The same thing we do every (ten)day... plot to SAVE THE ISLES (planning thread)

[orangetree]

((no need to delay on my account. Alas I need to prioritize RL money over my fictional character meeting a fictional queen.

[Ithildur]

((so, what next? We look to be based out of Alaron for the moment, unless someone has an objection/better location))

-Rillifane's Run was said to be effected by the hostile weather; I will need to check in with the Lewyrr at earliest opportunity regardless, alone if need be.

-last spring's raids in Alaron; awaiting Bu's scry results. Perhaps we can attempt to search the areas mentioned by Finn.

-attempt to determine the risk of placing two or more stones in close proximity, both shielded and unshielded if possible<< effects while unshielded determined.

-obtain more quartz boxes if the above experiment is inconclusive or worse << 4th box obtained

-find a secure location to keep the stones. Carrying them about on our persons seems highly risky especially given the recent ambush; it may be high time to approach the Queen herself to ask about this and other matters. << possible lead: Khelben Blackstaff in Waterdeep... or else return to Macsheen and the temple to Myrkul?

-a handful of Cursed ones still remain in Macsheean

[ImStrokerAce]

-Sai'ok would be focused on getting aid to the Elven folk in Rillifane's Run, attempting to steer efforts towards them first.
- It is highly risky to keep carrying the stones on our persons. Until we get access to Blackstaff and his tower, I cant imagine a safe spot though.. Ideas on this??
- It really seems like an awful idea to bring two stones together, I could be wrong but haven't we received IC warnings about this? Or was that just an PC observation that was passed on?

[HEEGZ]

Rhone had volunteered previously to be the experimenter who tries combining two stones into one box. Standing offer.

As for plans, she will follow Toby's lead, or Arizma's, in that order I think.

[Mick]

Arizma does not feel strongly about what is done next. Rather she feels strongly that a decision be made and that action is taken. However, if the decision is left up to her, she would suggest addressing the troubles on Alaron. She continues to be concerned about the effects the stones could have/be having on the Queen's unborn child. That concern could be totally unfounded, but there it is.

She is also firmly convinced that a way to store or destroy the stones must be found. Carrying them around becomes more and more risky the more we accrue. Based on their limited experiment having the two stones close together with their boxes open, she is against any attempts to store any number of stones together in a single box.

Arizma is happy to help the Elves of the group aid at Rillifane's, if that is what they want to do.

She would also like to put all of the cursed to rest. ((Perhaps this can be done on a night other than our main campaign night, since it will likely not require everyone?))

[Ithildur]

((It was communicated ingame that bringing the 2 stones in close proximity unshielded greatly increased the pain, even made a nearby Moonwell start to churn - obvious signs of 'very bad'.

Whether quartz is sufficient to safely seal in the compounded effects of more than one stone is unknown))

Aglaril left a message at the guest (slave!) room inside the Caer to seek him out for keys to the house that they've been assigned to. I'd imagine the Seneschal also has extra keys.

I'd expect there to be discussions about whether to store/hide the stones inside the house or not.

Spoiler:

Aglaril breaks down his thoughts as far as storing/hiding the stones:

1. find an extremely secure location, store all of them there. Blackstaff, or extraplanar, or someplace we've yet to come across. The chest inside the house we've been assigned in Caer Callidyr might serve for now, but someone with the right skillset needs to examine it to determine just how secure both the chest and the lock on the house is. Determined enemies with sufficient skill and/or magic can obviously bypass most mundane locks/doors/walls fairly easily. A spell of Permanency might be helpful (Alarm spell, etc).

2. split them up, hiding/storing them in separate locations. Advantage is you're not putting all the eggs in one basket obviously; might be a better option if a single extra secure location is unavailable.

3. rotate/move them about from place to place. Similar advantage to #2, possibly more secure, though requires greater thoroughness/caution and regular communication to update on new location(s).

Keep in mind these seem to be near artifact level items which means the simpler means of altering magical auras may be useless. 3 feet of dirt, 1 foot of stone, or sheet of lead usually blocks Detect Magic/Arcane Sight; other divinations largely can depend on a number of factors outside of our control. Burying the items several feet in the ground may be relatively secure for a time - the previous time this was tried the stone was unshielded, which isn't the case currently. Burying them under/near settled areas will probably reduce the chances of, oh, say a random umberhulk happening upon the box and deciding to peak inside.

The other option that was brought up before the stones were shielded is taking them to a remote deserted isle or such, perhaps burying it there, which to me sounds less secure than a settlement area as far as random creatures chancing upon it.

One last thought, it's likely if our movements are being tracked/spied on that the focus is on our persons, not the items themselves (unless someone is regularly in the habit of taking the box out in public) at least while they're shielded; this may mean we can attempt a misdirect (i.e. group is in Callydir, objects are kept elsewhere, possibly in an unlikely place, etc)

Aglaril (rightly or wrongly) feels fairly confident for now that he can keep one box/stone safe using a combination of methods both mundane and arcane; he can attempt to safeguard more than one stone, but it would be much more taxing, and it seems fitting for each individual that currently has a stone to bear responsibility for securing theirs in various ways (though certainly asking for aid from others makes sense). However, sooner or later a more permanent remedy (i.e. destroying or disabling the stones) needs to be sought, though it's not unheard of for individuals or groups to safeguard dangerous items through the duration of their lifespan and beyond...

[Galadorn]

((Bu is ready and willing to Scry any time at all - even right now! ...but during the week I am usually always alone on server... I can also do this first thing on the weekend when most people are online as well before other playing occurs - I hope OGR can show up this weekend sometime? But if he's not really needed or does not care, i'm game to do it anytime. Happy to!))

[Ithildur]

((One more thing Aglaril would bring up... I think we really need to consider a geas/Quest on Balkr. Without the player being available to RP out earning trust, etc. outside of Friday night sessions, it's just too immersion breaking to have him simply show up Friday nights and tag along on critical mission after mission, having already betrayed the group once. Aglaril's basically going out on a limb giving him the benefit of the doubt because of something he observed directly along with Lunette, but it feels just a little too much of a stretch overall don'tcha think?))

[orangetree]

"I say we trust him and if we're wrong may lightning strike us from the heavens"

[Galadorn]

"I say we trust him and if we're wrong may lightning strike us from the heavens"

"Interesting since...... that is...... exactly what will happen most likely, if we do......

[orangetree]

"Wise lady once told me, you need a powerful god to protect from other gods." She looks to Balkr. "So as a selunite I would like to offer Her hand and protection of the moon. I think I have a book on how this goes somewhere..." Lunette looks in her bag nearly falling inside the bag,her legs waggling in the air. She pops her head out. "Yeesh that was scary. Oh we'll never mind. Anyway a geas doesn't sound like the right thing to a guy we want to trust us as much as we trust. We're all frends here right?" She coughs slightly. "So anyway feel free to join the moon goddess, She's nice to me and no reason she won't love any soul, especially if you need something new to aspire to. You might find another god or goddess on the way but... She can protect you. Maybe do something in her name like um... Well... I'll get back to you on that one. What do you say?"

[Mick]

I am out until Sunday. Don't get dead. Arizma is very hesitant to trust Balkr, but is willing to give him a bit of time to prove he has abandoned Talos.

[Ithildur]

*Holding the piece of copper wire between his thumb and long, slender forefinger, Aglaril's brows knit in concentration as he shaped the Weave. Upon completion of the intricate somatic movements intermingled with invoked arcane syllables, the Elf began to work the short message into the spell as he visualized the human mage's face*

[PM sent]


((Any other ... interesting ... thoughts before Friday is upon us? ))

[orangetree]

"Humph. Geas takes away ones ability to make a choice. Balkir is a man not a dog, and deserves the right and freedom of choice. If we put a leash on him we're hardly heroic. That's my feelings on it."

[Ithildur]

ooc: Aglaril and Toby are currently in Rillifane's Run, though since most of the others don't know the way one or both will have to trek back to Callydiir to meet the others.

Not many concrete suggestions for tomorrow other than the Curseds, so I'm going to make the recommendation we start by getting people keys to the house in Callydiir. I anticipate that we'll spend time lingering there picking out rooms, talking about stuff (maybe discuss Balkr), being zany and posing for selfies, etc for a good while.

At some point Aglaril will probably suggest heading down to Rillfane's Run, deal with a certain aquatic problem on the way, and hopefully have time to talk to Balque. Hopefully she'll be a bit more knowledgeable (or forthcoming, I suspect we'll have to win their trust to a degree) than the elders.

Or, we can deal with the aquatic problem, and head towards nearby Blythe in search of clues about Finn's mom, before heading to RR. Rather ambitious, yes.

Summary of where things stand:

Spoiler:

We need to find 9 more stones.

We may need to attempt to triangulate the location of the 4th stone/ruins using means at our disposal.

We have leftover Curseds still presumably lingering around.

We have no idea yet about increased security for the stones or how to destroy/disable them permanently.

We have the threat of assassins/powerful enemies that are after us.

Kingsbay probably still dislikes us.

Toby now seems to have picked up a 'personal problem'


On the positive side,

We've put an end to the undead troubles coming out of Macsheen

We've uncovered much of the mystery of the Discord Stones and how they're causing misery around the isles.

we've secured 3 discord stones, bringing relief to the entire isle of Gwynneth.

we seem to be in the good graces of the Queen, and probably the dwarven elders of High Home, and probably are viewed favorably by the druids of Gwynneth. Our reputation is spreading, positively for the most part.

we saved an (ungrateful) dwarf from an eternal fate as a statue.

we probably exterminated most of the hill giant population of Gwynneth.

by doing so we freed up a dwarven ruins to allow dwarves to reclaim it.

the royal library is at our disposal and we have a nice base of operations while in Callydiir/Alaron.

One of the bad guys changed sides.



All in all we're not doing too badly... in spite of disorganization and rather rough methods! But we probably have a ways to go.