The Long Kiss Goodnight

The Goodnight Kiss: A sweetly flavored tincture distilled from many of the same fungi and roots used in making the drow’s infamous sleeping poison, this poison is a standby of alchemists who don’t want to harm their victims or lotharios, swindlers, and others who want to avoid being followed. It can either be added to food or used to coat a small needle or bolt; the result is the same regardless of the method of application. A subject who succumbs to the initial or the secondary phase of the poison becomes exhausted for one hour. Failing both phases renders the subject unconscious for one hour instead.

Black Crown Mixer

Arriving at the noble district home of Mihaela Leonia you both were overwhelmed by the abundance of magic. It soon became apparent that the senses would not serve you as well here. While you met many interesting people you both were soon overwhelmed by a variety of theorems, algorithms, equations, and arcane philosophies you were presented with, this day was not your own, the party, too well planned. You passed your time moving from room to room sharing in a variety of literal arcane cocktails and magically created foods. It was here in this forum that you first learned the greatest source of the black crown’s power and political relevance and it was in great presence and quantity at the party. Food and drink, the ability to create something from nothing or to bring something far away here was revealed as the primary source of income for Black Crown. Part of the service time requested of new membership is involved with serving this function and can include negotiating trade agreements in far off places.



Mihaela Leonia human female, regal looking host resplendent in a purple gown with high black shoulders and head piece. A master of riddles, when she presents you with a riddle, the answer usually reveal a personal flaw or short-coming.


Tycho Nikias Elf Male, Want to blow something up but not hit unintended targets? Tycho is your man, a teacher of arcane feats, Tycho is also a master chessman.


Isidora Margareta Celestial? Female, You don’t remember what she talked about, it had to be magical, I mean that’s the only way its even possible. The most beautiful woman you have ever seen or dreamt of. After twenty minutes in her presence you left and experienced the worst headaches of your lives.


Evaristus Phocas Heresy Devil male, not surprisingly an expert on magical contracts, seals, and power words. Current passion is studying gates and magical doorways.


Description of Evaristus: Seemingly fused with a monstrous throne of iron skulls, this impossibly corpulent being floats several feet off the ground. Trappings cut in mockery of holy vestments do little to cover the thing’s pallid, leaking rolls of blister-pocked girth. Worthless, club like hands waggle like maggots, directing a cloud of weathered scrolls and blasphemous tomes that orbit its bulk. Barely distinguishable amid its mound of chins squints a pair of glassy black eyes, riding above a disproportionately wide mouth curled into a perpetually lecherous grin.


Melissa Izanami Half Dragon female, the most hateful woman you’ve ever encountered and your time with her was directly after your time with Isidora. Through the entire session with Melissa you had your intense headache. It was only when allowed to leave Melissa did you both realize how much you had just learned about Concentration.


Iosif Olympiodoros Half Dragon, devil blooded, male, challenges you to the idea that there is a hierarchy to magic and you are its lowest rung.


Lucretia Lalita Human female, Isidora was painfully beautiful, Lucretia is the girl next door (Mary Ann Giligan’s Island) Her specialty is arcane inflection, proper vocalizations. She is in high demand by Summoners and Pact Magician’s.


Ulfr Grigore Human male, expert on magical diseases and curses. You expect to see this fellow on top of a mountain enjoying cold crisp air. He also claims to be able to hide his own spellcasting while spotting others.


Chryseis Salima Elf female, She is an abjuration specialist whose specialty is converting an opponent’s magic into arcane protections for herself while robbing them of the original spells benefits.


Leofric Vilho Tiefling male, Steals magic. Believes that arcanists should rule the world.


Sanda Leocadia ½ elf female Her discussions were on morality in magic. She is in charge of the spellguard.


Eustathios Kjetil Gnome male Arcane Philosopher, Diviner and all around pain in the ass.


Nefertiti Xanthippe planar female, Her session involved a diorama of the planes and a short dissertation on the politics of some planes and the effects of our magic upon them.


Govannon Gennadiy Changeling Male, Expert on magical fusion, as well as constructs.


Brita Francisca Dwarf Female, She is an expert on runes and sigils.


Pipin Toma Halfling male, a wizard alchemist, also a well known creator of magical rings. Some claim he can be in two places at once, others swear he has a twin brother.


Luned Octavia Drow female, Her magic was strange to you but her expertise is mathematics and numerology. She claimed to be working on numerical formula for true names and pacts.


Kapila Meginfrid Janni, male, master of elemental magic now seeks to identify new and heretofore unknown elements.


Jamila Christine Human Female, she spoke to you about the generally accepted edges of magical discovery and seemed quite high on the knowledge.


Adalwin Joscelin Human male, Magical strategy, control and domination of enemies.


Kallistrate Edana Spellscale Female, Her specialty is Transmutation and she discussed how an expert can be a beautiful army of skills and magic to overcome any foe


Vibiana Cressida ½ Elf Female, She studies what she refers to as fringe magic, not limited to but including alchemy, meta-magic components, bards, warlocks, and witches.

11/24/10 Review

Noon. We began our session with a visit to Twilight House and a meeting with our guild house patron Arkeil. The Twilight House grounds were all amass with newcomers to Stormhaven from ports abroad, most in some kind of state of shock and disarray- perhaps not fully understanding their situation and or location. Auge exercised some of his roguish skills and made a business contact with Gin and Sani Habib before we finally located Arkeil (magically casing the new arrivals) and presented our plan on renovating our building in the Rat’s Nest. Willing to accommodate in a couple of ways we eventually settled on him receiving an equal share in Sons Commodities,15k in liquid funds to which we could begin our endeavors and The Black Kraken; a ship that was due to dock this week.

Our palaver with Arkeil netted some information on the Nightstalker in that Arkeil believes the Nightstalker is quite possibly a drow lich. We also gained a bag of holding and its magical contents that prompted a round of hoard building.

2pm. We visited the dwarf tattooist Tamaros where Auge was accepted as his apprentice for the meanwhile. The dwarf also showed enthusiasm when told of the fate of the Red Quill proprietor, Tamaros took the rest of the day off.

From here our brotherhood split up and explored personal affairs. Vercer to the Hall of Voices to observe and make contacts, Durg to the Lair for some much needed rest, while Jaren and Auge spent the large portion of that night at the residence of Melhaela Leonia and the Black Crown membership. During the event, several people were met and eventually two sponsors emerged from the crowd: Auge- Viviana Crisida, a smoking hot half elf and from out of a trio of prospective wizards, Nefraiti ZanFlib an outsider interested in sponsoring Jaren.

The next three days were set aside for menial tasks and crafting. We received 1500 xp and will pick up next session on Friday morning where we expect to escort Claret and Larratia Pauchard and Raice to the Black Kraken and who knows what Durg has in store for Kallistrate Edana, the Spellscale from the Black Crown. 

Journal Entry: Durg

So we have dealt with this agent of mother's. I wonder who he was, who he was fighting and why. If only the fool had been wise enough to see that we could be allies, we could've beaten those other fools he was with. Mother, father, grandmother, I pray that I can know when to make allies and when to let my axe sing.

Angel Wings

This magical necklace was created as a birthday gift for a lovely, beautiful young maiden; her name now lost to time, however legend says there is an old book that tells her tragic tale of love, sin, and betrayal. The chain is crafted from the purest silver by expert Elvin artisans and the platinum wings are said to be perfect replicas of that of an angel.

When worn, the necklace is said to improve the wearer’s natural flying maneuverability as wells as Mobility when flying. Legend also says that for some the necklace also confers the ability to communicate with Angels and good celestial beings.

Knowledge Strategy & Tactics (Int/Trained)

Knowledge Strategy & Tactics (Int/Trained)

You are educated in one field of study and are capable of answering both simple and complex questions. Knowledge represents a study of some body of lore, possibly an academic or even scientific discipline.


Identify a single opponent’s fighting style or tactic DC 20


Identify a group of opponent’s tactics DC 15 + CR (Note they must be working together)

GM may allow a +2 Synergy bonus with certain other knowledge skills (Minimum 5 Ranks) if they apply, for instance if in combat with a planar creature and you also have a Knowledge Planar.


Benefit against a single opponent: For a number of rounds equal to your characters level receive a +1 Dodge bonus to AC.


Benefit against a group of opponents aligned together: Adjust your initiative up or down by 2. Must make a successful check each time you want to adjust initiative. Also receive a +1 Dodge bonus to Reflex Saving throws for the round.


Note that in certain situations, some skills could receive a synergy bonus from someone with 5 or more ranks in Knowledge Strategy & Tactics at the GM’s discretion. Some possible examples are Sense Motive, Perception, Diplomacy, and Profession Gambler.


Russ this is in response to your excellent Journal Entry. You will receive 1 Rank in this skill for free and it is considered a class skill for you.

Tales from the Driftdowns

Hammish smiled at Yuri, a full toothed grin that held little warmth or honesty, but was the best the ½ orc could muster. “Another ship Yuri, will this one be changing its name to Foamchaser like the others?” Yuri shook his head and took out his notes, “No Hammish, it is to be made to look like this ship, as near as possible in the time allowed, and as you can see, it is to be re-christened The Black Kracken.”


Yuri handed him the scroll and waited for the ½ orc to complain about the short turn around time and wasn’t disappointed. “Before the Solstice! Godin must think I work only for him! If he truly wants this, he must realize I will have to hire…” Hammish stopped in mid-complaint, the large gem in Yuri’s palm bringing him to a halt.

Yuri interrupted, “This should be enough payment to cover all your expenses and then some but Godin said to tell you that if the job is done well enough, the real Black Kracken will be yours to detail, use or sell within the first few weeks after delivery. “ Unable to stop himself Hammish snatched the gem and quickly looked about to see if anyone was preparing to strike him down.

“Godin knows how to get things done! Finally a ship of my own, tell Godin it will be as he instructs.” The ½ orc hurried away from their meeting place, gem and scroll of instructions in hand. Yuri left the happy shipwright and navigated the central pier crowds, until he found himself near the tavern. Smiling, Yuri was happy that the ½ orc wasn’t as smart as he was skilled or surely he would have asked for more gems, of which Yuri still had four in his neck pouch. Godin usually allowed him to keep a couple whenever he came out ahead.

Castled

Li Song unsheathed her magical sword and whispered the syllables to awaken the wind spirit housed within its cold wrought blade.

“Xen Shi, I beacon you wind spirit. Aid me in this battle so that I may restore honor to my family and my people.” Her gaze fell upon the mountain river and the multiple obelisks fashioned in the shape of Ch’iu-Lung, a great and ancient dragon.

In Li Song’s eastern culture, dragons permeate the realm’s architecture, art, and fashion. Indeed, depictions of the Great Scaled Ones demand great respect so much so that it is disrespectful to disfigure the image of a dragon. Li Song would defy her teachings and expose her quarry as the great liar and seducer it was.

Ch’iu-Lung was not, as Li Song discovered a great and wise Scaled One, but a schemer and a demon. Ch’iu-Lung was the genius of all her eastern homeland’s woes and suffering despite the offerings and sacraments bestowed in hopes of placating him. Ch’iu-Lung promised fertile crops of rice and times of peace from the encroaching monster races form the west. In spite of everything he promised her people where hungry and battle weary. It was all a lie.

Li Song’s blade Xen Shi, took her on a spirit walk to show her the truth. In this walk the sword showed her the generations of deceit and devilry Ch’iu-Lung wrought. Li Song would have honor restored.

She inhaled deeply hoping it would not be her last.

“Demon! I have learned the truth of your lies. Your sinful influence ends here!”

The river boiled and writhed, the ground trembled before Li Song and she swallowed with trepidation. With a great surge of water and a deafening roar the Great Scaled One Ch’iu-Lung emerged from the placid river.

“Little Song, why do you beacon me, do you not know there are customs to be observed? Such disregard for tradition is disrespectful to me and dishonors your family. Are you so prideful to ignore such practice?” said the dragon with distain and much malice.

“You are the interloper dragon and I will not suffer my people your sinful influence of anymore!” Li Song announced with courage and raised her blade, poised for attack.

The dragon reared and exhaled a stream of feted water that smelled of death and decay. Song brought her sword to shield the attack and rolled to a nearby obelisk. On her feet, Li Song continued her momentum and came around to Ch’iu-Lung’s rear and slashed deeply into the dragons ancient scales.

A roar of disbelief followed. Ch’iu-Lung had never before suffered an attack like that save for once when his mother was killed by a cleric of the winds. That sword! Was that the same blade?

Li Song pressed the attack while Ch’iu-Lung was writhing in agony. Slashing and striking, the dragon’s scales opened like so much paper under the legendary edge of Xen Shi.

The dragon could not hope to defeat her while she wielded that weapon. Ch’iu-Lung began to speak ancient incantations, a spell of power gathered on his scaled lips. With arcane power the dragon pointed his talon finger at little Song and a moment later she was gone, no longer a threat to him.

(Meanwhile on the other side of the world.)

Li Song appeared in mid sword swing near the edge of the world disk. Disorientation threatened to spill her over the edge, but she was able to recover quickly. The dragon had used magic to unwillingly transport her far away from him. Devilishly clever, she thought. She had been castled! Li Song perceived her new surroundings and found an opulent city on this incredible island disk over endless sea waters. She saw people of all races and houses, buildings and roads. She had not the magic to return her home; she would have to discover the resources to do so.

Journal entry (Versel)

Father passed to me many words of wisdom in his message. His stance on Gods, Dwarves, & Love all seem to be accurate from my short albeit eventful experiences since leaving Twilight house. But it was his recommendation to play a game that intrigued me most. Chess teaches you to strategize, to develop tactics on the field of battle to achieve victory. I believe this is the lesson he wanted us to learn from the game I have grown fond of. I have tried to develop my own combat tactics thru trial and error and though it is a work in process I feel I am having success.

It wasn’t until I began to research the topic of tactics & strategies that I noticed our reckless pattern of behavior. I have recently uncovered a wealth of information to aid us both on and off the battlefield. I will take these lessons learned and gradually impress upon my brothers there effectiveness.

While in Obadiah’s library I began researching famous dictators and their rise to power. I came across a book written about a dwarven general (Stone shield something, I can’t recall) and how he went from a common miner to one of the most feared warlords in history. The book detailed some of his more famous tactics and a few stuck in my mind.

1. “Never underestimate your opponents”. He dictated that several of his victories on the battle field were won because his opponents didn’t respect him as an equal. They were ill prepared or poorly motivated for the battle and thus were defeated.

This is an advantage we will never have. Our physical stature dictates that we will never be overlooked by our opponents. If anything we have been the ones to underestimate what our opponents can do. While I don’t think we should “fear” every opponent, our overconfidence is evident.

2. “The enemy of my enemy is an ally”. . While doing researching on his opponents he would take note of other conflicts they had in the past. He would then partition his opponent’s adversaries to join his ranks and eliminate the common threat. This gave him not only strength in numbers for his upcoming battles but inside knowledge of his new ally. Should the day come his ally turned enemy he would have intimate knowledge of their tactics on the battlefield.

He would not call them a friend, only an ally. Apparently it was akin to a business agreement. Pooling resources seems like common sense; however he perused unlikely alliances based on a common enemy. We have done the same with the 7’s. It started with Jaren, his animosity towards the 7’s has spread to our group. And in searching them out we have now allied ourselves with Obadiah a former victim, and Tamros & The Creeping Rose who has been fighting them longer than we know. I can see this one going against us as well. If the green-cloak cultists start asking around about us I could see them stumbling upon the 7’s who might also be investigating us after interfering in two assassination attempts.

3."Never fight a two front war”. Stone shield was a master at walking the line of diplomacy. He always knew who his next opponent would be, but they never knew. He was cautious enough not to fall victim to his own enemy of my enemy strategy. The greatest warrior will eventually fall against an endless wall of blades. Never did he spread his manpower or resources so thin he couldn’t recover.

Our list of opponents seems to grow longer each day. The green-cloak cultists “Minions of the Skull”, the assassin group known as the 7’s, & now we can add Mothlo Tu Ervan an extra planner creature of unknown origins to this list. There are others I have forgotten to mention, but they will make themselves known I am sure. The quality of our adversaries might also be worthy of concern. When one must enter into unspeakable contracts before an information broker will even utter the name Nightstalker it’s time to pay attention. I doubt such safe guards would be taken if we’re asking questions regarding Obadiah.

We have violated every one of Stone shield’s rules of war. If we were common men I doubt we would survive the week. But we are more, children of Nissian, and ancestors of Tiamat. When our power fully develops we will be a force the likes of which the world has never seen. We must be cautions not to challenge the entire world before then.

I must impart the general’s words of wisdom onto my brothers. “I know one day I will rule a vast empire, but it does not have to be today”.

11/10/10 Review

Early Sunday we visited Obadiah at the House of the Four winds to tour his library in earnest. We came with a gift for the butler and were treated to ample quantities of smoke and herbs as well as a colorful story by Obadiah that accompanied each one. Jaren, familiarized himself with many books- one in particular originated from one of the Founders, a Seawillow Noble son. Auge greedily researched the methods, classifications and theorems of poison making. We were also able to unlock access into the truespeak skill.

While Jaren and Auge busied themselves with certain selections, Vercer found interest in books of dictators and rulers to better understand his would-be role in this Age of Dragons. While perusing he found a note: “Whisper fits the bill 777” Vercer also occupied himself with one of three prized tomes incased in glass housings. There was a comedy, a tragedy but it was the love story that interested Vercer. The narrative told a story of a love in sin that was their fateful downfall. More importantly it contained information of the correlation of magic and sin:
Pride/Abjuration
Greed/Conjuration
Gluttony/Enchantment
Wrath/Evocation
Lust/Illusion
Sloth/Necromancy
Envy/Transmutation
All are associated with Divination magic.

5 pm. We were then served dinner with Obadiah and his scribe where conversation and theories were exchanged about who would want Obadiah killed, who would stand to benefit, why Buki was hired as well as a revelation into Obadiah’s family. Obadiah as a nephew that is soon to return before the solstice from afar, with the hopes of discovering the fate of his dead son now twenty years past.

We then went by the Van Fleet’s to collect our 1000 gold, in from of a promissory sealed note and then home. Once there Jaren finished the wondrous amulet for Vercer and helped Auge with his magical glove creation. After that some potion brewing and poison making (exquisite kiss) and we rested.

8 am. The next morning Durg stated his plans to visit the Driftdowns and after some group discussion it was agreed that we would all go together. It only took 5 gold and 20 minutes on the lifts when Durg the Toll Payer and his brethren were at last in the Driftdowns. Choked with shadows, the odor of flotsam and the sea we discover the buildings of Driftdowns where mostly shanties built upon each other like barnacles on the side of a sea vessel.

Our first destination was to be the Red Quill. Passing various foamcallers and locations like: the Dawn Sea (Inn), Up from the Depths (Fortune Teller and Finder of Lost Things), Sundered Anvil (weapon merchant), Crumpled Blaybill (Theater), The Ballroom (Battle ground/ Gang warfare), and The Siren’s Call (Feasthall).

The Red Quill was a small dilapidated series of fisherman’s cabins that featured a sign “closed due to illness” and a sigil upon the door that encompassed many layers of independent symbols that created the one now adorned on the front door of the tattoo parlor. Helping ourselves inside Jaren and Ague discovered who we believed to be a sick and dying Mothlo Tu Ervan. After attempting to kill him, (an action that damaged evil creatures) Auge gathered up 200 gold in inks and tattoo equipment then departed, having discovered nothing else of consequence or importance.

Our next destination was the Horned Crown and Yellow-Eye the Minotaur sage. Aged and disheveled his custom proclaimed “sage for the common man and the budget conscious adventurer!” After some debate as to our exchange of information and the questions we would pose to him, we imbibed a genie Ambrosia that would ensure the source of all information traded in this palaver would remain secret.

*** The green-cloak SS cultists are sometimes called Minions of the Skull, they worship undeath and mark this coming solstice and the beginning of the year of the dead/ the winter of the dead. Nightstalker is an individual and not a title, but who ever the Nightstalker is he is truly a long-lived creature. It is unknown if Nightstalker has a lieutenant but mayhap a former lover Madame Octavia.
***The Sevens have no permanent base of operations but it is rumored that their leader lives in the Rat’s Nest.

Old Yellow-Eye had some questions of his own he presented us with:
Does the Nightstalker know we are Nissian’s children? (A: Many ask us that.)
Are we loyal to the current leadership of Twilight House? The house itself? (A: No/ we are aligned with financial gain.)
Furthermore to offset the cost of the Ambrosia we volunteer information that there is a marked increase in flying creature activity the closer to the solstice we get (example Mako/Hammer).

Coming out of the magic brought on by the Ambrosia, we discover that our information exchange was some kind of shared dream and that there is no way anyone could have eavesdropped upon us.

We are awarded 1000 xp. We start next session leaving the Horned Crown 10 am.