[Adventure] The Sibylline Idol (Judge covaithe)

[stonegod]

The flames shrouding Incarnation's plating dim a moment, instead flaring in his eyes as he gazes at the sage, but is then gone. Carefully, he places the sack on the bag then opens it to reveal its content, carefully not touching what is inside.

OOC: Insight on the sage (Incarnation is suspicious): 15

 

[Erekose13]

[XP Reward]

Apologies once again for the delay all, so lets start off with something happy. Here is the outstanding XP rewards to date.

June 9 - Sept 9 = 3 months = 83/104 per month = 249/312 (1st/2nd level characters)
battle = 170
skill challenge (already rewarded) = 100

So here are the totals I have you at:
Incarnation 1359+312+170+100=1941
Rurdev 1359+312+170+100=1941
Riardon 976+249+170+100=1495
Dane 689+249+170+100=1208
Vashik 1064+312+170+100=1646

[Returning to game]

Arg. We found lots o' dings. Dunno if its wat ya want. But seems many peeps want it. One dem have it. Head hurt, got drink?

"Excellent, please do come in. I can fix you a tea that always helps me. I just brewed some so its ready if you want me to get it for you." Before the old sage spends another half an hour getting tea for Dane, some one rushes off to the kitchen and returns with a cup. "Oh thank you. Takes a bit for me to get around these days."

"We f-f-found it," the shifter says gesturing toward the bag. "There s-s-s-eems to be a p-p-portal down t-there too. The others c-c-can explain it better than I."

"So you're sure that it is the one eh? Oh my, would that Rosvodiz had just trusted me earlier it might not have taken so much effort. What's this though? a portal? oh thats not good at all. Quickly I must see it now." he says, while old, the man remains as lucid as when you first met him.

"We have also found a sword. Maybe you can look at it for us. We don't know where the portal heads, but maybe Incarnation or Vashik have more insight in it's working."

"A sword? um yes I can look into that as well if you like, but first the idol I think and this portal." he answers in a gravelly voice thankfully free of the phlegm normally accompanying his speech.

That will do for now. As for your quest we have indeed retrieved the statue. It seems to be linked somehow to a portal down in the sewers. The things on the other side of that portal are best left gibbering in the darkness. We must move with haste, so conduct what tests you must, and send us on our way!

"Even without seeing the idol, that description confirms my fears. This is all linked to the beings I mentioned earlier. The creature that the Five fought not too long ago were linked to a world like that. Haste is indeed the order of the day, please let me see the idol now." he says agreeing with Vashik's direction.

The flames shrouding Incarnation's plating dim a moment, instead flaring in his eyes as he gazes at the sage, but is then gone. Carefully, he places the sack on the bag then opens it to reveal its content, carefully not touching what is inside.

When presented with the Idol, the old sage's eyes move over it quickly and calmly. He reaches out and retrieves it from the sack with both hands. He turns it over carefully in his examination. Everyone can now see that the idol is not only a statue but there is a thin key-like protrusion from the bottom. One eerily familiar.

Sounds and images begin subtly intruding on the consciousness of those around the idol and it is obvious to Incarnation that the sage is dealing with them too. Suddenly the sage stares up into the warforge's eyes and blood begins to pool in the corner of his eyes, or perhaps not blood but some strange brown substance. He drops the idol which clangs to the floor, metal hitting wood with a solid thunk.

"Close the portal now! Use the key quickly and blood, it needs blood!" he says, his voice grave and clear for once. He blinks his eyes rubbing away the substance on his sleeve.

OOC:

OOC: I'm going to have to adjust the treasure rewards as I had only intended this to last a single level of play. The time XP and a few adhoc encounters are likely to drive most people to 3rd when we finish. So anyone who wants to throw together a short wish list would be excellent. It also looks like we have a gp/month reward now too? I don't know what that is about I'm a bit behind in following the proposal threads in L4W or I don't remember it. In any case I'll adjust for that as well.

 

[Nebten]

After the sage has made his demands, he gulps down his tea burning his tongue.

Oye, aight sir. That sounds of import.

 

[Walking Dad]

ooc: Don't find the reference at the moment, but doesn't lower level characters gain more XP for the same challenge level (battle / skill challenge) as higher level characters? Or do I mix editions?
Good to have you back Erekose13

 

[EvolutionKB]

Rurdev takes the idol, putting it back in the sack, and then hands it to Incarnation. The strange visions and noises set the shifter on edge, but not as much as the man's change in demeanor. The shifter pays close attention to the brown substance.

"Close the portal now! Use the key quickly and blood, it needs blood!" he says, his voice grave and clear for once. He blinks his eyes rubbing away the substance on his sleeve.

"I t-t-told you s-so." Rurdev says.

[sblock=ooc]IC is down, Dungeoneering+9 on the brown stuff.[/sblock]

[sblock=Wishlist]
Iron armbands of power(lv 6)
Acidic Scimitar(lv4)
Wounding Scimitar(lv4)
Brooch of Shielding(lv3)
[/sblock]

 

[stonegod]

[sblock=WD]In 4E, XP is flat, based only on monster level.[/sblock]Incarnation takes the bag, but says nothing else, just stands, ready.[sblock=Wishlist]3: Leather Armor of Fire Resistance +1 (lvl 2)
4: Cloak of Distortion +1
5: Power Gem (heroic)
6: Burning Gauntlets[/sblock]

 

[covaithe]

[XP Reward]

Apologies once again for the delay all, so lets start off with something happy. Here is the outstanding XP rewards to date.

June 9 - Sept 9 = 3 months = 83/104 per month = 249/312 (1st/2nd level characters)
battle = 170
skill challenge (already rewarded) = 100

So here are the totals I have you at:
Incarnation 1359+312+170+100=1941
Rurdev 1359+312+170+100=1941
Riardon 976+249+170+100=1495
Dane 689+249+170+100=1208
Vashik 1064+312+170+100=1646

Confirmed! (subject to time gold; see below)

It also looks like we have a gp/month reward now too? I don't know what that is about I'm a bit behind in following the proposal threads in L4W or I don't remember it. In any case I'll adjust for that as well.

Yes, it's in the charter. Here's some relevant bits:

• 1st level characters gain 83 xp and 63gp per month of adventuring.
• 2nd level characters gain 104 xp and 89 gp per month for adventuring.
• 3rd level characters gain 125 xp and 127 gp per month for adventuring.

A DM has some leeway in awarding time gold; you can wrap it up with normal treasure if you like to award more magic items. (E.g. if your encounters are worth, say, 400g worth of treasure, and the magic item you want to give out is 550g, you can give the magic item in lieu of 2 months of time gold for a level 1 char if you choose.) The idea is to make it so that DMs only have to plan treasure based on the encounters and quests they put in, and can ignore time. But if you want to factor the time xp in yourself, that's fine too.

Don't find the reference at the moment, but doesn't lower level characters gain more XP for the same challenge level (battle / skill challenge) as higher level characters? Or do I mix editions?

Mixing editions, I'm afraid. Everyone gets the same xp from encounters; it's just that the total amount of xp you need for each level rises more quickly. The net effect is still that lower level characters adventuring side by side with higher level ones will advance faster, but there's less pesky math involved.

 

[Walking Dad]

... Mixing editions, I'm afraid. Everyone gets the same xp from encounters; it's just that the total amount of xp you need for each level rises more quickly. The net effect is still that lower level characters adventuring side by side with higher level ones will advance faster, but there's less pesky math involved.

ooc: Thanks, but the effect you mentioned is a bit lessened by the higher playing time reward for higher level characters. So lower-level characters gain actually less xp for a subjective higher challenge Maybe time for a proposal...

 

[Walking Dad]

Riardon looks at the sage wondering about the strange happenings.

[sblock=OOC]
Riardon needs at least a short rest.

Is the sage in control of himself?
Insight, arcana (1d20+1=6, 1d20+10=17)

Wishlist coming soon... but it should be a longsword and/or a neck item.


Everyone in 20 sq around Riardon gets a +2 to initiative.
When you spend an AP, you get a +3 on attacks.

[sblock=Mini stat block]
Riardon
Perception: 16 Insight: 11 Low-light Vision
AC 18 Fortitude 15 Reflex 14 Will 13
Hit Points: 24 / 24 Bloodied: 12
Temporary Hit Points: 0
Resist: -
Saving Throw: +5 vs Charm
Action Points: 1 Second Wind: 1
Healing Surge:6 Surges per day: 4 / 8
Encounter Powers: Inspiring Word 2/2, Scorching Burst, Warlords Favor, Feystep
Daily Powers: Lead the Attack

Condition: -
[/sblock][/sblock]

 

[ukingsken]

Well come along then, lets go now. I'm sure one of you is more then willing to bleed for the cause, although I'm not so sure our friend here can.

Vashik gestures at Incarnation.