Relan takes the stone from Sheila, "You seem familar with it, before i put these two together, how about you tell us what you know about these two items and their relationship to each other?"
"I can't say that I'm positive about their relationship, but I suspect placing the ioun stone in the shard will enhance the abilities of the shard and help unlock the secrets of the artifact," she says demurely.
"The ioun stone by itself unclogs the mind and improves the holder's intellectual acumen and learning potential. Those enhancements should remain once bonded with the Azlanti artifact, much akin to the wayfinders we use. The harmonic resonance of the stone's power when combined with the artifact should additionally amplify the latent power in the shard ... an object destined for a great leader, certainly." She finishes, nodding her head slightly.
"Interesting..." he places the stone over the indentation. "Alright, everyone stay alert." And with that Relan snaps the stone in place.
With a flash, the shard ... and for a second, Relan ... are awash behind a pure burst of coppery light. As it fades, and everyone's sight adjusts, Relan is still standing there with his same grin, the shard having seemed to encase the ioun stone completely so instead of a small indentation, there is now a small bump.
A groan emits from Natalya's lips as she lays at Tarric's feet and her eyes flutter open, "Whaa ... ??" she asks with a confused look.
Sheila clears her throat, "What you have found, my friends, is nothing short of a miracle. Varisia has seen its share of miracles of late—the discovery of Xin-Shalast and the defeat of Runelord Karzoug, or Korvosa’s release from mad Ileosa’s rule come to mind—but this discovery will soon be remembered as an equal to those events. This is a powerful Thassilonian artifact, a fragment of horacalcum and a portion of the Shattered Star of Xin: to be precise, the Shard of Pride. I suspect that the shard’s current carrier already knows more about it than I do, in fact...” she looks at Relan expectantly.
Relan grins and stretches, feeling revived and invigorated. "Wow, thats some magic." he looks at Natalya's stirring form if trying to remember something.
"Pride, I felt it. A sense of overwhelming pride, that must have been what drove Natayla against us." he looks at the group. "Its gone now, but it was posioning her mind. A curse of the shard, but the ioun stone has changed it. The pride is gone."
You can explain it in words or game terms as you wish.
Braelex nods, with a small frown. "So, the negative effects of the shard are neutralized by the ioun stone?"
Relan nods, "I feel... enlightened now. Theres no other word for it. Before the ioun stone was placed in the shard, I felt driven to command." He points over at the woman laying down recovering. "I think thats what happened to Natalya, the curse made her want to control everyone. And she had it a lot longer then i did im sure."
He considers the shard in his hand turning it over and running his finger over the incased ioun stone. He turns to look at Sheila. "You said this was part of another artifact, what is the Shattered Star of Xin?"
"I'll tell you that and any number of other things about the Star you wish to know, but first let's get Natalya up, check on Lorlenn, and have Aidon introduce his friend to us, first," Sheila states, returning to her professional demeanor and speaking as if used to being listened to. A man comes in and whispers to Sheila briefly and she excuses herself again.
Natalya is now fully conscious and staring at you all.
You know everyone
"I seriously need a bath," Braelex grumbles as she gets a whiff of her clothing.
Relan nods at Braelex, "I think we all do. Lets see to Natalya then get a little rest we can discuss the Star after we've cleaned up a little."
Relan moves to Natayla, a soft genuine concern in his eyes. "Easy Natayla, everything is ok now. How do you feel? What do you remember?"
Fulmen approaches Natalya, "What do you remember? Where/who did you get the shard form? There's a blonde woman who has been following us since we found you. Do you know who she is?" Fulmen give Nat a description of her.
While waiting for answers, Braelex pulls a fragrant flower from a nearby display and sticks it under her nose.
While the others are busy with the shard, Tarric is absorbed in his work with Natalya. After a few moments of examination, he rattles of a prayer and sets his hand, now encased in a soft silver light, gently upon her brow after a moment, Natalya's eyes snap open.
"Well that was easy enough. You are welcome by the way." he says as he stands up from the divan where she is laying. "She is awake, and none the worse for wear."
Library ... which happens to have charred curtains and a few burnt books but for the most part is pretty intact.
The Varisian girl sits up and murmers something inaudible, likely in her own tongue before she says, "Thank you." to Tarric.
She responds to Relan first, looking at him for a moment, almost searching his face, "I remember you ... I ... I am sorry. I cannot believe the things I've done since I found that hunk of metal. My friends, those poor people ... and the way I lived .." she trails off, despondent. She continues.
"Worst of all, I still feel despair from not accomplishing my dreams. I know now that those feelings were from the shard, but the great let down of failure still sits in my stomach. How pathetic is that?" she says morosely, fighting back tears.
After a few minutes of staring at the floor she weathers the bombardment of Fulmen's questions, almost flinching as each is asked of her. "I found it in a secret chamber in the Crow," she states flatly.
The Crow is one of the pilings of the Irespan, the ruined monolithic bridge that extends partially into the water. It is the fourth pillar on the north side. It is named because of it's signature external carvings. Each of the other pilings has a similar name.
Relan comforts Natalya, "Its ok, it wasnt you, it was the curse. I felt it too. I can only imagine what would have happened had i been exposed to it as long as you had."
"Thank you, Natalya, but what of the blonde woman that attacked us outside earlier and I had spotted on the rooftops near the shack you were staying in? Does she sound like someone you know? Please answer me these questions and I will leave you to rest."
Tarric is oblivious to Natalya's answer, as his eyes alight on the bookcases in the room. A slow goofy grin spreads across his face as he makes his way over to the nearest shelf of books and begins examining them. Most of them are untitled on the spines, so Tarric amuses himself by pulling out random books and looking at the titles before returning them to the shelves.
"Chelaxian love sonnets...the herbs of Western Varisia...the God-Kings of Osirion...Tattle's Tall Tales..." he mutters to himself as he reads the titles.
"I found it in a secret chamber in the Crow," she states flatly.
Tarric whirls about, his eyes intense behind his spectacles. "What did you just say? You were in the Crow? And you found a secret passage! When was this? How did you get in?"
"A blonde you say?" Natalya ponders and then confirms a few more descriptive details with Fulmen.
"Terisha Skilonio," the Sczarni thief sighs. "She's the second-in-command of the Tower Girls. Looks like they're still angry with me for taking off with the shard. She fled to reconsider options and report back to Ayala Jaleski, I'm sure. She's a fighter, but not suicidal. They know where I am and who you are then ... she never forgets a face. They're probably gathering their forces in the Crow, right now."
When Tarric fires at her, she leans back for a moment, slightly stunned. "Yes, ah, a few days ago I guess. We had just been run out of our turf by the Wreckwash Blades, squatting at Fenster's cess pit when I was out looking for loose pieces of the Irestone to sell for a few coins and I stumbled across a secret door down at the beach next to the Crow. I led the rest of the girls there and we searched through a series of rooms finding a couple more secret doors and settling in. On one of our triprs, I found this crazy set of double doors we couldn't get past with an old skeleton in a room nearby. It had that shard lying next to it. I took it ... and then it made me leave."
Tarric's eyes are ablaze with curiosity and he leans in closer.
"Excellent! So there are still unexplored spaces, amazing, simply amazing...do you think that you could draw a map of the area that you and you girls were in?" he gushes, not even waiting for Natalya's answer.
"I could write a book, or a journal! Or even better, there might be writings from ancient Thassalonia that nobody has seen...or documented! I may have to brush up on my Ancient Thassalonian..."
"Well that explains the woman at the house and the attackers from ealier. Ethier they want the shard or revenge." he looks at Natalya.
"Crazy double doors? Sounds like theres something more in the Crow, especially if the shard was just laying next to it. What else do you remember about the doors, Natalya?"
Aidon blinks owlishly at Sheila's comment about his friend. "We don't have a friend," He cocks his head sideways at her genuinely confused and his eyes get a distant look in them. "Oh! You mean Tarric, yes, Tarric is our friend, yes indeedy." He looks at everyone with a large smile as if he was expecting a round of applause. His eyes grow distant again. "Oh umm, yes and Tarric, this is Relan, Fulmen, Braelex. They are all fellow Pathfinders like me." Aidon smiles, "This is Sheila Heidmarch, I think she runs this place, I could be wrong, I don't always pay attention, you know?" Aidon smiles again and looks at Natalya, "And the young women you just helped nurse back to health is Natalya Vancaskerkin." With a sweep of his arm to encompass everyone Aidon says. "Everyone, this is Tarric Abol, he's my friend, at least Amiculus likes him, so I guess I like him too."
"I could sketch out the rooms as I remember, if that would help? I could take you and guide as well, although I'm not feeling in top shape ... and I seem to have misplaced my gear," she looks around a bid confusedly.
"The doors were massive and made of some strange metal. It had runes on it that were scalding hot to the touch. There's no lock that we could pick. I agree, it seems like someone was hiding something important."
Braelex clears her throat. "Why?"
"Why were they hiding something? I don't really know"
she shrugs.
"No, why are we going on and on about this?" Braelex looks to Sheila. "Are we on another mission?"
"Yes, yes, hello everyone." Tarric says with an absent wave to the room, his eyes fastened on Natalya.
"Natalya, I would love for you to guide me out to the Crow. I might get turned around otherwise. You can even tell me what you have learned about the rooms you have seen on the way! This will be quite excellent."
"I will need pen and paper...and ink...oh and something to keep the scrolls in...and I suppose I should bring food too." Tarric says, rubbing his belly.
"And a rope...always need rope." he mutters to himself.
"I dont know, i dont think Nat should be up and around, especially if the Tower Girls are after her. She doesnt even have anything they want any more, so its now a revenge thing." Relan nods at Tarric and smiles in greeting. "But anything you can remember and write down would be very helpful."
Relan pauses and looks over at Braelex, "A strange door that burns to the touch, being attacked by what seems to be the Tower Girls trying to get the shard back, finding a mytholical piece of the Star, and your asking if we are on another mission?" he grins at Braelex, "my dear Trifling, I think the mission has barely begun."
Sheila, who'd slipped back in to listen answers Braelex's question, "Yes, Braelex, you shall be paid for sucessfully completing this last mission as well as receive your next assignment. I have a suspicion what's behind those doors that Natalya is referring to, but if you will indulge me for a moment longer. Relan, would you please hold the shard you have and concentrate on it, in your mind envisioning another shard and seeking guidance. I believe this shard should give you the location of the next, and retrieval of that and the rest of the Shattered Star of Xin will be your next mission."
A pained look crosses her face, "Lorlenn, however, will no longer be able to assist you. His sickness is ill-timed and unfortunately, incurable. He wishes to visit his family in Riddleport before he passes on. Clarence has volunteered to escort him there and return. You are welcome to express your condolences and good byes once we finish here. In the mean time, Aidon will join you to replace Clarence and although we are short on priests in this Lodge, I have the feeling we may be able to convince Tarric to take up the pursuit. Good, sir, if you are interested, I'd like to exercise my right as a Venture Captain and give you a conditional appointment to this Lodge pending successful completion of the shard missions and a subsequent trip to the Grand Lodge in Absalom. Will you accept?"
Relan nods at her words, his eyes showing a brief flash of pain about the elf as he pulls the shard out. Feeling slightly silly looking he focuses his eyes on the shining shard and concentrates...
While Relan focuses, Fulmen turns to Sheila with additional questions. "So you believe the shard Relan possesses is part of a larger artifact? What did you call it...Star of Xin? I'm curious, what powers does the complete Star possess and how was it shattered in the first place?" Fulmen eyes Sheila closely as he asks, "How many pieces do you already have in your possession Ms. Heidmarch?"
Braelex nods and watches, waiting.
Relan concentrates and nothing happens, staring concertedly. Sheila frowns, "Try thinking of a 7-pointed star. Focus on the shape itself."
As Relan adjusts, he receives a powerful vision of, as if slowly rotating around, the Irespan and Magnimar’s harbor, around one Irespan piling in particular—the Crow.
Sheila starts to pour drinks, lemonade it appears, motioning for everyone to take a seat and begins to lecture like a professor, "The Shattered Star was a powerful defensive item created well over 10,000 years ago by the founder of the empire of Thassilon, an exiled Azlanti named Xin. At that time, the item was known as the Sihedron—a seven-pointed star made of the seven skymetals infused with powerful magic. When the runelords rebelled against him, this item was broken into seven parts (at least, according to the legends), and the runelords each claimed a shard for their own. In the 10 millennia since Earthfall and the end of Thassilon, the shards have shifted locations, yet they have never been reassembled into the Sihedron."
She takes a long pull from her glass, and continues, sounding much like Andel's parody of her earlier that day, bringing a sly grin to his face, "Over the past several years, I've become something of an expert
on Thassilon—the legacies of this ancient empire and its monuments and magic are, after all, the primary reason that the Pathfinders have become interested in Varisia. The story of the Shattered Star is one of the most oft-repeated legends of that time among those who write about ancient Thassilonian artifacts—surpassed only by the Seven Swords of Sin in popularity. Even so, the Shattered Star legend is still relatively obscure, yet I have long hoped to stumble across the location of a shard. Never in a thousand years did I even dare to hope that a shard
would simply fall into our lap like this. I don't have any of the other six, but I will put some more concerted research into rumors of where they might be now that you've discovered this one"
Standing to stare at a map of Varisia she concludes with, "The most important thing that I can tell you is that the Shattered Star represents a powerful defense against the dangers that seem to be rising up against Varisia, and that rebuilding the artifact will give the region a powerful defense indeed—both in terms of the item itself and the heroes that the quest to recover the other six fragments will doubtless produce."
"You said you had an idea about whats behind the doors in the Crow." he pauses for a moment and takes a drink letting the coolness of the lemonade slide down his throat. "The vision showed the Crow, so lets hear it."
Tarric looks surprised by Sheila's suggestion. "Um, ah. Well, yes. I mean I really don't have anywhere else to be...well I do, but not immediately...I mean, this takes precedence over pretty much everything else...defense of Varisia and all that." Tarric sounds much more like he is attempting to convince himself rather than simply answer Sheila.
"The opportunity for research being what it is, I simply cannot pass up this opportunity to collect knowledge for future generations...so yes. I will help out. I don't know if I will be able to go to Absalom though...I eventually need to go to Kaer Maga...I have a bit of a small assignment there to handle..."
Braelex blinks, "Are you saying one of the other shards is here in Magnimar... in the Crow?"
Relan shakes his head, "I dont know, according to this map the Crow's location was shown in the vision. My guess it has something to do with the door."
"Glad to have you on board, Tarric. We'll cross the bridge of where to go after once the shards are secured."
---------------
"Yes, the shards are linked. They wish to be together, they are part of one powerful artifact. Each tells you where the next is. While you look in the Crow for the next one, I'll see if I can determine how the shards are related together. If there's a logic to which one is selected next. I'll likely need both the first two to build that sequence, but it can't hurt to get started," Sheila smiles, a hint of excitement in her eyes.
"Now the doors. My guess based on Natalya's discussion is that they're locked by someone with intent. The Irespan itself is an ancient artifiact of Thassilon so it only makes sense that the powerful casters of the time, perhapse even one of the Runelords themselves, used parts of the bridge's pilings for their own devices. It's even more likely it's one of them given a shard is likely behind it," she pounds her fist into her hand. "I really wish that the vision gave you a more specific location, but it'll have to do for now."
"Now, the door sounds like it's potentially made of some sort of skymetal. Hot siccatite to be precise. I have a book on the skymetals here in the library if you're interested. Feel free to look through it before you depart."
"Really? How interesting! Where did you say that book is?" Tarric says to Sheila, peering around at the many books lining the walls.
Sheila waves at a partially burnt book.
The Azlanti, Xin, was the Emperor of Thasillon, considered to be much more benevolent than the plotting Runelords who served under him ... and arguably more powerful.
The Sihedron, the name for the Shattered Star, was very powerful and rumored to be instrumental in Xin's demise when the Runelords turned on him
Aidon accepts a glass and immediately takes a large drink and then coughs a little and pulls a sour face and does a whole body shiver, "That is slightly more tart then I was expecting," He then proceeds to open and close his mouth widely, as if he is trying to stretch his jaw, "Sour always makes my jaw ache, right back here," Aidon puts his finger in his mouth to point out where his jaw tighten and then gags himself "Ack!" He then looks around and if anyone is staring at him blushes bright red and says, "Erm...you were saying Sheila"
A chill runs down Braelex's back. "You say this Sihedron was used by the Runelords? They weren't exactly known for their good nature... Thassilonian artifacts have a nasty reputation for a reason. We've already seen how one shard twisted Natalya's mind. What kind of trouble will we stir up if we bring two or more together?"
After taking several large gulps of tea and listening to the others while leaning against one of the bookcases Fulmen finally asks, "Ms. Heidmarch, you mention the Star of Xin was used for defense. Could you go into more detail of the powers it is mentioned as having? I think it wise that we seek the seven shards before they fall into the wrong hands, so if there is another one to be found in the Crow then we should venture forth in search of it. If we're dealing with skymetal defenses do you know of the weaknesses of the various skymetals? When we do find the other shards we need to ready for possible flaws/curses like the shard we just found. Do all of the shards require ioun stones? Also, it has been a long day for most of us and I know several of us could use some time to clean up and rest."