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DMs: La Sapienza
Posted: 18 Jul 2006 04:16 AM |
This is to keep track of PD's attempts to liberate the books of La Sapienza.
++++++++++
Sender: Phoenix
Receiver: Fictrix
Sent: 18/07/2006 6:59:35 PM
Received:
Subject: The Log
Message:
((X arrives in PR whre the four of them are talking))
Fennigan: Umm, you've heard of it then?
Rosen Vimes: What are you driving at, master hin?
Karlina Goodfellow: *twirls a bit of black hair about a finger idly, watching the Hin and paladin with interest. *
Dias Ashfield: *gives a cursory glance at Karlina, but immediately moves on to watch Fenn and Rosen*
Allan Longblade: *looks to the left, and smiles broadly, waving a hand and bowing his head* A fine and pleasant day to you, good sir!
Fennigan: I'd just heard rumors of it.
Dias Ashfield: Mhmm and to you.
Fennigan: And wondered what it was, who it belonged to.
Rosen Vimes: *dips her head to him, a pelasant curl of her lips staying well clear of her eyes* Well, if I come across any helpful hints, I'll be sure and let you know.
Dias Ashfield: *looks at Allan, but then once more addresses his attention to the two behind him*
Rosen Vimes: Afraid I don't quite yet know what you're after.
Allan Longblade: *looks back to Karli, his hand still clasping hers* If you'll excuse me... I must retire. It has been a long day.
Karlina Goodfellow: *glances back. Seeing Dias, her lip curls slightly and a kind of long-suffering dimness glazes her eyes. She looks back at Rosen and Fennigan*
Karlina Goodfellow: ...hmm? What? You're going?
Fennigan: All right miss rosen, thanks anyway *smiles*
Allan Longblade: *nods matter-of-factly* Aye.
Dias Ashfield: Excuse me...
Fennigan: Oh, hello X!
Rosen Vimes: *turns in his direction, the shadow of a bow given* Sleep well then, sir Longblade.
Dias Ashfield: Hello master Fenn.
Allan Longblade: *steps forward towards Karli at the mage's request*
Karlina Goodfellow: B-but... I mean, you could... buy me stuff! Or dinner or... tired? Oh. *her posture wilts in disappointment*
Dias Ashfield: Lady Rosen. *inclines his head*
Rosen Vimes: *her eyes catch on X, head bobbing*
Fennigan: Maybe you heard of it, you seem to know all kinds of things.
Allan Longblade: Are you hungry? I should enjoy to provide you a meal before rest.
Dias Ashfield: What would I have heard about?
Rosen Vimes: *her face looks like it lost a fight with the cobblestones, but it is not a recent wound*
Karlina Goodfellow: *dazzles a sudden smile, like sparklers on the Harvest Fest*
Allan Longblade: *looks over Karli's shoulder and gives a warm smile and bow of his head to the blonde* May peace find your day, Lady Vimes.
Dias Ashfield: *he looks briefly at her, but doesn't stare*
Fennigan: Well, you were likely listening in, you do that as oftenn as I do.
Karlina Goodfellow: Absolutely! *syhe squeaks, suddenly all bubbles and eager puppy-love*
Dias Ashfield: Actually I have no clue what you are talking about.
Rosen Vimes: *a slight smile is passed toward the erstwhile couple, lips barely moving* A pleasant evening to you both.
Fennigan: But I was asking mis rosen about a sword I'd heard of.
Dias Ashfield: A sword?
Dias Ashfield: Which sword?
Fennigan: yes.
Fennigan: Some fancy peice, said to have belonged to some knight that fought aside midorian himself.
Rosen Vimes: *slips her hands into her robe, eyeing the mage impassively*
Dias Ashfield: *he raises an eyebrow a shade*
Fennigan: Goes by the name of shadow slayer, or shade slayer.
Karlina Goodfellow: Uhm, hey, Rose! Oh. Yeah! *twinkles a giggle of excited opportunity* See you later, Rose! Good luck with your sword thingy, Fenn! And... *glance to Dias, then just shrugs* See you both later! Rose, we need to talk about a thing with You KNow Who.
Dias Ashfield: Really?
Fennigan: Something like that, I don't recall.
Dias Ashfield: I believe it to be the name of a cat, no?
Fennigan: Take care Karli.
Rosen Vimes: *conflicted eyes focus on Karli. She nods crisply*
Dias Ashfield: *he ignores the woman*
Dias Ashfield: I'm sorry, I do not know.
Karlina Goodfellow: You'd have paid more than 200 for a statue of me, right, Allan?
Allan Longblade: *walks off, hand clasping Karli's gently*
Fennigan: Shame.
Dias Ashfield: But I have a question myself.
Fennigan: I wanted to hear more history on the weapon.
Dias Ashfield: However, it is for lady Rosen.
Rosen Vimes: *a slight nod given to X, straightening a battered frame*
Fennigan: Oh, well, don't mind me, I'll let you two talk.
Rosen Vimes: How can I help?
Dias Ashfield: Ah goodbye then master Fenn.
Fennigan: I figured it was a private question?
Fennigan: *shrugs*
Dias Ashfield: Oh sort of, yes.
Rosen Vimes: *passes a look toward the hin, then back at X blankly*
Fennigan: X?
Rosen Vimes: A good night to you, master Fennigan.
Dias Ashfield: Aye?
Fennigan: I'll be in the inn here, I have something to show you when your done.
Dias Ashfield: ALright.
Dias Ashfield: What can you tell me of the Coruscanti?
Rosen Vimes: That I'd be most interested to know how you came by the word, and grateful if you'd not repeat it in the future. *softly, barely audible above the rain*
Dias Ashfield: I see. *he smiles* Perhaps we should go somewhere where we can't be overheard?
Rosen Vimes: If it pleases you. *surreptitious glance about, then a quick nod*
Dias Ashfield: The only question is of course where... Well I can draw up wards, so that they won't hear us. Let's just go to the inn along the port.
Rosen Vimes: Perhaps... just... well, I'll lead if that's...
Rosen Vimes: Right.
Dias Ashfield: Ah
Dias Ashfield: Sure.
Dias Ashfield: Go ahead.
Rosen Vimes: It's close.
Rosen Vimes: *a slight limp speaks of fading injury to her body*
Dias Ashfield: *he places his hand agaisnt the door*
Dias Ashfield: There, no one wil be able to hear us through it.
Rosen Vimes: Thank you. *leaning gently against the door, she crosses her arms* Now then... *a soft huff through a crooked nose* How should we go about this?
Dias Ashfield: Mhmmm. There are two ways of course.
Dias Ashfield: Either you tell me what it is and then I explain to you how I came to know about it, or I tell you first how I found out and then you explain it to me.
Rosen Vimes: *arches an eyebrow* Perhaps we can trade snippets. Question for question. How did you come across the name, magister?
Dias Ashfield: I heard it from a halfling.
Dias Ashfield: What is this group?
Rosen Vimes: *an implacable gaze rests upon Dias, unyielding of emotion* Something which does not need to be watched. Does the hin have a name?
Dias Ashfield: *he smiles* Just by saying that, you already convince me of the opposite. Yes of course he does. From this I suspect you are part of it too, correct?
Rosen Vimes: *blinks at him slowly* You came to me specifically. I've yielded nothing that you did not suspect. However, I would counsel you against further investigation. If you'll sit, I'll tell you why I feel this way, and there will be no lies or diplomatic omission in my words.
Dias Ashfield: Very well. *he motions to a chair*
Rosen Vimes: *sits stiffly, legs crossed, arms in lap*
Dias Ashfield: *he places his staff on his left side, against the table*
Rosen Vimes: I was once given the honor of speaking with an angel, master Xaranthir.
Dias Ashfield: Well then? *he places his hands on the table, fingers stapled*
Dias Ashfield: An angel. *it doesn't sound like a question really, just a neutral statement* *he nods*
Rosen Vimes: It spoke to me in simple terms. It spoke a terrifying prophecy. The crux of the omen lay in the... the prospect that magic itself is becoming mundane - that the force which made the sun go round might ... be finite.
Dias Ashfield: Mhmmm. *he's now looking straight at her, his eyes following every movement of hers*
Rosen Vimes: I don't normally take what I'm given at face value. This was different. *terse sincerity in her voice*
Dias Ashfield: Then you possess a rare talent. *he smiles, but motions for her to go on*
Rosen Vimes: *her lips thin in a quick smile* The point, sir, and this is my own interpretation, is that magic must be ressucitated. And no amount of fire and shapechanging will accomplish that. The source of magic, arcane antiquation aside... is belief in magic. That leap of faith into the supernatural...
Dias Ashfield: *he nods thoughtfully*
Rosen Vimes: *shakes her head after a moment of silence, hitting some wall in her train of thought* And for what it's worth, the Coruscanti is part of that. Some small part.
Rosen Vimes: I cannot tell you what it is, sir, but I can stake my honor on what it is not.
Dias Ashfield: And what would it not be?
Rosen Vimes: It is not an organization with aims to ever matierialize. There will never be a tower in its name, a plaque in its honor or infamy. In effect, it is nothing that can be seen directly.
Dias Ashfield: It almost sounds like a faith, milady.
Dias Ashfield: Not all faiths raise churches or temples. All one needs is to believe.
Rosen Vimes: *looks at him levelly, evenset eyes boring into his* You're a very intelligent man.
Dias Ashfield: I have been called cynical and addled only recently. I take it as a great compliment. Thank you.
Dias Ashfield: Let me tell you now how I came to hear of it.
Dias Ashfield: And why I came to you.
Rosen Vimes: *a quick smile that touches her eyes even more briefly* Yes, thank you.
Rosen Vimes: *lapses into expectant nodding*
Dias Ashfield: I did indeed hear it from a hin, but his name is not important, for there's more than one who knows about it.
Rosen Vimes: *something like shame comes over her features, quickly masked*
Dias Ashfield: It would seem that your companion the lady Ulalaume has given a speech in BRandibuck.
Dias Ashfield: And she clearly stated and I quote...
Rosen Vimes: *her right eyelid twitches*
Dias Ashfield: "I am of the Coruscanti."
Rosen Vimes: *opens her mouth, then shuts it, then opens it again*
Rosen Vimes: You're not lying to me, are you?
Dias Ashfield: May I advise some caution if it's not to be spread?
Dias Ashfield: Why would I do that?
Dias Ashfield: How do you think I found this out?
Rosen Vimes: Dear GOD! *hands fly to her face* What on earth is the matter with her?
Dias Ashfield: Unlike many belief, I do not use magic on people to learn things.
Rosen Vimes: No no, it was not meant as an accusation, I'm sorry. *rubbing her eyes with fists, she shakes her head* It just, erm, for reasons too stupid to explain, it caught me by surprise.
Dias Ashfield: I'm sorry if I upset you.
Rosen Vimes: Well. *a single bark of a laugh* No, only tyrants kill the messenger. I thank you for the information.
Dias Ashfield: Well the reason I came to you is because I know she and you and Cedrych are often seen together.
Dias Ashfield: And also because of the three you seem the most level headed.
Dias Ashfield: Besides, I'm not sure that lady Ulalaume has forgiven me for making her wear a loincloth.
Dias Ashfield: *coughs*
Rosen Vimes: Mmm. *slight, continual shaking of her head, she nonetheless conveys an affirmative* Well, I've certainly outlasted... *purses her lips tight* Some would say cynical, as well, so I'll take that as a compliment.
Rosen Vimes: *arches an eyebrow, lips tugging down* Hrm.
Dias Ashfield: That was only during the curse, I assure you.
Dias Ashfield: *quickly*
Dias Ashfield: At any rate... *he goes on in a more level tone of voice*
Rosen Vimes: I assumed. Of the three, I'm the only to've escaped your wrath in that regard, it appears.
Dias Ashfield: Well if I had any control over it back then...
Rosen Vimes: Yes. At any rate. *resumes the shaking of her head, small frown returning* That's.... news to me. In my defense, I was comatose.
Dias Ashfield: At any rate, it is liekly that no one has paid it any attention. Yet.
Dias Ashfield: But I'm sure I'm not the only one who wonders what it is.
Rosen Vimes: *a quick lick of her lips, fire returning to her eyes* That's... a good point. I mean, it's all high-handed rhetoric to most people..
Rosen Vimes: .. but yes, not all.
Dias Ashfield: I found out last night, after trying to capture a very ancient water elemental.
Rosen Vimes: *her gaze sharpens on him* Where was this?
Dias Ashfield: Those primal elementals are so very tough... What the capturing or where I overheard it?
Dias Ashfield: And I should say the trial at capture alas...
Rosen Vimes: The former... then the latter, if you would be so kind.
Dias Ashfield: Well I tried to catch one in Undraeth.
Dias Ashfield: In the sunless sea.
Dias Ashfield: *he nods* We had to kill it eventually, for it resisted all attempts at capture.
Rosen Vimes: *takes in a quick breath, nodding* Understood. That's... a bit off my beaten path. Pray continue.
Dias Ashfield: *he looks curiously at her*
Dias Ashfield: Well, when I came back to rest my weary feet in Brandibuck - I had emerged in Ladriel you see - I overheard a hin child say something strange.
Dias Ashfield: It was just the way a child would try to say a difficult word.
Dias Ashfield: And of course one thing led to the other. I asked arund and finally found out that it was your friend who told it.
Rosen Vimes: *a genuine smile appears on her worried face* Careful enunciators, they...
Dias Ashfield: Oh yes, very. *he chuckles*
Dias Ashfield: May I ask one more question? THen I'll stop bothering you. Well no, two actually.
Dias Ashfield: If I may.
Rosen Vimes: I see, I see. Well... that calls for... *a stern sigh* I very much appreciate the knowledge, master Xaranthir. Yes, please ask. If I'm able, I'll answer.
Dias Ashfield: Have you given any thought about what I have told you? The prophetic viewing? Do not bother telling the NA though, I've already been in contact *dryly*
Dias Ashfield: And they assured me that it wasn't them, so now I'm wondering...
Dias Ashfield: Well, no, no matter.
Dias Ashfield: *he waves it away*
Dias Ashfield: I have just one more question. When I talked about primal elementals you seemed surprised. Have you heard of them? Or perhaps... seen them?
Rosen Vimes: *dipping her head to him* I've done some thought, yes.... but it was interrupted before I could... exhaust my options. *gestures to her mashed face, purpling-yellow bruises smattered across* I was gone for several weeks.
Dias Ashfield: Ah, I'm sorry.
Rosen Vimes: *shakes her head* I'm back.
Dias Ashfield: I hope you're feeling better now?
Unknown Speaker: Hello Sweetie pie, and welcome to Mrs.Miggins Famour Pie Shoppe! Would you like to see what we have prepared today?
Unknown Speaker: Yes please, I'd like to see what you have to offer. I'm Starving!
Dias Ashfield: *coughs*
Rosen Vimes: Yes, thank you. *crisply, quick smile splashed, lowering her voice*
Dias Ashfield: [Whisper] Let's perhaps whisper.
Rosen Vimes: [Whisper] Quite.
Dias Ashfield: [Whisper] The walls may have ears after all.
Dias Ashfield: [Whisper] The elementals?
Rosen Vimes: [Whisper] Mmm. No secret is kept for long on this isle. Yes, I've seen one. Beneath the Earth, acting as a guardian of a sacred place.
Dias Ashfield: [Whisper] Beneath the earth?
Dias Ashfield: [Whisper] This is a secret place you can't speak of?
Rosen Vimes: [Whisper] *her eyes glaze over in memory* Yes. With apologies. If it is any consolation, it is both required for its current location and poses no threat to any but interlopers.
Dias Ashfield: [Whisper] No problem, but one final question then. ¨*he smiles apologetically* There aren't any water elementals there?
Dias Ashfield: [Whisper] I am in need of one's service and it would be very beneficial if it would agree to the task.
Dias Ashfield: [Whisper] I do not like forcing people or anything to do my bidding.
Rosen Vimes: [Whisper] *turns her face to one side, then back at him* Before I could consider acting on your behalf, I would need to know more details... regarding the nature of the service.
Dias Ashfield: [Whisper] Mhmm fair enough of course. The task would be to protect something of immense value to mankind. And the task would be only temporary. However the elemental spirit would be confined to an object, bound to it for the duration of the task.
Rosen Vimes: [Whisper] Do we speak of that... crystal... that was sought by the elf?
Dias Ashfield: [Whisper] Oh no. Not at all. I wouldn't trust anyone or anything near it.
Dias Ashfield: [Whisper] It's corrupting nature is too much of a risk. That's not a treasure.
Rosen Vimes: [Whisper] *a quiet nod* Good. Then what?
Dias Ashfield: [Whisper] *he smiles* Something which everyone will benefit of. I'm afraid I can't tell more due to the very nature of it.
Dias Ashfield: [Whisper] If it is to be found out, the attempt will fail already.
Dias Ashfield: [Whisper] I know I ask a lot of you.
Dias Ashfield: [Whisper] I can assure one thing however.
Rosen Vimes: [Whisper] *a weight seems to have settled over her, but she nods in resignation* It's not a lot of me... it's a question of trust. It was not more than a season ago that you turned me purple...
Rosen Vimes: [Whisper] Yes... go one.
Dias Ashfield: [Whisper] No one, apart from myself perhaps, will get hurt in it.
Rosen Vimes: [Whisper] ... and the elemental?
Dias Ashfield: [Whisper] And if I do, then there is indeed a large chance that the elemental will not be able to escape its binding.
Dias Ashfield: [Whisper] Not because I don't want to, but because I will be unable to release it.
Dias Ashfield: [Whisper] However...
Dias Ashfield: [Whisper] Yes... That's a possibility. *he suddenly looks grim*
Rosen Vimes: [Whisper] *sets her fractured jaw, breathing steadily*
Dias Ashfield: [Whisper] No, it'll be fine. It will be released. Either by myself when the task is finished or if I should die.
Dias Ashfield: [Whisper] Hmmm come to think of it... I wonder if there aren't any there?
Dias Ashfield: *he seems to be talking to himself now*
Rosen Vimes: [Whisper] If there are, then I'd ask you look there first. If there are not... and you swear to the truth of your words, then I will ask on your behalf.
Dias Ashfield: [Whisper] Ah, but there lies the problem. I can't go there. Not without an invitation and I think, no I am sure, I won't get one again. I may have hurt their pride.
Dias Ashfield: [Whisper] A fickle thing it is, pride.
Rosen Vimes: [Whisper] Combersome. *absently*
Dias Ashfield: Mhmmm
Rosen Vimes: ^cumbersome......
Dias Ashfield: [Whisper] So if you would be able to ask this, I would be in your debt.
Rosen Vimes: [Whisper] If... your task will indeed enrich us all, then I am happy to help however I can.
Dias Ashfield: [Whisper] I assure you that it will. It would be a terrible loss if I would fail.
Dias Ashfield: [Whisper] Do not take the word treasure too ...
Fennigan: There you two are.
Fennigan: Candy said you came this way.
Rosen Vimes: [Whisper] I'll do what I can. *laying her palm flat upon the table, she rises with a stifled wince*
Dias Ashfield: *watches the pixie*
Dias Ashfield: Who are you?
Rosen Vimes: *narrows her eyes at the creature, hands loose at her sides*
Fennigan: Oh, right, sorry.
Dias Ashfield: And speak quickly.
Fennigan: *waves*
Dias Ashfield: *rolls his eyes*
Rosen Vimes: *slips her hands back into her robes, dipping her head slightly*
Dias Ashfield: Getting impatient master Fenn?
Fennigan: Bored, yes, but impatient?
Fennigan: Always!
Dias Ashfield: But as chance would have it, we're just done.
Dias Ashfield: Thank you for the enlightening conversation milady.
Dias Ashfield: *bows*
Rosen Vimes: *another dip of her head* Just in time to leave you two to your business... *turns toward X, returning the bow deeply* And I must thank you as well, for obvious reasons.
Dias Ashfield: Ah, just one more thing. *he smiles* As is usually the case, time is of the essence.
Fennigan: Well, I can only wait so long before I start doing things sure to get me in trouble.
Dias Ashfield: Yes and we all know where that leads you master Fenn.
Fennigan: *coughs* I have no idea what your talking about.
Rosen Vimes: May you walk with God, magister. Master hin. *pushes off the table, walking on a slight limp*
Dias Ashfield: *he gives a genuine smile* Of course.
Dias Ashfield: *moves over*
Fennigan: I hope you feel better miss rosen.
Dias Ashfield: Until we meet again, Lady Rosen.
Rosen Vimes: (( gnight! )) I do already. Thank you. *to Fen, then to X* And yes - I hope to bring good news.
Dias Ashfield: [Tell] Night!
Dias Ashfield: Right then, swords?
Dias Ashfield: Is this regarding a sword that can be found in the Port catacombs?
Fennigan: Aye, you know the sword I was asking miss rosen about *takes out some dried meat and starts to eat it*
Fennigan: Well *chews* I was only asking because I already found it.
Dias Ashfield: I see. *dryly*
Dias Ashfield: May I take a look at it?
Fennigan: I expected I was in more trouble soon as I laid hands on it.
Fennigan: Thought this time I'd ask before some lich came after me.
Dias Ashfield: If it is what I think it is, you may soon be.
Dias Ashfield: But for that, I would need to see it.
Fennigan: Sure, have a look.
Fennigan: *takes out a large bundle and unwraps a finely crafted blade*
Fennigan: Trouble hmm?
Dias Ashfield: *he glances at the blade, but doesn't touch it*
Dias Ashfield: Let me guess, you... liberated this from somewhere beneath Port, correct?
Fennigan: Aye, it was just laying there.
Fennigan: behind all sorts of nasty traps and such.
Dias Ashfield: I doubt it was, for if I remem... ah yes.
Dias Ashfield: Well, as you may have guessed, the blade didn't get to lay there on its own.
Fennigan: *nods*
Dias Ashfield: Nor did any Midoran decide to just place it down there and surround it with traps.
Fennigan: Well, I had figured that fella standing there looking at it wanted it, thought I'd get it for him.
Fennigan: But he just kept staring at the altar whe I tried to talk to him.
Dias Ashfield: Ah yes, the ghostly figure?
Fennigan: *nods*
Dias Ashfield: Well I think that time has somewhat made him oblivious.
Dias Ashfield: He was cursed.
Fennigan: Great, a curse.
Dias Ashfield: And his soul can't find rest until the sword is given back to him.
Dias Ashfield: But...
Dias Ashfield: Of course one would expect to just hand it back to the poor restless soul, right?
Fennigan: Well, that was my thought.
Dias Ashfield: the curse is more intricate than that.
Dias Ashfield: It is like the one where a person is standing in a lake, and every time he tries to drink, the water recedes.
Dias Ashfield: Very tantalising of course.
Dias Ashfield: Similarly, the ghost can't touch the weapon, he can't even see it in the hands of someone else.
Fennigan: Well, I can't use it myself.
Fennigan: And I only grabbed it because I thought the fella wanted it.
Dias Ashfield: Mhmmm. I understand.
Dias Ashfield: But the nature of the curse won't allow that...
Dias Ashfield: It's quite the conundrum indeed.
Fennigan: So, how does one go about breaking a curse?
Dias Ashfield: Well, there's always a way, although often it's not what one desires.
Fennigan: Ain't right the fella should be stuck down there over a lousy sword.
Dias Ashfield: And in this particular case... I'm afraid that I do not know the answer.
Dias Ashfield: It seems even more intricate than my own.
Dias Ashfield: It took me over half a year to figure out the way to break mine.
Dias Ashfield: He's been there for centuries now.
Dias Ashfield: If anything, that curse is very potent.
Dias Ashfield: The sword in itself is harmless.
Dias Ashfield: But... there may be those who seek it out again.
Fennigan: Well, when the fella didn't want it, I thought of giving it over to the aristi.
Dias Ashfield: Why that's a very good idea.
Fennigan: They may be kicked out of midor and all, but something like this would be a boon to them wouldn't it?
Dias Ashfield: I'm sure they will find a way to free him of this curse.
Dias Ashfield: And yes.
Fennigan: I just wasn't sure how they'd react.
Fennigan: Might smite me on the spot for touching the thing.
Dias Ashfield: Well you can always leave it anonymously.
Fennigan: Possibly, but I don't like the idea of just up and leaving it.
Dias Ashfield: Of course, of course.
Fennigan: Some thief might come along and liberate it.
Dias Ashfield: Not if you are able to... let's say slip it into their secured vaults.
Dias Ashfield: They are keyd to specific individuals. To take things out I mean.
Fennigan: Well, if I could get into their vaults someone else could easily do the same.
Dias Ashfield: But it should be easy to deposit something for you.
Dias Ashfield: Ah no.
Dias Ashfield: They are keyed to specific individuals.
Fennigan: Well, if miss rosen hadn't left I'd give it to her, or if I could find byron.
Dias Ashfield: Mhmm well Lady rosen isn't of the Aristi.
Fennigan: Oh, but she's an exiled paladin isn't she?
Dias Ashfield: Oh! I know, you can see in the office of the Aristi at the Highway if Lady Angel is in.
Dias Ashfield: I mean GRace.
Dias Ashfield: Lady Grace.
Fennigan: Hmm, that's a good idea, she'd take care of it, give it to the right person then?
Dias Ashfield: Oh yes and she's high up in the Aristi.
Fennigan: This is one intresting object that can't just be handed over to any old someone.
Dias Ashfield: Very close to Lord Byron.
Dias Ashfield: Oh I assure you, she's quite young, but not too young.
Dias Ashfield: Just the right age.
Fennigan: Well, I suppose I could go talk to her, you think she'd see me?
Dias Ashfield: Mhmm perhaps. If she is in.
Fennigan: Want to come along?
Dias Ashfield: I'm not sure. I do not know her schedule.
Dias Ashfield: Sure.
Fennigan: Well, it's worth checking out.
Dias Ashfield: Of course, let's go.
Fennigan: Northern highway right?
Dias Ashfield: Aye.
Fennigan: And it wont hurt to have an archmage along if she gets mad at me.
Dias Ashfield: Yes...
Dias Ashfield: Ah lady Grace!
Grace: Can I help you, sir?
Dias Ashfield: Hmmm, may we ask you something?
Dias Ashfield: No, no, not about the Aristi.
Dias Ashfield: Nay, nor about the office.
Dias Ashfield: It's...
Dias Ashfield: I...
Dias Ashfield: Look, I know you...
Dias Ashfield: Oh alright, we'll return later.
Dias Ashfield: They seem -busy-
Dias Ashfield: *glances at Grace, but then quickly looks away*
Fennigan: Oh well, the fella waited hundreds of years, a few more days won't hurt.
Dias Ashfield: I suppose so.
Fennigan: Well, that was no help.
Dias Ashfield: No I'm afraid not. Right, I'll just go eat a bit in the inn.
Dias Ashfield: I'll perhaps see you later.
Dias Ashfield: *nods*
Fennigan: *nods* Well, I think I'll be going for a bit as well, if you see byron tell him I'm looking for him.
Dias Ashfield: Alright!
++++++++++
Villa Candela | Re: Gone |
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Re: DMs: La Sapienza
Posted: 18 Jul 2006 04:32 AM |
* The primal elementals Rosen is thinking of are in the Caligine Tunnels
* These tunnels, beneath the Villa Candela, are a sort of spiritual place; beyond them lies a threshold to Zarathustra's Realm (this is how I've been giving the NM their powers back: through "dreamwalking", for want of a better term)
* The primal elementals in the Caligine Tunnels aren't hostile (well, aren't supposed to be; but you can't head down there without a DM on anyway)
* They aren't just primal elementals; I've been RPing them as primal holy water elementals (kinda... if that even exists)
* They are guardians of the Grotta Sanctuarre; the Caligine Tunnels are a sort of filter/purification area that must be passed through before one's soul is clean enough to tread within the sacred grotto which houses the Starmetal Door
* It's something of a test of purity/goodness/etc so Xaranthir would have to pass some sort of mystical mumbo jumbo ritual and judgement
* Similar to (but not identical to) planar binding in PNP, he will also have to negotiate with the primal elemental and persuade it to help him, and this will come with a cost that must be agreed upon before the elemental serves him |
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Re: DMs: La Sapienza
Posted: 18 Jul 2006 05:36 AM |
More on the guardians:
* The sphinxes who guard the villa, above and below ground, screen everyone who goes in
* Darius is pals with a Celestial Avenger named Seraquiel (via Greater Planar Binding)
* The primal elementals can sort of "gauge" a person's worthiness
* Except for Seraquiel, the tests will likely be non-verbal (it's hard to explain, but I do have an idea)
* Lillian's actually got the only key down to the tunnels, so she'll have to be recalled for this—venturing down there without a guide is as silly as Aeneas heading to the Roman Underworld without someone like The Sybil
* Will likely do it this Friday, as PDeee is running out of time and will be headed overseas soon |
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Re: DMs: La Sapienza
Posted: 23 Jul 2006 11:49 AM |
Mission accomplished
More details to come (unless PDW beats me to it and puts a synopsis up here)
Plans for linked library network:
* Mirghul - Khadros Manor: Hub
* Asashi: Auxiliary (mostly books on religion, meditation?)
* Ferein - Secluded Ruins: Auxiliary (mostly books on arcana?)
* Brandibuck - Swiftfoot Glade - Cave: Auxiliary (CNR books, outside Salt's place?)
* Buckshire - Elbert's House: Auxiliary (tinkering, machinery, etc?) |
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Re: DMs: La Sapienza
Posted: 23 Jul 2006 01:25 PM |
| I'd prefer the secluded ruins be left alone for now since I have plans for them, maybe a library within the Upper Quarter, there are a couple of unused buildings there which have access but don't link to anything yet. Arcane stuff is fine. |
ELVES! |
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Re: DMs: La Sapienza
Posted: 23 Jul 2006 03:07 PM |
oops
Luther acquired the premises from Shazjen after he left
I know..
Lets make two ruins...
- Paul |
Purpose in life: finding better ways of allowing players to kill themselves. Repeatedly.
--
"...Cause he mixes it with love
And makes the world taste good."
--
<@James42> Lawful good isn't in your vocabulary, it's on your menu.
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Re: DMs: La Sapienza
Posted: 24 Jul 2006 01:13 AM |
I've got another idea for the global links/portals. Will write up when I get home.
In the meantime: started public post.
Yes. It is confusing at the moment. I will write the more detailed version when I am home and have the logs in front of me. |
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Re: DMs: La Sapienza
Posted: 24 Jul 2006 01:47 AM |
*Looks around shiftily*
Okay. The low-down...
1. Xaranthir and Lucifer created a portable hole to store all the books.
2. At nightfall, they buffed themselves up to the teeth. Including invisibility.
3. At Shining Valley, hidden behind a large tree, they stepped into the portable hole.
4. Kyria (pixie familiar) picked up the portable hole and flew them over the wall and into the courtyard of La Sapienza.
5. Hasted and buffed, the two mages zipped through and started sweeping the entire collection into the portable hole.
6. Complication: an Inquisitor came in towards the end when a very loud sonic trap was set off (I didn't count the first trap, because they'd silenced the area; but I presume the silence effect had worn off by then, and it was an Epic sonic trap, after all... very loud).
7. She didn't see them, as they were invisible. She did note that the traps in the antechamber were intact, so no one could have passed through there. And there is no other way into La Sapienza.
8. She walked into one of the studies and saw that all the books in there were gone.
9. Lucifer ambushed her with Dominate Person. Got her to disarm the trap leading out to the courtyard (they were effectively trapped in by it, since they didn't want to set it off, but it was too strong for Kyria to disarm).
10. He then told her she had seen nothing suspicious and would report that. In the meantime, she would go and take a nap for an hour before reporting back to duty with no recollection of what she'd seen. If she remembered anything at all, he told her she would dismiss it as a dream. (Ahh, good old Jedi mind trick... heehee).
11. Xaranthir is now seeking to relocate the books. He has approached the NM based at Khadros Manor. Pending approval from the Khadros brothers themselves, he can put the books in there.
12. The Khadros brothers have approved. Magic-man is their friend. Magic-man found their home again, after all.
13. The place isn't big enough to house the entire collection. He is considering either renovating and putting an extension to the place, or finding multiple sites.
14. He is also doing up a budget and looking into having shelves, desks, etc made. Yes, and restoring the books: he realises he will need quite a large team of scholars to help with that. Also cataloguing and sorting them all. |
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Re: DMs: La Sapienza
Posted: 24 Jul 2006 01:54 AM |
Another idea for providing greater access to La Sapienza 2 (LS2 for short):
Rather than scattering the books everywhere, what I actually originally had in mind was to have the place accessible the same way the OOC Lounge is. Although obviously it will not be accessible from everywhere via a Player's Stone...
I thought that LS2 would be one big place where everything is, but have portals around the countryside leading to it. Or, of course, you could also get in there via the front door.
You can then exit via the front door... or... go through a portal which will take you back through the portal you used to get there (that is, you cannot use LS2 as a hub to just jump anywhere you like... it will track which portal you came in from, and if you leave, that portal link will vanish... so again, you can't abuse it to just hop around).
So, for example:
Joe Bloggs enters via the Four Winds Inn portal.
Joe Bloggs wanders around La Sapienza, reset happens, the portal info is persistent so is not lost.
Joe Bloggs wanders out the front door. The portal information is wiped (there will be a big warning sign saying, you can't leave by the portal if you leave by the front door).
That means he now cannot hop back to the Four Winds Inn and is in Mirghul. This is to stop people from using it as a sort of globe-hopping point. If that info wasn't wiped, he would be able to travel to the north (or wherever he came from) as he pleases simply by going back to LS2 and going through the portal again. See? So leaving the environs means not being able to use the portal. |
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Re: DMs: La Sapienza
Posted: 24 Jul 2006 01:56 AM |
And...
I would actually prefer to see all the books in one place. The manor is big. Getting an extension for it or adding additional wings is surely easier than running around the world trying to find multiple sites. Multiple sites which would all require shelves, desks, chairs, lighting, staff, anti-theft measures... |
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Re: DMs: La Sapienza
Posted: 24 Jul 2006 02:48 AM |
actually, i was thinking of mulitple sites joined by portals with the only way out by the portal you came in on
X actually saw a "broken" portal last night. my IG explanation for it was that basically no mages since hte time of lynaeum had the skills to create permanent portals.
I'll think of a way to let him learn how, but the knowledge will be inperfect, resulting in portals that only sort of work (you can go through them, but you have to exit by that way or they will not work again).
- Paul |
Purpose in life: finding better ways of allowing players to kill themselves. Repeatedly.
--
"...Cause he mixes it with love
And makes the world taste good."
--
<@James42> Lawful good isn't in your vocabulary, it's on your menu.
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Re: DMs: La Sapienza
Posted: 24 Jul 2006 04:11 AM |
I'm just wondering how that would stop people from hopping around...
If you entered Site 1, for instance, does that mean you can't then jump to Site 2 or 3 from Site 1?
What's to stop you from just walking out of Site 2 or 3?
These sites aren't going to be solely accessible by portals; with Khadros Manor, for instance, you can simply walk out the front door. So if you needed to get to Mirghul in a hurry and you're in Ferein, you can just hop there via portal and walk out the front door. Or if you just wanted to hop from Ferein to Swiftfoot Glade - Cave, you could just portal over and walk up the ladder to Swiftfoot Glade.
This is sort of why I'm thinking there should be a central hub. The auxiliary outer sites can still have books, I guess—very basic books, nothing special. To get to the really good stuff, you would have to hop into the hub via a portal.
I might set up a demo to show you what I mean. |
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Re: DMs: La Sapienza
Posted: 24 Jul 2006 04:41 AM |
Seems to me the solution is fairly obvious, at least as far as the location of the central library is concerned.
I'd place it in Ka'azim, only really neutral place of learning, only accessible via portal (therefore no need for a Ka'azim key so they aren't abused). Just give it another floor with no doors, easy.
I agree with Ficcy the idea of having portals flying everywhere is a dangerous one and will be abused with them being used to flit around the world easily. So some way of ensuring that the player is returned only to where they came from would be a pretty high priority for me.
As to the ruins, had no idea Luther was in ownership... that said isn't he on the verge of going nuts and rampaging round Nethar'u in his underwear? Anyway, only reason I brought that issue up was that there is some backstory there with something PF started that I'd like to develop. Really think it would be better from Ferein's point of view if the node was placed elsewhere, even if it remains in Luther's ownership I really don't want it being publicly accessible. |
ELVES! |
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Re: DMs: La Sapienza
Posted: 24 Jul 2006 05:00 AM |
Asashi's already going to be a node. Could just take the ruins off the list, since it's so close.
I don't know how X's relations with Ka'azim are at the moment. Surprised he went to the NM first rather than Ka'azim, actually. I suppose, though, that mages don't want visitors tramping around and disturbing their studies.
Room with no doors does work.
Reason why Khadros Manor got picked is 1/ the architecture matched (Ara redesigned it in Gothic interiors), 2/ it is a very big abandoned building with lots of space and 3/ X seems to trust the NM.
<< See concept map >> |
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Re: DMs: La Sapienza
Posted: 24 Jul 2006 06:26 AM |
As to the ruins, had no idea Luther was in ownership... that said isn't he on the verge of going nuts and rampaging round Nethar'u in his underwear? Anyway, only reason I brought that issue up was that there is some backstory there with something PF started that I'd like to develop. Really think it would be better from Ferein's point of view if the node was placed elsewhere, even if it remains in Luther's ownership I really don't want it being publicly accessible.
No worries Benny... He has to come back for supplies occasionally, but it's not like he spends a lot of time there.
If you don't mind, I'll move the entrance to the secluded ruins to an entrance off of the mystic woods (so it will still be "near ferein" but not actually in ferein. I'll rename it as well.
Then, the existing transition can go to another ruins of sorts. How does that sound and what kind of area do you need built for the one you have in mind?
As for the portals, I'd only put them in if they could not be abused for hopping around, hence my comments earlier about them being "imperfect".
Ficcy, if people could "walk out the front door" and effectively get a one way teleport, I would not be as keen on that.
Instead, what I was thinking was a network of network of libraries with the less important books, that would all have a "broken portal" to a central library with all the important and valuable books (sealed level in Kaazim - although I'd be under the impression that the wizards of kaazim would not like to open their books the public even if they were all "donated" - wizards guard their knowledge dangerously)
The Central library would have no way out except by the exact portal you came in on (hey! they are broken, and the mages of this time suck eggs)
The only "cheat" this would allow is to have widely separate parties be able to meet each other quickly at pre determined times while avoiding the hassles of travel to actually meet each other. Muling of items would be possible (thousands of lbs of nuggets transferred in the central library?), but if we put the places in slightly out of the way places (but not too far out of the way) then it shouldn't be a problem.
Comments? |
Purpose in life: finding better ways of allowing players to kill themselves. Repeatedly.
--
"...Cause he mixes it with love
And makes the world taste good."
--
<@James42> Lawful good isn't in your vocabulary, it's on your menu.
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Re: DMs: La Sapienza
Posted: 24 Jul 2006 06:39 AM |
Front door's locked *points to JPG*
Hmm... here is another possibility.
At the State Library here in Sydney (which is big), you do not borrow books. You do not even browse the shelves. You instead go up to the help desk and talk to the staff, and they go off to fetch the book, then come back with it. And you go and sit down and read. And stuff.
So...
Maybe the portals cannot fit people, they can only fit books. You have NPC staff members on either end. The one at a node sends through a note saying, get this book. An NPC at the hub goes away and finds it and sends it through.
To get to the hub, you would just have to walk like an ordinary person.
No PC portal-hopping involved, but you still get the advantage of having the information available at multiple points all around the world.
Just an alternate idea there... |
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Re: DMs: La Sapienza
Posted: 24 Jul 2006 07:06 AM |
If you don't mind, I'll move the entrance to the secluded ruins to an entrance off of the mystic woods (so it will still be "near ferein" but not actually in ferein. I'll rename it as well.
Then, the existing transition can go to another ruins of sorts. How does that sound and what kind of area do you need built for the one you have in mind?
Not a problem there's a wizard tower in Mystic which would suit perfectly.
As to what needs building, I'll handle it since I know what I have in mind but it's no more than a germ at the moment so no great rush. It wasn't so much any worry about him living within Ferein that was a problem, it wouldn't be. Just that I had no idea there had been a change of ownership, again not a problem just ignorant of it. |
ELVES! |
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Re: DMs: La Sapienza
Posted: 24 Jul 2006 08:00 AM |
Ficcy,
nah, lets do the portal hopping. it's easy to make them one way.
Benny,
you've got the tower entrance in lantonei, I'll make make an entrance in mystic woods. shall I lock the existing door to that tower in ferein entrance for now?
As for not telling anyone, my bad. I had it marked two years ago but left it fallow until I had a good enough reason to start using it. The library was the reason which is why I just mentioned it.
I've always liked PF's design with the papers and books scattered all over the floor. It appealed to my inner scholar and any resemblance to my RL desk is purely an accident.
- Paul |
Purpose in life: finding better ways of allowing players to kill themselves. Repeatedly.
--
"...Cause he mixes it with love
And makes the world taste good."
--
<@James42> Lawful good isn't in your vocabulary, it's on your menu.
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Re: DMs: La Sapienza
Posted: 24 Jul 2006 08:23 AM |
| Please yes, lock it |
ELVES! |
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Re: DMs: La Sapienza
Posted: 24 Jul 2006 05:57 PM |
Sender: Phoenix
Receiver: Fictrix
Sent: 25/07/2006 6:40:00 AM
Received:
Subject: Library ideas
Message:
Ugh, after one gruelly long day of packing and running around, here I am with the short version of the ideas for the library!
So far X has two places that he can use for the storage of books and he also has the authorisation to turn it into a library. One is of course Khadros manor, the other would be Luther's hideout near the entrance of Ferein (called ruins, but they're not really...).
Idea one:
Not expanding the manor, but seeking yet a third place to store all the books and then linking them magically through portals. A portal is already installed in the ruins near Ferein, but it would need re-attuning.
Problem: no one currently alive (stress on alive) knows how to make portals let alone attune them to some other spot. Then again, despite how gate summons a balor, it's not how the spell really works. What you do create -is- a portal. Still, between casting a single use spell and a permanent portal is a long way. It would require someone specialised in this kind of magic.
Idea two:
Ditch the other sites and simply stick to the manor. The only magic necessary will be that to increase the speed of the workers so as to cut the time in half (haste, potions of speed) and to sustain them beyond mere food (endurance, bull's strength, spells and potions). Of course also magic for preservation of the books, but that'll be necessary in any scenario.
All the books will be kept in the basement, which will need expansion. If however a nifty mechanical system can be developed with shelves on rails, then the area needed will be very much reduced to only a slightly larger area than is currently available (we had this at our insitute; you simply moved whatever you didn't need and created an opening in between the shelves you need to fetch a book; It was done with cranks.)
The books are only collected out of the basement by the staff or magically (unseen servant specifically attuned to the retrieval of books?). They can be read in the reading room and of course can't leave the building.
X contacted the Mirghul rangers and they estimated that the work will take a year (approximately). With magic, it can be cut in half. This is not just the library, but also patching up the roof, etc.
The basement enlargement (if necessary) should be investigated by dwarves. X hasn't had the time yet to do that. Problems of a high water table may arise due to the proximity of Sable lake. At any rate it's something the experts should tell him as building houses and whatnot are not his field of expertise. ;) |
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Re: DMs: La Sapienza
Posted: 24 Jul 2006 11:10 PM |
Please yes, lock it
locked.
Ferein - Secluded Ruins is now "Mystic Woods - Secluded Ruins". The entrance has been moved off to the right of the transition to Ferein Entrance .
- Paul |
Purpose in life: finding better ways of allowing players to kill themselves. Repeatedly.
--
"...Cause he mixes it with love
And makes the world taste good."
--
<@James42> Lawful good isn't in your vocabulary, it's on your menu.
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Re: DMs: La Sapienza
Posted: 09 Apr 2007 07:58 PM |
IC post: Training
Research into portals has been temporarily halted. Xaranthir's walked out on the La Sapienza project because the mages are a bunch of dense morons. His lethal sense of curiousity is now leading him to investigate other matters (such as the epic electrical traps in the Frobozz Wizard's Factory).
PDW has put the IG mechanics in for the portals for X to figure out.
He'll be back though. They always come baaaaack. *Waggles fingers ominously* |
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Re: DMs: La Sapienza
Posted: 14 Jul 2013 01:23 AM |
Nominating to make this public.
While we tried to make big events all-inclusive, sometimes a player would shoot off an idea to us so daring that we wanted to go along for the ride and let them run it. This is one of those instances where PDW got to act more as a player than a DM, and tagged along (as Lucifer McIath) as a sidekick to one of Xaranthir's mad schemes. There was a chance that Xaranthir's ambitious plan to steal all the books out of La Sapienza and stick them in a manor in Mirghul would fail utterly. I knew this when I ran the event for Phoenix and PDW and they knew it too. What followed was a meticulously planned heist that succeeded so well that no one knew it had happened… until now. |
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Re: DMs: La Sapienza
Posted: 14 Jul 2013 01:45 AM |
The books were stolen from the library because of how the city of Midor was changing.
And because Xaranthir was a complete thief. |
Purpose in life: finding better ways of allowing players to kill themselves. Repeatedly.
--
"...Cause he mixes it with love
And makes the world taste good."
--
<@James42> Lawful good isn't in your vocabulary, it's on your menu.
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Re: DMs: La Sapienza
Posted: 14 Jul 2013 02:14 AM |
| Brilliant stuff! |
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