Ianna Trealamhgabha |
"The Dark Tapestry, the Dark Dominion, is the black between the stars. We believe that each star is a sun and that worlds orbit around them. There are things we believe are out there. They are both of and not of our cosmos. It's confusing."
Toramin Gearsmith |
"I have only met one priest of the Midnight Lord. I cannot say that I am eager to meet another."
Dalton Barrowwheel |
Dalton absorbed the information without saying a word. Quite fascinating, this hidden ocean they kept. Though more distrustful after seeing what iceberg lurked beneath the tip they'd been shown before, there was business to do.
Let us begin the haggling.
"Heff, the workings of beings of your power may eclipse me, but some things never change." He looked to the priestess for a moment. I am sure Ianna has some wisdom greater than I to impart here, though it is a gamble I must take.
"Love is an emotion dearly held by many. My mother loves me, and I love her. Though I have not found one willing to be my wife, I can imagine the happiness that bond must bring." He cleared his throat. "Yet familial love is my focus here. When you and your half-brother were young, was there bad blood? Jealousy among the common or differing parents? I ask not to pry unnecessarily into your past, but because the simplest emotions often are the most indelible. Basic envy, pride ... they are the root of many conflicts and murders. Is it possible Rygat's motives for this conflict are a long subdued hatred - justified or not - against you or your family, causing a proxy war of sorts to ensue?"
The mage looked to Bjorkus. "If true, that might explain why we were targeted, weak as we are in the scope of this group." He set his eyes to Alia. "The guilt Heff would feel if Aestherics were targeted for assassination by his own half-brother out of spite would be tremendous, I imagine. Being raised in service of nobility, I can say I've seen the sort of interplay run deep. Those dark moods fuel murder."
He closed his eyes a moment. Geoffrey ... not all of your family are saints.
"Zun-Kuthon is a deity of loss, no? Though I am no student of religion, from what I hear, his dominion over darkness and pain - clearly physical, but perhaps emotional as well - could be useful here. Perhaps Nareth would have some insight into the mind of this seemingly mad cannon. Particularly because he should know what gets under your skins; if Rygat is indeed playing some mind-game, Nareth might be able to discern how and where he might strike."
Ianna Trealamhgabha |
"Betrayal cuts deepest where love once flowered. Perhaps the attack was necessary. I could not even begin to speculate, but the sense of betrayal he must have felt would have been intense."
Heff |
"My past will remain in the past. I will let you know that there were no problems before the events I already told you about. There's a lot of bad blood now though, but that's after his disappearance."
Heff exhales slowly. "To contact Nareth again after all this time...I'm sure the reappearance of Rygat would bring him. Perhaps he would be the best to get Rygat..."
Dalton Barrowwheel |
Dalton nodded his head to the first bit, but the second as possibly at odds with the statement.
"Per your recent discussion with Toramin, what is the motive behind your desire to summon Nareth? A moment ago, it seemed his being involved in this matter - if we are to be as well - was a mere figment of fortune, but you have now reconsidered."
"The only thing that was mentioned in that time was my conjecture and Ianna's expansion on one of its points. Yet you discounted my hypothesis. From where comes this new reconsideration?"
Dalton Barrowwheel |
Heff did not seem to understand words as well as he spoke them.
"This "personal" situation is very relevant, both for understanding this untamed Nareth's and the adversary Rygat's motives. To not know why they think the way they do is putting us at a dangerous disadvantage."
"I must request we be appraised of that situation if Nareth is to be involved."
Heff |
"What do you want to know? Nathaniel was to us as Gabriel was to you. Young, naive, optimistic, and would sacrifice himself for the greater good. His death by being stabbed in the back by a friend incited a great rage in Nareth, and he is the kind of man who remains calm when a dragon is bearing down on him. I have no doubt that Nareth wants Rygat dead. The only thing is..."
Dalton Barrowwheel |
Now there is a lucrative bragaining point.
"Rehabilitated? Sarenrae be with us." The allusion to the good goddess was a bit contrite due the mage's eschewing of faith. "But if even the power of this council, great as it is, is unable to track or protect against Rygat, how would this conversion work?"
Toramin Gearsmith |
"We don't operate like that anymore." Now that sentence speaks in volumes.
Dalton Barrowwheel |
Oh yes, yes we will.
"I would be pleased to aid in that regard, Wise Alia. It obviates the issue of needing to reign-in Nareth for, as you mentioned, his involvement would nullify the possibility of this change in heart. In addition, such research might not require - at least at the onset - our immediate proximity to this Rygat." Dalton let out a chuckle in the tense room. "I believe that separation is good for our lives' continuance."
Bjorkus |
Bjorkus stares in silent disbelief at all the talk of redeeming this Rygat. He was too powerful and too dangerous to not bring down in a permanent way as quickly as possible.
"This sod is more powerful than any of you and has his sights set on us. Comin' at him with kid's gloves on just puts us in more danger."
Dalton Barrowwheel |
"Precisely. That is why those with the stronger fists must wear the gloves." The transmuter looked about the council. Wonderful volunteers. "We would be better suited to preparing the wearers to be most effective - in other words, knowing the root of this insanity."
Toramin Gearsmith |
"I agree with Bjorkus for what it is worth."
Torag, does not teach redemption.
Dalton Barrowwheel |
There is still room to move in this deal...
Dalton tried a new avenue. "You say he went insane? It may be possible he is simply not himself. Perhaps he is enchanted or even possessed." Yes, that is good... "If the latter is true, it may be the case the possessor is seeking to attract attention. These killings would be an excellent way to do so. Knowing you would be likely to kill Rygat, the possessor may be able to then take hold of a new host body."
He kept his eyes on the silent pair.
"Since only the most powerful could dispatch with Rygat, this possessor may be able to assume the host of one of us. Given the tight nature of this organization - and the council in particular - slaughtering Rygat in such a case would be disastrous - and precisely what the true foe would want."
Heff |
As Dalton watches the silent pair, he surmises that Drosil is being quiet mostly because he's Drosil, while Krokar is being quiet because he knows very little about the situation.
"I suppose that's possible. In that case, bringing him into the fourth room would be the best choice." Heff pales. "I can't imagine Nareth going insane. He would be unstoppable."
Dalton Barrowwheel |
Dalton looked to Alia. "This hotel of yours must be quite the conjuration, though I imagine Acera would not make the most pleasant roommate."
Ianna Trealamhgabha |
"It would be cruel to have the chance to help him be better, and do nothing. Learning more before acting could only help us make a wiser choice. Death can be a most final door, while he yet lives he may do better. If any part of you is aggrieved because of his transgressions against me, then know that I seek no vengeance."
Dalton is grasping at straws, but he is a voice of moderation. I doubt Toramin will speak against him either.
Dalton Barrowwheel |
The mage smiled at Ianna. "You are such a good soul." It is Rygat's vengeance I worry about.
Dalton Barrowwheel |
Nodding in agreement, Dalton waited for more of the others' opinions to out themselves.
Bjorkus |
"In the meantime we're gunna be goin' through that training I suppose. Do you think we're safe while we're here? You said Rygat's powers let him get almost anywhere."
Dalton Barrowwheel |
"That's far safer than any alternative I can think of." That was a success. "Now then - what does this training entail?"
Rilka Featherfeet |
Rilka follows the debate about Rygat. ”If we can capture him and turn from the path of shadows and evil, I’m willing to try. However he sounds like someone beyond empathy, compassion, or any other mindset necessary for rehabilitation.”
At Dalton’s mention of training, she nods her head. ”Yes, what do you have planned?” And what do you hope emerges?
Drosil |
The council adjourns, Jasper's image vanishing into thin air and the rest leaving, except for Drosil. He beckons the party to follow him outside, where he leads them through a path of winding, natural tunnels. He ends at an iron door in the stone wall, opening it to show the interior of a spacious but very plain room. There are five simple beds against the wall with a small table by each, and one torch at each side of the room, providing the room with flickering light. The walls and ceiling are stone while the floor is hard dirt.
Drosil looks at Rilka. "You don't have to participate. But I think you should. Team building."
Toramin Gearsmith |
Toramin touches the floor with his hand to better feel Ymir's presence.
"I guess we should sleep. I do not know what kind of training they had in mind."
Rilka Featherfeet |
Rilka nods to Drosil. ”I would have insisted on doing the training. Will a meal be provided?” She moves into the room and drops her pack on the foot of a bed. She looks under the bed and does a quick check for secret doors. (Take 20)
”This will be intense, non-lethal, to simulate high-stress situations,” she tells her friends. ”Sometimes a lack of sleep or food is involved. We’ll see about this time. Ultimately it's to get us working more effectively as a team and bring us close to a breaking point, paradoxically.”
Dalton Barrowwheel |
Taking a long rest for the first time in a while, hopefully, Dalton settled down to bed.
Time to reflect on what I have learned.
Hp 1d6 ⇒ 2
DM Omen |
After a bit of idle chatter, the party gets ready to sleep. The beds are plain and not the most comfortable, but the warm is toasty from the torches and soon enough everybody is sound asleep.
Bjorkus thrashes and screams, waking up. He is pale and sweaty, his hairs standing on end. For some reason he is holding Tyrantbreaker and there are scorch marks on the bed.
The party barely has time to register what awoke them when those with darkvision notice there are now two large crystalline creatures standing on opposite sides of a large stone creature. The stone creature stares blankly ahead, right at Rilka, but otherwise could be a statue. The crystalline creatures do the same, although they appear to be facing each other.
The other thing that everybody notices is that the room is filling with water. Either that or Bjorkus's screaming is what awoke the party, because the water level just reached the bed and is quickly rising. The only exit is the iron door where the party entered, on the south side of the room past the creatures. The room is pitch black, only those with darkvision able to see beyond right in front of them.
~Crystalline Creatures~
~Stone Creature~
Init Order - Round 1
Rilka
Dalton
Ianna
Bjorkus
Toramin
Enemy
Party to act! Also, the terrain is currently difficult. You can only move at 3/4 speed and you cannot take 5 foot steps. The terrain will be quickly changing as time advances.
Dalton Init: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Toramin Init: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Rilka Init: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Ianna Init: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Ianna Trealamhgabha |
Knowledge: Arcana: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31
Knowledge: Arcana: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27
"Golems! I have seen these before. Those are Glass Golems -- weak to shatter effects and cold damage -- they reflect other kinds of magic. The others are Stone Golems -- immune to most magic. They slow their targets."
"Goddess, cloak me with your grace. Turn their sight from me." Improved Sanctuary