Act 1, Scene 1: "Together in Harmony" (Game Thread)

[Nocturno]

Pyros will sigh and pull out his puzzle.

Puzzle #3: [1d20] = 3

He will jump up with delight, and let out a small squeal/laugh.

[Namenlos]

Yasir will pick enough of the flowers to fill two of his pouches. He will roughly stuff a "large" amount into a pouch and then acting more delicately will pick only a few for his second pouch, only enough that they fit snugly but remain fairly unharmed.

During the pause in the glade Yasir will take an extra long drink from his flask and pass it to John once more. Yasir will pay particular attention to the area around him, the area seems a prime ambush point despite its proximity to town and besides... It's quiet, too quiet. Once John returns the flask Yasir will take another drink and stow it away.

"Not much out here, huh? Haven't seen a whole lot of much have we, granted I've heard wolves so they are out here somewhere. Perhaps the mostly come out at night, mostly." Yasir will accent his words with hand gestures, pretending to view an area from a long distance by shading his eyes with one hand and peering about before shaking his head in the negative and upon mention of the wolves will emit a light howl and wave one hand around to indicate everywhere followed by a confused shrug.

Yasir will get restless if they rest in the clearing for very long and will begin to urge John to get moving if need be. Whether it is the booze or just the open air Yasir is possessed by a roaming spirit as he passes through the forest. A strange and new desire to explore this new , or any world that he should find himself in for that matter, rises within him as he takes in some of the more picturesque scenery(OOC: I'm assuming it is like most of the forests I've been in, neat little hidden areas, etc., [lol, you know like the enchanted forest park in california!]). All the exercise despite his drinking is refreshing in ways that he had forgotten, too many of his past days had been spent guarding a door for common thieves.
As the blood pumps through his veins, muscles that had not been used in months loosen relieving stress brought on by big city living and as well ,perhaps, by a feeling of dreams left unattained and goals left unconquered. For the first time in many months if not years the younger, naive and unscarred Yasir bursts forth, expelling a loud laugh at the irony of his situation. Once he had dreamt of becoming a hero of legend, that dream had died early into his mercenary career and yet now he has been thrust right into a brave new world begging to be explored and conquered.
Well, some of us are born into greatness while others have it thrust upon them muses Yasir, remembering a quote Abdel had said while reminiscing over a particularly large score.

(OOC: sorry, got carried away for some reason and kinda just kept typing... running on low sleep! is my excuse. Oh and hehe >.> now that I've got john secluded in the woods seems like the right time to acquire a smithy! jk jk O.O ... er... ahem, I mean I am totally not going to kill him and take his stuff ... and here it is [1d20] = 20 ... So I'm a 3.5er and 20 was good in 2nd as well, right? or did Yasir just trip on a branch and impale himself?

[Jenara]

Pity when ignorance and fear bar the way to enlightenment…

“They see it as controlling the magic, a few mages back home got rather.. Full of themselves, I mean one of the started a war and overthrew a kingdom, if the stories are true.” She explains as she puts the book down.

Excellent, you should copy it down as soon as possible while it is still fresh. Um… do you not have your spellbook with you?

“I didn't plan to learn any spells today..” She explains, “How much for a sheet of parchment? I will copy it down in my book when I return to the inn.”

(Spell takes 1+Spell pages [1d6-1] = 1-1 = 0 1 page in her spell book)

[TristenC]

[OOC:
Namenlos: I’m enjoying the subtle character development… meaning the rekindling of the dream of adventuring, not the drinking although from your backstory the booze-hounding is definitely in-character . A natural 20 is perfect for attack or saving throw rolls… it is the worst possible roll for an ability check (like Con) or for a NWP check (Which is based off of ability scores)… in other words, the branch thing… If you were going to attack John that would be the roll to use but, alas, you are now Moderately drunk… Besides, he does have that redhead apprentice... And you have another check or two coming after that long pull off the flask

Jenara: It’s actually 1d6-1 + 1/spell level, so it would be just 1d6 for a 1st lvl spell… but yeah, 1 pg… nice rolling! You’ve been hitting a lot of minimum rolls lately, good to get those out of your system before combat, right ]


Yasir and John: The West Gate
The powerful, tan warrior gathers handfuls of the pretty purple flowers and stuffs them unceremoniously in an empty belt pouch. Then, as delicately as he can, he folds a few into the other empty pouch much as John had earlier. As Yasir is about to take another drink, John stays his hand and mimes wiping his own off on his clothes… it takes the shorter man a moment to realize he means that the flowers might have some ill effect on him, and only because of Elsa’s warning that morning: … they’re poisonous. You should probably put it away before the food comes…. Wiping his hands, he takes a slug from the flask and passes it to the blacskmith. John quirks an eyebrow, but has a drink and hands it back. Taking another shot from the flask, Yasir realizes that it is nearly empty! When had that happened?

Scanning the area, which does indeed seem a likely place for an ambush, his vision begins to blur a little and an unceremonious belch escapes his lips quietly. The cold seems to have receded for a bit, and the clothing under his armor begins to feel a little warmer. He plays it off perfectly, though, but almost stumbles over a gopher hole. The tension releases from his shoulders, and he truly begins to enjoy the outdoors. The deserts, sewers, and city streets he was used too paled in comparison to the vibrant world around him… this place wasn’t so bad… maybe he could finally start his life of adventure here…
Imitating a wolf’s howl quietly, he gets his point across to John. The burly man shrugs. He mimes sleeping then a creeping animal by hunching his shoulders and moving his forearms like paws. Finally he gestures in the direction of the sun followed by a wishy-washy hand gesture; presumably to indicate it was less likely to encounter something during the day…


Mira, Pyros and Elsa: Toad’s Toe
One sheet? If it’s enough, one gold and no extra charge for the ink. He winks at her. Once Mira has ink and writing utensil she copies down a very concise version of the spell, using bardic abbreviations and a short bar of musical notes but filling the page completely. Rautant looks at her concise work admiringly, and sands the ink so it will dry quickly without smudging. Very nice work, I get the feeling you have done that before…

Pyros stands in the back, fiddling with the blacksmith puzzle. The twists and turns and interconnections have been confusing him, so he closes his eyes and just lets himself ‘feel’ it; not following any set plan. Just as Mira completes her scribe-work, the iron ring falls free and clatters to the floor making her jump a bit hardly an instant after she takes the borrowed pen from the parchment. The Kender jumps up and down in delight and squeals with laughter at his triumph! Elsa gives him a long-suffering look, and rolls her eyes in the bard’s direction. Rautant stifles a chuckle and hides it by coughing and returning his familiar to the shelf. So where are you from that is so strict, my dear? he asks Mira.

[Pyros puzzle check #3: need 6 or less: Puzzle #3: [1d20] = 3. Pass! Pyros solves the puzzle!]
==========
Yasir is now Moderately Intoxicated: +2 to morale, -3 to Int, -4 to Wis, -2 Dex, -1 Cha, -1 to Hit, +10% temporary hit points (2 hp, ‘bulletproof syndrome’). The ‘morale points’ aren’t mandatory, they’re actually made for NPCs but I wanted to list them to indicate his emboldened spirit

Just to help keep track…
Yasir booze-o-meter: shots 1+2(WR), 1(BS), 2(WR), 2Flsk(WGate), 2Flsk(Woods), 2Flsk(Glade)

WR=wayfarer’s Rest, BS = Blacksmith. Flsk=from flask (after filling). The flask holds 1 pint or 16 oz, a shot is 2 oz, a ‘long pull’ is a double or 4 oz, and John took single-shots each time you offered. The flask currently has 2 oz left.

So far the checks are up to, but not including, the double-dose you took at the west gate. Rather than make 6 more checks, the next three will just be at cumulative -2 as they begin to ‘hit you’ spaced out about the same as your pace was taking them.

[Jenara]

"Can't a girl maintain some mystery?" She winks folding up the paper, "Just ask yourself why I know Kender so well." She comments sighing at the Kenders actions but saying nothing.

Taking the book in her hands she tries her best to read the words, "I'm glad I learnt that spell, the words in here are all gibberish." Throwing her arms in the air she shrugs, "I'll practice it later, and come back tomorrow and read what I can."

Language: [1d100] = 76 fail.

"Elsa, I assume you are done?" She asks the Hafling, touching her shoulder gently,

"It has been a pleasure." She gives Rautant a little bow. "Thank you for trusting strangers."

[Nocturno]

"Tally ho! Thank you for the stone. I will find a perfect target for it." Pyros will give a huge smile and a part bow to the keep.

[Namenlos]

(OOC: If it helps, here are are six 1d20 rolls to catch up. Your way is grand as well, just wanted to provide the option! [1d20] = 5[1d20] = 16[1d20] = 17[1d20] = 5[1d20] = 6[1d20] = 8)

Viewing the area through a drunken haze only serves to further entice Yasir to the lands charms. As motes of light bounce about his vision he clumsily makes a grab at one thinking the land to be perhaps infested by pixies or some such... only to foolishly grin as he realizes his mistake of grabbing at nothing.

Yasir will point to the sun and drop his finger to the horizon in an attempt to indicate nightfall, then points to John and himself before making more walking motions with his fingers. Grabbing his sword in both hands Yasir will pretend to emit the roar of a war cry and and give a few swings at a nearby tree, in an attempt to indicate his desire to hunt and slay the wolves, once more grinning foolishly as he finishes and glances at John to gauge his reaction.

Yasirs sense of relaxation and calm instead of intensifying as they stay in the glade wears away swiftly and he once more desires to begin moving. He glances about the glade seeking a likely path for their next move.

[TristenC]

[OOC: Well, if you rolled them I guess I’ll use em I see at least 2 fails in there… should get interesting in a few minutes…]

Mira, Pyros and Elsa: Toad’s Toe (10:30 AM)
He purses his lips in thought over her comment about Kender. She tries to decipher the script, but it truly is completely different from the Harmonian she had grown to some familiarity with… at least she had the spell now... Expressing her intention to return, Rautant reciprocates with a bow of his own. Very Well, I will see you tomorrow… but I usually don’t open on Sundays until a couple of hours after lunch at the earliest… At Mira’s touch, Elsa snaps out of looking over the wares. Yes, I’m ready. Thank you Mr DuBuisson. she says with a curtsy. Pyros expresses his plan to find the ‘perfect target’ and the old man laughs. I’ve no doubt, he says with a sly grin, no doubt whatsoever… Until tomorrow.

As they leave the shop, Mira realizes they have been there almost an hour between the conversation, lock picking, trap detection, spell learning and copying, and the attempted translation. The wind had only died down slightly, and there were a couple of other people about but not many. Mostly the ones nearby looked like harmless vagrants, but she knew appearances could be deceiving. The dead-end street came close to the wall here, but there was plenty of space between it and the dilapidated housing if anyone decided to go around. The intersections at five-points led north, southwest, southeast, and almost straight east (the way they had initially come). It would be more than an hour before lunch and that was about the time the festival would begin. The less-skilled would go first, as always, but she wondered would they be heard across town above the moderate wind?


Yasir and John: The forest Southwest of Harmonia (11 AM)
The powerful warrior, sword drawn, bats at little motes of light on tiny things floating in the air. Pointing to the source, he attempts to indicate nightfall before valiantly mock-fighting a tree in lieu of a wolf. John gives him a sidelong look, but mimes eating before pointing somewhere off into the woods. The perimeter of the glade looks much the same, and it takes Yasir a moment to realize that John had been pointing back the way they came and towards Harmonia. The trees didn’t show much of a path anywhere, only the game-trail they had been following for some time.

[OOC: Yes, Yasir is in The Future!!! …but by only 30 mins…]
[Wanted to wait for all the shopping before I made the adjustments:
Mira trades her healing potion for a spell “Comprehend Languages” and pays 1gp for parchment to copy it onto.
Pyros pays 5sp for the red/silver stone.
Elsa Pays 3sp for bandages and herbs.]

[Jenara]

"Indeed, until tomorrow" Mira says with a smile.

"I suggest you stay close by, this isn't the.. Shall we say I've been in better areas?" Wrapping a protective arm around Elsa she gives Pyros a warning glance. "Shall we head to the Harmonic Hall and The Amphitheater? I would like to see the Performers arnd maybe I might see an opening..?"

[TristenC]

Well, you're the tour guide! Elsa says with a smile and a laugh.

[Jenara]

"Just making sure we don't need to wake up any more shopkeepers." She says with a wink and leads them through the city to the Hall.

[Nocturno]

As they walk Pyros will hum the Kender Wandering Song. Checking out all the buildings along the way.

[Jenara]

Mira sings along softly with the Kender.

[TristenC]

Mira, Pyros and Elsa: “The Loop”
As the trio walk about, the Halfling pays special attention to the lyrics and tune, joining in where she can as she begins to learn it. Before long a couple of people standing along the road watch them with a little curiosity, but their quiet singing cannot be heard well over the wind. Nothing untoward occurs during their little walk, and Mira leads them Eastward down the southern edge of ‘The Loop’. They pass the Broken Jug on the right, which still seems closed, the Blue Bolt on their left, and finally the Wayfarer’s Rest.

Continuing Eastward, the short folk can see a rise in the Southeastern corner of the village. The houses there look very fine and many have large red-tiled roofs. As the main thoroughfare begins to bend northward, a small cobbled street (the only other one with stones aside from the main road) leads up to the houses there. They don’t have long to admire the new houses before the main road opens up northward to reveal a marvelous park-like area with a huge statue in the center. To the left is an enormous mansion-like structure (the Harmonic Hall) and beyond the park, built right into the cliff, is a massive Amphitheater!

[OOC: Nocturno, check out the descriptions (or re-read) for South Hill (#4), Harmonic Hall (#3) and the Amphitheater (#1) in the party-knowledge thread. Your ‘tour guide’ can give you more details on most of those things if she wants, and you can get pretty much all of the info in the entry that way.]

[Jenara]

"So this rather wonderful place is the Harmonic Hall, it's the sort of place I couldn't have even dreamt of before I came here.. I mean a place for Bards and musicians to actually learn the trade, none of this hiding your skills so the damn Wizards of High Sorcery don't find you." Blushing she lowers her head. "Sorry that was a rant wasn't it?"

"This is where you can register to be a performer in the City, they let me in, which well surprised me." Casting her arm behind her she motions to the huge fountain and the massive bronze statue of the man with dogs sleeping at his feet. she rubs her temple. "I actually don't know who this is, I wonder if anyone does, but isn't it rather impressive?"

"And behind the fountain you can see the Amphitheater, soon the Apprentices will perform, next I guess they would be rather like journeymen, and finally the Masters will play late into the evening.." As she talks there is a hint of longing in her voice, almost hopeful. "Come, I'll check the boards and then we can walk over and listen, some of the apprentices are really quite good." She knew a few, and they would be quite welcome in any tavern in Palanthas.

"Behind the hill is the Crystal Club, it's an amazing place, it's like the cave was built for music, the crystals resonate longer the better the music and how the crowd enjoy it.." She speaks out loud walking to the Hall. "Pyros, these people take music very seriously, you will no doubt find interesting things here." Her voice becoming serious she continues, "If you happen to find anything someone might have dropped, please give it to me."