Acromos

Someone who has a background that makes them famous might want to consider how their color their own reputation. Just please remember that this game, at it's core, is about how you affect the world. Actions have consequences. Good or ill. Events you chose to pursue will have your footprint - events you ignore will move on without that. Which gold are we cursing now? And curse it how, exactly?

%5Bfieldset%3DMenelaus%5D%5BFLOATLEFT%5D%5BIMG2%3D100%5Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FHZzyj04.jpg%5B%2FIMG2%5D%5B%2FFLOATLEFT%5D%5BB%5D%5BURL%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dndbeyond.com%2Fcharacters%2F102914604%22%5DMenelaus%5B%2FURL%5D%5B%2FB%5D%5Bhr%5D%5B%2Fhr%5D%20%5Bb%5DAC%3A%20%5B%2Fb%5D14%20%7C%20%5BB%5DHP%3A%20%5B%2FB%5D16%2F16%20%7C%20%5BB%5DInitiative%3A%5B%2FB%5D%20%2B3%20%7C%20%5BB%5D%5BB%5D%5B%2FB%5DPassive%20Perception%3A%5B%2FB%5D%2012%20%7C%20%5BOOC%3D%22Features%22%5D%5BB%5DSpell%20Slots%3A%5B%2FB%5D%201st%3A%202%2F4%202nd%3A%202%2F3%203rd%3A%200%2F0%20Bardic%20Inspiration%3A%201%2F4%20%5BB%5DLanguages%3A%5B%2FB%5D%20Common%2C%20Draconic%20%5B%2FOOC%5D%20%7C%20%5BOOC%3D%22Conditions%22%5D%20Conditions%3A%20%5BCOLOR%3D%22Green%22%5DNormal%20%5B%2FCOLOR%5D%5B%2FOOC%5D%5Bhr%5D%5B%2Fhr%5D%0A%0ALooking%20at%20Lexandra%20soak%20up%20the%20full%20brunt%20of%20the%20lightning%20pig%2C%20Menelaus%20rushes%20to%20aid%20-%20despite%20his%20better%20judgement.%20He%20sings%20off%20key%2C%20and%20plays%20discordant%20notes%20on%20his%20lyre%2C%20using%20the%20power%20of%20music%20to%20attack%20the%20very%20soul%20of%20the%20beast.%20%0A%0AThen%2C%20he%20adds%20a%20few%20words%20of%20encouragement%20to%20Lexandra%20-%20in%20far%20gentler%20tones.%20%0A%0A%5BCOLOR%3D%22Blue%22%5DKnight%20of%20Myth%20Drannor%20stand%20tall%20and%20true%20-%20all%20your%20troubles%20will%20soon%20be%20through.%5B%2Ffieldset%5D%0A%0AOn%20reflection%2C%20he%20decides%20that%20particular%20verse%20could%20be%20misunderstood%20-%20but%20then%2C%20it's%20true%20either%20way.%0A%0AAction%3A%20Cast%20Dissonant%20Whispers%0ABonus%20action%3A%20Bardic%20Inspiration%20on%20Lexandra%0AMovement%3A%20NW%20closer%20to%20the%20boar.%20%0A %5Bfieldset%3DMenelaus%5D%5BFLOATLEFT%5D%5BIMG2%3D100%5Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FHZzyj04.jpg%5B%2FIMG2%5D%5B%2FFLOATLEFT%5D%5BB%5D%5BURL%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dndbeyond.com%2Fcharacters%2F102914604%22%5DMenelaus%5B%2FURL%5D%5B%2FB%5D%5Bhr%5D%5B%2Fhr%5D%20%5Bb%5DAC%3A%20%5B%2Fb%5D14%20%7C%20%5BB%5DHP%3A%20%5B%2FB%5D16%2F16%20%7C%20%5BB%5DInitiative%3A%5B%2FB%5D%20%2B3%20%7C%20%5BB%5D%5BB%5D%5B%2FB%5DPassive%20Perception%3A%5B%2FB%5D%2012%20%7C%20%5BOOC%3D%22Features%22%5D%5BB%5DSpell%20Slots%3A%5B%2FB%5D%201st%3A%202%2F4%202nd%3A%202%2F3%203rd%3A%200%2F0%20Bardic%20Inspiration%3A%201%2F4%20%5BB%5DLanguages%3A%5B%2FB%5D%20Common%2C%20Draconic%20%5B%2FOOC%5D%20%7C%20%5BOOC%3D%22Conditions%22%5D%20Conditions%3A%20%5BCOLOR%3D%22Green%22%5DNormal%20%5B%2FCOLOR%5D%5B%2FOOC%5D%5Bhr%5D%5B%2Fhr%5D%0A%0AOwing%20to%20a%20momentary%20failing%20of%20his%20usual%20slight%20cowadice%20-%20or%2C%20wait%2C%20slight%20caution%20-%20Menelaus%20is%20the%20first%20to%20move%2C%20rushing%20after%20the%20ghouls.%20This%20is%20just%20enough%20to%20bring%20him%20into%20line%20of%20sight%20with%20the%20ghouls.%0A%0A%5BCOLOR%3D%22Blue%22%5DLet's%20get%20after%20them!%5B%2FCOLOR%5D%20He%20calls%20over%20his%20shoulder.%0A%0AAction%3A%20%0ABonus%20action%3A%20None%0AMovement%3A%20Full%20move%5B%2Ffieldset%5D Menelaus AC: 14 | HP: 16/16 | Initiative: +3 | Passive Perception: 12 | FeaturesSpell Slots: 1st: 2/4 2nd: 2/3 3rd: 0/0 Bardic Inspiration: 1/4 Languages: Common, Draconic | Conditions Conditions: Normal Owing to a momentary failing of his usual slight cowadice - or, wait, slight caution - Menelaus is the first to move, rushing after the ghouls. This is just enough to bring him into line of sight with the ghouls. Let's get after them! He calls over his shoulder. Action: Bonus action: None Movement: Full move

Ahh ... I assume you're not a particularly nautical type of person. A barge is typically the largest type of watercraft used for rivertrade. I mean, in later times you'd have your paddlewheelers, and maybe they're larger - but in this time, on this river, Pashgir's barge is about as large as you get. Barges are large, heavy, slow, and ride relatively low in the water. Big cargo craft. Large crew. What the drow came in would be better described as skiffs: Small, fast craft with limited cargo space, small crew. They are elegant, and particularly suited to those who like to relax in reclining chairs to the rear of the boat, while others do all the hard work of actually making the boat move on the water. It is a slight longer, slightly narrower rowboat =) It's yours though, and definitely worth some money too. Though some might argue that a responsible pirate captain shares loot with her crew, lest they mutiny, and feed her to whatever it is lives in the water down here =)

Blueblood walks up the streets, looking for the fancier of the taverns in town - and finding it soon enough. Taverns, by and large, make an effort to be easy to find. The Glimmerdark Hostelry is located in the center of town, and is a bit of a marvel to behold. It's an inn, of course, much like you'd see on the surface, but it's built from obsidian tile, a giant, black, reflective edifice. To further enhance the effect, numerous torches are placed around the place, on walls, in the courtyard and by the doors, making the entire thing literally glimmer in the dark. Blueblood makes her way inside, and is met by unexpected luxury. On the inside, the place is bright and well lit. Well crafted tables and chairs full a large and loud room. Not a rowdy room, but a room where many people are eating, chatting, haggling, and drinking. Waiters in livery rush to and fro, carrying trays of delicious-looking food or pitchers of ale or bottles of wine. Everyone here is well dressed. This place is expensive. Scanning the room, Blueblood sees no one who immediately stands out as a cleric - But, there's one drow at the bar, wearing scalemail and carrying a mace. For his part, Panorin tried to convince Krzysztof to give him a better deal. Listening to Panorins arguments, the wizard relents: Look, I can't give you your item right away, as I need to make it first. But how about this: I want first pick of what you find down there. But if you bring back more items, the rest of them are yours. If I want more of them, I'll buy them off you. How's that? I'll pay fair, too.

Drow society isn't what you'd expect if you've read the Drizz't books, or all the official sources. They're still into Lloth, though. But then, Lloth isn't what you'd expect, either. For instance, there are no Yochlol. Lloths handmaidens are spiders, which shouldn't surprise anyone. But Lloth is much more about spinning webs - everywhere, with everyone and everything. So drow society interacts with the rest of the world, even if only to spread their influence, and enjoy looking down on everyone. As a non-drow, you don't know a great deal about the drow, but you know this: The kingdoms of the elves are long fallen and gone, and those elves still alive today are essentially part of human society. Not that some enclaves don't exist, but it's a culture that's essentially subsumed by human culture. Not so the drow. The drow are exactly as they were, their cities proud, their people even prouder. They are quite fond of slaves, they have perhaps the most plentiful magic of any race (well, don't believe that, but that's what they say), and they enjoy spiders and spider-Goddesses. Since it's not the one-sided matriachy of the official sources, your characters wouldn't expect it to be either. I mean ... it's still a matriarchy. But they don't have some genetic link to spiders, females aren't larger than males, nor do they eat the males after mating. Does Blueblood have a drow barge? Tentacle rod sounds like a unique magic item to me, not something you just go out and get =)

On a side note: If you want to influence an NPC, might as well roll some dice. It's possible you can convince me using arguments. And it's possible you can convince an NPC with the arguments are against you, if you roll well. But convincing me doesn't convince the NPC, necessarily. They can be stubborn. If you want to influence an NPC - roll =)

Krzysztof matches Panorin's chin rubbing. You shouldn't be 'facing' anything, really. It's not like monsters are lurking down there, the current is much too strong. No, the only danger is the environment. I'd recommend not colliding with some protruding rock and getting knocked out. But except for that, it's perfectly safe. You hold the recall device, and activate it if you need to. I will be monitoring via spells, looking for magical signatures, analysing them - basically, finding out what's down there. If you can retrieve it, that's fine. I mean, that would be wonderful. But if not, I'll figure something else out. Based, of course, on the readings. On how exciting it is - or isn't. But ... if you want the item now, you'll have to wait a long time. As I said ... I can make something like that. I don't just have it lying around. What I'm thinking is: You're clearly form the surface. You're going somewhere. I'm guessing when you get there, you're going back to Ghazzad - the direction you're coming from. And when you return, I'll have the ... rod of whatever you called it ... ready for you.

I mean, you could always try to convince the rest of the party to travel to a drow city. It's not a bad idea, it's an area I haven't fleshed out yet. Or, wait, what I mean is, it's absolutely a bad idea, but it does give me an opportunity to flesh out an area I haven't yet. =) No, it's fine, even the drow don't just randomly murder or enslave anyone who comes close enough to their homes. But obviously, you'd better represent some other, greater value than the value you'd have as a slave. So ... maybe keep that in mind.

This thing has a set reward, you cannot pick one on your own. Sorry =)

Only one person goes into the maelstrom. And it's dangerous, but there's a plan. And a reward. There's not much to it, to be honest - but you'll have to trust me that I don't set out to kill characters for no good reason =) ... or maybe I do - this could be how you find out =D No. Really. I don't. As far as you know.

All ... magic items ... are unique. That's not to say you couldn't find some sort of solution. Eventually. But if you walk in to a store - any store, or any broker for that matter - and ask for 4-5 pieces of the same magic, you'll get laughed at. Magic items are unique. You don't get two that are the same. Except, like, a dagger +1.

The wizard chuckles mildly, and replies: Well, if you go into the maelstrom unprepared, you'll surely die. However ... I have a plan. It'll be perfectly fine. I Why go in there? Well, you see: I like magic. I'm always paying attention. On the lookout. And there's something magic in there, right at the range of my ability to detect. So this is my task: Jump in, with a remote sensor and a recall device. I'll get a closer look at whatever is down there, and then you'll come back. Of course, should you be able to retrieve it, that would be grand, but I have no such expectation. He smiles, apparently happy with the simplicity and safety of the task he's proposing. Oh, and sure - I'll cut 100 off the price. The goblin's long absent smile returns to his face at the sight of minted gold. He weighs off, and the 1000 coins actually matches the expected weight of 1000 coins, so no adjustments necessary. His smile grows wider still as he pours the tinkling, sparkling gold into a steel coffer under his counter. Splendid. Splendid-splendid! Pleasure doing business with you. A barge you say? He points across the small harbor to a cluster of buildings at the beginning of one pier: Over there you'll find shipwrights and so on. If you got a boat to sail, and it's riverworthy, they'll buy it. See in the dark goggles? How would that work? Oh, you mean magic? Right. No, I don't. But I guess I could put the word out. Wouldn't be cheap, though. And people don't really just sell that kind of magic.

Wait .... I wrote an update. Where's my update? Maybe I wrote it, but never actually posted it. If so, it's still on my work pc. I'll find out tomorrow.

The goblin laughs uproarishly, like Blueblood just told a wonderful joke: 30 gold, for the Drakenringer prototype aquanaut suit? Missus, it's worth more than the sword. But I'll give you the 30 gold discount, just for the good laugh. (and the DC to push him further in price is: 19)

She can. Didn't you realise? =) On the rapier, it might be worth at least rolling the dice to see if you can get a better price. Also, remember this is Shadow Forged. It burns away instantly in sunlight.