Accessing the Order's library was not so simple a task. Radiating outward from a central hub, myriad rooms and chambers connect via access tunnels, with each room representing a different area of study. After sending Mitu back to Larka City so he can work on his armor, Lugh and Soreiss spend a day poking though materials seraching for information about the Druidim and, after finding Druidim too broad a topic, the World Wolf. The creature known as the World Wolf is said to be the instrument of Life's justice, a massive wolf capable of being called forth by a ritual of the Druidim only in a place where blood has been spilled where friend has become enemy, and family, foe.
Lugh's further research is slow, since he learns quickly that most works written for the Order's archives are written in Pargrati, an ancient language spoken only within the Protectorate. He is referred to Lord Berlitz, the premier language instructor in the region (and a joke that nobody seemed to get, alas).
Meanwhile, Slip begins exploring the pathways beneath the Mountain, hoping to find the waternode. His wandering leads him to a massive subterranean river, where he finds a fisherman setting traps in water. He asks about a "node", but the fisherman has no idea about what Slip is discussing. He does, however, ask if that is the same thing as the Maelstrom, the churning whirlpool where the various water streams all converge. Going to investigate, Slip finds that indeed, they are much the same thing -- the most forceful node he has ever felt moves the water here, pushing and pulling the flow like a watery heart. It dwarfs the power of the node at Sh'kael's Necropolis, and Slip can feel the node pulling him closer like being in a gravity well of pure elemental force. Slip quickly decides to leave, unsure of what might happen if he is pulled into the water node's thrashing vortex.
Rin has taken some time to commune with the spirits of air who drift about the steep, mountain slopes. He climbs for most of the day, taking a moment of respite from the affairs of people.
[Placeholder]
-----
[Jolt Code: 2B, 13C, 2CB, 3R, 2S]
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Chapter 15: Session 02
The Warbringer Daemok is questioned for a short time, revealing that after its revelation by the theft of the Doxinaru's Gem, those Daemok loyal to Calimus had stolen the Warpstone from the Scar to use for their own ends -- in this case, to keep Liera, the Talmoril, imprisoned. They seek to keep Mevonn's Quill from passing, therefore hindering the ascension of a new Talmoril upon Liera's death. When questioned why, the Warbringer scoffed at them, revealing only that the next Talmoril will be a danger to their kind. Instead of killing the Warbringer, Soreiss dismisses it, and it departs -- but not before attempting to collapse the tunnel atop them all.
Relocating to the surface with much haste, Warpstone in hand and a beleaguered Talmoril in tow, the party decides upon their options. They realize they cannot use magic to move the Warpstone, so wherever they end up going, it must be physically carried along with them. Two ideas seem the obvious options -- once more contact Sable and use to shadow powers of his ring, Thohlemmryz, to transport the Warpstone, or makie contact with the Order of Oryon, and see if they will carry the stone via their great eagles and then perhaps hold the stone at Mount Wind. Sable could not be located, leaving the Order of Oryon to be contacted. However, they were unable to contact the Order either. Kestra makes an offer to the party, presenting them with a short term contract for the Bronze Bull's services for guarding and delivering the Warpstone into the Mount Wind Protectorate. The party agrees, albeit somewhat reluctantly, and for two days travels along the roads connecting Kesh to the Hegemony, and, ultimately, the Hegemony to the Protectorate.
After two days, however, contact is made with the Order of Oryon, with the spellsword Hovirith arriving to palaver. He tells the party that they must wait an additional day for an answer as he must report the finding of the Warpstone to his superiors.
The following day, and Order of Oryon contingent arrives along with Hovirith. The man in charge, a stooped, wizened old fellow named Ulius, claims to lead the Voice of Oryon and begins a series of negotiations. Eventually, the matter is resolved simply. The Order will take possession of the Warpstone for safe keeping, to use at their discretion until such time as the Party comes to reclaim it, and providing the stone is not needed for use for immediate Order concerns. The PCs are told that within two days time, Eagleriders will arrive to take the Warpstone, after which they are all welcome guests of the Protectorate.
Liera, the Talmoril, says very little during this time, except to respond to questions and generally to indicate (after seemingly consulting her sword) that her path leads to Mount Wind.
True to their word, members of the Order of Oryon arrive in two days time lead this time by a stocky, older man named Vargus. Vargus is both a sorceror and wizard of some skill, as well as an accomplished warrior, who reveals later that he is the head of the Shield, the faction of the Order of Oryon dedicated to Internal Security and the general protection of the Protectorate. Once the Warpstone is secure and being flown westward, Vargus offers his services for rapid transport to the Protectorate. The Bulls are dismissed from service and the bill settled before the party departs.
The Mount Wind Protectorate extends a great distance beyond the mountain itself, and includes the hills, forests, and grazelands all around it. It is to the foothills by the edge of the northern forests that Vargus takes the party. Within a small base camp of sturdy yurts Vargus reveals that he has an immediately pressing concern to handle, and that come morning he will transport the party to the city itself at the base of great Mount Wind itself. Liera reveals that she has matters to deal with at the foot of the mountain itself and then must reach its summit. But first, she comments that her path lies downhill, in the nearby forest. Vargus comments that there are many Nom communities in those woods, and the party should find hospitality there if that is their desire. Only Rin seems reluctant to leave the hills and enter the forest, although he does so with everyone else.
The forest itself is home to a thriving Nom community preparing for the Festival of Krakaroon... which causes Mitu to scowl. Indeed, most of these Nom are ardent Phoenix Cultists, and their animated frenzy is almost infectious. The party settles in quickly enough, and decide to join in the festivities. Rin and Mitu go so far as to join some of the other festival goers in Krakaroon's First Rite of Weathering, kneeling in sand pits adorned with multiple iron lightning rods. Liera, the Talmoril, disappears into a small hut for most of the festivities, but emerges later to sit beneath an old tree and watch.
The cultists claim that Krakaroon's favor will be gained if the festival is loud and boisterous enough to draw his attention and therefore, bring forth a lightning storm. And indeed, a short time before midnight, the hooting, hollering, and whistling festivalgoers are rewarded by a flash of lightning, crash of thunder, and a torrent of rain that plunges from the sky. The storm grows rapidly more intense, and lasts until just before dawn.
Come the morning, the party rouses themselves even as a messenger comes from Vargus to rally them. However, something is amiss. The Talmoril remain sitting beneath her tree, a calm, placid expression on her face. Attempts to rouse her fail. The Talmoril is dead.
Rin attempts to communicate with her spirit, which responds like a whisper in the wind. She has passed on, but her final task is known to the PCs. She must be anointed by the dust of Mount Wind's foot and then carried up to its summit where they all will meet someone awaiting them. After this, the party must ferry her sword, Mevonn's Quill, to the next Talmoril. The sword knows where it must go and thus will point the way.
The party carries Liera's corpse back up to the Order's basecamp in the hills, where Vargus whispers the Canticle of Life over her body. He opens a gateway to the great city at the base of the Mountain, and all pass through it. The city is a sprawling assemblage of dusty gray buildings lined upon broad avenues that run along the hilly terrain like waves of stone. A minor member of the Shield rushes out to Vargus, informing him of a pressing issue in a nearby forest glen. Vargus informs an aid to help the PCs settle into the manor house at which they will be staying. He tells them they are free to move around as they see fit, but would consider it a courtesy if party informed one of the manor house guards where they were planning on being in case they are needed.
Meanwhile, Lugh, having recently finished several months learning more about the Druidim from S'Qarb, has used a Waywinder stone to get passage to Mount Wind. It seems the Order's libraries contain a wealth of information about the ancient rites of the Druidim, including -- he hopes -- how to call forth the World Wolf. However, upon his arrival in a small forest glen, he is surrounded by a half dozen Order of Oryon soldiers, questioned, and detained. That is, until Vargus arrives, and, after questioning the man himself, accepts Lugh's story. Vargus and Lugh walk back to the nearby residential districts, approaching the PCs manor house just as the rest of the party has decided it is time to ascend Mount Wind. When Vargus learns that Lugh is part of the same circle as the others, the animist, too, is quartered at the Manor. Satisfied that everything is in order, Vargus takes his leave of the party.
The PCs gather dust from the foot of Mount Wind and then begin the ascent of the Mountain itself. Perhaps it would be dangerous and quite difficult under normal circumstances, however, with Soreiss's expert translocation magics, they reach the summit in short order. Great Eagles circle them, and more than one of them stares intently at both Mitu and Soreiss. Voices fill their heads -- the voices of the Eagles it would seem -- questioning who they are, and deciding upon whether or not to eat them. Eventually, the eagles decide to leave the Party's fate in the hands of "The Lord of the Peak" and seem content just to watch.
The party lays Liera's corpse atop a flattened space, and then Lugh, too, recites the Canticle of Life over the dead Talmoril. Dust from the Mountain's foot is spread over her. Then the party steps back... Eagles approach her body and then begin to devour it. They tear apart her remains until barely a stain is left upon the stone. And yet, the whole time, there is no sense of ferocity -- indeed, there is an impression of reverence in the act. When the Talmoril's body is gone, the Eagle's step back in two lines that form a corridor. The Lord of the Peaks comes, they claim, and almost immediately something begins to amble up over the ridge.
Vaguely horselike, though massive in its proportions, the creature is covered in thick, dark hair with a silvery mane and beard that shimmers with a chromatic, oily sheen. Horns grow from atop its head, and curled tusks sprout from its chin. Smoke puffs out from its nose and mouth, and seems to refract the light that passes through it. There is no doubt that this creature is the Lord of the Peaks, and it speaks to the party about a few things -- Oryon, the Talmoril, the need for a new Talmoril who can be found on the Glass Continent all are addressed before the creature departs.
The party descends from Mount Wind, mulling over what has happened. However, before they can leave, they still need to access the Order's libraries located beneath the mountain itself.
----
[Jolt Code: B2,C2,CB2,R3,S1]
Relocating to the surface with much haste, Warpstone in hand and a beleaguered Talmoril in tow, the party decides upon their options. They realize they cannot use magic to move the Warpstone, so wherever they end up going, it must be physically carried along with them. Two ideas seem the obvious options -- once more contact Sable and use to shadow powers of his ring, Thohlemmryz, to transport the Warpstone, or makie contact with the Order of Oryon, and see if they will carry the stone via their great eagles and then perhaps hold the stone at Mount Wind. Sable could not be located, leaving the Order of Oryon to be contacted. However, they were unable to contact the Order either. Kestra makes an offer to the party, presenting them with a short term contract for the Bronze Bull's services for guarding and delivering the Warpstone into the Mount Wind Protectorate. The party agrees, albeit somewhat reluctantly, and for two days travels along the roads connecting Kesh to the Hegemony, and, ultimately, the Hegemony to the Protectorate.
After two days, however, contact is made with the Order of Oryon, with the spellsword Hovirith arriving to palaver. He tells the party that they must wait an additional day for an answer as he must report the finding of the Warpstone to his superiors.
The following day, and Order of Oryon contingent arrives along with Hovirith. The man in charge, a stooped, wizened old fellow named Ulius, claims to lead the Voice of Oryon and begins a series of negotiations. Eventually, the matter is resolved simply. The Order will take possession of the Warpstone for safe keeping, to use at their discretion until such time as the Party comes to reclaim it, and providing the stone is not needed for use for immediate Order concerns. The PCs are told that within two days time, Eagleriders will arrive to take the Warpstone, after which they are all welcome guests of the Protectorate.
Liera, the Talmoril, says very little during this time, except to respond to questions and generally to indicate (after seemingly consulting her sword) that her path leads to Mount Wind.
True to their word, members of the Order of Oryon arrive in two days time lead this time by a stocky, older man named Vargus. Vargus is both a sorceror and wizard of some skill, as well as an accomplished warrior, who reveals later that he is the head of the Shield, the faction of the Order of Oryon dedicated to Internal Security and the general protection of the Protectorate. Once the Warpstone is secure and being flown westward, Vargus offers his services for rapid transport to the Protectorate. The Bulls are dismissed from service and the bill settled before the party departs.
The Mount Wind Protectorate extends a great distance beyond the mountain itself, and includes the hills, forests, and grazelands all around it. It is to the foothills by the edge of the northern forests that Vargus takes the party. Within a small base camp of sturdy yurts Vargus reveals that he has an immediately pressing concern to handle, and that come morning he will transport the party to the city itself at the base of great Mount Wind itself. Liera reveals that she has matters to deal with at the foot of the mountain itself and then must reach its summit. But first, she comments that her path lies downhill, in the nearby forest. Vargus comments that there are many Nom communities in those woods, and the party should find hospitality there if that is their desire. Only Rin seems reluctant to leave the hills and enter the forest, although he does so with everyone else.
The forest itself is home to a thriving Nom community preparing for the Festival of Krakaroon... which causes Mitu to scowl. Indeed, most of these Nom are ardent Phoenix Cultists, and their animated frenzy is almost infectious. The party settles in quickly enough, and decide to join in the festivities. Rin and Mitu go so far as to join some of the other festival goers in Krakaroon's First Rite of Weathering, kneeling in sand pits adorned with multiple iron lightning rods. Liera, the Talmoril, disappears into a small hut for most of the festivities, but emerges later to sit beneath an old tree and watch.
The cultists claim that Krakaroon's favor will be gained if the festival is loud and boisterous enough to draw his attention and therefore, bring forth a lightning storm. And indeed, a short time before midnight, the hooting, hollering, and whistling festivalgoers are rewarded by a flash of lightning, crash of thunder, and a torrent of rain that plunges from the sky. The storm grows rapidly more intense, and lasts until just before dawn.
Come the morning, the party rouses themselves even as a messenger comes from Vargus to rally them. However, something is amiss. The Talmoril remain sitting beneath her tree, a calm, placid expression on her face. Attempts to rouse her fail. The Talmoril is dead.
Rin attempts to communicate with her spirit, which responds like a whisper in the wind. She has passed on, but her final task is known to the PCs. She must be anointed by the dust of Mount Wind's foot and then carried up to its summit where they all will meet someone awaiting them. After this, the party must ferry her sword, Mevonn's Quill, to the next Talmoril. The sword knows where it must go and thus will point the way.
The party carries Liera's corpse back up to the Order's basecamp in the hills, where Vargus whispers the Canticle of Life over her body. He opens a gateway to the great city at the base of the Mountain, and all pass through it. The city is a sprawling assemblage of dusty gray buildings lined upon broad avenues that run along the hilly terrain like waves of stone. A minor member of the Shield rushes out to Vargus, informing him of a pressing issue in a nearby forest glen. Vargus informs an aid to help the PCs settle into the manor house at which they will be staying. He tells them they are free to move around as they see fit, but would consider it a courtesy if party informed one of the manor house guards where they were planning on being in case they are needed.
Meanwhile, Lugh, having recently finished several months learning more about the Druidim from S'Qarb, has used a Waywinder stone to get passage to Mount Wind. It seems the Order's libraries contain a wealth of information about the ancient rites of the Druidim, including -- he hopes -- how to call forth the World Wolf. However, upon his arrival in a small forest glen, he is surrounded by a half dozen Order of Oryon soldiers, questioned, and detained. That is, until Vargus arrives, and, after questioning the man himself, accepts Lugh's story. Vargus and Lugh walk back to the nearby residential districts, approaching the PCs manor house just as the rest of the party has decided it is time to ascend Mount Wind. When Vargus learns that Lugh is part of the same circle as the others, the animist, too, is quartered at the Manor. Satisfied that everything is in order, Vargus takes his leave of the party.
The PCs gather dust from the foot of Mount Wind and then begin the ascent of the Mountain itself. Perhaps it would be dangerous and quite difficult under normal circumstances, however, with Soreiss's expert translocation magics, they reach the summit in short order. Great Eagles circle them, and more than one of them stares intently at both Mitu and Soreiss. Voices fill their heads -- the voices of the Eagles it would seem -- questioning who they are, and deciding upon whether or not to eat them. Eventually, the eagles decide to leave the Party's fate in the hands of "The Lord of the Peak" and seem content just to watch.
The party lays Liera's corpse atop a flattened space, and then Lugh, too, recites the Canticle of Life over the dead Talmoril. Dust from the Mountain's foot is spread over her. Then the party steps back... Eagles approach her body and then begin to devour it. They tear apart her remains until barely a stain is left upon the stone. And yet, the whole time, there is no sense of ferocity -- indeed, there is an impression of reverence in the act. When the Talmoril's body is gone, the Eagle's step back in two lines that form a corridor. The Lord of the Peaks comes, they claim, and almost immediately something begins to amble up over the ridge.
Vaguely horselike, though massive in its proportions, the creature is covered in thick, dark hair with a silvery mane and beard that shimmers with a chromatic, oily sheen. Horns grow from atop its head, and curled tusks sprout from its chin. Smoke puffs out from its nose and mouth, and seems to refract the light that passes through it. There is no doubt that this creature is the Lord of the Peaks, and it speaks to the party about a few things -- Oryon, the Talmoril, the need for a new Talmoril who can be found on the Glass Continent all are addressed before the creature departs.
The party descends from Mount Wind, mulling over what has happened. However, before they can leave, they still need to access the Order's libraries located beneath the mountain itself.
----
[Jolt Code: B2,C2,CB2,R3,S1]
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Chapter 15: Session 01
[Chapter 15: Deliverance]
Hitting upon the idea of finding an air stone to help Rin overcome his issues with enclosed spaces, Mitu, Slip, and Rin get the aid of Vernir Guide of the Waywinders to bounce them from marker to marker. At each locale they search for the remnants of node stones and shards, and indeed, four days into searching, they find a small elemental shard. Unfortunately, it is an earth shard.
At waywinder stones located in more civilized regions, they also ask around about gifted smiths, hoping to uncover other persons capable of working Eog. They find two promising candidates, but only one has the blood of Greymalken -- an Oranian Braggol woman named Rowena with a sharp tongue and biting sense of humor.
Meanwhile, Soreiss and Tarsus work on a gateway between Larka City and Sandstone Canton (formerly Sandstone Keep). Although it is more limited than any of them had hoped (no more than four persons at a time may pass), it will have to suffice in the interim.
Arrangements are made in Sandstone Canton for Gorvalyk to carry the 20lbs of Eog from there back to Larka City, since the Eog has limited affects on his air powers. However, the larger issue of transporting it to the glass continent remains. Soreiss realize that he can solve several issues at once if he can make contact with Sable and successfully solicit the immortal's aid. After a brief communication with Lugh, Soreiss locates a small supply of "dream juice", Lugh's dream enhancement potion. He takes several doses over the next few nights, and eventually finds Sable in the Ymorphus, sailing the Sea of Despair. The immortal's aid is secured, and in a few days time he will arrive to not only carry the Eog from Larka City to Turwinton, but to ferry the traveling Kuzani settlers from New Colony and Paxis to Sandstone Canton.
But before the immortal arrives in Larka, Mitu, Rin, and Slip return after Vernir reports an immediate emergency that demands his attention. Rin takes a day to rest, but then is teleported to the region of Northern Kesh to scout out Shrewsborn for any clue about the nature of this package the Syments are charging Soreiss to deliver.
The next two days in Larka City are spent in training and study, ending when Sable arrives. Mitu has Sable take a side stop to pick up the Braggoli smith who agreed that she would meet the other Eog crafters, but seems reluctant to work without substantial pay. The woman seems to take a liking to Slip -- who seems tiny next to her -- and upon reaching Turwinton, she seems ever more reluctant to include herself in the plan. Only after Arius is asked to help smooth things over with her, she agrees to help for a period of one month, after which there needs to be further negotiation.
Meanwhile, in Shrewsborn, Rin notes some strangeness -- Owl warns him of slight Darkroad taint somewhere below the town. The strength of it leads Rin to assume there are Daemok there... somewhere. On his second evening there, Rin finds a young burglar who uses magic to aid in his chosen profession. Rin interrogates the man about areas under the town and any subterranean access. He learns of some old mines a short distance into the hills, but realizes quickly that the mines are clean. There must be another way under the town.
The next morning, Slip, Soreiss, Mitu, and Lorin (one of the Bronze Bull Sergeants) arrive in Shrewsborn. They investigate the mines further, and all come to agree with Rin's assessment. Slip dowses an underground waterway that passes under Shrewsborn, moving right beneath the fountain at the town center. They all agree, the fountain must be the key.
Slip shifts himself into a watery form and slides down below the fountain and into the subterranean waterway. He notes something odd moving toward him against the current, but by the time he realizes the danger, he is already seriously injured. The oddity is a daemok taken the form of a large watery serpent which nearly severs Slips leg as it attaches itself to him like a giant lamprey. Slip, weak and rapidly being drained of blood, manages to get himself up the water stream into the fountain above the surface. However, the daemok -- a Demon of Hunger -- still feeds, and Slip soon finds himself unconscious and mortally wounded.
Mitu, Rin, and Soreiss struggle to free Slip from the daemok, while Lorin attempts to support the fallen elementalist. Oddly, Slip begins to float, and both Soreies and Rin note that someone in a nearby tavern just cast a spell of levitation. Managing to cut Slip free (and forcing the Daemok to recoil back into the waters below), Mitu heals his companion -- at great cost to his own health. Rin crosses the town plaza, and drags the spellcaster -- the same burglar he'd met earlier -- out into the plaza. He informs the burglar that he's just been drafted.
Slip dowses the waterflow, and outside of town, Mitu smashes a hole in the ground with "nutbuster", his enchanted tetsubo. With an accessway into the waters, the PCs know the demon is aware of their intention, and mockingly, the PCs attempt to taunt the demon(s) out into the open. However, there is no response. The PCs seize the opportunity to rest before venturing into the waterway.
And indeed, they needed that moment of respite, for they find far more than anticipated in the hollows beneath Shrewsborn. A taunting exchange reveals that these daemok -- indeed, more than one -- serve the "True" Master, revealed to be the Archdemon and Dark God, Calimus. Also hinted at is a bit of strife among the daemok of The Scar, where many of them have fallen in line under the Dark God Xakros, ostensibly still the god of Pax.
Instead of waterbodied hunger demons, they find a variety of types -- war and pain most notably, but even a Lasher, the masters of the Demon Ogres, stands among them. After a protracted battle (and the need for supplies and reinforcements, as Lorin uses an Arcane Token Charm to send a message to Kestra of the Bulls -- which she responds to in person, joining the fight)the party winds their path forward to an open chamber.
Within the final chamber is a massive War Daemok standing enthralled, swaying even, to the faint song being hummed by an old woman with a sword who is trapped in a massive crystalline cage of sorts. The woman is the Talmoril, the chosen of Mevonn and spiritual leader of the organized Phoenix Cults, and while she seems unharmed, everything is not as it seems. Another daemok is in the room, invisible, it mocks the party, laughing even as it comments that it has lost the day. Identified as the infamous Imp of Calimus, it departs, abandoning the War Demon to the party.
Entering the chamber itself seems to warp the various magics active within -- eldritch force (most notable Arcane magic) most dramatically. Soon, they realize that the source is the strange crystal cage, which upon closer examination strongly resembles several large tentacles intertwining and converging at the base. Soreiss suspects he knows what it is -- the Warpstone, a lost artifact created in the last days of the 4th Prophecy when the Darkweaver returned to Mt. Thanir and was ignorantly assaulted by Gore, the Lord of the Syments. The Warpstone is what remains of Gore's right arm, crystallized, when it reached forth (and failed) to bind the Darkweaver. The Warpstone is pure Chaos given shape and mass.
Mitu lifts the Warpstone and frees the Talmoril, who is relieved. Between information from her, and from the now captive War Demon (who seems listless, drained, and ultimately devoid of aggression), they learn that until a few years ago, the Daemok in the scar had possession of the Warpstone, which they had kept hidden from others using the Gem of Doxinaru. However, with the theft of the Gem (by Domaourin Redmask, a master thief met years prior in Flatrock just after the theft), the Warpstone became visible. These demons managed to steal the Warpstone itself, using it to hold the Talmoril for (as yet) an unrevealed reason.
However, the party remains at a loss regarding two main concerns. Is the Talmoril or the Warpstone the package mentioned by Stefan Aldroth, and what should they do with the Daemok of War?
----
[Jolt Code: 1B,3C,2CB,1S]
Hitting upon the idea of finding an air stone to help Rin overcome his issues with enclosed spaces, Mitu, Slip, and Rin get the aid of Vernir Guide of the Waywinders to bounce them from marker to marker. At each locale they search for the remnants of node stones and shards, and indeed, four days into searching, they find a small elemental shard. Unfortunately, it is an earth shard.
At waywinder stones located in more civilized regions, they also ask around about gifted smiths, hoping to uncover other persons capable of working Eog. They find two promising candidates, but only one has the blood of Greymalken -- an Oranian Braggol woman named Rowena with a sharp tongue and biting sense of humor.
Meanwhile, Soreiss and Tarsus work on a gateway between Larka City and Sandstone Canton (formerly Sandstone Keep). Although it is more limited than any of them had hoped (no more than four persons at a time may pass), it will have to suffice in the interim.
Arrangements are made in Sandstone Canton for Gorvalyk to carry the 20lbs of Eog from there back to Larka City, since the Eog has limited affects on his air powers. However, the larger issue of transporting it to the glass continent remains. Soreiss realize that he can solve several issues at once if he can make contact with Sable and successfully solicit the immortal's aid. After a brief communication with Lugh, Soreiss locates a small supply of "dream juice", Lugh's dream enhancement potion. He takes several doses over the next few nights, and eventually finds Sable in the Ymorphus, sailing the Sea of Despair. The immortal's aid is secured, and in a few days time he will arrive to not only carry the Eog from Larka City to Turwinton, but to ferry the traveling Kuzani settlers from New Colony and Paxis to Sandstone Canton.
But before the immortal arrives in Larka, Mitu, Rin, and Slip return after Vernir reports an immediate emergency that demands his attention. Rin takes a day to rest, but then is teleported to the region of Northern Kesh to scout out Shrewsborn for any clue about the nature of this package the Syments are charging Soreiss to deliver.
The next two days in Larka City are spent in training and study, ending when Sable arrives. Mitu has Sable take a side stop to pick up the Braggoli smith who agreed that she would meet the other Eog crafters, but seems reluctant to work without substantial pay. The woman seems to take a liking to Slip -- who seems tiny next to her -- and upon reaching Turwinton, she seems ever more reluctant to include herself in the plan. Only after Arius is asked to help smooth things over with her, she agrees to help for a period of one month, after which there needs to be further negotiation.
Meanwhile, in Shrewsborn, Rin notes some strangeness -- Owl warns him of slight Darkroad taint somewhere below the town. The strength of it leads Rin to assume there are Daemok there... somewhere. On his second evening there, Rin finds a young burglar who uses magic to aid in his chosen profession. Rin interrogates the man about areas under the town and any subterranean access. He learns of some old mines a short distance into the hills, but realizes quickly that the mines are clean. There must be another way under the town.
The next morning, Slip, Soreiss, Mitu, and Lorin (one of the Bronze Bull Sergeants) arrive in Shrewsborn. They investigate the mines further, and all come to agree with Rin's assessment. Slip dowses an underground waterway that passes under Shrewsborn, moving right beneath the fountain at the town center. They all agree, the fountain must be the key.
Slip shifts himself into a watery form and slides down below the fountain and into the subterranean waterway. He notes something odd moving toward him against the current, but by the time he realizes the danger, he is already seriously injured. The oddity is a daemok taken the form of a large watery serpent which nearly severs Slips leg as it attaches itself to him like a giant lamprey. Slip, weak and rapidly being drained of blood, manages to get himself up the water stream into the fountain above the surface. However, the daemok -- a Demon of Hunger -- still feeds, and Slip soon finds himself unconscious and mortally wounded.
Mitu, Rin, and Soreiss struggle to free Slip from the daemok, while Lorin attempts to support the fallen elementalist. Oddly, Slip begins to float, and both Soreies and Rin note that someone in a nearby tavern just cast a spell of levitation. Managing to cut Slip free (and forcing the Daemok to recoil back into the waters below), Mitu heals his companion -- at great cost to his own health. Rin crosses the town plaza, and drags the spellcaster -- the same burglar he'd met earlier -- out into the plaza. He informs the burglar that he's just been drafted.
Slip dowses the waterflow, and outside of town, Mitu smashes a hole in the ground with "nutbuster", his enchanted tetsubo. With an accessway into the waters, the PCs know the demon is aware of their intention, and mockingly, the PCs attempt to taunt the demon(s) out into the open. However, there is no response. The PCs seize the opportunity to rest before venturing into the waterway.
And indeed, they needed that moment of respite, for they find far more than anticipated in the hollows beneath Shrewsborn. A taunting exchange reveals that these daemok -- indeed, more than one -- serve the "True" Master, revealed to be the Archdemon and Dark God, Calimus. Also hinted at is a bit of strife among the daemok of The Scar, where many of them have fallen in line under the Dark God Xakros, ostensibly still the god of Pax.
Instead of waterbodied hunger demons, they find a variety of types -- war and pain most notably, but even a Lasher, the masters of the Demon Ogres, stands among them. After a protracted battle (and the need for supplies and reinforcements, as Lorin uses an Arcane Token Charm to send a message to Kestra of the Bulls -- which she responds to in person, joining the fight)the party winds their path forward to an open chamber.
Within the final chamber is a massive War Daemok standing enthralled, swaying even, to the faint song being hummed by an old woman with a sword who is trapped in a massive crystalline cage of sorts. The woman is the Talmoril, the chosen of Mevonn and spiritual leader of the organized Phoenix Cults, and while she seems unharmed, everything is not as it seems. Another daemok is in the room, invisible, it mocks the party, laughing even as it comments that it has lost the day. Identified as the infamous Imp of Calimus, it departs, abandoning the War Demon to the party.
Entering the chamber itself seems to warp the various magics active within -- eldritch force (most notable Arcane magic) most dramatically. Soon, they realize that the source is the strange crystal cage, which upon closer examination strongly resembles several large tentacles intertwining and converging at the base. Soreiss suspects he knows what it is -- the Warpstone, a lost artifact created in the last days of the 4th Prophecy when the Darkweaver returned to Mt. Thanir and was ignorantly assaulted by Gore, the Lord of the Syments. The Warpstone is what remains of Gore's right arm, crystallized, when it reached forth (and failed) to bind the Darkweaver. The Warpstone is pure Chaos given shape and mass.
Mitu lifts the Warpstone and frees the Talmoril, who is relieved. Between information from her, and from the now captive War Demon (who seems listless, drained, and ultimately devoid of aggression), they learn that until a few years ago, the Daemok in the scar had possession of the Warpstone, which they had kept hidden from others using the Gem of Doxinaru. However, with the theft of the Gem (by Domaourin Redmask, a master thief met years prior in Flatrock just after the theft), the Warpstone became visible. These demons managed to steal the Warpstone itself, using it to hold the Talmoril for (as yet) an unrevealed reason.
However, the party remains at a loss regarding two main concerns. Is the Talmoril or the Warpstone the package mentioned by Stefan Aldroth, and what should they do with the Daemok of War?
----
[Jolt Code: 1B,3C,2CB,1S]
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