The Horror of Holsea Head

[KazilDarkeye]

"The Archon College of Samarian Heritage Arcane Studies of the Art...that is to say, the big magic college here in town. I'm an Initiate of the College."

[Rathgar]

Big McLargehuge

Big dismounted the Big Pony, walked over the the plastered arcanist, and offered him some help in getting up. Then the gnome started talking in a way that was much more familiar to the party than how he had spoken in the fight. "What on earth were those people attacking you for I have no idea what it could possibly be is that something I don't know about this local in that it is a local that isn't the friendliest to arcanists which is quite unusual for a place that has a great college of magic such as this local. If you need any help getting back to the place I'll be glad to help and so will the rest of us I'm sure because we are all nice people well at least for the most part because I'm sure sometimes some of us can be not the nicest person but I'm never really mean except to people randomly beating up other people in the street like those people who were beating you up earlier that I have no idea why they were beating you up because you seem like the respectable wizard type but then again that could be just the bias that I have as a wizard that is making me think that a wizard would not need to be beat up but I'm not saying that you needed to be beat up I'm just bringing up the possibility of potential bias in my thought patterns. If you need help you can ride on the Big Griffin and I'll help you along to make sure you don't fall of or maybe one of the humongous people that I've aligned myself with right now could help you because they'd probably be a better help because of how much bigger they are than even myself. By the way since you're a wizard you most likely have a specialty because what kind of wizard doesn't have a specialty I mean I know some do but they're mostly noncommittal ballyknockers that don't realize that specialization is what makes society great although sometimes nonspecialists can come in handy like if they're in a remote area that doesn't really have any arcanists other than the one arcanist who happens to have not specialized in anything so anyway back to my question what is your specialty?"

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Good luck getting a half-beaten drunk to understand all of that. Also, the Summary (all directed at the drunk):
1) Why were you being attacked?
2) We'll help you back to the college.
3) You can ride the Big Griffin if you like.
4) If you ride the Big Griffin, it'd be best if one of the human-sized party members helped.
5) Are you a specialist wizard, and if you are, what is your specialty?

[KazilDarkeye]

"I'm not too sure why I was attacked. If I had to vager a guess, sir, I'd say I had too many pints. I think I should be alright to walk, sir, but thank you for the offer.

I am not a specialist wizard, yet. That is actually the exam I mentioned. You see, at the College we can apply for any of the 7 branches of magic, but in order to get in to that branch, we have to pass a written and a practical test. Even then they can still kick us out if we lack discipline (not a very good idea to be undisciplined if we are toying with the building blocks of reality, sir) or if we do something particularly disastrous. I was applying to enter the Guildhall of Illusions, Figments and Phantasms of the Mind, Body and Soul. 'Course everyone I know just calls it the Hall of Illusion. Bit of an outdated title that, but it impresses visitors."

[Ghal Marak]

Zasel

Zasel, having returned to the group along side the guard, sighed. He was tired of hearing the unending stream of babble from everyone. "Fine, fine. Now that you are relatively well, not withstanding the state of your liver, we can move on. We just so happen to be going to the very same college you were rambling on about. So we must part, goodbye." He didn't seem to mind leaving the drunk behind, and was obviously intrested in making haste.

[KazilDarkeye]

"Figured as much. Most people who ask me about the college go there shortly afterwards for whatever reason. I'm heading to the alchemist, seeing as how I've probably ruined my chances of entering the Hall of Illusion this time round."

He then turns and procedes to walk slowly out of the alleyway.

[Siren]

Aoi

"Well I guess we should get moving towards the college again."

Aoi starts walking in the direction of the college.

[KazilDarkeye]

Oh, yeah, before I forget, I have tallied the XP you guys received from that conflict.

Everyone else O.K with going to the college?

[Rathgar]

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I've been ready to go. Just waiting on everyone else right now.

[Jimp]

OOC
Likewise.

[SoD]

Dvalr

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OOC: Let's go to the college.

[KazilDarkeye]

You fllow the road for a short distance before gazing upon it, the front gates of the school and a grand entrance plaque reading:

Archon College of Samarian Heritage Arcane Studies of the Art
"Arcanum ins omnes".

Just beyond is the courtyard of what is easily the second largest and grandest building in the city (foremost for size being the palace, for impressiveness the Royal Art Galery). You head for the front office (identifiable by the glowing sign on it) and you are distinctly...unimpressed by the interior reception.
The front office is actually rather small, and to top it off, fairly ugly. It's walls may once have been white, but they are so dusty that grey is perhaps an understatement. The room is also almost completely devoid of furntiure, save for an oaken desk, upon which a green vase full of withered flowers lies, and a polished mirror on the east wall. There are a 4 doors on the west wall.

A large humanoid creature is sitting at the desk filing its scarlet nails. It is too large and too hairy to be a human. It doesn't look up when you enter.

[Jimp]

Hunter

Devon shuffles forward a bit into the room, looking around at his surroundings, but not approaching the desk. He raises his eyes to one of the other party members and nods towards the humanoid.

[Ghal Marak]

Zasel

Zasel walked over to the desk looked over the.... thing at the desk. "Excuse me, but which way is the Diviner's Wing?" He kept his tone even and clear, without the usual disdain.

[KazilDarkeye]

The creature stops filing its nails and looks up at Zasel, and you realise the creature is an ogre!
It then speaks, whereupon you also realise (if you couldn't guess already) that it is a female ogre.
"One moment, hon. I gotta check with my supervisor. I can't let any random people into the Diviner's Wing."

See then gets up and walks over to the mirror, muttering to it.

"O.K., hon, he'll be down in a moment."

[Siren]

Aoi

Aoi pulled out the letter from the advisor.

"I hope that they don't give us any trouble about getting in. We have a reference after all."

[Rathgar]

Big McLargehuge

Big strained his neck looking up at the enormous lady before him. "Wow I've never seen a lady as large as yourself not that I'm saying your fat or anything I'm just saying that I'm so used to being around normal sized people like gnomes that I've never met a lady that's as tall as you are. I've also never seen someone of your stature as refined as you are and I congratulate you for not falling in to stereotypical behavior of the quote unquote uncivilized races of the world because the premise that there is such a thing as a quote unquote uncivilized race is bull honkey because such a belief is rooted in a belief that one's actions are governed by their background and not their own personal choice. I also praise you for the speed at which you've adopted Common because it is quite a difficult language and it took me about forty years to master it to the degree that I've currently mastered it and I see that you've already mastered it and you don't look like you could possibly be over fifty which means you must have been living here or in some other human dominated community for most of your life."

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Keep in mind that Big's estimate on age is based upon what he thinks is the norm (that which would be normal for a gnome). I doubt anyone else (including the receptionist) will understand this, though. Also, the Summary: Big told the ogress that he's never seen a lady so large (though he clarifies that he doesn't mean fat). He congratulates her for not following racial stereotypes and complements her for becoming proficient in Common, a feat that took him forty years.

[KazilDarkeye]

"What, hon? Hang on..."

She then proceeds to pull a "Giant/Common Translation Tome", and spends a few minutes looking up certain words.

"...oh, thanks hon...I think".


At that point a well-built elf messenger walks into the room, eyes the group, and motions for you to come through the door.

[Ghal Marak]

Zasel

Zasel went through the door as instructed.

[Jimp]

Hunter

Devon goes through the door, following Zasel.

[Rathgar]

Big McLargehuge

Big also goes through the door, following Hunter.

[KazilDarkeye]

The elf has you ascend a nearby spiral staircase into a well lit, small office. It is small, but the kind of small that is dubbed "cosy" rather than "cramped", with a very wide oval window being the most prominent feature of the room. An old man in a white robe is sitting at a marble desk, stroking a small bird perched on the edge of the desk and reading a letter.
As you enter, the figure stands.

"Ah, good, you must be that band that this message refers to. Seems Advisor Whitman is hiring anyone these days, but he claims you have a letter and need to be admitted to the Diviner's Wing. Well, let's see it, I don't have all day."

[Siren]

Aoi

Aoi handed over the letter to the jerk.

[KazilDarkeye]

The man spends several minutes scrutinising the letter.

"O.K., this should be fine to access wherever you want to go in the Diviner's Wing. Just go back to the reception, leave via the door that says 'Courtyard', and go towards the big tower on the right. You will then be escorted wherever you wish. Now kindly leave."


OOC

2 Points.
1. ^Totally the kind of vibe I was aiming for
2. Sorry if this procedure stuff is boring, but it's almost over.

[Siren]

Aoi

"Sorry we interrupted your afternoon nap. We will go on with our very important business the King gave us. Its really too bad we have so much good in the world to do and aren't petty bureaucrats like yourself. We won't take anymore of your time."

Aoi walks out of the room following the directions given by the haughty old man.

[KazilDarkeye]

Your group crosses the courtyard and lays eyes upon the Diviner's Wing; a large marble tower with an observatory at the top. You walk towards it, and see a plaque above the oaken double doors:

Guildwing of Divinations of Space, Time and Dimensions
"Wier sehet omnes"

You upon the doors and are immediatly greeted by a wizard wearing white robes.
"Before you ask, no we did not read your minds to anticipate you were coming, we just got a message from the reception desk requesting the use of a scrying chamber. I should mention that the scrying chambers are rather small, so who is the one who requested it? The rest of you can wait in the side hall, or you could see the observatory, or what have you. So speak up - who asks for the service of the diviners?"

It is clear from his enthusiasm, rate of speech and general nature that this area of the college doesn't get that many visitors.

[Rathgar]

Big McLargehuge

"Ooh an observatory I'd love to use your observatory sometime when its nighttime and we don't have such pressing business to attend to and peace has been restored to the kingdom and whatnot and I'm not tired from taking care of the most important of tasks that I must take care of and all the other things that I need to do first like fixing my effigies and such. I love looking at the stars although I'm sure there'll be a large number of people who'll be in line to use the observatory who have a legitimate reason to be using it like astronomers and astrologers and other such type people who use telescopes for reasons that are much greater than stargazing and not just recreational stargazing like that which I'd be partaking in." Big paused for a second, then pointed at the Wayfarer Guide. "To answer your question it is this fellow right here that is in need of the use of the equipment of the people of the wizard college of this fine city."

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Summary:
1) Big will want to use the observatory at a more appropriate point in time, though he understands that it will probably be used by people who actually will have a need for it to do their work.
2) Evan is the one who is going to do the scrying.

Edit:

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I hope that Brom hasn't bailed on us. He hasn't posted in a long time. It would be a shame if we went through all of this effort so that our teleporting mage can get us to where we are going, only to find that when we get there his player has run off.
But, I'm probably just being a little too impatient.

[KazilDarkeye]

"Very well, then. If you would like to follow me Mr...nevermind I don't really need to know the name."

He leads Evan into a Scrying Chamber, and almost immediately after closing the doors asks

"So where is the sensor headed?"

[Brom]

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This is the first time that I have had a chance to get to my computer in a long time. I may have to work out something...I have a busier life nowadays than I was thinking I would when I got into all these campaigns. Apologies to all for this.

((OOC: Tell me if I have the idea right in this conversation.))

Evan followed the Diviner; he studied the surroundings. Everything was small; good. That meant that a lightning bolt spell would be more effective here than normally would be, as any enemies would need to pack closely and in lines.

He made a note of the exists, the corridors, all details that could be construed as pertinent in any way, shape, or form, especially tactically relevant details.

He *always* paid attention to tactically relevant details.

Bringing himself out of the mindset of considering his options should this wizard be an enemy rather than a friend, he responded politely but candidly. "We are examining the incidents going on in the kingdom -- the black clouds, the storms, the general changes and ''omens'' being witnessed over there. Send a scrying sensor anywhere that would constitue as being in that general region, and we will depart and leave you as you were."

[KazilDarkeye]

"Ah, yes, the business near Holsea. O.K, here we go..."

The wizard casts the spell and a sensor appears next to Evan, but only for a brief second as it soars out of the window towards the East.
Between Evan and the diviner a hole has opened, and through it you see the countryside spedding by in a blur. After a few seconds the image focusses and you can see the Tower of Holsea Head, like a dark claw rising up from the blackened cliff. Stormclouds are overhead.

"I could go nearer to the town, if you want, but the two are only, like, 5 minutes walking distance apart."

[Brom]

Evan nodded. "If this is the case then it needs be no closer."

Evan studied the area thoroughly, with the same eye he did when he was committing a location to memory for teleportation. He was marking the arrival zone in his mind; when he believed he had satisfactorily assembled pertinent facts of the region, he nodded.

"Thank you."

He did a smooth about face and walked towards his party. "I believe I have enough information on the area to bring us there."