What Happens During The Downtime
| GM: | DM Note: Someone pointed out that the party has been tramping through the city streets with a Red Orc and a Drow in plain sight. This is was not an oversight on my part; I assumed that the party would have taken measures to disguise the presence of the two “suspicious” party members; there are two Hats of Disguise in the party’s possession (Lathir’s, and Respen’s) that could have been used to mask their identities. Also, simple hoods / long sleeves could also suffice for casual inspection. Lastly, the party was accompanied by Collin, who seems to be well-liked and respected by the city guardsmen. Therefore, to speed things along, I simply assumed that the party made it through the city without incident. |
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| GM: | If you haven’t yet posted your introductions, simply post them anyway, and I will assume that you had already done so. This is a long part of the game, with a lot of exposition, therefore, I need to take certain things for granted, in order not to bog down gameplay. I am writing this post under the premise that the party has introduced themselves to Abigail, and that Collin has informed her of the party’s exploits. |
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After the introductions have been made, Abigail introduces herself…
Abigail speaks: “As you might have guessed, being Collin’s mother, makes me a Dragon as well, and a much older one at that. I am of sufficient age to have seen the calamity of mutual destruction that led to the fall of the Suloise and Baklunish empires; I have lived sufficiently long to not only amass a great deal of knowledge, but several potent enemies as well. My greatest foe is a red Wyrm known as Mythendrixxelonn, who is as powerful an agent of evil as I am an agent of good. Both of us have gone to great lengths to hide our presence from one another; Myth knows, as I do, that allowing our locations to be known is tantamount to inviting unwanted attack, and even sudden death. My late husband, Collin’s father, discovered the harshness of that reality first-hand; Myth not only killed him, but also took his very soul, draining it with a powerful gem known as the Mother of Darkness, a jet-black pearl some 12 inches in diameter, which was created in ages past, by a dark Magus named Kolmar. Thus, both Myth and I work behind the scenes, through other agents, and through obfuscated channels, to further the goals of our respective deities, who are themselves also enemies. Myth serves the goddess Tiamat, while I serve the mighty Bahamut. Neither of us acts directly against any problem, nor against any foe. I am far too wise to expose myself needlessly, and Myth (and rightfully so!) fears my wrath; thus, we both remain hidden, lurking in the shadows, so-to-speak, waiting, and watching. But we both lend aid where we can to potential allies, such as yourselves. I am a learned sorceress, and I have untold wealth and abundant resources at my disposal. Would you be willing to act in my service, and thus, ultimately in the service of Bahamut, in return for my aid, sponsorship, and mentorship?”
While the party ponders her offer, she goes on to explain: “Regardless of your acceptance of my offer, sundering the power of Nosnra and his dark queen was a great service to the region. I would be happy to provide you with respite, hospitality, advice, and training. Consider this tower your second home, for as long as you’d like to stay. If you decide to accept my offer, you can even go so far as to pick out a room of your own, and to furnish and decorate it as you please.”
During the next ten months, several things occur:
Lady Abigail introduces the party to a powerful ally, her lover,
Ellis Kvar, the Hierophant Druid of the Vesve Forest.
Upon seeing Kleborn’s gray cloak, Ellis comments: “Not more than a week ago, I entertained some friends of yours, Gray Cloak. Your organization must be more widespread than I thought, no doubt owing to the popularity of your relentless, strong-willed, stubborn, impetuous, yet admirably brave leader.”
Kleborn laughs, as he nods knowingly; Osprey was all of those things, and more. Kleborn, you can’t help but wonder what dangers the Gray Cloaks must be facing, possibly at this very moment.
During their 10-month stay, any mages in the party enjoy unlimited access to Abigail’s spellbook library; a few of them are hers, but fully hundreds, perhaps thousands of them, are obviously captured spellbooks, from enemies long dead.
| GM: | Whatever your max level spells are, assume that you get to copy ALL SPELLS of those levels, from most of the 3.5 core and source books; however, oddball spells remain subject to DM approval. |
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Also during the downtime, Nelvandra goes to full term, and gives birth to two children, one girl, and one boy. Both are obviously Elven, although the girl’s skin is inky black, her hair snow white, and her eyes a vibrant, purple-amber, having received the dominant Drow female genes; in contrast, the boy’s skin is ashen and gray, like the dying embers of a fire, and his hair is a bluish-gray, like that of a Human elder, while his eyes are bright yellow, like a jungle cat. Both children seem to be strong and healthy.
| GM: | Both children have the stats and racial abilities of full-blooded Drow; their stats at the age of adulthood are listed below. |
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[sblock=Stats for the twins
![:]](http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/devious.png "Devious :]")
Girl:
STR 10
DEX 17
CON 10
INT 19
WIS 12
CHA 17
Boy:
STR 12
DEX 15
CON 10
INT 20
WIS 14
CHA 17
[/sblock]
| GM: | Respen, you need to come up with baby names. And then you’ll have to run them by Nelvandra. |
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During the first two weeks of downtime, Abigail gathers the party together and says. “I have been scrying on the Steading, and I have news; Nosnra’s daughter, Varnella, has assumed leadership of the remaining Hill Giants. There are only 6 Hill Giants left, or 7, counting her. She is being advised and counseled by a Drow Wizard named Glimval, who also seems to be her lover. She has the support of the Troll and Bugbear tribes also, but from what I can surmise by listening in on their conversations, both the Trolls and the Bugbears see Glimval as the true leader at this point.”
Abigail pauses a moment, then continues, “I cannot scry upon the Troll leader, Brunk, nor upon the Troll Shaman, Vlagg, but I know they exist, from the context of what I overheard. I also have previous knowledge of the Armbreaker Tribe; they are minions of my enemy, Myth, and I know that he has bred with them. Many of them no doubt have Dragon blood coursing through their veins, and are probably resistant to fire; if you approach the Steading again, be prepared to deal with them. Being among his strongest minions, I have no doubt that Myth has shielded them somehow from scrying. Besides Brunk and Vlagg, there are 18 Troll Warriors in the Steading; and they are supported by Wyggum Vrendar, Chief Bugbear of the Skullseeker Tribe, and I count 51 Bugbears, all armed with crude armor and weaponry; apparently, the Drow-crafted equipment that the Giants enjoyed did not make its way to their weaker allies. I have also been able to determine that there are 3 Drow Clerics in the steading, who seem to be giving Glimval his orders. But even these 3 sisters are not in charge; they have been sending magical messages to a Drow Priestess by the name of Eclavdra.”
Nelvandra gasps at the mention of that name. “Oh, no!” she exclaims. “The Grand High Enforcer of Lolth, second only to the Queen. This does not bode well.”
Abigail nods, continuing, “Fortunately, although the Trolls serve Myth, I do not believe there to be any dialogue between Myth and The Drow. The Trolls talk constantly of the need for the Drow Sisters to raise Nosnra from the dead, but they keep refusing, citing the fact that his failure in battle has angered Lolth. This is a point in our favor.”
Abigail turns to Dewydd, as if he had posed a question, despite his silence this whole time: “By the way, three days ago, I visited the Giants at their campsite, and they were exactly where Collin told them to be. I opened a portal for them, depositing them about three miles away from your manor house, in a small copse of trees. I told them to wait for nightfall, and to approach your house and ask for lodging. I gave them a token of mine, that will prove their good intentions to anyone who sees it; it bears the Holy Mark of Bahamut. Barring any unforeseen complications, they are resting comfortably now within the confines of your estate.”
| GM: | At this point, the players can begin posting their intentions for how they intend to use their downtime. You guys can also divide and sell your loot; Lady Abigail offers to buy anything you wish to sell, and she makes an additional offer to sell the party anything that they might have need of from her personal hoard. She mentions specifically that she has many magical tomes she could part with (for a fair price) which would greatly enhance the party’s physical and mental abilities, permanently enhancing them. |
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