Cinnibar

[Haltherrion]

You can find a short description of the last session followed by some information on the city Cinnibar here.

I'd like to do a short online section before the next live session. This is not critical but will ensure that the next session starts with some action. Otherwise, we will pick up at Trasutha's place.

It is worth approximately 500XP for those who participate (perhaps more if the discussion goes in interesting ways).

 

[Haltherrion]

As agreed by email; there will be no out of game discussion before the next session.

Play begins with Mithguard floating near Cinnibar.

 

[Haltherrion]

Cinnibar: Part 2

The party has entered Cinnibar and found it to be overrun with Ebolan (aka Pyrrhus)'s minions, a magical creation called a harvester.

Attacked by harvesters while battling fire giants, you and the giants dropped your quarrel to fight the greater threat. You are now holed up in the Fire giants' heavily fortified lair. They have told you that each of the two mine heads is now home to a smart type of harvester, one that apparently Ebolan did not anticipate and no longer takes commands from him. Ebolan himself is in the citadel, surrounded by more harvesters (these under his control).

The fire giants indicate that between them and the other clans, there is enough mercury to meet Castelleon's needs.

The party seems to have these options:

1) Kill Ebolan without the aid of the giants and others in order and get paid in mercury.
2) Kill Ebolan with the aid of the giants and others and then negotiate for mercury.
3) Kill one of the special harvesters at the mine head, gather your own ore and reduce it.
4) Other options?

 

[sivousplay]

Princep's thoughts

Ebolan is clearly a threat to this place, but his powers would seem to be beyond our ability to deal with (fire giants or not). So, I don't think options 1 or 2 are particularly viable.

I would suggest we explore option 3. If the harvesters appear too strong to deal with as well and if they are intelligent (and I'm expecting that they are), we may be able to enlist their aid in taking out Ebolan ... that may or may not allow the mines to be re-opened, but they may be the only thing in this place powerful enough to deal w/ Ebolan.

On the other hand, if it appears that we can defeat them, that may be the easiest route to mercury.

Both would require some investigation before we make a final decision.

What does everyone else think?
Princep

 

[Chris the Bigger]

Azz and Gel agree with Princep. Confronting the wizard directly sounds like a bad idea.

However, it sounds like this wizard has a pretty good grasp on what is happening in Cinnibar. We would be foolhardy to try anything without the help of the fire giants and dwarves. We don't know this place well enough to make a very good plan. Perhaps if we could convince both parties to put aside their differences and join us in a combined assault one or both of the mineshafts we would have a better chance of gaining control of one of the mine shafts.

It seems likely that the wizard is not going to let us take one of the mineshafts. So we will need to be ready to deal with him or have some sort of plan of escape. We don't think we can get enough ore out of this place or even refined without having the help of the inhabitants.

What can Suchet tell us about Ebolan? Does she think it is possible for us to defeat him with the help of the fire giants and dwarves. Does she have any thoughts as to what he is doing down here?

 

[Haltherrion]

What can Suchet tell us about Ebolan? Does she think it is possible for us to defeat him with the help of the fire giants and dwarves. Does she have any thoughts as to what he is doing down here?

Suchet on Pyrrhus (who is currently going by the name Ebolan):

Pyrrhus is ruthless and evil. He plots only for power and revenge. As to whether we could take him with the aid of the others here, that is impossible for me to say. My suspicions are that he is quite a powerful wizard and that we would be foolhardy to attack him unless there is no other solution available.

I do not know why Ebolan is here but I can think of a few reasons. He might simply have come here seeking a base of operation that provided wealth in the form of mercury. He might be here to test out his harvester monstrosities. Or perhaps he needs mercury for the same reason we do: he thinks he can fly a fortress. Perhaps for a combination of all three reasons.

We never asked Trasutha if she made control rods for anyone else. Even if she did not make one for Pyrrhus, perhaps he can make his own. He might now be strong enough. His existence in the Misty Isles has been hard and long. 700 years down here might have given him the skills necessary to work this greatest magic. if so, we would have no chance in battle against him.

 

[Chris the Bigger]

Azz...

Well seeing how Ebolan, or whatever he is calling himself these days, is some one to stay away from. Our only viable option is to take a mine shaft and recover as much ore as possible.

Even though asking for help from the FG's and Dwarves is not to my liking, they might prove useful in acomplishing our goals. we need to proceed with as much haste as is prudent. every day we spend here is a day more Mottul is plauging our lands.

 

[Haltherrion]

Draeca (through sending to Azz):

Ashfall [the dracolich] attacked. Rebuffed. Mithguard safe for now. Join you?

In metagame terms: do you want Dracea, Kestrel and Brom to join you in Cinnibar? You have 25 words to reply if you want to use Draeca's sending.

 

[Haltherrion]

Azz...
Even though asking for help from the FG's and Dwarves is not to my liking, they might prove useful in acomplishing our goals. we need to proceed with as much haste as is prudent. every day we spend here is a day more Mottul is plauging our lands.

As ref: You are with the FGs and can carry out any negotiations you wish with them. The one dwarf you are with can't negotiate for his clan; you'll need to make contact with someone more important.

Also, for metagame reasons (i.e., ease of running an interesting combat), it would be best if you tried to come up with a plan that requires mostly "off-scene" attack or support by the FGs and dwarves rather than just getting together a large group and making a frontal assault. While that might have some appeal, combat will go rather slowly if we are running 10 FGs, 40 dwarves, the party, and a zillion harvesters.

 

[sivousplay]

What's the topography of the mineshafts? Are they literally just a big cave or are there various entries / exits? If it's just a single entry, it's going to be pretty difficult to have anything but a frontal assault kinda plan.

Princep