β-ice - Summaries
Session: 20211001c
The real question is what does β-ice mean? Is it reference to a new phase of ice in a different part of the universe? Is it reference to actual β ice (pdf) of which is never thermodynamically stable? Is it a fancy way of spelling bice which apparently is a real word? A beta version of a wizard tower that's more stable and prepared for public release? Or just a love of the β symbol and a clear reference to the icy tower? Oh, and also there's a song that might be related...
- First and foremost, congratulations to Lemon on becoming an official Dragonslayer!
- We finish tying up loose ends and pass out items, new and old to those who can maybe probably use them.
- The first item of business for the morning meeting is Thistle dragging the werewolf Yellen out of the woods. They bicker and the werewolf makes unreasonable demands. It'll soon be resolved with the power of science and a background in animal behavior. You know, once the anxiety resolves and I finally reply to it. Because I'm a biologist, not a geologist. Thank goodness she's not trying to claim the stones of the woods...
- So to the true start of this story arc: the frozen wizard tower. Why's it there? Is it really ice? Any good books inside to read? As usual, only one way to find out: by going on an adventure!
- In short, we haven't a clue how to get in. It doesn't act like normal ice so melting it with normal fire isn't working. We see no door on the outside of the tower. There's concern for what's maintaining this clearly high level magic as well. It hurts to touch, knocking and asking nicely doesn't do anything, and we don't even know what's inside it. So what now?
- Dimension door inside? Check the land for some secret button or entrance? Search the outside of the tower for a concealed door? Well you have a little less than a week to think of ideas so get thinking!
Quotes of the Night
Master] 70% + 1% per level of creator -??% for the potion costs
[Lisa] -4 if potion costs 400 gp
[Lisa] so 75% chance
[Lisa] I am just all over the maths stuff lately :)
[Lisa] Lemon, you will need to think of a command word to activate the STR action for the rod
[Carissa] Can be anything your heart desires
[Lisa] Steroidicus Maximus
[TMO] Boogie Snarfalingdong
[Lemon] My magic word is obviously going to be TeeEmOh
[TMO] a noble word, very powerful
[Carissa] With this club, they say if you speak the command word three times in a row, it'll summon a giant.
[TMO] hey, I see a guy named Ergel the Arm in the character list. He's just flaunting that at Craigh, isn't he?
[Bixi Fizzlebang (Lemon)] (Are stone and rocks not the same? I might need a Carissa science lesson)
[Raelynn (Carissa)] (I'm a biologist, not a geologist!)
Craigh (TMO) shrugs and touches his little fingertip to the wall.
[Master] (2d6) [2d6=5,1] 6 points of damage
[Raelynn (Carissa)] (And that, boys and girls, is how he became the no arm man)
[Howard Plum (Lisa)] (you only have one hand you know)
Master] weirdly no wagon this time
[Carissa] I'm sure we can find one. They can't be cursed on all the planes, right?
[Lisa] we arrive in hell with a wagon - I would love that
[Carissa] Forget hell in a handbasket. We got a wagon!
Session: 20211008c - 20211015c
I felt these two sessions worked best mashed together into one summary. That's all.
- So an ice tower and no obvious entrance? Dimension door in with Branwyn, Talwin, Howard, and Craigh. What do they find? Well, the inside of a tower. It IS what they hoped and expected!
- They look around the seemingly empty tower. Craigh hears humming above, the food inside the kitchen is frozen, the stone inside is new, there is an arrow slit in the maybe not a mage's tower, a shrine to Ahto (who doesn't have a page but apparently has a connection to water), storage of some sort, no dust yet unused items, no banners on the walls, and a freezing breath of wind from the upstairs room. Literally.
- That would be because there is a Marid upstairs. While Talwin manages to somehow shake it off twice, Craigh reaches for the wrong thing and gets briefly frozen. So the Marid?
- Next to an empty wheelchair, demanding it not be touched (and also don't touch that chest Craigh tried to touch), claiming she doesn't care who's tower this used to be (she's a squatter) nor does she know anything about the lands around them. She just wanted a tulip.
- In short she does not feel at home here, the Mist trapped them, and the one in the chair was cut off by the Mist. Unfortunately, communication isn't going quite as well as expected? Time for reinforcements?
- While Howard slips back out for them, the Marid asks about servants and masters, gives no indication of being able to lower the ice shield, asks about armies and riches, mentions four others who attempted (and failed) to steal the scrolls nearby, agrees loyal friends are important, is curious about the Plane of Time, and eventually lets them go downstairs to wait near that fireplace.
- Outside Howard fills everyone in and they listen to one of the times Indigo was eaten while inside they keep warm, comment on the cuteness of the Marid, debate if the ice goes underground, and wait until morning.
- Reinforcements in the form of Bixi and the very talkative, friendly Raelynn arrives where we find out that the marid has a name: Namsut. And while she was briefly mentioned, it is now confirmed that the missing friend has a name as well: Maya.
- With some seemingly endless questioning, we discover that Maya's silver cord snapped while she traveled the Astral Plane likely due to the Mist advancing during that time. Is she dead? We won't know until we find out, but how to find out?
- Namsut seems reluctant to leave for... reasons in searching for Maya. Thankfully, Raelynn can be very persuasive and realizes those reasons are stuffed in the chest Craigh tried to open. With help from all, we finally convince Namsut we want to help and to let us help her.
- Plan in place to visit the Eagle Inn where there's sunshine and no Mist to impede us, and the body of Maya (pulled from the chest) now with us, plus a few casts of Dimension Door to get all of us out of the tower, we head off to the next session!
Quotes of the Night
[Branwyn (Lisa)] What flower are you seeking?
[Marid (Master)] A tulip
[Branwyn (Lisa)] (wishes she had a botanist with her)
[Talwin (Michael)] "I prefer not to be thought of as a Thief"
Marid (Master) looks at Talwin, You are not a thief, a thief actually steals something
[Namsut (Master)] You may call me Mansut
[Namsut (Master)] Namsut
[Craigh (TMO)] (it has been a long time - she's even getting her name wrong)
Session: 20211022c
- We make our way to the Eagle Inn for sunshine and better spellcasting abilities. Thankfully it's only a few miles away at most. A few miles of walking is a good time to get to know each other more, isn't it? Some more information that may or may not be useful:
- Maya and Namsut met when Maya summoned her, broke their agreement, Namsut needed Maya's help to leave, they went on another adventure, and then... oh, and she still owes Namsut three more potions.
- They have been together for more than 20 years, but given they were together when the Mist (far more than 20 years old) what exactly does she mean by this? Also Maya is from Zakhara, a land of deserts and genies and power struggles.
- There is talk about being servants and slaves, but now is probably not the time for such philosophies, yes?
- There is talk of what to expect when traveling to the Astral Plane and other plans, but we'll get there in a minute.
- After we convince Namsut to bring Maya into the timespun sunshine, Namsut remembers just how very wonderful sunshine is, briefly turns back into a giant, and then requests honey to drink. Maybe don't drink the timesand-ladened honey? Thank goodness for mages and magic.
- Oh also apparently Namsut is royalty. But who randomly asks someone if they're royalty? Why do we keep running into royals and nobles? What about the little people??
- The little guesthouse? Saved and kept empty for the Countess Branwyn et al. for her uses such as leaving our bodies behind as we travel the Astral Planes! Wait, no. We're not going that route. We've got a marid who, ah, just brings all of us, as in all our parts, to the Astral Plane. Well, this'll be interesting, yes?
- Raelynn thinks a thought about going where Maya is, disappears, Craigh thinks about finding Raelynn, disappears to reappear next to her, who both realized they lost the group, think about them, and return to them. Yes, it'll definitely be interesting.
So backtracking to the Astral Plane. We're not going here to travel to other planes right now (probably), but we need to find Maya somewhere on this plane. How to go about it?
What Our Characters Likely Know:
- Namsut told us to be smart. This is likely important as a few different features of the Astral Plane are calculated based on intelligence. While they've yet to discover it, this includes controlling color pools, movement by concentration, carrying capacity, spell successes, and possibly more I haven't seen while skimming the page.
- Namsut told us to be calm, deliberate, know what we want, and learn where you are before leaving for a new place. The Astral Plane is a place of movement and transit. Errant thoughts? Yes, they might take you away (or maybe to?) where you want to go.
- We know that the color of our pool home (if we travel by cord?) is silver. Silver is good.
- What Branwyn knows is conjuncture from what we were told and some of her own research. She likely has an idea of the pools, for example. She has some ideas of what spells may or may not work here. Some ideas of silver cords and travel. And possibly more we'll discover she already knew as we move along.
What Our Characters Don't Know:
- Yeah, just go read the page about the Astral Plane (even linked it again for you!). There is a LOT and there's no way our characters know much about it. How they'll discover it, though, is, of course, by experimenting and attempting.
Let's get on with that, shall we? Oh, and once more for good measure: Astral Plane.
Quotes of the Night
Craigh (TMO)] I got the impression Maya was a mermaid.
Namsut (Master) looks at Craigh puzzled
Namsut (Master) looks at the body in the wheel chair
Namsut (Master) looks at Craigh
[Craigh (TMO)] (OH, forgot about that)
[Namsut (Master)] Do you have pure mead?
[Namsut (Master)] Honey would be best
Gerry the barkeep (Master) glances over at Branwyn
[Lemon] (Wait... did we hide the sand inside the honey? Why do I feel like this is a trick?)
[Craigh (TMO)] (consuming time sand can lead to time cancer)
[Raelynn (Carissa)] (consuming time sand can ruin your timespan?)
[Branwyn (Lisa)] (can we tell Raelynn is gone? thought we couldn't see)
[Master] You can see around you and the people around you
[N'laea (Carissa)] (but her suddenly being quiet might be a hint ;) )
Session: 20211029c
- We start the night with a visit from a tall, thin yellow skin. Is it a githyanki? The eternally (and justifiably) angry race of the Astral plane? In some cases, they can be pretty cool such as when they're chasing mindflayer scum on their dragons, but uh, not in this case.
- This particular githyanki asks if we're people, don't know a Maya, and decides he'll just cast color spray against us all because why not? Why not, indeed.
- Only the poor elves get a faceful which is good as it leaves Indigo to ward off the angry being before anything else can happen. Doesn't die, but does leave us alone. How do they travel so fast??
- Namsut compares githyanki to jackals, circling until they snap, mentions their previous mindflayer enslavement, their dragons, and to not let them grab you as they can shift and who knows where you'll end up if that happens! Oh, and their casters are known as Mlar, and while our characters don't know it, their casters can only ever be mages as they have no clerics.
- Namsut needs to concentrate to figure out where Maya is and if she is alive. So what are we to do until then? The elves stay behind just in case Namsut runs into trouble (she can handle herself, but can she handle herself while cradling a body?) while the others try to figure out the Astral Plane.
- As mentioned before, in the Astral Plane, they smartest person should lead the party. Good thing Branwyn likes reading and recently got smarter, right? I mean, she probably already had the highest intelligence to begin with, but details. Point being, hold on tight and let her lead the way!
- ...something Bixi forgets to do, but thinking about where they went, she eventually catches up to the others, grabs a hand, and doesn't let go this time.
- Thinking of a green portal brings us to a green portal. It was retroactively decided it's more emerald in shade rather than the nasty olive color of Tartarus, and while Happy Hunting Grounds has a deceptive name, it actually does sounds like a wonderful Beastland full of animals and plants and happiness.
- Of course, she doesn't actually SEE the color pool, but she knows it's there. Between distance and maybe being on the wrong side of it, but it's the thought that counts. No, really. Thoughts count here.
- Including the thought of where Maya's cord was cut. And dropping a copper coin. And trying to gauge distance because that's difficult when it's a featureless grey plane. And that thoughts brings us to... movement somewhere not near a color pool and no coin nearby.
- Did Maya jump into a color pool to reform her body? It seems most likely, and perhaps we need to think about what pool she entered instead?
- This plane is plain confusing. Back with Namsut, we try to find out what she has discovered. She's ready to start looking soon but when time is wonky, when is soon? But she is certain Maya is still here and alive. But here as in this plane or here as in a different plane?
- She believes Maya would have moved to a pool as quickly as she could then re-emerge to get back to Namsut, but cut-off, how could she get back? Back here, there, or where??
- And if Maya is here, or moving around, that'll clearly make it difficult to find a moving target. Apparently searching for a Hr' a' cknir is important and not a major typo by Bob?
- Anyways, somehow we're apparently on the right track. I think? I guess we'll find out next Friday!
Quotes of the Night
[Lisa] just saw on the news warning not to eat edible glitter
[Lisa] some toxic stuff or something
[Lemon] Britney Spears needs to redo her song
[Lemon] With a taste of your glitter my intestines are all a-writhe... Your sparkles are great but I know that you're toxic...
[Master] Tall Thin Yellow skinned human #1 casts a spell against Indigo: Color Spray: I blind, knock out, or stun (1d6) [1d6=5] 5 people in a 5'x20'x20' cone!
[Tall Thin Yellow skinned human #1 (Master)] Without Bixi here that would give Craigh and Branwyn in the arc to make saves also
[N'laea (Carissa)] (the tiny gnome was their shield earlier? impressive)
Branwyn (Lisa) reaches our her hands, pauses and then closes her eyes
[Master] CLICK
Lisa has left the game on Fri Oct 29 21:39:12 EDT 2021
[Master] WOW
[Master] see how far she went!
Session: 20211105c
- We start with finding out what a Hr' a cknir is by asking Namsut who tells us it is an energy, a quasi being that exists on the Astral Plane.
- Oh, and also Maya is not dead. But considering we're surrounded by various afterlives, what exactly does it mean to be dead? Given her body hasn't deteriorated, I suppose Maya isn't dead, but she's flirting with it heavily.
- Back to exploring and figuring out how all this works! After everyone holds hands, Branwyn thinks of moving to face the last color pool. So she... turns around. Maybe don't be too literal?
- From here she can at least sense it is south so she thinks about moving 20 feet in front of it which brings her MUCH closer. Better!
- Is it the Amber of the Twin Paradises or the Gold of the Seven Heavens? Both names sound promising, right? Maybe if we take a closer look...
- Except there's a presence to the West that Bixi can sense. Yes, it's exactly the one you think it to be.
- Emerald shrinks one, Indigo experiments with magic and non-magical weapons, Bixi scares one away, Talwin does indeed have a magic sword, Emerald attempts a dagger throw, and we somehow do enough damage to scare them off.
- Talwin finds 11 gold pieces, 1 platinum piece, and 4 gems on the body of the githyanki killed, but fails his INU roll. Was it a question of why an Astral Being has money on them to begin with? Because seriously, why do they have any money on them? Gems, okay, I suppose I understand, but money? I digress.
- Talwin attempts to incorporate engineering into movement, but his math is off. They don't reach the pool, but they do find a light bobbing a figure eight (or is it infinity?).
- We also take this short break to let you all know that crystalis is to butterflies as cocoons are to moths, but yes, it is a transformative stage for both beings.
- The light and Indigo talk, which the others only hear one-sided, about the eternal feast and needing an apple to go freely back and forth between the plane before them and the Astral Plane. If you're still living, that is.
- So we're pretty sure Maya is somewhere in there, but where and how to get her out?
- Remember that shrine to Ahto in her ice tower? You know which gods can be found in this decided definitely the Twin Paradises plane? Exactly!
- Except he's probably underwater, and either Branwyn didn't concentrate on that fact or she simply didn't roll well enough to see that close, but she's probably there!
- So with new information in hand, we'll start up with letting Namsut know what we found on Friday. See you then!
Quotes of the Night
[Master] Tall Thin Yellow skinned human #7's Current Hit Points: adjusted to 16 (9) - Unharmed
[Branwyn (Lisa)] (why are they all tall and thin? No short fat Giths?)
[Emerald (Lara)] Emerald: Persuasion check: (d20) [1d20=15] 15 - ROLL FAILED against 10!!
[Bixi Fizzlebang (Lemon)] What is your name?
[Branwyn (Lisa)] It seems to be a creature. Maybe in a changing state? I'm not sure
[Bixi Fizzlebang (Lemon)] Bixi Fizzlebang: Persuasion check: (d20) [1d20=19] 19 - ROLL FAILED against 11!!
[Master] People only change when they want to
Raelynn (Carissa)] Didn't Maya have a shrine to Ahto? Maybe she's seek him out for help? He lives here, I think.
[Branwyn (Lisa)] I did not know that. A very good idea Raelynn. Thank you
Talwin (Michael) Stares in amazement as his comrades who connect the dots much quicker then himself
[Spring] there are dots?
Spring did not connect
Session: 20211112c
- Long story short, we return to Namsut, tell her about the apples, our concern about if Maya might have a new form or something, and none of that really matters. She's got some very good magic and all she wants to know is: which pool?
- We arrive at the Amber Pool, probably the same one considering it's still looking at Shurrock in the OP-TwinParadises. After we confirm we're sure this is the right place Namsut... drags us in. Hope we don't really need that apple!
- Earlier, there was some worry about Namsut dragging us to the Twin Paradises and leaving us. The good new is... we were right??
- At least she thanked us before she disappeared, but now what? What to do on the rocky, boring, lifeless shoreline? How long do we wait? Can we sit in Maya's wheelchair?
- We briefly debate water breathing and going after Namsut, but we can wait a bit. Until then, Lanek decides to go for a swim. Which goes well until he's spit on the shoreline (nicely) and we all go deaf!
- Namsut, Maya, and an Obvious Divine Being (Ahto?) all arise from the sea. We're all deaf until the Obvious Divine Being disappears from view again. After yelling at Branwyn to get out of the wheelchair (oops), Namsut happily introduces us to Maya. Yay happy ending!.... or is it??
- I mean, yes, it is. Technically. We think? Maya exists as two individuals now, and Namsut is clearly using some strong magic to hold things sable until they can merge, and they ARE still missing their cat, but still, a happy ending!!
- ...except for the missing cat? One with some kind of locket in its mouth, running away because it KNEW it shouldn't eat that, and ended up jumping through some purplish pool?
- Yes, of course Namsut and Maya disappear before we can find out more. We know we need to find Rimal, a cat, and that Maya and Namsut will be waiting in her OTHER tower in the City of Intrigue, Hiyal. Good? Good.
- Also yes, the ice tower? Ours now. All of it. Everything inside of it. At least there is that!
- Thankfully, Branwyn has done some research, and we confirm that yes, this purplish pool that Rimal jumped into is... the Plane of Pandemonium. It's almost like we asked to explore this plane after finding that amulet! ...and before we read what a horrible place it is.
- Seriously, unless you want to be surprised, go read the page for OP-Pandemonium. We'll want to prepare ourselves before we go visit.
- This also includes some IC knowledge to gain so before we jump into a silver pool back home, let's have a look at Pandemonium, shall we?
- Just a random city, may or may not be one we encounter, but within it we see... A bridge over a river with bodies hanging by nooses swaying in a ceaseless wind. Races unknown. A river with stone houses on either side that seem wet. A gang of dwarves hauling wagons of ore out of nearby buildings down towards the river bridge. Darkness.
- Is the darkness normal Pandemonium darkness or someone sensing us looking and stopping us looking darkness?
- So back to the Outer Planes, our plane, and the inn, to figure out our next move. What will it be? Tune in, er, now because I'm just now finishing the summary!
- P.S. In case Branwyn forgot for some strange reason, a scroll with a red ribbons reminds her of another upcoming trip that needs to be made...
Quotes of the Night
[Indigo (Lisa)] It didn't exactly say I couldn't get back out. They didn't really answer the question either way
[Bixi Fizzlebang (Lemon)] Oh. So just regular risky instead of certain death risky. Got it
[Lanek (Spring)] (is it hot? cold? neither?)
[Master] both to Spring
[Lanek (Spring)] (it's hot AND cold? what, is it the Plane of Menopause?)
Lanek (Spring) shucks his pants, does wear skivvies
[Raelynn (Carissa)] (wait I need Lanek to make an APR roll so I know how to react to his skivvies, lol)
[Lanek (Spring)] Lanek: APR check: (d20) [1d20=11] 11 - ROLL FAILED against 6!!
Raelynn (Carissa) grimaces at Lanek and looks away
[Lanek (Spring)] (bwaaaaaahahahahahaha)
Raelynn (Carissa) mutters, "Some people are just NOT beautiful. And shouldn't undress like that."
[Master] so Lanek gets SPIT out onto the shore
[Master] Lands against the rocks flying through the air
[Master] and then just before SPLAT
[Lanek (Spring)] AAAAaaaaAAAaaaaAAAaaaa
[Master] a spray of water slows him down and lets him onto the shore
[Lanek (Spring)] AAAaaaAAAAaaaaa aaaa aaaaa ...... ?
