<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=205751.msg10204331#msg10204331">Quote from: Chloe Milev on 03-07-2014, 03:05:57</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"><br/>Later, he decided to take up Artaxes' offer to study together.  He seemed to be taking his enchantments for granted and needed to hone his edge as it were.</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Artaxes was enthusiastic at seeing Kleris walk up to him and say the words he wanted to hear.  "I'm looking forward to learning all your tricks.  And I can show you some of my own..."<br/><br/>Artaxes was not near Kleris' level of skill, but he proved quite talented for an apprentice.  "Nice one.  Now, have you seen this spell?"<br/><br/>He slipped on a black glove and knelled before him, touching Kleris' shadow with a single finger.  "Okay, now try moving."<br/><br/><em>Kleris finds his movement restricted, effectively gaining the entangled condition.  Roll a Strength or Escape Artist check (DC 13) to break free.</em><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">If Kleris breaks free.</div><div class="spoiler_body">"Impressive!  You're quite the nimble one!"<br/><br/>"This one's called Shadow Snag.  Very effective against large creatures, and the best part is that you don't need to maintain contact.  You can immobilize a target and cast a spell shortly thereafter."</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">If Kleris can't escape</div><div class="spoiler_body">"See? It's quite the useful spell.<br/><br/>"This one's called Shadow Snag.  Very effective against large creatures, and the best part is that you don't need to maintain contact.  You can immobilize a target and cast a spell shortly thereafter."</div></div><br/>Artaxes trotted around Kleris.  "You know, our time together doesn't have to be all about studying.  Or at least, studying magic.  I recall you earlier expressing an interest in centaurs.  I'll be more than happy to tell you anything you want to know, provided you tell me a little more about yourself.  Sound fair?"<br/><br/>He went around to Kleris' front, his chest at eye level.  Looking down at her with gentle eyes, Artaxes smiled.<br/><br/><em>Lean Shadow Snag</em><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Relationships and Experience</div><div class="spoiler_body">Gain <strong>Relationship Level 2 out of 10</strong> with Artaxes.  Gain 150 experience.</div></div><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: georgia;"><strong>Shadow Snag</strong></span><br/><strong>School:</strong> Enchantment (Compulsion); <strong>Level:</strong> Sor/Wiz 0<br/><strong>Casting Time:</strong> 1 standard action<br/><strong>Components:</strong> V, S, F (a black glove)<br/><strong>Range:</strong> Touch<br/><strong>Target:</strong> One creature that casts a shadow<br/><strong>Duration:</strong> 1 round/level<br/><strong>Saving Throw:</strong> Will dispels; see text; <strong>Spell Resistance:</strong> Yes<br/>You make a touch attack against the target’s shadow as part of the spellcasting action. If the attack succeeds, and the subject fails its save, it gains the entangled condition (though it can still move). Entangled creatures can attempt to break free as a move action, making a Strength or Escape Artist check. The DC for this check is equal to the DC of the spell. (The touch AC of the target’s shadow is the same touch AC as the target, subject to modification at GM adjudication.)</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"><div align="center">Kleris, Rensha, and Zull's Dorm</div>"Hmm, visiting someone else's room is easy on the rest of us, but I suppose they would have the same, um, scheduling conflicts too.  Maybe one night a week, each of us can have the room for a while, and the others come back later, or sleep in someone's room for the night.  Or if a regular schedule doesn't work, maybe make sure you can give the others enough notice to leave the room open?  Maybe both; Zull has the room Monday nights, Rensha Wednesday nights, me Friday nights, and if needed, the weekends are up for dibs, or something like that?"  Kleris wasn't sure how to best make arrangements, but it felt odd and a little flirty to talk about scheduling respective sex days.</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>"I don't think that you can predict that kind of thing with schedules," Zull said.  "That kind of thing isn't regular, it just happens.  Giving each other some form of notice would be best.  Sock on the door works fine for now."<br/><br/>"That's fine," Rensha said.  "You fine with that, Kleris?"<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">Enter Karnakia</span></div>While it wasn't unusual for an adventurer to pay for some research, it was odd that he had never heard of it, and nobody had mentioned it when he arrived.  "So he just paid for access?  Do you know what books he might have borrowed, or who he consulted?  Please, he's been missing for years, not, he didn't just leave us..."  Kleris felt confused at the old wound in his life suddenly being poked and opened here at Redhurst, where he was supposed to be starting a new chapter in his life and leaving the childhood abandonment behind.  Now there were suddenly prestigious figures who seemed to have known his father and they couldn't, or wouldn't, tell him anything.<br/></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/><br/>Karnakia sighed.  "I'm sorry, Kleris, but there's nothing more I can tell you, even if I wanted to.  I know it must be hard; I hope that someday you find the answers you seek."<br/><br/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">Image Is Everything</span></div><br/>Kleris and the rest of the class shuffled into Wrent's classroom, expecting to find their usual letter and set of written instructions.  Instead there was a hand mirror on each of their desks, along with a scroll and a bottle of perfume.<br/><br/>"Tell me what you see in the mirror," the<em>magic mouth</em>spell said.  "Was there ever wanted to change something about yourself?  Have you ever felt that you could look more handsome, more beautiful, more perfect?  Many illusionists understandably developed spells to hide apparent imperfections.  The scroll on your table teaches the<em>Glamour</em>spell, which makes alters your appearance in the eyes of others to conform with their personal ideals of beauty.  Jot down the spell, cast it upon yourself, and describe how the other students look to you."<br/><br/>The class had a mixture of students from many different lands and cultures, many with their own ideas of what constituted a pretty lady or a handsome man.  As teenagers everybody fretted how they'd be perceived.<br/><br/>"Oh no, what if the spell makes me ugly?"<br/><br/>"Did you hear what Wrent said?  It makes you look better to everyone.  Who wouldn't want that?"<br/><br/>When Kleris cast the spell, he received looks of surprise.<br/><br/>"Wow, Kleris," a dwarf boy gasped.  "You're so, so...stout."<br/><br/>One of the elven girls giggled.  "Stout?  She looks positively lithe and angular!"<br/><br/>"You're all seeing different things," one of the gnome girls said.  "Hmm, this could make for a good disguise spell.  Do you think that it can be used in conjunction with other spells?"<br/><br/>"Only one way to find out!" the dwarf said.  "He then cast<em>glamour</em>on himself."  In front of Kleris' eyes he grew slightly taller and leaner, gaining a cherubic face and shimmering blonde hair.  Upon casting<em>disguise self,</em>the dwarf assumed the appearance of a female, with large breasts and a curvy frame.<br/><br/>"Wow, I'm kind of turned on right now," one of the boys said.<br/><br/>"Seems weird for us to be taught such a spell," the gnome mused.  "Not exactly the right message to teach people to be comfortable with their own bodies."<br/><br/>"Who cares?  With this spell we can show those Nammor folks what for, and be the hottest guys and girls on campus!"<br/><br/><em>Learn Glamour</em><br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: georgia;"><strong>Glamour</strong></span><br/>School: Illusion (Glamer); Level: Brd 1, Sor/Wiz 1<br/>Casting Time: 1 standard action<br/>Components: V, S, M (a drop of perfume)<br/>Range: Personal<br/>Target: You<br/>Duration: 10 minutes/level (D)<br/>Saving Throw: Will disbelief (if interacted with); Spell<br/>Resistance: No<br/>You ensorcel yourself to appear beautiful to anyone looking upon you. Not only will they find you attractive, but all your Bluff and Diplomacy checks gain a +5 circumstance bonus.<br/><br/>This spell does not change any specifics of your appearance, such as gender, race, and so forth, although it proves useful to cast in conjunction with disguise self or alter self.</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">Dinner</span></div><br/>Rensha offered to eat with Kleris, as did Zull and Lillin.  The orc looked up from her meal every so often at Kleris.<br/><br/>"Kleris, are you alright?  Is something on your mind?"<br/><br/><em>The bonds you share with Rensha made her more empathic to Kleris' feelings.  She could feel the sense of sadness hanging over him ever since he spoke with Karnakia.</em><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">If Kleris tells the truth</div><div class="spoiler_body">"I...I don't know what to say," Zull said.  "I'm sorry to hear that."<br/><br/>"It's not right," Lillin replied.  "If you ask me, Karnakia's hiding something!"<br/><br/>"And what are we supposed to do, pester her until she cracks?" Rensha asked.  "I don't think that's going to work on her."<br/><br/>"Wellll, I do have an idea," Lillin said, "but I don't feel like talking about it here.  Maybe somewhere more private, where others won't hear us."<br/><br/>The invitation of Kleris and his dorm-mates into Lillin's room caused a few of the boys to snicker from perverted thoughts, but the casting of a <em>silence</em> spell from a scroll ("something a nice bard in Tolkur crafted for me, heh") at the door prevented any eavesdroppers.<br/><br/>"You what?!" Zull exclaimed.  "Infiltate Mord-"<br/><br/>Rensha clasped her hand over Zull's mouth.  "Shhh, just because we have a magic ward doesn't mean to go screeching all over the place!"<br/><br/>"Yes, that's the plan," Lillin said.  "No doubt Karnakia keeps all her files there.  If she is indeed hiding something about Kleris' father, she's not going to put it in the Library of the Arcane, or among the archives of the faculty office.  No, she'd keep it close to her, in a place most folk of Redhurst are too afraid to enter."<br/><br/>"So, how are we going to get inside?" Rensha asked.  "Only Zull here's taking any classes there.  The rest of us are going to stick out like sore thumbs.  So, what's the plan?"<br/><br/>Lillin nervously scratched the back of her head.  "Uh yeah, I didn't get to that part yet.  It just came into my head and I hoped you girls would have some better ideas."<br/><br/>"Dammit!" Rensha exclaimed.  "Mordant's high security, and there's no doubt all sorts of magic wards around the place."<br/><br/>She took out her spellbook.  "We should consult the spells we have, see what we can do and plan from there."<br/><br/></div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">If Kleris lies or doesn't want to talk about it</div><div class="spoiler_body">Rensha confronts Kleris later, in private.  "Kleris, I can tell that something's wrong.  It's okay, I'm your friend, you can trust me.  I won't tell anyone you don't want to know."<br/><br/>Upon hearing Kleris' story, she hugs him tight.  "Oh Kleris!" she cries.  "That's so unfair of her!  You deserve more answers, and if Karnakia won't give them to you, then we'll find our own way, whatever that may be."<br/><br/>She paced about the room, scratching her head and shuffling her feet, suddenly stopping whenever she had a plan before shaking her head and continuing in thought.<br/><br/>"I got it!  Kleris, this is going to sound crazy, but maybe Karnakia has something important about your father.  Why else would she be so closed?  She wouldn't keep it in the Library, or the offices, or anywhere you'd easily reach.  It would be in Mordant.  Think about it; you don't have any necromancy classes, and most students are too scared to walk past the wall of bones at the front gate."<br/><br/>Rensha sat down in the chair, exasperated.  "Unfortunately that's all I've got.  I studied some mass combat and dueling tactics back at the True Ice Peaks, and some Illusion magic at Ignes, but aside from that I'm no infiltration specialist.  What about you, Kleris?  Got any ideas?"</div></div><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">Day 35</span></div><br/>Regardless of whether it's discussed with the group or just with Rensha, it is decided that infiltrating Mordant Tower's the best way for Kleris to find out what Dean Karnakia's hiding about his father.  You have several options, 2 of which you can use per day/attempt:<br/><br/><strong>Call upon a favor:</strong>Look at the friends Kleris which share social links with Kleris.  They might be able to help you during the sneak-in.  Higher levels indicated increased dedication and willingness.  You may choose up to 3 friends.<br/><br/><strong>Casing the Joint:</strong>Kleris goes to the publicly accessible areas of Mordant, looking around for interesting features, monitoring regular patrols and the flow of teachers and students, et cetera.  Keep in mind that Kleris will need an excuse for why he's here, although most folk won't be suspicious with the typical cover story if Kleris is doing nothing but walking around the place.<br/><br/><strong>Feign Interest:</strong>Although his classes are already assigned, Kleris could pretend to be fascinated with the art of necromancy, and start asking questions.  With a successful Bluff check he can convince a teacher to spare some of their time and illuminate him on the arts of undeath, eager to gain such a talented new pupil the next school year.  This can work to Kleris' advantage by providing him a good reason to be visiting Mordant regularly, or gaining the goodwill of its teacher.<br/><br/><strong>Sneaking About:</strong>When all else fails, creeping about like a thief in the night and avoiding detection with successful Stealth rolls and proper spells.  The upside is that Kleris can get access to restricted areas this way, but if caught he's going to get into trouble...<br/><br/><strong>Other Idea:</strong>If you have any suggestions of your own, I'd be happy to hear about it!