Doggie_arf

...I was going to post at the start of the month, and then work kicked me in the balls in the form of "our update broke your application's login have fun". It does feel hard to get back into dealing with several different events going on at once. Have to see what can be done...

It has been a lot to parse - I'll put something up this long weekend. (Since there are multiple encounters, do we treat them as the same day in terms of resources?)

I'm now imagine some random Zhent named Send welching about all the magic letters from Badmaw threatening to eat him, all day, every day.

We can pool money if we need more, I guess. ....after we figure out how much we've spent on refurbishing Trollskull Manor post-discounts.

Not sure how many were in the box , and it was logged as 1 bird. (Also the instructions on the box said "25 words" and "Send" - maybe the Zhents are just dumdums and actually have someone named "Send" on their crew?)

Rurik kinda needs to use the bird. I hope we can get more. *quickly updates message to fit the 50 word limit*

I believe Rurik will be needing to use the paper bird to send Mirt his application. Ironically enough, I think we got that bird from the very people the Harpers want to get intel on...

If a "passive" History is 10 + modifier, Rurik should be making all those checks for Mirt thanks to Expertise (from Blessings of Knowledge). Will still need to roll the Investigation.

Rurik Eversharp Gold (Hill) Dwarf Sage Knowledge Cleric of Dugmaren Brightmantle AC: 18 (Scale Mail, Shield) | HP: 19/19 (2d8+4+2) | Speed: 25 ft. Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., stonecunning, passive Perception 15, Insight 15, Investigation 13 Str:Athletics: +0 Str Save: +0 10 (+0) | Dex:Acrobatics: +2 Sleight of Hand: +2 Stealth: +2 (disadv. from armor) Dex Save: +2 14 (+2) | Con:Con Save: +2 14 (+2) | Int:Arcana: +3 (prf.) History: +5 (exp.) Investigation: +3 (prf.) Nature: +3 (prf.) Religion: +5 (exp.) Int Save: +1 12 (+1) | Wis:Animal Handling: +3 Insight: +5 (prf.) Medicine: +5 (prf.) Perception: +5 (prf.) Survival: +3 Wis Save: +5 17 (+3) | Cha:Deception: -1 Intimidation: -1 Performance: -1 Persuasion: +1 (prf.) Cha Save: +1 08 (-1) Languages: You know Common, Dwarvish, Gnomish, Undercommon, Primordial, Deep Speech Spell Slots: 1st - 3/3 | Channel Divinity: 1/1 | “My words,” Rurik says carefully | ‘My thoughts,’ Rurik thinks to himself | My actions . . . Amberlyn "It does sound like some celestial being has taken an interest in you," Rurik replies after hearing Amberlyn's story. "And said being isn't giving you direct guidance - just nudging you in how to use your abilities. It would make you a bit like a clergywoman in ability, if not in position..." Here, Rurik will continue to share with Amberlyn what he does know about possible origins for her abilities, as well as what she can expect from them based on his own experience with his divine magic. A Night At The Opera (Badmaw and Pen) "You, Badmaw, are just full of surprises," Rurik says to the snappily dressed lizardman. Exaggerated as his attire is, it somehow does fit him. "My apologies. Saer Fancymaw." Pen's plainer attire is much less suited for a night at the opera, and the cleric is starting to dither over how to persuade them to let him in - or to persuade "Saer Fancymaw" from going all Badmaw on the doorman. The theater attendant's timely arrival thankfully forestalls this from happening, and the half-elf is soon furnished with a fine set of garments more suited for the evening's entertainment. Intermission The paper bird's message had told Rurik whom to expect when he climbed up to the booth, but it was still a shock to come face to face with the (in)famous Mirt the Moneylender. Before he can react, the Masked Lord has engulfed Rurik's hand in a handshake - one that the cleric notes is very firm and fast for a human of his (apparent) age and girth. A part of him starts thinking back to what he'd read in a certain Guide about Mirt delving into the Yawning Portal - wouldn't that make Mirt older than the age most dwarves would live to naturally? "Ah, i-it's a pleasure to meet you, Lord Mirt." Rurik manages to rally, letting go of the Lord's hand (hopefully) before it became impolite. "Rurik Eversharp, devotee of Dugmaren Brightmantle, the Wandering Tinkerer." The cleric hears out Mirt's explanation of the organization he is being invited to join. While he has some doubts about his own ability at secrecy, Rurik realizes that being connected a network of knowledgeable individuals would help in locating his master's whereabouts in Waterdeep in the short run, and would be of great use in his future studies in the long term. And Mirt's explanation of how the emblems work reassures Rurik that he might be able to hide in plain sight, so to speak. An agreement made, the cleric shakes the Harper's hand again (this time of his own volition), before returning to his seat for the second half of the show. After The Opera "The tickets were from Saer Neverember," Rurik replies modestly to Badmaw as they file out of the Theater. "But thank you all the same. I do think they were going for a dramatized version of the battle at the Well of Dragons, in order to make the story flow better. A strict historical retelling might not appeal to the audience, after all..." Later in the night, after changing out of his fine attire, Rurik sits at the desk in his room and scans through what he's written on a piece of parchment that had once came from a box in a certain warehouse in Candle Lane. Paper Bird "The tunnels of Eartheart are my home, and the miners must be alert for dangers that may be. Little birds and other creatures are used to warn of deadly gases that no eyes can see. Let the birdcage be my sigil, and let the Canary be my name. - R." More poetic than normal - the Fall of Tiamat must have influenced his writing. Now if only he could speak this smoothly all the time... Sighing, Rurik folds up the parchment into its intended shape, before sending it on its way... OOC Item Interaction: — Movement: — Action: — Bonus Action: — Reaction: —

It's fine, I've also been busy, and the multiple threads going on have been hard to track. 🙃 But my Sundays should be clearing up, so I'll have more time to reply soon. 🙂

I haven't gotten the mission yet. Going to need to put in a post about the night at the opera (and slipping out during the intermission). Amongst other things. Will do so sometime within the next day.

Shifted Rurik's reply to Rani to a new post so that it'd be less confusing to read.

Rurik Eversharp Gold (Hill) Dwarf Sage Knowledge Cleric of Dugmaren Brightmantle AC: 18 (Scale Mail, Shield) | HP: 19/19 (2d8+4+2) | Speed: 25 ft. Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., stonecunning, passive Perception 15, Insight 15, Investigation 13 Str:Athletics: +0 Str Save: +0 10 (+0) | Dex:Acrobatics: +2 Sleight of Hand: +2 Stealth: +2 (disadv. from armor) Dex Save: +2 14 (+2) | Con:Con Save: +2 14 (+2) | Int:Arcana: +3 (prf.) History: +5 (exp.) Investigation: +3 (prf.) Nature: +3 (prf.) Religion: +5 (exp.) Int Save: +1 12 (+1) | Wis:Animal Handling: +3 Insight: +5 (prf.) Medicine: +5 (prf.) Perception: +5 (prf.) Survival: +3 Wis Save: +5 17 (+3) | Cha:Deception: -1 Intimidation: -1 Performance: -1 Persuasion: +1 (prf.) Cha Save: +1 08 (-1) Languages: You know Common, Dwarvish, Gnomish, Undercommon, Primordial, Deep Speech Spell Slots: 1st - 3/3 | Channel Divinity: 1/1 | “My words,” Rurik says carefully | ‘My thoughts,’ Rurik thinks to himself | My actions . . . Rani "What books there are aren't in great condition," Rurik sighs, adjusting the collar of his now-work clothes. "I've taken some time to fix the worst of the damage, but there are limits, even with magic. And our, ah, spectral tenant kicks up a fuss if I spend too long mending books. I doubt maintaining a library is one of its priorities." The dwarf is about to continue down the stairs to his ghost-sanctioned repairs, when he something that had slipped his mind during the hustle and bustle. "By the way, Rani, I've been meaning to ask you about the, er, brain-creature we encountered in the sewers. You seem to have recognized what it was trying to do to Badmaw and myself." Rurik winces a bit at this last bit, as he remembers the searing headache the little monster had somehow inflicted on him. If only he could know what exactly that thing had been trying to do. He has some suspicions, but nothing concrete. And the last few days of hard labor hadn't exactly been conducive for further study... OOC Item Interaction: — Movement: — Action: — Bonus Action: — Reaction: —

Finished up my essay too. What I could of it, anyway - there wasn't really much I could think of for Pen and Badmaw at the moment. Unless they'd like to complain about being dragged to the opera - Renaer did give the entire party tickets... (BTW, my mental image of Rurik's fine attire is pretty much Denken from Frieren, except with blue hair.)

I'll need to finish my post over the weekend. Post-Lunar New Year stuff was killer.

Rurik Eversharp Gold (Hill) Dwarf Sage Knowledge Cleric of Dugmaren Brightmantle AC: 18 (Scale Mail, Shield) | HP: 19/19 (2d8+4+2) | Speed: 25 ft. Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., stonecunning, passive Perception 15, Insight 15, Investigation 13 Str:Athletics: +0 Str Save: +0 10 (+0) | Dex:Acrobatics: +2 Sleight of Hand: +2 Stealth: +2 (disadv. from armor) Dex Save: +2 14 (+2) | Con:Con Save: +2 14 (+2) | Int:Arcana: +3 (prf.) History: +5 (exp.) Investigation: +3 (prf.) Nature: +3 (prf.) Religion: +5 (exp.) Int Save: +1 12 (+1) | Wis:Animal Handling: +3 Insight: +5 (prf.) Medicine: +5 (prf.) Perception: +5 (prf.) Survival: +3 Wis Save: +5 17 (+3) | Cha:Deception: -1 Intimidation: -1 Performance: -1 Persuasion: +1 (prf.) Cha Save: +1 08 (-1) Languages: You know Common, Dwarvish, Gnomish, Undercommon, Primordial, Deep Speech Spell Slots: 1st - 3/3 | Channel Divinity: 1/1 | “My words,” Rurik says carefully | ‘My thoughts,’ Rurik thinks to himself | My actions . . . Downtime As Rurik wakes up in his room of Trollskull Manor, he again wonders (and not for the first time!) if maintaining the aged building is more trouble than it is worth. After his daily prayers and ablutions and a quick breakfast, the cleric dons his former vestments (now sadly condemned as working clothes after their recent sewer dive) before tromping down the stairs. The last couple of days have been spent carefully replacing the rotted or damaged supports in the basement - a good number of the supports have already been swapped out for new, sturdy beams that wouldn't collapse under the weight of the entire building. Repairing a cellar has a lot of similarities to maintaining a mining tunnel, and with Amberlyn's experience in woodcrafting (and some muscle from the others) a lot of progress has been made. Once he's certain that the basement supports are all solid, he can move on to fixing the stone and brick work up above. The clattering of plates and mugs from the kitchen draws Rurik's attention as he's reaching for the trapdoor to the basement. Sighing, he peers into the room, one hand straying towards his amulet as he notes that no one is (visibly) there. Despite what he'd said when they'd first seen the building, the cleric hadn't actually expected Trollskull Manor to be haunted. Dealing with a restless spirit powerful and willful enough to touch the Material Plane is not going to be an easy thing. While Rurik can temporarily drive it away or harm it with holy water, the ghost would probably just return. And bear a grudge. Thankfully, the repairs on the building appear to be placating the poltergeist to an extent. As to what exactly their spectral tenant wants...well, they'll cross that chasm when they get there. As if sensing Rurik's scrutiny, the unseen spirit gives the dishes one last, pointed rattle. "Yes, yes, I'll be at it," the dwarf sighs, getting the message. Walking back towards the bar, he pulls open the trapdoor with a grunt, before climbing down the ladder into the musty darkness below. "Tinkerer's Beard, this is going to be a headache..." ---- Amberlyn Rurik brightens up noticeably after Amberlyn makes her offer during a lull in the refurbishing. "I won't turn down the opportunity for good drink, my dear. As for your question...I'll have to think back to my studies. After we're done for the day." Some time later, the cleric of Dugmaren Brightmantle is seated at the table of the halfling's establishment of choice. "Now to explain what I can," he says, after wetting his lips on his tankard. "Calling me a 'holy man' is a rather, er, flattering way of phrasing things, Amberlyn. I am merely a humble scholar of the divine, one of the least members of my order. What abilities I do have come from years of study and prayer." "I have noticed some similarities in your magic - the calling of sacred fire is a fairly common orison, or basic prayer, for several clerical orders, including mine. I would surmise that your powers are of divine origin, albeit from some kind of...blessing? Instead of active devotion. Have you had any...dreams or visions related to the divine?" Paper Bird Rurik frowns as he pores over the contents of the unfolded paper bird. Apparently, he'd made enough of a good impression on Renaer Neverember during their rescue; the young lordling hadn't held being mistaken for Floon against him. An embarrassing mistake that the cleric has sadly made a few times over the years... The night's entertainment will sadly be rather opaque to Rurik - he'll have to rely on what guides they'll provide to patrons who aren't familiar with the language. At least he will not be underdressed for the opera - their hunt in the sewers and Amberlyn's new outfit have inspired him to invest some of his funds in his own wardrobe upgrade. The evening sees Rurik walking towards the Lightsinger Theater in the Sea Ward, along with any other party members who are willing to get dressed up for a night at the opera. Rurik himself is wearing a rather fine outfit, the polished symbol of the Gleam in the Eye hanging over a dark, velvety mantle that evokes the look and feel of his old vestments. After flashing his tickets at the booth and getting directions (and hopefully guide pamphlets for The Fall of Tiamat), he heads up towards their seats, making a note of where Private Box C is so he knows where to go during the intermission... OOC Item Interaction: — Movement: — Action: — Bonus Action: — Reaction: —

is this in addition to the initial 309g 144s 480c each?

Rurik is proficient in mason's tools. And is going to shop for some too during his shopping montage. Nothing as ostentatious as what Amberlyn (and Rani) are considering since he is a dwarf of the cloth, but he is going to need new clothes thanks to that sewer dive.

Money and Purchases Tracking Character Creation 10 starting gold from Sage background. Amulet holy symbol (5 gold). Crowbar (2 gold). Hammer (1 gold). 10 pitons (5 cp each; 50 cp total - converts to 0.5 gold). 1.5 gold remaining. Treasure from Chapter 1 1.5 gold left from starting gold. 309 gold, 114 silver, 480 copper from - converts to 325.2 gold. Additional 29 gold from from sewer goblins. 355.7 gold TOTAL. Purchases between Chapter 1 and 2 4 vials of holy water (25 gold each; 100 gold total). Mason's tools (10 gold). Traveller's clothes (2 gold - Rurik's previous set can be condemned/used for hard labor now). Fine clothes (15 gold - not for regular use). Modest lifestyle for 12 days (1 gold/day - 12 gold total). 215.7 gold remaining. Magic Item Wishlist Tier 1 Items Eyes of Minute Seeing (Table C) Sentinel Shield (Table F) Rope of Climbing (Table B) A bit of general utility and combat bonuses, split across the tables.

Rurik has mentioned visiting the local temples for exorcism supplies. He'll also need holy water for some of his spells. ...and new sets of vestments, since these ones have gone to the cesspit.

Also holy shit I've just noticed the disclaimer in the and it's 🤣.

Welp, Rurik flubbed both of those checks horribly. I guess he only knows (from painful personal experience) that brain dangerous make head hurt bad.

Rurik Eversharp Gold (Hill) Dwarf Sage Knowledge Cleric of Dugmaren Brightmantle AC: 18 (Scale Mail, Shield) | HP: 1/11 (1d8+2+1) | Speed: 25 ft. Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., stonecunning, passive Perception 15, Insight 15, Investigation 13 Str:Athletics: +0 Str Save: +0 10 (+0) | Dex:Acrobatics: +2 Sleight of Hand: +2 Stealth: +2 (disadv. from armor) Dex Save: +2 14 (+2) | Con:Con Save: +2 14 (+2) | Int:Arcana: +3 (prf.) History: +5 (exp.) Investigation: +3 (prf.) Nature: +3 (prf.) Religion: +5 (exp.) Int Save: +1 12 (+1) | Wis:Animal Handling: +3 Insight: +5 (prf.) Medicine: +5 (prf.) Perception: +5 (prf.) Survival: +3 Wis Save: +5 17 (+3) | Cha:Deception: -1 Intimidation: -1 Performance: -1 Persuasion: +1 (prf.) Cha Save: +1 08 (-1) Languages: You know Common, Dwarvish, Gnomish, Undercommon, Primordial, Deep Speech Spell Slots: 1st - 0/2 | “My words,” Rurik says carefully | ‘My thoughts,’ Rurik thinks to himself | My actions . . . "...my brain hurts too," Rurik groans in reply as he leans against the door frame and waits for the world to stop spinning. He...is drawing a blank as to what the brain-on-legs was supposed to be. (Un)natural sciences aren't his main field of study, but the lack of knowledge still annoys and worries the cleric of Dugmaren Brightmantle. What if more of those creatures show up? He's pretty sure the squid...squid-faced person (?) had been treating that one as a pet, before Grum'shar had tried to set them all on fire... A few more moments pass before Rurik's blinding headache subsides. Pushing himself off from the double doors, he manages to stumble over to the bound human without falling onto him. "Saer Blagmaar? Volo sent us to get you out of here." The dwarf blanches as he remembers what they'd been wading through to get here, and adds: "Before we catch our deaths of filth fever." ---- <Later, at the Yawning Portal> The walk back from the sewers eases the rest of Rurik's headache, if not his temper. It still feels like he's having a massive hangover without the prior enjoyment of good alcohol beforehand, and he just wants to clean up, get some hot food in his system, and then sleep the rest of it off. Volo's current lack of liquidity doesn't improve the dwarf's mood at all - all his hug of gratitude for saving Floon does is to get dried sewage on his clean clothes. The writer's counteroffer does have some appeal, however. Staying in Waterdeep for the next few months to track down Master Goldfinder isn't going to be cheap, even with his share of what they've managed to find in the warehouse and sewer hideouts. Ownership of a building would ease his - their - finances in the long term. So long as the building wasn't full of vengeful spirits or rotting foundations, that is. And Rurik could at least do something about those. After cleaning up, hot food, and rest. ---- <Afterwards, presumably after clean up, hot food, rest, and transfer of the title deed> Rurik looks up at the very historical building that is now (presumably) under their name, and wonders if their "reward" from Volo was going to be more trouble than it's worth. "First, we'll need to put in a fair bit of effort to make this place livable." he groused to Amberlyn. "There are at least three different supports that'll need shoring up. And I'll need to obtain some holy water and other supplies in case this Manor is as haunted as rumored." There wasn't a major dwarven temple in the City - the Holyhands House was more of a catch-all for any faith that wasn't illegal - so his best option was the Font of Knowledge in the Castle Ward. Both for immediate supplies and for later leads - he'd be very surprised if his master hadn't paid a visit to the library and temple of Oghma at some point. OOC Disclaimer - Any and all estimations of effort to Make Trollskull Great Again are just guesstimation and fluff. Rurik would like to visit the temple of Oghma for leads and holy water, though. Bonus: — Action: — Item Interaction: — Movement: — Bonus Action: — Reaction: —

How are we going to handle (checks for) identification of brain-on-legs and Squid-face Jim*? (*: Disclaimer - may not be the creature's actual preferred name. Any offense is totally intentional.)

Data migration is a pain in the ass. You have my condolences. Also, to everyone who celebrates it - Happy Year of the Dragon! 🐉🐉🐉🐉