Knowledge (Arcana):
"A spell of Monster Charming or a magical Suggestion may change his mind."
Quayne looks around and shrugs apologetically.
"I am afraid my affinity for enchantments is somewhat lacking."
Just as the silence starts to become uncomfortable Kiralinsee shrugs and lets out a sigh. She slowly shakes her head
"Well this is boring. Ah well, I suppose there's no helping it, then."
As Kiralinsee talks, everyone gets a bit of a prickly feeling at the back of their necks but they all just shake it off and don't give it a second thought
A long silence stretches as Raderol considers the strange little girl's words. "Alright then." He says, his previous rage slowly evaporating. "No hard feelings. But before I begin I must ask a question of my own. Have you ever been in love? I fear to tell my tale to uncomprehending ears. Only if you know the power of true love can you understand why I've done the things I've done..."
Raeli is slow to offer a response to Raderol's question. She hadn't ever become more involved with a man than a passing romance; though it always felt like more, she knew with the distance of time that what she had felt in those relationships was not something that would move mountains or bind her through eternity. But did she not love her family with such a love? She alone remembers them, cries over them, devotes her life, still, to them. So she answers, "Yes. I understand the power of such love. Now speak, and tell us what you have done in your passion." Her voice is rough and raw, as she remembers what she has done, and is willing still to do.
Ulvak has stayed quiet since his "conversation" with the gem. His eyes have been shut, clearly lost in thought...or something else. When he speaks again, his voice is normal again. Gone are the sounds of madness, the tones of something sinister below the surface. "I am sorry Raderol. The twin powers that have gifted me with my unique abilities sometimes war within me and when one wins out, often lead to a markedly different me. As for your question, yes, I know the power of love and of love lost and the lengths of which one will go to because of either."
"It's alright anyone with true power suffers from a touch of madness in my experience." Raderol replies. "And it's good to be amongst those who understand the power of love, I've spent so long with the truly evil, who know no love, that it will be good to speak with those who can understand." Raderol pauses a moment, seeming to gather himself for his tale. "My story starts two hundred years ago with a war between two clans, the good hearted Thunder Jinn and hateful and destructive Golden Efreet..."
"The war had raged for a thousand years as the Thunders defended their children from the Efreet slavers and I was born into a culture that had transformed over the years from a society of arts and learning into a martial society whose only goal was survival, I was an unhappy child who longed for the culture that was our heritage while forced to learn the ways of battle at the feet of my father, a warleader of some renown. He was a true product of our times, interested only in learning better ways of killing our foes and perfectly content to let the finer accomplishments of our culture to slide into obscurity." Raderol sighs, sounding truly unhappy in his reminiscence. "I was a half hearted warrior at best, my head in the clouds and my heart longing for some cultured companionship. I was truly miserable, until the day I met her..."
"Consial Mergan, the raid leader of the Efreet's elite Diamond Dervishes came to offer us terms, saying we may escape slavery for a rather modest tithe in wealth and service. She was so eloquent, so beautiful, I was instantly smitten. My father of course refused any thing that smacked of defeat or compromise, despite the fact we were losing the war and the Efreet were being more than magnanimous with their offer. So the war continued but now our opponent was Consial." Raderol's tone takes on a dreamlike quality as he remembers his time pining after the gorgeous Efreet. "She consistently out maneuvered us in every skirmish, defeating the ploys of Jinn three times her age. Our people fought for twenty more years until we hovered on the very edge of extinction."
"Our peoples' potential salvation came, perhaps a bit ironically given our clan's stated morals, in the form of an offer of treachery. Consial's First Captain, jealous of her success and incensed at being forced to serve a female came to my father and conspired with him to lure her into a trap and destroy her. I think that was when I truly lost all faith in my father, for such subterfuge was against everything our clan once stood for. If we were going to sacrifice all we were for victory why hadn't we accepted the offered terms all those years ago? It would have been much less bloody and perhaps we could have still salvaged something of worth. Never the less the trap worked, at the end my father stood above the beaten Consial raising his scimitar to behead her. I'm not sure even now what happened inside me but seeing the embodiment of perfection about to be destroyed but this weak, worthless creature I called father snapped something deep within me. I struck him from behind, beheading him instead. She retrieved her weapons and together we fought our way free. Looking back now I truly believe that that was the day I first came alive and my hateful existence became a life worth living."
"Of course despite my grand gesture and the life debt she then owed me I still wasn't quite the mate she was looking for. I had the honor, culture and intelligence but unfortunately I lacked the power. That's what led me through some of the darker paths of my life and perhaps inevitably, into the arms of the Darkblades. It took me sixty years to win her over but eventually I did and I have been so happy since." Raderol sighs once more. "Of course nothing lasts forever. Six months ago Consial had a run in with a Demon of the First World and left this mortal coil. Genies of all types are a bit harder to resurrect than your average mortal and so I require grand magic to bring her back. I didn't want to turn to my masters because although they have the power nothing nice ever comes from their dark energies so I had to find something of my own. It took me a while but I put the word out and was eventually approached by a witch who had the answer."
"She layered me in spells to enable me to steal the Ring from the Arcane Vaults of the Twelve and so I did. Of course they sent agents after me and that's how we find ourselves in this current situation... any questions?" Raderol inquires.
"And the dragon who seemed to be some sort of love interest is whom, exactly?" Ulvak asks, not entirely trusting this sappy love story.
"And where and when were you intending to meet this witch?"
"And the dragon who seemed to be some sort of love interest is whom, exactly?" Ulvak asks, not entirely trusting this sappy love story.
"Meh, no one important, just a Khyber Shaden who was convinced I was her dead lover, or a bridge to her dead lover, or something." Raderol informs you in a bored tone.
"And where and when were you intending to meet this witch?"
"No where, our business is done, I get the Ring and she gets my essence when I'm gone." Raderol chuckles. "Of course she doesn't realize that already belongs to the Darkblades, oh well..."
"Let's say that I do believe this love story, what was your next move? and is there any way to verify what you've told us?"
"Well once I got the wish function of the Ring to work I was going to resurrect my love and continue our affair. I still don't know why I couldn't get the damn thing to work especially since apparently you used it easily enough." Raderol replies. "As far as verifying it, I'm not sure. Magic maybe, I don't really know what kind of resources you have access too."
"Don't worry Ulvak, he's telling the truth.
Kiralinsee says offhandedly then pauses for a moment.
"Raderol, would you mind clarifying the circumstances of Consial's death a bit more? Do you know the demon's name and what exactly was this 'run in' she had"?
"I'm not actually sure what happened. Consial was searching for the artifact sword Mournivel, Reaper of a Thousands Souls, and claimed she was competing with an ancient Demon to find it. She wouldn't even tell me his name or and details about him though because she claimed he had eyes and ears every where and any details she revealed would let him in on how much she knew and how close she was to the sword. I felt her die not long after and found her Essence Gem in a field that had been scoured by fire. I spent quite some time trying to commune with her spirit but unfortunately the Golden Efreet don't handle death the same way Thunder Jinn do. While I am fully conscious and coherent in death her mind was sluggish and her thoughts broken. All I could pull from her was that in her last moments she confronted a black bear with onyx eyes and a huge Dragon that was bent and twisted into weird proportions..." Raderol informs you.
Raeli is out of her depth with this talk of demons and artifact swords, and given the descriptive title of the sword, she'd rather not have reason to learn more of it. She trusts Kiralinsee's assurance that the story, thus far, is true -- yet she is stuck on why the ring wouldn't work for the Thunder Jinn. It had bothered her the entire time she was tracking Raderol. "Is it possible the ring's creator was actually wise enough to build a safeguard in case it should fall into evil hands? Something that should be done more often, but it seems few wizards think that far ahead in creating their masterpieces. No offense." She offers the last to Quayne and Ulvak.
Kiralinsee giggles
"Ah Raeli, I'm afraid it's not like that at all. The ring just only works for mortal humanoids. Unfortunately for Raderol, he doesn't fit the bill."
Ulvak considers Raderol's words carefully not really paying attention to his companions comments. He wonders what, if any, he may know about this sword.
"Well, the spooky little girl says your story checks out. So how about we make a deal? We just used the ring, so it's got a week cool down. If, in that week's time, you remain cooperative and helpful, perhaps we'll use the next wish to help you"
Kiralinsee giggles
"Ah Raeli, I'm afraid it's not like that at all. The ring just only works for mortal humanoids. Unfortunately for Raderol, he doesn't fit the bill."
"Hmmm so that's why it wouldn't work?" Raderol comments. "I guess it wouldn't have worked for me no matter how long I experimented with it..." He sighs.
Ulvak considers Raderol's words carefully not really paying attention to his companions comments. He wonders what, if any, he may know about this sword.
"Well, the spooky little girl says your story checks out. So how about we make a deal? We just used the ring, so it's got a week cool down. If, in that week's time, you remain cooperative and helpful, perhaps we'll use the next wish to help you"
"Alright, sounds like a deal." Raderol agrees. "You should know though I wasn't lying about the Darkblades coming to retrieve me there is a good chance they will come for me soon."
Kyber Shaden, Knowledge (Arcana):
Mournivel, Reaper of a Thousand Souls, Knowledge (Arcana):
"Actually, Raeli, designing magic that differentiates... reads the user, is very hard. It cuts both ways, though. Evil wizards cannot stop their items being used by good people either." Quayne gestures at Vaelins and his newly acquired Amulet of Natural Armour +2.
"Raderol. Where was the field where you found the essence gem of your Consial? And where might we find this witch who tricked you into doing her dirty work?"
"The Field was on the east side of the Ashen Spires mountains, as for the witch, I don't know she approached me I have no idea where she lairs." Raderol replies.
Quayne breaks his contact with Raderol and turns to the others.
"Indeed. I think we should return to the Twelve and see what our employers have to say. If no one wishes to interrogate Raderol further we should depart for there."
"Sounds like a good plan to me Quayne." Ulvak breaks off contact with Raderol and begins to get ready to move on.
Kiralinsee is ready to move on as well
You have two choices for the route you take in returning. The well patrolled and easy to follow civilized roads that will be both faster and safer from wandering monsters but more vulnerable to pursuers or the rugged wilderness route which will take longer and have monsters but it will be easier to dodge pursuers if someone follows you.
Considering their options and the potential for pursuit, Ulvak suggests taking the route through the wilderness to help throw off pursuers.
Intent on throwing off any possible pursuit you disappear into the heavily forested wilderness of Karrnath's untamed regions.
Random encounter roll
Troll.
After half a day of travel in the dark boughs you hear a rustling up ahead.
Erupting from the between the trees 60ft in front of you is a slobbering troll with a rubbery green hide
Quayne looks up from the lecture on cantrips he appears to be delivering to Gartha.
"Careful. There may be others."
Bluff:
"Uh oh. Did I use the word for traveller, or weakling?" mutters Quayne taking a step back.
Bluff VS DC 12 failed.
The troll roars in rage and moves to attack.
Vaelin's steps forward 30ft and hurls a dagger. Vs AC 17 hit. damage to the troll.
Raeli draws an arrow and fires. *miss*
Ulvak mutters a few words in Shadowtongue, then lets loose a small blast of flame.
The troll roars in pain as it ignites then slumps over, burning to ash.
Amidst the trolls burnt remains you find a small ruby worth 300 gold.
How would you like to set up your camp each night in the wilds?
We find a suitable resting place that provides some cover, and as usual Quayne makes himself comfortable and nods off to sleep. After the first watch, he awakens bright and refreshed thanks to his ring, and he stays awake for the rest of the night, watching over his companions, while occasionally murmuring to Gartha and sending her out to silently scout the area.
Kiralinsee seems to be daydreaming and barely acknowledges the presence of the troll. Although she does manage a chuckle in response to Quayne's attempts at diplomacy. As he bursts into flames she offers a distracted "Nice spell Ulvak, pity there was only one" before returning to her thoughts. At night she will split her time between sleeping and wandering off on her own. With no one noticing until after she's already gone of course. But she'll always be back before it's time to set off again.