(081) Journeymen Returned

[mgtremaine]

Wen will persist at this task as long as he can. When I find spells I need I will pay the price to copy them into my own books.

[mushgnome]

"Did somebody mention a nearby ogre lair?" asks Highbough. "I hate Ogres!"

Can I get a quick XP/level reminder? Can Highbough cast 3rd level spells yet?

[sully]

What does Dorgan know about the area around the abbey? Are there regular patrols or random dangers?

[waysoftheearth]

Can I get a quick XP/level reminder? Can Highbough cast 3rd level spells yet?

Warlocks employ the clerical XP and spell progression, so 5th level is achieved at 13,000 XP and 6th at 27,000 XP.

The last record I have (prior to the latest XP award) is that Highbough had 15,011 XP. I also recall (for some bizarre reason) that Highbough had access to two 1st and two 2nd level spells, which all suggests that Highbough was a 5th level Warlock where we left off.

Highbough now has 18,311 XP; thus he requires a further 8,689 to achieve the 6th level, and access to 3rd level spells. A heady milestone indeed...

[waysoftheearth]

Dorgan's recent experience of life in these parts has taught him that the Abbey is an isolated place.

By day he has occasionally spied one of his nearest neighbors--the ogres--keeping a wary watch on the place, but thankfully those monsters have kept much to themselves. They more or less "guard" the main goat track that leads "down" the hills and toward the valleys. In the other direction, deeper into the highlands, Dorgan has seen signs of goblins and wolves, and he doesn't doubt werewolves too. By day they don't show themselves, but by night the wolves are always active, and never too far away. He hasn't actually spotted a goblin since his return to the abbey.

[sully]

When Dorgan gets a chance to address Highbough and Wen, he shares an idea with them.

From what ya tell me, our portal takes us to this other world, but ya end up in the middle of the desert. I know there are probably other werewolves wandering around outside the abbey. What if we follow them back ta their lair and see if they have a portal? One that takes us to a safer place inside the other world?

[mgtremaine]

Wen answers:

"It's possible there are other portals but unlikely, this is a powerful magical gateway the time and energy invested building it, by unknown agents, would be enormous and not likely to be repeated in close proximity. Also there are controls that we have not explored, it may be able to take us to many other places as well.

I know we need to monitor the portal and hold this Abbey so that our friends have a safe means of return. Desmond has a mirror so they have the power to return, it possible that after the count of 30 days or 60 days we might try going through the portal to briefly secure the area and leave signs that we are waiting for them. Now if there is a threat of Ogres nearby we might want see if that can be eliminated, we are going to be here for awhile and anything that threatens the Abbey should be countered."

[mushgnome]

Highbough votes to hunt ogres, and toward that end, memorizes an array of offensive spells: (1st lvl) Choke, Color Spray (2nd level) Hold Person, Highbough's Torrefaction (aka Heat Metal)

[sully]

Dorgan mentally reviews the ranged combat abilities of his fellow Abbey occupants.

We would want to hit the ogres as hard as we can from a distance before Dorgan engaged in melee combat. What are his options? Do we have any bows or crossbows? Any oil?

[mushgnome]

Highbough is near-sighted, so he's no archer. His spells are his primary ranged attack.