Chapter 9: Q&A / Discussions

[Ken]

Jeff: I think there's something missing from the end of this sentence in your last post:

"... is a party with fire, blood, and sacrifice. Where the Vulkoori worship a primeval scorpion god, the Sulatar worship " ... worship what?

[Jeff]

D'oh! I always do that.

Fixed.

[Jeff]

[Darren]

I think everyone is kind of waiting, Jeff. I think we are all sort of in agreement that we're not doing anything with that stuff until the Blue Fins come back. I think it's rest time.

[Jeff]

Ahh. See, sometimes just saying so, as you just have, is the right thing to do. Because now I know.

And knowing's half the encounter.

[Ken]

Yep. Belarin is waiting to see if he gets an answer from Histra, but aside from that, I think we're all okay with the stuff being packed up and put under guard. In character, we're probably all too exhausted to do much investigating or conduct more research into we've rested up.

[Dave W.]

Ah yes, rest ... Both ooc and ic... Sorry, had house guests this weekend then spent today cutting down a tree that split in the last storm. Should have posted ...

Will post in morning

[Dave B.]

You guys need to stop getting yourselves so beat up. I mean Shorak doesn't even have a scratch on him. ;D

[Brian]

I don't think Condign has anything to add right now, so a rest would be most welcome.

[Darren]

Happy Birthday, Brian!

Nice graphic, Jeff.

[Dave W.]

Happy birthday, Brian!! My what a pretty red balloon you are today!

[Dave W.]

Nov 13, 2011 22:49:35 GMT -4 Dave B. said:

You guys need to stop getting yourselves so beat up. I mean Shorak doesn't even have a scratch on him. ;D

We could fix that!

[Dave B.]

Have a Great Birthday, Brian!

[Ken]

Happy Birthday, Brian!

[Brian]

Thank you all for the birthday wishes! ;D

[Jeff]

Nov 14, 2011 16:38:13 GMT -4 Dave W. said:

---------
I'll add Adamant's +7 diplomacy to support Belarin if it comes to a roll.
I rolled it too then...
Diplomacy Support (1d20+7=13)

Dave, I don't get the significance of your use of strikethrough. Can you help me out?

[Dave W.]

Just ignore the strike through... It's what the post said originally but then I saw your post telling ken to roll for it, so then I decided to roll the supporting roll and modified the post and for some reason decide not to delete the old comment but to strike it out instead, I guess in case someone already read it, but it left the whole thing more confusing than a long run-on sentence...

[Ken]

Nov 15, 2011 10:33:48 GMT -4 Jeff said:

XP each PC earns for retrieving the "Devourer's gift" and earning the favor of the Blue Fin sahuagin clan: 350

Encouraging the use of short- and long-term quests is one of the best things to come out of 4E.

Nicely done, all.

[Ken]

OK, let's look at the loot. ;D Right off the bat, I'm removing Belarin from the discussion since he has the creepy candle to figure out, but I figure it might be better to list what's available.

Brooch of Shielding ??
Dave B: Since Shorak already has something that does what the brooch does (and does it slightly better), I'm guessing that the brooch of shielding is up for grabs. Let me know, please, if I've guessed incorrectly.

The "gambler's die": large, palm-sized 6-sided die
Soooo going to Streko!

Three elixir vials, one of which might have gone bad
If they're potions of healing, they should probably go to the front-line fighters, IMO, or to someone mobile enough to give it to a fallen comrade.

A flat, blue-white crystal resembling the cross between a gem and a whetstone
If it weren't flat, I'd guess an orb implement, but otherwise, no idea. We'll have to wait for identification.

A thick stick of white chalk, almost luminescent in hue
Don't know that one, either. Something for a ritual circle, perhaps, or for magically marking a path?

The puzzle box with the "Cannith toy"
Sounds steampunky! It looks like an ornament, but it's magical, and it's the one item that "Marlek" specifically requested.

[Jeff]

These will all be identified quite soon. I'm not crazy about 4E's "just spend 5 minutes with it and you know what it does," but even so, between you Arcana types, Sem, and Larest, it's a breeze to figure these items out.

....Except for that puzzle box.

[Dave W.]

Yes, well done all. That was an interesting session... traveling (and fighting) underwater. Great fun!

[Dave B.]

Yeah, Ken. Shorak won't be keeping the brooch. If someone can use it, great. Otherwise, he would like to sell it. Shorak does want to try to figure out how to open the puzzle box, assuming it can be done without magic. Of course one of the other unknown items could be of interest to him. We shall see.

[Jeff]

That actually surprises me. Shorak's Amulet of Protection is a solid defensive item. But the Brooch is more than just a bonus on those three defenses.

Brooch of Shielding (Level 3)
This ornate silver, gem-studden pin absorbs force attacks against you.
Item Slot: Neck
Enhancement: Fortitude, Reflex, and Will
Property: Gain resist 10 force.
Power Daily: Immediate interrupt. Use this power when you are hit by an area, close, or ranged attack. Gain resist to all damage equal to the brooch’s resist force value against that attack.

Giving it to someone else would be a good idea. You can sell it, but you'll get (at best) half its market value. But hey, whatevs.

[Darren]

Well, Kal will take it if no one else wants it. He can always use something shiny to keep his cloak closed.

Sorry for the lack of postage. Just very tired and have nothing creative to add at the moment.

[Brian]

As I mentioned in my post, just using the word whetstone makes the crystal interesting to me. But after it's identified and anyone else would like it, by all means I would be willingly defer.

Also, excellent work under the sea everyone.

[Jeff]

Gambler's Die (Level 8)
A well-used 6-sided die with symbols instead of numbers on each face. When you grasp it then toss it to the ground, its results manifest.
Wondrous Item
Power (Varies)
You target a creature of your choice within 10 squares and roll a d6.
(1) Mug: The target takes a -2 penalty to attack rolls until the end of its next turn.
(2) Die: Roll a d20. If the result is even, the target takes damage equal to the result. If the result is odd, the target regains hit points equal to the result.
(3) Chair: The target falls prone.
(4) Fist: The first attack that hits the target before the end of your next turn deals 2d6 extra damage.
(5) Blade: The next attack made against the target before the end of your next turn gains combat advantage.
(6) Lightning Bolt: The target and all creatures adjacent to it take 1d10 lightning damage.

Although thematically suited for Streko, don't think he's the only one who can use the Gambler's Die.

Lesser Elixir of Invisibility (Level 7)
When you sip this elixir, your form fades from sight.
Consumable
Power
Effect: You drink the elixir and become invisible until the end of your next turn. The effect ends if you make an attack roll.

Elixir of Accuracy (Level 8)
This crisp draught leaves your senses clear and aim true.
Consumable
Power
Effect: You drink the elixir. Once before the end of the encounter, you can use a free action when you make an attack roll and dislike the result. You gain a +2 bonus to that attack roll.

Elixir of Dragon Breath (Level 7)
This elixir seems to roil and foam constantly.
Consumable
Power (Cold)
Effect: Use this power after you drink the elixir. Until the end of the encounter, you gain an at-will attack power that requires a standard action to use. Close blast 3; +10 vs. Reflex on a hit, deals 2d6 + Con modifier cold damage.

Frozen Whetstone (Level 7)
A weapon honed with this blue-white crystalline whetstone becomes icy cold to the touch.
Consumable Whetstones
Power (Cold)
Effect: Touch this whetstone to a melee or ranged weapon you hold. Until the end of the encounter, any successful attack with this weapon deals an extra 2 cold damage.

Eternal Chalk (Level 7)
The marks left by this chalk glow briefly as you scribe them, remaining in place to guide you until you choose to erase them.
Wondrous Item
Property:
A stick of eternal chalk never breaks or wears down with normal use. Any writing or drawing made with this chalk cannot be erased for one week by anyone except the original artist or author. A stick of eternal chalk can be created in any color.

Note that those items listed as "consumable" are only good for one use.

Once you've chosen who's going to hold onto what, I'll add them to your character sheets. So talk about it here.

[Jeff]

Gambler's Die (Level 8)
A well-used 6-sided die with symbols instead of numbers on each face. When you grasp it then toss it to the ground, its results manifest.
Wondrous Item
Power (Varies)
You target a creature of your choice within 10 squares and roll a d6.
(1) Mug: The target takes a -2 penalty to attack rolls until the end of its next turn.
(2) Die: Roll a d20. If the result is even, the target takes damage equal to the result. If the result is odd, the target regains hit points equal to the result.
(3) Chair: The target falls prone.
(4) Fist: The first attack that hits the target before the end of your next turn deals 2d6 extra damage.
(5) Blade: The next attack made against the target before the end of your next turn gains combat advantage.
(6) Lightning Bolt: The target and all creatures adjacent to it take 1d10 lightning damage.

Although thematically suited for Streko, don't think he's the only one who can use the Gambler's Die.

Lesser Elixir of Invisibility (Level 7)
When you sip this elixir, your form fades from sight.
Consumable
Power
Effect: You drink the elixir and become invisible until the end of your next turn. The effect ends if you make an attack roll.

Elixir of Accuracy (Level 8)
This crisp draught leaves your senses clear and aim true.
Consumable
Power
Effect: You drink the elixir. Once before the end of the encounter, you can use a free action when you make an attack roll and dislike the result. You gain a +2 bonus to that attack roll.

Elixir of Dragon Breath (Level 7)
This elixir seems to roil and foam constantly.
Consumable
Power (Cold)
Effect: Use this power after you drink the elixir. Until the end of the encounter, you gain an at-will attack power that requires a standard action to use. Close blast 3; +10 vs. Reflex on a hit, deals 2d6 + Con modifier cold damage.

Frozen Whetstone (Level 7)
A weapon honed with this blue-white crystalline whetstone becomes icy cold to the touch.
Consumable Whetstones
Power (Cold)
Effect: Touch this whetstone to a melee or ranged weapon you hold. Until the end of the encounter, any successful attack with this weapon deals an extra 2 cold damage.

Eternal Chalk (Level 1)
The marks left by this chalk glow briefly as you scribe them, remaining in place to guide you until you choose to erase them.
Wondrous Item
Property:
A stick of eternal chalk never breaks or wears down with normal use. Any writing or drawing made with this chalk cannot be erased for one week by anyone except the original artist or author. A stick of eternal chalk can be created in any color.

Note that those items listed as "consumable" are only good for one use.

Once you've chosen who's going to hold onto what, I'll add them to your character sheets. So talk about it here.

[Brian]

I recently got this cool broadsword, so I'm going to defer my pick until last.

[Joe]

Oh, come on!! What good cleric of The Goddess of Fortune DOESN'T have an all powerful die to throw in the midst of a fight???

Streko will treat this like Gollum would the One Ring. :-)

Aside from it being a natural fit for him.

[Darren]

I think the die is a safe bet for Streko. It should definitely be used by someone who will not be engaging in front-line combat regularly, since I can't imagine saying, "Hang on a second, Mr. Orc. If you could stop bashing me over the head for a minute, I'd like to roll this die. Is that okay with you? Awesome." So it should go to Streko, Kal or Belarin.

The whetstone seems like it should go to either Condign or Adamant.

The elixers could be useful to anyone, but they seem like something that would work well for Shorak. He's generally attacking with the crossbow, and being invisible seems like it might come in handy for him.

The chalk could be useful to just about anyone, but Kal does have at least one ritual that involves drawing symbols, and maybe drawing those symbols with eternal chalk could come in handy.

I already said Kal would take the brooch if no one else wants it.

Belarin got the candle, so he can have that and the chalk, too, if he wants it.

The box I think is up for grabs, but it ultimately depends on what's actually in it. I don't have an issue with Shorak holding on to it. As far as how we open it....I think we'd have to find out more about the guy that the letter was written to and see if we can find out the password. Breaking it open seems like a bad idea. If we could find someone to dis-enchant it, that would probably be okay, too.