Basic Fantasy RPG Forums

In answer to your question about golems - these robots in here are nothing like Dwarvish golems, which Kilian knows from stories of old, and which Tiana theorizes were always made with natural magic, using the power of stone and of metal itself. But these robots have been made by Salenish wizards, with extraplanar magic, and require a supply of that magic to operate. It seems that it is possible to reduce this extra-planar magic to a liquid, generic form.

In answer to all your other questions - you will get nothing further from the books until Tiana has gotten through a full month of learning Old Salenish, with Talin's help. You have knocked of about 3-4 days of that total so far. Of course, it will be much faster if you meet a sage who already knows this language. You do not know of one, currently.

As for the Code - that is a codified form of modern Sader - Talin is the one who knows this language but he is better speaking it than writing it. He will take 2 intelligence rolls (beat a 15) to decipher the code book you found in the treehouse. Each roll takes 2 full days of study without interruption. So far, he has had one roll, and failed. (I just made this roll).

As for the magic itself - the Salenish magic you have seen (looks like Arabic characters) is stationary when carved on magic items and so on, but was actually moving around on the pages of one of the spellbooks you found, and you closed the book at once and haven't opened it since. (f you do have another look, please tell me so specifically.)

You have really no idea how long it would take to learn this magic style but it would definitely involve knowing Old Salenish as a skill, as well as the magic runes themselves, but, I will tell you that becoming a Salenish mage will require someone to take on a new class. This will mean an existing character becoming multi-classed, or to generate a whole new character who learns this magic. I would prefer the latter option, but it's up to you. If you go for an existing character, it will take a decent period of down time (several months) to make learning the magic believable. If you decide to have a Salenish mage come into the game, that's OK. I'll let you know that several other of my groups have them in play, and they do exist in the New Kingdoms, but in great secrecy.

As for the magic items - Tiana guesses they are probably activated by a command word which may or may not be in the books you have found. The exception seems to be the ring - which Freya is wearing, and worked straight away. No one has tried the cloak on. The light helmets are rather self explanatory items. The crystal and iron dagger were stashed at Carr's farm ages ago and you do not have those on you. (Both had tiny Salenish runes on them.) The goggles, you have tried on lots of stuff and they do not seem to make any difference although they are magical. The wand, you have literally no clue. The inscription tools, Tiana guesses were for carving the tiny runes onto the magic items, to make them operate.

All this points to some down time, especially in a place like Brant where you might have a batter chance of getting information than in a backwater like Red Oak.

The question is, do you want to let the Old Man have all winter to pursue what he is looking for, while you rest up and study? Or are you going to keep adventuring and try to keep your hand in the game, but without all the skills and information that resting could provide you?

That issue has been a potential fork in the Red Oak campaign road for a while now.

Yeah, I didn't think the learnings would come overnight. However, Talin needs something more productive (or less reproductive?) to do other than staring at Anna across the campfire.

The question is, do you want to let the Old Man have all winter to pursue what he is looking for, while you rest up and study? Or are you going to keep adventuring and try to keep your hand in the game, but without all the skills and information that resting could provide you?

Heck no! The playing with magic items, reading tomes, etc is just for daily downtime or healing downtime. They're going to keep exploring until they start getting hungry. Then they'll hike back to Red Oak, maybe take a week in Brant, and then brave the snow coming back to the mountain.

So if I recall correctly I've spent one game point already. So I should be at 3 right?

Well, gotta pay to play, and I'm really hoping Thann survives to get an opportunity to fulfil Milly prophesied Owl-riding

yep, you have already spent 1.

How powerful are game points at creating game elements? As in, would I be able to use one to make it that Owly was flying over the party? And hungry?

You could definitely do that.

The game was already suggesting it, and it may have been about to happen anyway, so all you are doing is hastening the process.

I think it is a good idea. Do you want to do it?

I'm out of town this weekend so probably won't get to post much. I'll try to update my signature with current hp and all that tonight at some point.

Note to self: when facing twice your number in bugbears, and you are mostly a level 1 party, the correct answer is to flee. xD

Yes, I was surprised that you charged them! After Milly warned you, there was an opportunity to sneak away, and you sat there instead, and waited.

Bringing the bird in helped with forcing them to check morale - she didn't actually do much damage, but her presence progresses that particular aspect of the story.

I think in the end it worked out OK. At least you ain't dead!

PS - have a good break. I'm off overseas next weekend so I will be out for a bit, too.

OMG! Where did you find that party art? Or did you make it? That's so perfect!

I found it accidentally while looking for an image for "dwarf in a tree"

(Grendel's thief was stuck up a tree in the other game).

It leaped out at me, for obvious reasons.

I can't draw to save myself.

Good, isn't it?