Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Lenglon]

Stall and see if they start handing out anti-drowning gear. I'd like some if I can get it, but its not a make-or-break issue.

[piecewise]

"He might just be exhausted from having the spirit running his body.  He's in there, so lets give him some time."

Examine his body again, but don't do anything.  keep him here for about half a day or so.  If he still isn't awake by then, or his condition changes, start investigating the town to see if anyone knows the guy.. maybe something in his history can provide insight as to what's wrong with him.

(I really hope Saeko didn't break his neck or something..)

Spoiler: Saeko (click to show/hide)

Saeko Hirahara

Japanese girl with a long black braid and a white and red dress with long gloves and stockings.

Invoking Empath

Str  d4
Speed  d8
Endurance  d10
Knowledge  d4
Will  d10+1
Senses  d8

Items:

13 Mana
113 coins (gold)
Backpack
100ft Rope
Waterskin
Compass
Hat
Sun Goggles
Light Armor: The outfit, naturally.

Materials: d12 Ape, d10 Sound.
Location: Crocus
Status: Bandaged burned hands.

The next morning, two things happen. First, the man wakes up. He's still very tired and seems out of it but not injured. He says he has only a vague memory of how he got here, or anything in the past few months. Last thing he clearly remembers is being bitten by a dog in the slums of the capital. After that its all sleepwalking and half memory.

Second, the man from before returns, followed by another man and a young girl. Must be the one he told you about.

"Uh, no. I don't think "I am his" or that he would protect me. I am not a believer or anything, I was just hired to watch over the lady. Unless you give us something to breathe underwater, we will drown. I'm not going to change my religion again just for a single job, you know? This stuff always happens with holy places and I'm quite tired of it. I would like to keep my own beliefs for now. Please."
Request anti-drowning equipment. Anything that helps an atheist like me breathe underwater without divine protection.

Spoiler: Randolf Osborn (click to show/hide)

Name: Randolf Osborn
Appearance: Ugly as hell. Smells like rotten fish. Very brutish.
Magic path: Channeler Ascetic
Mana: 0
Strength: D6
Speed: D6
Endurance: D12
Knowledge: D4
Will: D12
Senses: D4

Ongoing effects:

Inventory:

Sealer Suit D4
White Robes
Shield
Wooden Club D6
Backpack
Lantern
100 feet of rope
29 gold coins
4 silver coins
Doctor's bag

They give you an airbladder but insist that you won't need it.

"Hidden passage. Maybe there's more tablets back there."

When in doubt, hit it with a hammer until it opens. Or at least that's always what uncle always said. Hasn't really been relevant till now, to be honest.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Name: Behiar the Scribe
Appearance: Green coveralls, blond hair in a bun, dark eyes and pale complexion. Adventure often leads to death and glory! Better than sitting around doing nothing, ehe.
Strength: d6
Speed: d6
Endurance: d4
Knowledge: d8
Will: d6
Senses: d6

Ongoing effects: ?

Inventory:
100 Coins
250 GP worth of Gems
Sturdy backpack
Oil lamp
Book & pen
Rock hammer (d6)

You raise the hammer up with a look on your face that can only be described as manic joy and then smash it into the center of the wall. For a half second the wall flashes with a spray of green sparks and the hammer is propelled back hard enough to rip it from your grasp. It flies back and hits the far wall, which responds in a similar way. This happens a half dozen more times in the span of a second or so, the hammer ricocheting terrifyingly around the room like a bullet. Everyone instinctively crouches or throws themselves to the ground and after a few seconds the hammer rebounds into the water and stops.

"Alright." You say, rising slowly to your feet, "Brute force is perhaps not the correct method."

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Of magical artifacts you find a long sword with glowing runes, very generic, A glass slab with a topographical map of the kingdom carved into it, a bottle of glowing blue sea water, complete with fish and plants,  and a glass orb that appears empty but seems to have something barely visible hanging inside it when you hold it to the light just right.

High value you have a sack of jewels, a crystal skull of some sort of big toothed cat, and an ingot of platinum

Exceptional items you've got several good weapons made of some kind of metal you've never seen before. It didn't rust and the blades are still sharp but its also bizarrely light and springy. Hard to say if they'd be good for actual combat use, their spring might make them difficult to wield, but they're very exceptional in their own way.

Anything noteworthy in the pile that didn't fit in the previous three categories?

Either way, start appraising the magical artifacts. Try to figure out what they do and how they work. Also take a look at the weapons. Any reason the Dolmen didn't want to use these, given that they said they have need of metal tools?

Spoiler: Darwin Zeppeli (click to show/hide)

Name: Darwin Zeppeli
Appearance: An old medicine man.

Magic path: alchemist gut-reader
Strength: d4
Speed: d6
Endurance: d6
Knowledge: d10
Will: d8
Senses: d10

Mana: 19
Ongoing effects: None

Magical materials

• Vacuum!
• Reanimate
• Sharpen
• Viscera
• Diamond

Inventory

Weapons

• (dissection knife): d4

Armor

• Medium armor: d6
• Sealer Suit: d4 (vs magic)

Alchemist swag

• Alchemist’s Gear
• small amount of thaum
• 250 gold worth of precious gems

General adventurer crap

• Zomboraptor head
• Lantern
• several hundred feet of rope
• climbing crampons
• a grappling hook
• iron stakes
• net made of rope
• vial with imp fat

Nothing obvious.

I'm gonna hold off on this appraisal action until you tell me what you're willing to do to examine them. This a 10 foot pole deal or what?

The mine office tells you that if you'd like to triple that, you could take out the leader of the bandits who just raided the town.

Tell them that I'll do it, but I'll need their help in draining some bodies of blood beforehand. Dead bandits, civilians, random criminals, I don't care whose. Store the blood in some waterskins.

Then get info on the bandit camp, and if at all safe, set out in its general direction.

Spoiler: Moghorn (click to show/hide)

Name: Moghorn the Journeyman
Appearance: Fiftyish and very weathered. Moghorn spent his youth, adolescense, and adulthood travelling according to the voices in his head and the strange compulsions he felt. Then he stumbled across a magical spirit and gained magical powers.

Wears: travelling robes, longcoat and bandit hat

Magic path: Servant Sculptor
Mana: 5

Strength: d6
Speed: d12
Endurance: d6
Knowledge: d6
Will: d6
Senses: d8

Ongoing effects: Has a spirit in him

Inventory:
Lodestone
111 gold coins
Camping Gear
Five days of supplies
Mundane: Backpack, 100 feet of rope, Lantern
Repeating Rifle + Ammo
Great: Marsh Hog Leather Armour (d6 protection), Marsh Hog Bone crossbow (d6 ranged damage)
Grand: Spirit (Wants stone guide from the towers around Kaolin)

Sculpture needs: You need a mummified heart, serpent's venom, A hollow glass orb, the fresh eyeball of someone with royal blood, and a map showing a place that no longer exists.

Sculpture: Flamethrower Rod

Sculpture: Bloodmagic Gem

Materials: "Grand Lode Stone" or rare earth magnet in our terms
Wax
Copper
Dirt
Fire
Snake
Black Flux
Blood
Lightning
Crystal
Sharp

They're pretty weirded out by that but they give you some water skins and you drain the remaining bandit blood into it. You get three good size sacks worth.

As per info, they know its out there among the lead pillars somewhere, probably dug in somewhere. Might be high up, might be ground level. They don't know much other than the direction the bandits always ride in and where they've found some tracks and remnants of stolen goods.  You head out toward the place on foot, following the bandit's trail. Eventually the trail just seems to stop near the lake of mercury around one of the pillars.  There are a lot of tracks meandering around and some drag marks in the shore of the pool.

Stall and see if they start handing out anti-drowning gear. I'd like some if I can get it, but its not a make-or-break issue.

They give you one as well.

[Leodanny]

ask around to see where fist sized beetles live.

[randomgenericusername]

"...What is this thing even for? How the hell do I use this to breathe underwater? Ah, damn it. I sure hope you're telling the truth or I'm going to haunt you forever as a ghost."
Dive into the water. Pray to all the elder fish gods (except for the lake's elder fish god, don't trust that dude) I know about for protection.

Spoiler: Randolf Osborn (click to show/hide)

Name: Randolf Osborn
Appearance: Ugly as hell. Smells like rotten fish. Very brutish.
Magic path: Channeler Ascetic
Mana: 0
Strength: D6
Speed: D6
Endurance: D12
Knowledge: D4
Will: D12
Senses: D4

Ongoing effects:

Inventory:

Sealer Suit D4
White Robes
Shield
Wooden Club D6
Backpack
Lantern
100 feet of rope
29 gold coins
4 silver coins
Doctor's bag
Air bladder

[Egan_BW]

"No no, don't tell me. We have to solve a fucking puzzle."

Sigh. That's magically shielded or some shit, so there's probably some other way to make it open. Say some obvious passcodes to the hidden door, mess around with the tablets and their alcoves, and generally pretend this is a damn resident evil puzzle or something.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Name: Behiar the Scribe
Appearance: Green coveralls, blond hair in a bun, dark eyes and pale complexion. Adventure often leads to death and glory! Better than sitting around doing nothing, ehe.
Strength: d6
Speed: d6
Endurance: d4
Knowledge: d8
Will: d6
Senses: d6

Ongoing effects: ?

Inventory:
100 Coins
250 GP worth of Gems
Sturdy backpack
Oil lamp
Book & pen
Rock hammer (d6)

[Radio Controlled]

Discord testing:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Mr.Bones -
Hey, you need to tell me HOW you appraise these magic items in Cabal. Like specifically what are you going to do? Pick them up and look them ove?
Radio Controlled -
What, there's no Best Practices and Standard Operating Procedures when dealing with magical claptrap from beyond our ken?
Mr.Bones -
I just gotta know so I can see if you accidently activate anything
Or purposefully do so
either way
Radio Controlled -
Did you check your pm's?
Mr.Bones -
not et
So basically, I just want you to tell me what you do with each object. Like with that glass map, are you just gonna look at it? Are you gonna poke it? Gonna put any mana into it? Just roll a knowledge roll at it?  There's a chance that soemthing migh tbe cursed, but there's also just the chance that you won't be able to figure out how to work something unless you jab it in the right way
Radio Controlled -
Ah, so it IS Hep 2.0 then.
Wanna do some testing in here?
Or should we keep it confined to thread actions?
Mr.Bones -
we can do it here
if you post the results, of cours
Lazy Bones
Radio Controlled - vandaag om 16:18
I've posted all the previous discord stuff, so of course.
Mr.Bones - vandaag om 16:19
Lazy bones was directed at myself
Radio Controlled -
Anyways, first question: ask the Dolmen if they have moved these artifacts in the past.
Did they pick them up and throw them on the pile?
If yes, any weird effects from doing so?
Mr.Bones -
Well, they got here, so of course they moved them.  They tell you that the only weird thing that happened was the one moving the map said he felt "Unmoored" or "Drifty" and that he could sort of see other places
Radio Controlled -
They could have moved them without touching them, which would make sense if touching artifacts tends to get the toucher cursed.
But ok, so that should be fine.
Like maybe with a salamander butterfly net.
Mr.Bones -
Being blind they can't really FIND them without touching them
Radio Controlled -
Fishing, feel whether you catch something by, ya know, feeling the weight in the net.
Then smell it, if not food or metal, to the pile of crap it goes!
Mr.Bones -
Probably have a lot more rocks in that pile if that were the case
(And less dolmen accidently doing testing for you~)
Radio Controlled -
Sweet.
Ok then, poking time.
Do I catch on fire doing the ol' pokey pokey?
Mr.Bones -
Are you going to touch the blade of the sword or just the handle?
Radio Controlled -
Using a poking stick, mind.
Handle, then blade if fine.
Mr.Bones -
You touch everything. Nothing happens except when you touch the blade of the sword. Theres sort of  a weird rainbow haze light that gets released when you poke the blade. The stick appears undamaged though
Radio Controlled -
Cool cool.
Then, try to go for a general knowledge roll for each of the items, to see if I recognize any of them or perhaps parts of them (for example, the runes on the blade). Use stick to gentle nudge the items around if needed.
"You touch everything." I'll assume that includes any Dolmen unfortunate enough to be near :p
Mr.Bones -
Your knowledge is what die?
Radio Controlled -
"Why are you" Shh, magical testing."
d10 baby.
Mr.Bones -
lets see...is our bot here?
!roll d10
nope
Radio Controlled -
Go roll ominously in general.
Don't tell the plebs what for though.
Or break out some of the ol' real dice.
Mr.Bones -
Alright so
Radio Controlled -
Uh oh.
Mr.Bones -
The sword seems to have some kind of elemental enchantment on it. Hard to tell if it needs mana to function or not. Might need to try different materials since it might react differently with different targets.
The map is probably a sojurner's map. Used to be used in the old days for quick travel. Just point where you want to go and load in enough mana and boom, you're there.
Not sure about the other stuff
Radio Controlled -
Aww yeah fast travel.
Describe the other two to the Dolmen and check if they recognize it in any way.
Oh, and ask them why they don't use those weapons made from weird metal, since they have a use for metal items.
Mr.Bones -
You try your best to describe the stuff. Hard to do, since you have to leave out anything thats non-tactile . They don't seem to know what it is, but they're interested in the bottle.  As per why they don't use "Weird metal",  they have a few reasons. First, because it isn't predictable. Second, because many of the things they get are too large for them to use comfortably,  and third, because you can't chip rock or gut fish very well with a broadsword.
Radio Controlled -
Fair enough.
Ok, time to pick them up one by one and try to use my senses to see if I can't figure out more by feeling them.
Don't pour mana into them yet.
d10 senses, by the way.
Mr.Bones -
Glass globe ok with ya?
Radio Controlled -
Sure, might as well start with the self-inflicted pain now.
Mr.Bones -
No luck, lame duck
Radio Controlled -
I think RPbot might be biased against me.
Any negative effects?
Mr.Bones -
nah
Radio Controlled -
Ok then, whew.
sea bottle next?
Mr.Bones -
Sad Trumpet
Radio Controlled -
I'd like to file a complaint against these dice.
I'm fairly sure there's a constitutional amendment somewhere that'll back me up here.
Anyways, sword next, grab by handle.
Mr.Bones -
Tsu seems to think its fine
Radio Controlled -
What, bots sticking up for each other to suppress the little man?
Color me shocked.
I have rights dammit!
Mr.Bones -
You grab the sword by the handle. You lift it up without any problems but feel like it wants to take mana from you. Like there's a slight ethreal suction on your hands. Hard to explain.
Radio Controlled -
I'm not gonna test that with a d4 str, but promising.
Glass map next. Can I tease any more details out of it?
Shit, gotta run, all fast like.
Mr.Bones -
Well, its a map of the kingdom, though it appears to be an old one. There are things depicted here that aren't in existance anymore, or that have changed. Most of these forests are sand now, after all, and the volcano rose around the capital.

Also, check out these wonderful rolls:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Mr.Bones -
!roll d10
RPBotBOT -
@Mr.Bones rolled 2.
Mr.Bones -
!roll d6
RPBotBOT -
@Mr.Bones rolled 2.
Mr.Bones -
!roll d10
RPBotBOT -
@Mr.Bones rolled 2.
Mr.Bones -
!roll d8
RPBotBOT -
@Mr.Bones rolled 1.
Mr.Bones -
!Roll d10
RPBotBOT -
@Mr.Bones rolled 1.
Disciple of Bones -
;choose rocks fall | rocks don't fall
Tsukasa HiiragiBOT -
:speaking_head: I choose: rocks fall
RPBotBOT -
@Mr.Bones rolled 6.
Mr.Bones -
!roll d6
Radio Controlled -
This is ridiculous.
Mr.Bones -
!roll d10
RPBotBOT -
@Mr.Bones rolled 4.
Mr.Bones -
!roll d6
RPBotBOT -
@Mr.Bones rolled 6.
Radio Controlled -
2, 2, 2, 1, 1, rocks, 6.
This bodes ill for the imminent future.
Damn you RPBot, what did I ever do to you?!
Mr.Bones -
!roll d10
RPBotBOT -
@Mr.Bones rolled 3.
Mr.Bones -
!roll d 10
RPBotBOT -
@Mr.Bones specified an invalid dice expression.
Mr.Bones -
!roll d10
RPBotBOT -
@Mr.Bones rolled 9.
Mr.Bones -
!roll d10
RPBotBOT -
@Mr.Bones rolled 3.
Radio Controlled -
Oh for the love of...
Mr.Bones -
!roll d8
RPBotBOT -
@Mr.Bones rolled 4.
Mr.Bones -
;8ball is rpbot biased against Radio?
Tsukasa HiiragiBOT -
:8ball: Don't count on it ^~^
Radio Controlled -
;8ball are you bots all in league with one another?
Tsukasa HiiragiBOT -
:8ball: You may rely on it ^~^
Radio Controlled -
SEE!

[Pancaek]

I'm going to start putting these tablets in the boat. Have one of Dolmen help out, at least by accompanying me on the trip from the room to the boat so nothing bad happens during that time. Take as many tablets as I can safely carry for that trip. If the boat starts getting overloaded, make the trip to shore and leave them with rufus.

questions:
1.By the way, are these words only for me, or could other people use them as well? If they are only for me, is it possible the other tablets contain magic words for other that I just can't see?

2.Is that one word actually "lighting" or was it supposed to be "lightning"?

3.Could you give me a definition of "leather"? Would it allow the manipulation of living things, or only porcessed skin?

4.What is the defination of "weak disease" exactly?

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Name: Écalir Speedwagon
Appearance: barbarian, think Arnie from Conan the Barbarian
Magic path: Hunting flesh-scroll
Mana: 0 (6 to Darwin this turn)
Strength: d10
Speed: d10
Endurance: d8
Knowledge: d4
Will: d6+1
Senses: d6

Ongoing effects:None

Inventory:
Backpack
100 feet of rope
Bandages
Tattoo Kit
Medium armour: d6 (damaged)
Quality weapon (Spear): d8
250g worth of gems
Tattoos:
Arm: "wood"

[Egan_BW]

Okay, no, I have a MUCH better idea~

Alright, so first get to somewhere dry.
Then Behiar is going to take some time draw the following in her book:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Now, this is going to have to charge for about 9 hours, so it might be best to head back to the Dolmen village where Darwin is now.
Focus on the circle and what I want it to do for 5 hours, then rest and focus for another 4 hours. Better to overshoot on time than undershoot.
Once the array seems adequately charged, carry it back to the tablet room and set the book down on one of the tablet alcoves above the water level. Leave my rock hammer on the floor in the room. Then leave the room and "activate" the array from a distance.

If things work how I intend (and this type of magic is actually possible in this universe...) then the magical shield should be removed from the secret door and placed around my hammer, either turning it into a very bouncy hammer or something akin to a kinetic amplifier, hitting things harder than the force you put into the swing thanks to MAGIC.

Assumptions I made creating this plan: WAY TOO MANY

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Name: Behiar the Scribe
Appearance: Green coveralls, blond hair in a bun, dark eyes and pale complexion. Adventure often leads to death and glory! Better than sitting around doing nothing, ehe.
Strength: d6
Speed: d6
Endurance: d4
Knowledge: d10
Will: d6
Senses: d6

Ongoing effects: ?

Inventory:
100 Coins
250 GP worth of Gems
Sturdy backpack
Oil lamp
Book & pen
Rock hammer (d6)

[Devastator]

Brief the spirit guy for a moment about what happened to him, show him the bedpan or the path to the necessities, and ask him to wait around a bit while I attend another patient.  Then greet the newcomers, examine their child, and discuss the procedure.  Charge is the normal 5-10 gold price, payable upon success, along with hugs.  Go down on the price if it looks too high.  After that, conduct the healing, hug the principles, and make sure everyone is happy.

If it works out, thank the guy for coming back, and say that his price is waived, and hope him and his stabbed friend are doing better.  Same with thanking the new customers.  Do tell everyone that I'm likely to leave the town in a few days, as it's time to go to the next town.

After that, debrief the spirit-victim, and find out his name and who he was, as it would be nice for him to have a plan as to what to do next.  I'm willing to take him on to the next town, if he likes, as a guard, but that isn't obligatory.  I'd also like recompse, but I doubt he has anything so far from home.

Spoiler: Saeko (click to show/hide)

Saeko Hirahara

Japanese girl with a long black braid and a white and red dress with long gloves and stockings.

Invoking Empath

Str  d4
Speed  d8
Endurance  d10
Knowledge  d4
Will  d10+1
Senses  d8

Items:

13 Mana
113 coins (gold)
Backpack
100ft Rope
Waterskin
Compass
Hat
Sun Goggles
Light Armor: The outfit, naturally.

Materials: d12 Ape, d10 Sound.
Location: Crocus
Status: Bandaged burned hands.

[NJW2000]

Toss a pebble into the mercury near the tracks. Is it an illusion? If so, asses whether or not anyone behind it might have noticed something.
Are there any disturbances in the quicksilver, such as a powerful magnet or current might cause?

If anything occurs, pour blood onto the gem and aim lightning bolts at a shallow angle into the quicksilver. Or if that's not possible, fire whichever is better of my gun and my crossbow into the water.

Spoiler: Moghorn (click to show/hide)

Name: Moghorn the Journeyman
Appearance: Fiftyish and very weathered. Moghorn spent his youth, adolescense, and adulthood travelling according to the voices in his head and the strange compulsions he felt. Then he stumbled across a magical spirit and gained magical powers.

Wears: travelling robes, longcoat and bandit hat

Magic path: Servant Sculptor
Mana: 5

Strength: d6
Speed: d12
Endurance: d6
Knowledge: d6
Will: d6
Senses: d8

Ongoing effects: Has a spirit in him

Inventory:
Lodestone
111 gold coins
Camping Gear
Five days of supplies
Mundane: Backpack, 100 feet of rope, Lantern
Repeating Rifle + Ammo
Three good size sacks worth bandit blood
Great: Marsh Hog Leather Armour (d6 protection), Marsh Hog Bone crossbow (d6 ranged damage)
Grand: Spirit (Wants stone guide from the towers around Kaolin)

Sculpture needs: You need a mummified heart, serpent's venom, A hollow glass orb, the fresh eyeball of someone with royal blood, and a map showing a place that no longer exists.

Sculpture: Flamethrower Rod

Sculpture: Bloodmagic Gem

Materials: "Grand Lode Stone" or rare earth magnet in our terms
Wax
Copper
Dirt
Fire
Snake
Black Flux
Blood
Lightning
Crystal
Sharp

[Radio Controlled]

More testing!

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Mr.Bones - Today at 17:18
So where were we? You were holding the sword I believe
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:18
Pretty sure you were just about to tell me what the ocean bottle is and how to use it.
Yes, totally.
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:19
It says here in my notes that there are many places you can put that bottle~
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:19
But yes, sword.
I know that a) it seems to have a mana sucking effect when holding the handle.
and b) gave a rainbow effect when hitting it with a stick.
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:21
yes
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:22
If I try to carefully tap it against some rock to test the effect, does that require a str roll, or can we assume Darwin's arms aren't a complete basket case?
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:22
Roll for basket weaving~
Nah you can do that
you're more...awkward and clumsy than  paraplegic
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:23
I maintain my position that Chalice would be improved vastly by introducing a ventriloquism stat.
So yeah, do that. Tap it against some rock, but for now try to resist any mana sucking.
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:25
You tap it against the rock and feel a stronger suction, but not one that you can't resist.  There's another sort rainbow hazy glow as it hits but nothing else outside the ordinary
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:25
What's the effect on the rock of the rainbow sparkle sword?
Does it taste the rainbow?
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:26
nada.
blade tinks on it, nothing happens
that rainbow is basically like...
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:26
Did it conjure skittles.
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:27
have you ever seen the momentary rainbow you get when the mist from a water sprinkler hits the light just right? Like that. Insubstantial and fleating
fleeting?
Bleating
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:27
fleecing.
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:27
Fencing
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:27
Now do the same thing, but try hitting some other materials from the crap pile (but not, y'know, stuff we might wanna use).
Same effect I assume?
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:28
yessum
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:29
Now try hitting that rock again (it knows what it did) but allow a little bit of mana to be used.
Let the sword suckle from that sweet mana teat.
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:29
1 mana good?
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:29
Sure.
Not gonna bother with half a mana.
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:29
Alright, keep track of that for me.
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:30
Yessir.
18 mana left.
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:31
When you hit the rock you put a bit of mana into the sword.  The runes glow bright yellow and lightning races down the blade  and into the stone. The strike fills the room with a boom of thunder and the rock is half melted and half shattered when you finally blink the vision back into your flash-blinded eyes.
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:32
For 1 mana.
Wowzers.
And here Pan laughed at me when I said we should use his new rubber word to insulate us from electrical shenanigans.
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:32
Name change to Tesla in 3...2...
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:33
Buff Tesla.
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:33
Nerf Edison
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:33
So basically Volgin.
We MGS3 now.
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:33
Quick, eat a snake
or climb a ladder
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:34
SNAAAKE EATEEEER  (trumpets)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aHQnDTd1y4
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:35
I GIVE MY LIFE, NOT FOR HONOR, BUT FOR LOOT!
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:36
We are easily entertained.
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:36
Better than the opposite honestly
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:36
Of course.
Ahem, anyways, if I put the sword down, is there still a rainbow effect when the blade touches the ground?
Without me touching it.
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:37
yes
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:37
If not, it's gonna be a technicolor wonderland when swimming back.
Should get a crystal scabbard for that thing.
Go inspect the weird metal weapons. Can I figure out what they're made of?
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:40
They're made of weird metal. You've never seen its like before
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:40
You described it as 'springy' before, right?
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:40
yes
imagine the bendy, springiness of a fencer's blade, but its a full broadsword or a knife
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:41
A surprisingly funny image.
Wobble wobble broadsword.
Do I have my alchemist stuff with me right now?
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:43
You left that behind, remember?
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:43
Yeah, but at the boat, or with Rufus?
Ah, but maybe I don't need my tools to determine if the metal is good source of mana?
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:44
At the boat
And you can make a good guess with a good roll
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:45
Ah, so all I have to do is trust a bot not to fuck me over.
Got such a great track record with that and all.
Well, roll away Mr. Bones.
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:46
Tantalizingly close
but no phallic object
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:46
Darn.
Does it seem like these weapons would be especially useful/deadly in the hands of someone who is used to their springyness, or is it more of a liability?
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:48
You assume they have to have some sort of  usefulness...unless their current state was unintended?
You've never seen magic weapons rust
maybe this is the equivalent?
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:50
Hmm. How many of these puppies are there, and what kind of weapons do we have?
Gonna investigate the two unknown items after this (against my better judgement).
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:04
There are a bout half a dozen, mostly knives and swords with a single warpick and halberd
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:07
Ah, not too bad then.
Might be able to sell it to a collector if nothing else.
Let's start with ocean bottle.
It scares me less than the other one.
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:08
What ya wanna do with it?
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:09
Let me reread the exact description again.
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:10
"a bottle of glowing blue sea water, complete with fish and plants,"
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:10
"a bottle of glowing blue sea water, complete with fish and plants"
Fuck.
Ok then Mr. Ninjabones, how big a bottle are we talking here?
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:12
It one of those globe type flasks , about as big as both of your fists held together
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:13
What kind of fish and plants are in there?
Do they look like mini versions of other fish?
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:15
Seaweed, a layer of sand and stones at the bottom, lots of little fish of varying kinds. You don't...really recognize any of them but you're not an expert on fish. Although, the longer you look at it, the more you notice something odd: The fish you see aren't constant. They swim to the edge of the glass and...seem to swim through it. Its as though the bottle is a little window into a section of sea, with fish swimming past
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:16
Heh.
Does moving the bottle around change the 'view' so to speak?
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:16
Nope
In fact, even turning and shaking it doesn't seem to
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:17
Does shaking it lightly affect anything inside? Like sand that gets moved or something?
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:18
Nope
and the sand is always on the "Bottom" ie facing towards gravity
even when you turn the bottle upsidedown, the image just seems to rotate around  inside
Its almost like you're just holding the bottle in front of a scene, rotating the bottle while the scene remains unchanged. But that scene is 3d and trapped in the bottle
a very odd thing indeed
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:21
Indeed. This bottle, does it have a cap that can be opened?
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:21
It has a cork
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:22
Carefully loosen the cork bit by bit. Stop if something strange starts to happen.
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:22
Looks like this
https://europeanmarket.us/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/EMHU0002-Hungarian-glass-sphere-vase2.jpg
more or less
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:23
I see.
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:23
You loosen the cork a bit and water starts to spritz through the gaps, as though under pressure within. You have to struggle a bit to keep the cork from shooting off,  like with a bottle of champagne
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:24
Figured.
Glad I didn't just pop that sucker off whole.
Is the water that came out salty or sweet?
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:24
Don't drop the flask~ Also, salty. Sea water
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:25
Welp, instead of that [REDACTED] plan I guess we can just drown the world now.
Or use it as a water cannon and go harass some football fans.
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:26
okie dokie
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:27
Less useful, but still funny.
Wanna do the glass orb now?
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:28
sure sure
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:28
" and a glass orb that appears empty but seems to have something barely visible hanging inside it when you hold it to the light just right."
Could you describe the barely visible thing in any way?
Is it like a hair, or more like a shimmer or something?
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:31
It takes a lot of rotating and squinting but you think...the thing is in the shape of a lotus blossom
its quite hard to really see it, like a piece of glass in clear water; only the very slight differences in light refraction along the edges are visible
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:33
If I use the sword to make some rainbow light next to it, does that reveal anything more?
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:34
Do you want to let the orb touch the blade or just set the blade near it?
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:34
near it
Let's not start combining unknown artifacts of terrible power just yet.
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:37
The light from the blade acts oddly with the orb.  It moves VERY slowly through it, at twisting right angles. Looks like tiny prismatic worms burrowing through. When the hit the edge of the lotus, they flash out of existance. This at least outlines the lotus a bit more defintely so that you can tell that  really is the shape.
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:38
Also, what made Darwin think this is magical in nature before the last test?
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:39
Tingles when he touches it
Not the same suctiony tingle as the sword
more like...constant low level static shocks
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:41
But it also feels like it would respond to mana?
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:41
You're not sure
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:44
What is the current light source in the room?
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:45
Your lantern
and some ambient light from the glowing pools
but mostly your lantern
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:47
And if I hold my lantern just above the orb, does the shadow of the orb indicate the light that moves through it all gets sucked up?
Or does it perhaps cast a lotus outline shadow on the ground?
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:49
The light of your lantern seems to pass through the orb like any glass object, slightly warped but nothing major. The shadow of the lotus can be seen only as soft shadowy edges
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:53
Hmm. Eh, let's try it. Ask the Dolmen to take the other artifacts and valuables away from the pile for now, so they won't get damaged in the following tests.
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:53
The dolmen follow your request after a bit of convincing
leaves you with an open stone floor about 15 feet across
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:54
Stick my dick in it  No wait, I'm still not Maurice.
Very carefully let some mana in, slowly and in small amounts.
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:57
1 mana then. You push mana into the orb and it takes it, though not greedily like the sword. The mana  manifests as neon blue-purple stream of individual motes that fall in towards the lotus. They touch the lotus and then...begin moving around like bits of dust in a sunbeam; constantly in motion but not escaping the lotus
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:57
17 left.
SO do the motes just keep swirling around?
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:58
Yeo
yep**
they don't go away
though their light is reduced somewhat in the lotus
dimmer, but not dimming
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:58
Redo the rainbow test.
What happens when light touches a mote?
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:01
" It moves VERY slowly through it, at twisting right angles. Looks like tiny prismatic worms burrowing through. When the hit the edge of the lotus, they flash out of existance."
They never make it to the motes
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:02
Ah, misread something in the last test there, sorry.
Seems like it'll need more mana before it will reveal its mysteries and/or explode.
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:05
You get the feeling (thanks to a good knowledge roll) that while this thing might hold mana, it has some other function. The mana is just a side effect or semi-connected
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:05
Hmm.
Did that knowledge roll reveal anything about what input might be required if not mana?
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:10
Something magical
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:11
A mother's love?
The miracle of life?
Maybe thaum, hmm.
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:12
I guess stick your dick in it might not be a bad idea~
part of the miracle of life at least
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:13
Puke up some thaum (1 mana worth) and see if the orb reacts to it.(edited)
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:14
It seems to rip the mana from it, leaving the thaulm as nothign but gray sludge. The motes are drawn to the center, as before, and join the others
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:14
Ooh.
(I'll note down -1 mana on the sheet)
Try to cast a very, very simple spell to a position somewhere behind the orb, so that the 'magic' passes through/near the orb.
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:17
What kind of spell?
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:19
Something simple, but that will let me check if the spell worked. such as...
Question, what roll would sharpening a small rock a little bit be? End?
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:20
Lemme double check. This magic system gets used so rarely~
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:20
I wonder why that'd be.
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:21
yeah end
what your end?
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:22
d6.
Could think of something else that uses another roll I suppose.
OR you're too fast on the draw, so nevermind.
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:22
It succeeded so its no big deal
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:23
A draw is a success? Huh.
But ok, sweet.
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:23
I usually err on the side of the player if its player vs world
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:23
But what if it's a player vs The World?
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:24
In that case ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA WRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:24
"You thought it was a cabal turn, but it was I, DIO!"
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:25
so, you are "firing" through the orb, but is the orb touch ing the rock that is being sharpened?
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:25
I'd like to hold the orb in my hand and 'fire' the spell through that hand (if that's how casting works, I dunno) with the rock behind the orb.
Just checking if the orb can suck up the magic like it did with the thaum really.
If spells flow from the sternum instead, hold the orb in the appropriate position.
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:28
Well you can see the spell pass through, like a gray white shooting star, but it doesn't get caught up in the orb
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:29
Hmm, might be also it can just suck up magic from objects but not spells, but would need a disposable magic item to test that on I suppose.
So the rock is now a little sharper, yes?
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:30
indeed, it is a little sharper. But I should tell you that the rock is not magical any more than a rock struck by a hammer is a hammer. It has been affected by magic but is not magic itself
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:30
Yeah, figured.
Oh, and how much mana did that spell cost me? So I can note it down and all.
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:30
-3
unfortunately the challenge die rolled high
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:31
Ouch.
But, we can always make more, luckily.
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:31
mhm
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:33
If I reanimated some simple creature, and assuming the spell worked, would that creature count as magical?
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:33
yes
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:34
In that case, are there any simple creatures around? Things that should be simple to revive. Maybe a bug or small fish?
Or would imp fat count as magical?
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:37
There would be fish around. Dolmen eat them. Imp fat...it might work? Hard to tell.  its properties seem magical
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:37
Well, take a little imp fat and let the orb touch it then.
(also, for that previous thaum test, I just remembered I still had a small amount of thaum in my inventory from converting the thaumic junk. Ok for you if we say I used that for the test, so I can get rid of it from my inventory?)
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:52
(sure)
The imp fat test goes similar to the thaulm test, however instead of a mote of blue-purple it is instead a tiny flame, like a candle flame disconnected from the candle
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:53
How does the imp fat look now?
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:53
waxy, gray
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:54
No longers burns forever, I assume?
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:54
yup
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:54
Cool cool.
How does the tiny flame interact with the motes?
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:57
It drifts about and occasionally bumps into one, but they rebound and continue on their way
hmm, well it makes sense, you can't put mana into the imp fat to make it burn more
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:59
Could I try to 'suck up' the mana back out of the orb when holding it in my hand?
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:59
Hold that thought
Cancer fighting time again
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:59
Don the cape.
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:59
See you in...4-5 hours, if you're stilla round
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:59
Light the signal.
It's cancer busting time.
Radio Controlled - Today at 20:00
See ya.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Radio Controlled - Today at 15:42
"Could I try to 'suck up' the mana back out of the orb when holding it in my hand?"
Mr.Bones - Today at 15:43
You could try. Do you want to?
Radio Controlled - Today at 15:44
Hmm. Maybe we should do the necromancy test first.
Mr.Bones - Today at 15:45
Ok
Radio Controlled - Today at 15:45
Small fish, resurrect, touch it with orb.
Will is d8.
Mr.Bones - Today at 15:47
You get a fresh, not messed up fish and using 2 mana return it to life.
You then touch it to the orb and it immediately dies as a small black mote is sucked into the ball
Radio Controlled - Today at 15:48
That makes sense. Any interaction between the blue motes, lil' flames and black mote?
Mr.Bones - Today at 15:49
nope
Radio Controlled - Today at 15:49
I think I'm gonna hold of on trying to absorb the essence of fire and necromancy into myself without more info for now.
Mr.Bones - Today at 15:49
ok
Radio Controlled - Today at 15:50
He said, sighing longingly
"Next time, for sure I'll get him next time."
Mr.Bones - Today at 15:50
shrug I am a patient skeleton
Radio Controlled - Today at 15:50
Heat death can't come soon enough.
Mr.Bones - Today at 15:51
Then I can be a cold skeleton!
Radio Controlled - Today at 15:51
Anyways, let's look at that glass map now?
All natural chilled calcium.
Mr.Bones - Today at 15:51
Alright, what about the map?
Radio Controlled - Today at 15:51
So, it depicts an old map of this land, correct?
Mr.Bones - Today at 15:52
yessum
Radio Controlled - Today at 15:53
Does Darwin have a copy of the game world map, or at least a decent idea of how it looks?
Mr.Bones - Today at 15:55
He has a decent idea of the world map; this one clearly is related but has some big differences
no volcano, tons of forests, no massive ash path from the war
clearly an older rendition of the world
Radio Controlled - Today at 15:56
From before it all went tits up.
Hmm, I have the map with me here. Where exactly is that 'ash path' you mentioned?
Mr.Bones - Today at 15:58
Lower, center. Gray stuff
Radio Controlled - Today at 15:59
Artifacter grave?
Mr.Bones - Today at 15:59
yes
Radio Controlled - Today at 15:59
Huh, thought that grey stuff were mountains for some reason.
Does that also mean the volcano is surrounded by the ash?
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:00
the reason is because piecewise is not an artist~
yess indeed
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:01
Well, ash near a volcano.
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:01
shocking
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:01
Amazing.
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:01
NANI!?
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:02
"You are already subducted."
Can I try to compare the mental map of the region to the glass map to try and orient it?
So I can, eg think of a town on the current map and point to where it would be (generally) on the glass map.
d10 knowledge, if it's relevant.
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:03
Well, assuming you didn't go too far, you should still be near those towns in the upper right of the map
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:05
Sure, but I mean, orient the glass map compared to the current map.
If I have a number of points I am sure are identical between the two, I can try to locate stuff on the glass map that isn't there yet (eg a city not on the glass map).
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:06
You can guess roughly where you are on the glass map compared to the current one
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:06
Also for estimating distances and such, not sure how large the glass map is.
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:07
Its about 1x1 foot
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:07
(My day in scouting taught me that "hey I sorta recognize parts of this map and guess roughly where we are" is far removed from "I can navigate on this.")(edited)
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:08
absurdly detailed though
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:08
The distance between the two is just about enough to get lost in, in fact.
Wait, wait, 1x1 foot?
That might be a problem.
Since it indicates the Old World still used Imperial.
Maybe it dying in fire and pain was for the best, all things considered.
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:11
I say 1 foot but really, its about the length of your forearm
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:12
About how thick is it?
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:12
So you can hold it with one edge against your chest, two edges against your forearms, and the far corners against your hands.
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:12
Then fumble and break the thing, presumably.
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:13
The thickness varies, because its topographical. At the highest point, maybe about 3 cm
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:14
Does it feel very brittle or fragile?
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:15
Hard to say.  But the aburdly tiny and complex carvings of trees and such haven't broken despite being thrown down into the river, bouncing around down there, being rescued and put in a pile, etc
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:16
Ah, should be ok then.
So, you mentioned this is a 'sojourner's map' and that you pump mana into it to get whisked away, correct?
At least, that's what Darwin thinks it is.
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:16
yes
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:17
Does the old shaman fart happen to know specifics about the teleportation, such as whether it can take multiple people, if it can take items, and how much miles it gets to the gallon of mana?
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:19
you do not
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:19
Dammit Darwin.
Instead of eating every living thing you encounter you should pay attention in Magical Artifact class.
That's like a quarter of the final grade.
Welp, that one's gonna be trial by teleport fire for later then.
(though taking all the treasure and zipping away cackling maniacally does sound funny, but let's leave the trolling of teammates to my other wizard)
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:23
greed into telefrag
classic manuever
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:23
Could you at least say what roll it would be?
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:24
No roll
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:24
...just oblivion.
Ok then, I think we've exhausted most obvious avenues for testing given the circumstances.
Wanna go over to the haggling?
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:25
sure
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:26
But first: assuming we had to footslog it out of this damp hell back the way we came, could we take all of this loot without getting over-encumbered?
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:27
If you spread it out among everyone, I think so
You'd just have to make sure you document who has what. So if someone gets sucked down or falls into a pit we know what goes with them
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:28
Easy solution: TPK.
No bookkeeping!
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:29
don't tempt me
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:29
But yes, I'll make sure we do our Space Cave Accounting.(edited)
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:30
innerspace
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:30
So, to summarize what we're bargaining for:
We ask: sack of jewels, platinum ingot and crystal skull, springy weapons, 4 artifacts.
Also, paying them for the help and guidance they've given.
We offer: viscera made with magic.
Now, I dunno how much guts we can get per mana, or how much they want, buuut making more mana isn't very difficult given the jade laying around.
Oh, and I guess that information I'm asking in my current turn, but I don't know if they need payment for that.
We can also offer wood, in case they can use that.
But I'm guessing they'll appreciate food more.
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:35
Hmm well they say they would like the equivalent of "Four of the Big one"
I think they're talking about pancake
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:36
Sure. About how much mana would that be?
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:36
Well the challege for doing it all at once would be a d10
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:37
Nah, I'll be doing it in bits and pieces.
We'll be waiting for Behiar's little ritual to complete, so there's time.
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:38
Smallest is a d4, 6 times
more expensive as a whole
maybe a d6, 3 times
or d8 twice
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:39
That's ok, do it in small pieces.
I'd rather it not backfire due to crit failure, thank you very much.
"You summon up your own organs. These are now no longer inside yourself."
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:40
"Dang it, I liked that spleen
Well, make it an action in the thread I suppose
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:40
There goes the ol' kidn- dead
Yeah, I'll edit my current action.

Ask the Dolmen to begin transporting the loot to the boat. Start summoning up their payment, doing it the slow way (6 times d4).

If I run out of mana before completing the payment, explain that I can make them more but that I'll need to refill my reserves a bit. Then go convert some jade while waiting for Behiar's thing to complete. Convert either some jade tablets that Pan brings in (NOT the ones with magic words on them, but useless ones) or pieces of bridge (work together with Rufus for this).

Spoiler: Darwin Zeppeli (click to show/hide)

Name: Darwin Zeppeli
Appearance: An old medicine man.

Magic path: alchemist gut-reader
Strength: d4
Speed: d6
Endurance: d6
Knowledge: d10
Will: d8
Senses: d10

Mana: 12
Ongoing effects: None

Magical materials

• Vacuum!
• Reanimate
• Sharpen
• Viscera
• Diamond

Inventory

Weapons

• (dissection knife): d4

Armor

• Medium armor: d6
• Sealer Suit: d4 (vs magic)

Alchemist swag

• Alchemist’s Gear
• 250 gold worth of precious gems

General adventurer crap

• Zomboraptor head
• Lantern
• several hundred feet of rope
• climbing crampons
• a grappling hook
• iron stakes
• net made of rope
• vial with imp fat

[piecewise]

Part 1. I went over the maximum character length

ask around to see where fist sized beetles live.

I'm gonna need to know where in the world you are first. There's a map in the OP so just choose a location from there. However, I will say that just about everywhere would have beetles that big, if you look for them.

"...What is this thing even for? How the hell do I use this to breathe underwater? Ah, damn it. I sure hope you're telling the truth or I'm going to haunt you forever as a ghost."
Dive into the water. Pray to all the elder fish gods (except for the lake's elder fish god, don't trust that dude) I know about for protection.

Spoiler: Randolf Osborn (click to show/hide)

Name: Randolf Osborn
Appearance: Ugly as hell. Smells like rotten fish. Very brutish.
Magic path: Channeler Ascetic
Mana: 0
Strength: D6
Speed: D6
Endurance: D12
Knowledge: D4
Will: D12
Senses: D4

Ongoing effects:

Inventory:

Sealer Suit D4
White Robes
Shield
Wooden Club D6
Backpack
Lantern
100 feet of rope
29 gold coins
4 silver coins
Doctor's bag
Air bladder

You shrug and leap straight into the water without any further hesitation.  The first few seconds are a shock to the system; blind, cold, disoriented in the water. You're not sure you should be opening your eyes in swamp water, but you do so. The water beneath the surface is cloudy and full of silt but you can clearly see some sort of lanterns hanging in the water. Or...not hanging, but secured in place by chains leading down into the depths. Each lantern is an iron and glass orb with a bright, if somewhat obscured, glow. You wonder, considering their construction and the iron chains, whats making them float. There are others in the water here, not even treading, just sort of hovering in place. To your surprise you're doing the same; not swimming or wading or struggling against rising up or sinking down, just floating, stationary.  And while you're holding your breath still, you don't feel the familiar burn or the desire to take another breath.

The lanterns spiral downwards, their curving arc starting as a huge circle under most of the town and slowly tightening as it descends.  There's no vegetation here, or fish beyond some tiny things. The only thing here are the floats for the city, secured under the wooden platforms. That, and expectant church members, staring at you.

I'm going to start putting these tablets in the boat. Have one of Dolmen help out, at least by accompanying me on the trip from the room to the boat so nothing bad happens during that time. Take as many tablets as I can safely carry for that trip. If the boat starts getting overloaded, make the trip to shore and leave them with rufus.

questions:
1.By the way, are these words only for me, or could other people use them as well? If they are only for me, is it possible the other tablets contain magic words for other that I just can't see?

2.Is that one word actually "lighting" or was it supposed to be "lightning"?

3.Could you give me a definition of "leather"? Would it allow the manipulation of living things, or only porcessed skin?

4.What is the defination of "weak disease" exactly?

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Name: Écalir Speedwagon
Appearance: barbarian, think Arnie from Conan the Barbarian
Magic path: Hunting flesh-scroll
Mana: 0 (6 to Darwin this turn)
Strength: d10
Speed: d10
Endurance: d8
Knowledge: d4
Will: d6+1
Senses: d6

Ongoing effects:None

Inventory:
Backpack
100 feet of rope
Bandages
Tattoo Kit
Medium armour: d6 (damaged)
Quality weapon (Spear): d8
250g worth of gems
Tattoos:
Arm: "wood"

I assume you're only taking the tablets that have magical words, right?

1. The ones you see are the ones you can use. Other people might see nothing, or different ones.

2.Yes.

3. Only processed things. Leather is leather, not skin.

4. Its an illness that is not usually fatal. Mumps or Measles but not Plague.

Okay, no, I have a MUCH better idea~

Alright, so first get to somewhere dry.
Then Behiar is going to take some time draw the following in her book:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Now, this is going to have to charge for about 9 hours, so it might be best to head back to the Dolmen village where Darwin is now.
Focus on the circle and what I want it to do for 5 hours, then rest and focus for another 4 hours. Better to overshoot on time than undershoot.
Once the array seems adequately charged, carry it back to the tablet room and set the book down on one of the tablet alcoves above the water level. Leave my rock hammer on the floor in the room. Then leave the room and "activate" the array from a distance.

If things work how I intend (and this type of magic is actually possible in this universe...) then the magical shield should be removed from the secret door and placed around my hammer, either turning it into a very bouncy hammer or something akin to a kinetic amplifier, hitting things harder than the force you put into the swing thanks to MAGIC.

Assumptions I made creating this plan: WAY TOO MANY

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Name: Behiar the Scribe
Appearance: Green coveralls, blond hair in a bun, dark eyes and pale complexion. Adventure often leads to death and glory! Better than sitting around doing nothing, ehe.
Strength: d6
Speed: d6
Endurance: d4
Knowledge: d10
Will: d6
Senses: d6

Ongoing effects: ?

Inventory:
100 Coins
250 GP worth of Gems
Sturdy backpack
Oil lamp
Book & pen
Rock hammer (d6)

9 hours is a long time to wait compared to the actions of the others here. So I'm going to give them a chance to scoot away from you and use up those 9 hours before I process your turn.

More testing!

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Mr.Bones - Today at 17:18
So where were we? You were holding the sword I believe
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:18
Pretty sure you were just about to tell me what the ocean bottle is and how to use it.
Yes, totally.
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:19
It says here in my notes that there are many places you can put that bottle~
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:19
But yes, sword.
I know that a) it seems to have a mana sucking effect when holding the handle.
and b) gave a rainbow effect when hitting it with a stick.
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:21
yes
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:22
If I try to carefully tap it against some rock to test the effect, does that require a str roll, or can we assume Darwin's arms aren't a complete basket case?
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:22
Roll for basket weaving~
Nah you can do that
you're more...awkward and clumsy than  paraplegic
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:23
I maintain my position that Chalice would be improved vastly by introducing a ventriloquism stat.
So yeah, do that. Tap it against some rock, but for now try to resist any mana sucking.
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:25
You tap it against the rock and feel a stronger suction, but not one that you can't resist.  There's another sort rainbow hazy glow as it hits but nothing else outside the ordinary
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:25
What's the effect on the rock of the rainbow sparkle sword?
Does it taste the rainbow?
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:26
nada.
blade tinks on it, nothing happens
that rainbow is basically like...
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:26
Did it conjure skittles.
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:27
have you ever seen the momentary rainbow you get when the mist from a water sprinkler hits the light just right? Like that. Insubstantial and fleating
fleeting?
Bleating
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:27
fleecing.
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:27
Fencing
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:27
Now do the same thing, but try hitting some other materials from the crap pile (but not, y'know, stuff we might wanna use).
Same effect I assume?
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:28
yessum
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:29
Now try hitting that rock again (it knows what it did) but allow a little bit of mana to be used.
Let the sword suckle from that sweet mana teat.
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:29
1 mana good?
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:29
Sure.
Not gonna bother with half a mana.
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:29
Alright, keep track of that for me.
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:30
Yessir.
18 mana left.
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:31
When you hit the rock you put a bit of mana into the sword.  The runes glow bright yellow and lightning races down the blade  and into the stone. The strike fills the room with a boom of thunder and the rock is half melted and half shattered when you finally blink the vision back into your flash-blinded eyes.
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:32
For 1 mana.
Wowzers.
And here Pan laughed at me when I said we should use his new rubber word to insulate us from electrical shenanigans.
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:32
Name change to Tesla in 3...2...
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:33
Buff Tesla.
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:33
Nerf Edison
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:33
So basically Volgin.
We MGS3 now.
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:33
Quick, eat a snake
or climb a ladder
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:34
SNAAAKE EATEEEER  (trumpets)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aHQnDTd1y4
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:35
I GIVE MY LIFE, NOT FOR HONOR, BUT FOR LOOT!
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:36
We are easily entertained.
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:36
Better than the opposite honestly
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:36
Of course.
Ahem, anyways, if I put the sword down, is there still a rainbow effect when the blade touches the ground?
Without me touching it.
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:37
yes
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:37
If not, it's gonna be a technicolor wonderland when swimming back.
Should get a crystal scabbard for that thing.
Go inspect the weird metal weapons. Can I figure out what they're made of?
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:40
They're made of weird metal. You've never seen its like before
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:40
You described it as 'springy' before, right?
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:40
yes
imagine the bendy, springiness of a fencer's blade, but its a full broadsword or a knife
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:41
A surprisingly funny image.
Wobble wobble broadsword.
Do I have my alchemist stuff with me right now?
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:43
You left that behind, remember?
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:43
Yeah, but at the boat, or with Rufus?
Ah, but maybe I don't need my tools to determine if the metal is good source of mana?
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:44
At the boat
And you can make a good guess with a good roll
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:45
Ah, so all I have to do is trust a bot not to fuck me over.
Got such a great track record with that and all.
Well, roll away Mr. Bones.
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:46
Tantalizingly close
but no phallic object
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:46
Darn.
Does it seem like these weapons would be especially useful/deadly in the hands of someone who is used to their springyness, or is it more of a liability?
Mr.Bones - Today at 17:48
You assume they have to have some sort of  usefulness...unless their current state was unintended?
You've never seen magic weapons rust
maybe this is the equivalent?
Radio Controlled - Today at 17:50
Hmm. How many of these puppies are there, and what kind of weapons do we have?
Gonna investigate the two unknown items after this (against my better judgement).
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:04
There are a bout half a dozen, mostly knives and swords with a single warpick and halberd
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:07
Ah, not too bad then.
Might be able to sell it to a collector if nothing else.
Let's start with ocean bottle.
It scares me less than the other one.
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:08
What ya wanna do with it?
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:09
Let me reread the exact description again.
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:10
"a bottle of glowing blue sea water, complete with fish and plants,"
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:10
"a bottle of glowing blue sea water, complete with fish and plants"
Fuck.
Ok then Mr. Ninjabones, how big a bottle are we talking here?
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:12
It one of those globe type flasks , about as big as both of your fists held together
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:13
What kind of fish and plants are in there?
Do they look like mini versions of other fish?
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:15
Seaweed, a layer of sand and stones at the bottom, lots of little fish of varying kinds. You don't...really recognize any of them but you're not an expert on fish. Although, the longer you look at it, the more you notice something odd: The fish you see aren't constant. They swim to the edge of the glass and...seem to swim through it. Its as though the bottle is a little window into a section of sea, with fish swimming past
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:16
Heh.
Does moving the bottle around change the 'view' so to speak?
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:16
Nope
In fact, even turning and shaking it doesn't seem to
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:17
Does shaking it lightly affect anything inside? Like sand that gets moved or something?
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:18
Nope
and the sand is always on the "Bottom" ie facing towards gravity
even when you turn the bottle upsidedown, the image just seems to rotate around  inside
Its almost like you're just holding the bottle in front of a scene, rotating the bottle while the scene remains unchanged. But that scene is 3d and trapped in the bottle
a very odd thing indeed
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:21
Indeed. This bottle, does it have a cap that can be opened?
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:21
It has a cork
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:22
Carefully loosen the cork bit by bit. Stop if something strange starts to happen.
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:22
Looks like this
https://europeanmarket.us/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/EMHU0002-Hungarian-glass-sphere-vase2.jpg
more or less
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:23
I see.
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:23
You loosen the cork a bit and water starts to spritz through the gaps, as though under pressure within. You have to struggle a bit to keep the cork from shooting off,  like with a bottle of champagne
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:24
Figured.
Glad I didn't just pop that sucker off whole.
Is the water that came out salty or sweet?
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:24
Don't drop the flask~ Also, salty. Sea water
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:25
Welp, instead of that [REDACTED] plan I guess we can just drown the world now.
Or use it as a water cannon and go harass some football fans.
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:26
okie dokie
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:27
Less useful, but still funny.
Wanna do the glass orb now?
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:28
sure sure
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:28
" and a glass orb that appears empty but seems to have something barely visible hanging inside it when you hold it to the light just right."
Could you describe the barely visible thing in any way?
Is it like a hair, or more like a shimmer or something?
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:31
It takes a lot of rotating and squinting but you think...the thing is in the shape of a lotus blossom
its quite hard to really see it, like a piece of glass in clear water; only the very slight differences in light refraction along the edges are visible
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:33
If I use the sword to make some rainbow light next to it, does that reveal anything more?
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:34
Do you want to let the orb touch the blade or just set the blade near it?
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:34
near it
Let's not start combining unknown artifacts of terrible power just yet.
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:37
The light from the blade acts oddly with the orb.  It moves VERY slowly through it, at twisting right angles. Looks like tiny prismatic worms burrowing through. When the hit the edge of the lotus, they flash out of existance. This at least outlines the lotus a bit more defintely so that you can tell that  really is the shape.
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:38
Also, what made Darwin think this is magical in nature before the last test?
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:39
Tingles when he touches it
Not the same suctiony tingle as the sword
more like...constant low level static shocks
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:41
But it also feels like it would respond to mana?
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:41
You're not sure
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:44
What is the current light source in the room?
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:45
Your lantern
and some ambient light from the glowing pools
but mostly your lantern
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:47
And if I hold my lantern just above the orb, does the shadow of the orb indicate the light that moves through it all gets sucked up?
Or does it perhaps cast a lotus outline shadow on the ground?
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:49
The light of your lantern seems to pass through the orb like any glass object, slightly warped but nothing major. The shadow of the lotus can be seen only as soft shadowy edges
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:53
Hmm. Eh, let's try it. Ask the Dolmen to take the other artifacts and valuables away from the pile for now, so they won't get damaged in the following tests.
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:53
The dolmen follow your request after a bit of convincing
leaves you with an open stone floor about 15 feet across
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:54
Stick my dick in it  No wait, I'm still not Maurice.
Very carefully let some mana in, slowly and in small amounts.
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:57
1 mana then. You push mana into the orb and it takes it, though not greedily like the sword. The mana  manifests as neon blue-purple stream of individual motes that fall in towards the lotus. They touch the lotus and then...begin moving around like bits of dust in a sunbeam; constantly in motion but not escaping the lotus
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:57
17 left.
SO do the motes just keep swirling around?
Mr.Bones - Today at 18:58
Yeo
yep**
they don't go away
though their light is reduced somewhat in the lotus
dimmer, but not dimming
Radio Controlled - Today at 18:58
Redo the rainbow test.
What happens when light touches a mote?
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:01
" It moves VERY slowly through it, at twisting right angles. Looks like tiny prismatic worms burrowing through. When the hit the edge of the lotus, they flash out of existance."
They never make it to the motes
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:02
Ah, misread something in the last test there, sorry.
Seems like it'll need more mana before it will reveal its mysteries and/or explode.
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:05
You get the feeling (thanks to a good knowledge roll) that while this thing might hold mana, it has some other function. The mana is just a side effect or semi-connected
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:05
Hmm.
Did that knowledge roll reveal anything about what input might be required if not mana?
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:10
Something magical
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:11
A mother's love?
The miracle of life?
Maybe thaum, hmm.
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:12
I guess stick your dick in it might not be a bad idea~
part of the miracle of life at least
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:13
Puke up some thaum (1 mana worth) and see if the orb reacts to it.(edited)
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:14
It seems to rip the mana from it, leaving the thaulm as nothign but gray sludge. The motes are drawn to the center, as before, and join the others
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:14
Ooh.
(I'll note down -1 mana on the sheet)
Try to cast a very, very simple spell to a position somewhere behind the orb, so that the 'magic' passes through/near the orb.
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:17
What kind of spell?
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:19
Something simple, but that will let me check if the spell worked. such as...
Question, what roll would sharpening a small rock a little bit be? End?
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:20
Lemme double check. This magic system gets used so rarely~
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:20
I wonder why that'd be.
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:21
yeah end
what your end?
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:22
d6.
Could think of something else that uses another roll I suppose.
OR you're too fast on the draw, so nevermind.
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:22
It succeeded so its no big deal
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:23
A draw is a success? Huh.
But ok, sweet.
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:23
I usually err on the side of the player if its player vs world
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:23
But what if it's a player vs The World?
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:24
In that case ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA WRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:24
"You thought it was a cabal turn, but it was I, DIO!"
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:25
so, you are "firing" through the orb, but is the orb touch ing the rock that is being sharpened?
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:25
I'd like to hold the orb in my hand and 'fire' the spell through that hand (if that's how casting works, I dunno) with the rock behind the orb.
Just checking if the orb can suck up the magic like it did with the thaum really.
If spells flow from the sternum instead, hold the orb in the appropriate position.
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:28
Well you can see the spell pass through, like a gray white shooting star, but it doesn't get caught up in the orb
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:29
Hmm, might be also it can just suck up magic from objects but not spells, but would need a disposable magic item to test that on I suppose.
So the rock is now a little sharper, yes?
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:30
indeed, it is a little sharper. But I should tell you that the rock is not magical any more than a rock struck by a hammer is a hammer. It has been affected by magic but is not magic itself
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:30
Yeah, figured.
Oh, and how much mana did that spell cost me? So I can note it down and all.
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:30
-3
unfortunately the challenge die rolled high
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:31
Ouch.
But, we can always make more, luckily.
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:31
mhm
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:33
If I reanimated some simple creature, and assuming the spell worked, would that creature count as magical?
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:33
yes
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:34
In that case, are there any simple creatures around? Things that should be simple to revive. Maybe a bug or small fish?
Or would imp fat count as magical?
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:37
There would be fish around. Dolmen eat them. Imp fat...it might work? Hard to tell.  its properties seem magical
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:37
Well, take a little imp fat and let the orb touch it then.
(also, for that previous thaum test, I just remembered I still had a small amount of thaum in my inventory from converting the thaumic junk. Ok for you if we say I used that for the test, so I can get rid of it from my inventory?)
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:52
(sure)
The imp fat test goes similar to the thaulm test, however instead of a mote of blue-purple it is instead a tiny flame, like a candle flame disconnected from the candle
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:53
How does the imp fat look now?
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:53
waxy, gray
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:54
No longers burns forever, I assume?
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:54
yup
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:54
Cool cool.
How does the tiny flame interact with the motes?
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:57
It drifts about and occasionally bumps into one, but they rebound and continue on their way
hmm, well it makes sense, you can't put mana into the imp fat to make it burn more
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:59
Could I try to 'suck up' the mana back out of the orb when holding it in my hand?
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:59
Hold that thought
Cancer fighting time again
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:59
Don the cape.
Mr.Bones - Today at 19:59
See you in...4-5 hours, if you're stilla round
Radio Controlled - Today at 19:59
Light the signal.
It's cancer busting time.
Radio Controlled - Today at 20:00
See ya.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Radio Controlled - Today at 15:42
"Could I try to 'suck up' the mana back out of the orb when holding it in my hand?"
Mr.Bones - Today at 15:43
You could try. Do you want to?
Radio Controlled - Today at 15:44
Hmm. Maybe we should do the necromancy test first.
Mr.Bones - Today at 15:45
Ok
Radio Controlled - Today at 15:45
Small fish, resurrect, touch it with orb.
Will is d8.
Mr.Bones - Today at 15:47
You get a fresh, not messed up fish and using 2 mana return it to life.
You then touch it to the orb and it immediately dies as a small black mote is sucked into the ball
Radio Controlled - Today at 15:48
That makes sense. Any interaction between the blue motes, lil' flames and black mote?
Mr.Bones - Today at 15:49
nope
Radio Controlled - Today at 15:49
I think I'm gonna hold of on trying to absorb the essence of fire and necromancy into myself without more info for now.
Mr.Bones - Today at 15:49
ok
Radio Controlled - Today at 15:50
He said, sighing longingly
"Next time, for sure I'll get him next time."
Mr.Bones - Today at 15:50
shrug I am a patient skeleton
Radio Controlled - Today at 15:50
Heat death can't come soon enough.
Mr.Bones - Today at 15:51
Then I can be a cold skeleton!
Radio Controlled - Today at 15:51
Anyways, let's look at that glass map now?
All natural chilled calcium.
Mr.Bones - Today at 15:51
Alright, what about the map?
Radio Controlled - Today at 15:51
So, it depicts an old map of this land, correct?
Mr.Bones - Today at 15:52
yessum
Radio Controlled - Today at 15:53
Does Darwin have a copy of the game world map, or at least a decent idea of how it looks?
Mr.Bones - Today at 15:55
He has a decent idea of the world map; this one clearly is related but has some big differences
no volcano, tons of forests, no massive ash path from the war
clearly an older rendition of the world
Radio Controlled - Today at 15:56
From before it all went tits up.
Hmm, I have the map with me here. Where exactly is that 'ash path' you mentioned?
Mr.Bones - Today at 15:58
Lower, center. Gray stuff
Radio Controlled - Today at 15:59
Artifacter grave?
Mr.Bones - Today at 15:59
yes
Radio Controlled - Today at 15:59
Huh, thought that grey stuff were mountains for some reason.
Does that also mean the volcano is surrounded by the ash?
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:00
the reason is because piecewise is not an artist~
yess indeed
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:01
Well, ash near a volcano.
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:01
shocking
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:01
Amazing.
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:01
NANI!?
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:02
"You are already subducted."
Can I try to compare the mental map of the region to the glass map to try and orient it?
So I can, eg think of a town on the current map and point to where it would be (generally) on the glass map.
d10 knowledge, if it's relevant.
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:03
Well, assuming you didn't go too far, you should still be near those towns in the upper right of the map
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:05
Sure, but I mean, orient the glass map compared to the current map.
If I have a number of points I am sure are identical between the two, I can try to locate stuff on the glass map that isn't there yet (eg a city not on the glass map).
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:06
You can guess roughly where you are on the glass map compared to the current one
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:06
Also for estimating distances and such, not sure how large the glass map is.
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:07
Its about 1x1 foot
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:07
(My day in scouting taught me that "hey I sorta recognize parts of this map and guess roughly where we are" is far removed from "I can navigate on this.")(edited)
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:08
absurdly detailed though
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:08
The distance between the two is just about enough to get lost in, in fact.
Wait, wait, 1x1 foot?
That might be a problem.
Since it indicates the Old World still used Imperial.
Maybe it dying in fire and pain was for the best, all things considered.
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:11
I say 1 foot but really, its about the length of your forearm
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:12
About how thick is it?
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:12
So you can hold it with one edge against your chest, two edges against your forearms, and the far corners against your hands.
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:12
Then fumble and break the thing, presumably.
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:13
The thickness varies, because its topographical. At the highest point, maybe about 3 cm
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:14
Does it feel very brittle or fragile?
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:15
Hard to say.  But the aburdly tiny and complex carvings of trees and such haven't broken despite being thrown down into the river, bouncing around down there, being rescued and put in a pile, etc
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:16
Ah, should be ok then.
So, you mentioned this is a 'sojourner's map' and that you pump mana into it to get whisked away, correct?
At least, that's what Darwin thinks it is.
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:16
yes
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:17
Does the old shaman fart happen to know specifics about the teleportation, such as whether it can take multiple people, if it can take items, and how much miles it gets to the gallon of mana?
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:19
you do not
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:19
Dammit Darwin.
Instead of eating every living thing you encounter you should pay attention in Magical Artifact class.
That's like a quarter of the final grade.
Welp, that one's gonna be trial by teleport fire for later then.
(though taking all the treasure and zipping away cackling maniacally does sound funny, but let's leave the trolling of teammates to my other wizard)
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:23
greed into telefrag
classic manuever
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:23
Could you at least say what roll it would be?
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:24
No roll
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:24
...just oblivion.
Ok then, I think we've exhausted most obvious avenues for testing given the circumstances.
Wanna go over to the haggling?
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:25
sure
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:26
But first: assuming we had to footslog it out of this damp hell back the way we came, could we take all of this loot without getting over-encumbered?
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:27
If you spread it out among everyone, I think so
You'd just have to make sure you document who has what. So if someone gets sucked down or falls into a pit we know what goes with them
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:28
Easy solution: TPK.
No bookkeeping!
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:29
don't tempt me
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:29
But yes, I'll make sure we do our Space Cave Accounting.(edited)
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:30
innerspace
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:30
So, to summarize what we're bargaining for:
We ask: sack of jewels, platinum ingot and crystal skull, springy weapons, 4 artifacts.
Also, paying them for the help and guidance they've given.
We offer: viscera made with magic.
Now, I dunno how much guts we can get per mana, or how much they want, buuut making more mana isn't very difficult given the jade laying around.
Oh, and I guess that information I'm asking in my current turn, but I don't know if they need payment for that.
We can also offer wood, in case they can use that.
But I'm guessing they'll appreciate food more.
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:35
Hmm well they say they would like the equivalent of "Four of the Big one"
I think they're talking about pancake
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:36
Sure. About how much mana would that be?
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:36
Well the challege for doing it all at once would be a d10
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:37
Nah, I'll be doing it in bits and pieces.
We'll be waiting for Behiar's little ritual to complete, so there's time.
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:38
Smallest is a d4, 6 times
more expensive as a whole
maybe a d6, 3 times
or d8 twice
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:39
That's ok, do it in small pieces.
I'd rather it not backfire due to crit failure, thank you very much.
"You summon up your own organs. These are now no longer inside yourself."
Mr.Bones - Today at 16:40
"Dang it, I liked that spleen
Well, make it an action in the thread I suppose
Radio Controlled - Today at 16:40
There goes the ol' kidn- dead
Yeah, I'll edit my current action.

Ask the Dolmen to begin transporting the loot to the boat. Start summoning up their payment, doing it the slow way (6 times d4).

If I run out of mana before completing the payment, explain that I can make them more but that I'll need to refill my reserves a bit. Then go convert some jade while waiting for Behiar's thing to complete. Convert either some jade tablets that Pan brings in (NOT the ones with magic words on them, but useless ones) or pieces of bridge (work together with Rufus for this).

Spoiler: Darwin Zeppeli (click to show/hide)

Name: Darwin Zeppeli
Appearance: An old medicine man.

Magic path: alchemist gut-reader
Strength: d4
Speed: d6
Endurance: d6
Knowledge: d10
Will: d8
Senses: d10

Mana: 12
Ongoing effects: None

Magical materials

• Vacuum!
• Reanimate
• Sharpen
• Viscera
• Diamond

Inventory

Weapons

• (dissection knife): d4

Armor

• Medium armor: d6
• Sealer Suit: d4 (vs magic)

Alchemist swag

• Alchemist’s Gear
• 250 gold worth of precious gems

General adventurer crap

• Zomboraptor head
• Lantern
• several hundred feet of rope
• climbing crampons
• a grappling hook
• iron stakes
• net made of rope
• vial with imp fat

[1,8,8,8,2,6 v 4,2,3,3,3,3]

You manage to summon up piles of meat 3 times before your mana runs out. I'll make the assumption that Eclair brings you some jade to convert, as well as your stuff to do the conversion. It takes up 3 jade tablets but you manage to finish the process.  The Dolmen don't even wait for the first pile of meat to land before they start carting it away, somewhere in their in the winding tunnels of their nest. They seem satisfied with your trade.

[piecewise]

Brief the spirit guy for a moment about what happened to him, show him the bedpan or the path to the necessities, and ask him to wait around a bit while I attend another patient.  Then greet the newcomers, examine their child, and discuss the procedure.  Charge is the normal 5-10 gold price, payable upon success, along with hugs.  Go down on the price if it looks too high.  After that, conduct the healing, hug the principles, and make sure everyone is happy.

If it works out, thank the guy for coming back, and say that his price is waived, and hope him and his stabbed friend are doing better.  Same with thanking the new customers.  Do tell everyone that I'm likely to leave the town in a few days, as it's time to go to the next town.

After that, debrief the spirit-victim, and find out his name and who he was, as it would be nice for him to have a plan as to what to do next.  I'm willing to take him on to the next town, if he likes, as a guard, but that isn't obligatory.  I'd also like recompse, but I doubt he has anything so far from home.

Spoiler: Saeko (click to show/hide)

Saeko Hirahara

Japanese girl with a long black braid and a white and red dress with long gloves and stockings.

Invoking Empath

Str  d4
Speed  d8
Endurance  d10
Knowledge  d4
Will  d10+1
Senses  d8

Items:

13 Mana
113 coins (gold)
Backpack
100ft Rope
Waterskin
Compass
Hat
Sun Goggles
Light Armor: The outfit, naturally.

Materials: d12 Ape, d10 Sound.
Location: Crocus
Status: Bandaged burned hands.

You tell the man what happened, although even then your assumptions are just your best guess. He sits and listens impassively, eyes staring at something a million miles away. You get him set up in the bed before heading out to deal with the new patients.

The man, the girl's father, is older than you expected. He's a broad man, with a white beard that covers almost his entire face in a starburst of frizzy, half curly hair. His eyebrows and heavy brow shadow his eyes to the point of being nothing but dark pits behind a bulbous nose. He has a huge belly but his arms are as big as your waist and ripple like steel bands under suntanned, hairy skin. The girl next to him is the exact opposite; she's actually taller than him but waif thin with close cut, neatly trimmed hair and a pair of huge auburn eyes. She has a look about her that is impossible to pin down; Sad? Bored? Confident? She holds her arms behind her and looks down at you with a sort of bemusement at your elaborate dress compared to her dark blue gray, very simple, attire.

"So," you say after a moment, "What seems to be the problem?"

The Girl doesn't say anything or even open her mouth to start, instead her father immediately interjects.

"My girl here has always been sick" He says, voice booming but friendly, "Ever since she was a wee one. Pale, frail, easy to tire out and quick to sicken. Never puts on a pound. The other doctors she's seen think she has a wasting sickness, but she's never got worse or better. Always just been the same."

The girl nods, as if to confirm the report, but still says nothing. Her eyes are focused on you only dully, like she was drunk or very tired, half comprehending. 

You explain your price, both money and otherwise. The man hears the extra condition and smiles a bit.

"One of them are ya?" He says, knowingly, "Living off kindness is a rarity; most prefer more direct routes."

His daughter looks from him to you, eyes alert for the first time, trying to understand whats going on. You're about to respond when he raises his hand to stop you.

"No need. If you can help my girl, I don't care who ya are or what. Do ya think you can do it?"

You're not entirely sure you can. You don't even know what the problem is, to be honest; this isn't like the other ones where you can just patch a bleeding hole with monkey flesh. This is...something deeper. Something much more subtle.

Toss a pebble into the mercury near the tracks. Is it an illusion? If so, asses whether or not anyone behind it might have noticed something.
Are there any disturbances in the quicksilver, such as a powerful magnet or current might cause?

If anything occurs, pour blood onto the gem and aim lightning bolts at a shallow angle into the quicksilver. Or if that's not possible, fire whichever is better of my gun and my crossbow into the water.

Spoiler: Moghorn (click to show/hide)

Name: Moghorn the Journeyman
Appearance: Fiftyish and very weathered. Moghorn spent his youth, adolescense, and adulthood travelling according to the voices in his head and the strange compulsions he felt. Then he stumbled across a magical spirit and gained magical powers.

Wears: travelling robes, longcoat and bandit hat

Magic path: Servant Sculptor
Mana: 5

Strength: d6
Speed: d12
Endurance: d6
Knowledge: d6
Will: d6
Senses: d8

Ongoing effects: Has a spirit in him

Inventory:
Lodestone
111 gold coins
Camping Gear
Five days of supplies
Mundane: Backpack, 100 feet of rope, Lantern
Repeating Rifle + Ammo
Three good size sacks worth bandit blood
Great: Marsh Hog Leather Armour (d6 protection), Marsh Hog Bone crossbow (d6 ranged damage)
Grand: Spirit (Wants stone guide from the towers around Kaolin)

Sculpture needs: You need a mummified heart, serpent's venom, A hollow glass orb, the fresh eyeball of someone with royal blood, and a map showing a place that no longer exists.

Sculpture: Flamethrower Rod

Sculpture: Bloodmagic Gem

Materials: "Grand Lode Stone" or rare earth magnet in our terms
Wax
Copper
Dirt
Fire
Snake
Black Flux
Blood
Lightning
Crystal
Sharp

You pick up a pebble and toss it onto the mercury. It hits the mercury and...floats. It goes skimming off across the pond in an odd way. Things that float in water don't really have the mass to keep moving much against its resistance but the stone glides across the pond like it was on ice. It seems real enough. The flow and movement of the mercury seems uninhibited and natural, as far as you can tell. You haven't really...observed lakes of mercury before. There's no current, as far as you can tell, and the wind doesn't do much to create waves in the dense fluid; though it does push the stone you threw out there around, as well as push dust that dirt that has collected on the pool either towards the pillar or towards the shores.

You notice that there's what might be a larger smear of dirt across the surface near the scuff marks. Hard to tell, its dispersed enough that it might be your imagination.

[Radio Controlled]

Radio Controlled - Today at 20:37
2.Is that one word actually "lighting" or was it supposed to be "lightning"?
2.Yes.
Mr.Bones - Today at 20:38
Lightning
Radio Controlled - Today at 20:38
Will you ever pass up an opportunity to pull that one :p
Mr.Bones - Today at 20:39
probably not, even if I want to

((So yeah Pancaek, the word is of the electrifying variety, not the illuminating one.))

Oh, and also:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Radio Controlled - Today at 20:46
How much, if any, mana do I have left after last turn?
For bookkeeping porpoises.
Mr.Bones - Today at 20:47
2
had a bit left after the last tablet and meat summoning

((Egan, can I assume Behiar informed us of her plans and how long they'd take before starting on her magic?))

Action for the 9 hour timeskip: With the help of Rufus (and Ecalir if he wants to), start hauling all of our loot back up the ravine where Rufus is. Then spend the remaining time converting jade into thaum.

Give the rune sword and springy metal weapons to Ecalir for now.

Spoiler: Darwin Zeppeli (click to show/hide)

Name: Darwin Zeppeli
Appearance: An old medicine man.

Magic path: alchemist gut-reader
Strength: d4
Speed: d6
Endurance: d6
Knowledge: d10
Will: d8
Senses: d10

Mana: 2
Ongoing effects: None

Magical materials

• Vacuum!
• Reanimate
• Sharpen
• Viscera
• Diamond

Inventory

Weapons

• dissection knife: d4
• long sword with glowing runes
• 6 weapons (2 knives, 2 swords, 1 warpick, 1 halberd)

Armor

• Medium armor: d6
• Sealer Suit: d4 (vs magic)

Alchemist swag

• Alchemist’s Gear
• 250 gold worth of precious gems
• sack of jewels worth 750 gold
• a crystal skull of some sort of big toothed cat
• an ingot of platinum

Artifacts

• A glass slab with a topographical map of the kingdom carved into it
• a bottle of glowing blue sea water
• a glass orb with a barely visible lotus inside of it

General adventurer crap

• Zomboraptor head
• Lantern
• several hundred feet of rope
• climbing crampons
• a grappling hook
• iron stakes
• net made of rope
• vial with imp fat

[Lenglon]

Down I go I suppose.