Session 10 Downtime: The Blasti-bros

 

"You look like shit", Marsh said as he entered Blastikus' study and quietly closing the door behind him.

"You would too if you had a wraith's finger up your ass", Blastikus replied. He closed the book before him and looked at Marsh, "Although I am obligated to you for saving our asses with the Haste spell."

"Enlightened self interest, but I can't use that trick too often or we'll be joining the wraiths far, far, too prematurely", he replied, chuckling softly. "That does raise the point of my visit, however."

Blastikus cocks an eyebrow and said "Which is?"

"We've both been studying the runes on this place. It's clearly very old, very powerful. There's a reason someone bound the elemental below. Very curious that the so called 'Shrine of Evil Tablets' is so close by, wouldn't you agree?"

"Hmph. Why do you think I wanted to explore these ruins? There's power aplenty for the both of us, here and nearby. What did you have in mind?"

Marsh sat down in the divan opposite Blastikus' workbench. He paused a moment, considering his words. "You've already set up a respectable laboratory here. There's sufficient other devotees of The Art in the nearby cities, even with the hobgoblin legions scaring away prospects. I say we recruit an alchemist and start fortifying our little group. We have muscle aplenty but we'll need more to crack the secrets here."

"I've been thinking along the same lines. The wraiths indicate the barriers are thin here, probably more than we suspect. Minimally, we can have the alchemist alloy our weapons with silver and help us brew some likely enhancements. We'll need more funds as well. We'll have to plan our next expedition when we're fully recovered. I think we should follow the map we got from the Oni - there's enough loot there for all of us."

Marsh nods in agreement. "Good. We're of the same mind. I'll go with Brother Sully and Krall to Old Brightwood to start making arrangements."

Blastikus looks at Marsh sharply. "We are clear that I have laid claim to this tower and the alchemist is mine to command?"

"Of course, my dear friend. I have my own studies to pursue and have no real desire to live here as anything other than your guest. You've been a most generous host. The scrolls in the Oni hoard will keep me happily occupied for quite some time."

"I agree to share my knowledge if you will do the same and allow you access to the alchemist when I have no need of him. Do we have a compact?", asks Blastikus.

"We have a compact. It's much more lucrative for us to cooperate, don't you agree?", said Marsh.

"Most assuredly, my friend", Blastikus says as he leans back into his chair, silently contemplating just how long he will maintain this collegiality. 

Blasti-bros Recharge

It's a busy downtime session for the bros:

• The next expedition will be to the nameless ruined city in hex 311.304 in pursuit of the Oni's treasure hoard
  
  
• Blastikus expands his current workshop into an alchemical lab for 1000gp and hires Methikles the Twitchy as his resident alchemist for 300gp a month with an additional lab upkeep cost of 100gp per month. I decide that it will take 3 weeks to get everything up and running so the alchemist will be available on 1 April 2025.
  
  Blastikus also pays 500gp to have the tower repaired to livable standards. This is twice the normal cost since he had to overcome the workmen's fear of the place. He spends an additional 100gp to replace the door leading to dungeon level 2 with a reinforced iron door, just in case something tries to sneak up from the depths.
  
  
• Luisa is in recovery and prayer dealing with her level loss. Hopefully the Chaos Lords can strengthen her faltering resolve.
  
  
• Marsh advances to Level 8 magic-user and is in training until 18 March 2025.
  
  
• Mog seethes with anger over his level loss and flight from battle. His warrior blood burns with the need to redeem his honor. He decides to hire some mercenaries for some additional muscle on the sortie into the ruined city. They all need more funds and planning before destroying the wraiths. Vengeance, must like the wraith's touch, must be served cold. He journeys to Old Brightwood and recruits some new mercs. Rolling on the table on DMG pg 30, he secures 10 medium horsemen and kits them up with sword, mace, lance and banded mail. He names them Mog's Madmen and puts them under command of Lt Hassan.
  
  
• All party members upgrade their weapons to silver versions as part of the purchases when recruiting the alchemist. Mog follows suit and upgrades the Madmens' weapons as well, just in case...