Post by Andy D on Oct 5, 2024 22:51:04 GMT
On The Kantas Mentorship Programme
The supply of fresh adventurers to Kantas coupled with the retirement of more senior adventurers has led to little crossover between the two. This in turn results in on-the-job training being the norm for fresh-faced adventurers.
Crossover between veteran adventurers and juniors does not ordinarily occur for the above reason, but also because experienced hands are actively sought after by Daring Council for the more deadly of missions. Understandably The Council would not risk unknown adventurers on said missions. Also said adventurers tend to select the more challenging missions themselves for the higher rewards usually attached to those missions. All of this is to say that, yes, junior and senior adventurers tend not to mix, which is a shame, as the senior members consequently do not easily find time to impart their knowledge to the younger cohort. As such, hearing of a Kantas Mentorship Programme (KMP) for adventurers from Zasper, who took part as a mentee, I was intrigued to participate myself, but as a mentor.
It was surprising to learn that the organisers of the KMP do not appear to be affiliated with Daring Council. The warehouse in Port Ffirst where KMP is housed has a room made to function as a tavern, where senior and junior adventurers of the programme met. In the functioning, yet mock, tavern, an initial adventuring test took place, and a mission was then assigned pairing mentors and mentees together.
Concerning KMP as an organisation, I question the contractual clause about all treasure belonging to the KMP and compensation being paid entirely in coins. I also question compensation having been pre-arranged with the mission-requester ahead of time excluding input from the adventurers. In some respects, it is beneficial for adventurers to do only that of which they have the skill and were hence employed to do; investigate, protect, and fight if needed. Other matters, such as; negotiation of contracts, promoting one’s talents and seeking employment, by contrast, aren’t necessarily an adventurer’s forte. So enabling adventurers to focus on the core aspects of adventuring as opposed to the administrative parts, whilst also providing skill acquisition through mentorship; has the potential to be a very good service.
However, it troubles me that the KMP may in fact be more of an unnecessary middleman between adventurer-hirers and adventurers than a useful service to both. The introductory trial aimed at the mentees was interesting if a little corny, and perhaps perfunctory. The assigned mission was suitable, if a tad too dangerous for more junior adventurers. Whilst our mentees handled themselves admirably, without the abundance of mentors on the mission, I worry the mission could have gone pear-shaped fast. In addition, had we found a cornucopia of treasure during our mission, and been forced to hand it all over due to our contracts, and then only be paid what was previously agreed; I would have been most angry. It seems to me that KMP benefits the most out of the arrangement without offering much to the adventurers. Their gift shop, whilst pleasant, was also ludicrously overpriced. Plushies for Something Cute and Something Cozy - derivatives of the deadly Somethings who were responsible for a great deal of horror in the Dawnlands! - were being sold at 5gp a piece!
I worry that an as of yet discovered ‘Something Greedy’ and ‘Something Parasitical’ are lurking behind the curtains of a certain warehouse come tavern in Port Ffirst!
On The Mentorship Programme’s Second Adventuring Team
Mentees
Aegis - I am unsure to which god Aegis, the tiefling paladin, has pledged an oath. But a god there is, of which I am certain, having witnessed Aegis divinely smite the gargoyles we faced with warhammer and radiant, holy might as only a paladin could.
Aegis will be a welcomed frontliner in any future adventuring team, not least for the combative prowess that I witnessed, but also the protective holy abjuration spell I saw Aegis perform that troubled our foes when attacking her.
Bwop - I have not met many grungs. There appears to be much variety in the species, more so than one sees in elves or tieflings for example, and given the native Swamp Bog it was surprising to learn Bwop was not born here.
Bwop, I guess like many a warlock, was not expecting to become a spellcaster of the eldritch variety. Nevertheless, thrust into eldritch wizardry, Bwop has proven mastery over a summoning I have seen before; the fathomless tentacle, which was effective at damaging and hindering gargoyle and medusa alike. I witnessed lightning magic cast from my grung companion too, and of course, the signature Eldritch Blast spell of warlocks.
Mentors
Dr. Archie Haltuhr - I’m not sure why, and it is a little worrying not least when one is acting in the capacity of a mentor(!) - I neglectfully, and rather foolishly forgot to cast Mage Armour on myself before entering a location where combat was assuredly imminent. Am I becoming lackadaisical with the imminent completion of my clone? I hope not. Fortunately, I have several contingencies for injuries to my person whilst in the field. On this occasion, it was the Misty Step spell that helped address the predicament I faced being surrounded by gargoyles. The casting of Steel Wind Strike with my obsidian dagger as the spell component, and my scrivening variant of Scorching Ray (Forcing Ray) took care of the gargoyle predicament more offensively, and also effectively.
Dwirhian - I had not seen my elven monastic and bardic companion since that time in the Court of Sorcery when we aided Zola on her quest to master fey-bargaining. It is pleasing to see Dwirhian must be doing well, the speed of her movement was breathtakingly fast, faster than how Kavel described her!
Dwirhian was a fantastic mentor sharing magical inspirational empowerment with both mentees, and bashing the medusa with skillful pugilism.
Ilthuryn - The druidic wood-elf, Ilthuryn has the most fascinating of magical cloaks. The cloak provides a phenomenal replacement of vision, which the poor individual otherwise lacks. Ilthuryn’s mastery of cosmological and natural magic is a fascinating subset of druidic arcane magic, one that benefited the party both as a magical scout, and as a magical ranged attacker. Illthuryn’s Guiding Bolt and Moonbeam spells are as powerful as other very experienced druids’ spells that I’ve seen, and a cosmic omen originating from our druid could be felt around the battlefield to our benefit.
Between our party members who were capable of casting the spell Greater Restoration, I believe it was Ilthuryn who casted the spell to remove the petrification from the individual we sought. It was Ilthuryn’s use of his druidic magic that also reduced the time we spent tracking our quarry and establishing the threat. Ilthuryn was a true MVP. If I learn Aegis and Bwop have started a course on cosmic druidry, it will not surprise me.
I must check with Ilthuryn that the other victims of petrification we saw have been restored to their previous vitality.
Wil Frozendagger - I think Bwop took to Wil like Wil took to Bwop - kindred spirits of the eldritch patron kind. It was curious to me that Wil appeared to be more interested in imparting lessons in fishing rather than lessons in adventuring to our mentees (if Mendal had come in my place, no doubt he would have favoured sharing knowledge on crafting rather than adventuring or divine healing!) Still, it was good to see Wil and his charming water elemental girlfriend are both doing well. I haven’t seen them since the time we chased an individual over the rooftops of Port Ffirst.
Eldritch invocations are something of which I am jealous, although I would certainly not wish to enter into any pact to attain one. But, Wil’s eldritch ability to cast the spell Detect Magic at will is something I find fantastic. Wil’s Psychic Lance attacks, I heard, were particularly troublesome for the medusa we faced, and I take my hat off to him for resisting and reversing petrification. I was only able to witness, through my Arcane Spellbook’s Manifested Mind, the final act of the medusa battle, but Wil’s hex-enhanced Eldritch Blasts seem to be as powerful as his casting of Psychic Lances.
On Iminent Clone Completion
The time is wonderfully nigh! Clone completion, by my calculation, will occur in five days from the day I write this in my journal.
It is both strange, fascinating and awe-inspiring to look at the spitting image of one’s younger self! To have the reassurance that I will survive death (at least one time) and be able to carry on my research is an incredible blessing. I am very grateful for the many things that have led me to this point; my dear beloved mother and father for their love, lessons and support; financially or otherwise, and whatever luck it was that I was blessed with such support and the environment to thrive as an arcane specialist. I too have also been very lucky to find for whatever reason that I am so fascinated with all things be they arcane or natural; I am fascinated by all and wish to continue studying for the betterment of all. I cherish too, my dear friends; Mendal and Kavel, who have been with me on this journey since my younger days, I am grateful too, for the companions we’ve met here in the Dawnlands where my more recent arcane studies and research has taken place. The Clone spell, and its completion is an important step in my hopeful contribution to shorter-lived humanoids’ lifespan and healthspan extension. Next, on my path to mastering the potions of; Longevity and Vitality, I must master the spells; Wish and Simulacrum.