"That sounds like a good idea. Restoring some balance to this place as soon as possible sounds wise."
Unable to use the infernal healing scrolls, Zephyr is about to pull out his Cure wand when he gets an idea...
...and remembers about water mephits and healing. He uses his own Create Water cantrip to fill a suitable depression and see about immersing Octaris in enough water that he can heal and return to consciousness
He will also secure a floating glob of Chaos.
Octaris thanks Zephyr swimmingly!
"That seems prudent," says Krakos to Jamila, after due deliberation. He takes out a scroll, and casts it on himself.
While he waits for his companions to heal further, Krakos looks around this strange area for anything of further interest.
"Let me know if anyone else needs healing! I've got these scrolls of infernal healing in my bag," Octaris bubbles forth from beneath the healing waters.
Under his breath, he says, "Totally a wizard spell, right? ... Totally." His brow furrows slightly as he tries to remember which spells are and which aren't.
Zephyr uses 3 charges off his wand to restore himself, hoping the rest of this mission isn't so rough
Krakos looks at Octaris suspiciously.
"Why don't you take one of those scrolls and write infernal healing into your spellbook, wizard?"
"Because it's not a spell I regularly prepare, duhhh." Octaris rolls his eyes under the water.
Rhyol tries to heal herself too in the apparently magic water, but it just makes a lot of steam. She looks around for tasty minerals.
Krakos looks to be on the verge of saying something to Octaris, but there is no time to question further, as the chaos of this plane weighs on Krakos' mind. "Let us leave here and return the way we came to relative safety. We should move... quickly."
Travelling back through the portal, the roiling incursion of color slows and contracts upon itself, forming a vibrating sphere. Although the disruption beyond its otherworldly borders has abated, the tenacious rift remains.
The portal represents a weak spot in the border between the plane of air and the maelstrom. To fully close the portal and prevent any future incursions, you should use your knowledge of magic.
Zephyr offers some thoughts. While his ideas on the planes seems to revolve around his familiar theme of Imbalance Leads to Disaster
His ideas on spelltheory from a more Naturalist perspective may be helpful
"Here, let me take a look. I know all the things!" Octaris bluffs and blusters briefly. He thinks back to his previous knowledge first,
before prodding the portal ponderously, using his experience fangling new fangled things.
Zephyr's knowledge of spells, Octaris's magical prodding and Ember's knowledge of the planes combine to nearly close the portal.
Octaris may wish to attempt prodding the portal once more, while Ember formulates some stories of your grand adventures, and Zephyr considers why exactly this tower is here.
Rhyol tries to help!
"Aaah, Octaris, what did you take into account the [steam hiss] and the [flame burst] " ?
Rhyol tries to help, but is struck by a wave of chaos sapping away some of her fortitude.
D:
"Hmm." Octaris prods at the portal more. "M-maybe I could get some help? N-not that I'd need it. I know everything!" Octaris looks unsure if he should ask for help as he repeats the prodding process.
Krakos attempts to assist using his own knowledge of the planes. Taking a long time to think about matters helps.
Krakos takes the third gem and either leaves it here while everyone is busy with the portal, or slips it into the portal so it can go into the Maelstrom, depending on which one he thinks would be more useful.
|
"When the elements align, balance returns. To repair this balance, gather together the heroes: one of fire, and one of air, and one of water, and one of chaos, and..."
Ember begins narrating the party's journey so far, adding flourishes and embellishments. As she tells your tale, you feel inspired. Pausing at a dramatic moment, she casts Moment of Greatness.
She thinks on the arcane nature of the rift, using her training as a loremaster.
With Octaris's final prodding, the portal closes coalescing the air around it into a pristine gem
"Ah." Krakos, having examined the gem closely, carefully sets it down and steps well away from it. "Be careful of this gem. It can surround you with rapidly swirling air going in all directions. How ironic," Krakos finishes with a frown. He usually likes gems, but not this gem.
Zephyr considers and heads off to B1, looking for further information while pondering his journal.
Octaris summons his octopus familiar, Octoparis, who pats him on the back for his success with the portal. Octaris preens glisteningly.
In one room, the walls depict a city made of ice and djinn bustling around a massive spherical building surrounded by dozens of similar but smaller round buildings. In another relief, a group of mephits emerges from a cloud dragon’s breath. The most striking scene depicts an immense being with the body of a serpent spun from storm clouds, the head of a lion with a mane of lightning, and hundreds of clawed feet. His expression is approving and content as he gazes upon the other creatures.
In the other room, the lion-serpent is wreathed in an aura of lightning with an expression of fury. Djinn, mephits, wysps, and other creatures of air fly by his side, all surrounded by a raging cyclone. Hordes of creatures made of stone rush forward, only to be sent flying as they approach the cyclone.
Zephyr ponders the walls and calls out "Come have a look at these. There's a story here which it may help us to know"
Jamila identifies the lion-serpent as Ranginori, a benevolent lord of air who was trapped and exiled ages ago.
Zephyr looks about, murmuring to himself, sometimes with a word or two from a language you don't know but the meaning comes through easily enough "Once there was balance within the Elements as well as between them. He looks at the cyclone on the relief, pondering it Is this a mirror to the cyclone which we just saw? Is it a reminder, a part of that occurrence, or is it here for another assault? Or to undo one?"
"Can I see the gem?
|
The shelves of the library hang from the walls at a variety of artistic angles. Each shelf contains a minor magical effect that directs gravity toward its back, both preventing the contents from tumbling out, as well as preventing the books from degrading over time. Most of the knowledge contained in the volumes here is esoteric and extraordinarily specific. Volumes with titles such as Breathing, Volume XI: Concerning the Respiration of Mephits and Fruit of the Forest of Oils: A Treatise on the Safe Harvesting of Unknown Alchemical Reagents Suspended in Water are common.
Krakos shows Rhyol the gem. "Here. Because of its magic, it may be valuable to someone, perhaps to use the swirling winds as a defensive tool." Krakos still stands well away from it, clearly bothered by the idea of that much elemental air in a gem - something supposedly of earth.
After spending a bit of time helping Zephyr search, Ember finds a ledger that indicates that the library belonged to a djinni named Pahwal ijil Ranginori, who was so devoted a servant and worshiper of a being called Ranginori that he was granted the immense honor of taking Ranginori’s name as a part of his own.
Additionally, she points out several tomes that include depictions of Ranginori’s form, prayers, and hundreds of tales of Ranginori’s acts that portray him as a benevolent leader—albeit acts last performed millennia ago. The volumes also speak of an ever-shifting city at the center of his realm, where his worshipers could freely visit.
"Hmmmmmm." Octaris ponderous loudly. Is there more to be found? Octaris pokes around in case, though his ability to help is fairly limited.
Using the device that was provided to you by your airship captain Nix, you are able to swiftly reconvene with her at the edge of the safe zone.
After returning to Armun Kelisk, word spreads quickly among the captains that the formerly dangerous region surrounding the tower has calmed.
Shortly after you've returned, Ashasar tracks you down, "I knew I could count on your team to handle this dangerous task. Congratulations on a job well done. How did your mission go?”
He listens patiently to your report, ensuring that all of you have something to say. At the mention of Ranginori, he replies, "I don't think it is a coincidence that this rift occurred at a site so closely tied to Ranginori. The Concordance will pay close attention to any additional disturbances associated with him. Perhaps he has found a way to weaken the prison that is holding him, wherever that may be."
Everyone succeeded at primary and secondary success conditions, and I'll be sending out chronicles momentarily.
Zephyr nods quietly, seeming more alert than usual. As if he has a new goal.
"Huh. I wonder what happened so that such a good leader got himself exiled, eh?" Octaris wonders aloud.
As the group is dismissed, Octaris thanks Ashasar and the rest of the party. "It was a pleasure working with you all! Perhaps we'll get to work again, though with fewer protean beasties involved. If you ever need me, leave a message with my cousin Aurathius! He's my main mephit. Uh, along with Dupralia of course."
And with a sly wink, he's off!