This is a short closed encounter for the endless encounters group. If you want to join up check out our thread.
The small wizard's house/shop sits in a comfortable part of town far enough away from the center of commerce to not be disruptive, but not so close to the dump that the smell is a problem. As you leave the street and approach the front door a pair of halflings shuffle past carrying a heavy rolled rug between the two of them.
They seem to be the last patrons of the sale. It is getting late in the day, and you only heard about the sale less than an hour ago. But who knows, you thought to yourself, maybe an old wizard shop will have something of value floating about that everyone else will miss. It's worth having a look. You pass a freshly painted sign that reads, "SALE today. Everything must go!"
The old wizard gives you a half hearted greeting as you enter the home. Most of the furnishings have been sold. There still remains a slightly charred armchair, and an old potion-stained table that has an obvious tilt to one side. On the table sits a pot of tea, long since cooled. There are boxes of odds and ends here and there. They look to be cheap spell components, and broken or used up magic items. The shelves are nearly bare. Only a three odd shaped glass jars remain. One is full of some variety of bean. Another is the home of half a dozen uncommonly large spiders. A third jar of clay seems to be cracked and is leaking something.
As you stand in the room taking in the scene a fat orange cat winds its way in between your legs purring. The wizard scolds the cat and shoos it away before offering you a seat on a rickety stool near the table. "It looks like you folks are just catching the tale end of it. I'm afraid I don't have much left for sale. But feel free to poke around. I've been stashing treasures around this place for years, and I've clean forgotten most of it. Earlier, folks found items I was sure had been lost adventuring. They even found my old deck of many things. If you have any questions just holler. It's been a long day, and I could stand to sit down for a spell. Ha! get it? Stand to sit?" The wizard plops into the well used arm chair and begins to light his pipe. He is immediately joined by his fat orange cat who perches on his lap staring blankly at you.
Tagatha ambles in to the store, looking around with mild distaste at the clutter. "Greetings. I heard there was a sale. Don't mind if I do look." He eyes the cat as it sits perched on the wizard's lap, and he smiles at it - all feline teeth. He spends time searching about, attuning his senses to anything useful, but not touching anything with his hands. Simple magic will keep the paws clean.
Idly, Tagatha asks the old man, "So what happened to your business?
Adjusting her robes and swordbelt and stepping quickly into the store, Benlei glances around and takes in the scene. "Did you have any of the Dawnflower's old relics? I was looking for a new holy symbol, something with a bit of flare, but none of the other shops had quite what I was looking for."
She nods to the cat-man, keeping an eye on him even as she begins to look over the shelves, but doesn't introduce herself for now.
Heavily built, with a brooding presence. Shalin pushes the door open and steps into the shop. Breathing deeply, almost too deeply, as if he were trying to take in something more than air.
Greetings, I'm here to see what you've got for sale. And to make sure nothing ends up in the wrong hands. Voice low and gravely, he seems to be making an effort to be civil. One that is hardly paying dividends...
He proceeds to poke about the shop, his particular focus is on magic relating to the lower planes.
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[dice=perception] 1d20+2 [/perception]
Taking in Tagatha with a slow long stare. Well met, what brings you here? Looking for anything in particular? Again the gravely voice and straining the bounds of his social graces. Shalin tries to start a conversation.
With a flyer for the upcoming Running of the Bulls in Katapesh in hand, Jacaranda shuffled down the lonely street where a little shop catches his attention.
"SALE today. Everything must go!"
That was something Jac could wrap his mind around. Plus, he thought, there might be something that could help him in the race!
He pushed the door open and was greeted by the rear ends of several people, weird smells and a sad looking store. That didn't stop him.
"Hello shop-keep! Anything good left? Haha!"
He looked around to for a good deal.
As you cast detect magic the entire place lights up like a goblin-run fireworks stand. The very walls of this place seep with magic. There are so many different auras it is difficult to see anything through jumble of arcane noise. A few of the more powerful objects stand out from the cacophony of magic. The wizard himself is bristling with magic. Surely his most valuable items would be on his person, or hidden away somewhere. His cat seems to also have strong transmutation aura about it as well. Then there is a locked chest in the corner that is bristling with arcane energy. There is also a bright spot somewhere under the floor near the fireplace.
The wizard turns to Tagatha and replies, "Oh, I've been wanting to on another adventure for some time now, and it seems as though I might not have much more time left. I thought it best to set out now while I still have my legs under me. And besides, business has been rather slow these last few years. The neighborhood isn't what it used to be. This shack has been a burden to me long enough. Time for a fresh start, I say. The cat lets out a low meow. "That is... a fresh start for myself and Snaps here. I couldn't dream of leaving without him."
The old wizard turns to see Benlei and answers, "Let me think now. You know, it just might still be there. He pats at his pocket muttering something about where his spell pouch might have run off to. After a few moments, he seems to have given up the search instead he pulls at a loose thread on the arm of his chair, then plucks a splinter from the exposed wood poking through the worn fabric. He rubs the two together and gestures toward the other side of the room. Instantly objects start flying out of a pile of rubbish. It looks as though some unseen person is rummaging about in the pile. After a few moments a dusty leather satchel rises out of the heap and floats over to the wizard. "Now run along and fetch my guests some tea" A second later the cups and teapot begin clattering as unseen hands pour cups of tea for everyone in the room. The wizard opens the worn leather satchel and pulls out three items. The first is a wooden flask etched with a symbol of Sarenrae. It has a crystal stopper in the shape of a flame. "This, belonged to my old buddy Gork. Gork the Orc he was called. Well only half orc, but you couldn't tell by looking at him. Decent fellow that Gork. He met his untimely demise by tumbling off the edge of a castle balcony. This was his holy symbol. It's supposed to be filled with holy water, or so I've heard, though Gork was constantly taking sips from it. More likely he kept it topped off with fire water. Ha, see what I did there? Fire water because Sarenrae is the goddess of...oh you get it." Next the wizard pulled out a jagged rock. "This has seen better days. Don't you worry, I'll have it good as new in a jiffy" With a wave of his hand the grime and dirt seemed to fall away from the stone revealing a shimmering transparent orange crystal, about 4 inches long and the width of two or three fingers. "This also belonged to Gork. I believe they call it a meditation crystal. It looks like the clasp has rusted off, but the crystal still seems to be in good working order. He gives it a flick and a light pleasent ring emanates from the crystal. Snaps, the cat apparently was either displeased with the tone or the fact that he was no longer being petted and lept down from the wizard's lap and up onto a shelf. Finally the wizard pulled out an iron mask. It was rugged but had a certain elegence to the design. It boasted a classic symbol of Sarenrae, wings spread and sun in the background. The sun was rather diamond in shape and made from what looked to be ivory. The feet and legs of the Dawnflower formed the noseguard of the mask, and the wings shielded the rest of the head. "Good ol' Gork. I do miss him. I don't know everything about this mask, but I do remember being healed from it on one occasion from a nasty goblin wound. I still ended up with filth fever, but you know how those things go. I'll tell you what, I know Gork would have wanted all his things to go to a good home, and for a cleric of the Dawnflower to receive them would make his gentle heard glad, I'm sure of it. What do you say I give you the whole set for 2000 gold?"
As Jacaranda enters the shop, he notices a peculiar shirt hanging on the line with the rest of the wizard's laundry. It seems to have winged feet embroidered on the front which seems curious. And somehow, it just looks magical. Perhaps it's for sale as well.
Withal strolls quietly into the wizard's shop, late even among the latecomers. His Allosaurus companions stops in the doorway, taking deep sniffs of the aroma's within, obviously unimpressed with what he finds.
The bounty hunter spares a glance for his companion before beginning his search of the wizard's dwindling cache of items.
He strolls by the shelves, hand resting on the hilt of his rapier, looking for anything that catches his eye.
Pausing at the winged shirt, he nods to Jakaranda before turning to the wizard, "Old man, you wouldn't by chance have any ioun stones still floating around these dusty shelves, would you?"
Benlei sees the allosaurus standing at the door, and for half a second she's looking for her sword-hilt before she remembers. Right, Withal.
She looks at him, nodding quickly, before turning back to the wizard. "I'm afraid I don't have that kind of coin to throw around, even for a friend of the faith. I would be interested in the flask and the crystal, though. Does 200 sound reasonable for those?"
After returning the human's nod, Jacaranda wandered toward the line of hanging laundry, trying desperately not to trip over clutter or walk into another shopper. He looks over the odd shirt and realizes it is well made at least. Touching it gave off a strange sensation much like that from his cards during a powerful reading.
He had to know more...
"Excuse me. I dont mean to interrupt but, I was wondering if I may learn more about this shirt?
Withal smirks at Benlei's brief reaction to Telorast. Taking a sip from his flask, he inclines it in greeting of his former companion.
Tagatha is taken aback by the strength of the auras around him. "Very odd, this." He nods at the wizard. "I can see what you mean. This old shop could be seen as a burden." He leans in to the old man. "But those of us who can see would tell a different tale. All is not as it seems, is it?" The sorceror looks up as others come in. He nods to each in turn, and returns to hear what the old man has to say.
Gork would be happy know know that any of his things have finally gone on to serve the Dawnflower once more. We have a deal."
Ioun stones you say hmmm? I'm afraid I sold them all my good ones earlier today, but might have some left the jar." With a gesture the jar of beans on the shelf begins to move. Snaps, who had just been dozing off was startled and let out a sharp meow as the jar moved. He ran down the shelf in a panic, knocking the jar of spiders off the shelf, bounded off Withal's head and flew through the air toward Jacaranda, claws out. After using Jacaranda as a landing pad, Snaps made a bolt for the front door, still in a panic, and slammed head first into the leg of Telorast. Looking up he let out another shriek and bolted for the back door and out into the yard.
Turning to Jacaranda, the wizard made to apologize, "That pesky feline, always has been a jumpy chap. You never can tell wh- Oh! you found my old quick runner's shirt. I though that had already been sold. Handy thing, that. As you can see, I have grown a size or two since I last put it on. Believe it or not, I used to be a very thin fellow. It is always good to have a burst of speed handy for outrunning dragons. Of course, you don't really have to outrun the dragon do you? You only have to outrun the slowest member of your party! HAhahaha, I kid, I kid. Go on then, try it on. It looks like it might just fit you. Get a feel for it and we'll talk price later. And that reminds me..." He snaps his fingers and 5 cups of tea float over from the table resting on some invisible tray. The wizard waves his hand over the lot of them and they all begin steaming. "Please have a drink my guests. Don't worry it's quite warm. My grandmothers recipe, this is. Made with cinnamon from Qadira, nutmeg from Osirion. The tea is of course from the river kingdoms. I have more than enough if you are interested in buying some sacks of leaves. The tea floats over to each guest waiting to be plucked from the air.
The jar of beans made it to the wizard in tact. He plunges his hand into the jar and pulls out a few dull grey stones that begin to float above his hand and give off a clean bright light. [b]"I'm afraid all I have left are these burned out stones. They can still be handy sources of light if you need them. It looks like I have three left. 75 gold each, or 150 for all three."
The wizard sits back into his chair and picks up his cup of tea as the unseen servant begins sweeping up the glass from the spider jar that broke. The spiders seem to have scurried away into cracks in the floor and walls.
"This old house has been through a lot. The auras you are seeing, for those with the ability, are mostly failed attempts at crafting magical items. One year I even had the audacity to try to make the house fly. I managed to tear the roof off, but not much else. When one place is soaked in magic as long as this place has, it can't help but absorb a bit of the arcane. Don't worry though, it shouldn't be too dangerous. At least, I haven't been killed yet." He sets his tea down and lets out a sigh as he relaxes in his chair. Go ahead and poke around as you please, I should have some more furniture in the spare room, and I think I still have a few robes left as well. I think I'm going to take quick rest. Just for a moment. It's been a trying day. Enjoy your tea." With that, the old wizard yawns and begins to drift into a nap.
Everyone make a fortitude save!
Withal plucks the teacup from the air and takes a tentative sniff of it's contents, "Missing a little something...", smirking, he pours a generous measure of the dark liquid from his hip flask into the cup before taking a sip, "Much better."
He waves away the ioun torches casually, still prowling the shelves. Pausing at a spot of blood on the floor, he turns to the old wizard, raising an eyebrow in question, "Patrons fighting over bargains old man?"
The fat orange cat bounded off of the Gnome after a clatter of some sort. Jac may have squeaked as a result, or maybe it was a floor board? He brushed himself off and put the shirt on over his outfit for the time being. He had to tuck a few inches into he belt but, otherwise it fit him nicely.
"I like it. I may have to have it adjusted but, it's quite nice."
He also figured a burst of speed could come in handy for the race...
The teacup loomed above his head and he grasped for it. The warm cup felt good in his hands and he took a draw from it after a blow or two to cool it off.
"The tea is very good. Thank you. You are a fine host Mister...?"
Jac left the question to hang in the air.
Tagatha watches bemusedly as the cat gets jumpy and runs about, finally heading out the door. He still searches about the room, using his magic to help search, and wandering into other rooms. 'Robes? Now that sounds interesting. I wonder where those are...'
shalin's eyes widen as the old man talks, especially at the mention of flying houses. Those nearby may hear him mumbling something about irresponsible wizardry being almost as bad as dark wizardry. Seemingly a grave offence judging by the tone.
After sniffing the tea he sips a little and continues to watch and listen.
Less than a minute passes as you sip your tea and mill about. The wizard is fast asleep snoring.
All at once, the room seems to twist and stretch. The walls race upward, and the fireplace speeds away. The wizard has grown to enormous size, and so has his chair, and the entire room. As you look around, you can see that you are not the only one affected. It seems everyone has been reduced in size. But this is no ordinary reduce person. Looking at the leg of a nearby chair, you estimate that you are no taller than 4 inches! The other patrons who were standing right next to you are barely within a stone's throw. You also hear whispers in your head, difficult to make out, definitely not speaking common.
what sorcery is this! Damn... The tea! looking around and seeing the others suspicion rushes over his face, and then passes.
Looks like we're in this together. Any one got any ideas? I guess we need to find our way to the kitchen first of all.
In the middle of reaching over to shake the wazard's hand, Benlei suddenly is hit by a wave of vertigo. She looks at the ginormous wizard, then at the slightly-less-tall tiefling.
"By the Dawnflower, someone will answer for this." She looks back up at the wizard. "You need to fix us at once. I cannot carry your friend's trinkets at this size!"
The room spins and Withal puts a hand to his forehead, trying to steady himself. Opening his eyes again, the blood stains from the inquisitor's face. He states open mouthed at the end table that now towers above him, "By all the hells, what mess have you gotten me into this time you thrice damned drunk... ", he takes a "large" drink from his flask, trying to centre his thoughts.
Peering around he sees the others in the distance. Muttering to himself he sets out at a trot to join them, "That's twice now... This is what you get for hanging around bloody mages... Idiots the lot of 'em."
He joins up with Benlei first, "Don't think the old man can hear you from down here my dear...even if he was awake."
Telorast comes slinking up shortly after, positively spitting in agitation, tail lashing behind him. Withal looks over his now looming companion, patting his leg in a comforting fashion, "what happened to you? Didn't think you were in that much of a rush to grow up pal..."
Jac looked around the room confused, teacup in hand. It was taking a while to process what had happened to him and the others. Finally, he spoke...
"Um...Does anyone else feel different? heh..." He joked hesitantly and set the cup on the ground next to him. "I didn't see this in my last reading. Speaking of!" He thought.
He opened his card pouch and drew a random card for protection.
The card depicted a humongous devil with a beard of tentacles swallowing grown men whole in a lake of fire. He had drawn The Fiend. Fire rose from the card as the gnome chanted. It began to engulf him hungrily. Once "consumed" a moment later, the fire vanished, leaving behind and almost imperceptible armor in it's place. "Hopefully this will ward off any nasty surprises, other than the shrinking of course..." He hoped.
After his casting, Jac wandered toward the "huge" human, his animal and the exotic woman. Optimistic as he was, he vehemently believed in the strength of numbers. Keeping a wary eye out never hurt anyone either.
The old wizard is snoring now and noise fills the room. It sounds as though a lumberjack is topping a tree with his saw high above. As everyone moves toward each other, Benlei notices a glint of metal from inside a crack in the fireplace bricks, and then the form of two rather large spiders crouched near the fireplace, eyes fixed on you. They are definitely the same spiders that until recently lived in the jar on the shelf. They are about 50 feet away, or whatever the equivalent number of inches would be. You're not sure what is in the crack in the fireplace, but anything hidden in a home like this is probably worth checking out.
Jacaranda notices that one of the floor boards is loose. And not just loose, but suspiciously so. From this perspective he can see that the cracks between the board are a bit wider than the rest. It's almost like it was crafted apart from the floor itself.
Can anyone else hear that? That voice - dark magic, looking to kill us, something contained or trapped by our host . So maybe it's not the tea? Or at least the we need to find the culprit.
However it seems those spiders over there may be a more immediate concern.
As he speaks he readies his broadsword. And tries to discern whether the spiders are going to attack.
Anyone else got any ideas?
"I think those spiders are our concern, certainly. There is something stuck in the bricks of that fireplace, and since I am tiny, I want to see what it is. Maybe we can get the spiders to leave without a fight." Drawing her tiny sword, Benlie begins moving across the floorboards toward the fireplace. As she goes, she brandishes her blade, hoping to drive the spiders back.
Withal years himself away from marvelling at the old wizard's gigantic slippered foot. Shaking his head, he turns his attention to the spiders, grimacing, "Aye, them first. After all the little prick's I've squished beneath my boot, I've no doubt the damn things are eager for some payback. That said, I'll be damned if I just lie down and take it."
Advancing behind Benlei, he slips his rapier from it's sheath and whistles for Tel to follow.
The Gnome was becoming alone again. "Don't they see the size of those spiders?! The relative size...or whatever. I might as well help out as best I can."
He approached the human as he walked toward the creatures and said, "Here friend, take this spell and say the word Ill'mesh and the magic will guide your hand." He chanted softly, moving his hands rhythmically and touched the man on his back.
"Name's Jac by the way. I usually introduce myself before laying my hands on another male...Ha! Good luck!"
Withal recoils slightly at Jacaranda's touch before catching himself, smirking, "No offense meant. Not had the best luck with mages of late...it's appreciated none the less.", he points to himself and then to the imposing armored allosaurus, "Withal, that handsome reptile is Telorast."
He regards the gnome out of the corner of his eye, keeping the spiders in sight, "So what's your take on our present sorcerous calamity? I'm hoping it's as simple as the damned old man letting one of his enchanted nicknacks expire...sadly the babbling in my head suggests disappointment in my future.
Here's a map of the area: Floor Map
The spiders climb up about 30 feet and shrink back into cracks in the bricks as Benlei approaches, but they never take their glossy eyes off of her. They don't seem to be aggressive at the moment, but from what you know about spiders, they like to bide their time waiting for an opportune moment to strike, especially when their prey is unaware.
Withal watches the retreating spiders suspiciously, "Bloody things, just biding their time..."
He hurries after Benlei, "Careful my dear. If you're intent on checking the fireplace, we'll want to approach in a group. Creepy crawlies are likely to drop on us as soon as we get close..."
The now towering thiefling keeps pace with Benelei as she makes her way towards the spiders. I've got your back.
As they move along he looks back to Withal and with a tired but strangely satisfied smile: Withal, I'm afraid your right. I heard a demonic voice as we were transformed - it seeks to make playthings of us. I suspect we would not enjoy the game, let us turn the tables and show whatever has trapped us that free people are not easy prey!
"They're recoiling! Whew! Thank Desna for small favors." Jac thought to himself. As the others moved closer to the fireplace, the red-haired witch moved toward the loose floor board he had discovered earlier. As he did, he addressed the demon-kin, the catfolk, and the woman.
"For those of you who didn't catch it, I'm Jacaranda Furt. Friends call me Jac and since we're relying on each other here to stay alive, you're my friends." He said this with an honest smile then continued, "Don't mind me, keep an eye on the beasts, I'm just going to check something out over here."
He approached the board and looked for a way to access it by first peeking inside.
Stopping her advance, Benlei half-turns to look at the red-haired gnome while trying to keep an eye on the spiders. "Don't you think it might be wise not to go in too many directions? I saw something stuck in the bricks, near where those spiders are. We should pick one thing to look at first, especially with our eight-legged friends here."
She nods quickly at Shalin. "Well, if by playthings it meant the size of a children's doll, then that voice has certainly succeeded. We should stay alert." Glancing toward the floorboard, Benlei begins looking for signs of evil.
The cracks between the floor boards don't let much light in down there, but it looks like the whole thing can be tilted up. There is a kind of hinge mechanism. It looks like it was made as the lid of a box.
Over by the fireplace, the spiders retreat out of sight into cracks in the loose bricks overhead. This show of force is more than they are willing to contend with at the moment. As you get closer, it's clear that there is a glint of metal within the brick wall.
Let's see what we have here then? Shalin firstly detects magic and then hunkers down and tries to find what the metal object is. Grrr.... Humph....
"Let me try." Benlei gives the brick a pull, struggling with her size and the thing's weight.
Tagatha blinks hard for a moment as the vertigo overcomes him. The room, the spiders, those ENORMOUS feet...subconsciously he tucks his tail in to avoid a nasty stomping. Assessing quickly, he decides staying together is the wiser choice. He moves over toward the others near the fireplace and extends his senses towards the crack.
After hearing Benlei's advice, Jac responded. "Though I agree with your assessment, my skills are of better use from afar. If we were to come to blows with the creatures, fear not, for I shall assist in any way I can. Is that sufficient Miss? What did you say your name was again?"
Curiosity got the better of him. He HAD to know what was under the floor board. Jac looked around for a latch or catch or button or lever and found none. He sighed, spit on his palms for grip, and heaved open the hidden cache. All while making sure to maximize his lifting efforts, it's not easy living in a world made for larger folk after all.
Withal steps up beside Benlei, a smug smile pulling at the corner of his mouth, "Let me give you a hand with that Red."
Finally when Withal tries the brick comes loose. Inside is an enormous lead box (enormous is relative). Working together you are able to pry it open. Inside rests three cut gems. Two of the gems are the shape of a prism, and both have a large crack running through them. The first is an orange prism, nearly a foot long. The second, a vibrant purple prism, and the third a tourmaline sphere that is in excellent condition. Besides the gems there is a bed of gold and platinum coins each the size of a dinner plate. It looks to be several hundred gold in coins.
Jacaranda is able to pop the floor board up. It did not take much effort at all. It seems the whole thing is on a spring loaded hinge. Down under the floor, there is a 10 ft drop to the dirt below. Several piles of bones can be seen laying on the dirt floor. Some of the bones look like they belong to birds. Others look like they are from some four legged creature, perhaps a dire rat, or maybe just a mouse. Finally, there are some bones that definitely came from a humanoid, but they are just as small as you. Laying in the bones there is an ornate pole about 20 ft long. There is also a ring. The ring would be too large to wear on your finger.
The spiders are still out of sight up in the fireplace bricks.
Tagatha, after casting detect magic, you can tell there are magic auras everywhere, but the strongest aura is radiating from somewhere in the kitchen. It seems to be moving around in there. It is a strong transmutation aura.
Withal grins as they open the lead box, "Now that's more like it! I think at this point we're entitled to a little something for this mess, wouldn't you all agree?", he pauses, considering the size of the box, "...though we'll likely need to sort out our current predicament before laying claim."
Looking more carefully at the gems, he frowns, "Not sure about these though...this damned box is lead right...", rubbing his hands together, the disciple of Cayden focuses his attention on the gems.