jasin
Explorer
- Gathering in the Vertiginous Terrace
- The Harlequinade Mortificatio (Premiere)
- Handsome Slaughter of Curious Avians
- Lively Sports and Baiting (Win The Golden Egg)
- Bowling the Devious Heads (Win The Silver Skull)
- Five Course Feast
- Song! Dance! Braggery! (As Time Permits)
We managed to secure invitations because we had learned this would be a rare chance to meet Lashonna, an advisor and arcanist of the Prince who had helped defeat the Ebon Triad in Alhaster, and so might know more about the cult and their connection with Kyuss.
Jumbo, our cleric, communed with Garl Glittergold about the expectations, so we came to the Vertiginous Terrace well prepared, dressed up and bearing expensive gifts (2,000 gp per person). Jumbo managed to save some money by presenting the Prince with two of our CLW wands (which we have an overabundance of) in an artistically crafted box, and Shimrod (my wizard) presented a lump of gold and an uncut gem worth 667 gp and then transmuted that into a ring with bearing holy symbol of Hextor on the spot, using limited wish to mimic fabricate ("Oh, how I wish I had brought a more fitting present!").
The Handsome Slaughter of Curious Avians was the high point for us. They servants brought out repeating crossbows, and exotic color spray creating birds were loosed for the guests to shoot at. The Prince himself shot down six, and offered a thousand gold to the man who shot down more (in three rounds). Hugh "the Man" Mann, our fighter, shot down six, because he
ed up his timing: repeating crossbows having five bolts, the only way for a fighter with three attacks to shoot down seven in three rounds was to full attack (take down three); pick up another crossbow and standard attack (take down one); full attack (take down three). The Man full attacked (three); full attacked again (two... and out of bolts); picked up another crossbow and standard attacked (another one).That was good enough for the Prince, but Shimrod suggested a tie-breaker between the Prince and the Man... so the Prince would have a chance to truly provide us with a demonstration of his superior skill, naturally.
The Prince steps up and shoots down eight birds. The Man cannot do better than seven attacks in three rounds.
So he takes a crossbow and shoots down three birds. Next round, he picks up two crossbows and shoots another bird. So for the third round, he has six attacks. At terrible penalties (no TWF), but it's a chance! Unfortunately, he only hit three, but the idea was cool enough that we got an authority point for that (they represent the influence gained at the party, each granting +1 to Cha-based checks within Alhaster), even though you're only supposed to get one if you win.
We also managed to catch up with some old acquaintances back from Diamond Lake, meet some new folks, win a storytelling contest (I told Morte's tale from Planescape: Torment), even start setting the foundations for something of a revolution in Alhaster; it seems many people are less than thrilled with the methods of the Hextor-worshipping ruling Prince. Jumbo also met Miszen, a halfling woman who's taken a fancy to him (a memorable line used was "... and he's obviously not called Jumbo for his height! IYKWIM AITYD!").
When we finished the session, there was still one course left to be served, and we have still to talk to Lashonna, but that's OK: we want as many authority points on our side we can get before that.
