(I will pick F, and I want Cassandra to pick the other letter)

Cassandra was interested in either B or G, but would be open to discussion about other options

In reply to Cassandra Everquill (msg # 12):

Those both sound fine, I am a little more B then G but a haunted house so cool.

In reply to Cassandra Everquill (msg # 12):

We can certainly gather more information about all 3

(Y'know what, I'm gonna guide you away from F for now... I'm not as ready for that direction as I thought I was. Gonna need to give that more thought to make it really original. Sorry about that.)

B. The Arikh Dynasty, or the Arikh Empire (historians don't agree on what it should best be called) was north of the northlands. Their power ended when some sort of magical experiment went wrong and they apparently tore open a hole to the elemental plane of ice. Mages are always wanting to get more stuff left behind... but it's really cold, so they usually don't want to go themselves. The fact that a new expedition is being talked about as far south as Rose Harbor suggests that someone thinks they have a clue about where to look for artifacts that maybe no one's looked before-- presumably somewhere that humans could go and come back from without being frozen solid.

G. The haunting at Hanging Tree has a reward offered for anyone who can either prove that there's no danger, or to get rid of whatever danger there may be. Apparently the town council of Hanging Tree has been hearing rumors about increased undead activity this year, and wants to nip any possible growing danger in the bud before anything has a chance to get out of hand.

Cassandra looked at Lil and spoke quietly
"You know, if we find out when this expedition to the north is happening, perhaps we'll have time to do both"

"You want to check out the haunting, me goddess likes to put down some undead and we might be of use there."

Cassandra chuckled wryly
"I usually like to avoid the walking dead, but i suppose it's a good cause.
 

Those interested in the northern expedition are supposed to report to the offices of the Mages' Guild in Vierna in six weeks.

That definitely suggests that there's time to investigate Hanging Tree first...

"C'mon let's see if this hanging tree job is still available.  Who knows might be someone just trying to scare people off."

Cassandra nodded, smiling

"Sounds like fun.  Let's go talk to them"

Pays for their drinks and heads out with Cassandra to find out more about the hanging tree job.

Cassandra joined Lil

(I had an idea)

On your way out, you hear a couple of people (a bard and a fighter, you think) talking about the Quayern job...


F. Quayern is seen by Sefonia as a gloomy, primitive, savage place. Their fighters are very worthy of respect, but they are a people lost in time. Mammoths, mastodons, giant sloths, giant armadillos, and woolly rhinos are plentiful... So are sabertooths, dire wolves, dire hyenas, and cave bears. Tribes of barbarians roam the land, following the beasts they hunt for food. Cavemen still live in caves, killing any beasts that happen by. Deep in the forests are a smaller people, stealthy and elusive. Where the forests meet the plains are giant ape-men, the last few tribes of their kind... And in walled cities are those strangely changed by magic, with strange magical tools that they use to make (and summon) bizarre things... What could any of these bizarre peoples want from the civilized peoples of Sefonia...?

Cassandra pulled Lil aside and spoke quietly
"Hopefully it'll have to do with those walled weirdos and not the cavemen "

"What, oh. Well, I will have to see what that place has to offer but to be honest it sounds a bit too primitive for my taste. Though some bit o those stories is interesting I will admit."

After haggling for them to get some horses Lil makes sure to get them some hard tack to fill their saddle bags and sets off for Hanging Tree.

"I know we could have rented passage on a boat, but I hate relying on another for a way out and it is a long walk back. You think we need anything for this Cass, before we leave town ?"

As they prepare for they journey, Cassandra hired through her notes and books about how to protect themselves from the dead

OOC:
14:26, Today: Cassandra Everquill rolled 100 using 1d100 with rolls of 100.  Mage magical advice .

14:26, Today: Cassandra Everquill rolled 8 using 1d100 with rolls of 8.  Priest Ghost defense advice .

Yikes!!  I'm not sure what will happen now

(1. You rolled Priest first, so: increase your current Priest stat by 10 points, please.

2. Next, knock your Mage stat down 10!)

Cassandra easily finds lots of good advice about divine protection from the dead (well, the undead, particularly).

When she starts looking at magic-based approaches to the problem, though, it just makes her head hurt. So much advice, and so much of it conflicting! So much to remember, and she's not sure any of it will be useful!

(Sternza province is just not dangerous enough that it makes sense that a magical person or being is gonna jump out at you while you ride your horses down the coast!

--Cassandra, note on your character sheet: You have a one-time bonus: if and when you try to Turn Undead, roll Priest, and then subtract an extra 10 from the result of the roll.

--However, I owe Cassandra (personally) some trouble! Don't be surprised (nor mad) when trouble pops up and comes at ya soon!

However-ever, like I said, it's just not plausible that anything's gonna jump you on the way to Hanging Tree.

So, shall I move y'all there, or do we need to do more preparation before leaving?)

Im stealing holy water out of some basin ^_^

Sneaking into one of the local churches and absconding with some holy water.




13:42, Today: Lethal Lil rolled 36 using 1d100 with rolls of 36.  Rogue.

Lil gets some holy water from the local temple of Mother Nature. Lil is much more likely to be able to put it to better use (and sooner) than will the temple's clerics... and besides, she left plenty... and besides, they can always just bless some more for themselves, can't they? Sure they can!

"Alright, you set Cassandra ?" has a winning smile.

Cassandra didn't consider herself a priestess, like Lil did, instead looking at religious magic as just another form of mystical study.   So while she might more closely identify with the nature goddess or the elemental spirits theologically, it was easier for her to poke around the religious teachings of all the gods, even the more unsavory ones, to get hints about fighting possible undead.
It was actually in the small temple/ games hall of Ronsi, goddess of children and games, that she met a giggly priestess who, after teaching the friendly woman a new card game, gave Cassandra a specially made and blessed safe covered holy symbol, which, when set aflame, would give a boost to religious rituals to ward off ghosts.
Cassandra thanked the priestess, who was eager to teach the card game to her fellow clergy, and continued her research.
Her search through the sparse arcane resources in the town, usually her specialty, were less helpful.   Dozens of contradictory, or even laughably wrong, theories and words of advice made her wary of trusting anyone.   She took a few trinkets and geejaws, but, honestly, wasn't entirely positive it would actually help, and wasn't entirely sure it all the various things wouldn't make things worse.
Still, she was to much of a packrat to leave anything behind.
With some trepidation, but at least a plan, she rejoined her pirate friend.


 OOC:   I totally understand that ruling and i don't disagree with you.    i had a burnable holy symbol to represent the one time bonus, if that's okay and if you'd like you can rule that one out more of the "good luck charms" that the arcane sages recommended might have a negative effect, like actually attracting evil or making Cassandra smell delicious to the dead, or something.   

"I'm a ready a I'm going to be.   Perhaps too ready, but we'll figure it out "

Lil knew her academic friend was off anything, prone to overpreparing, whereas the pirate priestess was more of the impulsive type
Mounting her horse, she joined Lil in heading out of town

(Mokay! As long as you actually try to use one of them (when some need arises) sooner than later, that'll be fine with me...)




(Off we go! I started a new thread...)
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:38, Sun 07 May 2023.