As you walk, Celeste points out the village's highlights, such as the In and the world-renowned library. "This is a sort of retirement community for adventurers, so you will find armorers, mage shops, and trinkets for all your needs, if you can afford them. Thanks to Tenser's protection, it is a quite affluent community. Perhaps, when this crisis is over, you may think of retiring here."
As you walk, she warns that attempting to approach the castle by flight would result in catastrophe, as there are hundreds of bloodhawks who descend on anyone or anything attempting to fly towards the tower. Teleportation simply doesn’t work – any attempt to do so is automatically redirected into a dimensionally-locked prison-dungeon beneath the fortress. "As you can imagine, Tenser has many enemies and he takes his security seriously."
A polite guard greets you at the entrance of the fortress, quickly ushering you and Celeste through the courtyard and into the beautiful central tower. Although far from ostentatious, the fortress and its keep speak subtly of treat wealth and power. As you move through the fortress, you can actually feel currents of arcane power ripple through the air and even the fortress itself. All of this serves as a reminder that you enter the lair of a powerful and respected arch-mage.
The guard politely gestures for you and Celeste to proceed into Tenser's study, quietly taking up a position a few feet down the hall from the entrance. The Study is a long, airy chamber with a towering domed ceiling and generous adornments. A deep blue carpet covers much of the floor. The walls are thoroughly covered by a wide range of paintings, each depicting a different exotic locale or dangerous region. The paintings are rendered with extraordinary skill, and seem almost like windows looking out on remote locations around the world. Several overstuffed chairs sit throughout the room, and at the far end looms a massive antique wooden desk, its surface a tangle of scrolls, books, statuettes, stone tablets, quills, vials of ink, and an expensive Dragonchess set, its pieces illustrating wizards, clerics, leaders, and soldiers and knights. They are arrayed in mid-game.
"Please make yourselves at home. I will let Tenser know you are here." Celeste smiles and bows and exits through a far door.
Ravarel soaks it all in more quiet than usual. THIS is his goal, the power, the ability to affect the world, this level of arcane mastery
someday
"Good protection this village has. It would be best if none of us start any trouble here." Kaydanna says to the group while looking at the dwarf.
Thak nods in grudging respect at the size and height of the dome. "...fine workmanship."
Inside the castle, he grows a little uncomfortable, shying away from the comforts and standing still at attention.
A few minutes later, a sixty-year-old man, whom you assume is Tenser, enters with Celeste, who is carrying a tray of wine and goblets, and a stern middle-aged human dressed in a black robe covered with stars. Tenser appears to be in good health but is not muscular. His hair is streaked with gray, and he has a prominent aquiline nose. His blue robes bear the sign of a thin scimitar, as this is a part of his coat of arms. Tenser pic
Tenser addresses you, ”Welcome all, please have a seat and thank you for accepting my invitation. You already know my agent Celeste and this is another friend, Agath, a High Priest of Pelor.” Agath remains silent and just nods. Agath pic Celeste pours Tenser some wine and the goblet and then offers the rest of you some of the fine vintage. Tenser takes a sip from his goblet. ”Well, first of all, I wanted to thank you for your efforts in the arena today. Celeste tells me you defeated an Ulgurstasta, quite easily from all accounts. You don’t know what a difference you made today. I believe, according to a prophecy, had the Ulgurstasta succeeded in killing the “Champion”, a blast of negative energy would have engulfed that arena and turned all present into wights. Imagine what 10,000 wights would have done to the City of Greyhawk??”
Tenser pauses, to allow you time to grasp the magnitude of what you possibly averted. ”I feared this could come true, so I had Celeste rush to the Arena, but it appears she arrived too late. Thank the gods that you were present.” Celeste bows her head, in shame. ”I had other agents, who had been successful in averting the plans of the Ebon Triad and other minions of Kyuss, I had been monitoring. They had infiltrated the Arena as a team of gladiators, the Ivory Cudgels, to confirm the existence of Ulgurstasta and get evidence of Raknian’s involvement. Unfortunately, I hear they perished in combat.” Tenser turns to Thak, ”Your brother was a great warrior. I am sorry for your loss. But you must get over your grief, the world needs you, needs all of you. The danger is just commencing.”
"Turning 10,000 citizens into Wights all at once? That is foul magic! Happy that we were able to prevent that tragedy. What can we do to help combat the Ebon Triad and the minions of Kyuss? I would especially like to find Raknian and hold him accountable for his actions."
Thak blinks and nods his head slowly. "I... see. Indeed fortunate. Kind words for my brother, thank you, sir."
"And... we are needed?"
Thak scrutinizes the mage, trying to discern his intentions, and if he is lying about or exaggerating any of this.
"Greetings Lord Agath, it is an honor to meet you.I am but a humble servant of Mayaheine." Kaydanna says bowing slightly.
"It was fate which brought us all to the arena on that day. I am at your service"
Tenser smiles at Siggut's uncouthness. "I appreciate your eagerness, but you must know what you face and why you face it. In my experience, knowledge is power. Ravarel, you are gracious to lend your aid, but Raknian is but a small part of the danger. Yes, you are all needed, I also believe it was fate that brought you together..." Tenser pauses for effect and walks over to one his cabinets and pulls out for all of you to see a transparent jar in which lies a green worm suspended in viscous liquid. "For you five must prevent the Age of Worms. The Age of Worms is foretold in a prophecy that speaks of a coming apocalypse, an age of death and writhing doom. Normally such rumors should be dismissed—doomsday prophecies are typically the product of nothing more sinister than madness. This prophecy is different. It can be traced back, through various incarnations in books, tablets, and carvings on walls, for over two thousand years. It does not change in content during this time—it has not evolved through clumsy attempts of fanatics desperate to reword its predictions to support their agendas. This alone would be enough for it to merit further study. But even more interesting is the fact that in the last few years several of its predictions have actually come true. In one prophecy, it predicts the ‘ruin by fire of a city built in a bowl in the spire’s shadow.’ Just last year, far to the south, the city of Cauldron—built in the caldera of a dormant volcano only a few miles from Kyuss’ one-time home, the Spire of Long Shadows—was nearly destroyed by a volcanic eruption. Other prophecies speak of the recrudescence of the worm-eaten dead, the recovery of potent artifacts from ancient tombs, the destructive manifestation of an immense demonic tree in a distant city across the sea, the arrival of a ‘Fane of Scales’ amid a storm of wind and fire, and the cleansing of an evil taint from a city besieged in the past by giants, the appearance of a city wreath in shadows. These events have all come to pass, and quite recently. In fact, there are only two prophecies remaining to be fulfilled. The first of these mentions the reunification of a tripartite spirit—I assume this is a nod to the goals of the Ebon Triad. The second remaining prophecy reads: ‘And on the eve of the Age of Worms, a hero of the pit shall use his fame to gift a city to the dead.’ I believe this last line may have been speaking of Loris Raknian (certainly a hero from the gladiator’s pit) and his attempt in the Arena. It remains to be seen if your actions actually made a difference or not, but it would be foolhardy to assume that those who are trying to fulfill the prophecies will abate their efforts.”
Tenser pauses to take a sip of his wine before continuing. Agath, serious and silent throughout the meeting, is looking intently at each of you, as if measuring your reactions to the news you are hearing for the first time. He did soften at Kaydanna's introduction, but only for a little while.
Thak, you feel as if Tenser is being transparent and worried at how you will react at the responsibility he is putting on your shoulders.
Tenser continues, as he studies the jar. "This is a Kyuss worm. If it makes contact with your skin, it will burrow inside and try to make its way to your brain, where it will drain your intelligence. Once it does that, you become an undead follower of Kyuss. Divine magic in the form of Remove curse or curing disease will destroy the worms should they ever burrow inside of you. They are named after an obscure deity of undead. Kyuss is an enigma—what we know of him is sparse. We know that he was once a mortal, a powerful priest who ascended to godhood. He ruled a city named Kuluth-Mar far to the south, and was famed for the creation of undead. A former companion of mine, a wizard named Balakarde, made an extensive study of Kyuss and his ways. You might even say he was obsessed with Kyuss.”
Pyrrhus slowly controls his rushing watery flesh, making it placid again after the turmoil of the teleportation spell. He then lets it drop into the ground, slowly entering the soil and leaving behind the shape of an old but yet strong man, with tanned skin, deep blue eyes and not a single hair in his head, a big contrast to his long white beard. He also wears a heavy armor made of stones from the reefs and adorned with corals and pearls. Above his armor he wears the usual vest of the druids, even if blue in his case. At his hands he carries just a simple wood staff.
"Magepoint... not one of the villages I most visit, since my care is less needed here... I has flourished since I last set eyes upon it."
Pyrrhus was never fully comfortable inside worked stone and the quantity of arcane energy emanating from the archmage's home was too much.
The earlier I get out of this tomb, the better... grand man usually try to intensify their greatness with grandiose buildings... a useless quest for they already live in such grandiose land...
Pyrrhus looked at his companions by chance. They are eager to join in some foolish crusade even before their actual mission is laid upon them... a dangerous act.
The old druid generally distrust prophesies, even more one with so many steps... This looked more like a ritual than a prophesy... waiting just for anyone foolish enough to follow it to its end. Though the omen still haunted him... he scratched his birthmark on the top of his hand once more. He looked upon it once more, a spiral representing the whirlpool and the maelstrom.
Both destructive forces of nature, always remembering us the power of our world, a power that overshadows any that could be created by men... even though, why does it troubles me now? Does it foresee too much destruction, even for this world to rebuilt?
Pyrrhus remains silent, still trying to understand what his omen truly means and waiting for the mage to be completely clear about his intentions and requests.
"Obsessed by Kyuss. Why does that sound ominous to me? You sure you trust that Balakarde? We still need to deal with Raknian right? "
"He was a good man, before his obsession. When Balakarde learned Kuluth-Mar was the likely location of Kyuss’ divine apotheosis, he could barely restrain himself. I cautioned him against going to investigate the ruins. One does not simply teleport into an unknown region without doing some research. Yet Balakarde wouldn’t listen. He left immediately, returning two weeks later with a wild look in his eye. He wouldn’t say much of what he’d found there, and before he moved on he asked me to hold on to some of his notes. He promised to return later and tell me more, but that time was short and he had to head north to follow a new lead. He vanished without a trace not long thereafter. I intended to try to track him down, but unfortunately, other events conspired to take my attention away. I suspect he is dead now. Or worse." A sad look comes over the arch-mage's face.
"As for Raknian, he has disappeared and powerful magics are making it difficult to scry him. I will have agents look for him."
"But see, amid the mimic rout,
A crawling shape intrude!
A blood-red thing that writhes from out
The scenic solitude!
It writhes!—it writhes!—with mortal pangs
The mimes become its food,
And seraphs sob at vermin fangs
In human gore imbued."
"...the angels, all pallid and wan,
Uprising, unveiling, affirm
That the play is the tragedy, “Man,”
And its hero, the Conqueror Worm."
Shaking off the last vestiges of the quietly whispered poem, Thak nods to himself and then the wizard. "Your words have the ring of true destiny, sir. I believe it is the will of my patron, my fate to follow this path lay down... if these good fellows will accept me as companion." He half-bows. "While those most outspoken speak of the undead as an extension of law, as an end fine when used with rightful means, no dwarf would condone this chaos-worm, this doomsday necrocide. All prisons opened and unguarded, all justice moot? I would join any party not willing to countenance this.... and I believe this will be not any mere party."
Tenser smiles at Thak. "I was worried most about you joining our cause, given your ambivalence in these moral matters, but I am glad you have come around and see the danger this Age of Worms poses to the world. I believe the place to start is with Balakarde's last notes, as sparse as they might be. They confirm that Kuluth-Mar is located in the Amedio Jungle, far to the south, and estimate that Kyuss ruled the city more than two thousand years ago from a fortress called the Spire of Long Shadows. Balakarde believed that this spire was the site of Kyuss’ ascension to godhood. Kyuss built a ziggurat to serve as the foundation of the Spire of Long Shadows. Balakarde writes how the ziggurat was a powerful magical focus for the ritual that propelled him to divinity. Much of Kyuss’ might has since left the city of Kuluth-Mar, but powerful undead servants and lingering touches of Kyuss’ own miasma make the ziggurat a fell and dangerous place. Balakarde visited the ruined city several times, but never penetrated the spire itself. I never found the journal pages that described his earlier visits.”
Tenser unrolls a large map on his desk, showing the City of Greyhawk and Kuluth-Mar. Map
"I believe you need to follow in Balakarde's footsteps and go to Kuluth-Mar to prevent this Age of Worms." He pauses and waits for comments.
"It matters not who they are or what they can do. What matters is their intent. They plan evil. Their actions threaten the safety of all Oerth not just the Flaneass. We will find this evil and do battle and prevail or I for one shall not return."
Pyrrhus approaches the map. For one who spent so many years wandering around the coast, seeing it from the top was always a pleasure for him... many memories reaching his mind.
"The Amedio Jungle... near Jeklea Bay, west to the Azure Sea... such in dire site located in a sacred place... I've already been to this jungle and assure you it is no small place... if this map is not correct about the location of Kuluth-Mar, we might spend years in the jungle without even laying eyes upon it."
He then looks at the aasimar and another matter comes to his mind.
"And how do you propose we'll manage to get there? Will the girl transport us there or shall I provide such transport? There are laylines beneath our feet, deep into the roots of this world... lines that could bring us to the very jungle... lines that connects plants and even if many plants from a jungle are different from those we find in our woods, many are the same..."
"I have traveled in these regions and know them well. The lands of the Highfolk, The Vesve, Furyondy, the old Shield Lands, Nyrond region and the Thillonrian Peninsula. If we need to travel to those locales I am sure I can assist. I have never traveled to the famed Amedio region and I defer to those with more knowledge than myself." Kaydanna says mentioning and pointing out the regions with either many half elves, holy and good warriors and for some strange reason the land of the Suel barbarians.
"My dear Arch-druid, there are simpler means of traveling, that do not require Siggut to "hoof it." As I am sure, you have noticed, there are beautiful paintings on my wall of exotic locales. But they are much more than that. They serve as a conduit for teleportation magic. And as luck would have it, one of the paintings is of Kuluth-Mar. When you are ready, I can teleport you there and provide you with a scroll of Teleport to travel back. I am sure Ravarel can manage the trip back. Or you may travel to the nearby city of Cauldron and arrange transportation yourselves, should something happen to Ravarel.
Please feel free to prepare your magics and remember you will be teleporting to a sweltering jungle so prepare accordingly. You may rest at no cost in Magepoint. When you are ready, Celeste will let me know. If there is nothing further..."
In my many years I have been all over this great world, but the Amedio Jungle is one of the places I have not had occasion to visit. Looks like we are going to rectify that. I just wish it was under better circumstances. I would like to rest and recover my spells as well as alter my prepared spells. I'll prepare an Endure Elements so for Siggut and myself and any others that might need it. Also it might be best to ready ourselves for a lot of powerful undead and prepare our spells accordingly. I would prefer to rest in Magepoint and set off tomorrow. "
send a Mage to find a Mage...
edit: looks like Siggut doesn't need Endure Elements. How bout you Kaydanna?
edit#2: looks like Kaydanna doesn't need Endure Elements either. Just preparing it for Rav as Pyhruus and Thak won't nee it either.
"I have indeed expended a dear amount of fireballs. A night's recovery would be welcome before venturing unto the jungle."
He half-bows. "I can think of nothing further."
"Well then companions it is decided. I shall see you all in the morrow. Good night." the tall female battle cleric says and the departs to a chapel of Pelor if that is all that is available for her prayers.
"Then we shall gather tomorrow morn for your journey. Prepare your spells and defenses well. You are traveling to a city of the dead." With that, Tenser bids you farewell and Celeste escorts you back to the village. "We will do some information gathering while you are gone to determine our next step. Perhaps you will learn something of great value in Kuluth-Mar that will aid us. I will make arrangements for you all to stay at the Inn of the All-Seeing Eye free of charge. I will meet you tomorrow at three hours after dawn. Thank you for agreeing to help with the cause." Celeste leaves you.
The next day, you gather at Tenser's fortress. He hands Ravarel the Teleport Scroll and wishes you luck. Concentrating on the painting on the wall, he casts arcane magic and the world around you disappears. You appear and it is about 95 degrees. The air is thick with heat, moisture, and the cacophonous din of the jungle. Chirping birds, cries of hunting predators, and the incessant whir of insects combine to create an exotic song. The plants of the jungle press in, a wall of color and plantlife interrupted only by a twenty-foot gap in the undergrowth that looks out over an immense, bowl-shaped valley.
In this valley sits a ruined city. The buildings are in most cases little more than crumbling foundations overgrown with vines. In places, small copses of exotic trees have reclaimed the ruins, while elsewhere, some buildings still stand. The city’s streets are visible only as faint lines where the undergrowth hasn’t grown as thick. Yet as incredible the spectacle of this forgotten city is, it is dwarfed by what dominates its center.
Here, a giant ring of black rock circles the heart of the city, runes graven upon its surface. Within this ring rises an ancient stone ziggurat. Two openings into chambers within beckon on opposite sides of its base. Atop the ziggurat rises an unbelievable sight, a towering spire of stone shaped almost like a stylized tree or cactus. Arms project from the sides of the stone spire in mocking defiance of gravity, either a feat of divine engineering or the product of powerful magic. The apex of the spire is missing. Whatever rested at this forgotten peak is long gone. Pic of Spire and Ziggurat
+4 to beat SR (elf+spell penetration)
DC= 17+spell level
Evocation Spells DC= 19+spell level(School Power +2), +5 HP dam, +1hp dam per die of spell dam (orc bloodline power)
+1DC to metamagicked spells (arcane bloodline power)
0th at will, 7+1 prepared= Message, Drench, Penumbra, Detect Magic, Read Magic, Predistidigitation, Mage Hand, Dancing Lights
1rst 6/day, 5+1 prepared= Infernal Healing, Mage Armor, Hydraulic Push, Endure Elements, Vanish, Liberating Command
2nd 6/day, 5+1 prepared= Scorching Ray, Mirror Image, Create Pit, Gust of Wind, Glitterdust, Protection from Evil Communal
3rd 6/day, 4+1 prepared= Haste, Dispel Magic, Communal Resist Energy, Fireball, Ablative Barrier
4th 5/day 3+1 prepared= Emergency Force Sphere, Greater Invisibility, Ball Lightning, Ward Shield
5th 4/day 2+1 prepared Dazing Fireball, Overland Flight, Wall of Force
As the morning dawns Ravarel prepares his spells and imbues his staff with a portion of arcane energy (spent one 3rd level slot to give staff 1 charge, now at 9/10). And casts the buffs: Endure Elements, Mage Armor Extended, Overland Flight, Ablative Barrier Extended.
Taking in the scene at the Ziggurat "Well here we go. Everyone ready for this?"
Kaydanna just casts endure elements on herself at this juncture...
Pyrrhus nods at Ravarel's question. "I'm indeed ready to enter this cursed ziggurat, even if it is unknown to me if we are indeed ready for the challenges it will present to us..."
You make your way from the jungle to the giant ring of black rock. Everyone is comfortable except for Thak, who is sweating a storm (unless he casts Endure Elements on himself). As you pass through the jungle you see a path in front of you where something really big passed by recently, as evident by the parted bushes and large imprints on the ground. Pyrrhus identifies the tracks as those of a gargantuan dinosaur, even larger than that of a T-Rex, so he recommends that you not dally too long in the jungle.
You emerge from the jungle and reach the ring wall. It is 5-foot-thick, 30-foot-high wall of obsidian. On closer inspection, it becomes apparent that this ring was made from a single giant block of obsidian. It is obviously not natural, being perfectly circular and utterly smooth on the surface. Even without detecting magic, it is obvious the wall is an artifact of great power. It is featureless except for eldritch symbols that cover the upper rim, each of which glows as if lit from within by molten rock.
Ravarel recognizes the runes as Draconic, which repeat a single phrase all across its surface: KYUSS FOREVER BOUND.
From every direction, wind rushes towards Pyrrhus, enveloping him, granting both size and weight even though apparently loosing mass as he becomes made of pure air. He then envelops his huge hands around his companions and prepares to fly over the wall.
"Everyone ready? Albeit my form resembles a hurricane, I'll not toss you around."
"Thank you nature warden, I am ready"
Upon seeing the wall Ravarel casts Detect Magic trying to determine if it will prevent flight over the wall
"The runes are Draconic, and repeat a single phrase all across its surface: KYUSS FOREVER BOUND"
Pyrrhus' air elemental form gently picks up the party members who cannot fly and deposits them on the other side of the obsidian wall. As soon as you pass over the wall, you all experience a vision clearly of the past, as if watching a movie in your heads:
The ruins of Kuluth-Mar seem to be suffused with a strange taint that hovers just beyond the edges of reality. Like an oily stain spreading over a pool, a vision wavers in the air. Within the tainted energy is a man seated on a great throne made of green stone. He wears ornate plate armor, and a black circlet rests on his brow. Both the circlet and armor are adorned with silver symbols-an overlapping skull and scythe. Pic of Man The vision expands, widening its scope to reveal that the throne is located at the apex of the large ziggurat and in the shadow of the spire. The spire itself gleams with nashes of white light, and at its peak is balanced a fifteen-foot-tall black stone monolith shaped like a trapezoid. Around the ziggurat spreads a thriving city, its streets paved in white stone, Its buildings painted and whole. Thousands of figures have gathered in the large open plaza that surrounds the ziggurat, all facing the figure seated at its center. Their cries are a rhythmic chant, surging like waves on the monolith’s shore. As these cries rise in volume, threatening to shake the jungle apart, the vision fades and is replaced by the ruined city of today.
The presence of an evil taint is so strong that tiny Kyuss worms writhe throughout the ground here. However, as long as you move around and do not rest in this area, there is no danger that they burrow into your skin.
" it's always nice to have a history lesson play out before your eyes. And an Origin story to boot. "
As Ravarel floats a foot off the ground be looks at the Kyuss worms "Looks like this won't be a pleasant place to lay down and take a nap " trying to keep an upbeat demeanor but the oppressive evil of the place does weigh upon him.
"unless anyone has any other ideas... Off to the Ziggurat we go "
-Posted with Wayfinder
"That man wears a Nerull symbol, I am sure of it...but I am unsure of what they are chanting"
Thak marches stolidly on despite the sweltering jungle heat. Reaching for Pyrrhus' windy arm he allows himself to be lifted up and over, enjoying the brief rush of whirling air.
Thak looks ahead grimly. "The vile attract followers most often in a time of vileness... no wonder what drove them, then." He steps a foot down and deliberately squashes and kills one of the Kyuss worms. He turns and nods to Ravarel. "For the ziggurat we head."
The party starts to move toward the side entrance of the ziggurat, which lies 200' ahead, wary of the Kyuss worms in the ground and any other dangers. When the party is 100' from the entrance, suddenly the doors of the ziggurat open wide and out strides a sole undead knight gripping a bastard sword and shield, green worms writhing along his armor. Pic of Nezzarim His eyes have been replaced by the ravenous mouths of two bloated worms. Sort of like this..
Impossibly fast, the Knight moves forward, advancing 60 forward, with a smile on his undead visage. Behind this horror, appear two large, bloated beetles. Their rotted and pitted shells evoke thoughts of ancient decay and unfathomable corruption, and tiny green worms, each a wriggling abomination of terror in its own right, squirm through the holes in their exoskeletons.
Ravarel shouts the following to his companions "Kyuss Knight: Rare Undead warriors, very strong, tough, DR. unholy blades, are immune to cold and electricity, but no spell resistance. Eviscerator Beetle: undead beetle bite does extra necrotic damage and that when it clicks its mandibles, it radiates a 120' aura of madness.
Ravarel casts Create Pit under the Kyuss Knight using 1pt from his Arcanist reservoir to increase the DC by 2.....
If the Kyuss Knight fails save it will drop into the 30ft pit
After the casting Ravarel uses the Arcanist exploit Dimesional Slide as a move action to slip through a dimensional crack and reappear 110 ft higher and behind the rest of the group. He is now out of the range of the beetles aura of madness but is well within his fireball range
-Posted with Wayfinder