[pnpgm] To High Elder / To Party

[Alex Koponen]

When it is time for Z'leyra to speak to the High Elder she asks "I see 
that attempting to affect the Vong directly with a spell would likely 
not work. Is it known whether the Vong affect the likelihood of a spell, 
say for example a Fireball, being cast through the area they are in? If 
not, presumably they would take damage from the heat just as normal 
creatures would. Likewise, is it known whether enchantments, such as of 
sharpness and of improved aim, have any different affect when used 
against the Vong?"

"Also, do you know the basis on how Katai does what detecting of magic 
that is does? For example one type might be an amulet that glows 
whenever magic is nearby and the amulet glows stronger as it gets closer 
to the magic. This type would be much harder to sneak magic items past 
than an amulet that allows the wearer to see magic in line of sight. 
This might be countered by having a layer of paint or cloth over the 
magic item, depending on if and how thick the aura of the item is. 
Similarly an item that causes nearby magic items to glow could be 
blocked by several layers of cloth, a thin layer of leather or some 
other means of blocking light. Depending on the answer we may be able to 
sneak magic items in."

"I do have a spell 'Oblivion' that allows me to put people into a 
magical hole as it were. Perhaps a more advanced version of the spell 
could put items in until called? I could perhaps use Oblivion for 
transporting people with all their magic items. Is it detectable by 
those in Katai that I have cast it and could call the person back?"

"Does making an item invisible make it undetectable as magic by them? Is 
it possible that a carrying item like a sack or box could be ensorcelled 
to normally be invisible, insubstantial and to levitate behind someone 
until made visible and substantial by a command word...then available 
for some minutes to put in or take out items that are concealed within 
it? I may be able to create such an item, but I suspect that you could 
do a much better job far faster than I can at this moment. You may 
already have such an item available."

"If we cannot safely conceal our magics we may have to leave them 
behind. In which case suitable non-magical arms and armor may be needed 
for us to fight the Vong with."


Later...when talking with the party.
"I would prefer the speed of teleporting to the place we need to go, but 
I am used to lands where there is plenty of space to hide in. I gather 
that Katai is much more crowded. The combination of being so crowded 
that teleporting might be obvious and the hatred of magic that may lead 
to immediate attacks on those appearing via teleport may make it very 
hard to concentrate on attacking the Vong when mobs of Katai attempt to 
kill us wherever we appear. Though teleportation combined with 
invisibility or illusions may keep that risk to a minimum."

"Several of us can entertain well enough for us to use the subterfuge of 
being a troupe of entertainers. 'See the amazing foreigners! The giant 
Raban, stronger than two men! Try and match quickness with the lightning 
fast Farseeker! The acrobat Kiet! The woman warriors Unali and  Z'lerya! 
Hear the music and see the dancing from foreign lands. Win money by 
beating the foreigners at challenges of strength and skill!' For 
example, while merely decent as a fighter I am a trained troubadour who 
can sing, dance and play drums. Not spectacularly well, it is a hobby, 
not my profession, but perhaps well enough to have villagers thinking of 
me as an entertainer rather than as something more, uh feared. Perhaps I 
could get Corona to participate as a 'trained pet', or failing that to 
keep a safe distance so as not to trigger suspicions. Of course I can 
continue to be a healer. I can also be a traveling herbalist. Even a 
jeweler or an artist."

"About hiding magic...it depends on how the magic is sensed. I dislike 
using the Oblivion spell but could do so to carry folks fully armed and 
armored,  ready for combat. That presumes that I can recall you when 
needed. The recall is expensive in terms of magic. If exhausted or in a 
situation where I can't cast magic I would not be able to recall folks 
from Oblivion until I was refreshed and in a place where I could cast 
magic. I suppose that I might be able to make an item to cast 
Oblivion...but the item might get lost or taken."