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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Tellerian Hawke" data-source="post: 7238339" data-attributes="member: 6790669">Meanwhile, In The City of Shalistaurimon...[ooc]What I am about to post is a story device, designed to show players how my "living world" process actually works. While the players talk, make plans, take actions, etc., I, in my role as DM, am often doing the same; I decide what the NPCs are up to, their short-term goals, their long-term goals, etc. Then, I set those things in motion. These things "on the other side" of the story are happening simultaneously, and sometimes, the two sides meet. And I have to say, doing the story this way often has surprising results. Sometimes, the NPCs end up in a really good position, and their plans go well. Other times, the PCs end up with the upper hand, by doing something unexpected, and catching the NPCs with their pants down. That very thing happened in another campaign of mine, when the party teleported into an abandoned moathouse, in the middle of the evil Cleric setting up traps for the party's return, and shouting orders to his minions about what positions to take. The party literally caught the NPCs in the middle of their preparations, and the ensuing battle, though chaotic, was epic, exciting, and enjoyable, and ended in the party's favor.This time around, I thought it would be fun to put the two sides of the story side by side, and give the players a little insight into how I run NPCs, and their methodologies, and viewpoints. So, this time around, the players will actually be a fly on the wall, listening to the NPCs as they talk, reading their minds as they think, watching them as they move around. I hope that the players have as much fun watching this unfold as I had in writing it.I have edited Respen's previous post, showing what actions of his take place in which round. That will be the backbone of this post, in which I shall juxtapose the NPCs timeline, showing how the two sides meet.[/ooc][gm]Round One: In The Cavern.With the notable change in his personality for its progression from reserved to confident, Lathir looks over to Sylvar."Prepare that invisibility for the rest of the group."With that he walks back over to the yellow marker and states boldly,"NOSNRA!"He then steps onto the device.[/gm][gm]Round Two: In The Lair of the Drow Sorceress.Dame Clare's eyes narrowed into a squint, as she stared at the text in the time-ravaged book, her nose almost touching the page. "Tattered webs!" she hisses, repeating an old Drow epithet to herself, as her eyes fail to recognize the runes. "I've never seen such idiocy! What kind of Wizard fails to protect his spell book against the ravages of time and the elements?!?"Suddenly, her train of thought is interrupted, as she feels a cool, breeze-like sensation shoot down her spine. She looks up from her work, her thoughts directed inward. ~Someone has activated the Geoff Circle. What in the Demonwebs is wrong with that witch? I told her to keep adventurers out of the damned well!~"Number 22!" she cries, spitting with disgust, as she rises from her desk, walking toward her black-opal scrying ball. "I require your presence, NOW!"Reaching the ball, Dame Clare waves her hand over it, causing it to spring to life, pulsing with red and green flashes of mystical energy. She tilts her head back, and closes her eyes in concentration. As this is happening, Golem Number 22, her finest creation, clanks into the study from its resting place next door, in the lab. His red eyes glowing through slits in his helmet-shaped head, the massive Iron Golem croaks, in a mechanical voice, "I exist to serve, my lady. State my purpose."[/gm][gm]Round Three: In The Cavern.DM NOTE: During round two, Sylvar cast Invisibility Sphere, turning himself and the whole party invisible.Sylvar steps onto the circle, teleporting everyone except Respen (who failed to clasp hands) to the cave.[/gm][gm]Round Three: In The Lair of the Drow Sorceress.As Dame Clare's concentration begins to have its intended effect, i.e., the activation of the globe, she says, "Activate vision protocol." As soon as she says this, the Iron Golem touches the Light rune on his chest, and the glow of his eyes changes from red, to blue. The Iron Golem remains in place, awaiting further instructions.A vision begins to form in Dame Clare's mind; it is an image of Waypoint Cavern Number 5. At first, the cavern appears to be empty; but as the room is coming into full focus, she feels another breezy sensation, and smiles as Respen becomes visible, having been left behind by his comrades, now out of range of Sylvar's spell. With long years of experience, and high-level mastery of the art of Spellcraft, Dame Clare immediately recognizes what must have happened. "Oh, my little vagabond," she whispers, her ruby red lips pursing into an evil grin, "you forgot to hold hands. Your friends, whoever they are, have gone off and left you behind. What a shame. But not to worry, they will meet their end soon enough. No matter which direction they travel, they will find themselves in the midst of Nosnra's army; they are far behind enemy lines. Their deaths shall be glorious."Dame Clare waves her hand once again, and commands the globe, "Name," she says."Respen Coraellus," says a wispy, sinister voice, which emanates from the globe."Spirit of the Globe, hear my command, bind your watchful presence to Respen Coraellus!" she says, shivering slightly as a wave of power pulses through her entire body.DM NOTE: Dame Clare has just spent 500 xp. pts. to establish a mobile scrying link between the globe and Respen.[/gm][gm]Round Four: In The Cavern.[ATTACH]89118[/ATTACH][/gm][gm]Round Four: In The Lair of the Drow Sorceress.Dame Clare watches as Respen retrieves his hat, and assumes the form of an armored Drow priestess. Her grin widens. "Clever little Plains Elf mageling," she whispers. "Let's see what you're up to." With a watchful, yet intrigued demeanor, the Drow Sorceress follows Respen's movements as he begins making preparations. ~Not much to look at,~ she muses, inwardly, ~but I must admit, his sheer audacity goes a long way to make up for it. Perhaps I will spare him; he'd make an excellent slave. I could breed him with Nelvranda, the two of them might produce powerful offspring, suitable for my future plans.~[/gm][gm]Round Five: In The Cavern.[/gm][gm]Round Five: In The Lair of the Drow Sorceress.Dame Clare seethes with anger, but at the same time, is almost overwhelmed with curiosity and admiration. ~That golem cost a small fortune, you little bug! Poor, little Number 14. I shall flog you thoroughly for that, Sweet Respen, to remind you that no actions are without consequences. Perhaps you will think twice next time, before you barge into someone's abode, and break their things!~[/gm][gm]Round Six: In The Cavern.The rope stays in place, and Respen climbs the rope, pausing about 12 feet up the rope...[/gm][gm]Round Six: In The Lair of the Drow Sorceress.Dame Clare giggles to herself, ~Oh, Rope Trick. What a glorious spell. I remember my younger days, when I relied on such foolishness. It's a miracle of the Spider Queen's whim that I ever survived those early times, with as many chances as I took, doing stupid things like this. It looks like you've extended the spell's duration; are you going to hide, and await the return of your friends? Dear Respen, you'll be waiting a long time for that, my little firefly. Your little spell won't save you, my dear. But it's so cute that you think it will. Now, why did you tie the rope to Number 14's neck?~[/gm][gm]Round Seven: In The Cavern.The golem's 650 lb. carcass becomes light as a feather. The Respen climbs another 2 feet up the rope, disappearing into an extradimensional space, and he pulls/guides the golem carcass into the space with him, the rope disappearing into the space. A faux-drow necromancer and a dead golem. [/gm][gm]Round Seven: In The Lair of the Drow Sorceress.Dame Clare watches with amazement, as Respen wrangles the Golem body up into the extra-dimensional space, beyond her ability to scry. ~Why did he take Number 14 with him? What is he up to?~ Dame Clare finds it frustrating to guess at Respen's motives; they seem to defy all logic. ~Either this little mageling is an absolute genius, or else he's a complete and utter fool. What possible use would a novice like him have for a defunct Golem shell? Unless...~[/gm][gm]Round Eight: In The Cavern.[/gm][gm]Round Eight: In The Lair of the Drow Sorceress.Dame Clare makes up her mind; ~I don't know EXACTLY what my little, future breeder is doing in there, but his intentions are obvious. He's not awaiting the return of his friends, no. He's on the offensive. He's either planning some sort of ambush, or some sort of subterfuge. He probably realizes that the circles are warded, trapped, and alarmed. He knows someone will come to investigate. He has two possible motives for hiding the Golem shell: 1) To make it seem to whomever comes that the Golem has simply vanished, and is missing, or 2) He plans to drop to Golem shell onto someone's head, using it as a weapon. If he intends the first option, then he probably plans to spy on or follow whomever comes. Little does he know that it will be Number 22.~Dame Clare turns to Number 22, and says: "Step onto the 5th circle. When you arrive at Waypoint Cavern Number 5, I want you to stand next to the Geoff Circle, and look directly above you, and hold that position. Do not step on the Geoff Circle itself."The massive Iron Golem croaks out its response, "Yes, my lady. I exist to serve." Without hesitation, the Golem steps onto the 5th teleport circle that lies within Clare's massive library, and teleports into the cavern where Respen is.[/gm][gm]Round Nine: In The Cavern.[/gm][ooc] Here ends the "meanwhile" scene; we are now back to player-only perspective. [/ooc]Respen, as you are fiddling with your scrolls and potions, you hear a thumping and clunking sound beneath you; you look down into the cavern through the spell's intra-dimensional window, to see a MASSIVE Iron Golem walking over to a position almost directly beneath you. It carefully avoids stepping onto the circle; coming to a halt, the Golem turns its head upward, its eyes glowing a bright hue of blue.TO YOUR UTTER AMAZEMENT, THE GOLEM SPEAKS, WITH A SOFT, FEMININE VOICE!"Hello there, my dear, sweet, Respen. Why are you hiding way up there where I can't see you? Why don't you come down here, and let my pet escort you to my study? We have a lot to talk about. And please, be careful with Number 14. I think he might be repairable, as long as you don't drop him again."RESPEN: WHAT DO YOU DO?</blockquote>

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