"Elenorik knows better than to come to Olah-Kakanket, or send anyone there. She was likely hoping you would find a different ruin, one that might tell us something of the knowledge our ancestors lost."
"You are the mightiest mages we know. If you cannot rescue my daughter, she cannot be rescued." Aecorra is too proud to beg, but you can hear the desperation in her voice.
"I believe I can remove the paralysis, but it could take days...perhaps even weeks. We were heading back to check on Stagfall, but perhaps I could stay here for a time while the others return so that I can try and remove this condition." Mikhail says as he frowns and looks towards where they took Xamanthe.
"What are the fumes rising from Olah-Kakanket? There were many columns of fume rising from that place, and it was not a pleasant substance." Kern inquires.
"It seems once we're able to help your daughter, our journey will take us there once again. Is there anyone among your tribe that may know more?"
"Also, we have some manticore quills for your bard..." Kern reminds the group.
"Fumes? I don't understand. There have never been any such... I...I fear this may mean that Vordakai's hour is here at last. I do not think you will have the time you think you do. If the god is awakened, we are all in terrible trouble."
"Do you have any writings on this Destroyer? It would be beneficial to know more about him if he is rising." Mikhail says and wonders how he would be rising after so long.
"We are nomads. Writing is for people tied to one spot on the soil."
Piotr chimes in, asking "What stories do your bards and elders keep concerning the Destroyer?"
"There must be a tale concerning how the Destroyer was imprisoned," he continues hopefully.
Aecorra shakes her head. "We lost almost all of that when Taldor pushed us out of the Dunsward, if we ever had it. A hundred centuries is a long time."
She walks on a bit. "If any of this story is to be found, it will be found in Olah-Kakanket."
Turning to his companions, Kern suggests.
"We should rest here. I'm sure Mikhail's back could use a stretch and I am still weakened."
Looking back to Aecorra, he asks "If the Destroyer is as dangerous as you say, can you spare warriors to join us when we head back to Olah-Kakanket? Or anything else of use again a risen god?"
"We have not such strength of heroes as you, Kernithar. And we must reserve our what strength we have. Moreover, our people were never meant for delving below the earth. But what aid we can give, we will give. You returned to us Mother’ Moon’s bow, Skybolt and I would give it to you, but I see you have no archer. We have other artifacts of ancient days and such as they are, you may have them if you will face the rising danger before it spills forth across the land.”
"Any aid you could provide would be most appreciated." Mikhail says with a smile.
"I am skilled with longbows and would be honored to use Skybolt to banish the Destroyer." Kern replies. "Might I bother your tribe for some arrows and a quiver?"
Piotr continues with his line of questioning concerning the Destroyer.
"Could I, or another of my companions, speak with your elders and talekeepers to learn what they know of the Destroyer?"
"I am skilled with longbows and would be honored to use Skybolt to banish the Destroyer." Kern replies. "Might I bother your tribe for some arrows and a quiver?"
"You shall have them," says Aecorra.
Piotr continues with his line of questioning concerning the Destroyer.
"Could I, or another of my companions, speak with your elders and talekeepers to learn what they know of the Destroyer?"
"You may. But I assure you they know no more than I do."
Alister shakes his head. "Seems like it's all been lost to history. But if this Vordakai is awake, he seems like a threat to us all. We should consider how to further infiltrate the tomb."
"Aecorra, may we rest here for the night as Mikhail continues to try and help Xamanthe? We have the manticore quills to deliver as well. Then we can plan our next move."
"Of course. Listen. There are many of my people who will not be happy with humans and other two-legs knowing the secrets of the tribe. Take Skybolt and the other things you need, but do not mention Vordakai or Olah-Kakanket. If...when... you revive my daughter, I will tell her the same. She must see now that she has taken on a task greater than she is."
"Care for your daughter. I will return as soon as I am sure our communities are safe from this Destroyer." Mikhael says.
You return to the Nomen camp and Aecorra presents you with Skybolt (a +2 thundering composite longbow) and as many quivers of arrows as you care to carry.
She also presents you with:
- An Impactful rune.
-A Greater Trinity Geode
- An Iron Medallion Talisman
- A Basilisk Eye Talisman
- Two Potions of Quickness
- A Scroll of Unexpected Transposition
- A Scroll of Passwall
The tribe hails you for returning Xamanthe alive, though many wish you could heal her now.
Spellhearts are permanent talismans. You don not need to be a spellcaster to use them.
You set out the next day and are soon marching under the hot summer sun. After several hours you arrive at a scene of wonder (Hex 0727). Huge bones of some impossibly large dragon lie here. The bleached white ribs protrude up into the air like strange trees and the moss-draped skull provides nesting grounds for dozens of families of shrikes.
Herds of mastodons roam in this area.
"Fascinating. It would be good to mark this and send people to come and get it later. It would be great for a museum or university to have." Mikhail says as he looks at the remains of the massive creature.
"Mmmm... just be sure to advise them to avoid those mastodon herds. We should as well, the alphas as fiercely defensive of the herd." Kern agrees. "That's two dragon bones we've seen around here. I hope whatever killed them is long gone."
Aristu marvels at the size of the dragon's remains. He examines the skull for indications of what color the beast was when alive.
PIotr rubs his chin as he studies the skeleton. Still, he does not recall anything.
Moving on from the Linnorm's Grave, you travel for several days into the mountains, spending frigid nights snug and warm in Piotr's cozy cabin and warm days struggling up narrow defiles and across treacherous scree fields looking for a passage into the valley of the Little Sellen river. You find yourselves almost a dozen miles to the south of your desired path before you finally find a difficult pass high into the mountains and begin the long trek up to the snow-covered saddle between two frowning peaks.
Mikhail aids Kern.
"We're being followed." Kern comments casually as he lopes back from scouting. "A raven. Since when we left the Nomen's. Maybe we can find a cave to settle in so it cannot follow us."
Aristu looks around for the raven.
Alister squints up, looking at the raven. "A spy you think? Piotr, any way that Corb can make contact and see if the bird is unusual? It might give away any surprise that we are aware of it, but if someone is tracking us, it would be good to confirm it. Especially if we have any chance of capturing or killing the bird." He glances at Kern's new bow.
You can't find a way through the mountains. Kern thinks you may have to shift south (through Hex 0927 to 1026) to find the pass you used the first time.
"We have no way of knowing if this is just a normal bird. It seems unwise to send Corb so far by himself without the ability to aid him." Mikhail says as he looks up at the sky not seeing anything.
Once Kern gives his advise Mikhail nods and says, "That makes sense. Lets head for that pass."
Kern continues to lead the way to known pass, he keeps his new bow at the ready. "I'm going to let the bird know we're aware of it."
When's the last I used a bow... that Chelaxian fellow... he was quite cunning... he muses to himself.
As the team shifts its way south and then southwest, exploring the high mountain for a further week before finding the path that will take them back to the ancient tomb.
It will take you two days to get over the pass and down to the river again.
The raven follows you, always staying far out of reach, but now that you've seen it, you notice it frequently. Kern takes a shot at it, but the raven merely continues to flap lazily far away.
"Corb!," calls Piotr.
When his companions finally comes, Piotr points out the distant raven. {b]"Is that a relative of yours? It has been following us for some time. Can you go and determine whether it is friend or foe?"[/b]
"But be careful. It's not worth getting hurt."
"Do we wish to go to Stagfell before we delve further into the caves? There seems to be little sign that this monster will rise within the next few days. It would be bad if the community started falling apart in our absence." Mikhail suggests to the group.
Corb regards Piotr with a gimlet eye. "Corn!" he squawks.
Thus bribed, Piotr's familiar flaps into the sky to go investigate the mysterious raven.
The two flit around the sky, the strange raven dodging and weaving. Corb gets close and the two squawk at each other. About twenty minutes later, Corb returns, settling onto Piotr's shoulder and shuddering.
"That bird is a servant of dark forces. A familiar, like me but with a master nothing like you, Piotr Denisov. Heed my words, its master has already risen and knows we are coming."
Mikhail sighs and shakes his head, "There goes the idea of returning to Stagfell for a short time. I cannot do a Sending, is there anyone capable of sending word to Stagfell so they at least know we are still well?"
"I could send Corb," states Piotr.
"Of course, the familiar would lose many of its magical protections when it is this far from its master," he continues. "Do you think that one, or more, of us could hide while the others continued onwards? It is unlikely to survive a heightened fireball or one of Kern's arrows."
"Alternatively, it can only follow one group. If we split up, it has to choose which one of us to follow."
"Lastly, we could return to the Shadowlands. We could scrape up the toll, again. And it would be good to determine if that realm would resist or aid the raven's master."