Earlier post! >>626764 >>626765 Silver nods. "I want to help, but we need to help those fillies first. I'm sure the sword will wait." >>626766 You have seen everything here already right? Or did you….
>>626931 The trotting goes away again without them entering here.
>>626928 CRITFAIL ACTIVATED You get the full brunt of the hit and get '2d8' damage as the rubble hits all over you Things are still moving, if you stay in this room you'll have to roll reflexes again next turn.
>>626929 You manage to shield yourself as does Iris behind you. Things are still moving, if you stay in this room you'll have to roll reflexes again next turn.
>>626932 You get hit by a few of the pieces on your head. You get '2d4' damage. Things are still moving, if you stay in this room you'll have to roll reflexes again next turn.
>>626955 >>626957 Oh well, if that is over my actions looked kinda foolish but still. "The ghost is still here! We just can't see it! Try and hit the air!"
>>626968 Not gonna hit anything, uh? If there was a grid I might think I was doing some progress or actual work, but like this I just know it's silly. How tall is the ceiling?
>>626969 You are completely stealthed until someone who could see you beats your Stealth check or you choose to reveal yourself by talking/interacting with someone. They're Air elementals and very perceptive, but they'll have a hard time beating your roll.
>>626970 Don't bother. They're incorporeal. You could hit them if one reveals itself but right now you're not hitting anything.
>>626971 "Maybe." Iris looks around. "What if we're missing something? Did everypone check everywhere?"
>>626973 "Oh sorry. What about calling the fillies?"
>>626974 "They're probably mentally incapable of understanding what the deal is." Goddamn, I need to keep checking. Check this room again, Investigate.
>>626980 The place where Soil is leading you is completely different than the storm shelter. This is made of stone and engraved with old runes. These are ancient, perhaps dating back to the time of the Ancients themselves. They're said to be cursed.
>>626985 You enter the room and do a thorough check. At first there doesn't seem to be anything special here, but then you notice a small crevice in the wall. You put your hoof in it and one of the dirt walls give way to reveal a stone room similar to the one Soil and the others went into right now. This one is covered in Griffon runes dedicated to Tirek. And in the middle lays an old pony skeleton. There's a black dagger planted in it's skeleton spine, pulsing with black magic.
>>626984 >>626983 >>626982 You go to the bottom of the stairs. This hall is lighted by magical blue flame torches. There are several mummified Griffon corpses near the walls. At the end on a throne is the remains of a fully armored Griffon clasping an Ysmir sword. Iris mouth drops open.
Soil must roll a Notice check.
>>626981 You manage to catch a flard of conversation between 2 unicorns with sky blue eyes. They're discussing a ritual they'll do soon. In the middle of the complex you manage to find a spot overlooking the Air altar made of stone but covered in rich silks and gold.
>>626994 Communication with one of the Air Lords. Roll a Search.
>>626995 You should roll an Identify to know if you're gonna get brainraped. This isn't magical writing, but Griffish. Perhaps Pico could translate them for you.
>>626992 He's standing next to you. "Uh…yes I'm seeing it all. Look at that sword! It looks awesome!"
>>626993 Iris perks her ears. "What do you mean?" She looks at it. "That…what is that?"
>>626997 You carefully walk around. Some of the tombs are unreadable. Others are partly readable. Arend Crowtongue Havik ….. The names don't seem familiar to you. They don't appear in the stories you've heard about the Ancients. Roll a Knowledge?
>>626998 "It's a chest. They moved a chest here because there wasn't one earlier, and when we kill them we get the loot. It's in every book!" That's totally a mimic, isn't it?
>>626999 >>627000 You walk through the complex for a long time, dodging ponies as they pass by. By the time you finally find a door that the key fits you hear ponies gathering in the altar room.
>>627001 He perks his ears. "I…what? N-no. It's just as big!"
>>627004 Iris looks at it. "It's so colorful…it looks like it doesn't belong here."
>>627002 You're with them. You go to the bottom of the stairs. This hall is lighted by magical blue flame torches. There are several mummified Griffon corpses near the walls. At the end on a throne is the remains of a fully armored Griffon clasping an Ysmir sword.
>>627011 Here we go… this is going to be a doozy. Take out my dagger.
Puncture some of them to make the oil flow everywhere, and prepare a barrel to be rolled down along the corridor.
I don't want to blow up the elementalists themselves, but burning down their house is going to spoil their summoning party anway. Hopefully once I manage to roll the barrel down the corridor I'll be able to run after it and flare the oil. That's the plan, at least.
>>627013 You carefully step beside the Griffon leader skeleton as not to touch it. The chest is decorated with a checker pattern in all colors of the rainbow. It's made of wood. You detect a powerful spell on it preventing you from opening it or bashing it open.
>>627014 You've got them written down. The armor the Griffon on the throne is wearing is unlike the shining armor from the stories. You wonder if this tomb belong to Traitors who fought on Tireks side against the Ancients long ago. It would explain the lack of stories about these.
>>627015 You do so. If you want to end with a bang, you could roll a barrel back to the vantage point overlooking in the altar room, throw it on the altar and burn it in front of them. Pretty reckless but Lavan would surely extra reward such daring and defiance in front of the Air Elementals.
>>627016 That would certainly send them a message… Plus the Air Lords did try to kill me once, so it's only fair I give them a suitably polite response.
>>627017 You step up to the Warlord. His empty eye sockets stare at you.
>>627018 You could set this here on fire already, you can make it to the altar vantage point before anyone will notice this fire. Throwing the barrel from your vantage point on the altar would reveal you and then you'd need to spend another turn to use magic to light it. Or you could throw it on the altar already alight if you feel like it.
>>627019 You're pretty close to the throne and behind you are also mummified corpses.
>>627021 A flaming barrel crashing into their altar would be more unexpected and make for a more awe inspiring entry. Once a showjenny, always a showjenny. Light it with Flare, and roll it down. Make sure that it has a line of oil leading back to the storage so all of that will go up in flames too.
>>627021 I'll jeep searching. There has to be a book, a note, a record of their deeds or homeland or someone they swore fealty to and earned being entombed here.
>>627026 Stand up on the balcony quick, as it goes down. Make sure they can see me if they look up. "You get coal if you are bad on Hearth's Warming Eve, but this is what you get if you misbehave with the Fire Lords!" Booms away!
>>627498 The flames roll quickly over the floor, flaring up unnaturally. Your first priority should be to go in hiding again as the Air elementals are flying up to get you.
>>627502 You're hidden. Time to get out, the flames are spreading and tiny elementals are jumping out of it spreading fire and attacking the elementals with glee. Roll Athletics.
>>627504 You shield slam his bones until they rattle. But it doesn't seem to harm him too much… Subdual doesn't harm undead, but your shield does Lethal too
The blue mage fires two volleys of Magic Missiles on Amber. '2d20+8' '6d6'
The warlord flies up and lands next to Soil, surrounding him.
The purple Warrior attacks Soil '1d20+12' '1d10+1'
Roll #1 5, 15 + 8 = 28 / Roll #2 3, 3, 5, 4, 3, 4 = 22 / Roll #3 1 + 12 = 13 / Roll #4 1 + 1 = 2
>>627510 But she doesn't notice you and you manage to crawl out of the basement.
Outside you see smoke coming out of the building. Inferni is here waiting for you
>>627509 THREAT ACTIVATED Silver smashes the blunt of his sword against the skull, smashing it to pieces before punching it the body apart with his hoof.
The red warrior rushes forward, blocking Soothings path.
>>627526 ERROR ACTIVATED You slam the mage once but as you brace for the second time, the warlord swings his sword against your shield with such force you shield flies out of your hooves and lands next to you. you're unarmed!!! (see the yellow spot on the map for where it is, once I post the map)
The blue mage screeches and shoots 2 rays of Ice right at Amber. '2d20+8' '4d6'
The Warlord screeches and a black ray shoots out from his beak, slamming Soil for '3d6' damage, then he swings his Claymore to hit Soil '1d20+14' '1d12+2'
Roll #1 1, 5 + 8 = 14 / Roll #2 6, 5, 4, 5 = 20 / Roll #3 5, 2, 3 = 10 / Roll #4 17 + 14 = 31 / Roll #5 4 + 2 = 6
The dark attack is a direct hit, but luckily for Soil, his armor takes the blunt of the attack.
Error ignored You grab the undead next to you and slam him in front of you to take the icy ray, the skeleton is frozen and will be only able to attack once in his next turn.
SILVERS TURN
>>627528 Roll a Sneak vs this Search to get away '1d20+4'
>>627545 I'm not gonna do anything foolish like rushing unarmed for the mages, and instead I will just pick the shield up, and use Triumphant Swing on the Warlord! '1d20+9' '1d12+3' And in case I'm not horribly mangled, '1d6' vitality recovered.
Roll #1 3 + 9 = 12 / Roll #2 10 + 3 = 13 / Roll #3 6 = 6
>>627546 You quickly grab the shield and in one movement recklessly swing it at the Warlord, but he swiftly evades, leaving you open to attack! You're flat-footed
The blue mage tries to scratch Amber with his claws '2d20+4' '2d6'
The Warlord lifts his sword for a flurry of attacks on Soil '2d20+14' '2d12+2'
Roll #1 20, 1 + 4 = 25 / Roll #2 3, 1 = 4 / Roll #3 17, 11 + 14 = 42 / Roll #4 1, 12 + 2 = 15
>>627548 It's the warlord not the mage. >Once per round when the character has a readied shield and isn’t flat-footed, after he’s hit by an unarmed or melee attack but before damage is rolled, he may make a Fortitude save (DC equal to the attack check result).
>>627553 "Of course they aren't, but this is just the start of their night." She hoofs you a piece of paper. "I must go and pull some strings while they're distracted. Visit me tomorrow as soon as you can. Lavan will not respond to summons during the night anyway." The stars are twinkling above.
>>627554 He stabs with his sword, but misses two times!
>>627558 That must be the destination where I'll have to meet her… and I guess I should find a place to sleep for tonight. Suddenly I don't feel like signing in to any hotel though… maybe the Earth worshipper could take me in.
>>627565 Oh boy that was a doozie. I will have to give this guy what's for. Shove him down, close to those mages, quickly closing the gap. '1d20+9' '1d12+3' And then try a triumphant swing again. '1d20+9' '1d12+3' '1d6' Also, posting where I'd like to shove it. http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=120569
Roll #1 15 + 9 = 24 / Roll #2 11 + 3 = 14 / Roll #3 17 + 9 = 26 / Roll #4 4 + 3 = 7 / Roll #5 6 = 6
>>627566 You Slam you shield sideways against the Warlord, shoving him where you want before swinging around and bitchslapping him with your shield. You feel confident as your daring swing succeeded.
The Warlord shakes his head and attacks you again. '2d20+14' '2d12+2'
>>627567 >>627568 The first attack was missing anyway. The sword swing hits you hard across the head and you become fatigued. Warning: No vitality left
>>627578 Walk in with a thankful expression. "Yes, air. Their lords unleashed a blizzard on me once out of spite. I… repaid them the favor with a fire. Don't worry, I'm not agressive or violent, I just tried to teach them a lesson."
>>627579 >>627582 Silver picks up a rock and throws it right at the Warlords head. "Hey shithead, you think Tirek is tough? Come over here and you'll get a taste of real holy power." The Warlord turns his attention towards Silver.
>>627586 >>627587 You go into full righteous rage and slam him right through him shattering him to pieces in one swing. He won't be bothering nopony anymore.
>>627595 Alright, time to get serious! Bang his ugly, rotten, udead mug off! '1d20+11' to just grind him to dust. '1d12+3' And then '1d20+11' and '1d12+3' and '1d6' for TS.
Roll #1 9 + 11 = 20 / Roll #2 11 + 3 = 14 / Roll #3 2 + 11 = 13 / Roll #4 1 + 3 = 4 / Roll #5 4 = 4
>>627613 >>627610 You swing your chain from a distance, wrapping it around the claymore and yank it from his claws, it drops on the ground next to him.
>>627626 The first strike was a miss but during the second, Silver locks swords with the Warlord. They struggle, but Silver breaks through and manages an astounding slash through the skeleton form, sending it reeling back.
>>627630 There are a number of things you can do, like attempt to injure him unarmed. If you spend one turn to handle item, you can equip your mace and next turn slam him with it while you hold him. Of course, if you pass all the Athletics checks. You sure you want to do nothing?
>>627660 Doing that during your Grapple, it counts as a full action, so only the first dmg roll counts, but you don't need to do an attack check, instead you have to beat my Athletics '1d20+4'
>>627662 For more info, you can check Grapple in the Corebook page 219. If you're gonna Grapple a lot, you might as well check all the benefits you can do
>>627665 >>627662 The guy struggles too much and he becomes held again. He's still in your grasp, but another failed Athletics check might cause him to get free.
The brown mage tries to hit Soothing again '1d20+8' '2d6'
>>627680 >>627681 >>627680 You take a few steps back and then charge right into the skeleton, smashing it completely to pieces. The skull is is still moving so you crush it under your shield.
On the inside of the lid is a drawing of a mask, one half white and smiling, the other half black and frowning.
In the chest itself you find.
Scroll of Nature's Ally I (50g, 0.1lb) A white griffon skull (2lbs.) Large Sack (Holds 1 Small or more smaller items (max 25lbs), 0.5lbs, 3s) containing 7 Vrill Potions (Healing Potion, 50s, 1,75lbs) 3 Werebeast Oil (Wildling Oil, 100s, 0,75lb) 1 Sunflower potion (Vitality Potion, 25s, 0,25lbs) 2 Ovrin Oils (Blessing Oil, 50s, 0,5lbs)
A set of small bones (Raw Materials (Carvings), 15s, 1lbs) A set of steel bars (Raw Materials (Metalworking), 16s, 10lbs)
Gold: 1234g
AND on top of all this a sealed letter addressed "To Soil, Amber, Ferriro, Mabel and Soothing"
In addition to this, the defeated warlord and his minions have evaporated to dust except for the warlords armor and weapon
Bane of the Sun This ancient claymore has intricate carvings from the heft to the blade, detailing ancient battlefields and monsters. This is all the more impressive as the blade is made out of white Ysmir steel, one of the toughest forms of steel found in Hyperborea. It is white and cold as ice. In the center of the heft is the mark of the Heart of Tirek. Even after all this time the blade is still sharp. Magic inspection reveals a dark magical essence in it. Tireks touch is upon the blade. Prize Level 6 Essence: Alignment: Tirek Charm: Damage bonus +1 Damage: 1d12+1 lethal Threat: 19–20 Qualities: Reach+1, Massive Superior Armor-Piercing: AP2 Worth: 15 Rep (225g without magic) Weight 6lb.
Malicious Lokrian Armor This grey armor has been crafted by Griffon warlocks in times long past. The armor has unnerving quality to it, making the wearer more intimidating The scales have been infused with a magical essence, strengthening the wearer. Prize Level 6 Essence: Intimidate +1 Charm: Magic bonus to CON +1 Full Scalemail Blessed: Divine Resistance 4 DR: 4 Resistance: Edged 3 Dp: –2 ACP: –1 Speed: –5 ft. Disguise: obvious Weight: 45 lbs. Worth: 16 Rep (750s without magic)
For defeating this group you get 2651 XP
Not sure yet if this will be the end of this adventure or not. We'll discuss that.
>>627704 Loads and loads of loot. Iris' eyes shine as she looks upon it. Silver is scrutinizing the Ysrim sword of the warlord.
As for wounds, the only one really wounded is Amber who has some bleeding cuts on her face.
Without any help, Ambers natural recovery will take 8 days. If all her wounds are healed with Medicine checks or healing potions, the healing would just take 3 days, same as the rest of you.
>>628175 It's pretty warm. Inferni hops off the mare and hops beside you.
>>628176 It's a pink letter in a beautiful hoofwriting, with some scribbles next to it clearly written by somepony else
Princess Cadance (scribbled next to it:) H.G. Requests the honor of Your Presence At the Marriage of Clear Ice To Infinite Justice Paladins of the Highest Distinction in the Order of the Crystal Heart.
Twenty-Fifth of First Harvest One-Thousand and Eleven Twelve O'Clock at the Basilica of Thousand Colors (Scribbled:) Lokrivund
Reception and entertainment to follow at the Diamond Gardens
>>628177 >>628178 It can take a while for a ful treatment check, perhaps you should go to town first and just apply some bandages for now?
>>628178 Silver looks it over. "Yes…there's some curse on it. We could attempt to cleanse it." If Silver cleanses the weapon, which will take an hour, the weapon will no longer have its enchantment and will be worth less. If you keep the enchantment on it, it will be fully powered and worth a lot of money, but the enchantment of Tirek might cause trouble.
>>628194 You can roll a Knowledge check on Lokrivund.
>>628195 It is the 24th of Leaffall (october) 1018 so this letter is dated 7 years ago, you may roll a knowledge check to remember something about that day. Also yes Infinite Justice died as far as you know. During an attack on the Semiramis Changeling Hive.
>>628198 "Hmmm, let me have a look at it." Silver inspects the armor. "Seems clean…but I don't like it…"
>>628197 Suddenly Inferni hops into the fire, going up in flames. The earth mare gasps in shock.
>>628198 "It's referring to a time. The original date on this letter was over seven years ago. I'll guess Lokrivund is some sort of a special day in relation to Tirek."
>>628202 You do recall the name and check your Wild Lands map. To the south, deep in the mountains, you see a marking "Lokrivund" but you can't recall what it was. In any case, the journey there would take 7 days starting from Platina, through the mountain wilds.
>>628204 You recall the date well. It was the date when Infinite Justice and Clear Ice got married in the Capital. The whole capital was decorated and there was a grand celebration. Better times… You see the heart shaped seal of Cadance on the bottom of the letter and as you hold your torch close to it, the heat causes invisible ink to appear. It's not a word, but just a crude drawing of a round face, one part smiling, the other part frowning. See pic.
>>628213 Yes, you leave the room and go back to the dark tunnels. You enter the hidden room again and are seeing the skeleton with the dagger planted into it again.
>>628218 "You feel those shakes? They never go away." Smirk. "It's the best part." >>628222 "That looks… Evil. Think it's linked to the mare?" >>628225 "Seems like an occasion to knock teeth!"
>>628231 "Hmmm, we met about 500 years ago, on the Fire Plane during a project to create the biggest firestorm ever. We worked closely together during those times and found companionship. She was hard working and ambitious, a joy to work with."
>>628233 He looks at the map. "Can we find out more about this place?"
>>628240 For others who might not have seen that description:
The room is similar to the tomb. Stone walls etched with Griffon runes and drawings of demons and battles. In the middle, sprawled over the floor on its back is a skeleton of a pony with a dagger implanted into its chest.
>>628239 "We never did beat the previous record of the biggest firestorm, but it was fun to work on."
>>628245 Yes. They detail several of the old battles of the Tirekian armies vs the Ancients, told from a Tirekian viewpoint. It does mention Lokrivund once, perhaps you remember the name from some of the old stories?
>>628248 "Seems to be like that's the most plausible conclusion. This dagger is disturbing their rest, but I can't exactly get a hold of it because it's tainted."
>>628258 >it looks normal but there's an unsettling aura emanating from it.
What do you want to do with it?
>>628256 "Ember was…is a very ambitious elemental. She desired power, not just in our Plane, but the Material World as well while I wasn't too interested in it. We ventured here a few times…" He stops.
>>628257 "Can you imagine what it must have been like to stay in that..that hole?"
>>628261 He's silent for a bit. "We had some fights. That's all I'll say for now. We drifted apart. It is no surprise to me that she eventually drifted towards Lavan."
>>628262 >>628263 Um…what are you knowledge checking? If it's "can I destroy it?" the answer is yes, it can be destroyed by power of an opposing alignment."
>>628267 There's a variety of ways to deal with ghosts and spirits. >Destroy them as they manifest physically with magical weapons or magic >Find whatever binds them to this place and destroy it. This can be a physical thing or some personal reason you should resolve >get a necromancer of Grogar to cleanse the place
>>628268 He looks it over. "Of course it burns, it's evil. We should just smash it to pieces."
>>628269 "Of course not. But you'll have to excuse me if I'm not going in her home or talk to her. …and don't tell her I told you about this."
>>628273 She suddenly stops shaking and blinks. "…I feel a lot better suddenly. Like there's a weight of my shoulders. That's weird."
>>628274 You take out your hammer and smash the dagger. As it explodes, you're suddenly not around your friends anymore. Your body walks around as if you don't control it. You walk through brightly lit tunnels and two fillies run up to you. "Mommy's back!" You blink. You're in a meeting of the townsfolk. The winter is lasting longer than expected, the remaining food will need to be rationed more strictly. You blink. You're hugging your two hungry fillies, trying to tell them they can't have any food today. You blink. As you clean up the room a voice calls you from behind the walls. You dig and find the hidden chamber. In the middle lays fresh food and water. Without thinking you grab it and sneakily bring it to your fillies. You blink. You walk through the corridors with your head down. You hear ponies talking. She doesn't seem as hungry…is she hoarding food? You vow to be extra careful. You blink. You're arguing with your husband. He says you've changed. You're acting weird. You look tired all the time. He's concerned about you. You blink. You wake up in the hidden chamber surrounded with freshly carved idols you don't understand. This isn't your bed and what's this knife? You throw it away and run off. Good your husband is still sleeping. You blink. There was no food in the chamber today, you don't know why… You blink. Finally there was food again. You hurry back to give it to your foals. But you were careless. Your husband has seen it and he asks where you got it. You come clean in tears. You blink. You've brought him to the hidden chamber. He's in shock. This is heresy. This place is evil. But you did it for the fillies! He says we should tell the others, this place is evil. No, you can't let him. A heartbeat is pounding in your head. You blink. You hug your fillies tightly. What have you done…what if they find out? What will they do to you…to your kids. You look at them…and hear the heartbeat again in your head. There's only one thing to do…..
You blink.
And you're back in the hidden room again with your friends. You see the ghosts of a mare no longer armed, a stallion and two fillies in the corner.
>>628277 "She speaks the universal language. With it you can understand everything. I speak it now as well. That's why you both can understand me in your own language."
>>628282 >>628284 "Interesting… taking the food must have triggered a curse. This is why you should never ever trust Tirek. Let's hope nothing in that chest aside from the armor and sword was cursed either."
>>628286 >>628287 "Starvation and curses, what a terrible fate. But, what shall we do with this room? Odds are, someone might try to use this place to smuggle things, or try to he it as a shelter again."
>>628285 The other mare speaks up. "Wait!" She says something in Old Equestrian. Inferni answers. "No, nothing bad happened in town. You won't have any trouble with it. I promise."
>>628287 You dig in the ground and find a tiny chest.
>>628292 She says something else. "She says we can stay here for the night."
>>628291 You find 100 bits And a pale glowing moongem worth 1000 bits.
>>628291 Silver coughs. "Or we could smash some of the support of the tunnels, they'll collapse and nopony will ever get to them. And nopony will know the tomb was here."
>>628294 >>628293 >>628296 "I think you've got it under control then." Go back to the treasure in the last room and take the large sack still there. I'll go give Ferriro 4 of the 6 remaining potions inside of it.
It's time to go to bed, it's late. Amber and Silver systematically smash the tunnel support and block the tomb under tons of rubble.
It's already late at night. Will you go to town and get an inn or camp here overnight? If you're going to an inn, will you have a >Poor >Common >Fancy >Luxurious >Extravagant Check Core p168 for prices and benefits.
>>628300 He snuggles into the mare's hair. The mare says "I think he like you."
>>628314 You wanna check in right now at the healer? Silver or somepony else could do a Treatment check on you in the inn, or you can drink a few of Soothings healing potions. There's gonna be a few days downtime anyway, if you can heal all your wounds you wouldn't need a doctor's visit, but it's your choice.
>>628321 Yes. You were very slightly wounded yes. You have some minor concussions but nothing to bad, if we do the 3 day downtime after tomorrow, you'll be healed by the time next adventure begins.
>>628323 If you roll a crit yes. Otherwise you can speed it up significantly but not within the 3 days margin. I'd suggest a healing potion to help then you can do it if you or Silver or whoever passes a DC15
>>628325 If we're having three days of downtime, is it possible to Earn Income during that time? I'm sure there's someone who can use my crafting or spellcasting skills for a few days, right?
>>628326 Yes. Downtime will go in the day after tomorrow, so you'll be walking with some bandages for a day, but that way you have some time to buy stuff if you want. This does mean you can't do any Downtime rolls during those days, since you'll be at the doctor. Where will you stay tonight?
>>628327 Noted. You, Iris and Indy (well Indy goes to the nice stables next to it) go to the Puddington Hotel, with it's gold bathrooms, silk tapestries, huge rooms, room service, magically warmed baths, daily shows etc. Iris is dazzled.
>>628332 >>628331 >>628326 "A place with warm bathe and room service would help deal with the hits we've taken. I'm sure Silver would like you off your hooves for a few days."
Next day Mabel wakes up on the couch of the earth mare.
The rest of you wake up in the Butterscotch inn. The inn room downstairs is filled with Earth ponies having breakfast. You all get a common meal with your inn.
>>628343 Stashing all your money this close before the adventure ends and you get the Prudence treatment would be unacceptable. You or anyone else may stash half. However, when you're in a town, and the adventure isn't about to close, you my stash or withdraw any amount of money you want.
>>628353 "Remember to look for Lokri here. Most of the books and maps will probably have been written by Gryphon's or imported from the rest of Hyperborea."
>>628358 You arrive at a large house. As you knock on the door Inferni flies off to sit on one of the roofs opposite the house. An older pony opens the door. "Yes?"
>>628365 "Very well." You follow the old pony upstairs. He opens the door into a very warm room. The room is beautifully decorated with paintings of volcanoes and storms. Ember is laying on a bench near a huge fire. "Ah, Mabel! Come in."
>>628364 >>628366 >>628367 You set to work scouring the books. After about 2 hours of investigation you've managed to uncover the following facts. >Not one reference to a H.G. anywhere. >Neither to the symbol in any books, but you discovered something else instead. >The symbol closely resembles the laughing face of the Seal of the Harlequins, too closely to be a coincidence. >As you talk to one of the researchers there, she mentions she saw the symbol once when in the Old Quarter of Platina, but she can't remember where exactly, she has no idea what it means however.
On the other hand, Lokrivund is well documented. >Lokrivund was the site of one of the great battles between the Tirekian armies and the armies of the Ancients and the Sun. >After the battle, a large tomb was built into the mountain where the heretics were placed in, called Lokrivund. >Lokrivund means Maw of Lokri. >Lokrivund is considered a cursed place, a haven for warlocks and others with an interest in the darker side of magic. >In one of the older tombs, a special place is mentioned in the deeper halls, the Hall of the Ancients, where the fallen heroes of the Sun were buried to guard the demons from escaping. >one supposed account of somepony who went there talks of warlocks, heretics, outsiders and things much worse.
>>628369 The Harlequins are the elite followers of the Laughing One. They are the guardians of his Labyrinth, a place outside time and space rumored to even lead to the mythical Tree of Harmony, and dress in colorful clown suits.
>>628374 Of course! "I see. I was fearing he was avoiding me for some reason."
>>628375 It is marginally in the influence of the Jarl of Valdar's Crossing way to the south near Picostead. I say marginally because the Jarl doesn't enforce it and no claims on the territory have been made since most Griffons avoid it like the plague
>>628389 Scrunch. "I guess fooling centuries old, if not older, fire elementals is out of my leauge… for now." Flap my ears down. "I don't know all the details though."
>>628393 You manage to not blush. She stretches out. "Of course on the Fire plane, making sparks is a very different affair to the quite frankly messy fumbling around I see ponies around here doing. Since we don't have any bodies."
>>628397 "Maybe. Now, let's get down to business. Lavan was very pleased by what you did. As far as I know, you only made one tiny mistake, somepony spotted you."
>>628399 "You mean after the whole thing, right? Showing myself to the elementalists was intentional. I wanted them to know who is sending them a message."
>>628402 "Now, as for your reward." She hoofs you a bag. "A bit of boring earthly money for your trouble and something far more interesing." She gives you a smooth circular stone with a Lightning symbol on it.
>>628406 "It is. But I can put a charm on it. Your choice, either I can charm it to make you move as fast as lightning or you can use it to call on me to help you. But, don't call me for anything too mundane."
Lightning Stone A circular stone inscribed with a Lightning Rune. Touching it fills you with vigor. Prize Level 6 Essence: Dexterity +2
OR
Prize Contact: Ember Ember (Medium Elemental Folk Walker — 57 XP): Str 12, Dex 10, Con 12, Int 15, Wis 10, Cha 15; SZ M (1×1, Reach 1); Spd 30 ft. ground; Init V; Atk V; Def IV; Resilience VII; Health III; Comp VI; Skills: Spellcasting VIII; Spells: Continual Flame, Dragon's Breath, Energy Sink, Flame Blade, Flaming Sphere, Ride The Lightning, Shocking Grasp, Telekinesis I;
>>628407 "Friends are more important than magic charms. Plus I always wanted a stone that would let me chat with a fire elemental when I'm bored." Smirk.
>>628408 "If you do, make sure it's interesting. I don't come over to talk about what you ate last week." She puts her hoof on the stone and lightning sparks out of it. Then she gives it to you.
Experience Everyone Reached Daisyville: 50XP Helped Daisyville Villagers: 100XP Reached The Crossing 50XP (Not Mabel)Helped The Ghost Family: 100XP (Not Mabel)Destroyed The Tomb Undead: 100XP TOTAL: 400XP Bonus Soothing: Excellent Wendigo impersonation: 50XP Amber: Broke the Ghost Curse: 50XP Mabel: Lavan's Will Subplot: 2000XP
Reputation Everyone >Reached Daisyville >Helped the Daisyville Villagers >Reached The Crossing >Helped the Ghosts >Destroyed the Undead >destroyed the Air Chapel
Bonus Soil: Donated Books to the poor Soil: Donated Food to the poor Amber: Lifted the Tirekian curse Soothing: Impersonated Wendigo Mabel: Helped Lavan
Each of these grants 1 Rep. Plus 10 from the adventure's Menace Plus your Legend