20030329 SnakeInTheGrass

<H1> Snake in the Grass </H1>
<H2> Roll Call </H2>
<TABLE>
<TR>
 <TD> Auric </TD>
 <TD> 14th (21th CL) Wemic Druid </TD>
 <TD> Keith Farrar </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Estus </TD>
 <TD> 17th Human Cleric </TD>
 <TD> Ray Chiang </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Colin </TD>
 <TD> 16th/4th Human Fighter/Hospitaler </TD>
 <TD> Jim Yonemura </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Prince Donner </TD>
 <TD> 6th/13th/2nd Human Fighter/Wizard/Fatespinner </TD>
 <TD> John Speck </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Borgar </TD>
 <TD> 10th/6th Dwarf Cleric/Warpriest </TD>
 <TD> Matt Miller </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Fingle </TD>
 <TD> 3rd/16th Gnome Cleric/Wizard </TD>
 <TD> Richard Jacobsen </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Kill'Dar </TD>
 <TD> 17th/3rd Elf Wizard/Fighter </TD>
 <TD> Rick DiRicco </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Grackle </TD>
 <TD> 6th/10th/4th Half-Elf Fighter/Rogue/Templar </TD>
 <TD> Mark Whisler </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Travian </TD>
 <TD> 19th Human Paladin </TD>
 <TD> Robert Giedt </TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<H2> Session Summary </H2>
Discussion about Bellairno. Fingle goes to talk to Grimble Glitterbits about some diamonds for a True Resurrection and to bring him news of the sleeper stone. He is unhappy with the news and will contact the elves about some compensation. Fingle also notes that Grimble has few friends because it is rumored that he has some cursed stones. He also tells Fingle about rumors of sentient stones in the Southlands. Fingle asks about the diamonds needed for True Resurrection and Grimble recommends his cousin. Fingle has heard of him as being straightforward and honest.
Also while in Delvondar, Donner asks about tuning forks for planar travel. Fingle talks to his cousin, and he says he can look around but promises very little. In general, such tuning forks are made from materials native from that plan. Fingle does some research in his library:
<UL>
<LI> Sigil: Very small fork. Cut out of a gemstone. Garlen identifies it as a gem with a Terran name (Chaos Diamond).
<LI> Astral: Astral Stone. Only created on astral plane by magic.
<LI> Ethereal: Flawed Pearl.
</UL>
Fingle talks to people at the temple. He donates, and he gets news about some topsiders who went down to Octax. In the meantime, Borgar goes to the bazaar to find a +4 Keen Longsword together. He finds a +2 Keen Longsword, but the price is 100K, due to the demand by the elves.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Borgar:</B> (Tells Grackle the price)
<B>Grackle:</B> Forget it. (Under his breath) F***in' dwarves.
<B>Borgar:</B> F***in' Geltenhand dwarves, is that what you meant?
</BLOCKQUOTE>
Estus casts Legend Lore on the iron flask. This flask was given to Jason, the hero of the Argo as a gift from his girlfriend the witch. There was a time when he and the crew beset upon by foul demons of the air (harpies or worse). These demons of the air were led by a being called Nightsoul. Jason opened the flask and trapped Nightsoul into it and the rest of the demons fled away. Fingle has his simulacrum identify the flask. He gets the command word for the capture of the being.
The next day, the group gets ready to leave. Estus casts True Resurrection and brings back Bellairno. He thanks Estus for bringing him back to life.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Bellairno:</B> Where am I? Can I get some clothes?
<B>Estus:</B> Sure. (Hands him a robe)
<B>Bellairno:</B> It seems like a long time, but I don't remember anything besides the cave.
<B>Fingle:</B> What's the last thing you do remember? And why did you leave your shop?
<B>Bellairno:</B> I was helping some gentleman with some things. Next thing I know, I was bound and gagged and thrown on a carpeted floor in some cave.
<B>Donner:</B> What did they do to you?
<B>Bellairno:</B> They asked a lot of questions about you. I don't remember what I told them, but it probably was anything I knew.
<B>Donner:</B> I see. Well, we did get a ransom note about you, but we couldn't tell if they were lying.
<B>Bellairno:</B> They said they sent you a ransom note about me. So, they weren't lying about that?
<B>Donner:</B> Yes. I don't recall exactly what it said.
<B>Bellairno:</B> Well, if I knew that you could do this, I would have told them to kill me sooner.
<B>Donner:</B> We sent them a response, but they never got back to us. Our guess is that they had no intention.
<B>Bellairno:</B> Do you know what happend to my shop?
<B>Fingle:</B> I think they closed it.
<B>Bellairno:</B> Damned assistant. Probably walked off.
<B>Donner:</B> I understand that your thankful that we got you back, but we were able
<B>Bellairno:</B> I'd like to see if there's anything still there. Did you ever find the guys who did it?
<B>Donner:</B> We're not exactly sure. We think it was Zachary but we have no concrete evidence. We dealt with most of them, but Zachary remains at large. I'm not sure that he won't try that ploy again.
<B>Bellairno:</B> Well, the Protectorate will do something about that. If they know who he is, they can protect me.
<B>Donner:</B> You don't know anyone in the Protectorate who has connections to the ruling body. I'm looking for ways to delay them from signing with the Imperium.
<B>Bellairno:</B> I'm afraid not. But I could take a look at any new items that you might have found.
<B>Donner:</B> Sure. (Shows Iron Flask) How about this?
<B>Bellairno:</B> Iron Flask. (Shakes it) Appears to be full. I'd say the street price is about 170(K) or so.
<B>Fingle:</B> And about the thing inside?
<B>Bellairno:</B> It could be almost anything.
<B>Fingle:</B> Could it be something like a dragon?
<B>Bellairno:</B> Oh, it only works on outsiders.
<B>Bellairno:</B> A whole lot of these were made a long time ago. The Emperor had these made and were used for special holidays in the arena. That's where most of the come from. There was the one that fell into Jason's hands. Well, that one isn't Imperial. There tend to be lots of these around because the Emperor used to send agents out to capture interesting things and sometimes the interesting thing wins.
<B>Fingle:</B> Have you heard anything about intelligent gemstones from the South?
<B>Bellairno:</B> I think they lose their sentience if separated from their masters. They also don't live long in captivity.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
The party discusses how to handle the Imperium.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Donner:</B> When the Kingdom of the West starts up again. I'm pretty sure that we don't want a war between the Lower Kingdoms and the Imperium.
<B>Estus:</B> Well, I certainly don't want to start a war.
<B>Grackle:</B> I think your superiors in the Imperium might be more interested than you would be.
<B>Estus:</B> Well, it certainly wouldn't surprise me if the ruling family were interested in such conquest, political or otherwise. However, I and my immediate superior are more interested in peaceful exchanges.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
Much discussion ensues about what to do about the Imperium. Donner has questions about the value of the land of the Plateau. There had always been a cold season and a planting season. The creation of the Grey Vales changed the weather near there. During the Darkness in 635, there was some sort of climactic event in Lake Blueglass that affected the city on the lake. That cataclysm brought intense storms and the clouds never went away. Since the Lower Kingdoms was always warmer than the Plateau, they can still grow whereas the Plateau has an impractically short planting season. There are several ways for this to have happened, but no one has a full explanation.
Kill'Dar teleports the group to Kennetar. The group is given their usual interview. Bellairno tells the gate guards much more than they can handle and he is let in the city. Donner, Grackle, and Kill'Dar escort Bellairno inside Kennetar. They stop by and ask Kieran to look up a few things:
<UL>
<LI> Materials to make planar forks
<LI> Research more details about the Darkness, the weather, and the City on the Lake
<LI> Keep an occasional eye on Bellairno
</UL>
Bellairno gets to his shop and it's boarded up. He goes inside his shop and the entire place is empty. Interestingly, the place looks like it had been broken into from the back and cleaned out not neatly. The guards believe that there has been a theft (recently). The place has been pretty thoroughly looted, but the lab was not looted extensively. It looks as though all the magic items were taken. Bellairno begins cleaning up the shop, with the help of some local boys. The citizenry begin visiting Bellairno as word spreads of his return. He begins telling stories of how Donner and Estus returned him after his kidnapping and murder.
They swap the Heavy Flaming Crossbow for the 10K ruby from Ansrak. Ansrak claims to know nothing about raiding the shop, but he will find out very quickly. Grackle asks Ansrak to keep an eye on Bellairno. Ansrak suggests that the Iron Witch is the person to talk to. She used to be on the ins with the old guildmaster. She is no longer in charge of the acquisition side of things, but she is still one of the bigger fences for magical goods. She is married to Gordo the Warehouser. But he has no idea what goes on in his warehouse. Ansrak promised to send a message when he finds out what he can.
Fingle teleports the group to Lake Blueglass and they meet with Karolinth. About 20 minutes go by and a wave of water comes to shore and her head rises above the water.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Fingle:</B> Hello.
<B>Karolinth:</B> So soon you're back?
<B>Fingle:</B> Yes.
<B>Karolinth:</B> Yes, did you hear from Golkundra?
<B>Fingle:</B> Yes. We freed him.
<B>Karolinth:</B> Yes, I heard. That is a grand thing. I'm very pleased. Someday I will make the trip to see him. So, what brings you to the lake today?
<B>Fingle:</B> To say hello, and talk.
<B>Karolinth:</B> Tell me tales. What is going on in the dry lands?
<B>Fingle:</B> Movement of great beings. And stories of great deeds.
<B>Karolinth:</B> Indeed?
<B>Fingle:</B> (Tells of the tasks the party has done since their last meeting)
<B>Karolinth:</B> Truly astounding things have happened. Something happened upstream. The waters smell different now.
<B>Fingle:</B> There was a hydra.
<B>Karolinth:</B> The hydra is gone now?
<B>Fingle:</B> Oh yes.
<B>Karolinth:</B> Well, with the hydra gone, the waters would smell different. There was something different about that one. Did it in fact have mountains and mountains of treasure as the dwarves believe?
<B>Fingle:</B> Well, maybe not mountains, but it had what we were looking for. There certainly wasn't as much gold as the dwarves believed.
<B>Karolinth:</B> Well, the dwarves believe lots of things as long as there is treasure involved. They've even come after me once or twice.
<B>Fingle:</B> Really?
<B>Karolinth:</B> The river dwarves tried recently after they harassed the lizard folk and attempt to kill them. If they were all killed, I wouldn't be sad. They pollute my streams, and the water that flows through their cities smells terrible.
<B>Fingle:</B> Yes, I had some questions about the city on the lake and the weather on the Plateau. I was wondering if there was something about that time that you might remember.
<B>Karolinth:</B> Well, the citizens of the City on the Lake really brought it upon themselves. I was no part of it. It was a cataclysmic time. My peaceful waters were disturbed mightily. A prince of the human folk came to the city on the lake and the city at that time was ruled by a powerful warlord (who had come from the north). He had all manner of strange and foul creatures in his service (ogres and trolls). They crossed my waters in their big ships. This prince (Frederick) came to make war on the lord of the city and his foul beings. Frederick proved himself to be no better than those he fought. He forced into service one of the great princes of the realm of water.
<B>Fingle:</B> The sword?
<B>Karolinth:</B> I don't know that there was a sword. In his rage in being involved in being involved in such a petty affair, destroyed the city. I believe the storms above are what remains of his curse.
<B>Fingle:</B> Asks about prince.
<B>Karolinth:</B> He is longer here. I don't know if he returned or was banished. I only know that he was here for a brief time. It's possible that Prince Frederick returned him to the sword. I don't understand how this mortal prince had any power over the elemental prince Saq'qua.
<B>Fingle:</B> Well, whatever happened, it happened at that moment, at that time on the city on the lake. We believe that he might be responsible for the strange weather on the Plateau.
<B>Karolinth:</B> If you were to speak to Saq'qua, it may be that you could have this undone.
<B>Fingle:</B> I think he might need to be released from his prison.
<B>Karolinth:</B> There was a blade taken from this lake some time ago.
<B>Donner:</B> Was there a Trident of Fish Command?
<B>Karolinth:</B> The fish did listen to them.
<B>Donner:</B> A little while ago, we were looking for those weapons but other things have come in since then.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
Donner suggests using Limited Wish to establish an interplanar communication with Saq'qua in order to bargain with him.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Donner:</B> Greetings, I am Prince Donner.
<B>Saq'qua:</B> You call yourself a Prince.
<B>Donner:</B> Only of the mortal realms. We understand that you've been to this kingdom.
<B>Saq'qua:</B> I have been to many kingdoms.
<B>Donner:</B> I'm the prince of a realm, that wishes to deal with you in order to remove a curse upon our lands.
<B>Saq'qua:</B> What realm is it?
<B>Donner:</B> Aquataine.
<B>Saq'qua:</B> It touches a sea, a lake, and three rivers. No, two rivers.
<B>Donner:</B> Yes. I was given your name by Karolinth of Lake Blueglass.
<B>Saq'qua:</B> You call it Blueglass. Then you are of the old Kingdom of the West.
<B>Donner:</B> Yes.
<B>Saq'qua:</B> I am at war with your family.
<B>Donner:</B> I wish to put that at an end and offer you whatever you wish to end that war.
<B>Saq'qua:</B> I wish to exact my own vengeance upon the one who imprisoned me.
<B>Donner:</B> I am unclear as to the details of that. Can you tell me how you were imprisoned?
<B>Saq'qua:</B> By the order of one of your kings, a man came to me and befriended me and tricked me. His name is Tenseval Taine and I would have him in my power.
<B>Donner:</B> From what I understand, there are three other elemental Princes.
<B>Saq'qua:</B> That does not matter to me in the least.
<B>Donner:</B> He might be quite unrecognizable if we defeat him. Can we inform you then?
<B>Saq'qua:</B> I don't wish to enter into any sort of dangerous situation over this. I want him to hand him over to me, giftwrapped.
<B>Donner:</B> Well, he's a lich now. What if we were able to gift you with his phylactery?
<B>Saq'qua:</B> So, he's passed to the other world. Then, proof of his destruction will do. I have no use of him if he's beyond destruction. He is already paying in horrific ways; I would wish to only know when he is destroyed.
<B>Donner:</B> We will let you know when that happens. Hopefully it will not be long.
<B>Saq'qua:</B> That would be good.
<B>Donner:</B> Can you tell me of how you were trapped?
<B>Saq'qua:</B> I was imprisoned.
<B>Donner:</B> In a sword?
<B>Saq'qua:</B> I don't know inside what object.
<B>Donner:</B> Do you know of the other Princes?
<B>Saq'qua:</B> I was not with other princes?
<B>Donner:</B> Do you know who freed you?
<B>Saq'qua:</B> I forced my way out, but was then forced back by further trickery.
<B>Donner:</B> How is that?
<B>Saq'qua:</B> He crafted a ring. When I forced myself out, the prince invoked the power of the ring and I was trapped again.
<B>Donner:</B> Then you forced your way through?
<B>Saq'qua:</B> No I was freed.
<B>Donner:</B> By whom?
<B>Saq'qua:</B> A friend
<B>Donner:</B> Thank you for speaking with me.
<B>Saq'qua:</B> Of course.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
Donner goes to talk to Seledan.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Donner:</B> Do you know of any of the jewelry of the family of the Kingdom of the West that has ended up elsewhere?
<B>Seledan:</B> Scattered, lost, stolen. Frankly, much could have ended up in the capital.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
Fingle teleports the group to the army camp. Fingle flies the carpet up and attempts to look for the Aquitainian army. Fingle cannot see any signs of the army nearby. Fingle uses the Armillary to find the group. He heads towards the underground complex. Fingle finds the King's tent. The group comes out and promises to stay with the army.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>King:</B> Their spirit has been broken.
<B>Donner:</B> How about the rest of the fortress?
<B>King:</B> There's quite a lot of fire damage in there. It was quite well handled. There were some fleeing orcs taken by the skyknights. And the elves are sweeping through the forest.
 Lady Mianna has been quite zealous about pursuing the fleeing orcs. That's a quick overview. I think we'll have the area fully pacified and the war fully victorious by the end of the month. There's a bit more to handle, but it's over.
<B>Donner:</B> Well, we should be here the rest of today.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
Fingle uses the Armillary to find Siman Jed. He appears to be West. He uses it to find the hags, and they are pretty far south. Auric casts Commune with Nature. In the tent under belonging to the city of Cirrus, Auric detects one powerful, unnatural creature. Colin goes rushing out to the tent.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Knights:</B> Stop!
<B>Colin:</B> Uh, unnatural creature in *that* tent.
<B>Knights:</B> What do you mean unnatural?
<B>Colin:</B> Well, what a druid would consider unnatural.
<B>Auric:</B> (Arrives)
<B>Knights:</B> (To Auric) Does extraplanar count?
<B>Auric:</B> Yes.
<B>Knights:</B> She is one of our generals in charge of our cadre.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
Siman Jed appears to be within 10 miles of the army camp. Donner attempts to convince his dad to go under protection while the group goes after Siman Jed. The King agrees for a short while and agrees to eat in the tent.
The party rests and prepares the next day. They fly out the next day looking for Siman Jed and company. Fingle summons two Avoral Guardinals to use as scouts. They get within hundreds(?) of yards of Siman Jed and deploy for combat. The Avorals fly past a point and one of them disappears. It appears to have run into some kind of death effect. Fingle has the Avoral talk to one of the nearby squirrels who warns the Avoral about the dangers in the area.
<B>Round 1:</B> Auric casts Sunbeam. Colin scouts out the area. Fingle casts Haste on himself and continued tracking Siman Jed. Donner moved around. Five large metallic spiders rise out of out of the brush. The spiders spray a bunch of webs and catch the Avoral. Three spiders bite him and he disappears. Grackle moves up and hides. Estus comes into the turret. Kill'Dar flies out near the spiders and casts Haste. As he flies by, Kill'Dar is blinded, but he uses Dispel Evil to remove it.
<B>Round 2:</B> Auric delays waiting to get out of the Portable Hole. Colin pulls back to within 20 feet of the carpet. Fingle delays. Donner delays. Marta casts fly on Estus. The spiders move up and spray the entire area with webs. Fingle and Colin are caught in the webs. A bunch of people hear some voice chanting and Dispel Magic gets cast on the party. Estus delays. Fingle casts Haste and turns gaseous, moving out of the webs. Grackle waits to strike at a spider. Donner attempts to move. Borgar casts two spells. Estus casts Holy Aura and Greater Dispelling, getting one of the spiders. Kill'Dar casts Ghost Form and moves through the webs. He moves up to where he thinks Siman Jed is but doesn't spot him. Grackle turns Ethereal and moves through the webs.
<B>Round 3:</B> Colin delays. The spiders move up at attack the party, but either miss or are blunted by Protection From Evil spells. Fingle casts a Shadow Fireball and clears out all the webs and moves to the group. Estus casts a Miracle and a shaft of powerful sunlight breaks through the canopy and surrounds him. Estus follows up and casts Invisibility Purge, waiting for Donner's teleport. Grackle moves up to where he suspects Siman Jed is but stops just shy of detecting a glyph. Donner teleports the party to the Clairvoyance spot and then casts Spell Turning on himself. Donner smells something snakey--wait man around. Borgar casts Holy Sword and Righteous Might. Kill'Dar moves up near the party. Auric turns into a bird and hovers above the party.
<B>Round 4:</B> Three Succubi appear around Grackle. One attempts to charm him. Two move towards him attempting to grapple (kiss), but he successfully stabs both (AoO). Fingle casts Limited Wish (I wish my friends and I knew exactly where Siman Jed was--the twelve hours of night by the shores of the river). Apparently, Siman Jed plane shifted out. Fingle knows that its part of the pantheon of the Southlands (Egyptian and Babylon). Estus delays. Grackle kills two of the Succubi. Borgar delays. Kill'Dar moves close to the group and casts Fireball on the spiders. The rest of the group flies up away from the group.
<B>Round 5:</B> Grackle kills the last Succubi.
The group flies back to the army area.
<H2> Foes Fought </H2>
Siman Jed<BRi />6 Summoned Babboliths (Demons)<BR />3 Succubi