Chapter 15: Session 17

After some heated discussions, the party decides how to handle the Oracle of Dunger. Rin is left hidden for a few hours, watching to see how the Oracle is treated, how the spirits interact with her, and whether or not she should be "liberated".

During this time, Soreiss uses Map and spies out Veldir, finding his wasting form in the great library of the mages in Tal'Ushorin, pouring over several tomes. It seems Soreiss's "brother" is attempting to learn the secret of implanting a spirit into a crafted homonculus. He also spies out the two remaining Waywinders in the shattered isles, lounging at the observatory they found a short time prior.

The PCs tell Arius about Rhedd's words indicating a Nendir spy highly placed within the Larkan government. Arius agrees to speak with Kethryn and make a list of any individuals in Larka City who had high clearance and access two years ago. Soreiss and Slip speak with the criminal underworld of Larka City, and agree to pass on a note to Kethryn with contains the names of three people they want let free from prison if they successfully help ferret out the spy. Similarly, Mitu speaks with Red-Eye, asking him for any aid he might provide.

When returning to check on Rin, events roll out of control when the rest of the party sees Rin arguing with the spirits of the Oracle. It seems the Oracular spirit itself decided the pestering bearers were not worth her trouble. The party gates to Rin's side when they see the young girl fall limp, seemingly dead. A few moments later, a new girl, younger than the first, steps into the Oracle's Shrine, descends the stairway, removes the shackles from the Oracle's body, and, crawling atop her, peers eye to eye, forehead to forehead with the girl. Some kind of spiritual transferrance has occured, with this new girl becoming the Oracle of Dunger. The new Oracle chains herself and lays down in the pool.

Rin explains that from what he can understand, the Oracle itself is a spirit who has taken possession of each young woman in turn since the first long ago. Lugh adds that there has been an Oracle here for nearly 500 years -- longer than there has been a town, and nearly as longer as Dunger has been a Kingdom. Ther party is unsure of what to do, since the Oracle is so tightly connected with the regional culture (indeed, Mitu expresses an understanding of why the Order of Oryon has opted to seperate itself from local politics). However, before anything can be decided, they opt to figure out where this new host girl came from. Lugh and an angry Rin approach an old farmhouse near the edge of town, after having tracked the young girls passage. There are light in the farmhouse, and at least three people seem to be talking.

Inside, a man in robes -- a guard/tender for the Oracle -- is paying off an excited (ecstatic, really) mother and a visibly displeased father to the amount of one dairy cow and two pigs. Rin notices that the Oracular guard is tethered to some kind of spirit, and uses his skills as a psychopomp to wrest the spirit under his control. He learns that the spirit is sent from the Oracle herself, and the guard -- though somewhat taken aback at whats happening -- is unphased, continues his exchange, and quickly excuses himself. The mother is pleased with what has happened; her youngest daughter has been claimed by the oracle. She always knew the girl had a special destiny. The father is definitely not pleased, and speaks at length with Lugh about it. Lugh manages to convince the man not to do anything stupid since there is no freeing the girl, but promises that he and the rest of the party will look into things.

Indeed, they return and speak to the Oracle herself, who speaks only cryptically. But she seems to indicate that she is powerless to change the party's decision once they make one, but adds that mercy should be shown to those who must commit necessary evils. Some in the party speak with the shrine guard, and learn a bit more of the Oracle's history. They also demand access to the shrine records. Between the shrine guard and the records, they learn that girls tend to die off, though there is no set time, but are not abused or demeaned. There has only been one recorded case of abuse by a shrine guard, and that was nearly 200 years prior. The man was castrated and cast from Dunger. Nothing else has been done to the oracle without the oracle's expressed request.

The party's decision is to alter the Shrine. They reckon the toxic living environment contributes to the high mortality rate among the girls mounted by the oracle, and decide to seal off the the vents of sulphurous fumes, create apertures for fresh air, cleanse and then reroute the waters flowing into the chamber, insuring that there is a steady flow to help keep the place clean. Slip and Bodan spend several hours making changes to the terrain, and the party leaves Dunger.

They set back down to business in what amounts mostly to gathering intelligence and tieing up a few loose ends. First they return to Hillshadow and Mitu completes his healing treatments on the Archmage Tol'Uddi Dunn. However, it is here they meet with over a dozen Pheonix Cultists en route to Sashmir to gather around the new Talmoril -- they all shared a vision that included not only Caedin, but Mitu as well, the Messenger who bore Mevonn's Quill from the last Talmoril to the new one. The hippies descend on the Ogren, one burly fellow even snipping a lock of Mitu's scraggly hair.

As most of the party laughs, Mitu is horrified -- not only does he warn that these nameseekers are likely to find only an asskicking at the hands of the Talmoril, he fears that he will take even more of an asskicking himself simply for being involved. The cultists only seem to hear part of what he says, taking an twisting his words and message -- They should go home, and the Talmoril will show them the way.

Most of the bystanders agree in believeing that Krakaroon definitely has something to do with the shared vision of these nameseekers. Minulex, they reckon, may also have some part in it. Regardless, Map confirms that hundreds of cultists are approaching Sashmir on all roads, and some have already assembled on Moon Hill.

Antilles -- who is at Hillshadow during this time -- asks the Party to perform a task for him, one which may require negotiation and diplomacy. It seems that the Archmagus and Artificer, Tol'Dorinn Finnian (aka Dalwimple the Red) got too close to the Inta. He is currently held captive by the man and his small army of Varu shamen and Kon'Dai. Antilles simply wants the party to discuss what Prion wants in order to release the Wizard. He sees no need for combat, or he'd just go himself. Soreiss comments that the Inta is Prion, and adds that he figured they'd have to meet some time. The party agrees to speak with Prion, and returning to Map, they spy a long train of people crossing the foot hills north, across the bay, from the Imperial Hearth of Varu'Nora.

Soreiss gates the party a couple of miles ahead of the procession. Lugh sets his staff alight to show there is no stealth or hidden ambush here -- just a meeting. Indeed, Prion's outriders -- his Necrus minions who continue to serve as his military commanders -- make contact first, and arrange a meeting with Lord Prion in one hour's time.

Prion is a massive figure, retaining the full Cathanus stature he held in life. His armor is stylized Cathic Plate, and he bears a warmask much like the Varukko Kon'Dai do in battle. He removes his helm as he approaches -- unlike most necrus who usually appear in heavily decomposed states, Prion's flesh is not at all marred or putrid. His tone and pallor are corpse like and ashen, but otherwise flawless. A steady light burns in his eyes, making it hard to tell if his real eyes remained or if the lights themselves have taken that form.

Alongside Prion walks an unexpected figure -- Temu, the exiled Varu Shaman -- with his Giro assistant skulking at the fringes of darkness. Temu greets the party, but says little more as Prion takes over.

The Necrus lord speaks with the party at length, about both Tol'Dorinn Finnian and other matters. Indeed, he seems to stump Soreiss with a very simple question -- Who is Soreiss that makes him uniquely Soreiss, and not Athrin Nur? In short, why would Athrin Nur choose to become Soreiss? He speaks plainly about some issues, even when challenged, and expresses a distaste not only for his "cousin" Oryon, but for the Pheonixes as well. What good is a god, he asks, who refuses to use his divine power? Indeed, power seems to be the primary theme Prion expresses in the conversation, a focus that colors his apparently narrow world view.

Ultimately, Prion presents several useful pieces of information:

- He has always been the Inta, in all places and times the Inta has revealed himself.
- He has been shaping Varu culture according to his vision of an idealized Cathan, and has always been tied to their spiritual core.
- He thinks the Eled races are fit for nothing but death; corrupt or not, they are all a blight on the world.
- He admits that he has not yet decided where he is throwing his lot in the grand conflict, but comments that it will never be the Dark Road.
- He admits that he has met with the being the Varu call the Bone Crow, whom the PCs know as Cabot Darkhollow.

In the end, Prion agrees to free Tol'Dorinn Finnian if -- and only if -- Antilles himself meets with him. He obviously has something to say to the Guardian's son.

The party returns to Hillshadow, informing Antilles of Prion's conditions. The living shadow departs immediately. A Nom traveller in the tavern pesters Mitu about being "the Messenger", then laughs, revealing himself to be Vernir Guide in disguise. He mocks the hippy Phoenix Cultists, citing the superiority of the Path of S'qarb. However, he agrees to accompany the party back to Larka.

When they return, Arius is waiting with a list from Kethryn.