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"Not as much the action you perform as the exuberance behind it. Although I also admit that hugging was not the response to relief that Aldebert, and all others, had survived their blows from the elemental.
Of which you should be careful yourself. The damage inflicted on you is no less than that which Aldebert suffered. I'm glad you were not struck again, but you should be careful after taking such a blow."
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After just under a half hour of carefully performing the ritual described in the Abysium codex, including the placement of each of the items and reading of their inscriptions, a breach into the plane of air appears within the Abysium heart. This breech however, stabilizes to a small controlled fracture, this time without any extra visitors and with a thrumming sound the room begins to pulse with energy. At this point, most of you are feeling rather sick to your stomachs, but it appears as though the Abysium Heart is once again stabilized and reattuned. With a series of fine adjustments, it appears as though you can now create several new passages within the tapestry... although that final step is likely a job best left to those with more expertise on the specific destinations. With that, your work in here is done.
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"This appears to be set up and I don't know about anyone else, but I feel I have a far better understanding of interplanar travel today. Rare I'm allowed to participate in a ritual rather than have it forced upon me. Quite exhilarating!"
"Unless I have overlooked a crucial task, we should be well set to report our success. Although, do you think they would mind if we spent a few more hours here? I'm certain to find many items of interest to catalog and maybe even the inevitables would be open to conversation."
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“Good work, everyone!”
Eadie holds her tummy with both hands as she listens patiently to Watts’ research plans. “I dunno about everyone else, but I’m feeling sick as a small hospital.”
“I’m sure you’ll have other chances to visit inside the Tapestry, Watts. But I think it’s time to have a conversation with VC Li.”
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"Good" comments Aldebert as he nods curtly to Vim, pocketing his wand. "Although we have decided to withdraw in good order, let us not forget that that senile elven dotard has made threats from beyond the grave. All that local mumbo-jumbo about the elderly, magical tattoos and the sort would have me dismissing such tomfoolery. But I did witness a venture captain die and return from the grave as a little girl so that she might join us on a quest to combat another incarnation. Thus, perhaps there is some grain of truth to otherwise dreadful local customs."
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"Well, um, Shadow Orchid died and promised revenge against us from beyond the grave." Cirri shudders. "Some Aspis agents were already in the tapestry. Including one of those 'by instinct' magic users (which sucks because I wanted his spellbook) but I got to become a harpy and that was fun!"
"There are a pair of inevitables that we sweet talked into letting us go. I guess they are guarding the Abyssium Heart. Also, there's a portal to the plane of air- make sure lightning elementals don't surge forth- they sting!"
"Ah, the ritual was successful!" Riddywhipple laughs. "We, well, you, can open many passages within the tapestry now."
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Aram Zey raises his hand to pause, then walks back over to his office. He cracks open the door and motions. "The mission is on!"
With that, another crew of pathfinders comes out as he packs up the tapestry and leads them into a different conference room. Amara Li comes out with them and remains with you. "So... the passages are not limited to just Varisia? This will prove very useful to us. Congratulations Pathfinders on a job well done. Now if you will do me one last favor, the Abysium Codex is the final piece of the Ruby Phoenix's prized collection, and now that it is within the Society's posession, I would request that you return it to the Grand Bank of Abadar where it may be reunited with the rest of her effects. I'm sure you friend Vim here will appreciate that, seeing as he is the last owner of the Codex and will likely begin to feel it's curse soon enough unless it is returned."
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Amari Li smiles at Watts. "You haven't felt the effects of the curse as of yet. Perhaps we will have someone scribe contents of the codex into a less hazardous format for your later perusal." Between sentences you can see her motioning to Aram Zey and giving wordless orders as the new passageways are put to good use. After a few minutes it becomes clear that Amara Li and Aram Zey have their attention focused elsewhere, leaving a short trip to the Grand Bank of Abadar in order. "Many thanks to you, and remember, if you ever find the need to make use of the Tapestry, I'm sure we can arrange for some personal requests."
~~~
After completing the required paperwork (praise be to Abadar), Hao Jin's collection is reunited once again, save for of course the few pieces legally transferred to new owners and documented as such (praise be to Abadar) in recent years. With that you find yourselves ready to part ways after a job well done. In the following days, several expeditions are arranged to secure the newly created paths through the tapestry, some of which may even include some of you...
~FIN~
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"Thanks, Venture Captains! Don't get killed and shoved into a soul lantern anytime soon... May the Pathfinders live forever!" Cirri whoops after dropping off the Abyssal Codex.
"Man, that was so much fun turning into a harpy! And putting wards up, and clobbering badguys with my staff...Oh man, I feel like my head is bursting with good ideas! The good way, this time!"
Cirri spends many days, nights, dusks and dawns studying nature, magic and everything in between. Riddywhipple makes many jokes at her expense, but he does note her magical aptitude increase.