[2026/08/30 14:11] Sonja Bikergrrl: Sapphire, I believe you said you'd be studying the walls as they are rebuilt
[2026/08/30 14:12] Sapphire: seeking insights towards the Wall of stone spell
[2026/08/30 14:12] Sapphire: It seems like a natural progression if I were to spread my elemental themes rather than insisting on Ice the whole way up
[2026/08/30 14:12] Sonja Bikergrrl: What, exactly, are you doing to gain said insights?
[2026/08/30 14:13] Jassie: i can do blessings of Selune while collecting donations hehe
[2026/08/30 14:14] Sapphire: considering how my ice ball and freeze person spells actually generate such ice and comparing it to what a stony variant would do
[2026/08/30 14:14] Sapphire: though the more I think on it
[2026/08/30 14:14] Sapphire: the more I should inquire if any other wizards yet remain in this city to consult with
[2026/08/30 14:14] Sonja Bikergrrl: That's a very good question.
[2026/08/30 14:15] Sonja Bikergrrl: Jassie: what might you be doing to gain favor with your god?
[2026/08/30 14:16] Jassie: give blessings to the people in the city
[2026/08/30 14:16] Jassie: or those who want it
[2026/08/30 14:16] Sonja Bikergrrl: That sounds worthy and charitable. What sort of blessings?
[2026/08/30 14:16] Jassie: dont have to take donations lol
[2026/08/30 14:17] Jassie: 1 sec
[2026/08/30 14:17] Sapphire: many people might go their whole lives and never receive the benefit of actual clerical magic, though in a proper castle this is mildly less likely
[2026/08/30 14:18] Jassie: well i can take ceremony and conduct burials
[2026/08/30 14:18] Sonja Bikergrrl: Oh. Concussion wore off: Jassie recovers.
[2026/08/30 14:18] Jassie: and kinds of vows
[2026/08/30 14:18] Sonja Bikergrrl: There's a -lot- of burials.
[2026/08/30 14:18] Jassie: any kinds of coming of age stuff
[2026/08/30 14:18] Jassie: basically Ceremony
[2026/08/30 14:18] Sonja Bikergrrl: meanwhile, Sapphire, you're studying rocks, most studiously
[2026/08/30 14:18] Jassie: and provide blessings of Selune
[2026/08/30 14:19] Sonja Bikergrrl: the men heaving rocks and trying to place them in order and mortar them together find this freaky, and are more than a little spooked
[2026/08/30 14:20] Jassie: HAHA
[2026/08/30 14:21] Sapphire: "is there a specific worry you have?" she'll inquire of the ones who are worried near here
[2026/08/30 14:21] Sonja Bikergrrl: (I'd be flipping spooked if I was working my ass off heaving rocks and some floozy in see through pyjama trousers stared at the rocks)
[2026/08/30 14:22] Sonja Bikergrrl: Such a direct and blunt question. The men back away and give you a -wide- berth, a few of the more superstitious make surreptitious signs to ward off demons
[2026/08/30 14:22] Jassie: (maybe just realllly interested in stones)
[2026/08/30 14:22] Sapphire: Ah, yes, those. They seem to return every time she goes in and out of the bottle, so she's not in the habit of changing outfits all that option.
[2026/08/30 14:22] Sonja Bikergrrl: Jassie: there's a -lot- of burials going on, how would you console the grieving survivors?
[2026/08/30 14:23] Sapphire: "More, as a mage, i feel like it's not much longer before i need to prepare my own tower. It seemed relevant to study how actual walls are built." A bit of a cover story, though no actual lies within it.
[2026/08/30 14:24] Sonja Bikergrrl: The men mutter and grumble and move away, as far as they can before the foreman starts bawling at them.
[2026/08/30 14:25] Sonja Bikergrrl: Day 2 dawns... how do you plan approaching things today?
[2026/08/30 14:26] Jassie: ah i would go around and assure them that their lives are never truly over as they pass on from the material plane, and Selune can watch over those that have passed as well as Kalemvor. I will also idk light incense for these grieving as well?
[2026/08/30 14:26] Sapphire: Ok, new plan. Step one. Get some halfway normal clothes on.
[2026/08/30 14:26] Sapphire: probably a dress
[2026/08/30 14:26] Sonja Bikergrrl: /me chuckles at that one. Light incense.
[2026/08/30 14:27] Jassie: hey, thats what they do often here in asia
[2026/08/30 14:27] Jassie: shrugs, might work
[2026/08/30 14:27] Sonja Bikergrrl: You'll be pleased to know Selune generously grants +1 to your healing spells for the next casting. See? Spreading the good word -does- have benefits
[2026/08/30 14:28] Sapphire: catholics go through a surprising amount of incense too
[2026/08/30 14:28] Jassie: yay
[2026/08/30 14:28] Sonja Bikergrrl: I have no idea how Sapphire will acquire a small dress... but we'll say you manage that
[2026/08/30 14:29] Sonja Bikergrrl: Now what might you do/say?
[2026/08/30 14:29] Sapphire: i can trade some silver coins for a dress
[2026/08/30 14:29] Sapphire: Step two, inquire about libraries in this castle. Those seem like that'd be less alarming about wizards. Also likely she gets pointed towards private collections or temple collections since these folks might not be the sort with a sponsored education system
[2026/08/30 14:30] Sonja Bikergrrl: Who are you asking and what do you say?
[2026/08/30 14:33] Sapphire: the folks who seem least scared of me is where I ask first. "Hello, I'm Emily. Trying to find the local scholars or book repositories."
[2026/08/30 14:33] Jassie: also question is my HP still lowered?
[2026/08/30 14:33] Sonja Bikergrrl: ...when did HP lowering occur?
[2026/08/30 14:34] Sonja Bikergrrl: Emily: the nearest guys back away quickly, apart from the youngest who mightn't be the quickest on the uptake. Everyone watches, they figure he might be turned into a newt or something, and that'd be worth seeing.
[2026/08/30 14:35] Sonja Bikergrrl: Young Soldier: "Erk. You might want that old man, Tim, what lives in the tower down Short Street."
[2026/08/30 14:35] Jassie: (i cant remember exactly, but was something happened that reduced my max hp)
[2026/08/30 14:35] Sapphire: "Ah, thank you, sir." She nods. "Anything I should know before i head to short street and inquire with tim?"
[2026/08/30 14:37] Sonja Bikergrrl: The kid looks around wide-eyed and gives a nervous shrug. He's not been turned into a newt - yet - but you never know.
[2026/08/30 14:37] Jassie: lolol
[2026/08/30 14:37] Sonja Bikergrrl: (Fucked if I remember, notes are at home, somewhere, maybe.)
[2026/08/30 14:39] Sonja Bikergrrl: Jassie: where does your character sleep during the nights in town?
[2026/08/30 14:39] Sapphire: She nods ahead, gets confirmation on which way Short Street actually is, and heads for the tower. emily is getting the impression this "tim" has been giving wizards a bad reputation
[2026/08/30 14:39] Sonja Bikergrrl: Do wizards have a "good" reputation?
[2026/08/30 14:40] Sonja Bikergrrl: Emily finds the tower easily. There's a pull handle, and a door knocker, and a sign. "Tradespeople: ring the bell. Customers: knock on the door."
[2026/08/30 14:41] Jassie: /me well is there a temple to one of the gods here? and if there is, I would go to one of these temples, "Would I able to seek refuge for the time I'm here?" or just go to an inn if there is one, cheap and decent one.
[2026/08/30 14:42] Sapphire: Hmmmm, am I a tradesperson or a customer....
[2026/08/30 14:42] Sapphire: Are there further signs or indicators of what customers might be buying?
[2026/08/30 14:42] Sonja Bikergrrl: You can indeed seek refuge in a temple. On the third evening, you wake to find a dead rat on your pillow.
[2026/08/30 14:43] Sonja Bikergrrl: Sapphire: Hard to say. There's no notices or signs to indicate any trade goes on.
[2026/08/30 14:43] Sapphire: After more consideration, Emily will knock. She is largely here to trade magical knowledge, or perhaps discover some stranger set of provisions this tim has, but she can pay from the various coins she's accumulated over time
[2026/08/30 14:43] Jassie: fresh dead rat?
[2026/08/30 14:44] Sonja Bikergrrl: It's still slightly warm and limp, yes.
[2026/08/30 14:44] Sonja Bikergrrl: Emily knocks on the door, time passes
[2026/08/30 14:44] Sonja Bikergrrl: There's a sound of shuffling and cursing, growing slowly louder
[2026/08/30 14:45] Sonja Bikergrrl: Finally the door opens up, to allow a view of a hunched old man with bush eyebrows and a scraggly beard. "What are you doing on my doorstep? Can't you see there's people knocking on my door?"
[2026/08/30 14:47] Sapphire: She takes a small step back incase this door swings outwards. "Ah, I discouraged the knockers from bothering you, sir. They seemed unlikely to offer better prices, though I could call them back if you like."
[2026/08/30 14:47] Jassie: takes it out, i guess brings it out to an inn or someone, im sure someone might want it for food or something?
[2026/08/30 14:47] Sonja Bikergrrl: Old Man Tim: "Yes, yes, yes... so, what did you want? Speak up, you young 'uns always go whispering."
[2026/08/30 14:48] Sonja Bikergrrl: *GIGGLES* wtf Jassie... there's no goblins in town!
[2026/08/30 14:48] Jassie: (hey its fresh and its meat?)
[2026/08/30 14:49] Sonja Bikergrrl: /me *facepalms*
[2026/08/30 14:49] Sapphire: "I'm seeking to trade or purchase esoteric lores." She takes a more serious posture. "Though I must admit the townsfolk were ambiguous as to your specialty."
[2026/08/30 14:50] Jassie: fine fine, i'll throw it away
[2026/08/30 14:51] Sonja Bikergrrl: Tim: "Whores??? There's no whores here. Or did you say doors? I only got one door, and I need that door. Otherwise kids like you will come in, with your songs and your balls and things. No, no doors here."
[2026/08/30 14:51] Sonja Bikergrrl: /me could make Jassie roll, but...
[2026/08/30 14:51] Sonja Bikergrrl: ...but aren't you curious about where old ratty came from?
[2026/08/30 14:52] Jassie: well i did ask, is it fresh, and i assume i woulda looked at it when checking if its fresh
[2026/08/30 14:52] Sapphire: "I suppose you don't have any ores either, would be very hard to carry up and down your stairs. Probably fresh out of bores as well, plentiful as such folk might be around town."
[2026/08/30 14:52] Sonja Bikergrrl: that got you told it's somewhat warm and rigor mortis hasn't kicked in yet
[2026/08/30 14:53] Sonja Bikergrrl: Tim: "Yes, yes, no chores, no none needed."
[2026/08/30 14:53] Jassie: i guess looks around on body for any markings etc
[2026/08/30 14:54] Sonja Bikergrrl: You're no expert on rat bodies, but... suspiciously unwounded
[2026/08/30 14:55] Jassie: well, no ideas, shrugs and continues on my day.
[2026/08/30 14:55] Sonja Bikergrrl: If I woke next to a rat, I'd be kicking my husband out of bed
[2026/08/30 14:55] Sonja Bikergrrl: but, takes all sorts I guess
[2026/08/30 14:55] Jassie: what husband?
[2026/08/30 14:55] Sapphire: better question for jassie
[2026/08/30 14:55] Sonja Bikergrrl: ....the rat
[2026/08/30 14:55] Sapphire: what killed the rat
[2026/08/30 14:56] Sapphire: a *live* rat in your bed would ironically be less alarming
[2026/08/30 14:56] Jassie: i mean im in a temple to some god
[2026/08/30 14:56] Sonja Bikergrrl: Emily! How are you proceeding with your magical enquiries?
[2026/08/30 14:56] Sapphire: "No chores at all? Unfortunate, that may complicate my efforts to acquire books or knowledge here." she adds
[2026/08/30 14:56] Jassie: so maybe jealous priest here or something lol
[2026/08/30 14:57] Sonja Bikergrrl: Tim: "Books? I don't have a library. No, no books. Come in, come in, we'll talk inside. Just to the left, in the library."
[2026/08/30 14:57] Sonja Bikergrrl: jealous priests? *GIGGLES*
[2026/08/30 14:57] Sonja Bikergrrl: first read of that I thought it was Judas Priest
[2026/08/30 14:58] Sapphire: "Much obliged, sir," she heads in, wipes her shoes on the unwelcome mat tim undoubtedly owns, and follows into the library. "I am known as Emily," she volunteers.
[2026/08/30 14:58] Jassie: hehe, well idk ok, i already threw the rat away i guess
[2026/08/30 14:59] Sonja Bikergrrl: Tim: "yes, yes, yes... and what can I do for you, young man?"
[2026/08/30 15:01] Sapphire: "I'm studying, to be a better mage, for what it is worth, but all sorts of knowledge might be useful in that quest. If I might peruse your library for a time that would be appreciated."
[2026/08/30 15:02] Sonja Bikergrrl: Tim: "My library? I suppose so. It'd be 499 gold to anyone else but I'll cut you a deal. 500 gp, and, I just need to find my library and you can study there, yes."
[2026/08/30 15:02] Jassie: damnnn
[2026/08/30 15:02] Sonja Bikergrrl: cheap at half the price.
[2026/08/30 15:03] Sapphire: "Your library has gone missing? That does seem like it could become quite the chore to locate, if not found quickly." she replies, eyes looking around at the actual room she finds herself in.
[2026/08/30 15:04] Sonja Bikergrrl: You have 255gp
[2026/08/30 15:05] Sapphire: Indeed, which does seem to be rather less than his first offer.
[2026/08/30 15:06] Jassie: "cheap"
[2026/08/30 15:06] Sapphire: but also... what does tims library look like?
[2026/08/30 15:06] Sonja Bikergrrl: Mmhmm. Still, Jassie might help, you never know
[2026/08/30 15:06] Jassie: i would if asked i guess
[2026/08/30 15:06] Sonja Bikergrrl: like a big room full of books and tomes
[2026/08/30 15:08] Sapphire: "I would like to have some concept of the information held within, to pay such a price.At those numbers I would anticipate workable spell knowledge. If present, I might be best paying in kind than in coin."
[2026/08/30 15:09] Sonja Bikergrrl: ....you're asking what's in a wizards books?
[2026/08/30 15:09] Sonja Bikergrrl: that's -almost- as rude as asking to eat his underpants
[2026/08/30 15:10] Sapphire: is there a more polite way to inquire such a thing?
[2026/08/30 15:10] Sonja Bikergrrl: Yes, pay 500gp.
[2026/08/30 15:11] Jassie: LOL
[2026/08/30 15:12] Sapphire: that's also why she offered to pay "in kind", knowledge for knowledge
[2026/08/30 15:12] Sonja Bikergrrl: Tim doesn't seem interested in acquiring knowledge, he barely seems to even know he has a library
[2026/08/30 15:13] Jassie: thats very sus
[2026/08/30 15:13] Sonja Bikergrrl: you'll be old too one day!
[2026/08/30 15:17] Sapphire: "While I do not have that much coin with me on hand, I do have a reasonable fraction of that." She'll start by pulling out a single gold coin, checking he doesn't literally startle at the sight, and if not, pull another five out, "An hour to skim..." and then set fifty coins on the table if he acting reasonably sensible, "And I can bring parchment and inks to scribe my own copy rather than depriving you of ours."
[2026/08/30 15:17] Sapphire: She does intend to trade fairly, to be clear, but is also willing to haggle.
[2026/08/30 15:17] Jassie: definitely haggle hehe

[2026/08/30 15:19] Sonja Bikergrrl: ffs
[2026/08/30 15:19] Sapphire: eeep
[2026/08/30 15:19] Jassie: lol wb
[2026/08/30 15:21] Sapphire: welcoem back
[2026/08/30 15:21] Sonja Bikergrrl: Tim: "This some new fangled thing you young uns get up to? It won't do, no sir, it won't do..." [2026/08/30 15:23] Sapphire: She'll actually inquire on followup questions to the zeppelins. Any of the books on display appear to have titles to them?
[2026/08/30 15:25] Sonja Bikergrrl: There's a random assortment of books; a treatise on burnishing ebony walking sticks, a copy of Torture Through the Ages (A Beginners Guide to Algebra) and what looks like The History of Radish Farming
[2026/08/30 15:25] Sonja Bikergrrl: Meanwhile, Tim is fetching his broom.
[2026/08/30 15:26] Jassie: lol, maybe Emily wants to do a farm in future hehe
[2026/08/30 15:27] Sapphire: "I could spare... two hundred," she admits, "but not easily more in the form of coins. I would be quite happy to find an alternate compromise, for example I could offer 30 for the algebra book alone." It seems he's disinclined to argue, so she'll leave five gold on the central table and then move to stand in the entryway rather than have this discussion in the actual library."
[2026/08/30 15:27] Sonja Bikergrrl: He's very disinclined to argue, and very inclined to beat you with the broom. He's also not -selling- his books; it's 500gp to access them.
[2026/08/30 15:29] Jassie: this guy and his broom lol
[2026/08/30 15:31] Sapphire: "No need for the beating, I'll leave if you aren't interested in more... balanced deals, then. It was still a pleasure to riddle duel, such as it was."
[2026/08/30 15:31] Sonja Bikergrrl: Aaaaaand that's Sapphire leaving with her head held high, and, luckily, not her feet held higher
[2026/08/30 15:31] Sonja Bikergrrl: Well. Now what?
[2026/08/30 15:32] Jassie: I wanna meet up with her i guess, discuss the happenings the past couple days and maybe share anything?
[2026/08/30 15:32] Sapphire: Unfortunate, but illuminating. In the way that still leaves her bereft of any actual new knowledge.
[2026/08/30 15:33] Sapphire: Unsure if that was a clever front or if tim has any actual power to him.
[2026/08/30 15:34] Sonja Bikergrrl: well, in the absence of Mecha or other ideas... we'll call that a cliffhanger and.... next week, think we can play.
[2026/08/30 15:34] Jassie: lol haha
[2026/08/30 15:34] Sonja Bikergrrl: Ask me again Saturday *GIGGLES*
[2026/08/30 15:34] Sapphire: thanks for the scenes, Mistress
[2026/08/30 15:34] Jassie: we're so bad at this, looks at Sapph
[2026/08/30 15:34] Sonja Bikergrrl: Mmmm.....
[2026/08/30 15:35] Jassie: but when has this been a new thing
[2026/08/30 15:35] Sonja Bikergrrl: I'm saying nothing
[2026/08/30 15:35] Sonja Bikergrrl: idk, when indeed
[2026/08/30 15:35] Jassie: hahaha
[2026/08/30 15:35] Sapphire: yeah....
[2026/08/30 15:35] Sapphire: hmmmm
[2026/08/30 15:35] Sapphire: those titles
[2026/08/30 15:36] Sonja Bikergrrl: /me can see we're in for a rollercoaster still
[2026/08/30 15:36] Sonja Bikergrrl: what titles?
[2026/08/30 15:36] Sapphire: Who -wrote- the History of Radish Farming ?
[2026/08/30 15:36] Sapphire: since, presumably they expected -someone- to read it
[2026/08/30 15:36] Sapphire: someone wealthy enough to actually acquire such a text
[2026/08/30 15:37] Sonja Bikergrrl: it's a rare esoteric tome
[2026/08/30 15:37] Jassie: or just start a farm
[2026/08/30 15:37] Jassie: lol
[2026/08/30 15:37] Sapphire: ....plausibly it's intended for taxmen or minor nobles who run agricultural land
[2026/08/30 15:38] Sonja Bikergrrl: or maybe radishes are highly magical vegtables
[2026/08/30 15:38] Sapphire: to, for example: check the history of how to farm radishes against what the peasants are actually *doing*
[2026/08/30 15:38] Sapphire: well, radishes do have transformative effects on pies and stews
[2026/08/30 15:38] Sapphire: though rhubarb is even better at it
[2026/08/30 15:38] Sonja Bikergrrl: there you go
[2026/08/30 15:39] Jassie: lol so now we making stews