Adventures of Eliria [IC] (3.5)

[DracoDei]

"Not especially, but we need to talk about something once we are on the road out out of ear-shot of random persons... but preferably BEFORE we pass our last chance to resupply, perhaps with some rather rare gear... or MAYBE at least salt... lots of salt... or some sort of spice that would literally put a vulture off its meal. Bleh... now isn't the time."

[TETanglebrooke]

Ever Lasting Rations are all you really need. It will take a few days to make one but they're fairly easy to commission.

[JanusJones]

"Bah!" Monkey waves his long-fingered hands about his head in agitation. "Buy this! Find that! Make another! Mighty heroes leap into action! There are wrongs to right and great feats to accomplish! Enough talk!"

With that, he leaps aboard a camel and slaps its side. [B]"Charge!"[/B

Spoiler: OOC

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Yeah, that's right. I quoted Conan. Whachoo gonna do about it?

[TETanglebrooke]

The mightiest of heroes can't jump into anything if they're on the verge of starving to death. It might be boring but surviving long enough to reach the fight is as important as the fight itself.

[JanusJones]

Monkey c0cks his head to the side, staring at Tannis as if bewildered. "Did you not hear that Monkey can find food, or not believe in the handsome Monkey King's abilities?" He scratches his head, sitting atop the camel cross-legged. "Hmm. Or you might have problems with your ears ..."

He leans off the camel and hollers at Tannis: "Fear not, hairless one - the Great Sage will ensure you do not go hungry!" He accompanies this with motions of eating, wildly exaggerated with munching and chewing sounds.

When finished, he turns to the camel's head and digs in his heels.

"Onwards!"

[DracoDei]

"Indeed... Onward. I had merely forgotten in all the excitement that we had persons with us who could handle the issue of food. Monkey's impetuousness may land him or us in trouble at some point, but I have reasonable hopes that it isn't this point."

[Techwarrior]

Erin and the party prepare to leave town, pausing only briefly at a trader near the gates for Vincent to satisfy his peculiar curiosity. The camels are quite capable of carrying any gear you may need carried to keep yourself under a Light Load. As you are getting ready to leave, Aandilar stops by.

"Hail Warriors. I wish you all luck on your trip. I stopped by because I figured it might be helpful to ward you from the desert heat. It'll only last a day, or two in your case, but it should keep you from catching sunstroke during that time."

Aandilar then proceeds to cast Endure Elements on Sun, Markrev, and Pum; and Extended Endure Elements on Mimic, Vincent, and Erin.

Spoiler: Vincent

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We'll RP this on the down low, just to keep things moving. Try not to let this influence anything you purchase. I'm not sure precisely what you're after, but I've given you essentially a row of market buildings. You can find at least one of anything under (5d6)[11] gp, apart from special materials, magical items, and animals. You can however, find scrolls of Endure Elements at market price, no matter how many gp I rolled.

As you head towards the outskirts of town, you are stopped by one of the guards you met last night. He hails you and thanks you for helping out with the brawl last night.

At the gates outside, there seems to be a bit of a commotion. A young, troubled teen red-headed girl is being chased by an angry mob.

[Zaydos]

Markrev buys a few torches and another two waterskins for his horse, and then leads his horse out of the town to wait for the others, giving the guard a friendly nod as he passes. Seeing the mob chasing the girl, Markrev takes a few steps towards the red-haired girl, hands flexing as he looks at the mob, essentia sliding into his tail. "What's going on here?" He growls, "Why is a mob chasing down a single girl?"

[Techwarrior]

One of the city-folk pauses, clearly eager to tell you the good news.

"She's a Witch!"

[Autopsibiofeeder]

Pum

Pum had remained silent throughout the whole food discussion. She could find food, and nature food was better than the preserved stuff city folk eat. At times, she glanced at the camels. Hundreds of pounds of fresh meat. We have food carrying food...what's the problem?

When they run into the fun game the people are playing with the red-headed girl, it turns out it is a form of commotion. The people are mad at her. That's not good. Pum turns to her comrades: "What is Witch?" There is still a slight grin on her face, as if she is eager to join the game.

[TETanglebrooke]

Mimic blinks at their declaration, then thinks about all of the casters that are in this world. So? What's the harm in a little magic? Then again since you're using a mob based legal system you're probably accusing her of something she didn't do in the first place. So tell us, what crimes do you think she's committed and why do you think she's committed them?

Mimic faces the girl. I would offer you sanctuary among our group at least until the end of this conversation.

[Techwarrior]

"An evil, horrible temptress who bargained with demons for magic!"

Spoiler: Markrev

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You know that while is occasionally true, not all Warlocks necessarily do this.

Other members of the mob start crying out.

"A witch! A witch! A witch! We found a witch! We've got a witch! A witch! A witch! We have found a witch."

"We must burn her!"

"A witch!"

Edit: The man is confused by Mimic's words, and the girl manages to sneak over to your party.

[Zaydos]

"Has she done anyone any harm? Has you proof that she made deals with demons? There are other forms of magic, other paths to magical arts. I have magic of a sort, does that make me a demon worshiper?" Markrev says moving his horse between the girl and the mob, and himself between the mob and the horse, and raising his incarnum coated hand meaningfully.

[DracoDei]

Vincent unties the draw-string on top of Bouncy Ball of Justice Junior's sack while keeping an eye on the mob... and their intended target too, just to be on the safe side.

He then puts on his shield, trying to look casual about it.

[Autopsibiofeeder]

Pum

Pum smiles at the girl. "Hi, Pum!" The shifter peers at the angry mob and turns to the girl with red hair. "You did something bad?"

[Techwarrior]

One of the men calls out loudly, with the somewhat nasal sound of a runny nose.

"She turned me into a newt!"

The small red-haired girl looks sheepishly at Markrev.

"I did no such thing!"

"Burn her anyway!"

Spoiler: Vincent

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Call it Sleight of Hand, modified by the Armor Check Penalty of your shield.

[Zaydos]

"If she turned you into a newt how are you here talking now? I mean witches with that sort of power are unlikely to let a mob chase them down."

[Techwarrior]

"Well... I got better..."

There is some mumbling from the crowd, and then someone shouts out "Burn her!"

If you don't pacify this crowd soon, they are going to take matters into their own hands.

The girl hides behind Pum.

[DracoDei]

Vincent steps forward and grabs his holy symbol with his free hand, holding it up at chin level and waggling it.

"I happen to be a cleric of Auronia, and she directs me to hunt down those who use magical powers for evil ends. That having been said, it is better to err on the side of letting a guilty person go free, than condemning an innocent... unless any of you just so happens to have the price of a small manner-house laying around in the form of diamonds?
No?

I do agree that the transmogrification angle sounds rather sketchy. I'd dare say it would be easier to make someone THINK they had been turned into a newt for a while than to actually transform them, and that sort of misdirection speaks to the sort of mind that would take joy in framing someone else for their crime. Then there is also the issue of motive. Such magic may or may not be only the purview of ones who could slay you all handily, but it is certainly not something that would be used without at least a modicum of forethought by anyone who actually possesses it."

Spoiler: Rolling Spellcraft, just in case you need me to.

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(1d20+1)[16]

[TETanglebrooke]

Mimic uses minor shapechange to assume a visage that appears celestial if not downright angelic. He brushes the girls face with one hand and calmly smiles at her. Sweet child do not fear, Our Lord, Saint Cuthbert, has seen your need and sent me to arbitrate justice this day.

Mimic turns to the mob. Please recount her alleged crimes and put forth your evidence of her wrong doing or cease this harassment immediately. You sir, are clearly not a newt and as such I find her innocent of that crime.

Disguise: Taking 10 if I can: 28. If I can't take 10: (1d20+18)[29]
Bluff: Taking 10: 20
Diplomacy: Taking 10: 22

[Techwarrior]

Spoiler: Skill checks, Vincent

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Diplomacy:
You successfully used Aid Another on Mimic.
Sleight of Hand:
Despite the ACP of your armor, you slipped your shield out quite casually, and drew no attention for it.

Spoiler: Skill Checks, Mimic

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Bluff, Disguise:
Your natural ability and skill with deception grants a +2 Circumstance bonus to Diplomacy for emulating a [Good] creature.
Diplomacy:
Your effective Diplomacy of 26 sways any Risk/Reward of up to -7 in your favor and you essentially have this crowd's leader in your hands.

The man seems rather shamefaced. "We heard that she had been manipulating some of our kinsman-"

"And she turned me into a newt!"

"But no matter. If you would be so kind as to take care of the poor girl, we'll just... Go home I guess..."

And with that, the crowd is effectively dispersed.

The girl on the other hand, is still hiding behind Pum, but asks.

"What will you do with me, milords?"

[Autopsibiofeeder]

Pum

Pum had been doing her best to shield the girl with her presence. Once the mob disperses and the girl asks her question, she turns to the girl and looks at her quizzically: "What you want do. You not want go home?"

[Techwarrior]

The girl shakes her head.

"That was what passed for my family what just left me here. I accidentally broke a few pots and vases with my powers."

[Zaydos]

"That sounds a far cry from turning a man into a newt. What powers do you possess?"

[Techwarrior]

"I can evoke blasts of otherworldly energy, and I see things, hear them even. They never stop talking to me..."

[JanusJones]

"What do they say now?" Monkey looks genuinely curious.

[Techwarrior]

The girl opens her mouth to speak and it seems like a hundred thoughts all crash though her head at once. Her eyes roll back in her head so that just the whites show and her body twitches and jerks for a moment as if caught in a seizure. Then the girl passes out.

[TETanglebrooke]

"Oh boy, let's not ask that again" Mimic says as the crowd leaves and he turns back into Tannis.

Ooc: I'm writing on my tablet right now and it seems I don't have a choice in font color this way.

[Zaydos]

Markrev picks up the girl. "We can't leave her here, the people are ready enough to lynch her."

[DracoDei]

Vincent moves over to her and tends to her, initially careful of a trick.

Spoiler: Burning a charge off of a healer's kit.

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Heal (1d20+10)[26]

"Well, let's take her with us. She still might be guilty for all we know, and if she isn't she could use our help to give her the emotional strength to counter those voices. Who knows, she might even be able to pull her own weight!"