Earth. Under Sky, Under Earth
Summary
GM: Keith
Season: Autumn 825 WK
Night: Tuesdays
Location: Online
Level: Medium/High
- Party
Employer
Adventure Background
Back in 793, the Gentlefolks Adventuring Society discovered a spelljamming helm in the sunken city of Pasifika. The helm was fitted to a ship, christened the Eagle and the crew and a Guild Party went to the moon. Exploring the ruins there, they discovered a library containing books written in an unknown language and preserved by a magical stasis field. Unfortunately, if a book is removed from this field, it rapidly crumbles into dust. So, this library was left alone until it was possible to translate the books in situ. A few more flights to the moon were done up until 796, but after that, there seemed little point in returning, especially since it took at least three days to get to the moon and even to reach Thunor would take roughly seven months. Freya could be reached in three months, but a portal there had already been discovered and opened in 795. So there seemed little need for the Eagle so it was put in storage. Plus, the moon was crawling with hostile bugs.
During the last flight to the moon, a research facility had been discovered where research had been done into superluminary flight. The crystal found there was installed into a mush more powerful helm that was on a more powerful helm A smaller, and cracked crystal, was also retrieved and fitted onto the Eagle but it was decided not to test it in case it broke and left the ship and crew stranded in deep space. However, in Autumn 815, when the sun went out, the Eagle was launched to discover what was happening. The crystal did make the helm faster, but the trip would still take over a week, as they didn't want to push it too hard. However, about five or six days into the trip, the sun flared up again, and, rather than be fried in the intense heat, they took the chance and dialled up full power. The crystal cracked, dropping them back to their usual speed, but they had managed to jump out of danger and end up near Freya, where they landed, disassembled the ship, and passed all the pieces through the portal to Alusia.
During the last five years, it became possible to translate all those books while avoiding the Selenites, thanks to rune portals from ship to library (the ship lands in a random spot, or hovers, then takes off again), bubbles of force, and translation spells. It was discovered that the helm they were using was a prototype for 'proof of concept' and had been hurriedly dispatched to Pasifika while the city was being overrun with Selenites. This is why it is so slow compared to what the theory says. A typical helm should have a maximum speed of 4.25 million miles per hour ((0.06c) instead of the 2,500mph of the 'Eagle', but before the crystal broke, they actually managed to achieve a micro warp jump. So, either they need a new crystal or a more advanced helm, or both.
On a different matter, a search had been going on for the fundamental 'elements' of the Alusian Plane to either destroy or banish the eldritch horrors' lurking in Pasifika. It is highly likely there is a Great Old One sleeping at the bottom of the Abyssal Trench that needs to be dealt with by bombarding it with a blast of Elemental Harmony vibrating at the correct cosmic frequencies given by the periodic motions of the planets, i.e. the 'Song of the Spheres'. The harmonics of the Alusian system have been calculated, but obtaining samples of the pure Elements has taken much of the preceding two years and several red herrings. Since each planet represents an element, it was thought that pure Earth would be present on Ariel, yet astrology readings contradicted this. It wasn't before Lunarian astrology was taken into account that it was realised that Earth equalled Alusia and that it was likely that the astrology reading 'Earth, Under Sky, Under Earth' referred to the Pellucidar Cavern, the same place where the raw crystals, being a rare type of quartz, can be found for the helm.
Job
Pay
Scribe Notes
Chapter One: In which we sail forth
We are Lim, the elven potion mage, Jaycey the halfling illusionist. Lisette the human namer-healer, Seraph the human namer-fighter, and myself, Grizelda, shape-changer bear and rune mage. We met with our employers, the Aventi Archmage Spica, her Daughter Melody, and Brother Phaeton of the Guild at the Guild meeting rooms. They offered 12000sp each + greater enchantments + loot, but Jaycey was able to berate them into increasing this to 20000sp each, and another 20000 each on successful completion.
Our mission would be to find an Earth Elemental Stone of Harmony associated with Alusia. Astrology readings have shown this would be found in the ancient Pasifikan city of Pellucidar which is in an immense cavern thought to lie under far northern Alusia. We should also try to find a special rock called dilithium that makes spelljammers go faster.
We agreed. I was chosen as scribe, and Jaycey as military scientist and party leader. The archmagi provided greater enchantments of Rank 20 for us all, including Bear. They have strange magic.
We discussed how we would get to Pellucidar. We would be able to use the ancient Pasifikan portals at either Beth-Salem or in Pasifika itself. It was a matter of four days flight to Beth-Salem or seven days by fast ship to Pasifika. We determined that going to Pasifika by boat would be more efficient since many of our preparations could be done on board. It would also allow us to meet with the professors of the Gentlefolks Exploratory Society who were now basing themselves on Rangiwhero (lots of portals, lots of ruins, lots to explore). We gathered our equipment and supplies, and found a ship heading for Pasifika. I had already done an amount of baking before the meeting, and had special cookies for everyone. Of personal interest, I learned that lesser enchantment can only be cast on sentient entities, but my fortune cookies will work on any entity that can eat a cookie. There is, no doubt, a market for these. ((They're called 'Animal Crackers' - P))
So, on the morning tide the day after the Guild Meeting we set sail for Pasifika, on the same ship that was taking Aqualina. Lim powered the ship to go faster in exchange for our passage. There was a storm, but the archmagi created a shield to fend off the worst of the weather.
8 Fruit
A week later, we sailed into the lagoon at the Trading Post Rangiwhero, and were escorted by canoes into the docks. The Pasifikans greeted us with a traditional powhiri. We made some purchases at the Trading Post, and then we used a rune portal to visit the professors of Gentlefolks Exploratory Society at their establishment to the south.
Chapter Two: In which Weeds are Whacked
We met up with Professor Bellamy, who had a number of generic true names for Lisette and Seraph to learn. It would take two days for them to learn the most useful twelve names between them. Lim read and copied books and I baked.
The professors had a long list of suggested equipment for exploring Pellucidar, most of which we declined. There were these ‘pith helmets’ that were considered traditional, goggles, jerkins, even handy haversacks.
11 Fruit
Having made ready, we set forth for the portals. The Pasifika portal key for Pellucidar was missing, presumed lost or destroyed We went through to Bethsalem, and thence stepped through to Pellucidar.
It was very hot and humid, and we were most definitely up the jungle. Ahead were the ruins of a city covered in vines and plant life. An enormous stepped pyramid rose before us, some large birdlike creatures on top. It seemed to be a bright summer’s day, or it would be if it were not for all the foliage.
Avoiding the obvious trap, the fungus circle, we headed into a ruined structure to the north. As we did so, I saw what appeared to be a tabby kitten, which fled into the undergrowth. The structure looked to have been some kind of shop, the second floor long gone.
As bear and I exited the building, heading east, we were confronted by a plant creature ((Basiderond)). It wanted to eat us. Of course it was not alone, and the creatures sent out spores that did strange things to those who did not resist. Combat ensued, mostly centred on myself and on Seraph, who definitely had the worst of it, after the spores affected him. Nevertheless, the creatures were soon defeated.
Chapter Three: In which there is Jungle, with Spiders and Talking Mushrooms
It was my job to harvest the spores from the plants. Given their hallucinatory effects, they may well be useful, certainly profitable, at least until they’re illegal. I successfully harvested twenty doses, that being five doses per plant, from four plants.
We climbed the pyramid, mainly to have a look around. There was a small structure on top, with an opening and a stone throne inside. It was covered in greyish green lichen. And moss. We found that the doorway was magical. But not trapped, warded, or cursed. Its effect proved to be ‘dispelling’. Uh oh, I’d heard of these. Stay away unless you want all your magic removed. It was promptly divinated. The doorway removes all magic, including enchantments and curses. It is associated with Papat??nuku the Earth Goddess.
Leaving the pyramid to the pterodactyls, we set off through the jungle, heading east towards the sea. It was hot and damp, and a mist was settling among the trees. And then something dropped a sticky thread from the canopy, attempting to tag Jaycey’s projected image. The something was a giant spider, some thirty feet up a tree. And then I spotted a second one threatening Lizette. The ensuing fight didn’t last long; both spiders fell to Jaycey’s bolt spells; while Bear and I were still climbing trees. And then the spiders fell out of the trees. We gleaned some useful ingredients from their bodies.
There were frogs. Jaycey had us look around for a big tree… She took out a doorknob and put it to the trunk of the tree. A door opened… Then some green flickering lights appeared in the forest. They spoke in our minds; their voices childlike. They were spirits, having the appearance of human children. We ignored them and entered Jaycey’s hobbit hole. It was a truly impressive abode, with bathrooms and a kitchen, as well as comfortable bedrooms. The night passed. The third watch reported a giant flightless bird with a long beak rooting around in the forest.
12 Fruit
In the morning, having rested, bathed, and eaten well, we set forth. The forest thinned out. We found ourselves walking through a forest of giant mushroom trees. We spotted tracks and followed them. Bear found truffles. We camped. There was a mushroom person. He told us that the Silurians might know where the rocks we seek might be. Across the sea.
Chapter Four: In which we find a Mushroom Village, with Exploding Fungi and Morlocks
13 Fruit
The myconids communicated through spores that seemed to have a somewhat charming effect. They trade with the Silurians so they know where they are to be found. Something was agitating the myconids. The Morlocks have been threatening the myconids, intending to turn their territory into a vassal state. The Morlock leader is known as the Trumpet.
Grizelda: “I’m not sure that we’re capable of taking on an entire evil empire by ourselves.”
Sometime later we arrived at the Myconid village. There was a wall of sorts and myconid homes. We were led before the myconid leader who wanted to know who and what we were. They know of a human named Diana who lives with the Silurians. The leader was concerned about the Morlocks; they say one thing and do something else.
Jaycey: “My suggestion is that they join the empire.”
Next, we are introduced to a Silurian. She speaks very formal Common. We explained that we are looking for weird magical rocks. Specific weird magical rocks. She was looking for something called novaspore. It releases memories.
Jaycey: “We would never wander off alone, would we, Lim?”
We walked into some kind of magic suppressing effect. There was an unusual plant with a bright blue flower and honey-sweet aroma. There were spherical green fungi called bitterbangs. A woman was stuck in them. It was Diana. So we had to rescue her. It fell to me as the one with the rope and grapnel to snag the statue and reel it in. There was a boom. And ouch. Then, as we headed back, there was a Morlock raiding party, looking for trouble. We spotted them barely thirty feet away, weapons drawn. Geysers happened. Claws and blades happened. They died.
We looted these weird shaman potions, which the Morlocks had not had time to use.
Chapter Five: In which More Morlocks are Mortified
Diana informed us that in the main Silurian village across the sea, there is a mineralogist named Naud who may be able to assist us and identify the rocks we are looking for. She said she would be willing to be our guide and to introduce us. We had tea, cucumber sandwiches, and a most unusual cake called a Battenberg cake.
As we headed out of the village, we ran into a much larger group of bigger and tougher Morlocks. They made the mistake of trying to trap us as we exited a passage, but Bear, Seraph and I were able to form a shield wall and keep them at bay while our mages got into position. And then, the geysers happened. The Morlocks were in a world of hurt. They had a mage who managed to cast a swarm around Lizette that made it somewhat more difficult for me to hit things. But it didn’t make that much difference. Eventually, under the onslaught of our indominable front line and the puissant magic of our mages, they broke and ran for it. Unless they couldn’t because they were already dead or dying. We chased down their leaders, and executed them. Then collected loot from their bodies. More potions.
Jaycey: No, Grizelda’s a murder-hobo; the rest of us are fine!
Grizelda (killing a fungus creature): This is called fungicide!
Chapter Five: In which there are Devils on the Beach
We followed the path around the village and on through the forest. We took a break for afternoon tea, sitting on mossy roots and rocks. Moving on, we eventually came out of the forest, down a bank and onto a beach. We dined on a variety of shellfish, notably a three-lobed arthropod named lunchus valiumus, which was very tasty. And some bread-like fungus. There was a tribe of Silurians here and the ship we would be taking tomorrow. Above there were watchtowers and small pteranodons acting much like seagulls. Jaycee found a flat vertical rock, and used her doorknob to create a hobbit hole, where we would spend the night. We were shown a waterfall with a pool with fish in it (and Silurian kids playing). Bear was very happy.
We chatted around the fires. They told us that there were Sea Devils in the ocean here. They would periodically emerge to attack the Silurians.
14 Fruit We were on the beach after breakfast, when suddenly a bolt of energy shot at Jaycee’s image and went straight through. Another one struck me. It hurt. I was not impressed, as I changed to bear form and roared. Combat ensued. It was a much more open combat, and we ended up with our own individual encounters. Bear and I went for the close and conquer tactic, one enemy at a time.
Phaeton's Notes
On behalf of the the company that a group of us had formed to enhance the abilities of our spelljammer ship, I decided to employ a party of adventurers to search the Pellucidar cavern for a special type of quartz that had magical properties. According to the notes that were found in the Serendip Library, these crystals were able to allow a spelljammer to form a 'warp bubble' around the craft to allow faster than light travel. The crystals needed to be refined before they could do that but we had to find them first. From what we could tell, the refining process had to do with something called a 'solar furnace' and suggested that's it's location was on the planet Ariel, facing the sun. As if happened, Arch Magus Spica and her daughter Melody, also wanted a party to go to the Pellucidar cavern to find something they called the 'Earth Stone' being a cubic object about the size of a skull and packed full of Elemental Earth.
As far as party payment each, Spica was offering new magic and magical items if they could make their magic compatible with ours. It seems they're from an Alternate Golarion plane but the name doesn't translate which is probably why Lizette was looking very confused. I couldn't explain it either. Meanwhile I had been advised by Guild Security to 'offer as low as you dare, let them counter offer and make a compromise'. I should have known I was going to be in trouble when I saw Jaycey at the table. At least she didn't go for the moon but we did end up having a discussion on whether or not the moon is made of cheese ... again. If I get a chance, I'm going to take her up there with two shovels and a packet of crackers - in case there is cheese under all that dust.
Anyway, we left them to sort out their stuff. Spica teleported back to Sanctuary to get the ambergris for the Rank 20 Greaters all areas she offered to do while I took Melody to the Guild Library. so she could read up on the Seven Cities etc.
Next day we took a fast boat to Pasifika, well it was fast after Lim had finished with it. As well as the party, myself and the Capellans, Aqualina was on board. She had originally chartered the boat but was quite happy to have (a) company and (b) a faster ride home. She regaled us with tales of Pasifika, the merfolk and her latest adventures. She also suggested Lizette obtain the GTNs of several Horrors and other strange creatures that the Namer merfolk had discovered over the last year or so. Once we told her about what we were looking for, and the possibility that outsiders had shown the Lunarians how to build a helm, she suggested we check out the sunken city of Atlantis, located off the north tip of Rangiwhero and had sunk a few thousand years earlier. I had wanted to find that Sky Rock again and see if it was possible to purchase a more up to date helm since the one we had was an 'early proof of concept'. Plus it was originally the Pasifikan' Priest King's throne. But, as far as we know, none of the other thrones were helms, except the Beth-Salem one. This led to the possibility of finding enough dilithium to power two helms of which there would be an added bonus - once we figured out how to refine it. That was something I needed to talk to Professor Von Braun about, as well as checking out all the other thrones. Meanwhile Lizette was advised to talk to Professor Bellamy about the plant life in the Pellucidar cavern.
Mil-Sci
Daily pattern
‘’How much time does the party spend sleeping, eating, traveling, doing rituals, etc each day’’
- Camp - 12 hours.
- Rituals - 2 hours.
- Meals - 3 hours.
- Travel - 7 hours.
Approximate guess of breakdown.
Travel Magics
‘’What travel magic options does the party have, how far per cast/or per day if duration is longer than usual travel time.’’ ‘’Can the party eat/sleep/etc on the mode of transport.’’
- Walking
- Boat
- Wave
- Flying
- Other
Watch Order
Day Watch. ‘’Used when stationary, or on a larger transport such as a ship’’
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grizelda | Lim | Lizzete | |||||||||
| Seraph | Jaycey | ||||||||||
Night watch
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grizelda | Lim | Lizzete | |||||||||
| Seraph | Jaycey | ||||||||||
Nightmare always awake (Doesn't need sleep)
Marching Order
| Skirmish Formations (Front) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Double File | Single File | |
| Seraph, -, Grizelda | Grizelda | |
| - | Seraph | |
| Lizette | - | |
| - | Lizette | |
| - | - | |
| Jaycey, -, -, -, Lim | - | |
| - | Jaycey | |
| - | Lim | |
Buffs
General Buff Notes
Buffs listed in the table don't need to be detailed, other buffs not on the table must be mentioned at the time they are cast.
Y means always on, N/- means never on, 'Sit.' means when the party has time for buffs before a fight.
Weapon Spells which weapon/s it is going on normally should be noted also
Restoratives and Healing provided after Breakfast, Lunch, and Tea. More not recommended on a daily basis unless you chew nails for breakfast routinely.
Default Restorative is 10/20 unless the party requests weaker.
Cookie Stock (1.5 ounces)
- Giant Cookies: 32
- Restorative Cookies: 32
- Luck Cookies: 0
Long duration buffs
| Magic | Rk | Effects | Dur | Grizelda | Jaycey | Lim | Lizette | Seraph | Bear | Nightmare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Enchantment | 20 | +21% all four areas | 3 Months | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y(3) | - |
| Rune Shield | 15 | +20 def/+2 FTarmour/+2 ENarmour Creates small round shield of force - no hands, 0MD, can be cleaved to avoid one spec grev. | 16 Hours | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | - |
| Greater Heart Rune | 6 | Heals 6EN immediately | 6 days | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | - |
| Willow Healing | 7 | Heals 3 endurance damage per pulse for 9 pulses | 14 Hours | - | Y | Y | Y | Y | - | - |
| Giant Cookies | 8 | +5ST +5EN | 12 Hours (cookies keep for 9 days - free, or a season - cost 62.5 per cookie to make) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Name (??) | ## | ???? | ? Hours | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Heroism | 15 | +16 resistance to fear for everyone in LoS. | 160 Mins | - | Y (Perm) | Y (Perm) | - | - | - | - |
| Quietness | 12 | +17% to stealth | 6.5 Hours | - | Y | Y | - | - | - | - |
| Underwater Adaption Suite | Var. | Water Breathing, Buoyancy, Resist Cold, Waterproofing, all you need to swim. | Enough Hours | Y | Y | Y | Y(es please) | - | Y | - |
Short duration buffs
| Magic | Rk | Effects | Dur | Grizelda | Jaycey | Lim | Lizette | Seraph | Bear | Nightmare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smite | 12 | All D in single weapon or spell damage counts as 10. 5 charges. | 17 Mins | - | Y | Y | - | - | - | - |
| Creating Light Sword | 6 | +7% s.c. vs all, +3 DM vs Dark aspected creatures. | 11 Min. | - | N | Hand & 1/2, Songbirds. | - | Y(Weapon?) | - | - |
| Name ??? | ?? | ???? | ? Mins | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Skill effects and other things
| Magic | Rk | Effects | Dur | Grizelda | Jaycey | Lim | Lizette | Seraph | Bear | Nightmare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranger Detect Hidden & Traps | - | Modified by enemy ranger ranks. | - | - | - | 120% + 10% in woods. | - | - | - | - |
| Predict Weather | - | Predict weather in area. | - | - | - | 102% | - | - | - | - |
| Danger Sense / Sixth Sense | - | Warning when about to be detected / trigger a trap. Does not grant knowledge of what. | - | - | 110% | 121% | - | - | - | - |
| See in the dark (underground) range / See invisibility rank | - | - | - | 150' | 150'(150') / 20 | 150' (150') / 20 | - | - | - | - |
| Name ??? | ?? | ???? | ? Mins | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Name ??? | ?? | ???? | ? Mins | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Name ??? | ?? | ???? | ? Mins | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Name ??? | ?? | ???? | ? Mins | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Name ??? | ?? | ???? | ? Mins | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Loot and Expenses
SP & other cash value loot
20,000sp each + 20,000sp each on completion.
Significant Items
Gifts
Purchases
Minor Items
- 2 * Spider Venom, weapon poison.
- 2 * Sticky web grenadoe.
- Some plant spores.
Names
Abolith | Aquatic Elf | Ascomoid | Aventi | Basiderond | Cave Fisher | Chuul | Cloaker | Deep Ones | Dementor | Deinonychus | Elder Thing | Grindylow | Intellect Devourer | Lacedon | Lyrakien Azata | Merfolk | Mi-Go | Morlock | Myconoid | Night Gaunt | Pteradon | Roper | Sahuagin | Shoggoth | Shrieker | Silurian | Trilobite | Ulat-Kini | Violet Fungi | Yellow Musk Zombies
Calendar
Autumn | ||||||||||||||
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| Moonday | Duesday | W'ansday | Th'rsday | Frysday | Reapsday | Sunday | ||||||||
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Lugnasad | |||||||||||||
| Fruit (4) | ||||||||||||||
| 1 | Guild Meeting | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ||||||||
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7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | |||||||
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14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | |||||||
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21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | |||||||
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28 | 29 | 30 | |||||||||||
| Harvest (5) | ||||||||||||||
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5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | |||||||
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12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Equinox | 16 | 17 | Seagate Autumn Fair | 18 | Seagate Autumn Fair | ||||
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19 | Harvest Moon | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | ||||||
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26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | Michaelmas | 30 | ||||||||
| Vintage(6) | ||||||||||||||
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3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |||||||
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10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |||||||
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17 | Blood Moon | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | ||||||
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24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | Beerfest | ||||||
