#also Genie with his look 10/10 still not over thinking how the dirt on them is actually old coffee grounds so everyone must’ve smelt great

[lilianhuas]

Eugene Allerton & the cutest Sloth

[tabletopjourneys]

Session 30 Notes

Tags: @aradow @gher-bear @telurin @epimetal 

Anchoring in Farford Harbor, even more shopping, and then setting off into the Anesh desert with an elder druid. Let’s help Rana impress her!

On this day we do a lot of heavy shopping, many magic items were bought. We made arrangements for a set of unlimited calls sending stones to be picked up in Bouldergap. Rana also spotted one of her elders, a pro at desert travel who was headed our way to stop off at a small town in need of help on the way. We left the same day we arrived, Diem disguised as a Yasha-sized, intimidating looking desert-dwelling lady.

Rana got a letter from a pirate lady to a friend out the way her elder was headed (for a Val McKee) and we finished that first night on the Anesh roads in a comfy hut. *Read More*

Peter bought our ambergris.

~The Shopping!~

We visit the magic shop because Diem wants to look at ritual scrolls and needs ritual supplies “Winish’s High End Ensorcellations”

Store almost feels like you’re walking into a different, fancy building and town altogether, dark woods, enchanted chandelier with little floating lights over each “candle part” cushy chairs. Abe Winish, a fancy-looking goblin owns this store.

Diem buys alarm and leomund’s tiny hut for 500p total.

Diem buys the shocking grasp ring and mintflayer ring. While wearing one of these rings all your attacks, both physical and magical, deal an additional +2 bonus damage. The type of additional damage dealt is determined by the ring you are wearing. You can tell what damage type the ring is by the band of magical ice cream running through the center. (Psychic damage). mint chocolate chip icecream for Diem.

Band of Shocking Grasp - 9500g - This ring starts with 7 charges and regains 1d6+1 daily at dawn. You may cast Shocking Grasp as a bonus action - this scales with your level. You may also use an action to expend 1 charge to cast Thunderwave, 3 charges to cast Thunder Step, and 5 charges to cast Lightning Bolt.

Bought mats for 10 familiar summons (sage incense), 20g for brass brazier.

Merchant’s eyes get VERY wide when Phi pulls out her daggers to have them appraised.

200g worth of mats for scribing the scrolls in my book.

He lets us know he had a caravan out that was delayed if we happen to come across them that would be great, they are 2 weeks late, coming directly from Bouldergap against his better judgement, but the caravan driver was stubbornly confident.

There’s always been bandits here and there, but they had their own guards. He will pay us for information if we find information.

Diem asks about how to get in touch if they have info - finds out he has a cousin in Bouldergap we could speak to about it - Cousin Terren Winish.

Rana is making perception checks to see if anyone is noticing how much money we’re all spending here. She gets a 14 for perceiving - in front of an inn she sees a very large thorny devil. Stealth (to not let us know she’s worried) 7 

Only Ixayl’anu notices, Phi and I are way too busy spending more money than we’ve ever seen in our whole damn lives.

The devil is just chillin and hasn’t noticed her in return. People are giving it a wide birth. Rana looks a little less nervous now.

Ixayl’anu sees Rana look out worried, scan, and then relax.

Ixayl’anu watches as well and buys the carving and cube.

Rana bought a bunch of stuff too (Sorry, I was busy still trying to read all these things between my own purchases, I mostly literally got nobody else’s purchases down lol)

Phi bought a quiver and some stuff.

Diem bought 1000 gold worth of mats for scribing ritual spells (enough for 20 spell levels total)

Freezing while your cube is hydrated, boiling water, and lava will damage the cube, but it’s pretty safe in its inert state.

Diem buys the nap cap and this is when everyone realizes they’ve been having trouble sleeping now that it’s daylight 24/7.

1000 gold more on companion summoning mats. 110 summonings worth.

Diem buys Putty Vivis 500g figures sculpted out of putty “come to life” and move around.

Kelpie Eye allows attuned creature to see clearly while under water. Diem buys this too.

Phi’s daggers are worth 100k gold total

Our sending stones are worth 200g a piece. (Phi just wants ALL our valuables appraised lol)

Unlimited text and calls would cost 1k gold per stone.

Rana looks outside the thorny devil is talking to someone who’s trying to edge around them. Rana slips out the door and heads across the street.

We learn that it would take about 2 weeks for 5 cell phones with separate channels. But we’ll pay for them when we get to Bouldergap - Cousin Winish will start the order (I already subtracted the amount though), so I give him a 100 platinum “finder’s fee” for getting the order to his cousin instead. *Meanwhile, outside the tavern with a thorny devil mount...*

Rana to devil: Hello pebbles is Elder Edea around? (He is a riding lizard)

Pebbles: Inside, waiting for it to get a little cooler.

Rana: Are you guys staying in Farford?

Pebbles: We’re going to some town out in the desert, having some trouble with some wildlife

Rana: Is it about that caravan that went missing?

Pebbles: Caravan’s along the way? (Pretty sure I missed some stuff)

Rana: Would we be able to travel with you?

Pebbles: You’d have to ask Edea.

Rana calls the rest of us over to introduce us, but stumbles over Ixayl’anu’s name ‘cause she always calls her Ixie.

Pebbles asks if we have mounts. (Horned Lizard large enough to ride and able to talk)

Rana: We’re looking into that, I’m hoping to pick up some camels

Pebbles: Best get on that then.

Rana asks permission to go in and talk to Edea first.

There’s a water genasi captain against the far wall with her two thugs and a female orc in an eyepatch talking. To the right there’s 4 normal looking generic characters and one nice looking black dude giving a lecture/vacation bible school type gathering to a group of students. Two generic guys at a center table. Red-haired bartender and tough looking dwarven cook with a tentacle boa, a cute triton in the immediate right corner and Edea, an elderly looking half elven druid at the non corner table to the door’s right.

Rana is obviously, respectfully submissive in this situation. (Edea Vilyua)

Rana: Elder Edea?

Edea: *has to look behind herself at us* Yes? Oh Rana.

Rana: I saw Pebbles outside and he mentioned you were heading out soon, I was wondering where you were going?

Edea: A small town who’s requested some assistance.

Rana: Able at the magic shop said a caravan was missing and we’re on the way to bouldergap, if you wouldn’t mind company, if we could accompany you I would very much appreciate it.

Edea: It is always better to go in groups in the desert, so long as ya’ll can keep up. We do have a timed schedule to keep.

Rana: We have to get some mounts and supplies but we can be ready when you are.

Edea: We’ll probably ride into the night.

Rana: Where would you like us to meet you?

Edea: Here is good, I’m not inclined to leave here anytime soon - about to listen to this bard here (the triton), waiting past the heat of the day before starting the journey, conservation of movement and all that.

Rana: We’re gonna go get our supplies and we’ll meet you in time and hopefully we can help you out.

Rana calls us to follow while Diem looks a little forlorn and wondering if they could stay ‘cause they kinda wanna hear the bard too, “Do we all need to go on the supply run?”

Bard winks at me, overhearing it and I cheer up a little.

(Listen up - Do NOT embarrass me) (Alt title: Preparing for the desert)

When Ixayl’anu asks Rana what all we need to accomplish (out of ear shot of Pebbles), Rana tells us and adds that she doesn’t want her whole circle to think she’s incompetent, so we should all please make sure to listen and have everything ready, dressed appropriately, etc. We all have 4 hours. Plenty of time.

Diem interrupts the shopping and supply assignments to point out that their new spells actually take HOURS to transcribe so maybe it really would be better if they stayed behind at the tavern to focus on that while others bought their share of the supplies/clothing/etc.

This gives Rana pause to realize we actually have plenty of time. She stops to think before agreeing, noting how she’s very concerned about how things look to Elder Edea and tells Diem to just make sure they look busy doing actual work while transcribing their new spells.

We’re warned about cold and heat, Rana has slowed down a bit ever since Diem brought up the point of using the hours now to scribe spells while they supply shop for them. She tells us more of what she knows about what we need and why. Basic desert survival.

Phi thanks her for arranging everything. 

Rana: If you run out of water you will die, not everyone can create water, there are bandits who will take you if they think you’re an easy target, there’s giant scorpions, giant ant lions, if you fall in the funnel of sand, you fall into the bug, basilisks who can turn people into stone by looking at them, things like jellies, lots of fables and stories, water thieves.

Diem: So we’re about to walk into Mad Max? *realization*

Rana: I don’t know what that is

Diem: Never mind, it’s a story they tell in, nevermind we don’t have time, continue.

Phi asks if Edea is a dirt genie too and gets a dirty look from Rana, Phi brings up genie as a mispronunciation of genasi. Rana corrects her, not a jinn and they’re kinda like fey - but more dangerous

Diem scoffs

Rana scoffs back

Diem laughs, amused.

Details dropped during Rana’s group talk: Edea is a half elf both of them are circle of the land, she’s desert, Rana’s mountain, if she tells you what to do do it. (We don’t know Rana’s circle is called the Iron Heights Circle, but we do know Edea is a Noon Sun circle elder).

Diem (before they leave) upon the bringing up of clothes requests extra roomy desert appropriate outfits for comfort, since they can make them look however they want with disguise self. *Messages Phi something more*

Ixayl’anu leaves her elk with Pebbles.

Diem’s rumors heard about Farford (probably during the times they needed to rest their poor fingers owie): 1. Dragons have been spotted south of town

2. The meteor is going to hit east of Sunhame, possibly close to Lake Natron

3. A few people are claiming to have seen a Firecat in town. 

4. Giant molehills have been popping up in the desert. 

5. There are murmurings of Petaris being behind the "meteor" strikes. After all, THEY haven't been hit yet

6. Birds have been acting strangely.

7. The Meteor is going to hit north of Sunhame

8. A town along the desert path has had trouble. 

9. A caravan is late coming from Bouldergap.

Diem will look at their 4 hours available and what each hours long thing they need to do is and realize that tiny hut will probably be the most useful thing, but they won’t be able to finish it. It takes 1 hour to summon a familiar, but they’re going into a hostile environment and Diem decides they want the new fey friend to be comfortable on first meetings so that can wait.

It takes 2 hours to write down this alarm spell and I *suck* at writing so probably will take me 3 hours to do. 

It’s gonna take me a whopping SIX hours minimum to write down tiny hut. Maybe I can do the other two hours or so when we stop because alarm is not going to be quite as useful when we can just keep watch anyway...?

*Notices a change in their spellbook* Oh hey, I have comprehend languages now and tongues has disappeared...interesting. Not quite as useful, perhaps, except that I can cast this one as a ritual, apparently.

They are actually far more concerned right now with making their established friend (Rana) happy with them and hit hyper focus when not resting their sore fingers. (Self-imposed concentration check of 17).

They started out facing the bard to listen, but couldn’t focus so moved to put their back to the bard.

Phi and Ixayl’anu went to a general store. They pick up some impulse buys, spices, soup balls, interesting impulse soup buys.

It’s a rocky AZ type desert. We get plenty of water. Two large 20 gallons each casks on one camel. 4 casks and 4 canteens total.

50 gold total for all supplies. Phi paid for it all.

Rana goes looking for camels, friendly camels for noobs found 3 saddles and 3 camels for 180gold and all associated tack. She hitches the camels up to a post by Pebbles.

*Back at the tavern, we speak of rumors*

We talk about the rumors Diem heard after pulling up plenty of chairs.

Rana stops them at mention of a firecat.

Rana is skeptical that the firecat was alone. “Those are kinda messengers of the Candance, god of anesh, you hear about him mostly in sunhame.”

No gender for east meteor rumor. Woman talked about north of sunhame rumor, hushed group talking about firecat.

Rana: Anesh is a theocracy - pretty lenient, different gods are fine but Vkandis is THE guy. That priest over there is probably one

Diem: Forgive the pun I’m about to make, but...Priests of Vkandis are pretty hot. 

Rana: Everything is run through Vkandis, you guys have your king and queen, we have the son of the sun, and they get word directly from Vkandis and if something important is happening you MIGHT see a fire cat. As opposed to the visions being vague like with Ixie’s goddess, you get a guide with a direct line.

...If it’s not with somebody that’s interesting....

Diem reveals one of the other people didn’t even believe it was a firecat because it was alone. If it is a firecat if it was alone and wandering, maybe it was here with someone, just not together at the time?

The kids leave hot teacher as we talk about this (Hunt down the firecat kids! Extra credit!)

Rana: If it has something to do with us it will pop up.

Diem: I suppose...

Rana: No, it will

Diem: Okay...but I’m also worried about something else I overheard - after all that talk about giant bugs and funnels, I was hearing people talk about giant mole hills popping up in the desert?

Rana: This is far out of the purple worm natural range...(but she can’t think of what else it might be)

Diem ticks through rumor list on their way to potentially super bad news: More than a few people have suggested Petarus might be responsible since they haven’t been hit yet. I don’t know how many stories you’ve read, but that kind of talk can start wars if enough people believe it...

Rana tells us there’s been no nationwide conflict/war between Petarus and Anesh before. There’s also not any bad blood really between them, despite minor quibbles over where one begins and the other ends - but it’s all desert anyway so none of it’s gotten serious before.

Diem is less concerned now after that information, finishes the rumors with how people say the birds have been acting strange. One person talked about a seagull flying around in some kind of weird daze, ignoring perfectly good food on the beach. Most of the other rumors talked about migration patterns being off in general, birds from other areas flying in that normally aren’t seen so far south.

Rana takes interest in this as well and reconsiders her statement about the giant purple worms not coming this far south.

Diem asks if they should start packing up. Pretty sure this is also where I told Rana how far I got in my work and why I made that decision. Everyone else has already changed into their desert friendly attire, so I get my clothes from Phi and go change as well.

When I come out of the bathrooms, I look like a Yasha-sized version of Tarma (Mercedes Lackey Oathbound reference) - dark-skinned woman with a few scars, intimidating don’t fuck with me look/attitude, black hair in braids under my desert-appropriate attire - even my new rings are disguised to look like cheap, simple iron adornments. I have a scratchy, harsh voice to match, but do little more than nod my greeting as I sit down. I borrowed many different visuals I liked from Farford natives I’d seen, who looked like they knew what was what. Ixayl’anu pokes straight through the illusion of my fake cloak to my arm like “are you real?” but hits about where she expects my arm to be.

Edea compliments it. 

I thank her in chill bitch speak. (21 performance roll)

(And a quest on the way out!)

Pirate: Oi! Earth genasi!

Rana: Yes…

Pirate: Us genasi should stick together. 

Pirate introduces herself (Captain Breil) and mentions that she noticed Rana’s going out with Elder Edea. She asks for Rana to deliver a letter to Perfection, a half orc woman named Val McKee, help her out if you can, and hands Rana a small sack of coin (20 platinum in it).

Rana hands the coin bag back: We’re headed out there anyway, don’t worry about it.

Pirate: I like your style.

Rana: I’ll make sure it gets there.

(Rana had tilted her head at a water genasi claiming they should stick together like...spiritually, yeah, physically...not so much.

For Later: Phi is gonna try and steal Rana’s letter, copy it/read it, use forgery to seal it back up and put it back.

(Hitting the road...)

Diem pretends to be standing guard while Rana talks to everyone else about how to mount, etc. They watch everyone else get on first so they can hopefully look like a pro when they try it too, back up their intimidating badass of the desert disguise.

I got a natural 20 when it was my turn to get on the camel. Yay method acting!

First leg of journey, Rana fills in Elder Edea on all the things Diem overheard - a what we’ve been thinking about what’s been going on around the town kinda thing.

Ixayl’anu (about the firecats): Is this a recent development?

Edea: Fairly recent, I got a call once that messenger arrived

Ixayl’anu: Has it been like this before?

Edea: We get calls for assistance - it’s fairly normal.

We roll an 8 for first leg, Edea motions us off to the side after awhile for riders who are inexperienced, so we can get a rest at a small spring in the hills. We drink and refill.

Phi tests the water with her spoon. Tarma *impressed* tells her it’s a really good idea, but with a bit too much of Diem’s enthusiasm and not enough bad bitch (despite still sounding nothing like Diem otherwise)

Rana glances at Edea for what she thinks about that exchange.

Tarma-Diem tells Edea that it’s a spoon that detects poisons.

I named my camel Jadrie (after Kethry’s shin’a’in daughter)

Rana didn’t name her camel, Phi will figure out hers later.

Ixayl’anu rolls a nat 20 on perception and points out a large bird overhead. “What’s that?”

Rana says it’s a roc. Considerably bigger than a condor. “As long as it stays over there (riding the thermals) it’s fine.” (Didn’t catch her nature check #)

Edea: There’s a pair nesting near here but not close enough we need to worry.

Phi: Like that giant bird you got eaten by?

Diem: *message* You’re embarrassing Rana in front of Edea.

Rana tries to deflect and change the topic.

Edea (amused): No I’m very interested in this story.

Rana (thoroughly embarrassed now): Diem could tell it better

Diem *deadpan*: Too bad you didn’t bring that one along, I would’ve liked to meet them.

Rana is now feeling her credibility crash around her.

Back on the road again, Rana is quite clearly happy and smiling as we travel, making it quite obvious she’s missed her home and is proud of it.

Phi thinks it’s super cute, but it also makes Phi homesick with how different everything is out here.

When we make camp, we break into shifts, Diem coordinating to have first shift with Ixayl’anu this time, and to settle everyone in the area where they intend to summon the tiny hut when they finish transcribing it (so that no one has to wake up to get in it) - also means coordinating so that our animals aren’t *also* in the perimeter because otherwise the spell will fail.

3-4 hours in Diem summons the tiny hut.

Phi takes middle and hears rumbling during her shift. Elder and Rana take last, conversing softly in druidic.

Phi decides not to try and steal the letter after all since Rana went to sleep with it in her pocket. While they were eating earlier though, Phi asked her if she’s curious to see what the letter says, “Nobody would have to know just you and me, I can seal it back up like it was never opened afterward.”

Rana: No thank you.

Phi /sighs and drops it - she figured as much.

Rana: This isn’t the first time I’ve delivered mail for people.

Diem: Well now I’m curious too...

Rana: Tough for you.

[lunchbarge62]

Play These Games on the List to Improve Your Various Skills

As it is a common knowledge that games, specifically video games, have inspired the minds of every player, there were claims concerning the way they affect various facets of one’s overall health. Playing these games is found to be a more fun and easy way to enhance brain skills and other related skills that can improve your daily lives. Sometimes, these games can also help to ease what you feel and reduce your stress if you have fun while killing some time or taking a couple of minutes off your busy day. Here is a list of the most commonly played games that will improve various skills and make time to relax after spending a great deal of time with your daily lives. 1. Akinator Akinator is a cartoon genie in the game developed by Elokence who will ask you a number of questions that can figure out your potential character. It's one good game to play any time you get bored or lazy and you're looking for a challenge. Your trusted genie can tell you exactly what you are thinking and you can feel some goosebumps after a number of streaks of correct guesses. Knowing that there's someone that can easily guess what’s on your mind is quite amazing and it can be so much fun as you go on playing for more. 2. Bottle Flip 3D You can join millions of people all over the world and play the game of Bottle Flip 3D if you want some kind of real-life challenge. Bottle flipping is one of the favorite pastimes of many teenagers and young adults, which made it a popular game. For a broader and better experience, it can already be played in various devices, making this much more popular. Because it is a game that's not too complicated to play, it can help you kill a few momemts at any time of the day. 3. Starcraft If you are into some hardcore gaming and you want to improve your cognitive skills like memory and reasoning as you plan, strategize, and manage resources, you should play strategy-based games like Starcraft. It's a science fiction real-time strategy-based game involving different alien species fighting for dominance and every species has different fighting units and tactics of winning. Players must be able to manage resources to build and keep their units as they develop brain flexibility given different circumstances. 4. Overwatch Multiplayer games can help to develop hand-eye coordination, specifically first-person shooter games. With the intense action in Overwatch, players should constantly assess, react, and decide in every moment according to various factors, including map layout, positioning, characters, abilities, enemy position, and so much more. These factors are simultaneously considered in the head of a player and coordinated in his brain with the interpretation and reaction as shown by the movements of his hands and fingers. 5. Diablo Franchise Players can select among the numerous character classes, including wizard, witch doctor, barbarian, or crusader, to defeat Diablo, the Lord of Terror in this action role-playing game. In order to achieve this, they should explore, acquire, and trade weapons, armor, and magic items as they battle hordes and demons. While thinking about several factors, it is important to act, think, and decide fast. is akinator safe can help to enhance inductive reasoning skills while facing different situations. 6. SimCity You may consider SimCity if you prefer a little less intense game where players build a city and face the several challenges of urban planning. It is a simulation game that copies the real world and shows the players some real-world skills, like managing finite resources and making decisions that can result in complex consequences. It needs a good analysis of every action that you take to make better decisions that will also affect your next step. 7. 2048 This is a mobile puzzle game that utilizes logic and mathematical skills to be able to win where players swipe tiles with corresponding numbers across the board. When two tiles using the same numbers are touching each other, they will combine into one tile with the sum of the two numbers. The aim of the game is to swipe number tiles around the board so that the player can create a single tile that has the number 2048 on it. It's a type of puzzle game that enables the players to work out their brains as they determine patterns, solve intricate problems under time pressure, or think logically. Normally, it doesn't take most of your time and skills but only a good thinking brain to resolve each puzzle successfully because the rules of the game are really simple. 8. NBA Franchise This year, the real-world league was postponed as a result of pandemic but avid basketball fans can still enjoy their favorite game in a virtual setting. NBA2K20 is one of the sports games that allows the users to have a true-to-life league experience with real-life graphics and ultra-realistic gameplay. They are much like the real action games, which are often fast-paced and need good hand-eye coordination in order to score and win. One of the reasons why they are often preferred over action games is because they do not involve any form of violence but only the necessary skills, like quick thinking, fast analysis, and good decision-making. 9. Minecraft Nowadays, no one can ever deny the truth that Minecraft has become one of the extremely popular games, especially among those who love to create and develop their own world. Set in a landscape, the open-world sandbox game uses blocks to represent trees, grass, rocks, dirt, water, and so many other things that are randomly generated throughout the game. It is actually regarded as an action-adventure game since it requires quick reflexes and amazing problem-solving skills that entail thinking, both during violent and non-violent situations. Apart from this, it also includes experimentation, teamwork, and even creativity to build a world and perform various activities. 10. Animal Jam Animal Jam won’t become an award-winning app for nothing if it is not good for its users. As your casual game, you'll be taken to the world of Jamaa and be your favorite animal as you explore the wild and learn how to protect the nature. Kids will have a safe playground to have interaction with other players from around the world and they simply love these game. 11. Gacha Life Prepare yourself for a new adventure in another casual game and begin dressing up your anime characters using various outfit, hairstyles, weapons, and more. Show how creative you are and discover how to speak with other users or create a scene to tell your unique story. Discover different areas and you'll discover different people and places as you play the game. 12. Forge of Empires Forge of Empires is a strategy game that will take you to various places in different times, such as the ancient civilizations, medieval kingdom, and even the future. Build your own city and rule your empire as you experience history. Have your army or troops prepared to defend your territory from those that desire to conquer it in order to keep it safe and peaceful. 13. Tekken Franchise Last but not the very least, the list should also include it because it is a game that started all the video games that we get to enjoy today. Hosted by Mishima Zaibatsu, it is an arcade game that follows the events throughout the King of Iron Fist Tournament. To be able to gain control of the company, players choose various characters to battle and win in the tournament. Several controls can be used to perform different attacks with varying impact on the opponent. For each attack that must be done to lessen the enemy’s stamina faster while you retain yours and turn victorious, it's very helpful to think fast and move quickly. There were several genres that were introduced through the years and each one has so many games developed and released to meet the requirements of every player. Regardless of the game they play, users have their own preferences and they learn various skills and enhance each of them to get ready for their next battle or adventure. The list could go on but these are some of the most popular games you could play, specifically on a bigger screen if you want to have a better gaming experience.