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Topic: For Whom the Bell Tolls Q&A
Subject: Okay, then...
We're now starting at 9. I'll send out a round of messages to remind everyone nearer the time.
Oh, and because I couldn't sleep, here's a prologue of sorts. Obviously, it's just flavour text and nothing that your characters will know IC.
Prologue: Touched With Fire
In the boundless, lightless tunnels far beneath the Trollspine Mountains a solitary figure sat, crouched in the darkness. A plump, many-hued spider was busy spinning its web across the rocks of the tunnel passage, entangling a beetle many times its size in the sticky, impenetrable silk and the figure, an adolescent kobold female some dozen years of age, was fully engrossed in the labours of this industrious insect. Many of her peers, it was true, would have seen nothing more than a juicy snack ripe for the plucking, for the winter had been a hard one and their kind ate worse things by far than insects, but there was something- a spark of intelligence, of brilliant fire- which set her apart from the others of her kind. There was a lesson to be learnt here. Watching the struggles of the busy spider, entrapping another great horror of the insect kingdom- a beast with jaws and spikes and armour plates to rival the arms of the greatest adventurer- by natural cunning and wit, a small flash of insight struck the kobold cub, for she fancied that in its labours she saw the toils of her own people writ in miniature.
A fire burned in the eyes of this emaciated, half-starved kobold cub there, in the dust and rubble of the abandoned tunnel, and it was the light of a thousand burning cities. Of a debt of blood and pain and sorrow to be repaid in full against those who had hounded her kind to the dark, forgotten places, to the ends of the earth, for the theft of near-forgotten ancestral hunting grounds to make way for places of crafted stone and raked mud, for the warriors who followed with bright steel, and armour like a lobster’s carapace wherever the tribes gathered, wherever they might find some tangled, overgrown forest or scrap of barren land to call home. Come summer many of her peers would be dead, claimed by starvation, or disease or predators, but the kobold pup was not amongst them. Something had claimed her, though she could not know it yet, some cruel twist of fate perhaps for the gods of the kobolds are cruel, petty creatures, not easily bestirred by the prayers and laments of those who give them worship, and who else would exert themselves upon the behalf of this dying race. Soon, the snows would be melting in the mountains above and with their passage they would usher in the dawn of a new season. For now, the cub could see little further than the gnawing, constant pain in her belly, and the spider and beetle both- their lesson imparted- were ensnared with needle-sharp claws and ushered into her waiting maw. A brighter future was dawning, however, and others too- the shamans and elders of her tribe- would see the touch of fire burning brightly at this kobold pup’s heart. She would learn to hate those who would bring her tribe destruction, to guide and shepherd the oblivious, animal herd of her fellows, would find the strength to call upon the strange gifts of the gods who had abandoned her people. And perhaps some day, if the fates smiled upon her, the destiny of kings and tyrants might hinge on this fire-touched cub’s words, men and giants alike might fall- or be felled- at her command. Perhaps she might even baulk the fates themselves, slowing the inexorable march of the sands of time to create a true homeland, a place of shelter and security, for her people deep at the heart of the world.
All this is yet to come, however, and for now the cub is content to lick the messy remnants of the spider from her hands, her hunger (as ever) unsatisfied, and wander on, in the hope of further prey, into the caverns below.
EDIT: Most of the things prophecied above have already happened in play, in one fashion or another.
Jagna's one of my favourite NPCs from this campaign, but I won't be cutting her any special breaks. She's still there as part of team monster and will be treated accordingly.
Posted on 2008-04-30 at 00:50:30.
Edited on 2008-04-30 at 00:53:35 by Vorrioch
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Topic: RDI T-shirts
Subject: Suggestion
You probably want the top line of text slightly lower down on the shirt. With the cross, it also looks slightly off centre.
Posted on 2008-04-29 at 21:06:13.
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Topic: For Whom the Bell Tolls Q&A
Subject: Identifications
I was assuming that you’d have the time to memorise and cast identifications once you got back to Caer Hwarnsvalon. If you want to stay in the caves then, no, you won’t unless you’re resting overnight.
I’ve just dug out the spell description, and here’s how it will work…
- Each casting of Identify will cost 100 gold pieces in spell components.
- As a 5th level mage, you’ll have a 50% chance to identify up to five magical properties of the items.
- So… whoever’s casting it will need to let me know which five items they’re trying to identify.
- If an item has more than one magical ability then only one will be identified for each question assigned to them.
- For each question, you’ll have a 50% chance of getting a correct reading, a 46% chance of no reading at all and a 4% chance of a false reading.
If you're all free, then I'd certainly be able to start a bit earlier on Fridays... shall we say an hour earlier? If this works then I'll send out another round of PMs to ask how well this works for everyone.
Posted on 2008-04-29 at 15:59:27.
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Topic: For Whom the Bell Tolls Q&A
Subject: So…
Are Fridays still the best time for everyone, or might some of you be able to make it more often if we were to move to a different night? Cdn, are you saying that Fridays work best for you, but that you might not always be able to make it anyway?
I’m not sure that I’d be entirely comfortable with allowing full secondary characters. While that might be one way to compensate for our reduced player party, I get the feeling that it might cause more problems than it would resolve. I’ve also had a few bad experiences with that sort of thing in the past… :-/
EDIT: Also, while everyone's online... what are you doing with the treasure from your last few adventures? If you want to try to identify any of it then you've got at least two characters who can.
Posted on 2008-04-29 at 15:36:45.
Edited on 2008-04-29 at 15:39:46 by Vorrioch
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Topic: For Whom the Bell Tolls Q&A
Subject: Thoughts
No problem, I understand that real life needs to take priority.
We could try moving the game to another night, but I’m guessing that everyone has work during the week. Saturdays wouldn’t work either, since Brianna and Dragon Mistress wouldn’t be able to make it. Sundays aren’t ideal for me (since I have sports in the afternoon), but if that works better for everyone else then we could always give it a try.
Anyway, I’ll post ads on a couple of other forums and see if I get any response, if not then I’m happy to continue running for as long as people want to play. If the game’s going to die, though, I’d prefer to wrap everything up dramatically than for the campaign to just peter out.
Posted on 2008-04-29 at 13:47:19.
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Topic: For Whom the Bell Tolls Q&A
Subject: Actually…
If it’s just going to be the four of us most games from now on then we might want to start thinking about whether it’s worth continuing at all.
Numbers in-character aren’t such an issue, as I can always scale back on the monsters or just give you a few more henchmen. It’s the out of character side I’m more worried about, as even if just one more person can’t make it to an adventure then we won’t really have a party at all.
Anyhow, I’ll post recruitment threads on a couple more boards this afternoon, and I’d appreciate it if you could help spread the word as well. Failing that, it might be best to wrap things up with a bang this Friday rather than just let it drag on and peter out over the next few weeks.
Posted on 2008-04-29 at 13:18:51.
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Topic: For Whom the Bell Tolls Q&A
Subject: ...
So… you’d want to retire Emmerus completely and start playing a new character? 
I’m not going to stop you if you’ve made your mind up but it would be great if you could either find a way to deal with (or work around) the restriction IC. Also, I’ve really enjoyed having Emmerus with the party, though no doubt whoever you decide to play next will be just as cool.
Basically, if you are deciding to head back to the dwarves then I’ll probably start the siege… you can try to make a return trip to the mountain if you’d like though getting there might be slightly more of a problem. Or, if you’re heading back to Bridhvale we can start something up from there.
Posted on 2008-04-29 at 13:09:42.
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Topic: For Whom the Bell Tolls Q&A
Subject: Excavating Skratta's chambers...
Skratta, the hobgoblin shaman, lies dead at your feet: felled by a combination of magical energies, keen archery and cold dwarven steel. The trolls of his pack, burned and charred beyond even the remit of their own legendary healing energies, lie where they fell, slumped together at the chamber’s entrance. An eerie quiet falls upon the cavern in the aftermath of the desperate battle, interrupted by only the ragged breathing of its victors, the scrape of their boots on the flinty rock underfoot and the distant trickling of water to the lake below.
In the low, flickering half-light of Skratta’s fire- now dying to its embers- a hundred distorted, shadowy figures dance and writhe across the dry stone of the cavern’s walls and floor. Oblivious, the party move on to make a more thorough search of the shaman’s chambers. They are bleeding and bruised themselves, slowed by wounds beyond even the remit of their own priests’ healing powers, and their magical reserves are nearing an end. With any luck, however, something can be discovered here to grant them an edge in their final battle with King Thalgrim.
Crude cave painting, depicting monstrous figures- toothed and clawed like beasts of legend- adorn the tunnel walls as they press onwards into the clinging darkness. Somewhere overhead there must surely be a fault in the rock, for their passage is punctuated by whistling screams and bursts of cool air from the rocks overhead. A trio of chambers open from the tunnel’s far reaches. The first is littered with troll dung and chewed, splintered animal bones, nothing of interest or value there. The second appears to represent a shrine of sorts: four thick candles of crudely rendered fat fill the air with a pungent, black smoke, marking the four corners of a large and blood-spattered stone altar. The candlesticks themselves, most likely plundered, appear to have been fashioned from an ornate gold, their finely crafted stems rising up in the likeness of columns of flame themselves. A heavy, iron-bound chest is to be found in the room’s far corner, though this is locked and you are able to discover no key. The third chamber appears to have been Skratta’s own: a heavy chain mail byrnie hangs at the near end of a thick bed of furs, a wickedly spiked morning star and shield presented on a mantle overhead. Buried in the depths of the fur-pile a second chest, this one unlocked, is unearthed, and a collection of potion bottles and baked clay tablets are unearthed inside.
Nothing more than a sturdily-wrought iron holy symbol, in the shape of a double-headed axe, and a collection of beads and animal-bone tokens are to be found on Skratta’s body itself. The furthest depths of the shaman’s chambers have been plumbed and there is now nothing for it but to head back before you are discovered, or to exhaust what little remains of your healing magics and chance one final battle with Thlagrim and the warriors of his court.
***
The equipment list on the first page of this thread has been updated with the treasures recovered from last Friday’s adventure.
You haven’t had a chance to cast Detect Magic on any of these items yet, so you won’t know which are enchanted until you get a chance to rest overnight and cast a spell over them. There may also be encumbrance issues if you’re trying to take some of these items (the giant’s sword, the locked chest and the pile of furs) back to Caer Hwarnsvalon with you.
I'll start writing next week's adventure just as soon as someone lets me know what your plans are IC... 
Posted on 2008-04-28 at 19:40:22.
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Topic: Vote for the Inn
Subject: Just voted...
... but we're down to #10.
Come on people, keep voting!
Posted on 2008-04-28 at 14:26:55.
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Topic: What Dreams Become
Subject: Back to the present
With a hiss of anger and pain, akin to that of a steaming kettle, Hiram found himself flung from the dream-world which he had laboured to create. The walls and floor of Einhart’s office splintered and crumpled about him like a broken window as the dream collapsed and- through a haze of spite and red mist- the phantom found himself confronted with a most disquieting reality.
With a predator’s glare, his Artic form already rising in a cloud of condensation in the basement’s stifling heat, the ghost took in the scene with a mixture of indignation and sheer, unbridled astonishment. He was back in the old boiler room in the hospital basement, in the lair of the charred intruder. The ambulance crew certainly had no right bringing his patient here, if, indeed, the priest was in attendance at all. Worse yet, the phantom fancied that he could hear an anguished scream from within the disused boiler- could Winters actually be trapped inside?
In a heartbeat, a simple plan of action had developed within the dead psychologist’s mind… immobilise the first of his antagonists and then, if possible, possess the second to make a more thorough reconnaissance of the scene and free anyone trapped inside the old machine. With a second voiceless, wordless hiss of malice the spectre launched itself at Walker… its icy hands ready to puncture the security guard’s chest and draw out the sweet, hot breath within. One way or another, perhaps the intruder’s actions really would claim a life that day.
OOC: Hiram is using Breath Stealing on Walker.
Posted on 2008-04-28 at 14:18:04.
Edited on 2008-04-28 at 14:20:28 by Vorrioch
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Topic: For Whom the Bell Tolls Q&A
Subject: With losses like these…
I just heard from SilentOne last night and she’s not going to be able to make the game from now on due to things going on in real life.
Ginafae also won’t be able to make it along for the next fortnight at least.
So… in short, we're really going to need some new players.
I’ve already put a new recruitment post up on the boards and will upgrade it with some flavour text just as soon as I’ve got the time. I’d also be grateful if you could pass the word along if you know anyone else who might be interested.
***
On an in-character note, I’ll upgrade your party inventory (on the first page of this thread) later today with everything you found on the ghouls and in Skratta’s chambers.
If you’re willing to exhaust your magical reserves then you might be able to head on to Thalgrim’s court immediately and fight another battle. Resting anywhere near the orcish stronghold seems a highly dangerous option (unless you can find some way to safely conceal yourselves)… especially given that you’ve just killed their head shaman. Alternatively, you could always head back to the dwarves, either to help them in the coming siege or to rest and re-supply for a return trip. Who knows, you might be lucky enough to avoid the Brotherhood’s attention… 
Either way, let me know your plans at some point over the next few days and I’ll start writing up the next adventure.
(Incidentally, Skratta was a 10th level Cleric… congratulations, guys! The Brotherhood have existed in play for over a month now, they’re not just something I made up on the spur of the moment.  )
Posted on 2008-04-26 at 11:39:05.
Edited on 2008-04-26 at 11:56:56 by Vorrioch
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Topic: For Whom the Bell Tolls Q&A
Subject: That's again for playing, everyone...
As ever, it's a real pleasure to DM for you guys. 
Before I forget, here's the party as things currently stand. I'll handle equipment tomorrow and we can sort out your plans for next week later.
Hit Points:
Arys: 9/40, Emmerus: 39/45, Isilifeline: 40/40, Joshua: -3/20 [stabilised], Thordalf: 19/20, Valendara: 22/22, Vanima: 30/32
Spells Left:
Emmerus:
Cure Light Wounds
Chant
Flame Blade
Call Lightning
Dispel Magic
Valendara:
Charm Person
Blindness
Aid
Hold Person
Prayer
Vanima:
Magic Missile [x2]
Posted on 2008-04-26 at 02:41:51.
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Topic: For Whom the Bell Tolls Q&A
Subject: Hall of the Mountain King
I'm just heading into chat... now!
Posted on 2008-04-25 at 20:41:19.
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Topic: For Whom the Bell Tolls Q&A
Subject: Just wanted to let you know...
... that we will be running tonight.
It would be great if everyone could get their spells to me at some point before the adventure starts again. (I don't need them now... just by the time we're starting in chat.)
Posted on 2008-04-25 at 14:17:32.
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Topic: Audalis: Tides of War: Recruitment Thread
Subject: A new game, you say?
Give Kaelyn a chance at revenge for all the horrible things I’ve done to his character, you say?
Oh, heck. You had me from the word “kobold”.
Also, I can’t help but notice that most (if not all) of your players seem to be at least as familiar with 2nd ed. as 3.5. Any chance we could dispense with the last ten barbarous years of fiendish half-drow paladins and positive armour classes and return to the game we all know and love?
Posted on 2008-04-25 at 10:33:16.
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Topic: Feeding The Undead Q/A
Subject: ...
Thanks… I’ll post a reply at some point over the weekend. I’ve been in an open exam over the last couple of days and could probably use some sleep first.
Also, everywhere in this game’s based on real life Herkimer- right? Might it be worth finding a map online so that we all know where everything is?
Posted on 2008-04-24 at 18:24:51.
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Topic: Feeding The Undead Q/A
Subject: Good grief, we’ve got a Grugg?
Hide your zombies, quick!
Posted on 2008-04-24 at 17:47:04.
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Topic: What Dreams Become - Q/A
Subject: Question
Am I correct in understanding that Hiram's no longer in the dream state... and that Father Winters is probably in the boiler?
Posted on 2008-04-23 at 14:14:39.
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Topic: For Whom the Bell Tolls Q&A
Subject: No problem
As Valendara’s currently a level 5/5 Mage/ Priestess of Corellon she can cast the following spells per day:
Mage:
4 1st level
2 2nd level
1 3rd level
Cleric
3 1st level
3 2nd level
1 3rd level
(Priest spells must be chosen from the following spheres: All, Astral, Charm, Chaos, Combat, Creation, Guardian, Healing, Necromantic, Protection, Summoning, Sun, Thought, War, Wards.)
You’ll find your full character sheet on the first page of this thread.
I’ve had to check the rules for writing scrolls in 2nd ed (on p.117-119 of the DMG). It seems to be a bit more complicated than in 3.5.
Basically, you need to be either a 7th level Cleric or a 9th level Mage. There isn’t any automatic monetary or XP cost but your character will need to find or buy various magical components in order to start writing scrolls of her own (cockatrice feathers to use as quills and giant squid ink are the examples given in the rules.) These components might vary depending on the sort of scroll you’re crafting.
Thought you’d spent all of your character’s starting funds (150 gp) on healing potions at the start of last week’s adventure. If you’d like to take money out of the party funds then I’ll assume that an antidote to protect against one type of poison (e.g. giant spider venom or ettercap poison) will cost 50 gp while a universal antidote will cost 100.
(Antidotes aren’t covered at all in the core rules, so I’m just working with the rules in The Complete Thief’s Handbook... which unhelpfully doesn’t bother including a price list at all.)
Posted on 2008-04-22 at 13:32:21.
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Topic: What Dreams Become
Subject: No peace for the wicked
Taking charge of the dream, Hiram let his magic do its work. Darkness and light alike flickered and failed, first dissolving into a static grey and then reshaping into a scene of the ghost’s own choosing.
***
The two stood once more in the Head Doctor’s office, outside both space and time, the frantic scene expanding like a photo still about them. On the floor beneath them, a likeness of Winter’s own body was caught, slumped face down in a pool of his own blood. Einhart cowered, face hidden beneath his hands, behind the desk at the far side of the office whilst a duplicate of the phantom himself was poised over the fallen priest, frozen in the act of tearing at the charred intruder-spirit.
“Don’t worry, you’re not dead,” Hiram informed the priest casually, lighting up a cigar from the well-polished silver lighter in his front pocket, white doctor’s coat billowing in an intangible breeze like a magician’s robes.
“As I said before, there are other spirits here, and they’re not nearly as congenial as myself. When your wounds are healed, I’d be most obliged if you could find your way back here. With aberrations like that on the loose, some of my patients’ lives could depend on it.”
“In any case, I won’t keep you. No doubt you’ll know where to find me once you’re back on your feet. Seriously, though, I really could use your help… people will die here if those things aren’t stopped, and I can’t be everywhere at once. Best regards, and all that.”
OOC: Unless Father Winters has anything to say in reply, Hiram will just see him as far as the hospital gates before heading back to visit Annabell.
Posted on 2008-04-21 at 14:01:07.
Edited on 2008-04-21 at 14:17:23 by Vorrioch
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Topic: Applauds?
Subject: Thanks, Grugg...
I honestly didn't know that. 
*Off to applaud a few more people.*
Posted on 2008-04-20 at 20:57:50.
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Topic: For Whom the Bell Tolls Q&A
Subject: Emmerus' Answers
If Jagna's already been to the mountain can she answer the following:
Patrols, Guards, likely encounters, traps and the like.
“Warbands all around mountain and in woods… orcs mainly. Near entrance to caves… on top of rise, stone-throwers positioned. Kill any who come too close.”
“Inside, halls and tunnels. Lead down to heart of mountain. Combed with smaller passages, for svaga and my people… we come and go as please. Many orcs, many more, gathered below. Skratta found the bones of the giants, they fight for him now too. Then you will come to Thalgrim and Skratta in court and shaman’s chambers. Skratta places traps, a charm I think, to keep out of his resting-place. Then, further below, come to underground lake and deep tunnels… follow into depths of the earth.”
Skarra, Thalgrims and the other leaders races? strenths weaknesses? whatever she can tell us to give us an advatage.
“Thalgrim is King here,” Jagna frowns. “Skin-thief, calls on power of wolf-spirits in fight. Silver and spell-craft, they burn him but he is strong, very strong. Bit by him and perhaps you become one too. His pack, they follow for now until too old to lead and then eat instead, I think.”
“Skratta? He is of the others… those you fought beneath the earth, with Sorudin. The Stonespeakers run with him and through him… call his name in the darkness and speak through him when answers. This I have seen.”
“His pack… trolls you would call them, I think. They run with him. His spell-speakings protect them, not burned in a fight… flesh not broken, rise up again to claw and bite and kill once more.”
“Other chieftains?” she shrugs, “Many gather here… my kind, the svaga, orcs, ogres, trolls… but not lead, all follow Thalgrim and Stonespeakers. Fight for his favour. None have strength enough to make challenge of their own… not to be worried about so much for now, perhaps.”
If we manage an upper hand in battle, will she help aid in the fall of Thalgrim, and the others, the Stonespeakers perhaps to rid the land of their call... or perhaps at least take her tribe and go far from here to where they will be safe (and we won't see them again)
Jagna pauses to think for a moment, obviously mistrusting your offer. “No,” she finally replies, “I have seen you fight, here and before, and if you go against the Stonespeakers you will die, I think. They are stronger here… feed from the blood-rage and anger of the mountain folk and Skratta gains too from their strength. We turn against them and be hunted down… none escape.”
“Kill Thalgrim perhaps and tribes scatter… each go own way unless Stonespeakers can call them back. Kill Scratta and those who follow him and Thalgrim look to me instead, perhaps, ask me to speak omens and call spirits to guide him. My kind do better here… many gathering, it will be good to be with tribe again, I think. Soon, perhaps we can grow strong too,” she smiles, revealing a mouth full of sharp, canine fangs, “and then we will be safe. Your folk not come for us then, perhaps.”
Posted on 2008-04-20 at 15:57:28.
Edited on 2008-04-20 at 19:18:03 by Vorrioch
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Topic: For Whom the Bell Tolls Q&A
Subject: ...
Well, I think that cdn’s plan was to follow the trail left by the orcs that got away last time (which, funnily enough, leads you up towards Thalgrim’s lair). So the two could actually tie together quite well.
You warn the dwarves. They seem to take your information on board and start preparing for a siege.
Did anyone have any more questions for Jagna at the end of last week’s adventure or do you already have all of the information you wanted?
***
SilentOne, sorry to hear you won't be able to make it. Just let me know when you're likely to be back, okay?
Posted on 2008-04-20 at 13:56:32.
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Topic: For Whom the Bell Tolls Q&A
Subject: Decision time
Come on, guys! Does no one else have an opinion at all?
I’ll really need to know what your characters will be doing by tomorrow night if I’m going to have the time to write an adventure up for Friday.
***
Cdnflirt, you don’t actually *get* skill points in 2nd ed. What you will get is another Non-Weapon Proficiency next level… which you can spend on learning to speak Gnoll or Orcish if you want.
Posted on 2008-04-20 at 11:32:26.
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Topic: For Whom the Bell Tolls Q&A
Subject: Spells
4 1st level
2 2nd level
1 3rd level
Posted on 2008-04-19 at 16:33:45.
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