The Brink [of Madness] Act 1, Scene 1

[TristenC]

-Is there a way to detect the sigils required to get to the pool that will release Sorril except dungeon crawling?"
Maybe

-is it possible to bypass the effect of the sigils using planar or dimensional travel?"
Doubtful

As the last question is answered, the wind dies down abruptly. The camp-goers stare around in wonder, perhaps bracing for another such onsolaught. Lena marches up, looking between the three adventurers. Would have been nice to have prepared the camp for that... Well? did we learn anything useful?

Allikhain opens her eyes slowly and stands, working her joints as if they were stiff from the ordeal. Little, I'm afraid.

[BishGada]

Ke'Sha adds to Allakhain answer to Lena, "Maybe. Doubtful." he then goes to Allakhain and helps her get up. "You are powerful my lady. I had to hold on to my coat..." while speaking he looks into her eyes trying to figure if she needs any help recovering.

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Entirely OOC:
"Wow, a bit full of yourself, are you? "
"Are you just saying that because you don't want to admit there is someone else who knows more about this that you do?"
"Are you now planning to send your agents/followers on the PMP to hunt me down because I've insulted you?"

[Lord Torath]

“My most sincere thanks to Gur and Allikhain for your efforts in trying to get us answers.” He turns to the rest of the group. “Does anyone think there's any reason to believe further divinations will provide useful information? I will need a day or so to complete the mind links with those of you who have agreed to them. We could probably re-enter the Labyrinth on the morning of the 5th.”

Stephen moves to Allikhain's side. “Thank you again for being willing to cast such a difficult spell. How do you feel? Would you like me to examine your mind and repair any damage the other-planar power may have caused?”

[TristenC]

Allikhain accepts the aid in standing but waves off any concern about her mind; her eyes having returned to normal. I am well enough, and of my own mind; though it feels as if it has endured a tempest like the hurricaines of the tropical coasts. she smirks.

Ibrandul is curious and restless, and unaffilied with Vytholus, so I figured him best for our contact. He sees the underdark and the caverns of the world as his domain, and thus pays special attention to what goes on within. Even so... she sighs, His answers seem to confirm there is hope of restoring the Paladin by using the pool, and that Sorril has not been at least turned into some horror. Furthermore that seeking info on Dyris and Im-Ravin won't contribute to solving the maze itself, and there don't seem to be any planar-travel short-cuts. However... She raises a finger, If there is some way to detect the sigils, we might be able to expedite or at least avoid bypassing them when we draw near. I would expect magical detection to be of use, though if the others are hidden behind mundane surfaces, like the stone statue, that may be of limited utility.

[BishGada]

"We will use short term divination spells, such as Genius, to avoid missing these symbols, while detecting magic is natural to us." he says while looking at Allakhain. "So, you of strong will and mind, come with me now for our more delicate *and interesting* project." he smiles at her.
Then, with Gur on his shoulder again, he leads her away from the camp. "As you might have noticed, my previous company, didn't survive our ONLY combat in the Labyrinth." he waits for approval and continues, "I was fond of Rattle, and Ho and Rror were good bodyguards, but the situation calls for superior undead. Since Steve is reluctant we have intelligent comrades, I plan to create a Ju-Ju zombie, which is intelligent enough but completely submissive. Maybe after Steve sees the creature benefit and my ability to control it, he will approve more powerful undead as well. And maybe he won't survive to oppose my actions." he nods to himself. "Anyway, I now going to summon a fire elemental to bring us a human not from the camp. Then I'll drain his life and revive him as Ju-Ju zombie. Tomorrow I plan to summon some strong animals and revive them and the trolls we killed as monster zombies. Then maybe summon undead, but this may prove... as interesting as unexpected." He lets her process it and adds seriously, "Hmm... so I need you here, in case things go a bit out of plan. As a fellow necromancer you understand the importance of this task and the danger it holds."

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(OOC: The plan is to find place far from the camp so the Good heart fellows won't question his actions. Be close to other life sources like villages of locals, summon Fire Elemental (no need for protection from evil according to the spell) with the 4% chance to get Efreet that can grant wish, ask it to bring an unconscious yet living villager, (hoping for lvl 0, 1), then dismiss the elemental, cast Energy Drain on the victim, hoping to kill it, and then cast Raise dead or animate dead, whatever is needed, on it raising him as Ju-Ju. If that won't work, then Kesha can summon an Earth elemental using his 'Control Earth Elemental' stone, which surprisingly just summons the elemental and NOT control it, so then protection from evil will be required.

Anyway, Ke'Sha will also need tomorrow for his rituals, and be ready in two days to return to the Labyrinth.
)

[TristenC]

Allikhain follows but her brow furrows when she hears his plan. A couple of points you might consider: Do you have a plan to mitigate the spread of Fire through the jungle from your Elemental? Even if it finds one of the locals, i'm not sure the person would survive being brought back by a living embodiment of fire... Additionally, if it were successful, the local would still have the appearance of a local after being turned. Without some sort of disguise, it would be quite obvious where the 'donor' came from.

[BishGada]

"I can say he was already dead... and that will be the truth. If he dies by the elemental, I can revive him." Ke'Sha waves his hands dramatically, "I know it sounds redundant to revive someone only to drain his energy a moment later... but rules are rules!" he then scratches his head and adds, "Well, I've no solution for the fire issue, but you can't make an omelette without breaking some eggs, right? Do you have another suggestion? Can you summon Aerial servant? They are very good at fetching useful things."

[TristenC]

Allikhain considers the question, Most of the things I can summon would either likely not last long enough to find and return with someone. The simplest solution might be to create your troll-zombies and have one go off and 'find a volunteer' for you.

[BishGada]

"Bahh... trust a troll zombie with such delicate task? Nahh... it will waste us a day, the zombie will probably lose his way, frighten the people and won't be able to catch them, and besides summoning elemental might call upon efreet, which you know how powerful that can be for us. So if there is no other suggestion I'll just tell him to watch his steps. He can make sure he incinerate a path to ash quickly enough so the fire won't spread, and choose a way around large trees... And you know, sometimes wild fire happens, and it is good for the forest to renew itself. And also Lena can do something useful and be less bored and annoying. So all in all I think we are good." Ke'Sha plots his arguments. "You know what? I have a perfect idea. I can summon the earth elemental so he can keep the fire at bay. The only thing is he might turn on us... But I'll protect you."

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(OOC: So according to the monsterous compedium for the earth elemental Ke'Sha needs to stay concentrated and there 5% per round to lose control, but it doesn't take into account the summoner, and assumes combat situation. Also, in case of spells the caster sometimes need to cast protection from evil, but this is not mentioned when using a device (in 2nd ed). In 5th ed, using the stone is equivalent to casting the spell...
Would you say The HD difference will reduce the chance of losing control? Say 1% per HD diff? )

[TristenC]

Allikhain shrugs, It seems unnecessarily reckless, unless you happen to get an efreet or salamanders; which I suspect are rare. How would a being of pure flame even carry or drag someone back here? I don't think it will work.

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Regsrding the earth elemental
The 5%/ round is pretty clearly established and plainly written. Summoning elementals is risky stuff and one has to be high level even to attempt it, so no reduction for HD comparison.

Basic Elementals aren't evil, they are neutral. Salamanders are evil, efreet can be neutral or LE. Something to consider.

Range is 30 yards per level so for him about 510 yards. So depending on how far it has to go, he may end up following it around some anyway since he also has to concentrate on it.

Honestly, the zombie troll suggestion is probably his best bet at success (unless it gets attacked by something huge) given how far away the tribes people are. That or just taking a few hours and going himself the few miles until he finds someone.

[BishGada]

"I thought you were more adventurous woman. Well, summoning the Fire Elemental is a daily habit of mine, as Efreet grants you a wish, and I find it pretty helpful... and I thought if I summon something else, at least make it useful, but I see your point. So change of plans, will you join me searching a nearby tribe? Pity we used all the divination spells about the Labyrinth... It could shorten the search."

[Styrius]

Axid recoups his PSPs while all of this magical hubbub goes down and does his best to enjoy the provisions of the camp. He regards the efforts of Ke$ha and Allikhain useful to a certain extent as not much was truly gained. We at least know the target is still there and unaffected. Not knowing where all the sigils are is frustrating to say the least in his mind. He looks for chalk and some more silk rope.

[TristenC]

[bish, if you would rather not use an undead to search but have Ke'Sha walk around with Allikhain to search for someone in-person we can do that in your personal thread. ]

Any other actions for Steve at the moment?

[Lord Torath]

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I think Steve's actions other than conversation are pretty much done until the morning of the 5th.
Lots of meditation inter-spaced with empowering and psychic surgery.

[BishGada]

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No. I wanted to save a day, but this is very dangerous area according to the story, and all adventures whom each is very mighty by himself, came in a group. Except Steve

I also don't want to clutter the track of the adventure over too many threads.
Let's make it simple. Tomorrow Ke'Sha will learn Aerial Servant which according to the spell description are made precisely for that purpose. Grab men or objects and bring them to the caster. On the worst case Ke'Sha will ask for another day to prepare for the Labyrinth.

But Ke'Sha will cast Summon Fire Elemental just for the chance to get an Efreet that will grant him a wish. Would that be the case... Hmm... he will wish for "a native young man in his youth that is currently found with his tribe at least 10 miles from my position will be teleported to the exact location between me and Allakhain, on the ground, alive, asleep, lying, stripped of all but his under-cloth and tied."

I hope the wish is simple and clear that nothing bad will happen of it.

According to the spell: "It is 65% likely that a 12 Hit Dice elemental appears, 20% likely that a 16 Hit Dice elemental appears, 9% likely that two to four salamanders appear, 4% likely that an efreeti appears, and 2% likely that a huge fire elemental of 21 to 24 Hit Dice appears."

so rolling 100 dice:
[1-65] 12 HD Elemental - will be used as our cooking and campfire. Can also help blacksmiths in the camp with heating metal. And guard.
[66-85] 16 HD Elemental - will be used as our cooking and campfire. Can also help blacksmiths in the camp with heating metal. And guard.
[86-94] 2-4 Salamanders - Guards.
[95-98] Efreet - Wish
[99-100] 21-24 HD Elemental - will be used as our cooking and campfire. Can also help blacksmiths in the camp with heating metal. And guard.

If you have other ideas for the Wish or use of the elementals, jump in.
Other wishes I thought reasonable:
* Cast Aerial servant. - the wish I phrased is almost the same just with the elevation of successful bringing. I think since Aerial servant is 6th level that it is reasonable the gap from 6th-9th level is that it is successful.
* Know the location of the second sigil;
* have item with 20 charges of detect traps/fly ;
* have my undead have +2 HP/hit dice (like tougher zombies effect) or +1 to their AC or damage.
* Have one time extra protection from harmful mind effect spells, that I didn't permit (exclude Steve mind connection). - i.e. giving extra s.th. for something like that.
* Have one time 'true seeing' for the duration of the next time that the enemy tries to hide by any magical or natural means.