[ We find Our Heroes in the tree-house of the well-tanned elf, Nym. They still need to ask about their upcoming adversary, so that they can prepare to do badness unto it. ] [ Nym is still seated with them in the large circle of seats that occupies a corner of his home, ready to answer any questions they ask that are 1) within his ability to answer and 2) not of a personal and/or intimate nature. ] [ Session Start! ] * Max pushes his glasses up his nose, thinking. "Okay. How big is this 'linnorm', and how roomy its lair? And, um, where does it keep its undead minions?" * Max wiggles his finger at his Book, calling it over to him and opening it in his lap, so he can take notes. [ Nym looks thoughtful. "Perhaps one hundered and fifty feet from head to tail, the lair is large enough for it to keep most of it's undead in, as well as for it to keep well off the ground in a fight. If you're attacking, you can expect most of the undead to greet you." ] Flyer... that could be a problem. Undead ain't such a problem, though. * Max grins wickedly. "How agile is it in flight?" Roughly as maneuverable as you, Max. [ Nym nods. ] * Max blinks. "It flies magically? Wow!" That does pose a problem. So that won't work... hm... I would have guessed a winged flier, but if it's magical flight, perhaps it can be dispelled somehow... If it can't, I ain't gonna be of much use. You can kill the undead! Well, stop them. No. No, no, see, you can fly, too, Istvan. I'll make sure you grow wings. Will and myself will take care of the undead. * Patrick nods. We need to take care of the dragon. Nym, just to be clear, it does -not- need wings to fly? Or is it just that agile despite needing wings? [ "A few important things to note about the monster are that it casts spells like an evil cleric of considerable power, is itself highly resistant to magic, drains life with it's claws, and can breath clouds of paralyzing gas." ] No wings. Eeeeep... Okay. I can fly, so can Seylin, Tia, and Max. Which means Alcinoe and Istvan need help getting into the air. * Max scribbles a bit in his Book. * Istvan eyes Max. "Will the magic give me any idea of how to fight using wings?" * WillS nods. Uh... I dont' know? Maybe I should just cast Fly on you, instead; that'd prolly be easier and work better. *pushes glasses up his nose* I'm going to make you into a Storm Giant. ^_^ * Alcinoe frowns and nods. So, um, Fly for Alcinoe and Istvan. Noted. *nods* Alcinoe? You're going to fight the linnorm? Maybe I should make you a Storm Giant, too... I was thinking of making Specs a Gold Wyrm, but if I can keep him out of combat, so much the better. ... woah. Wait. Make me a Storm Giant? * Max is chattering a mile a minute, pen flying as he doodles things and then crosses them out. Yeah! *pushes glasses up his nose* It's really neat! I wonder... dya think the linnorm'll be very resistant to magic? I might make it a halfling. ^^ Don't try it. Really. Just... don't. It is extremely resistant to spells. ... okay. Storm Giant. Next question: If this thing can cast like a powerful cleric, won't it be able to dispell the transformation spells? And, more importantly, the flight spells? Nah. If it tries spellcasting, I'll counter it. Then you guys just beat it up. ^_^ * Patrick nods. Spells are spells, whether cast by clerics or wizards. Heck, cleric spells are a bit easier to counter, since often the caster doesn't know what they're doing so well. But a bit harder, 'cause I don't know what they're doing, either. So it washes out to about even in the end. Or something. I never actually managed to solve that equation. Further, even if the beast does successfully dispel Max's spells, that's time it spends not attacking. * Max nodnods. Reducing your opponent's advantage is rarely as good as attacking. This is a fact. * Patrick nods. Exactly. True. And in a pinch, Alci and I could probably use our boots to keep from going splat. Which is why I'd love to get something through on it... if I could improve my calculating time by just a bit more... Hey, Nym? Do you have any sort of arcane equipment left in this city? Labs and materials and stuff? [ Nym shrugs. "I am a wizard myself, so I have a few things you might find useful." ] Excellent. I, um, will pay you back for anything I use up. If I've got a day to prepare... once is all it'll take. Uh, um. What kinds of energies does this thing like and dislike? Fire hurt it? As long as you do not intend to use necromancy against it, it matters not. [ "It is not especially susceptible to anything, but it has no unusual resistances to energy, either." ] Ugh, why would I do that? But it's like a dragon, right? Dragons usually are resistant to fire or acid or something. Just don't want to go in there, fling a fire spell, and make it -- oh, good! ^_^ ... 'nother question. When I grow, does my weapon grow with me? * Max blinks. "Um, is it magic?" Yup. Then um... oh, wait, weapon. No, not unless designed to. Hrm. How to fix that... * Max starts scribbling again. s'kinda important. If I'm the size of a storm giant, and my weapon is the proportional size of a toothpick... Yeah, I know. Hrm. Gotta be a way around this; there always is. * Istvan looks over at Will and Alci. "Can you two do anything about the life draining thing? Had that done to me a coupla times, and it's been a coupla times too many." * WillS thinks a bit before nodding. "I believe there is a protection spell I can cast to prevent life drains." Make it bigger... make it bigger... Polymorphing it's not an option; it's overkill. Gotta be a way, though... *muttered* I can do some protection spells and enhancements, too. Appreciate it. Prolly gonna need it for all of us who're gonna be in melee with the dragon or the undead horde. Nym? Have you ever dealt with weapons needing to grow or shrink with their wielders? [ Nym shakes his head. "No, I haven't. It's an interesting problem, however." ] Changing Istvan into a giant is probably not practical, Max. * Tia suddenly looks up from chasing her tail. "Huh? Who's changing Isty into a giant?" * Max sighs. "Nor Alcinoe. And their weapons are a significant portion of their power, therefore making them something with claws would not help. Specs, buddy, looks like you get to be a gold dragon after all." The owl hoots sleepilly. I was going to, Tia, but he can't use his weapon if I do. Not until I solve this little problem. Ooh! Can I be a giant? Can I be a giant right now? * Tia bounces excitedly. [ Nym looks worried. ] But you're already pretty tall, Tia. There's not room in here for that, Tia. ^_^ Maybe later, when we get home and there's pleanty of room. * Tia nods. "Oh, okay. Promise?" Sure. Just remind me; I can be forgetful. Okay? * Tia nods emphatically. "Okay!" You've been studying monsters, right, Tia? You want to help me think of things that might be better than a gold dragon to turn Specs into? ...and I need to figure out what else I'm going to do. I think I can make it vulnerable to magic. At least for one spell. Um...How about an owlbear? Owlbears are cute. I wanted one for a pet, but Papa said they weren't very nice animals... Hm. Gold dragons are stronger, I think. I'm looking for the biggest, most powerful thing we can think of. So the linnorm gets hurt really really bad. The...what? * Tia blinks a few times. Big bad necromancer dragon. The monster we're gonna fight. We're fighting a big bad necromancer dragon? * Tia suddenly looks very attentive. * Alcinoe nods. [ "More or less," says Nym. ] Yep. ^_^ So we've gotta be prepared. Wow! When?! * Patrick hmms. Uh... two days from now? That sounds like fun! That okay? * WillS nods. "Yup. Plus lots of undeads too." Two days? That's a long time... I kinda need a day for my preparations. ^^; Oh, okay. Can I be a giant while we wait? Um, there's not room here, remember? ^^; * Tia hops up and down on all four paws. Oh...right. * Max is shaken! @_@ * Tia sighs. But, um, you could be a pixie! I could? Or something else that'll fit in here. ^_^ What about an owlbear? Uh... Kenji? Nym? Someone? Is that one okay? THough you couldn't talk, then, and we need to plan, right? * Max scribbles some more, thinking. We could change you into a Tia. But I'm already a Tia! That's no fun. Twice the Tia is far too much. Ooh! Could I be two Tias, Max? Could you make me two Tias? Uh... nope, sorry, that won't work. No, Tia. Just... no. Aw... * Tia sits down heavily and sighs. [ Nym frowns. ] You could be a human... or an elf... or a beholder--no, you couldn't fly and would fall down go boom, bad idea-- hm... And um, can anyone think of something that's small enough to use Istvan and Alcinoe's weapons that would be useful, or should I turn some coins into big things, instead? If there is a way, it would be best to make our own entrance into its lair. A troll, Max. Troll! Of course! I wonder if the regeneration is natural enough to be transferred... no matter, we shall see! Thanks, Kenji! Istvan? You okay with being a troll? Ooh! I want to be a troll too! * Istvan blinks. "A troll? ... well, the healing would be nice. And the strength. Could be worse." * Tia jumps to her paws again and wags her tail. Max? Can you make us an entrance into the dragon's lair? * Istvan grins at Tia. "You're already stronger than a troll. Plus, trolls are ugly and smelly." Depends how thick the wall is. *pushes glasses up his nose* Although... if my theorem is correct and the spell works right, I could shatter a huge hole in it.... * Tia grins widely. "It might be fun to be ugly and smelly...right?" Actually... I think trolls are close enough to humans that it's a permanent effect, until dispelled. I could turn people into them right now, if you guys want. Then turn more when we go in. No. * Tia glances at Kenji. "No?" Not unless you can definitely get us in through a means other than the dragon's own entrance. Kenji's talking to Max, Tia. And if you really want, Max can probably turn you into a troll later, if he's not busy. Oh, okay! I want to be a giant later, though! Can I be a giant troll? Maybe the next time the bards play a prank on us. Have you any idea how deep underground the linnorm's lair is? How thick the walls are? Ooh! Ooh! Or maybe a giant, snuggly, soft owlbear! Nym? [ "Yes?" ] Have you any idea how deep underground the linnorm's lair is? How thick the walls are? Disintegrate might work, but I'd rather try to find the weak point in an outer wall and make a nice, gaping hole. * Tia takes a sheet of paper and crayons out of her bag and begins doodling. [ "It is roughly one thousand feet below the frozen surface. It's lair is seperated from the exterior by about twenty feet of rock." ] ...wow. If I can melt the ice, then getting through the stone is a trivial feat. Maybe if I take a look at the ice, there's a way to get it to fracture and slide off in a sheet...no, too thick. * Max blinks, pushes his Book off into the air, and rolls backwards, lauging and kicking his feet into the air. * Tia jumps up and presents her doodle. "Look Mr. Elf! I drew a picture of you!" The childish scribble actually bears minimal resemblance to Nym, though the large and lumpy figure drawn next to him is definitely a giant owlbear. * HKenji blinks. ...and he calls -me- mad. Hey! *through giggles* Anyone want to be a fire elemental? * Tia raises her hand eagerly. "Me!" [ "...that's very nice, Tia. And not in my house, Max." ] No, no! Not in the house. That's how we get through the ice! * Tia beams. "Thanks, Mr. Elf!" * Tia hugs Nym. What would it feel like, aside from being very hot? And how long would it last? * Max hops off the couch and starts pacing. "A fire elemental could melt the ice. And it should last about 20 minutes. Maybe a bit longer or shorter; I've not seen studies on that particular transformation. But it's HOT. Ice should just vaporize. ...actually, I should do it to myself. So I can be right at the rock and break through." * Tia raises her hand again. "I'll do it!" Max? We don't need to melt the ice. [ "Max," says Nym, "it is one thousand feet of rock, not ice." ] * Max pauses. "...we don't?" I'll do it anyway! * Tia grins. ...but you said the rock was only 20 feet thick. [ "On the sides. Not the cieling." ] Can I do it? Pleeeeeeease? The cave is a thousand feet down from the top of the canyon, where the ice is. Oh! There's exterior sides that are accessible? Excellent! Then it's a trivial matter to penetrate the rock. Simply turn it to mud. *snaps his fingers* * Tia blinks. "Huh? Turn what to mud?" The walls! So they're not there anymore, and we just waltz in. ^_^ Or fly, as the case may be. Excellent. * Tia blinks. "Where are we going, again?" And that's a much weaker spell, too. We're going to fight a dragon in its lair, Tia. * Tia nods vaguely. "The big bad one, right?" A big bad one. There are multiple big bad dragons. So, yes, I can turn one person into a troll right now, if they want to get used to it. That'll leave me with more of the spell to spare when we actually go fight, too. * Tia scratches her head. "So what does that have to do with trolls and owlbears and mud?" I want to be a troll! * Tia jumps up and waves her hands. No, no, Tia, you need to be Tia. Tias are scarier to big bad necromancer dragons than trolls, believe me. I'm scary? * Tia looks puzzled. I promise, when we get home, I'll make you into anything you want, okay? * Tia grins immediately. "Okay!" To evil bad things that are crazy, you're very scary, Tia. ^_^ * Tia grins toothily and wags her tail. So, um, Alcinoe? Istvan? One of you want to try out your trollish side? Ah have a trollish side now? * Max cracks his knuckles, grinning as evilly as a halfling with glasses half the size of his face can. "You will when I'm done. If you want, that is." * Tia looks at Alci from both sides. "Is it the left or the right? Or the back?" She scratches her head. * Alcinoe shakes her head. "Ah'd rather not." Pause. "Thanks anyway." Okay. *shrug* Istvan? * Patrick snerks. * Tia turns to wait for Istvan's response. I'd suggest you, Patrick, but I don't think you'd really benefit. Alcinoe and Istvan are the only two front-lining against the monster. * Patrick eyes Max. "You've got to be kidingme. Trolls are way too clumsy." Exactly. * Tia glances at her greataxe. "Would you want to be a troll, Mr. Axe?" ... sure, why not. No? Why not? Okay! *pulls a couple things out of his belt pouch* I think being a troll might be fun! * Seylin looks a bit confused. Mr. Axe was a dwarf once, Tia. Dwarves and trolls don't like each other. Oh, they don't? Is it because trolls smell? Okay, hold still... No, because trolls are always trying to kill dwarves. *nods at Max* * Max begins chanting, lighting a small, fragrent twig on fire and twining the smoke around the other two objects in his hand. The smoke twists and twirls over and twines 'round Istvan. As Max declares, "[Polymorph Any Object]!", Istvan suddenly grows and morphs into a big, green troll! Oh. Sorry, Mr. Axe. I didn't know. * Istvan is now known as Istroll * Max takes a moment to catch his breath. "Woo! How do you feel, Istvan?" ^_^ * Tia looks at Istvan and blinks a couple more times. "Wow, Isty. You look different." She sniffs him tentatively. ... taller, mostly. ...wow, Istvan. * WillS blinks at the troll that appeared in Istvan's place. "Wow." [ Istvan smells bad, now. ] And, um, if my calculations are correct, that should last until dispelled. *pushes his glasses up his nose* ...you might want to step outside, Istvan. And smelly too. Whooo! * Alcinoe wrinkles her nose. You were right, Isty. Trolls smell funny. Tia, why don't you take that wonderful little decanter of yours and clean him off? * Tia nods gleefully. "Sure!" * Seylin giggles. * Istroll grins, and stands right next to Kenji. "What was that Kenji? Couldn't hear you." * Tia carefully takes out her treasured decanter and polishes it carefully with the corner of her cloak before uncorking it and aiming it at Isty. "Ready, Isty?" * HKenji looks up mildly at Istvan. "I said that you were smelly, ignorant, and not deaf." I was obviously wrong on the last count. [ "Please," says Nym, "Not inside my house." ] Outside, Tia! Oh, right, Mr. Elf. * Tia grins sheepishly and steps outside. * Istroll breathes in Kenji's face, gives him the thumbs up, and heads outside after Tia. * Max edges away from the Kenji/Istvan conflict. * Tia douses Istvan with water outside the house. So, um... hm. I only had one of those today, but I think I can get three of them for the day of the fight. I will be too busy tomorrow to cast anything, though. That better, Isty? [ After a while, Tia manages to make Istvan stink less. ] Anything else you think I should have ready for this fight? I'll have something to get through the walls, something to weaken the linnorm - I can all but guarentee getting one of those Polymorphs off on it given about a third of a minute - and...um, well, what else? * Tia gives Istvan another experimental sniff and nods. "You smell cleaner now, Isty." She grins and puts the decanter away. [ But now, he is wet. ] Haste. * Tia dabs at the wet troll with her cloak. Right, haste. *makes a note of that* * Istroll is soggy. "... yeah." *pulls some towels out of his pack* * Tia wags her tail. Um, should I dry you off, Istvan? I've got a Prestidigitation spell left... Oh! Fly, too. I'd appreciate it. Yeah, you and Alcinoe. ..um, Alcinoe? Is there something you'd rather I turn you into? Or would you rather not be transformed for this fight? * Alcinoe shrugs. "Ah... dunno. Ah never really thought about it." I mean, trolls have great advantages, but I understand not wanting to be one. Yeah. Maybe an angel of some type? Some of them are pretty powerful, even just physically. I'll do a bit of research tonight. Unless you don't want me to. I'm really not trying to be pushy, even though I am being pushy. I'm sorry. Nah, it's okay. Go ahead. Somethin'... might help, yeah. Okay. Just... don't make yourself uncomfortable. I don't want you to hate me for it. ^^; *tries to make that sound like a joke* Anyway! Um, if that's it... Dry me? Please? Nym? Can I impose upon you to show me your lab and stuff? Or maybe the Dias piece? Though I suppose I'll have time to study that later. I really should set up-- oh! Sure! *floats over to Istvan* * Max casts a brief spell, and makes wiping motions at Istvan. The water evaporates off of him. Thanks. I'm gonna go outside and get some practice in... gotta get used to being bigger. Yeah! Have fun! ^_^ [ "It would be no trouble at all, Max. If the rest of you will pardon me while I go show him the lab?" ] * Patrick hmms. Thanks! I'll, um, be using it almost all day tomorrow. I promise I'll pay you back, though! *hops on his Book, and settles a slightly waking Specs on his shoulder, before floating off with Nym* [ Nym leads the way! ] [ And so the others discussed strategy some, and then went their seperate ways to pass the rest of the day as they saw fit. Session End! ]