Before settling down, Casimir retrieves a sack from his pack and scoops up the red oculus, taking care not to touch it directly.
Before we know what this is, I suggest we handle it with the utmost care.
Hang on Maestro Alain. I think I can help you, Kip communicates to the trapped man. Has anyone else communicated with you?
Turning to Malthir and the others he relays what he has learned. A travelling bard and playwright named Maestro Alain is trapped within the soul jar. He was in Varnhold on the 20th of Rova and that is the last thing he remembers.
I can release him by pulling the stopper. It will release his soul, and I believe, it will reform his physical form as well.
Of course, it is possible, although likely improbable, that he is lying about who or what he is.
Kip grabs hold of the stopper and looks to the others.
Casimir puts a hand on Kips arm and shakes his head.
Much as I hate to leave anyone trapped like that, we should wait until we rest and free Ricter and Kalev. If it is a trap, we barely have enough strength among us to defeat a kitten, and all our hard fighting may be for naught. We will set him free in the morning.
I can sense no evil coming from the soul jar.
But I agree we should wait until the morning, as much as I hate to set anyone suffer for a moment longer.
Please apologize to him for us, but we just can't take any chances.
She is silent again for a moment, as though considering whether to continue, then looks down at her feet.
"I'm just sorry."
Malthir drops to one knee so he can look Fenna in the eyes, Look at me Fenna... there is nothing to be sorry for. he continues at almost a whisper, We all play different roles in this life. Yours is not to go cutting down enemies with a sword or an axe. You and Kip... your role may be more important. Without the both of you Vordakai would have defeated us several times over.
Don't you see, with an enemy as great as he was, we all felt defeated at one time or another. I felt no different when I laid there paralyzed until you freed me. I thought I was going to let all of you down at that moment as well as all of Kardas. Without you, I couldn't have stuck that last blow. Let me give you some advice that my wise councilor once gave me. "Don't deal with what could have been, deal with what is!"
He grins at her... he then reaches out and hugs her.
"Thank you," Fenna replies with a nod, seeming more resolute as she is released from Malthir's embrace. She stays close to speak softly, seeming uncharacteristically self conscious, "I was afraid that it was all falling apart again... I thought I was going to lose you all, and that there was nothing I could do to stop it."
"I have had my world destroyed before, had everything important to me torn down... to come so close to it happening again at the hands of this fiend, it left me shaken." She offers a faint smile, "I recognize what we are accomplishing here requires risk, and I have no intention of suggesting we should let that stop us, but perhaps we did overextend ourselves slightly... a little more caution in the future may be the best lesson to take away from this."
More caution...you are likely right Fenna... now the hard part is getting all of us to think that way. he grins.
Are we ready to release this soul and see what he has to say? he says to everyone.
"Before we do, I should take a look at the unidentified items. Particularly the orb."
As Kip listens to Fenra as she speaks to Malthir he can't help but smirk a little. Sing it sister! he thinks to himself.
Malthir's response causes Kip to loudly choke. Ribbing Cas he mumbles out loud, Oh sure, when we make the same suggestion we get ignored...
In all seriousness, if you just gave us casters a few moments at the start of hostilities to utilize our talents in preparation and prevention we could avoid a lot of future problems. Some ability to hit things without standing in their shadow all the time probably wouldn't hurt either, the Magister lectures in a good natured tone.
So yes, free Alain first and then see what the hidden switch opens?
Yes, let’s free this poor fellow. We also must not forget the paralyzed centaur we came upon further back. And hopefully we’ll find more survivors from Varnhold somewhere.
Ricter, having regained his composure as the side effects of the paralysis fade, refastens his helmet and gauntlets.
"Aye, set him free. We should let none of that lich's works remain intact if we can help it"
Hang on Maestro Alain. I think I can help you, Kip communicates to the trapped man. Has anyone else communicated with you?
"No, I have simply been... floating? Waiting? Ever since that night in Varnhold. I do not understand."
Fenna could not determine the properties of the Oculus, Cloak or Flail. No doubt all the items could be studied in greater detail back at the capital at a later date.
Having rested and made preparations, the group gathered with a little nervousness as Kip unplugged the stopper upon the Soul Jar. The cloud of smoke inside the receptacle slowly expanded as it exited the jar; forming into a humanoid shape and eventually gaining form and substance. As the grey smokey cloud faded away it revealed a well dressed man, Taldan by the looks of him.
The man was in his thirties; short, light of build and exquisitely groomed, with a finely looked after moustache and goatee. Equipped for travel with leather armour worn underneath expensive looking robes made from purple dyed cloth, Alain looked every inch the well-off travelling playwright he claimed to be.
Coming to his senses and stretching his limbs as though unused to how they worked, the man seemed a little alarmed to be surrounded by heavily armed and armoured figures. He gave a short, stiff bow and said, with some wariness in his voice-
"You have my thanks... From our conversation can I safely assume you are not my captors? I am free to leave? What is this wretched place?"
Correct, we are not your captors. You were taken by an ancient evil by the name of Vordakai, along with many others from Varnhold. In fact, it seems everyone from Varnhold was taken. You were trapped within this soul jar that we found on Vordakai when we destroyed him. You are free to leave his lair, but it would probably be best that you let us accompany you out as we have not cleared the entire lair as of yet.
Malthir does a quick introduction of himself and the rest of the group before asking a couple of questions, what is the last thing you remember?
Can you think of why the lich may have captured you versus killing you with the rest of Varnhold?
Ricter nods when Malthir introduces him but otherwise stays silent, wary of bombarding Alain with questions from all sides.
Kalev stands a little outside of the circle surrounding Alain, keeping a close eye on the entrance to the hall whilettrying to hear what the freed man has to tell.
Hi all,
Unfortunately, my health has not really improved since the last decline and is likely to be a continual difficulty as the condition diagnosed is chronic. Happy to discuss it more but would want it to be in a less public forum via PM or whatnot.
Sorry for taking so long to respond. I was hoping to see enough signs of response to treatment etc. but I can't in good conscience keep expecting people to accommodate weeks and months of me dipping in and out.
So with a heavy heart, am calling time of death on this game. Sincere thanks to all players and sorry once more.