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"Return of the Rod of the Seven Parts" - D&D
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<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 439602" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chinese Take-out</strong></p><p></p><p>Chapter 5, "What's with all the critter statues?" September 14, 1018:</p><p></p><p>The group tries to figure out who would be best to send to the audience with the Takayama Elder. They ask Hiroshi what he knows about the family. He says that they are very powerful spell-casters, each being either druids, magic-users, or both. Their family wealth comes from their being the only creator and seller on the continent of powerful Potions of Longevity, much sought after magic item due to its ability to prolong life. Their particular “recipe” for this potion differs from the formulas and components used by other wizards on the world, in that the likelihood of negation with theirs is much lower, a significant factor given the cumulative negation properties of multiple ingestions. He says they also make and sell a number of other unique magic items, many having to do with animals. </p><p></p><p>They ask what he knows of their bias towards hybrid races. He says that sixty years ago a young member of the Takayama family brought disgrace to their family by having an affair with a married elf, from which a half-elvan child was born. The elf held a important role on the Emperor’s advisory staff, and his family was forced to leave the Empire in shame due to this indiscretion. The Emperor, the grandfather of the current Emperor, blamed the Takayama girl for seducing his advisor, and banned the family from the Royal Court, a ban that lasted for over three decades. Only with the coronation of the current Emperor fifteen years ago has the family been fully reinstated at the top of the social echelons. The elders of that family would therefore act unfavorably towards one of the half-elf race. </p><p></p><p>The party discusses whom to send, eventually deciding upon Aradyn, Duegar, Mojo, Timothy and Toshiro . They head to the Takayama estate, bringing with them the book of Lee Takayama. While most estates within the city have large quantities of trees and vegetation, giving a “park-like” appearance, this particular property is more “forest-like”, with greenery everywhere and the sight and sounds of hundreds of small animals and birds throughout the vast property, which occupies a walled-in twenty acre section of the city. </p><p></p><p>The five tell the gate guards about having an appointment, and are led through the outer gardens to a large stone pagoda-style building. They enter a door to a large room, occupying about half of the building. All of the walls of the room are lined with shelves, on which are thousands of small ceramic or wooden statues of animals. At the front of the room is an oak desk and counter. Sitting on a tall stool behind it is a young woman, who appears to be in her late twenties or early thirties. She introduces herself as Kasha Takayama, the family Elder they had an appointment with. While she is clearly far younger than one would expect an “Elder” to be, each of the party is mindful that this family makes Longevity potions, and conclude that she is probably much older than she appears. </p><p></p><p>Aradyn and Toshiro alternate as party spokesperson, explaining that they are on a quest of vengeance against an evil wizard who had attacked their home. Information that they received has indicated that this wizard now resides in a castle somewhere in this land, and that the castle was probably once the home to a man named Lee Takayama. The party notices that she has a surprised reaction to the mention of his name. They state that they are therefore interested in any information about that man, which is what has led them to the Takayama Estate, explaining further about the book, which they then place on the desk before her.</p><p></p><p>She rings a bell, and a servant enters. She sends the servant to go get someone, and another beautiful young woman soon enters, whom Kasha introduces as her cousin, Youli Takayama. The two of them examine the book while Kasha explains what the party has said. Youli states “We are the descendents of Lee Takayama, the man who established our family into prominence in this city, over five hundred years ago, who clearly authored this book. This is a great find.” “You may keep it with our compliments” states Toshiro. They are extremely grateful for the present. “Could you tell us about your ancestor?” asks Aradyn. They explain how he was a powerful druid-mage, whose area of expertise was biological, determined to find the secrets of both human and animal life. He created many magical items during his long life, the secrets to the creation of which he passed on to his family, which have kept the family employed and prosperous since his time.</p><p></p><p>Aradyn asks about where he lived. “Right here,” Youli answers, “He built this estate.” “Did he ever live at a castle in a different place?” asks Toshiro. After a pause, and exchange of glances between the two women, Kasha softly replies “He could have. We have no knowledge of what happened to him after he left Miyako and the Heian Empire.” “Why did he leave?” Mojo asks. Kasha answers, “He was sad and lonely. His main accomplishment in life was the creation of his Longevity potion. Early in his work on developing it he used one of his four children to test a formula on. It had an opposite reaction on the boy, causing him to rapidly age, and the boy died a few months later, despite Lee’s frantic efforts to find a way to reverse its effects. Following that tragedy, Lee’s wife refused to allow him to ever again use his magic on either her or their other children, even after he had perfected the potion. Whereas he used the potion himself, he remained young, as his spouse and children aged and eventually died. Following the death of his last child, he left his notes and all possessions to his grandchildren, and went away, never to return. That was 470 year ago she concludes.” “How old was he at that time?” Duegar asks. She answers “He was 130 years old, although he looked to be one third of that.”</p><p></p><p>Looking around the room, Duegar asks, “What’s with all of the critter statues.” Youli answers “Another of Lee’s creations. We can enchant each statue with a unique spell, which will allow the person using it to temporarily become that animal. In gratitude for your bringing us this book you may choose two statues as a present from us.” Looking at the hundreds of different types of animal available, they discuss which two to get. Youli interjects “Unless you are a druid you actually need two statues to become the animal, one for each hand when you activate them, as with one you would become only a humanoid version of the animal.” </p><p></p><p>Hearing this, they confer about the humanoid animals that they saw on the Island the previous month and those seen by the mage Oterel near Morgarth's castle. They conclude that Morgarth must be using these statues too, and say “We may actually need more than just two. Would you be willing to sell us some?” Youli asks what they have for payment, with Aradyn handing over one of Cassie’s large diamonds, this one being nearly the size of an apple. The women are very impressed by the size of the stone. Kasha casts a few spells on it, to confirm that it is genuine and not magically enlarged, they then discuss in the local language what the gem might be worth. They tell the party that “You may have twenty statues for this, plus the two that we will give you as a gift." The party then talk about what to get, concluding that they do not know enough about the local animals to make the best decision at this point in time, and request to come back the next day to make their choice. An appointment is made for 11:00 A.M. the following day. The group leaves.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 439602, member: 8530"] [b]Chinese Take-out[/b] Chapter 5, "What's with all the critter statues?" September 14, 1018: The group tries to figure out who would be best to send to the audience with the Takayama Elder. They ask Hiroshi what he knows about the family. He says that they are very powerful spell-casters, each being either druids, magic-users, or both. Their family wealth comes from their being the only creator and seller on the continent of powerful Potions of Longevity, much sought after magic item due to its ability to prolong life. Their particular “recipe” for this potion differs from the formulas and components used by other wizards on the world, in that the likelihood of negation with theirs is much lower, a significant factor given the cumulative negation properties of multiple ingestions. He says they also make and sell a number of other unique magic items, many having to do with animals. They ask what he knows of their bias towards hybrid races. He says that sixty years ago a young member of the Takayama family brought disgrace to their family by having an affair with a married elf, from which a half-elvan child was born. The elf held a important role on the Emperor’s advisory staff, and his family was forced to leave the Empire in shame due to this indiscretion. The Emperor, the grandfather of the current Emperor, blamed the Takayama girl for seducing his advisor, and banned the family from the Royal Court, a ban that lasted for over three decades. Only with the coronation of the current Emperor fifteen years ago has the family been fully reinstated at the top of the social echelons. The elders of that family would therefore act unfavorably towards one of the half-elf race. The party discusses whom to send, eventually deciding upon Aradyn, Duegar, Mojo, Timothy and Toshiro . They head to the Takayama estate, bringing with them the book of Lee Takayama. While most estates within the city have large quantities of trees and vegetation, giving a “park-like” appearance, this particular property is more “forest-like”, with greenery everywhere and the sight and sounds of hundreds of small animals and birds throughout the vast property, which occupies a walled-in twenty acre section of the city. The five tell the gate guards about having an appointment, and are led through the outer gardens to a large stone pagoda-style building. They enter a door to a large room, occupying about half of the building. All of the walls of the room are lined with shelves, on which are thousands of small ceramic or wooden statues of animals. At the front of the room is an oak desk and counter. Sitting on a tall stool behind it is a young woman, who appears to be in her late twenties or early thirties. She introduces herself as Kasha Takayama, the family Elder they had an appointment with. While she is clearly far younger than one would expect an “Elder” to be, each of the party is mindful that this family makes Longevity potions, and conclude that she is probably much older than she appears. Aradyn and Toshiro alternate as party spokesperson, explaining that they are on a quest of vengeance against an evil wizard who had attacked their home. Information that they received has indicated that this wizard now resides in a castle somewhere in this land, and that the castle was probably once the home to a man named Lee Takayama. The party notices that she has a surprised reaction to the mention of his name. They state that they are therefore interested in any information about that man, which is what has led them to the Takayama Estate, explaining further about the book, which they then place on the desk before her. She rings a bell, and a servant enters. She sends the servant to go get someone, and another beautiful young woman soon enters, whom Kasha introduces as her cousin, Youli Takayama. The two of them examine the book while Kasha explains what the party has said. Youli states “We are the descendents of Lee Takayama, the man who established our family into prominence in this city, over five hundred years ago, who clearly authored this book. This is a great find.” “You may keep it with our compliments” states Toshiro. They are extremely grateful for the present. “Could you tell us about your ancestor?” asks Aradyn. They explain how he was a powerful druid-mage, whose area of expertise was biological, determined to find the secrets of both human and animal life. He created many magical items during his long life, the secrets to the creation of which he passed on to his family, which have kept the family employed and prosperous since his time. Aradyn asks about where he lived. “Right here,” Youli answers, “He built this estate.” “Did he ever live at a castle in a different place?” asks Toshiro. After a pause, and exchange of glances between the two women, Kasha softly replies “He could have. We have no knowledge of what happened to him after he left Miyako and the Heian Empire.” “Why did he leave?” Mojo asks. Kasha answers, “He was sad and lonely. His main accomplishment in life was the creation of his Longevity potion. Early in his work on developing it he used one of his four children to test a formula on. It had an opposite reaction on the boy, causing him to rapidly age, and the boy died a few months later, despite Lee’s frantic efforts to find a way to reverse its effects. Following that tragedy, Lee’s wife refused to allow him to ever again use his magic on either her or their other children, even after he had perfected the potion. Whereas he used the potion himself, he remained young, as his spouse and children aged and eventually died. Following the death of his last child, he left his notes and all possessions to his grandchildren, and went away, never to return. That was 470 year ago she concludes.” “How old was he at that time?” Duegar asks. She answers “He was 130 years old, although he looked to be one third of that.” Looking around the room, Duegar asks, “What’s with all of the critter statues.” Youli answers “Another of Lee’s creations. We can enchant each statue with a unique spell, which will allow the person using it to temporarily become that animal. In gratitude for your bringing us this book you may choose two statues as a present from us.” Looking at the hundreds of different types of animal available, they discuss which two to get. Youli interjects “Unless you are a druid you actually need two statues to become the animal, one for each hand when you activate them, as with one you would become only a humanoid version of the animal.” Hearing this, they confer about the humanoid animals that they saw on the Island the previous month and those seen by the mage Oterel near Morgarth's castle. They conclude that Morgarth must be using these statues too, and say “We may actually need more than just two. Would you be willing to sell us some?” Youli asks what they have for payment, with Aradyn handing over one of Cassie’s large diamonds, this one being nearly the size of an apple. The women are very impressed by the size of the stone. Kasha casts a few spells on it, to confirm that it is genuine and not magically enlarged, they then discuss in the local language what the gem might be worth. They tell the party that “You may have twenty statues for this, plus the two that we will give you as a gift." The party then talk about what to get, concluding that they do not know enough about the local animals to make the best decision at this point in time, and request to come back the next day to make their choice. An appointment is made for 11:00 A.M. the following day. The group leaves. [/QUOTE]
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