The Romance of the River Kingdoms

[Walking Dad]

And now I'm back!

Welcome back!

 

[Dr Simon]

WD: Protection from Spirits probably ought to belong on a druid's spell list. I spent ages searching for a spell called "cleave to the shadows" until finally I came across "know the shadows" in OA which is probably the one I meant. It's originally a Shugenja (divine) spell, and since the OA/LO5R shugenja are tied to the elements, it would probably make sense to allow it for druids as well.

Since Ape is a spontaneous divine caster, though, is he not limited to his "spells known" as far as spell-completion items are concerned?

 

[Dr Simon]

Theroc (via Shakou) has a good point, BTW. Don't forget that the "mission" is to stop the attacks on livestock. The Mysterious Door is probably not connected to this. Feel free to poke around with it, though. I wouldn't have put it in if I didn't expect you to.

 

[Walking Dad]

WD: Protection from Spirits probably ought to belong on a druid's spell list. I spent ages searching for a spell called "cleave to the shadows" until finally I came across "know the shadows" in OA which is probably the one I meant. It's originally a Shugenja (divine) spell, and since the OA/LO5R shugenja are tied to the elements, it would probably make sense to allow it for druids as well.

Since Ape is a spontaneous divine caster, though, is he not limited to his "spells known" as far as spell-completion items are concerned?

Actually, no. A sorcerer without magic missle on his known list, can still cast it from a scroll. Why should divine casters be handicapped? But he needs to be able to cast spells of this level. What are the levels of "know the shadows" and "Protection from Spirits" respectively?

 

[Dr Simon]

Prot. from spirits is 1st level, shadows is 2nd.

 

[Dr Simon]

Dusty in here...

So, what the Vashti says is essentially true - it's kind of up to you (as both the players and characters) what you want to do next. I know prolonged discussions over options tend to bog PBP games down a bit, so I'd prefer a quick decision of some kind - it doesn't really matter what the decision is, as long as one is reached.

Obvious suggestions are:

- Take up the reward offer to investigate the Tigerskin Gorge mines.
- Follow up the letter about a Paper Lantern Gang in the Court of the Shading Willow (see Letter #1, post 772). (A Paper Lantern Gang use magic for extortion).
- Return to the spider gorge and try to get through the shempo door.

Other possibilities with less defined routes:

- Return to the Spirit World through Ropoko Gate and try to continue the Vashti's quest without the Jade Elixir.
- Further investigations into the Jade Elixir, leading to above.
- Accept the dinner invitation from Magister Ten.
- Tracking down the spellcasting spider.

- Any personal quests, or other matters arising from the game so far.

 

[Neurotic]

Less defined routes, I think, should be left to 'accidental' discoveries that bring to front those side quests (such as ravings of madman about mixing spring water with ground jade in blood of immortal to create jade elixir)...

Other than that, Mystal would (in order of priority)
- immediately track down spider spellcaster because it does not do to leave revengful relatives of the ones you slay.
- help poor people against paper lantern gang - because being abused is something he understands, but he fought his way out and more likely then not, he'd try to incite people to take care of their problem instead of simply solving it.
- Tigersking Gorge - because it pays.
- Dinner with power players - because it pays, but he's uncomfortable among 'big folk' and wouldn't like to be butt of jokes because it may lead to problems (poking at nobles is never good surviving technique)



PERSONAL THING:
Mystal will search around dead spiders, especially testing 'faces' of the big one. Are they hard enough to serve as bucklers or small shields for him? Or even just 'hardish' - when he gets them back to skilled craftsman, then maybe can be stiffened or overlaid one over another

 

[Walking Dad]

Answered for Ape's interest IC.

 

[Neurotic]

Didn't those attackers have some lamp on a stick? Or PCs did? I cannot recall, but if former it may tie up to lantern gang...

 

[Dr Simon]

Mystal wasn't there, but, yes, the people who tried to hold the Vashti for hostage in exchange for the statue included one person who fought with a lantern on a stick (although that could have been because that's what he was holding at the time, posing as a linkboy sent by the Vashti).

Actually... tracking down those who escaped is another option.

Anyway, by odd(?) coincidence, the lantern-bearer was killed by Growling Ape, and it is his body that has gone missing....

Paper Lantern Gangs, by the way, get their name from the custom of hanging out paper lanterns to ward off evil spirits. If you pay them, it has the same effect.