"Niiiiice! An honest-to-god Dark Lord out for blood, rape and plunder! Hey, captain, is there anything unpleasant I should know about this guy?"
Eric handed Sarvak's scroll over to the pirate and waited for an answer. If Sarvak had no known untoward tendencies - like killing his trusted lieutenants or getting excited with politics - then Eric would go into this Lord's service.
"Ehhh, Sarvak, Sarvak... seem ta recall he's in a scrap with just about e'ryone in the region, though I wouldn't know personally. Mostly deal with refugees tryin' ta get out an' the occasional goblin who's got himself a mind fer some shinies.
Don't know much more than that, though, haven't bothered with all the latest talk of the taverns up there, y'see."
I think ill send Mr pirate guy out to buy a sack of shoes for us.
If possible id like some of those leather boots with the iron plating on top and a matching pair of gloves
bonus points if he insults our intelligence as he leaves
((Did you actually want to tell him to do this?
In any case, you've barely got enough money for food and last-minute expenditures, you probably can't afford clothing. I mean, you might be able to buy something, though probably still not something nice, if you spent literally everything, but then you'd be in danger of having literally nothing to eat, not being able to buy tolls or passage, and so on.))
"The kid's got a point. Now, let's take a break before we're at each other's throats, should we? Waitress! Drinks for everyone at this table. I'm paying, if no one minds."
The generosity was necessary; naive people were predisposed to such things, and Eric would rather have these maniacs on his side when they have to choose between him and the bigger evil.
Waiting for the drinks, Eric kicked back in his chair and inspected his coins. Would they be a good material base for Earth Magic? Eric would need to refresh his Enchantment skills, and soon, if he wanted to rise in the hierarchy of power.
You spend a few of your meager coins on a round of drinks for everyone. It pains you to think of such a thing as an expensive purchase, but with things being what they are, well...
The pirate captain is especially quick with his, downing it in one go. You guess he's got experience with that sort of thing.
"Ahhhh, now that's the way to not get shanked," he adds as he puts the mug down.
As for the coins, they're metal, meaning earth magic can't really affect them very well. They're also not likely to be with you for long at this rate.
"Captain Renault," Clarence began, still blowing tiny whitecaps in his drink and completely oblivious to the conversations he was interrupting. "What do you know about the Rift, the Horn of Atradox, or the Dark Lord Sytheriss?"
Ask Captain Renault about the Rift, The Horn of Atradox, and Dark Lord Sytheriss.
"Ah, not much. Some magical whatchacallit on some jungle island, looked into by some agents or another. Dunno what happened to em, but I've not heard of anything recently, so either they're bein' real quiet, one way or another if ye catch my drift, or off they've gone."
You detect no poison in your drink as you slowly convert it to water.
Gus looked at Rhedarious."That sounds like a sound idea. We may also want to find an area with a plain or grassland nearby, I don't plan on starving to death." He turned to the Captain, and asked "Do you know of any place like that?
"If I'do it'll be in the bag there. Mind ye, I've plenty o' open spaces in mind, but none of em'll meet yer needs fer keepin your heads from all comers. Not that the ones in there's exactly safe, but if it were a pleasant spot thar'd be someone already on it, aye?"
Gus calmly goes through the sack, looking for a secluded, easily defendable location or a Dark Lord who has a relatively small establishment.
[5][6] You uncover a truly interesting scroll.
Commander-
I have found the spire. It is a sheer pinnacle of rock which no humans could hope to climb and no humans could hope to reach in the first place. It will not satisfy our needs.
I will continue scouting the area until further orders, but be advised that this deep into the jungle will be very difficult to persuade the humans to follow.
-DRhedarios searches again for the same thing, this time without the animal bit, but only if allowed by the others, since he does not want to get all the scrolls.
[1][4][4] You fish out another scroll.
Entry 382
We have made shelter in a series of caves. This place is bitterly cold, and I have seen no traces of life that did not immediately attempt to trample and eat us. Carlac says he saw emeralds in one of the ice walls, but I'm not sure how that's possible.
Then again, I'm not sure how this place is possible either, but here we are. There's a stream running in the back, despite most of the cavern being ice in the first place. How bizarre.
Jarlson has been sent out to find food, but I doubt he'll find anything he can kill. I doubt even more he'll find anything he won't have to. I think I might have a plan, though...Dungeon LordsFallas you filthy whore, you think this will stop me? I already
control Galren and Soroth, Methrel lies in ashes and Siprel is pleading for
mercy as we speak. A few butchered goblins will not save you, your
people, or your soul. Ready yourself, for my hordes are still limitless
and your kingdom is still mine.
-Sarvak, Lord of Destruction
I wish to devote this particular manuscript to the study of Lord Helsess, a truly resplendent Dungeon Lord as far as these things go. Unlike most of his vile, simpering kin, Lord Helsess maintains the strictest codes of honor and decency. I managed to catch up with him just as he was finished defiling a maiden during one of his conquests.
"I understand it, Lord Helsess" I spoke to the noble Lord, "That you completely eschew all things foul and nefarious in your schemings."
"Indeed!" he replied, magnificent in his gleaming armor, "For no undead nor other magical abominations dare grace my army's banners. When the captives have been properly flayed, they are artfully impaled on spikes as warning and decoration, not transformed into shambling crimes against all decency."
"How wonderful!" I exclaimed, noting the pride with which he spoke. "Can you say why more Dungeon Lords, indeed why more lords in general, do not follow your shining example?"
"Nay," he cried, with the practiced sorrow of one all too familiar with a reasonless evil. "'Tis simply that such creatures are useful, to cowards and knaves, beggars and thieves, weaklings and savages. Why they do not cast off the chains of their decay and embrace righteousness, I sadly do not know."
His eyes at this point took on the most heroic of sadnesses, and I could not help but feel moved by his valor and virtue. Truly, here was a Lord worthy of the title!
In the next installment of Hieramus Harackus' breathtaking interviews, he examines the peculiar culinary habits of the Queen of Spikes.
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Dungeon Locations21st Granite- Arrived at site. Scattered villages all around, rumors of Goldenboats being around here somewhere. No sign of them yet though. Mostly goatmen, some others.
Surveys look good- several heavily jungled mountains, sufficient mineral wealth within them. Natives might be a problem, mainly as thieves. Premium on gemstones, might make good trading partners if they had anything in return. Some exotic meats.
Threats of wildlife, local rumors of worse things. Requires further investigation to confirm, but not to settle.
Report on the Barren Fields, by Apprentice Mythrar
The Barren Fields are a somewhat rocky wasteland of no apparent value, but hold many secrets.
The Barren Fields contain dried riverbeds. This means there used to be rivers here, but now there aren't.
The Barren Fields contain very fertile soil beneath the surface. According to my research, this means they used to have a lot of plant life in them, but now they don't.
The Barren Fields contain lots of minerals. This means they would make a good place for a mine.
The Barren Fields contain disturbing animals that are very dangerous and strange. They are not like animals here.
In conclusion, The Barren Fields are a dangerous but interesting place.
Dark Lord Sytheriss,
I have completed my survey of the Horn of the Atradox, as per your orders. It appears in most ways to be similar to the rest of the Rift, in that it is bright yet there is void all about, plants of truly fascinating properties abound, as do animals that feed primarily by destroying these properties, and water courses out of nowhere before flowing back into the void. I have been unable to determine any particular properties regarding the Horn, beyond being made of stone as was assumed.
-Sril
Commander-
I have found the spire. It is a sheer pinnacle of rock which no humans could hope to climb and no humans could hope to reach in the first place. It will not satisfy our needs.
I will continue scouting the area until further orders, but be advised that this deep into the jungle will be very difficult to persuade the humans to attack.
-D
Entry 382
We have made shelter in a series of caves. This place is bitterly cold, and I have seen no traces of life that did not immediately attempt to trample and eat us. Carlac says he saw emeralds in one of the ice walls, but I'm not sure how that's possible.
Then again, I'm not sure how this place is possible either, but here we are. There's a stream running in the back, despite most of the cavern being ice in the first place. How bizarre.
Jarlson has been sent out to find food, but I doubt he'll find anything he can kill. I doubt even more he'll find anything he won't have to. I think I might have a plan, though...
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How about a bonus to threats and reasoning with people ((I.E. If they treat you so well then why would they abandon you?)), then disadvantage in magic. Also, for shoes could I get dress shoes?
Hm, +Social, -Magic. That could certainly work.
And you can have
former dress shoes, but all your current stuff has been through hell. If you want something that's nice in the present you'll need to acquire it somehow.