Hey guys, just got in touch with my little classmates...5 Students, one dropped out, one passed, two failures and one absent on medical leave.
"Why didn't you tell me that you're planning to do that?! I would've done the same!"
Gilford's band of adventurer's left the Island of Thanatos, their destination: The Vendrigroth Wastes.
Days later, Ashbury..
Refresh my mind, Virgil. Where are we supposed to find this...artifact again?
Where do we start?
According to the locals, the only way to get there is through a rusty bridge called the 'Gateway'...past that, not many people know the landmarks. We could spend weeks, months even, looking for this particular ruins.
The school of magic, Tulla, is rumored to be located somewhere in the wastes. I've never been there myself.
I see. Mages want privacy, I guess.
Vendrigoth Wastes used to be the site of a highly technological city...until Arronax happened to them. Kinda ironic there's a school of mages built on top of those...
We've wasted enough time, let's head out to this Gateway and see where we'll go from there.
LPer's Note: This is where the game sorta dropped the ball in quest leading. You'll see why.
After days of travel...
Who might you be?
Careful, boss. How did this little survive out here?
I am Weldo Grubin, the renowned halfling adventurer, at your service good sir.
A halfling adventurer?
The halfling pulled himself up to his full height and attempts to look Gilford in the eye.
What are you implying? I can adventure with the best of them!
It is just that most halflings aren't much for adventuring, is all.
Oh. Well, I actually find most halflings a bit on the boring side. No thrill in their lives, nor do they want any.
So..uh...you explored these parts? Mind telling me some of your adventures?
I always love to speak of my adventures! What can I share with you?
Well, for a start, foudn anything of interest in your travels?
Well, yes, actually. I found a very interesting device on a foray near here. *He holds up a small, peculiar item for Gilford to look at.* I found this in some old ruins out in the wastes.
Really?
Yes. The ruins were made of a metal of a sort I've never encountered before. There was all manner of junk around and inside them. I found this device while rummaging through it.
I see...
Some nasty lizards must live underneath it, because they swarmed out at the noise and I had to retreat a ways.
Sounds bad.
Well, you have to expect danger in my line of work.
LP Note: AND THAT WAS IT, FOLKS! I can't ask a single shit about this 'metallic ruins'.
Oh, like what?
I have seen all kinds of strange critters. I have seen giant spiders with the upper body of a woman! That wasn't the strangest thing, though.
What could be stranger than that?
Once I saw the darnedest thing. Deep in the desert, I saw a rock stand up and move around. I swear it looked at me, too.
Did you speak to it?
Don't be absurd. I took off my hat, bowed graciously, and left it to its own devices.
Riiiight. This guy is full of it...
Wait,...have you seen any cities in the wastes?
Well, it's pretty empty out there, and I haven't been exploring all that log. But I found this one city, way out in the wastes, surrounded by shifting sands. No roads led into or out of the place.
Hmmm. Continue.
There's no obvious entrance, so I climbed the surrounding wall. From that vantage I could see the whole place.
Anyone in there?
Yeah, there were a lot of people inside, lots of different races. Everyone was wearing robes and acting very polite and all.
Hmmm. Did you go inside?
No, I climbed back down and left. Bigger folk have their own ways, and I won't be disturbing them.
That...could be Tulla, the city of mages.
Waldo, please show me where it is on my map..
I don't know...perhaps if you did something for me, first....
Bah! You're leading us on, halfling! Forget this..
Relax, Seb, I got this. I'm beginning to wonder if you actually know where the city is.
Of course I know where it is!
Then show me. There's no harm in that.
Fine! Here. Down here! *Stabs the map with his finger.*
Thanks, Weldo...I'd invite you...but I think our travels would be a bit much for a halfling...
Pfft. Get out already, you ungrateful folks!
Tsk, spared you from the Void, we did...let's go.
The party stepped onto the rusty bridge....
Unbelievable. I guess what they said about Vendrigoth is true...
Yeah, wooden bridges would've been destroyed by now...but this iron bridge is still steady as ever...
Let's head over to Tulla...
Well, assuming the directions are correct...
Gee, what are the chances? C'mon.
LP Note: Yeah, that's the only way to get there. I think. Not sure if wandering around in the wastelands aimlessly will trigger the point spawning in the map....but man, just a halfling to lead you to Tulla? I smell end game rushed development incoming!
After many days of travel...
Hi, what is this place?
Ah, it is you. Jorian told us to be expecting you. You may enter.
Thank you. But who is Jorian? Is this place Tulla?
Jorian the diviner. He is inside, waiting for you...and yes, this place is Tulla, the city of mages. To enter, just walk through the pillar.
For real? I've seen demons and fireballs...but a teleportation...
Scared? C'mon!
Zounds!
Well. That's...interesting.
So this is where the other race's mages gather...or are they simply hiding in fear of technology?
Or..perhaps they simply want to keep their secrets away from prying eyes...anyway, any visions of this place?
Mmm. Very well.
Cryptic. Let's meet this Diviner...