Aye, there are stories aplenty, but none worth sharing. We were effective at handing out the justice owed to those who fell under the Mistress' spell. We dealt death in a manner that made me proud to work closely with these newfound friends.
Kierdan approaches Alistair and says, I may be able to help you remove this affliction, through the grace of Pelor, of course. With your permission, I would like to try
Eldramin remains near Koralyn as she reads deeply into the rod. He later speaks with Alistair in private , "There are none better than us to keep this item. We will be our own counsel against its darker uses. The layfolk of this area could not be trusted to fall under the dominion of the naga, they cannot be entrusted with such an item."
When Alistair mentions his curse, Ramne beckons him into his laboratory for an examination. He grunts and mumbles as he pokes and prods at the blackened flesh on Alistair's chest, but does not seem overly concerned.
"A rather uncomfortable condition, I expect, but nothing that's going to follow you to the grave. My son picked up something similar once from a "lady" of questionable pedigree from the Gran March. The priest's benediction should remove all traces, although I wouldn't engage in any ... strenuous activity for a few days."
He turns to the rod with a look of distaste.
"As for that thing, it is as foul as its reputation. Does it bear some pernicious taint due to its long association with the Arch-Lich? Perhaps. But whether or not it is corrupted, it most certainly is corrupting - the power to bend men's minds has a way of turning the most righteous mad for power. It is a path that, once started, is very difficult to leave."
Ramne stares thoughtfully out of the tower window toward Orlane, where the villagers are readying the feast outside the cathedral walls.
"I wish I had some advice about where to take it. This village is certainly no place for it - it should be evident now we could not keep it sake. In Hochoch there are many who would seek to use in the war against the giants. You might try the elves, though I fear they, too, would be tempted to use it to try to take back their homeland. Perhaps it would be best to hide it yourselves and seek counsel from from sages and tomes about how it might be destroyed."
Can we not have it housed and protected by Knights or some Church of St. Cuthbert, of such? There has to be a place where such items of a corrupted nature can be stored, or even destroyed.
I wonder... There is always the tower.
Reposting...
Kierdan approaches Alistair and says, I may be able to help you remove this affliction, through the grace of Pelor, of course. With your permission, I would like to try.
Alistair nods his head wearily and gives the priest a wan smile.
"I would be...deeply in your...debt Kierdan...if you could cure me...of this affliction."
Calling on his god then and there, Kierdan channels warm, pure light into the rotten flesh on Alistair's chest. Within moments, the cancerous afflicting begins to shrivel and peel away, revealing new, pink skin beneath. The wizard draws in a deep, clear breath as the curse is lifted and his body returned to normal.
"Well now, that's done. As for passing on that rod to the Watchers or the brothers of St. Cuthbert, I suppose that is an option," Ramne says. "But even good men, stern men, have fallen prey to such things when they thought their cause was good. As desperate as things are in the war to retake Geoff, it would be an easy mistake to make ... You will have to use your own judgment as to whether the various factions in Hochoch can be trusted."
He raises an eyebrow with interest when Koralyn speaks. "And which Tower do you mean, my lady?"
so, do we return to Hochoch and the front lines in the war? Maybe we have helped turn the tides with the removal of the mistress? I guess we should bring the rod along.
Alistair, looking and feeling much better, thanks the priest for the intercession of his deity on his behalf.
"The next time we come across a temple to Pelor, I shall make a very generous donation. Again my profound thanks!"
Looking to the leaden container and the artifact within, Alistair weighs all that he has heard and shakes his head.
"I...ummm...we cannot take a chance with leaving this cursed item with anyone. I fear that it's corrupting power might turn whom ever we leave it with along a path of evil and domination. For now, we should keep the item until we can discover a way to destroy it."
Alistair will start researching a spell that will allow him to hide the rod away. Looking at the spell list, the 4th level Secret Chest, would do for now. He will be working on this research whenever he has the chance.
No, forget about that tower. We are not so desperate as that yet. I am in agreement. We need to safeguard this and vow to never use it until we better understand it. We can look for some place it might be left but for now it is our burden. Kierdan, perhaps there would be some church?
Kierdan furrows his brow and considers Koralyn's question about whether or not the church can assist with this artifact in any way...
Looking slightly embarrassed, Kierdan says, Well, Koralyn, nothing immediately comes to mind. Perhaps some of the more senior priests in Hochoch may know something helpful.
Alistair suddenly smiles as a thought seems to have occurred to him from out of the blue (and strangely sounded like Koralyn's voice).
"For now, we can place the item in our magical bag. It should help shield the artifact from scrying eyes until I can discover a more permanent solution."
I think it dangerous to reveal what we carry to any in Hochoch Kierdan. Their need is great and what they might justify as right in such need frightens me.
"I am never disappointed by the utility of such storage devices," Ramne says. "I am sure that remedy is as good as any other, and will provide at least a modicum of protection against unwanted scrying until a more permanent solution can be identified."
"Now, my old bones are telling me it is time for a mug of mulled wine and rest, and I am sure you are ready to partake of the feast they have prepared for you. Go in good spirits - but do go - and enjoy the heroes welcome you have earned. Perhaps we will see each other again before you leave Orlane."
The old hermit ushers you out of his tower and toward the waiting festivities, where villagers and those you rescued from the cult already are raising glasses of wine and tankards of ale to the sky, giving thanks to Merikka for Orlane's salvation.
~~~~~0~0~~~~~
Nodding Alistair agrees with the elfess.
"We cannot trust anyone outside this limited group with the knowledge of the artifact. There are..groups out there you would kill us all for this magical item. Now, lets go and enjoy ourselves tonight. I think staying a few days before we head back to Hochoch will be good for us to recover. I have a feeling we will not get much down time back in the city!"
Eldramin enjoys the feast immensely, staying near a fire so as to dispel any remaining feelings of swampy moisture while he enjoys mulled wine and grilled meats, crusts of bread and anything else he can get.
Karolyn enjoys the good company but eats lightly and drinks even less. She too is concerned about the issue with the grain supply. How can we go back to Hochoch with no solution to feed the people?
We may have already solved the problem with the defeat of the Mistress. If there was another problem, then it likely did not originate in Orlane.
Perhaps we could escort a wagon of grain back?
"If they have any ready to go that would be fine, but I think we should not wait. We have information to bring back to Hochoch that they may need, so lets get back as soon as we can. I also would like to start on research on the "artifact" as soon as possible too."
Alistair seems better from his ailment, but is a little edgy. He looks almost like a hunted man...constantly looking around and speaking in hushed tones.
Overhearing talk about the grain shipments, the mayor, Zakarias, leans over.
"We've been able to salvage much of the harvest since the cult was driven out of town, and have recovered some of the stores that had been hidden away, as well. Several of the farmers are eager to send a shipment to the markets in Hochoch and no doubt be grateful if you were willing to escort the wagons. The safety of the road to the west is the only open question. You are the last to have made the journey, as far as I know."
The mayor is interrupted as the townsfolk call for him to make a toast -- one of several that punctuate the evening. When he returns, he steers the conversation back to your imminent departure.
"I expect you will leave soon, even tomorrow. Have you given any thought to who might travel with you? As I said, several of the locals no doubt would like to send along a wagon or two of goods, if you'll have them, and there may be others who wish to make the journey if it can be made with a larger group. And Rolen, what of your sister? Do you wish her to accompany you or remain here in our protection?"
I for one would travel with the shipments of grain and will defend them to my best ability. Korayln confirms. I will be ready to go tomorrow.
Now that the threat of the cult has been lifted, I would like to at least visit with my sister before we leave. I am sure she is anxious to return to her seamstress duties here in Orlane. Can you point me in her direction?
I see no reason why we couldn't bring along a few extra wagons. We are only six, though, and if the convoy becomes too long, we will not be able to guarantee everyone's safety. I don't suppose some of those interested in travelling might be proficient in the use of arms? The citizens of Gran March are well known for their military training.
Kierdan turns to Rolen and continues,
Like Koralyn, I will be ready to go tomorrow. But, Rolen, you have family here, and you have not seen your sister in a while. I will defer to you for our departure. Please take all the time you need in visiting your sister.
Tomorrow will be fine. I am off to visit now. I will see all of you here in the morning.
"Sounds good to me."
Rolen finds his sister easily enough, sitting at one of the tables surrounded by half a dozen young suitors. She seems happy, and largely unfazed by the horrors she endured at the hands of the cult.
She excuses herself when she spots her brother and follows him to the edge of the celebration. Brushing off questions about her own well-being, she seems more concerned about Rolen.
"Be careful treading dark paths, big brother," she says. "Hunting monsters is all well and good, but don't get yourself lost in their lairs."
With a kiss on the cheek, she bids him a safe journey, then returns to her friends, who have talked one of the priests out of another bottle of wine that is swiftly disappearing.
Rising early the next morning, the group is greeted outside the constabulary by a pair of merchant's wagons loaded with grain, as well as two drovers, half a dozen armed guards and a handful of townsfolk hoping to make the journey to Hochoch as part of an armed caravan.
Bidding farewell to Ramne, Zakarias and others, the group heads out of town along the western road, retracing its steps from several weeks earlier. The first day passes uneventfully and you camp for the night near the ruined tower where you fought off the warg-mounted goblin raiders what seems like a lifetime ago.
The next day brings you within sight of the Oytwood -- and a column of smoke to the north, along the trail leading north toward Hochoch.
The wind carries the stench of burning flesh, and you spot a few carrion birds circling near the column of smoke. As you draw closer, you see at least two giant-sized figures moving about in front of the smoke.
Koralyn is in a good mood and walks speaking of happy things with Kierdan. She seems oblivious to any distant smoke or noxious smell.
As Alistair is about to argue with Koralyn about who should have custody of the bag, a smell of something other than wood smoke reaches his nose. It is a smell he has unfortunately smelt before, and tragedy follows that smell.
"Enough about the bag for now. Koralyn I trust you to keep it safe for the time being, however I think we might have a bigger problem. I can smell burnt flesh and look...over there...I think I see...Giants!?"
I see them. We need to take cover and approach warily.
Rolen seeks the nearest position from where he can advance slowly and hade as he approaches.
Kierdan is walking along the convoy, absentmindedly thinking of people he needs to talk to when they finally get back to Hochoch, when a familiar, unpleasant smell breaks his reverie. Shaken back to full consciousness, he sees the smoke and what looks to be, Pelor's Light Guide Us!, giants.
Hearing Alistair's words, Kierdan turns to the other travelers in the convoy and says, My friends, no need yet for alarm, but hold here for a moment. Allow my friends and I time to investigate up ahead. You guards, protect these people! May Pelor's light shield us against darkness!
Koraln is torn between wanting to fight the giants and the obligation to defend her changes of both people and grain. We should skirt the threat. she finally recommends And only attack if they come to us.
Alistair grips his staff tightly in his hands as he watches the giants in the distance.
"We should destroy them right now, while we have surprise on our side. They will only bring misery and death to those in this area. Let us put an end to their evil right now before they can cause further mayhem."
Seeing little choice Koralyn nods. How do we approach them?