20001216 TwoToads

<H1> Two Toads Are Better Than One </H1>
<H2> Role Call </H2>
<TABLE>
<TR>
 <TD> Fingle </TD>
 <TD> 3rd/10th Gnome Cleric/Wizard </TD>
 <TD> Richard Jacobsen </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Grackle </TD>
 <TD> 6th/8th Half-Elf Fighter/Rogue </TD>
 <TD> Mark Whisler </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Kieran </TD>
 <TD> 8th/5th Half-Elf Cleric/Wizard </TD>
 <TD> Ray Chiang </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Prince Donner </TD>
 <TD> 6th/8rd Human Fighter/Wizard </TD>
 <TD> John Speck </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Auric </TD>
 <TD> 9th Human Druid </TD>
 <TD> Keith Farrar </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Travian </TD>
 <TD> 11th Human Paladin </TD>
 <TD> Robert Giedt </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Kill'Dar </TD>
 <TD> 10th/3rd Elf Wizard/Fighter </TD>
 <TD> Rick DiRicco </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Colin </TD>
 <TD> 13th Human Fighter </TD>
 <TD> Jim Yonemura </TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<H2> Session Summary </H2>
<H3> Planning </H3>
<P>
Assassination of Toran Shah (Donner, Travian, Hagal argue against)
</P>
<P>
Divination (Going to Fortress Reef and freeing Great Dragon)
</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
 Tread gently in Poseidon's garden
 The jaws of Sekolah await eager to
 Crush your breath, spill your blood, devour your future
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
The religious ones determine that (Destructor God takes the form
of a shark, an aquatic demon, or the father of the shark-men), or
possibly all three.
</P>
<P>
Divination (Accept Toran Shah's plan for entering underground)
</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
 Hounds are well treated until madness takes them
 The price of victory exceeds todays wounds
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
The final plan is for Kieran to begin casting Runes of Freedom of Movement
and Water Breathing on everyone, in order to allow them to scout out
the Fortress Reef.
</P>
<P>
The first day Kieran casts Freedom of Movement and Water Breathing 
on the various party members. The rest of the day is spent with
the various troops.
</P>
<UL>
<LI> Freedom of Movement
 <UL>
 <LI> Day One: Grackle, Fingle, Kill'Dar
 <LI> Day Two: Travian, Colin, Donner (Evening)
 <LI> Day Three: Auric, Kieran
 </UL>
<LI> Water Breathing
 <UL>
 <LI> Day One: Grackle, Fingle, Kill'Dar, Travian
 <LI> Day Two: Colin, Donner, Auric, Kieran
 </UL>
<LI> Invisibility
 <UL>
 <LI> Day One: Grackle
 <LI> Day Two: Kieran
 </UL>
<LI> See Invisibility
 <UL>
 <LI> Day Two: Kieran
 </UL>
</UL>
</P>
<P>
Apparently, young Philip and his gang are having discipline
problems. However, Colin discovers that cutting their alcohol
rations seems to fix their problem.
</P>
<P>
Travian goes among the troops and begins using his healing
abilities among them. He overhears troops whispering about
"Saint Travian". He also hears whispers about
"I could swear that he was mortally wounded two days
ago!"
</P>
<H3> There's a Party at Fingle's </H3>
<P>
Fingle teleports to Delvondar.
</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Ungle Mort:</B> Fingle. You're just in time for brunch.
<P>
<B>Fingle:</B> Ah, perfect.
</P>
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
Fingle's friends in Rivergold are quite happy to see him. The latest
news is that the armories have been doing very good business. THere
was a rumor that someone went to try to kill the hydra under the falls
but failed to return. There is apparently some political discussions
between Faris and Garon. These discussions are apparently about
an independent alliance over and beyond the Westmarch treaty. There
is concern by these kingdoms that the war with the orcs could spill
into their lands. There has also been a lot of business in scrolls
and potions--a lot of private adventurers have been showing up as
customers. There is one piece of news from the Plateau: the gnolls
that were harassing travelers on the Plateau have largely
disappeared--not slaughtered, not moved, etc.
</P>
<P>
Fingle donates 500 GP to his church. He holds a small party to
celebrate his return to the city. He invites his friends,
including his cousin Spargle, friend Grimble, and The Great
Garlen. Garlen sends word that he is assisting a friend and
unable to attend. He quickly spends 300 GP to arrange the
catering for the party.
</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
<B>Cousin:</B> There were a few things that you were looking for
 that I've found since I saw you last
</P>
<P>
<B>Fingle:</B> Do tell. Have a seat.
</P>
<P>
<B>Cousin:</B> I have located a source of enchanted weapons. Someone
 has ventured near Octax and has acquired the items from
 the adventuring groups who wander near Octax. It is
 unclear whether Octax wants these items back. As such,
 it would be prudent for these items to be sold to someone
 out of town.
</P>
<P>
<B>Fingle:</B> Of course.
</P>
<P>
<B>Cousin:</B> You were looking for a weapon, preferably a bastard sword,
 of the third rank in power or better. I did manage to find
 a bastard sword of the second rank. The price is a bit
 high, but I'm sure that someone of your wealth could afford
 it. (Gestures towards the buffet table)
</P>
<P>
<B>Fingle:</B> blah
</P>
<P>
<B>Cousin:</B> I've found a few other weapons as well. One group has a
 hatchet of the second rank. The next is a rather large
 item (pike) which has enchantment of at least the first
 rank. There is some question about the identification
 of the item. There are possibly additional enchantments
 on it or there may be. Amulet that will protect you from
 poisons of all kind.
</P>
<P>
<B>Cousin:</B> I've priced the pike at 2000 and the amulet at 4000. The
 bastard sword is around 8500. The hatchet is 8300.
</P>
<P>
<B>Fingle:</B>
</P>
<P>
<B>Cousin:</B> You might have better luck around Boralar or Southport.
 There are a few people who have
</P>
<P>
<B>Fingle:</B> What about healing potions?
</P>
<P>
<B>Cousin:</B> Garlen's shop sells healing potions. I have to warn
 you, the price has doubled since last year.
</P>
<P>
<B>Fingle:</B> Who is he trying to help? Perhaps I could be of assistance?
</P>
<P>
<B>Cousin:</B> I don't know. He hired a squad of ten or twelve of
 Rivergold's best and went off somewhere. He's been
 gone three days. There's nothing to worry about,
 he's been known to be gone several days hunting for
 alchemical components.
</P>
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
Grimble goes to Fingle.
</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
<B>Grimble:</B> Thanks for inviting me. I've gotten a few new stones
 since I saw you. (Tells stories of various stones)
</P>
<P>
<B>Fingle:</B> By the way, I have some news about your Sleeper Stone.
</P>
<P>
<B>Grimble:</B> (Tells all of the stories of the stone)
</P>
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
 <B>Stories of the Stone:</B> The common theme is that the stone
 is presented as a gift and the target falls asleep. It has
 never apparently failed. In one story, the stone is destroyed
 and the sleeper awakens. In the other two tales, when the stone
 was removed from the sleeper's hand, the creature awakes.
 Smooth pearly stone. If you look at it, it changes colors like
 a moonstone. It has a almost hypnotic quality to its appearance
 and apparently has a soft feel to it.
 The reward for the stone is 2000 GP.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
Along the way out, Fingle stops by the temple. They don't know about
Garlen's quest, but the adventurers bought fairly standard adventuring
equipment from the church. At Garlen's shop, Fingle finds two
potions of Cure Serious Wounds, three potions of Cure Moderate Wounds,
and five potions of Cure Light Wounds. The prices are 1500 GP, 600 GP,
and 100 GP for each potion. The only other useful items are two
Levitation potions for 300 GP each and one dusty potion of Swimming
for 150 GP.
</P>
<H3> Kill'Dar at Home </H3>
<P>
Kill'Dar teleports to Home.
</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
<B>Marta:</B> Yes?
</P>
<P>
<B>Kill'Dar:</B> Is George home?
</P>
<P>
<B>Marta:</B> Yes, but he's busy crafting an artifact. Can I help
 you?
</P>
<P>
<B>Kill'Dar:</B> I'm looking for some scroll paper.
</P>
<P>
<B>Marta:</B> It's very taxing--sometimes he forgets to eat. If
 it weren't for me, he'd keel over dead.
</P>
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
Kill'Dar considers it odd that George sends to Kennetar for
scroll paper.
</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
<B>Kill'Dar:</B> Any news?
</P>
<P>
<B>Marden:</B> Nothing new since you were last here a few days ago.
 Bellairno is still missing.
</P>
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
Kill'Dar goes to visit the mayor of Home.
</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
<B>Philip:</B> How is young Philip doing?
</P>
<P>
<B>Kill'Dar:</B> 
</P>
<P>
<B>Philip:</B> Good, it's good to know that he's building discipline.
</P>
<P>
<B>Kill'Dar:</B> 
</P>
<P>
<B>Philip:</B> How did the battle go?
</P>
<P>
<B>Kill'Dar:</B> It wasn't easy, but we did manage to capture the city.
</P>
<P>
<B>Philip:</B> Did you get a chance to talk to Father Cullaim yet?
 He had a disturbing vision about your party. From
 what he told me, it has to do with the demon.
</P>
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
When Kill'Dar arrives at the temple, he is there praying with
several acolytes.
</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
<B>Cullaim:</B> Ah, good you're here. I've been expecting you.
</P>
<P>
<B>Kill'Dar:</B> You wanted to see me?
</P>
<P>
<B>Cullaim:</B> I periodically talk to Diancecht about the demon.
 I assume that you still have the fire sword.
</P>
<P>
<B>Kill'Dar:</B> Yes.
</P>
<P>
<B>Cullaim:</B> The vision showed four elemental princes signing
 an agreement in blood. I don't know what it means,
 but they did have the other three swords. This could
 be a present vision, it could be a future vision.
</P>
<P>
 It was definitely fuzzy. It could be a metaphor for
 what has transpired. Whatever it was, I did get a
 feeling that it was relevant, impending, and soon.
</P>
<P>
<B>Cullaim:</B> In some visions I get vision of the occupants of Home
 safe and growing. In others, I get visions of your
 party and the Guardians with Home safely behind them--
 clearly indicating that your party is helping us
 defend Home.
</P>
<P>
<B>Cullaim:</B> The document they were signing was not paper, it was
 some sort of golden metal with the agreement pressed
 into it. After they all signed, there was a voice
 that said "It's done".
</P>
<P>
<B>Kill'Dar:</B> What can you tell me about the Elemental planes?
</P>
<P>
<B>Cullaim:</B> The Prime Material Plane is most closely bordered by
 the Elemental planes. The demon is kept from
 returning by holy means. Each Elemental plane has
 one Lord and four Princes.
</P>
<P>
<B>Cullaim:</B> If you have any other insights, please let me know
 as soon as possible.
</P>
<P>
<B>Kill'Dar:</B> Of course.
</P>
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
<B>Kill'Dar:</B> How goes the research.
</P>
<P>
<B>George:</B> It's getting harder each day. I'm forgetting more and
 more.
</P>
<P>
<B>Kill'Dar:</B> 
</P>
<P>
<B>George:</B> I had optimistic estimates of a month. Right now, it
 could take me as long as a year. It mostly costs in
 terms of personal energy.
</P>
<P>
<B>Kill'Dar:</B> 
</P>
<P>
<B>George:</B> If ethical spellcasters could travel protected by
 creatures such as this, they could travel the Plateau
 safely.
</P>
<P>
<B>George:</B> I have the means to scribe scrolls, but I do not keep
 a personal stash of prepared scrolls.
</P>
<P>
<B>Kill'Dar:</B> Why do you purchase your merchandise from Kennetar?
</P>
<P>
<B>George:</B> I get exceptionally good prices from one of the local
 merchants. I believe that overuse of ones power constitutes
 abuse of one's power. Thus, I choose to do most things by
 normal means.
</P>
<P>
 Thus, at the end of the day, when I send do normal
 things by normal means, I believe people believe me
 as a normal person. It also teaches me respect for my
 powers. Using them sparingly reminds me the responsibility
 of them.
</P>
<P>
<B>Kill'Dar:</B> I would appreciate getting any scroll creation supplies
 that you could spare.
</P>
<P>
<B>George:</B> If you reimburse me, that would be adequate.
</P>
<P>
<B>Kill'Dar:</B> If you could also tell me the name of the scrivener, I'd appreciate it.
</P>
<P>
<B>George:</B> The man you want to speak to is the scrivener, Novek.
 He runs The Silver Quill.
</P>
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
Kill'Dar buys the various components he needs from George. He
then heads back to the Inn to rest.
</P>
<H3> Back at Og-Kund </H3>
<P>
Donner summons a new familiar: a toad. He chooses to name it the
"Maw of Many Tasty Flies".
</P>
<P>
Grackle spends most of his time at Meriac's bar. Many people come
up and talk to him. The militia is growing quickly. Protection
income is way up. Meriac keeps checking with Grackle about Zylan.
Grackle replies "that's not the way we do things". The
Guild is doing quite well--he says that he should be able to
control half the town council and infiltrate most of the militia.
Korla comes in and out--apparently he's moving up in standing and
his business has been picking up as well (enforcer).
</P>
<P>
Kieran talks to Donner about the possibility of reincarnating
Ander. He concurs that it's possible. The next day Auric,
he casts Reincarnate on the body of Ander--the body slowly
forms over the hour, ending up in the form of a centaur.
</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
<B>Ander:</B> It is good to be back. Boy, do I need to take a
 whiz. Oh yeah, I'm a horse. Ahhh...
</P>
<P>
<B>Ander:</B> Well, this is all a bit much for me right now.
 I think I'm going to go to the elven wood and
 find out a little bit about how to live.
</P>
<P>
<B>Donner:</B> Of course.
</P>
<P>
<B>Ander:</B> I'm grateful that you brought me back, but
 frankly, I'm a freak.
</P>
<P>
<B>Donner:</B> I want to find my friends again. I'm sure
 that I will find you again.
</P>
<P>
<B>Ander:</B> I'll need your help reapplying to sentinel school.
 (To Auric) I owe you my life--I won't forget it.
</P>
<P>
<B>Kill'Dar:</B> I can help you with a note of introduction for
 the centaurs of the elven woods.
</P>
<P>
<B>Ander:</B> Your Highness, if you could provide some
 documentation that I am who I am, I would
 appreciate it.
</P>
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<H3> The Troops Gather </H3>
<P>
On the third day, Fingle comes back from Delvondar and passes on
the news about the items and the Plateau.
</P>
<P>
Donner and his familiar and Kill'Dar practice various polymorphed
forms.
</P>
<P>
The third day, the group gathers and teleports to Fortress Reef.
</P>
<P>
Auric is taken to the carpet and casts Commune with Nature, looking
for:
</P>
<UL>
<LI> Presence of powerful unnatural creatures
 <P>
 <I>
 Deep, but not super deep. Below the sea floor here, by 30-40
 feet. Hundreds of feet long.
 </I>
 </P>
<LI> Ground or terrain
 <BR>
 Location of any buildings
 <I>
 Really large coral growth based on a large section of bedrock.
 Filled with lots of unnaturally large tunnels (dug or widened
 artificially). One large constructed tunnel entrance (seaward
 side, on the sea floor). Four large tunnels entrances 
 (coastward side, two on calm side about 30 feet down, two on
 internal, but coastal side both near the sea floor).
 Large tunnel 50-80 feet across (once larger, but filled in
 later). Lots of natural openings, which may or may not connect
 with the worked tunnels.
 </I>
</UL>
<P>
Kill'Dar flies around to each of the tunnels and uses Detect Evil
at each entrance. He detects minor evil at each of the tunnels.
</P>
<H2> Foes Fought </H2>
<P>
None
</P>
<P>
Base Experience: 
</P>