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Let's bathe in the Pool of Radiance - 14 - Kobold Massacre

MMXI

Arcane
Joined
Apr 28, 2011
Messages
2,196
What's the level cap for (human) clerics? I vaguely remember it being 6. If so, can you dual Godfrey to a fighter once he hits level 6? The level cap for a fighter should be 8 (again, if I remember correctly) so I should regain the cleric class.

Oh wait, Pool of Radiance has no dual classing, right? Carry on then!

MORE!
 

korenzel

Educated
Joined
May 18, 2010
Messages
278
I haven't decided whether I'll go through the entire series yet. If I do, I'll probably offer each codexer currently in the party a chance to carry on his/her character's adventures.

I'm afraid there is no dual classing in Pool of Radiance. It's just as good if you ask me, dual classing is a very imbalanced ability. The level cap is six for magic users and clerics, a little higher for fighters and thieves.

-----------------------------------------



UPDATE 11 - (Un)Death

gwSLQ.png


As the party passes before the city hall, a new commission is discovered.

Adventurers Journal said:
Proclamation CLIV

Be it known that the council has
proclaimed a generous bounty for each
undead killed. Be it also known that in
addition to said bounty, the council is
willing to provide a special enchanted
item, useful in the destruction of undead,
to any group of adventurers which
accepts the commission to cleanse
Valhigen Graveyard. Apply to the city
clerk for said commission.

Hey ! We're getting to it, no need to recruit another band of adventurers !

xqWRm.png


As soon as the party enters the graveyard, the taint of evil is felt everywhere.

leUDM.png


There's a lot of graves, and probably many undead.
Godfrey's level five Turn Undead will be most useful, he can rebuke anything but vampires.

7H8SX.png


Heading south, a large band of skeletons guard a small building.
This requires investigation.

JTWCV.png


The skeletons are dealt with easily, but the tower sounds dangerous in itself.

xXV9c.png


Indeed, as soon as the party steps inside, the air fills with noxious fumes.
But it would take more than that to stop our heroes
They manage to hold their breaths and get to the other side without suffering any damage.

bPhlu.png


They stumble on a creature, apparently responsible for the undead outbreak.

yAzX7.png


It's a specter !

Adventurers Journal said:
Specter, challenge rating VII

These are one of the most
powerful of the undead. Their touch can
drain the life out of men.

And it comes equipped with the worst ability of the undead, level draining.
Thanks to the surprise round, the party's combined power brings it down before it can even act.

JBRqK.png


A massive amount of experience is earned!

fUp96.png


Going further into the graveyard, some zombies are guarding another tower nearby.

abJC8.png


Zombies are still as weak as they were before, and this tower isn't filled with toxic gas.

uYS2N.png


And, as could be expected, another specter is responsible for the zombies.

Iadtc.png


Things don't go quite as planned as everyone decides to take it easy and miss their blows.
As a result, Godfrey is touched and drained of two levels!

FuD71.png


The experience reward is still huge.

f7Yod.png


Some of the scrolls of restorations are used to restore Godfrey.
He is now back at the minimum experience for level five, and lost nearly ten thousand xp...

JIHjE.png


Further north from the zombie infested part of the graveyard, some Wights are surprised.

Adventurers Journal said:
Wight, challenge rating VI

Evil, undead humans whose
touch can drain the life out of a man.

k7Ykv.png


Just great, a band of six level draining monsters.
Godfrey manages to make them flee, but they're immune to arrows, and stuck themselves in a corner.
Our fighters have to get close, and Godfrey is drained again, as well as Edward.

stq5H.png


Another tower is discovered.

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And another specter. This time the party doesn't fool around and it goes down quickly.

QmWwD.png


The party earns another large chunks of experience, but so far not a single treasure apart from gold.

PqEV2.png


Not far from the previous towers, the party is ambushed by two specters.
This could get ugly very fast, and it does: Godfrey is drained yet again, and Edward too.

4ZUYd.png


The experience reward can't even begin to compensate the experience lost.

r0J1d.png


And our Restoration scrolls are quickly running out, we're down to two.
Since temples don't offer Restoration, once they're used any level drained will be gone...

7Y0TL.png


The two specters were apparently guarding an ancient tomb.
Its spirit offers our party tools to defeat the undead menace.

6tPcv.png


Well, that's nice!

gWo29.png


To the east is an empty cross-shaped room with a coffin in the middle.

hGaC1.png


Close to it, a scroll is found :

Adventurers Journal said:
Entry 43

A loosely wrapped scroll.
'Aramalg the Good, paladin and
brother of Taimalg-the-Invincible, and
Sarasim of Teshwave, the high priestess of
Sune, attacked the denizens of
the Valhigen Graveyard with a holy
vengeance. They came in search of
Taimalg and his mercenary band, who
assault the graveyard and did not
return.
'Sarasim used her holy power to dissipate
and turn the undead that confronted
them. Aramalg wielded his vorpal sword
and slew the few that fought her power.
'Together, Aramalg and Sarasim penetrated
the graveyard to an evil marble
crypt. They found and splintered an
empty coffin, blessing the remains and
sprinkling it with holy water. Then they
confronted the owner of the coffin, a creature
of great evil and the leader of the
undead in Valhigen, an ancient vampire.
The three began a furious melee.
'The vampire was swayed by Aramalg
and Sarasim's power, but would not be
turned. The vampire shouted, "I have
defeated Taimalg and his warriors, I will
defeat the brother of Taimalg as well!"
'The vampire summoned an army of
rats and tried to charm Sarasim to his
side, but to no avail. Sarasim resisted his
charm and Aramalg charged through the
massed vermin. The vampire fell before
the mighty blow of Aramalg's holy sword
and Sarasim's enchanted mace.
'Defeated, the ancient vampire dissolved
into gas and fled to his coffin.
Finding the coffin destroyed he returned
to solid form and screamed. Seizing the
moment Aramalg grabbed the vampire
and held him with all of his strength.
Sarasim ran up and drove an oaken stake
through the vampire's heart.
'Aramalg and Sarasim performed the
proper rituals to banish the vampire forever.
Then, wounded, Aramalg and
Sarasim left Valhigen Graveyard. It was
beyond their power to completely cleanse
the evil place, but they had extracted
proper vengeance for the death of Tiamalg
and his troops.'

An interesting tale, but the coffin is anything but destroyed...

rfmHA.png


Our heroes solve this minor inconsistency before moving on.

XZqbl.png


To the northeast, some stairs lead into a pit.
The party slowly descends into it.

3nqQi.png


And a vampire is revealed before their eyes!
Aramalg and Sarasim obviously did not finish the job.
Worse still, one of them could have been bitten, then took the evil lord's place!

eT5oX.png


Our adventurers journal has this to say about our foes :

Adventurers Journal said:
Vampire, challenge rating VIII

These are one of the most
dreaded undead in the Realms. They can
drain life levels, are strong fighters, and
are sometimes powerful magic users.

A strong fighter indeed, with armor class one and more hit points that any member of the party.
The other enemies are wolves, who lack an entry in the Adventurers Journal.

o5xrR.png


Stinking Clouds take care of the wolves easily, and Excidium throws his one and only Fireball.
It deals heavy damage, but also hits Godfrey, who nearly dies in the process!

O0Zqy.png


But die he does, as the vampires drains him of his life the following turn.
But the worse was yet to come, as it charmed Edward to its side.
The rest of the party attacked with all their might, but the evil thing regenerates!
Soon Excidium and Bee-chan joined the vampire as well, and Pariah stood alone next to the monster.

L4A5Q.png


Predictably, he doesn't succeed...

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Let's try once more. This time Godfrey moves away and the Necklace of Missiles is put to use.
It throws Fireball, an excellent item indeed. Two charges are used in quick succession.
Meanwhile, Excidium casts Fireball and uses one more from a scroll.
The party manages to bring the vampire down, but not before Bee-chan again fell under its charm.
She had to be knocked unconscious as she was desperately seeking revenge.

3Xawc.png


A rather pitiful experience reward is earned, and next to no loot.

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As the tale described, the vampire turns into mist and floats away.
Our heroes know where to go !
Godfrey had used up all his Cure Light Wounds spells, so Bee-chan will have to sit this one out.

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Rushing to the coffin, the vampire is found in physical form !

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It is weakened and almost dead, so Edward makes short work of it.

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Victory! Although we have no wooden stakes ... oops ?

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Apparently Edward's blow was enough, as the rest of the graveyard seems to have found peace.

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Back in town to report their success, the magic items are identified.
The ring is of Fire Resistance, useful to prevent deadly friendly fire.

mlMh5.png


The Plate Mail is enchanted and is +2.
Edward had been using it blindly to offset his lack of shield, and will keep it.

pbQBP.png


Finally, the Long Sword is +2, but has a nasty side effect.

gv6pY.png


Any character who tries to equip it is zapped with strong magic damage.
I suppose we'd need a Lawful Good character, but only Godfrey follows this way in life.
As Priests can't use swords, the blade is sold for a large amount of platinum.

5YGPb.png


The party heads to the city clerk's office.
"Some Undead" ? We patrolled the graveyard for hours and found none left.

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A huge experience reward is offered, so the minor offense is forgiven.

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Ah, wait, here it comes.

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Ten thousand experience points each!

3vfti.png


While our adventurers were busy training, a new proclamation was posted.

Adventurers Journal said:
Proclamation CXIV

Be it known that the council is
offering a special reward for the safe
return of the heir to the House of Bivant.
Said minor was carried off during a buccaneer
attack on the merchant ship in
which he was sailing. Apply to the council
clerk for the council's commission and
additional information as to the
abduction.

Heading back to the office, the clerk says nothing.
Oh well, there are still parts of the city to clear, so next time, our heroes head to the Podal Plaza.
 
Self-Ejected

Excidium

P. banal
Joined
Aug 14, 2009
Messages
13,696
Location
Third World
korenzel said:
Let's try once more. This time Godfrey moves away and the Necklace of Missiles is put to use.
It throws Fireball, an excellent item indeed. Two charges are used in quick succession.
Meanwhile, Excidium casts Fireball and uses one more from a scroll.
The party manages to bring the vampire down, but not before Bee-chan again fell under its charm.
She had to be knocked unconscious as she was desperately seeking revenge.

If you can't beat them...throw more fireballs. :lol:
 

Pussycat669

Liturgist
Joined
Jun 13, 2006
Messages
667
Location
In a fine suit
This game has more going for it in the narrative department than you would except at first glance. I wonder who will turn out to be the traitor (if there is someone at all) and how much it's going to screw you over. The notes in the thief den give away a few hints but nothing too explicit to pin someone down, really nice.

Wonder if level drain is still included in 4th or if it was scraped for being less mainstream friendly.
 

Azira

Arcane
Patron
Joined
Nov 3, 2004
Messages
8,519
Location
Copenhagen, Denmark
Codex 2012
korenzel said:
Finally, the Long Sword is +2, but has a nasty side effect.

gv6pY.png


Any character who tries to equip it is zapped with strong magic damage.
I suppose we'd need a Lawful Good character, but only Godfrey follows this way in life.
As Priests can't use swords, the blade is sold for a large amount of platinum.

A +2 sword that only Lawful Good characters can use, and which zaps anyone else?!?

You sold what might be a Holy Avenger? Oh wow, the irony. If only you'd taken a Paladin, if this is indeed a Holy Avenger, that could've been the best item in the game ever. Talk about :troll: ing. :salute:
 

Crooked Bee

(no longer) a wide-wandering bee
Patron
Joined
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Messages
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In quarantine
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:rage:

korenzel said:
Thanks to the surprise round, the party's combined power brings it down before it can even act.

:salute:

korenzel said:
The experience reward can't even begin to compensate the experience lost.

:(


:o

korenzel said:
The party manages to bring the vampire down, but not before Bee-chan again fell under its charm. She had to be knocked unconscious as she was desperately seeking revenge.

:decline:

korenzel said:
Ten thousand experience points each!

:yeah:
 

MMXI

Arcane
Joined
Apr 28, 2011
Messages
2,196
Fucking level drain. Fucking fireballs hitting my ass.

The necklace of missiles is a pretty awesome item. You can cheese through Baldur's Gate using it. As you can only cast once per round, you can pass the necklace around the party, casting it for each character. That way you can start off the first round of combat with 6 fireballs.
:yeah:
 

MMXI

Arcane
Joined
Apr 28, 2011
Messages
2,196
Azira said:
It's a limited use item though, so you can't just spam that method in each and every battle. :M
In Baldur's Gate? Sell and buy back.
:smug:
 
Joined
Nov 1, 2008
Messages
7,953
Location
Cuntington Manor
The graveyard is one of the harder areas. I am surprised you made it through without rage quitting. That is why I usually leave it until later on (before storming the Castle gate).

Now where is the next update?
 

Luzur

Good Sir
Joined
Feb 12, 2009
Messages
41,392
Location
Swedish Empire
Pussycat669 said:
This game has more going for it in the narrative department than you would except at first glance. I wonder who will turn out to be the traitor (if there is someone at all) and how much it's going to screw you over. The notes in the thief den give away a few hints but nothing too explicit to pin someone down, really nice.

i could tell you if you want.
 

MMXI

Arcane
Joined
Apr 28, 2011
Messages
2,196
If we don't get an update within the next 10 minutes then I'll declare this LP dead.
 

GarfunkeL

Racism Expert
Joined
Nov 7, 2008
Messages
15,463
Location
Insert clever insult here
Blackadder said:
The graveyard is one of the harder areas. I am surprised you made it through without rage quitting. That is why I usually leave it until later on (before storming the Castle gate).

Now where is the next update?

This. GY was really annoying. :thumbsup:
 

korenzel

Educated
Joined
May 18, 2010
Messages
278
The graveyard was a pretty enjoyable area, I just wish priests in town would sell Restoration among their services, as the scrolls are used up way too fast. Fear of running out pretty much forced me to rush the area and use many consumables that could have been saved given appropriate spell preparation (Dispel for the Vampire's gaze, some magic missiles instead of Sleep spells, etc...).

I'll be blunt, my interest in the game has been somewhat reduced ever since Godfrey and Excidium reached their level cap, with Pariah and Edward not far behind. Gaining power is one of my main incentives in RPGs and knowing half of my team already reached their peak level while I still have half the city and the whole wilderness to explore is somewhat... discouraging. Since the party also has enough money to buy all the best items in the shops, the only way for them to improve is in finding some elusive magic item. I mentionned in the first post that I never finished Pool of Radiance, and this is the main reason why.

I'm considering benching characters to give Soup a chance to see some action, as well as not 'waste' the experience earned. The next area I'm planning to go to (Podal Plaza) seems to contain orcs and kobolds, a level one character should be able to handle himself given the best equipment.
 
Joined
Nov 1, 2008
Messages
7,953
Location
Cuntington Manor
Gaining power is one of my main incentives in RPGs and knowing half of my team already reached their peak level while I still have half the city and the whole wilderness to explore is somewhat... discouraging.

Many computer D&D games have this problem.

In POR, things you can do include:

Taking hirelings (they steal a lot of XP).

Have multiclassed characters (which you do)

Really though, it took me a long time to get my fighters to level 8, but the Clerics and Mages did hit Level 6 a bit too fast.[/code]
 

Crooked Bee

(no longer) a wide-wandering bee
Patron
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You must finish the LP, though. I hate unfinished LPs. That should be enough of an incentive.
:rpgcodex:

Nah, just kiddin'. If you feel like shelving some characters, do eet. Good thing Bee can stay, right? Right?
 
Self-Ejected

Excidium

P. banal
Joined
Aug 14, 2009
Messages
13,696
Location
Third World
I feel like i'm going to the shelf.

I'm the only expendable character, what with those damned multiclassed elves trying to steal my job.
 

korenzel

Educated
Joined
May 18, 2010
Messages
278
UPDATE 12 - City Cleanup

When we last left our valiant adventurers, they were resting after a hard and stressful battle in the cemetery.

Kx9om.png


While going through Kuto's Well, some monsters are encountered despite the area being supposedly cleared.
They only manage to slow the party down and score a few lucky hits.

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To the south, there is indeed an area that was previously overlooked.

oAdiD.png


Giant Lizards ?

Adventurer's Journal said:
Giant Lizard, level IV
These are the giant cousins to the common lizard.

OD516.png


They don't like fire.

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Behind this little guarding group is a strange prisoner.

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She gives another hint at a possible deception in the city leadership. Too vague to be useful though.

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Entering Podal Plaza, the party decides to disguise themselves as monsters.
What monsters ? I have no idea, but it seems to work well enough.

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In the center, they reach the auction they came to spy on.

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It seems both items to be sold are magician equipment.

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Listening to the bickering around her, Bee-Chan uncovers the purpose of the staff.

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A man, definitely not a magician with a ogre bodyguard, places a rather high bid.

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The staff should not fall into wrong hands, so Bee-Chan raises her hand and bids up. We have gold to spare.

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Our magician friend did not like this at all, and casts a Darkness spell.

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The ogre sprints out, but our party instead looks for the suspicious robed man.

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He escaped, but his name is discovered. Garwin.

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Reporting back to the city clerk, she seems satisfied with the result.

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Or not... the reward is rather pitiful.

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More kobolds are being recruited ? At the rate our heroes kill them, they'll need a couple thousand.

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Our party decides to head south of Kuto's Well, to a large building rumored to be a library.
Alas, both doors are sealed and no action provide entry. After scanning each square foot of wall, our adventurers give up and head further west, to the Textile Area.

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In there, they find themselves fighting poisonous frogs and giants scorpions. As one hit is fatal, they are dealt with quickly without sparing any magical means.

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South of their entry points, our heroes find a huge ogre.

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A boastful threat if I ever saw one. Let's see.

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Pffft, a single ogre and a pack of hobgoblins ? What a joke.

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The ogre actually has a chance to survive the incoming fire.

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He didn't.

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Well, it seems he was guarding the treasure for councilor Cadorna.
Bee-Chan takes it without tampering with it, as it could damage their reputation in town.

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To the north, large bands of hobgoblins are apparently guarding the area.

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Soon, all is quiet.

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West of the area is a suspicious building.

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"Skullcrusher" ? Was that the name of the ogre ?

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Monster babies ! The party lets them flee.

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Marvelous. Our adventurers leave this place at once.

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More graffiti, without any meaning this time.

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At the southwestern end of the area, a man is found, along with a note:

Adventurer's Journal said:
Entry 47
A small wrinkled parchment with roughly scratched notes.
"Hobgoblins transferred out of Valjevo Castle. Now replaced by giants and trolls. Sounds very tough.
"Stojanow Gate guarded by bugbears and ettins. Heard ettins didn't like light. Must be charmed or controlled. Sounds tough!
"Some smugglers sneak supplies through Stojanow Gate to The Boss. Must check it out.
"Overhead hobgoblins say a dragon scared them into leaving a nice lair in the mountains out east. Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of creeps."

The gate and castle just north, the last two areas of the city to explore, look well defended.

3HDF1.png


Talking to the chained man doesn't reveal much.

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Pariah is unable to pick the locks on his restraints.

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And none of our party members manage to break the chains.
They'll need to find the key.

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Immediately north, some unholy place is found.

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A makeshift evil temple, sorry Excidium but it needs to be destroyed.

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The priest looks like a complete buffoon.

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Well, this will be challenging.

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Not.

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The loot of decent at least. A magic necklace, a potion and some scrolls.
And, of course, a brass key. Let's try it on the prisoner down south.

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It fits!

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Ah, so he's the one who never returned.

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He offers to join, and our adventurers agree to at least escort him out of danger.
He gives a hint to the leader location, but he's already long dead.

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He's a pretty decent fighter, but doesn't carry anything with him.

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He should do well enough bare handed if evidence is to be trusted.

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On the northwestern end of the area, a very odd well is found.

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Following the guideline, Pariah descends alone and finds a thief.

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He offers to peek in the box and replicate the seal. Sure.

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Experience is earned!

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And some beautiful magic gauntlets! The rest seems pretty dull.

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Pariah gets back up as if nothing happened, and Skullcrusher is none the wiser about the tampering.

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Getting back in the city, Cadorna's box is forcefully removed.
The party does, however, keep the gauntlets and other trinkets.

KATyD.png


And Skullcrusher leaves the party.

Txrdh.png


A new proclamation has been posted in the party's absence:

Adventurer's Journal said:
Proclamation CCIV
Be it known that the council is interested in obtaining information about the disposition of various kobolds currently believed to be gathering in support of forces aimed on the destruction of our fair city. A generous reward is offered to any who shall scout out the doings of these foul creatures and report such to the council. A larger reward is offered if the marshaling of said kobolds can be prevented. A commission may be obtained from the council clerk.

These kobolds again ? Looks like our party has its next mission, but no idea where to go.

q88v7.png


Cadorna was apparently fooled by the seal forgery. Good. He pays the party with a couple dozen gems.

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Identifying the treasures, the magic necklace is found to be cursed and sold for ten gold.

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The rest is as non magical as expected. Bee-Chan, the weakest of the fighters, gets the gauntlets of ogre power.

lEvFp.png


And indeed, she does grow stronger than our best warriors.

Next time, our heroes head out in the wilderness.
 
Self-Ejected

Excidium

P. banal
Joined
Aug 14, 2009
Messages
13,696
Location
Third World
korenzel said:
A makeshift evil temple, sorry Excidium but it needs to be destroyed.
Bah. I was half expecting some treasure for evil characters there, like we already got that sword for lawful good characters. They sure made it sound all ominous and shit for an encounter with hobgoblins. :roll:
MMXI said:
Finally an update! Glad you persevered.
Indeed. :thumbsup:
 

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