Turn 9
It seems like this might be a good idea to abstract things at this point and go from turn-by-turn mode to downtime mode until the next day. So I'll process these actions as downtime, and you can all tell me anything else you want to do besides this, and then we can skip to the next morning.
Partly because it feels like most of the players are doing things that don't require a lot of back-and-forth response, and partly so I don't have to describe a bunch more books in so much detail. Or at least that was the plan. Not so sure it worked out.
As long as I'm in the area, Al takes a look around to see if there are any books of interest.
You look around for books, but this is a café, so there aren't too many present, and Aya-Vary-Jury is leaving with most of them, so you head to the library.
Not having any specific idea about what sort of books you're looking for, you just wander around the shelves, picking up and reading through any that seem interesting to you. (10d2=16xd100=880%) You read through eight books and eighty percent of a ninth one.
The first book is Unexpected Similarities in the Social Organization of the Basilisk and the Cyclops. The book is hard to understand, and mostly seems to come down to the fact that both sorts of creatures tend to be solitary and mostly get along better with other species than their own. This is all derived from the author's extensive personal research.
The next book is Temples of the Wind Goddess, about Idona, Goddess Of Wind, and the construction and locations of her various temples. Among the locations, there's one in the Welcoming Hills and one on the Mountain of Dusk.
The third book is The Travel Goddesses' Churches, about Nihnera, Goddess Of Commerce (you seem to be in that particular section).Most of the churches aren't that big, more accurately described as shrines, but there are many of them located along most major roads and railways situated in the various towns and stops along the way. Besides being a place of worship, they're often a good source of information, rest, and provisions for travelers. There are many along the routes between here and the Mountain of Dusk, especially in the Welcoming Hills.
The fourth book, A Guide to the Empire's Forgotten Chronicle, seems to be about the now fallen Prasan Empire, and the attempts of a few schemers among the empire's government officials who tried to overthrow the Zezaeteron Dynasty. They did this by creating the Misfortune Elixir, which seemed to do its job, and, in fact, may have done it too well, as some believe this is what led to the fall of the empire.
The fifth book is Practice Transfigurations, which seems to go over the basics of transfiguration magic. You see someone has left several bookmarks in pages with similar information. It goes over four spells:
The first spell focuses on living tissue, specifically using it to transform others. It requires clay for forming images.
The second spell focuses on both souls and spirit. It requires chants, dances, and a special magical sword. This style of magic mutates the caster over time.
The third spell focuses on bone, specifically using it to augment a living creature's abilities and create simulcra. It requires knowing the true name of a target, specific bodily postures, and special chemicals. This style draws powers from the gods.
The last spell focuses on living tissue, specifically using it to create weapons. It requires magic words, various gemstones, and magical potions. This style of magic depends on a familiar spirit.
The sixth book is The Secret Temples Serving the All-Wise Sky God, about Ysdum, God Of The Sky, whose worship is only permitted to a special priesthood in hidden temples. The book offers some ideas of where some temples might be, including one on the Mountain of Dusk. There are various pages that are dog-eared and have notes written on them that are hard to make out, but seem to imply errors in the text.
The seventh book that catches your interest is The Common Areas of Habitation of Ettins: New Theories. This book goes over the demographics of ettins and why they tend to settle in certain areas, such as economics, climate, and politics. It seems to have a lot of useful information about where other ettins can be found and the socioeconomic factors of why that is. It likely matches up with what you know about your family and other ettins you've known.
The eighth book you read is A Study of the Earl Barony's Military Chronicle, which is about the various wars and other such conflicts undertaken by the Earl Barony, including the capture of the city of Ironside, during which the sport of dogsurfing was invented. The book is well-organized and very informative about the subject. You gain (5d6=10)
+10% Military Tactics skill.
The last book you read through, though don't quite finish, is A Guide To the Origins of Daggers and Shortbows. It's very well-organized, but you can tell it basically has no information, or at least nothing you don't already know.
"It appears that my brain has reached capacity for today. I'll be staying in beachhaven for as long as it takes to formulate a comprehensive plan to proceed with an acceptable level of risk and chance of success. If any of you would prefer to be unprepared, feel free to leave without me. I'm going home."
Take my books, buy the stuff needed for my spells, and then go back to my hotel room for the evening.
Before going to bed, see if I can't casually attract a spirit which can help me with the Jewel Pact.
You gather up your books, head to the shops and get the stuff you need, then hole up in your hotel for the night.
(Luck score 1d100=79%. Luck roll 79%=14% Success!)
Before you go to bed, put into your mind the desire to attract a useful spirit. You close your eyes and start drifting off to sleep, then suddenly awake as you hear a voice in your mind.
"GREETINGS, MORTAL. I AM KNOWN AS ZIZGOLITH THE RED DANCER. WHY HAVE YOU SUMMONED ME?"At the foot of your bed sits what looks like a red panda, surrounded by glowing dust.
>Find any books related to combat with ranged weapons, and weapon modification, and read them.
After Aya-Vary-Jury leaves, you head to the library with Al and Bartholomew (and I guess Sponcy would be there too) and look through some books. (10d2=16x1d100=589%) You read through five books and eight-nine percent of a sixth.
(5d100>72%=45,42,59,
89,
74. 2 Successes!)(d89>72%=15 No success.)
Reading through the books, only two of them seem to have any information about long-range combat that you didn't already know. But the ones that do bring you (2d6=4) four percent more long-range combat skill (
+4% long-range combat skill)
Quick dig through all the trash cans I can find as people in places like this always throw useful stuff and money away.
(Secret Star Sign ability roll=77%) Searching through all the trash cans in town, you can't find anything you'd find useful.
Sell the other substance, and name it leechglory.
(Base luck roll 10%=88%)
You have a product that you believe in, but nobody seems interested in buying.
So, like I said, we're now in downtime mode, so, if you want to do a bunch of things before the next morning, let me know and we'll resolve them.