9.18.2005
A Time Of Strange Allies
Holy fuck, did everyone just post on the same day? I must reward this effort with 40 xp to everyone.
Hmm. Well, being a Man of These People certainly helps, as does the fact that all y'all, except Marivhon, are Heroes of Grito. The election is postponed until after the mayor's murder has been sorted out.
Nice thinking Dave, Stanislaus agrees to meet with you that night before everyone gathers in the town square. Apparently things like levels, xp, spell circles, 'can't cast that damn spell' are lost on the rabble, but not this Illusionist.
You head out to the construction grounds. Stanislaus is currently residing in one of those temporary trailer things while the building is going up. He greets you warily, invites you in, offers you a scotch. Roll to disbelieve! Heh heh, just kidding. He's got his three half-orc guards and two gnome workmen in there going over some plans for level 4: The Labyrinth of Illusion.
You guys talk late into the night, trying not to, you know, confess to the murder, while trying to enlist his help. You get the feeling that Stanislaus might even be on to the whole thing anyway though. Finally, he offers to help out... he'll provide a ventriloquism spell, implicating the nephew and the blacksmith, and he'll essentially drop out of the race, but still officially be on the ballot just for 'fairness'.
In exchange, he wants two things:
1) no hampering construction of the Tower of Illusion, and no taxes on it or the land, ever.
2) to be paid informally over the next year or so 2000 gp, but only in magic items, gems or jewelry (to stock the treasure chests in the Tower of course). 500 gp payable now. (Yeah, the Mardi Gras beads will work just fine.)
Failing this, you might have to admit you can't cast the spell, in which case a priest of Issac of the Jug will be called in from Greyhelm. And good thinking but no, there's no longer a Potion Guild in Grito, so you can't buy a potion of ventriloquism.
What say you?
...
Marivhon, sure thing Gregolas will come along to Durth. "Sure thing bro. Just give me a sec to find my gear." You give him a couple hours, really, to find his stuff, behind the couch and down in the basement, and outside, as it turns out. "Ai'ight, kine bud? Check. Margarita shaker? Check. Wallet chain? Check. -15% to Pick Pockets, pretty good huh? +1 hat? Check."
"Let's rock."
The journey to Durth is pretty uneventful. Gregolas is pretty good at hitchhiking and gets you guys a ride on a caravan. He's either talking non-stop about stupid shit or passed out. For a description of Durth, well, there's a previous post. Basically it's a mining city in the mountains, cue fantasy music. Oh, wait, you're from Durth. Whatever, you go back home. Hmm, new "Denny's".
Gregolas tells you he's gonna hang with the priests of Grisbane. "I got peeps there. Later dude, we got some food if you get hungry and stuff."
You head off down to the Red Lotus Gang... but find the entire place destroyed.
Yup, no more RLG.
Sitting amongst the ruins and the carnage is Shi Jukka from the MoP. You almost miss seeing him as he's got a pretty good Hide In Shadows, especially when he's meditating after slaughtering some ninjas.
"Hmm. Don't I know you? Right, you're one of those guys who tried to fight Mysterious X and left shamed without honor."
You don't really know how to take that, but Jukka, calm as a stone, continues.
"I know what you're thinking, but don't. Don't try it. You're like what? 2nd, maybe 3rd level? No, 1st? Wow, no way. It's not worth it. I just killed the Red Lotus Gang. The look of confusion on your face tells me you don't know why. Let me tell you a story, 1st level monk..."
Fortunately, this time Shi Jukka's story is short. Real short:
1) the Red Lotus Gang killed his family, and
2) it was about time Shi Jukka took revenge.
There you have it.
Stop me if I'm putting words in your mouth Marivhon, but let's just suppose you kind of pathetically kick a stone and ask Jukka if he's seen 200 gp hanging out around here.
"Sorry. I just had a team of dwarves come down here and remove everything of value and donate it to needy orphans. Your 200 gp was probably in there."
You explain about the whole leveling, special training thing. Jukka nods and considers this thoughtfully.
"Tell you what. I'm going to be around here for a couple more days. If you want, I can teach you a couple moves, like the Spine Driller and Emperor Hashimoto's Seven Word Haiku."
In other words, you can special train with Jukka to 2nd level free of charge. Important note! This does NOT make you a Monk of Progress and you cannot take any special Monk of Progress special abilities.
Let me know if you want to do this. If not, well, then just cough up 200 gp again and special train wherever, like back at the Grisbane temple (special training to 2nd is +2 hp and one NWP). If you do, then Shi Jukka shows you some stuff for two days, then you complete the rest of your training (for free by yourself) back at the temple anyway, but first Shi says to you:
"I am going on another adventure, Marivhon. Why? Well, when your best friends are killed in front of your eyes it's the thing to do. Anyway, if you make it to 4th or 7th level, seek me out at the bottom of the sea, and I will teach you even better moves, such as Iron Cloth, Otaku Smash, or even the legendary Dragon Punch, which I myself am in search of. Farewell, 2nd level monk, perhaps we shall do battle one day and I shall avenge more deaths in your blood."
And with that sort of creepy statement, Jukka stalks off to have more legendary solo adventures.
Finally, after leveling, you check in with the Blackwall Thiefs. They say thanks for letting them know about Charles and the flophouse, they'll try not to send too many convicted felons on the run to Grito, but you should be expecting a couple a month maybe? That work for ya guy? Great, thanks, you're swell. They'll also give you a cool 250 gp for the pixie, or, if it's monk magic that you want, instead of 250 gp, they'll give you a treasure map that'll lead the way to some magic weapons and gear.
Hmm. Well, being a Man of These People certainly helps, as does the fact that all y'all, except Marivhon, are Heroes of Grito. The election is postponed until after the mayor's murder has been sorted out.
Nice thinking Dave, Stanislaus agrees to meet with you that night before everyone gathers in the town square. Apparently things like levels, xp, spell circles, 'can't cast that damn spell' are lost on the rabble, but not this Illusionist.
You head out to the construction grounds. Stanislaus is currently residing in one of those temporary trailer things while the building is going up. He greets you warily, invites you in, offers you a scotch. Roll to disbelieve! Heh heh, just kidding. He's got his three half-orc guards and two gnome workmen in there going over some plans for level 4: The Labyrinth of Illusion.
You guys talk late into the night, trying not to, you know, confess to the murder, while trying to enlist his help. You get the feeling that Stanislaus might even be on to the whole thing anyway though. Finally, he offers to help out... he'll provide a ventriloquism spell, implicating the nephew and the blacksmith, and he'll essentially drop out of the race, but still officially be on the ballot just for 'fairness'.
In exchange, he wants two things:
1) no hampering construction of the Tower of Illusion, and no taxes on it or the land, ever.
2) to be paid informally over the next year or so 2000 gp, but only in magic items, gems or jewelry (to stock the treasure chests in the Tower of course). 500 gp payable now. (Yeah, the Mardi Gras beads will work just fine.)
Failing this, you might have to admit you can't cast the spell, in which case a priest of Issac of the Jug will be called in from Greyhelm. And good thinking but no, there's no longer a Potion Guild in Grito, so you can't buy a potion of ventriloquism.
What say you?
...
Marivhon, sure thing Gregolas will come along to Durth. "Sure thing bro. Just give me a sec to find my gear." You give him a couple hours, really, to find his stuff, behind the couch and down in the basement, and outside, as it turns out. "Ai'ight, kine bud? Check. Margarita shaker? Check. Wallet chain? Check. -15% to Pick Pockets, pretty good huh? +1 hat? Check."
"Let's rock."
The journey to Durth is pretty uneventful. Gregolas is pretty good at hitchhiking and gets you guys a ride on a caravan. He's either talking non-stop about stupid shit or passed out. For a description of Durth, well, there's a previous post. Basically it's a mining city in the mountains, cue fantasy music. Oh, wait, you're from Durth. Whatever, you go back home. Hmm, new "Denny's".
Gregolas tells you he's gonna hang with the priests of Grisbane. "I got peeps there. Later dude, we got some food if you get hungry and stuff."
You head off down to the Red Lotus Gang... but find the entire place destroyed.
Yup, no more RLG.
Sitting amongst the ruins and the carnage is Shi Jukka from the MoP. You almost miss seeing him as he's got a pretty good Hide In Shadows, especially when he's meditating after slaughtering some ninjas.
"Hmm. Don't I know you? Right, you're one of those guys who tried to fight Mysterious X and left shamed without honor."
You don't really know how to take that, but Jukka, calm as a stone, continues.
"I know what you're thinking, but don't. Don't try it. You're like what? 2nd, maybe 3rd level? No, 1st? Wow, no way. It's not worth it. I just killed the Red Lotus Gang. The look of confusion on your face tells me you don't know why. Let me tell you a story, 1st level monk..."
Fortunately, this time Shi Jukka's story is short. Real short:
1) the Red Lotus Gang killed his family, and
2) it was about time Shi Jukka took revenge.
There you have it.
Stop me if I'm putting words in your mouth Marivhon, but let's just suppose you kind of pathetically kick a stone and ask Jukka if he's seen 200 gp hanging out around here.
"Sorry. I just had a team of dwarves come down here and remove everything of value and donate it to needy orphans. Your 200 gp was probably in there."
You explain about the whole leveling, special training thing. Jukka nods and considers this thoughtfully.
"Tell you what. I'm going to be around here for a couple more days. If you want, I can teach you a couple moves, like the Spine Driller and Emperor Hashimoto's Seven Word Haiku."
In other words, you can special train with Jukka to 2nd level free of charge. Important note! This does NOT make you a Monk of Progress and you cannot take any special Monk of Progress special abilities.
Let me know if you want to do this. If not, well, then just cough up 200 gp again and special train wherever, like back at the Grisbane temple (special training to 2nd is +2 hp and one NWP). If you do, then Shi Jukka shows you some stuff for two days, then you complete the rest of your training (for free by yourself) back at the temple anyway, but first Shi says to you:
"I am going on another adventure, Marivhon. Why? Well, when your best friends are killed in front of your eyes it's the thing to do. Anyway, if you make it to 4th or 7th level, seek me out at the bottom of the sea, and I will teach you even better moves, such as Iron Cloth, Otaku Smash, or even the legendary Dragon Punch, which I myself am in search of. Farewell, 2nd level monk, perhaps we shall do battle one day and I shall avenge more deaths in your blood."
And with that sort of creepy statement, Jukka stalks off to have more legendary solo adventures.
Finally, after leveling, you check in with the Blackwall Thiefs. They say thanks for letting them know about Charles and the flophouse, they'll try not to send too many convicted felons on the run to Grito, but you should be expecting a couple a month maybe? That work for ya guy? Great, thanks, you're swell. They'll also give you a cool 250 gp for the pixie, or, if it's monk magic that you want, instead of 250 gp, they'll give you a treasure map that'll lead the way to some magic weapons and gear.
