>>2291431

The dice is 1d20.

LP(10)/13
C18


This means you have 13 Lifeforce points each point allowing you to cast one level of spell, ten of those being your baseline lifeforce that only replenishes very slowly if at all, and enough quork crystals for 18 levels of spellcasting.

Azriel currently have the following spells memorized
Detect Magic - 1LP
Sleep - 1LP
Magic Missile - 1LP
Healing Elixir - 1LP
Alter Self - 2LP
Suggestion - 2LP
Fireball - 3LP

and have the cantrip Blade Ward - 1LP prepared but not memorized, meaning he'll fire and forget it, then he'll need to study it again from his grimoire.
You're Azriel the Obstinate, a wizard who managed to retain his powers in these trying times by recurring to his own particular brand of blood magic, draining the lifeforce of fallen enemies to convert it into mana and power his spells. Recently you also acquired some quork crystals who allow its user to cast spells as usual for as long as the crystals last.

But you're in quite a predicament now. After buying a horse at the village of Stiford you were recognized by one of the peasants who took part in the charge against the wizard's village of Addcot. A mob is forming around you and you don't have much time to decide what course of action to take before you're engulfed by enraged peasants.

What do you do next?
> Try to pacify the mob, roll 19+ for diplomacy
> Leave the horse behind and run through the alleys of Stiford to try and get away from the angry mob, roll 14+
> Mount the horse and leave the town as fast as you can, roll 12+ to maneuver through the mob
> Mount the horse and leave town as fast as you can throw fireballs to clear your path if you must
> Write in

>>2291432
Are you telling me Azreal didn't cast alter self before going into that battle?

>>2291432
> Mount the horse and leave the town as fast as you can, roll 12+ to maneuver through the mob

>>2291445
Nothing was specified so nope
>>2291447
roll 1d20

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>2291453

>>2291493

Azriel mounts on his recently bought horse and attempts to make his way through the crowd of peasants forming around him but they close in like a wall of bodies and Azriel can't find a way through with his horse; with each passing moment he gets closer and closer to being cornered by the increasingly enraged mob. He'll have to think fast if he is to survive this ordeal.

> Try to pacify the mob, roll 19+ for diplomacy
> Leave the horse behind and run through the alleys of Stiford to try and get away from the angry mob, roll 14+
> Throw fireballs to clear your path through the mob and leave town as fast as you can
> Cast sleep spell to clear your path through the mob and leave town as fast as you can
> Write in

>>2291544
Shit, is sleep AOE?

Could we get a bonus for saying something like:
>I am no wizard, you fools. In fact, I have slayed one which was a threat to the village of Badum, for which the lord of that town rewarded me. I am a hero of that town! Harm me, and your own lord will hang you, after mine hears what has happened to his loyal servant!"

>>2291560
Oh, and also cast suggestion if we can to affect him mentallu and convince him

>>2291554

Sleep should affect about five villagers.

>>2291560
>>2291569


Sure, I was going with telling them you have an evil wizard twin, this is much better, but still would need to roll pretty high diplomacy, let's say 17+ , or 13+ if you also cast suggestion on the burnt guy for him to say he mistook you for someone else

>>2291586
Then I'll vote for diplomacy using my option and suggestion on the burnt guy.

>>2291544
Cast sleep spell to clear your path through the mob and leave town as fast as you can

>>2292543
>>2291592
>>2291569
>>2291560


So we're going to cast suggestion on the burnt guy and attempt to pacify the mob through diplomacy.

Roll 1d20, 13+ to pacify to mob

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>2292880

>>2292970

Azriel mutters some words and casts a suggestion spell, but it fails! The burnt man keeps inciting the mob towards Azriel.
They drag him down from his horse and are in the process of starting to lynch him when a member of the guard shows up.

"What is going on in here?"

"We caught a wizard sir!"

"A wizard here is Stiford?"

"Yes sir", says the burnt man, "One of those who were in the attack to Addcot. He's the one who burnt my face, I would never forget him."

"Well we'll need some proof that he's a wizard"

The mob then nearly rips apart Azriel pouch with the quork crystals, some of them fall to the ground.

"Well well well, what we have here. Those are very incriminating evidence. Guess you're coming to jail with me to await for your judgement young man.", says the guard.

"Await judgement? He's a wizard, we should burn him at the stake immediately!"

"Well in this town we still hold law and order to a high esteem so he'll have a judgement like any other criminal would. Now excuse me as I escort him to jail."

The guard picks up the quork crystals that fell from your pouch, tie you with a rope and start pulling you and your horse.

"Walk criminal wizard scum"

When the two of you go round a corner the guard let go of our rope and chant something, summoning a illusory wall concealling that part of the road from the rest of the town. When the guard turns back to face you again you're met with Fryde's face!

"Be more careful out there", says Fryde, "You almost got lynched. Now get the hell away from this village before the villagers notice my ruse."

"Thanks Fryde"

"Have your quork crystals back, you'll probably gonna need them"

LP(10)/11
C18

Azriel mounts on his new horse and decides where to go next.
> Travel to Badum
> Travel to Addcot
> Travel to Tabryc
> Travel to Saford
> other?

>>2293130
> Travel to Badum

>>2294059
+1

>>2294059
+2, also make a mental note to skin that peon if we see him again. And try to figure out a way to hide our crystals better. Can we just absorb them like we do lifeforce?

>>2294059
>>2294782
>>2297763

Azriel decides to travel back to Badum. When he arrives at his homestead he hears from the serfs news about a group of professional witch hunters in town. They say they're working for the count of Saford who bestowed upon them authority to search homes for anything suspicious or magically related. What should Azriel do next

> Take all his grimoires and hide them in a cave in the forest
> Go talk with the witch hunters
> Hide his quork crystals in a cave in the forest
> Take all his grimoires and travel somewhere with them (Addcot, Paham, Stiford, Saford, Tabryc, Lafiholm, other?)
> Write in

>>2297779
Be ballsy bout it.

Let us talk to them witch hunters

>>2298067


Azriel decides to go talk to the witch hunters.

When he walks into the common grounds of the village he sees them, sticking like a sore thumb from the average townsfolk; a tall muscular man with his bare torso covered in black tattoos wielding a battleaxe, a thin man wearing a cape carrying one of those fancy repeating crossbows and a black haired woman wearing tight leather carrying several daggers strapped to her outfit.

Azriel decides to be balsy about it and walks towards them.

"So you're the witch hunters sent by Saford? I think you're late, I caught the witch who was menacing this town already."

"Ah, the local hero, whatshisname...", asks the thin man

"Azriel, the Obstinate", answers Azriel.

"Of course, Azriel, the one who caught that fairy. I'll be honest with you kid I thought that by now all fairies would be dead already with the magic being gone and all. Still, nice catch. The name is Ales.", says the thin man.

"Nice team you have there", says Azriel.

"We've caught our share of wizards so far, although lately this area is running dry. I guess there's just not that many wizards roaming about anymore.", says Ales.

"Quit the small talk Ales we still have about two hundred houses to inspect", says the tattoed man.

"Grardre, where are your manners, we're dealing with a local celebrity here. Your house is on one of those homesteads on the outskirts of town I reckon.", says Ales.

"That's true. I recently acquired it with the reward from catching that witch.", says Azriel.

"Those are the last houses we're supposed to inspect if we go by our current schedule. We'd go there tomorrow or the day after.", says the woman in leather.

"I'd hate to invade the house of a local hero when he's not around.", says Ales

"Well then will you be around in a couple days for our inspection?", says the woman in leather.

"We could inspect your house today if you don't have time, I've been told you tend to travel alot.", says Ales

"Our instructions say to check high profile people first, I say a local hero is high profile enough", says the woman in leather.

"Elix you are pushing this issue to much, give him a breather.", says Ales to the woman in leather.

"Well our instructions are to be real thorough with our inspections so you don't mind if we also inspect your house do you?", says Elix

What do Azriel say?
> "I have some stuff I confiscated from wizards in my house"
> "I'll stay in town for the next couple of days no need to change your schedule for me"
> "I'll need to travel soon so if you can come with me now I'd show you around my property"
> "I don't think you need to inspect my home, I'm a witch hunter like you"
> Write in

>>2298360

> "I'll stay in town for the next couple of days no need to change your schedule for me"

Add,

> "Say, how've you three lasted this long? You have some anti-magic technique or clever strategy? Myself, I've been getting by ambushing them from a distance and it's worked well enough for now, but I figure it's only a matter of time before I find some warded sorcerer or have to assault a coven. I'd like to know anything you'd be willing to teach, might save the skin on my bones. I'd be willing to pay, but besides, witch hunters stick together, right?"

>>2298414

Azriel says

"I'll stay in town for the next couple of days no need to change your schedule for me"
"Say, how've you three lasted this long? You have some anti-magic technique or clever strategy? Myself, I've been getting by ambushing them from a distance and it's worked well enough for now, but I figure it's only a matter of time before I find some warded sorcerer or have to assault a coven. I'd like to know anything you'd be willing to teach, might save the skin on my bones. I'd be willing to pay, but besides, witch hunters stick together, right?"

"Ay funny that you ask that", says Ales, "we just play our strenghts. I have always had a knack for mechanical instruments so I built and maintain this beast right here"

He shows you his repeating crossbow

"Twenty shots a minute, makes mince meat of any wizard, and when I find the unlucky few that happen to use spells to ward themselves against bolts I switch to explosive bolts to great effect, a little something I learned from the dwarves, been working great for me so far.", says Ales.

"As for Grardre he comes from the northern tribes, his kind has always been distrustful of wizards, his tattoos interfere with the workings of wizards spells nothing works properly on him.", says Ales.

"And Elix her reflexes are just insane. She also collected a number of trinkets from wizards over the course of our misadventures that makes her particularly deadly against wizards, I'd say she's the most dangerous of the bunch", says Ales.

"You talk too much thin man", says Elix.

"Hey I'm just instructing the new blood. We might even invite him to join us.", says Ales.

"No way, the pay is barely decent enough to split three way. Besides he's a rookie who just got lucky with that fairy. Did you kill any other wizards other than that one?", asks Elix

What does Azriel say?
> "I killed a bunch of cultists in the swamps west of Paham"
> "I killed a witch near Stiford"
> "I killed three witches near Stiford"
> "I killed some wizards in the deserts south"
> "I didn't kill any other wizards"
> Write in

>>2298534

> "I killed a bunch of cultists in the swamps west of Paham. Lured them out of their lair, then shot them in the backs, one by one. No wizards, though their leader knew some kind of weak fire spell. They had some kind of demonic ritual prepared, every one of their prisoners was burnt to charcoal by the time I found them."

>>2298654

Azriel says
"I killed a bunch of cultists in the swamps west of Paham. Lured them out of their lair, then shot them in the backs, one by one. No wizards, though their leader knew some kind of weak fire spell. They had some kind of demonic ritual prepared, every one of their prisoners was burnt to charcoal by the time I found them."

"Cultists huh? Unsavory bunch. Guess the wizards are getting desperate turning to dead gods and the like. Must really suck to have a bunch of fancy powers one day and then the next have nothing and be hunted for it.", says Ales.

"Are you pitying the wizards now?", asks Elix.

"Pitying them? Nah, not exactly. I'm just trying to understand them. Get into their minds kind of deal. Tell her kid, we gotta get into the mindset of a wizard if we are to catch one, don't you agree with me?"

"That makes sense.", says Azriel.

"You see, he agrees with me. Now, if I were a wizard where would I hide in this tiny little village...", says Ales.

"I don't think there are any wizards in this village Ales, let's wrap it up and move to Paham.", says Grarder.

"Not so fast Grarder, not so fast. Maybe there's a wizard hiding here in plainsight. He could be one of those villagers walking about inconspicously. We just need to find an incriminating grimoire, a bunch of quork crystals or find some spell components and we'll have our catch.", says Ales.

"If there's a wizard hiding in here he's probably deactivated already Ales", says Elix.

"Deactivated?", says Azriel.

"Yeah. Given up on his wizardly ways and decided to adopt a new persona. Happened alot. What good is being a wizard if you're being hunted and can't even cast spells? Many decided to become peasants and live rather than insist on a futile pursuit and die.", says Elix

"So you call those guys deactivated wizards", says Azriel.

"Yeah, we caught a few wizards like that and we had to come up with a name, couldn't think of anything better. Maybe retired wizards would sound better, I don't know. Deactivated wizards sounds like they could be reactivated eventually, like a sleeper cell or something.", says Elix.

"Now you're the one telling the crazy stories Elix", says Ales. "She's convinced the wizards are plotting a comeback ever since she heard of the relations between Faleroth and Valorien.", says Ales.

"I think I've heard those names before", says Azriel.

"You sure did kiddo. Faleroth is where the big bad wizard Symes lives, the one with the extra fancy crystals. He has a whole city of wizard lovers and a bunch of mines he runs pretty much like a slave driver to get his precious crystals. How are the damn things called again Elix?", says Ales.

"Crysx. They're called Crysx crystals.", says Elix.

>>2298800


"Yeah, he hoards those for dear life. But he also has a bunch of quork crystals that he trades with Valorien. The folks in Valorien have held the line against the barbarians, trolls and zombies from the northernlands for generations and always relied on wizards to do so.", says Ales.

"I passed through Valorien on my way here months ago", says Grarder, "and they still had wizards walking around the streets normally, doing their wizardly things and trying to figure out what happened and why was the magic gone and how to get more of it. They even formed a division of wizards to the service of the local nobles to deal with the beasts that come from the north. If there's a place still friendly towards wizards that place is Valorien", says Grarder.

"I wonder how long that will last", says Ales.

"What you mean?", says Azriel.

"Well, eventually they'll run out of crystals. Then they'll have to rely on draining mana from the environment or from slain enemies to fuel their magical fix.", says Ales.

"Can wizards do that?", says Azriel.

"Some of them can kiddo. The dangerous ones will touch you and drain your life force like a vampire or a lich. I wonder if there are still things like those out there.", says Ales.

"I heard from a wizard that the real goal of wizardry now is finding a way out.", says Elix.

"What do you mean?", says Azriel.

"Well, the magic is gone in this world, but this is not the only world. There must be other worlds out there where magic still works, maybe worlds where magic is even more powerful than here. The goal for a wizard then is reaching such worlds.", says Elix.

"Now look who's thinking like a wizard", says Ales.

"Anyway kindly get lost kiddo, we have an awful lot of homes to inspect. It was nice talking to you.", says Ales.

What does Azriel do next?
> Take all his grimoires and hide them in a cave in the forest
> Hide his quork crystals in a cave in the forest
> Take all his grimoires and travel somewhere with them (Addcot, Paham, Stiford, Saford, Tabryc, Lafiholm, other?)
> Write in

>>2298804
>> Take all his grimoires and travel somewhere with them (Addcot, Paham, Stiford, Saford, Tabryc, Lafiholm, other?)
Would it be too far to transfer them or send them to the wizard settlement??

>>2298863

The wizard's settlement of Addcot is at least a week away from Badum.

>>2298804
>> Hide his quork crystals in a cave in the forest
Hide the crystals keeps the grimoires stating they are a memento from those we have slain.

>>2299172

Azriel decides to hide his quork crystals in a cave in the forest. He find the same cave in which he found himself at the beginning of his journey a suitable place to stash his crystals for the time being.

He them attends to the daily affairs of his homestead for a couple days waiting until the witch hunters show up.

On the third day they finally show up.

"So we meet again... whatsyourname...", says Ales.

"Azriel."

"I see, Azriel huh. By the order of the count we're here to inspect your house for anything suspicious witchcraft related."

"Come in, but I'll warn you that I have a bunch of grimoires that I keep as a memento from those I have slain."

"Mementos huh?", says Ales "Why not just burn them down and be done with it?"

"It's for sentimental reasons, for me to remember the good old days of going after wizards. It will be something to tell my grandkids about.", says Azriel.

"I see. Let us take a look at those grimoires.", says Ales.

Azriel then welcomes the witch hunters into his home.

"There you go, my stash of wizardly things I looted from dead wizards", Azriel says, pointing to the various cloaks, unholy symbols and grimoires.

"Holy shit sonny, you got a motherload of wizardly stuff in here. Check this thing out Elix, I think it's human leather.", says Ales.

"It most definitely is human leather.", says Grarder.

"It says in here that it's a ritual for summoning some sort of demon. So you were telling the truth about the cultists after all.", says Elix.

"Why would I lie about it?", says Azriel.

"Yeah Elix, why would our little pal Azriel here lie about anything. What's in the other two grimoires darling?", says Ales.

"Let me see. This one has a different handwritting. It has a sleep speel and a detect magic spell. Must have been from some neophyte.", says Elix.

"Things check out so far", say Ales. "What does that other grimoire have for us Elix?"

"This one is yet another handwritting. It has a blade ward spell written on it. Must be from another neophyte.", says Elix.

"Well, your story checks out my friend", says Ales, "but we really should burn all this stuff you know. Or at least take it all to Lafiholm. There's where they're keeping all the confiscated grimoires. I can't be arsed to go there myself but you can go yourself, you're a witch hunter after all. Also I think you should go to Paham to claim a reward for having killed those pesky cultists, show them some of this stuff and they'll pay you for sure.", says Ales.

"Well then, now we're taking our leave. Stay safe friend. And see if you get rid of all this wizardly crap as soon as possible.", says Ales.


What should we do next?
> Travel to (Paham, Addcot, Stiford, Saford, Lafiholm, Tabryc, other?)
> Just stay out of trouble for awhile
> Write in

>>2299324

> Just stay out of trouble for a while

At least publicly, secretly, we

> Research a Summon Lesser Demon spell

>>2299387
> Research a Summon Lesser Demon spell

You have a grimoire with Summon Greater Demon spell in ritual form inscribed in it, researching Summon Lesser Demon would be pretty much like trying to research any random spell, could take months and the components needed can be expensive and suspicious to acquire, are you sure?

>>2299549

Hmm, I suppose it's a fair bit more complicated than downgrading a fireball to a spark, huh? Let's look into researching a spell to drain the life force of living foes like the witch hunters spoke of, preferably from a distance. That should be substantially less difficult, and more useful in the short-term.

>>2299672
>Hmm, I suppose it's a fair bit more complicated than downgrading a fireball to a spark, huh? Let's look into researching a spell to drain the life force of living foes like the witch hunters spoke of, preferably from a distance. That should be substantially less difficult, and more useful in the short-term.
Support this, but we should eventually look into summoning demons

>>2299969

Maybe we can set up a pact with a powerful demon eventually, and trade it souls for hell-spell energy?

>>2300010
Seems risky but i like it

>>2299672
>>2299969
+1

>>2300010
I was wondering if we cant just summon a demon and bind it permanently. Drain magic from it continuously and fuel our spells from raw demon juice. If the demon dies, no problem, just pick up another one. If we can continuously drain it, we have a battery for life. The only problem being that we probably cant safely bind anything but an imp right now.

>>2299672
>>2299969
>>2300010
>>2300575
>>2301006


Azriel decides to stay out of trouble for awhile and use the downtime to research a life drain spell; going for what the witch hunters said there must be a way to drain the lifeforce of our foes during combat to replenish our own. Azriel starts drawing diagrams and scribblng arcane formulas modifying the basic life draining ritual trying to make it combat worthy; he also travels around a bit into the nearby forests and caverns looking for spell components suitable for this new spell he's perfecting.

After about three months of research he manages to perfect and write down into his grimoire a modified life drain spell that can be used into combat that works as a touch spell and abruptly drains a large amount of life force from the enemy converting it into mana to be used by the wizard. You'd need to practice this new spell a few times before memorizing it for good, but you've got it prepared from your grimoire.

Lifeforce Drain - 3 LP

One afternoon as you're going about your business as usual you catch sight of the three witch hunters coming towards your homestead with four guards armed with swords and three villagers. You think you recognize one of the villagers as the burnt man from Stiford!

What do Azriel do next?
> Grab his grimoires, mount his horse and flee towards (Paham, Addcot, Stiford, Saford, Lafiholm, Tabryc, other?)
> Run towards the cave in the forest where you hid your quork crystals
> Stand there and prepare to fight against them
> Write in

>>2301082

> Alter Self

> Appear as a scared old man and crying genuine tears, say, "The wizard kidnapped me, he held me in his basement and, ohohoho I'm so glad you're here and can-"
> Whilst they're distracted, cast fireball in their midst, and prepare to spam magic missile.

>>2301104

>LP(10)/11

Are you sure?
You'll already be digging into your own lifeforce to cast those spells.

>>2301111

That's right...

> Grab his grimoires, mount his horse and flee towards Addcot

>>2301123

Azriel doubts he could face the three witch hunters and their reinforcements on him own, specially being so low on mana that any spell above first circle would dig into his own lifeforce reserves plus having stashed his quork crystals he doesn't even have an alternative source of mana to drawn from. He decides to grab his grimoires, mount his horse and flee towards Addcot. He see the witch hunters gesticulating from a distance and feels a crossbow bolt grazing past his cheek drawing a little blood as he puts distance between him and the witch hunters.

Going on for about a week as fast as he can barely stopping at all Azriel finally reaches Addcot. There he's received by Gerey Foxe

"Hello my friend! It's a pleasure to see you again. What brings you here?", said Gerey Foxe

"My cover been blown. Some guy who survived the raid recognized me. Three witch hunters were on my tail. I guess I'll have to stay with you guys for awhile.", says Azriel.

"Such a shame. Well sooner or later they would discover you. Some friends of yours joined us a few months ago, three sisters called Joyce, Sybel and Fryde. I must say they've been incredibly helpful in teaching the younger wizards and generally helping out around the settlement.", says Gerey Foxe.

"Yeah, I've found them hiding in a cave near Stiford and told them to come here. I figured that wizards ought to stick together in these trying times.", says Azriel.

"In any case we've made contact with the folks at Valorien and we're planning to send an expedition there to trade some quork crystals for some much needed arcane supplies. Their wizards there are still allowed to operate in a limited capacity and therefore they still have been able to collect and store such supplies, a thing that's very hard to come by in the desert", says Gerey Foxe.

"Get some rest now.", says Gerey Foxe, leading you into a vacant tent.


The next day early in the morning Gerey Foxe wakes you up.

"Come, let's head to the mess hall, the folks will be happy to see you again", says Gerey Foxe.

The two of you then head underground into the mess hall.

Andrey gets up from a table and says
"Hey if it's not our blood mage. The technique you taught us has saved my skin a bunch of times in these last few months, thank you very much"

"Have you guys been attacked?", says Azriel

"Well, not exactly", says Andrey

Brilda then turns around in her chair and says

"We tried raiding Lafiholm for grimoires and arcane supplies but the place is a veritable fortress. We were lucky to get out alive."

>>2301361

Vyncent then comes down a flight of stair stare incredulously at Azriel then says

"Woa I was thinking about you today, what a coincidence. Check out what I've been doing with the ritual you taught me."

He then takes out a glass bottle with a frog inside, a piece of parchment with a diagram written on it and starts chanting. The frog then starts ressicating and after a few minutes it dies.

"Very cool huh? I perfected it to draw energy without having to actually touch the target. Now I just need to figure out how to make it draw energy faster and improve the range a little and it will be perfect!", says Vyncent.

"Very impressive young one. I guess in a year or three you'll have perfected the spell. I'll be sure to copy it to my own grimoire once you're done with it.", says Andrey.

Joyce comes down the stairs talking with Sabyl and Meera, then she sees you.
"Oh, hey Azriel. You were right in directing us here, this wizard community is great, I've made lots of friends in here", says Joyce.

"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself.", says Azriel.

"Let's go mine some more quork crystals", says Sabyl.

"Yeah, I want to keep practicing my spells, I need more mana", says Meera.

"Alright let's go girls. I'll talk to you later.", says Joyce.

"I've been wondering whether you'd be willing to go in the expedition to Valorien", says Gerey Foxe.

"The guy just arrived and you're already wanting to send him away", says Andrey.

"No not immediately but in a few days", says Gerey Foxe.

"Well, we could use someone like you in our raiding group. We still haven't given up on looting Lafiholm's arcane library. If you could convince that illusionist friend of your to tag along it would be even better.", says Andrey.

"Who, Fryde?", says Azriel.

"Yeah. I invited her, she has the skillset we need for the mission, but she said she won't get away from her sisters, perhaps you could convince her somehow", says Andrey.

Ewis and Thorim show up in the mess hall carrying crossbows

"We're leaving to go hunt", Ewin says, "if someone wants to come with us now is the time".

"We don't really need the meat as much as we need to charge up that lifeforce so we'll be doing that instead of bringing home the bacon", says Thorim.

What should Azriel do next?
> Go hunting with Ewin and Thorim
> Go plan a raid on Lafiholm with Andrey
> Go convince Fryde to join the raid on Lafiholm
> Go plan a trade caravan to Valorien with Gerey Foxe
> Go research lifeforce drain spell with Vyncent
> Go mine for quork with Joyce, Sabil and Meera
> Write in

>>2301365
> Go research lifeforce drain spell with Vyncent

>>2301510

Azriel decides to go research the lifeforce drain spell with Vyncent.

He finds Vyncent on his quarters peering through diagrams deeply concentrated. He takes awhile to notice you on his door.

"Can I come in?", says Azriel.

"Oh, hey Azriel, sure, c'mon in. I've been researching the ritual you taught us ever since that day, trying to make it well, trying to make it more practical.", says Vyncent.

"I've been doing the same my friend.", says Azriel.

"I know I'm still an apprentice and all but I'm very gifted and I've learned alot in my time here with the nice folks of Addcot. I'm pretty sure I can figure out a way to make this spell work properly.", says Vyncent.

"Well, let's compare notes then, maybe we'll be able to gleam some wisdom or at least spot each other's mistakes.", says Azriel.

"I'd be honored to be allowed to look into your work.", says Vyncent.

Azriel opens up his grimoire and his various sketched diagrams and start comparing them with Vyncent's.

"You see, I have perfected a version of the drain lifeforce spell but it's a necromantic touch spell of the third circle", says Azriel.

"I see, the spell I've been trying to perfect would be a ranged necromantic spell of first or second circle, probably second circle.", says Vyncent.

"These diagrams of your... if we made them like this I think we could improve range a little...", says Azriel, making some corrections on Vyncents sketches.

"Yeah I tried that but then it would lose power too quickly", says Vyncent.

"Add a bunch of sygils, here take a look, these would probably do nicely", says Azriel producing a piece of parchment with a bunch of squiggly lines on them.

"It would increase casting time", says Vyncent.

"Well we'll have to have some kind of trade off in here, there's no such a thing as the perfect spell, specially not on a low circle.", says Azriel.

"This research will take years.", says Vyncent.

"Maybe not", says Azriel,"I perfected the third circle one in just three months, we can probably finish it in a couple months if we really put our minds into it."

"Do you really think so?", says Vyncent.

"I'm pretty sure", says Azriel, "now let's get back to these diagrams..."

As the days go by we keep on researching the spell with Vyncent we finally notice that we must make a critical decision on what drawback will we build the spell with.
It will be a second circle long range (30 feet) touch spell that lasts up to a minute, draining 1d6 lifeforce per turn on a failed save (average human has about 10 lifeforce points). Which drawback do we build the spell with?
> Low range. Only about 10 feet.
> Slow. Drains every other turn.
> Weak. Drains 1d4 instead of 1d6.
> Hard to aim. Enemy gets a bonus at evading the spell.
> Write in

>>2301600
> Low range. Only about 10 feet.
I think this is the least destructive drawback we could have

>>2301668
+1
Really couldn't choose so I just will follow this one

>>2301668
Ok, thirding this.

BTW, is it a concentration spell? Will it fail if we are struck? Does it use 3 mana? Can we have multiple going on at the same time? (Chain them together so we get more mana per turn than we lose if we throw fireballs.)

Also, can the illusionist cast something to hide the mine we are at from long-distance viewing? Even better if she can permanently disguise the place as a sand dune or something else natural in the area.

>>2301668
>>2301673
>>2301716 concentration spell, can fail if struck, uses 2 mana, can't have multiple at the same time

Azriel and Vyncent decide to settle for a low range version of the spell and continue their research to perfect it.

"I think this is the least destructive drawback we could have", says Azriel.

"I think you're right, everything else affects the spell itself while this only reduces it's range. Still I see this as an improvement over having to touch our foes to drain them.", says Vyncent.

"Yes, I foresee that this will be a very popular spell in our little community once it's perfected.", says Azriel.

"So how should we call this spell?", says Vyncent.

"Well I already called the touch version Lifeforce Drain. I could rebaptize it as Touch Lifeforce Drain and call this one Lifeforce Drain, what do you think", says Azriel.

"Yeah, that makes sense...", say Vyncent.

"What? Oh let me guess... do you want to call it Vyncent's Lifeforce Drain.", says Azriel

"Oh no, you've been as relevant on the development of this spell as me if not more, I couldn't take all the credit.", says Vyncent.

"Oh c'mon, I'll let you have it, I'll find some other spell to put my name on.", says Azriel.

"You really don't mind?", says Vyncent.

"Not at all. Go ahead and call it Vyncent's Lifeforce Drain.", says Azriel

"Awesome!", says Vyncent with a smile on his face.

The two of you give the spell it's finishing touches and you copy the finished version to your grimoire.

Vyncent's Lifeforce Drain - 2LP

The two of you then go announce the new spell at the mess hall.

"Hey folks", says Vyncent, "me and my pal Azriel just finished a new spell for draining lifeforce, we call it Vyncent's Lifeforce Drain, it works from up to ten feet away, already an improvement from having to touch the enemy don't you think?"

"Indeed. That's a nice accomplishment, I'll want to copy this spell on my grimoire.", says Ewis.

"I'll copy from you when you're done", says Andrey."And now that you're done with researching this spell with your new friend you could convince that other friend of yours the illusionist to come with us for a raid on Lafiholm"

"Or we could take that trip to Valorien out of the paper.", says Gerey Foxe

>>2301782

"In two months you didn't find anyone to go on this trip?", says Azriel

"Well nobody is very anxious to leave the relative safety of our little haven here for the witch hunter filled lands north. If only we had checkpoints where we could safely stop for a rest but we have none. Nobody here can stay a month awake on horseback so we'd have to make plenty of stops to rest along the way, and in those stops we'd be vulnerable", says Brilda.

"Besides we can get more arcane supplies by raiding Lafiholm instead of trying to go on a month long ride to Valorien. Lafiholm is about a week away, if we can get in and out unseen we could smuggle a bunch of arcane supplies and grimoires, there's a whole duchy worth of components in there, in the early days they didn't burn the stuff in Erel, they confiscated things and dumped them at the library in Lafiholm, it's a treasure waiting to be looted.", says Andrey.

What should Azriel do?
> Go hunting
> Go plan a raid on Lafiholm with Andrey
> Go convince Fryde to join the raid on Lafiholm
> Go plan a trade caravan to Valorien with Gerey Foxe
> Go mine for quork
> Write in

> Go plan a trade caravan to Valorien with Gerey Foxe

>>2301789
>Go plan a trade caravan to Valorien with Gerey Foxe

>>2301789
> Go plan a trade caravan to Valorien with Gerey Foxe
Ayy economics that's my shit

>>2301836
>>2301920
>>2302002

Azriel decides to go plan a trade caravan to Valorien with Gerey Foxe.

"How could we make our checkpoints safer?", asks Azriel

"That's the big question my friend. I've been thinking about sending a scout or two ahead of the wagon to scout the path a day or two in advance. If we could convince that friend of your Fryde to come with us on the caravan she could hide it with a illusion spell. Otherwise we'd have to resort to more mundane methods to conceal it.", says Gerey Foxe.

"Seems like an illusionist is a very requested professional nowadays", says Azriel.

"It has always been, but now more than ever, since not being detected means survival for us wizards now.", says Gerey Foxe.

"But it seems like Fryde is not very keen on the idea of leaving her sisters behind even for a raid that would take us a couple weeks, let alone a caravan that will take us several months.", says Azriel.

"Yeah, that's problematic. Besides I'd rather have her here or nearby if things get sour, she's one of the most powerful wizards around, I think she's even more powerful than me.", says Gerey Foxe.

"I wasn't aware that she was that powerful.", says Azriel.

"But she is. It's good to have someone like her in our ranks. But she really only does whatever she wants, he doesn't really feel like being ordered around.", says Gerey Foxe.

"Would you?", says Azriel.

"Good point. In any case we need to secure fifteen to thirty resting points for our caravan.", says Gerey Foxe.

"Why fifteen?", says Azriel.

"In case we manage to sleep every other day. We should be able to reach Valorien in a month going around the swamp near Paham and then contourning the mountain range. We're skipping the port city of Raminster and the duchy of Castow entirely, we'll cross the Brewold river on its shallowest point near the mountains.", says Gerey Foxe

"Why will we skip Raminster and Castow?", says Azriel.

"Because they are not as friendly towards wizards as Valorien. Raminster turns a blind eye to quork crystal trade and doesn't actively persecutes wizards and the folks at Castow have enough problems with the northern tribes to bother with hunting wizards but they're not like Valorien who's going openly against the king's instructions to capture wizards and bring them to justice.", says Gerey Foxe.

"Why would the king do such a draconic thing anyway", says Azriel.

"The king for awhile was just a figurehead and he's trying to make sure he won't go back to being one. His actions are misguided but he has the backing of most nobles so there's not much we wizards can do but try to survive.", says Gerey Foxe.

"So which role do you want me to fulfill", says Azriel.

"It's up to you my friend. Do you want to be an advanced scout, to secure our daily resting places, to guard the wagon or to erase our trails?"

> Volunteer as advanced scout
> Volunteer to secure daily resting places
> Volunteer as wagon guard
> Volunteer to erase the wagon's trails
> Write in

>>2302019
> Volunteer as advanced scout
We worked as a hunter this might help us to scout/ sneak

>>2302062
+1

My thoughts exactly

Rolled 3, 1, 2 = 6 (3d6)

>>2302062
>>2302087

"I'll volunteer as advanced scout. I worked as a hunter for awhile, this might help me with the whole scouting and sneaking part of the work", says Azriel.

"Then that's decided! I'll have Brilda secure our daily resting places, Ewin be our wagon guard and Thorim erase our wagon's trails. I'll drive the wagon myself. We'll be carrying a decent load of quork crystals, make sure you get yourself enough in case you need to use spells", says Gerey Foxe.

"Can you get me some, I kinda had to stash away the ones I had on me when I had to flee from the witch hunters", says Azriel.

"Of course, here have some", says Gerey Foxe, handing Azriel some quork crystals.

"Now get some sleep we're departing first thing in the morning, you go ahead with Brilda find us a place to rest leave her there then lead on scouting ahead.", says Gerey Foxe.

"Gotcha. What if I run into someone hostile?", says Azriel.

"Don't try to engage, fall back and warn us, we have a wagon full of quork crystals, we're a dangerous bunch", says Gerey Foxe.

Azriel then get some sleep and is woken up very early by Gerey Foxe.

"Wake up, we're ready to go now."

Gerey Foxe leads Azriel to the wagon. He says
"Our contact in Valorien is a wizard called Ryany Potte, we'll meet up to trade quork for enough arcane components to last all of us for quite a few years."

"Now let's go ahead and start scouting the way", says Brilda.

The two of you ride for the best part of the day through the desert until you find a spot with some trees on the edge of the desert.

"Here seems like a good spot to rest. I'll go find the caravan and bring them here, keep scouting ahead see if you find anything suspicious around, meet us here in six hours", says Brilda.

"Gotcha", says Azriel.

Azriel then rides along the border of the desert for a couple more hours and catches sight of a medium sized caravan with three wagons heading southwest. They don't seem to have spotted you yet

> Hail the caravan
> Use Alter Self then hail the caravan
> Stay out of sight and watch as they move away
> Go back to report sighting them
> Write in

>>2302201
LP(10)/11
C6

>>2302201
> Use Alter Self then hail the caravan
Haven't used this spell enough
Also want to know more then report to Gerey

>>2302317

Azriel decides to use Alter Self to disguise his appearance then hail the caravan.

LP(10)/11
C4

"Hail, I come in peace", says Azriel, as he approaches the caravan.

"Hail", says the caravan master,"rare to see new faces when travelling through the desert. Are you lost?"

"I'm travelling west"

"We just came from Raminster, made a quick stop at Paham and are heading to Lawold in the southwest", says the caravan master

"Paham? You made quite a detour"

"Yes, we had to deliver some passengers, and we picked up some salted fish from there too"

"So you're travelling carrying food on your wagons?"

"Mostly food yeah. The people at Lawold have been had several bad seasons for harvest lately, the climate just isn't the same ever since that damn wizard in Faleroth started doing whatever it is that he's doing with the sky"

"What do you mean?"

"Well the sky above Faleroth has grey stormclouds almost all of the time. Some people say that on occasion the clouds even turn red, although I never saw it myself. Haven't been that far in years though, so it's just hearsay. By the way aren't you afraid of the desert elves?"

"Should I be afraid of them?"

"There's talk of them cutting off the throats of lone travellers to steal their possessions"

"I'm sure it's just old wives tales to scare kids"

"I wouldn't be too sure, gotta be a tough elf to abandon the woods for a desolate life in the desert"

"I'll keep that in mind then, thanks"

"You're welcome. Good luck in your trip"

"You too, mister."

Azriel then heads back to report what he saw. He meets up with the rest of his people after nightfall.

"I've met some caravan carrying food to Lawold.", says Azriel.

"Yeah, those are common enough. Lawold's fields aren't very fertile. They had wizards on it back in the day but nowadays I'm not very sure about how they deal with wizards in those parts.", says Gerey Foxe

"I heard that in Faleroth the skies are constantly grey and occasionally red, storm clouds raging above the locals heads. What could be causing it?", says Azriel.

"Certainly some sort of ritual that Symes is perfecting but what kind remains to be seem. We can only guess what goes on in the mind of an archmage", says Gerey Foxe.

"Now get some sleep, tomorrow morning you'll head out with Brilda to go find us another spot to stop and rest", says Gerey Foxe.

"Ay ay, can do.", says Azriel.

The next morning everybody gets moving. Azriel and Brilda go onwards scouting the way.

>>2302445

The next week is mostly uneventful. We reach the swamp near Paham and start going around it. On one of our stops we take a the best part of a night to fish near the swamp and preserve the fish boiling it on the salt water of the swamp for our travels. Brilda complains that her hair will smell like fish for weeks now.

On the eighth day of our travel Azriel finds a group of lizardmen fishing on the edges of the swamp! Once they see Azriel they run away deeper into the swamp!

Azriel then heads back to warn the others

"There are lizardmen in these swamps!", says Azriel.

"Lizardmen? Goddamnit, I thought they had been erradicated from the kingdom decades ago", says Brilda.

"Seems like a tribe survived", says Gerey Foxe.

"Do you think it's safe to keep camping near the swamp?", says Brilda.

"I'm not sure. Maybe they are as scared of us as we are of them.", says Gerey Foxe.

"I don't like the look of it. I say we take a detour away from the swamp and take the toll bridge near Raminster.", says Ewin.

"Won't they check what we're carrying in our wagon?", says Brilda.

"I can cast an illusion, make it look like a bunch of cabbages or something", says Ewin.

"I didn't know you knew illusion spells", says Brilda.

"That new lady, Fryde, she let me copy some from her grimoire.", says Ewin.

"Nice. Then what should we do?"

What does Azriel say?
> Let's keep going around the swamp
> Let's take a detour through the toll bridge
> Write in

>>2302452
> Let's take a detour through the toll bridge
Looks suspicious if we don't. let Ewin cast the spell as he is certain he can

>>2302452
No need to let ourselves be seen by anyone. keep skimming the swamp and keep an eye out for lizards. Considering how a swamp is built they cant sneak up on us so if we do our jobs well and make sure there are no ambushes we should be fine.

Lel nerdfags ITT have never been laid

Sooo, new posts when?

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>2302531
>>2306965

>>2302531
>>2306965
>>2325344

"Let's take a detour through the toll bridge", says Azriel.

Our group then travels away from the swamp and towards the toll bridge in Raminster's territory. After a couple days of travel they finally get there When they arrive there they are hailed by a guard.

"Halt. Pay the toll to use the bridge.", says the guard.

"Gladly. Here's some gold.", says Gerey Foxe.

"What are you carrying inside this wagon?", asks the guard.

"Just some produce.", says Brilda

"Let me take a look", says the guard.

We then uncover the contents of the wagon and sure enough there are only an assortment of cabbages inside the wagon.

"Very well, you may pass. Have a good trip.", says the guard.

Our group cross the toll bridge and continue on their way towards Raminster.

We take our wagon out of the roads and towards the mountains to keep going around them towards Valorien.
After weeks of travel we cross a couple more rivers in their shallow points, stopping to refil our stores of water. Finally after all our travels we arrive at Valorien, a gated city.

The guard on the door stops us.

"State your business in this town", says the guard.

"We came to do business with a certain Ryany Potte", says Gerey Foxe.

"Ryany Potte, from the wizard guild? Oh, you must be the caravan with the crystals the wizards use. C'mon in, he's waiting for you. He lives on that tower over there. ", says the guard, pointing at a tall tower inside the city.

"Thanks.", says Gerey Foxe

"The folks around here seem to be very tolerant of wizards", say Brilda.

"Indeed. They have relied on wizards to defend their town from monsters from the north for generations.", says Gerey Foxe.

We take our wagon towards the tower of Ryany Potte. Once we arrive there we are received by their apprentices.

"Oh you all finally arrived, I'll tell the master about it!"

An old bearded men in a bright yellow robe come down a set of stairs

"Gerey my old friend! It's nice to see you manage to get in here in one piece!"

"It was a quite uneventful trip, although we discovered that there are still lizardmen living in the swamps near Paham.", says Gerey Foxe.

"A resilient bunch those lizardmen. They were hunted nearly to extinction but still somehow a bunch of them survived. I hope you hadn't much trouble with them?", says Ryany Potte.

"We took a detour through Raminster's toll bridge", says Gerey Foxe.

"And they didn't search your wagon?"

"They briefly inspected it, but one of our wizard friends cast an illusion spell to make it all look like cabbages.", says Gerey Foxe.

"Clever. I expected no less of you old friend. Now let's get down to business.", says Ryany Potte.

"We'll need enough magical components to last us quite a few years, as we can't afford to do these trips very often."

>>2325381

"Let me see how much crystal you all actually got us. By the gods, it's a huge load."

"We have a very productive mine."

"I'll gladly part with most of our stocks of magical components. The locals here help us gather all we need, we are still able to send fledgling heroes on fetch quests to acquire the most burdensome items required for our daily magical practices."

"I'm glad to hear that there's still a sane place in this world where wizards are treated with the due respect. We haven't had as much luck. The villagers in Stiford tried to raid us, we scried them and did an attack with our most experienced wizards at the time, using fireball spells to great effect to contain their army."

"I wish I could do something to help you guys out. In any case enjoy your stay here in Valorien, you should be able to locate any common items for your daily practices that you still need in our markets.", says Ryany.

"Thanks old friend. We won't stay here very long, we fear for the safety of our settlement with most of the higher skilled wizards out the place is quite vulnerable right now.", says Gerey Foxe.

"Our town is sending a caravan to the dwarven lands and looking for mercenaries to defend them from the barbarian and monster tribes in the north. If you folks are needing some extra cash that would be a decent way to make some. Most of the time the mercenaries don't need to do anything, only sometimes a few hundred trolls or horsemen show up to harass our caravan, nothing that a few fireballs can't solve.", say Ryany Potte.

"I'll keep that in mind", says Gerey Foxe.

What should Azriel do next?
> Go on a fetch quest to make some quick cash
> Go to the market looking for new spells
> Convince your fellow wizards to take a mercenary job
> Leave the city walls on your own and go look for someone to drain
> other?

>>2325384
>Go to the market looking for new spells