Sshamath Arcanist's RP Thread

[Storm Munin]

Woedeiir gave her scrying ball a longing glance as she looked up from the scroll she was scribing into her spell book.


Some of the other practitioners of the Art was no doubt up to no good while she was occupied but this spell research had proven to be difficult at best.
Unaesthetic, rank and yet, yet it was a bold necessity.

Putting down her quill as the last lines of ink dried on the vellum page she moved over to the goblin corpse resting on a bier at the center of the chamber.
Hiring a laboratory in the Mage School for a cycle had been costly but there was no way she would have done this in her private appartments, the air was already reeking with the bittersweet smell of decaying flesh.

While casting the cantrip to light the prepared candles of the magestar surrounding the bier she ran a mental checkup to make sure this attempt to raise a ghoul would succeed.

[TheKai]

Nymrath Urlbrak is seen walking into the Gloura's Wing. He makes his way straight to the bar, speaking to the bar tender whom points him to a section of the wall with notes pinned to it. Sighing, and eyeing the mundane notes as if it were beneath him, he whispers a view cantrips and spells and an elaborate scroll form on the wall, the writing being laid to it without a quill.

"Those whom wish to explore the deep wilds, answer this. Those whom wish to earn gold, answer this. Those whom seek to gain the favor of a M'elzar answer this. Usstan am seeking blades and arms to venture into the wilds. We seek some filth and some ilk...let the tunnels run with blood and death. Leave word and it will reach me"

[TheKai]

Later in the cycle, in the opulent Lukhorn's Gullet, two Faern entered and made their way into a secluded area within the inn. Historically, the Magthere of Illusion and the Magthere of Divination are schools at odds with one another on principle and magic. In times of need, and usually to their mutual benefit, grudging partnerships may occur. This was one such meeting. The Dark Seer and Deep Illusion, accomplished wizards both, sat in the corner of the lavish tavern conversing for some time. Curious eyes continuously gazed at the room they were in, but none dared venture forth.

Woedeiir and Nymrath soon left the tavern, making their way to the communal casting chambers of the city. After paying the servitor some plakla to not be disturbed, Woedeiir began her casting with a spell to ward her from evil. Even the greatest of Diviners, especially the greatest, knew well enough the dangers associated with scrying magic and Woedeiir warded herself appropriately. Soon thereafter, she gently laid down, as if it were her very soul, a glimmering orb of crystal literally brimming with power. She sat studying the crystal and the room for a few moments, then closed her eyes for a few more. When she all was ready she nimbly sat down, one hand held out to Nymrath, her eyes though, continuing to stare at the crystal ball.

From somewhere the Illusionist withdrew a small, smoky vial with some dark liquid within it and handed it over to the Diviner. She studied it for a while before nodding and gently placing it in front of the crystal ball. "Move back" was all she said before she began her scry spell.

//Blood from the three legged displacer beast and an unmodified spellcraft roll of 35 to discern the location of the Ghaunador base

[DM Silverfox]

As you gaze in the scrying orb, what appears to be a hastily built fort somewhere out in the Underdark materializes in the haze. Moments later, it is overran by an assortment of creatures, minotaurs, duergars, drow, and finally an illithid makes its way through. Once the battle is over, the illithid looks right at you through the haze before moving from view. Dead drow litter the devastated outpost with a few of the attackers among them.

[TheKai]

In the streets of Sshamath, Nymrath and Schezalle, leader of the Black Claws could be seen speaking for some time. They speak first on his commission from her when originally they met. As the conversation went on, she explained her involvement in the destruction of an outpost in the deep wilds. His face tight as he listened, he took in every word she had to say, gaining the details of what occurred at the battle of the outpost, from the drow involved to the arrival of the illithid. Silently berating himself, he listened.

When possible, he departed the city with all haste, making his way to the location of the destroyed outpost as was described by Schezalle. Through ruins and decay, he searched and searched, as if looking for something. He searched almost, frantically, the words of his Archmagus ringing clear in his head.

[DM Silverfox]

Searching the ruined outpost, something stands out from the wreckage. A small orb bathed in magical energies. It appears inactive at the moment. The rest of the outpost has been picked clean by vultures, while the bodies were taken to the School of Necromancy. The cave is eerily quiet.

[TheKai]

After a while, he thought the search futile and cursing, began to make his way from the wreckage when the glimmer of the crystal orb caught his eye. Stopping short, breath held, he slowly turns, his eyes gaining some kind of hope. He casts a spell a spell to detect any wards or curses on it. Satisfied with the orbs inactivity, he gently places it in gently in his pocket and makes his way to Sshamath...hoping that this is what is needed.

[TheKai]

The hooded male drow sat crosslegged in a secluded area of Undrek Vallanar with a small, orb of crystal sitting in front of him. He spent the cycle outside of Sshamath’s environs, studying the mysterious crystal orb he retrieved from the rubble of the destroyed outpost. Strong wards prevented the M’elzar from fully gaining knowledge of the enchantments on it, but a underlying hint of apportation magic seemed to resonate repeatedly, surrounding and permeating it and he dared not bring it into Sshamath itself.

Tired and drained both mentally and physically from the exhaustive spell research, he pondered for many moments on whether this item was what his Jabress sought. If he bothered her for this, and it turned out not to be what she was seeking, his life would be forfeit and his failure known. But the orb was not without merit as well, and perhaps he could turn its discovery in his favor, somehow.

Sighing, he thought long and hard before casting a whispering wind spell.

“Jabress, my Archmage, if dos could find time for your servant, usstan have something dos may be interested in. Usstan am in Undrek Vallanar.”



EDIT: Corrected the name of the location

[DM Silverfox]

While you wait, staring into the orb, a vision appears. An illithid stares back at you with its onyx eyes. A voice in your head speaks, "You and your city will crumble, little elf, and all will run green when I have finished." The image fades suddenly, leaving you with the feeling you are no longer alone.

[TheKai]

Shock crossed his features and he sat deathly still as the words echoed in his mind. No longer daring to look into the orb, he backs away swiftly. Uttering...or stuttering, perhaps, he whispers a powerful weaving to blank his thoughts from others.

He stands, almost feeling numb, but relieved that he did not indeed bring the orb into the city. To comfort himself as if it would work, the drow unclips his cloak and throws it over the orb, casting a few protective wards around himself as well.

"What will the Malla Illusionist think of this...."

[Storm Munin]

A scowling Woedeiir in a tattered silk dress returned to the City emptyhanded.


The cycle had started so promising with the fortous revelation of the mysterious staff within her scrying ball.
Fortune had looked even better when she found the sargtlin Orias, halfbreed faern'sargtlin Unen and velguk Danon as she strolled out of Varalla's.
The males had even given in to aiding her in retrieving the staff from the filthy Stonespear tribe lands without much of a fuss.

Hours later they had found themselves suddenly being charged by wave after wave of goln cavalry while veteran fighters on foot assaulting them from all sides.
Vanquishing the foes had proven difficult, yet there had still not been a silver lining at the end of their treck as they looted the goblin hovels blind.

It had not mattered a vith how much goln blood ran down her beloved Folly or what her spell blasts did to the goln, they just kept coming while her intended prize evaded her.

No matter, what hard earned spoils there had been to be had she would sell at the bazaar. Tomorrow would be different, just how different was as ever hard to say.
But surely it would be different.

The shadowed staff would not escape her attention long, darkness had promised her so.


//A huge hug to the DM brightening our caverndelve with a few surprises.

[Tsidkenu]

A drow female entered the Magthere of Illusion carrying a package wrapped in spider silk under her arm. She enquired with the door guards and attendants that she wished to see Me'lzar Nymrath about a matter she had been commissioned to obtain.

[TheKai]

Within the walls of the Magthere of Illusion, a limp, ragged body of a male drow could be seen being dragged in public for all tenants of the school to see. Covered in tattered robes and looking gaunt and frail, both eyes of the prisoner were swollen shut with lumps around his temple and withered manacled hands.

The two male guards dragging the body, bearing the symbols of the very same Magthere, tossed the limp drow to the ground as the students, slaves and his once one time peers burst with laughter. One of the male guards spoke in a loud, strong voice for all to hear.

"This is the penalty when you disappoint this institution of the Art."

With that said, both guards walked away. The lone, limp body laid there for quite some time as members of the School of Illusion and Phantasm carried on it's daily business.

[TheKai]

Subject: Intrigues of Sshamath (Player/DM IC RP)

The Bureaucracy Convenes

Rumor spreads in Sshamath that the city's Bureaucracy political body is looking to fill vacant seats with citizen representatives of factions in good favor with the Conclave. The Bureaucracy it is said will help the Conclave to administrate the City Guard, the Charnag Maelthra intelligence organization, and the City Militia against threats to the Conclave and the city by the Bureaucracy providing policy recommendations to each of these organizations, but these recommendations could always be overruled by the Magistrature or the Conclave. The Bureaucracy will be set to meet upon obtaining new membership within a few tenday it is said.

There is an official posting in various public areas of Sshamath that factional applicants interested in membership on the Bureaucracy should submit an application to the Conclave saying their applying faction name, their applying single speaking and single silent representatives, and their proof and pledge of loyalty to the Conclave. Each faction member of the Bureaucracy will be allowed one speaking member and one silent member the postings read.

((We are planning to hold a Sshamath Bureaucracy meeting on March 20 at 21:00 GMT to get some intrigue RP in the Underdark rolling for 1352. Please post in the linked thread IC above if your faction would be IC interested in coming.))

As word spread throughout Sshamath of this key opportunity, the M'elzar made way to his chambers. The bruised and battered drow mage was healing fast, thanks to a powerful healing antidote he was able to obtain. He knew rivals would be quick to gain this foothold within Sshamath, and so, as beat as he was, he had to make haste. This was his opportunity. Perhaps the Mistress would look upon him differently if he seized this moment. But "perhaps" is such a large word.

[mrm3ntalist]

Zakn'Atar, hearing the rumors, he makes haste to the School of Necromancy to inform the High Necromancer Beldroin.