titles to members of the Society of the Coruscating Seal.
or
B.) Pulling a selection of books covering political philosophy , biology, and architecture to sell to Merdinus.
2.) Checking on the beast is purely upkeep at this point. If you wanted to spend downtimes at some juncture, Crannoc could Cultivate a Relationship with it (the clock is just open at Acquaintance for freeing it) to eventual have it be a special retainer that would accompany the magic-user on adventures or perform other tasks.
3.) If one either of the options presented in (1.) are taken, you do not need to waste a downtime as they require no legwork to get a buyer. Shrune will easily tutor Crannoc in the spell Detect Magic if he returns to spend a week at her Manse on the edge of the marshlands.
Scamandros approaches a more knowledgeable member of the Congress for help in learning a second spell; at the same time, he asks said member for help finding a buyer (or buyers) for the books that have come into his possession, hoping to cultivate a relationship with them at the same time as selling the books. It seems uncertain how much of this can be accomplished in just one week.
ReplyDeletePhasmo says, "Now, be reasonable friends. Considerable the opportunities this library presents. It is a potential source of limitless income. Let us keep this storehouse of knowledge ourselves, and open its use to others for their edification and our mutual enrichment. Why think of the use that the 26 or so odd adventurers investigating the Complex at present--and more are drawn every day it seems--will have for the library in identifying magical objects, and serving as a font of knowledge about non-magical topics relevant to plumbing the depths of the dungeon. Even your new mentor Shrune, would likely pay top dollar to consult it, I think, Crannoc. Let us set up shop!"
ReplyDeleteIn a conciliatory further suggestion Phasmo adds, as a further enticement, "Scamaneros, Crannoc, and Sergio, if you wish, perhaps you could withdraw only a limited number of tomes, say those lewd texts having to do with harpies that you discovered in your zeal Crannoc, or those illustrated tomes about gnome fetishes that you slyly ferreted out, Sacamaneros. Even if you sold, say 500 or even," here he grimaces, "1000 gold pieces worth of texts, I will generously include you with an equal share of the profits from our library, donating my full 2500 gp share to the common endeavor."
ReplyDelete"Phasmo, I did not expect this sudden turn to practical mercantilism from you. But without even the need for reflection, I agree to this offer! My full share to a common research library. Scamandros and Sergio, what say you? Furthermore, we must decide on a place to house our tomes, in security, and a fair(ish) rate to charge."
DeleteNick... 1.) I'll take the week to study with Shrune. 2.) I'll show her Crannoc's drawing of the wizard symbol that the beast is branded with and ask if she know's the identity of the wizard. 3.) I'll show her the sketch I made of Cronk's basket-weave design and ask what she thinks. 4.) How much do I have to spend on beast upkeep?
"Your vision intrigues me, Phasmo," Scamandros says. "Truth be told, I was already considering selling just a portion of my share, and making an overture to you and your biblical scheme with the remainder of my tomes. Only allow me to hear an appraisal of a small portion--perhaps one or two hundred gold worth, for my own meager expenses you understand--and then with the rest we can become purveyors of knowledge to our mercenary fellows."
Delete"You are true scholars! I foresee a bright future for our company. Now, if I could only get my teeth to stop chattering."
DeleteRyan says:
Delete"Whaaaaat? No gold?? We are adventures, are we not!?"¿¿Sergio is willing to compromise that if he may have the tome of knowledge and a portion of the gold that will come from the usage of the library, he will agree to not sell the remainder of the library. "
Next step team: try to get my new first level spell for having leveled up to be "Detect Magic". That would help jumpstart our business. I detect the magic, and then if magical we research the item. FULL MOTHER FUCKING SERVICE. We just need a name for our new business.
DeleteCrannoc is also learning Detect Magic , for the same reason, if that changes your plans?
DeleteNick, how do you rule about Magic-User P.C.'s teaching each other spells?
It would just be the downtime for both. I don't see how a PC mentoring another is any different from having an NPC do it.
DeleteI will follow up on assorted questions, etc. tomorrow. I have purposely done next to nothing today.
I know there are elements that need to me hammered out/followed up but would one of y'all be able to write up a little blurb about the library for the campaign news post I am going to make later today?
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteOkay. So, it looks like the library is going to be happening. Aleks brought up the question of where you may safely store the collection. Without getting involved in a construction project or the purchase of property, the two most readily available options are:
ReplyDelete1.) In the attic space of the Burning Witch that Phasmo is currently renting.
2.) In one of the ruins of Orm-of-Old that is closest to town. It would be dirty and ramshackle but with some future "Invest in an Institution" downtimes, you all could make it something nicer.
Aleks, the feathered creature will require double rations every week in upkeep.
The next three posts will address your spells!
Aleks: Shrune teaches you a version of detect magic that examines at the metaphysical threads around all objects to see if they possess magical energy. The path to mastering the formula opens new perspectives in understanding of how the cosmos is ordered for Crannoc. The work is exhausting and challenging but Shrune seems impressed with the notes on a spell considered "too basic" by most neophyte magic-users to even bother stuyding. Crannoc's work reflects deeper grasping of concepts invovled. "Brilliant!" Shrune says, "I can see concepts brushing up against the deep insights represented in Phasmo's studies of Light and Darkness in this work. No wonder you are held in such equal esteem." When not involved in intense studies, life at her manse possesses a laid back quality. After evening meals, you sit listening to the sounds of marsh wildlife, smoking pipeweed, discussing weaving techniques including an examination of the outsider designs of Cronk's black vine work. When you show her the arcane symbol she does not recognize it specifically but it does remind are of something. She takes Crannoc to her library, pulling out a slim volume on the orders of magical universalists popular at the end of the previous aeon. She shows you where she sees a kinship with symbols from the book and the mark. She says, regretfully, texts from that era are hard to come by and so it is difficult discover more than legend about the grand magic-users of the era.
ReplyDeleteCullen- Scamandros finds a willing tutor in the magic-user Zarthur Mere, member of a recently arrived to Orm Midnight Marauders (more on them in these forenight's campaign news). He faints common cause with Scamandros in their discussions of cosmetology and universal order at the Burning Witch. He tutors Scamandros in the spell "Magic Missile". Pouring through his own grimoire, he finds with most compatible with Scamandros' mastering of the floating disc. Rather than making Scamandros learn his methods behind Magic Missile, he shows Scamandros how to build off of existing disciple and understandings to craft an original take of the classic. The work is very difficult, almost as hard as when Scamandros mastered his first spell. In the end, Scamandros brings new dimension to the stalwart equations of Magic Missile as he illuminates underlying parallel components that have gone unobserved in epochs. Zarthur advises Scamandros as the part to never let a fellow in the Congress try to treat you like some lowly apprentice. "Forge your own path, Scamandros and never smother under the rigidness of an imposed magical orthodoxy."
ReplyDeleteBen- Phasmo will be tutored in his spell by the Enchantress- a magic-user of who has achieved 7th Level within the ranks of the Congress and who serves the local lord known as the Rani. Normally, you get the impression that she would be oblivious to the presence of any neophyte magic-user but her attention was drawn by the library. She came to visit Phasmo and his partners in the endeavor in order to see the collection. She was impressed that you all have decided to keep it. "A lesser mind would have sold them all for quick coin that seem impressive in the moment but are inconsequential when viewed from a grander perspective. From these pages lie an enrichment that shall never cease to give". It is because of this vision that she decides to tutor Phasmo in a spell. As the work throughout the week, she is provides stern direction and demands rigorous examination of the elements of the spell and Phasmo does not disappoint. He breaks the spell down it is major concepts (but not their unpinning concepts as that level of understanding magic was lost before the current aeon was born). As she sees the elegance in his final version of the formula, she comments, "Stunning. Such beauty. It is undeniable why you share a noteworthiness equal to Journeyman Crannoc."
ReplyDelete