22.10.2022 - Scribe-5 - Getting the base construction assessed

(Asgeir and Marius are not here today. It is a short session as we spent a lot of time setting up WorldAnvil)

• The path of earth representative Bucket sent for (to plan the construction of our base) meets us when we come back from the shopping trip
  • He has a symbol of a tree, but not the same as the symbol of Rillifane
  • He manages to look down on us even though he is sitting
  • Bucket leads him inside, mentioning that the door is part of the problem we need help with
  • Bucket notices that the path of earth man is deeply facinated by the gate, but doesn't want anyone to notice that he is facinated
  • After Bucket prompts him he tell us that his name is Mason Eahtadan Dlarraithar, he makes sure to use the elvish pronounciation to be difficult
  • Bucket responds in elvish with his name in common
  • The rest of us introduce ourselves as well
  • The mason explains that he is sent to make an assessment and will give us a report
  • Bucket wants time and cost estimates, and will walk him through the place and tell him what we want done
  • He stresses that this needs to be very confidential
  • The mason assures him that his professional reputation is on the line for every job he does (very high insight check reveals a strong pride about keeping information secret, and that he will not reveal anything unless forced to)
  • We consider having Scribe-5 learn the oath spell from Glannon or otherwise make a magical
  • We tell him that this place was built by the Sonnlinors of Moradin and the Path of Horn
  • He mentions that making guardians like ours is their domain normally
  • Void asks if they work with souls, but the mason responds that it is a professional secret
  • Bucket leads him through the base, the mason is trying very hard to not react to things he is clearly fascinated by
  • As we turn the corner into the forge, we're stunned by a massive dragon roar (the mason and Void both get temporary deafness)
  • Desa is in her dragon form and smirking/laughing
  • The mason is terrified, and Bucket reminds him of the need for confidentiality
  • Void mentions that he will also incur the wrath of the dragon if information spills
  • The mason becomes very pale, and the intimitation clearly worked
  • He is convinced to not put the dragon in the report
  • His estimates depend on several factors, most importantly time
  • Bucket says that it would be best if it is done within a month, and gets Desa to be more intimitating
  • He makes the mason swear on the path of earth that the documents that we give him will not be leaked
  • The Mason will give us a reference list to look at until he can make the actual estimate
    • 40 000 gp to build mansion (would take 5 months)
    • 75 000 gp to build keep from scratch (would take 1 year)
    • Probably around 20k if the building process takes half a year
    • If we pay more they could hire magical builders and masons to speed up the process: 40K for two months
    • If we would like it cheaper it can be done slower with student labour etc.
    • It would probably be 10 workers per day
  • He will get us the estimate within the day (because Desa is terrifying)
  • Bucket tells him that we will need all the workers to sign magical contracts of secrecy
  • They will also try to contact some of their dwarven members, there are not that many but they might be able to pull some from other projects. He will have to ask their leader Hadren de Mowbray
    • He is a drow that took over leadership of the path after Malagnim's betrayal
    • The mason doesn't know about Lady Millicent de Mowbray, but says that Hadren would probably be delighted to meet us (but is quite busy with the expansion of Fallinar)
  • Bucket tries to convince him that we're not rasists, but the mason assures us that it doesn't matter since we're customers and heroes
  • After we finish talking he dashes out as fast as possible
• Bucket cathes up with Adriel the sage about the hiring process of butlers, maids and knights
  • He specifies that the knights have to be from different orders, or prefferably not belonging to an order
  • She will set up a room for the interviews
• Scribe-5 asks about the emotional manipulation for personal gain
  • Bucket explains that this is different from when evil people do it because his values are better than other people
  • They say that this is a normal thing people do
• We rest
• In the morning we seek out Glannon
  • We find him in his office that has magic protecting from other people hearing/seeing what is happening inside
  • He pour us some tea
  • He has really strong abjuration magic around him
  • Scribe-5 asks if he can teach her the spell for making magical oaths
  • He is concerned with our need for it, and warns that it is a double edged sword
  • If it is about dangerous knowledge, that would harm others if __
  • He seems more concerned about whether or not we would teach it to others that might bend it to their will
  • He cautions us to use the spell sparingly
  • He will teach it to Scribe-5, and suggests a trade
  • Scribe-5 says that she will not teach it to others, and will use it sparingly
  • She offers to teach him Rary's Telepathic Bond
  • He says that she would have to give the spell up, and she is very recluctant
  • He then says that we can teach each other the spells if we tell him why we're harrasing the Path of Earth
  • We tell him that they will be constructing our base, and explains that this is the reason we need secrecy
  • He is happy that
  • He knows of Lady Millicent de Mowbray, and assures us that Hadren is of different stock, even though he is her brother (or maybe her son)
  • Bucket accidentially makes us a pact that we're here for at least a week
  • We tell him everything about the Path of Light and what we saw in the magical mirror
  • He says it makes sense that Malagnim is targeting the palace, and thinks he might kidnap the emperor and empress
  • He says we should contact Auren, who is the custodian of the path of horn until Sylword took over the leadership position
    • The path of horn is supposed to be the advisors to the emperor. Sylword has a duty to do so, but Oren is likely doing his job if Sylword hasn't done it
    • He hasn't heard from Auren in a while, which is concerning
    • Oren resides in the palace
  • Glannon is surprised that we didn't bring Elwindith Noroelwa's remains for a reward
  • He keeps trying to make us more magical contracts, and when confronted doesn't seem aware of what he's done. He seems confused and maybe amnesiac

 

Plan

  Sylword really needs to start doing his job as the emperor's advisor.   We're headed to the palace to find Auren and investigate stuff.   Scribe-5 is suspicious of Glannon's weird behaviour in the last part of the conversation (kept trying to make contracts after he told her how important it is to use it sparingly). She is also frustrated that people keep being illogical and make deals with her seeking something that will hurt her rather than benefit them.