The harpy wanders around the camp of your friends, and also notes the boat. Chuckling, "Someone dragged that overland?" She pokes one of the worgs randomly with her foot talons it lies there bound growling. "What's going on here?"
Speaking in New Common, "Shall we free the Worgs? They SHOULD be intelligent like their Hell Hound companions to leave instead of fight us since OUR PACK MATES KICKED THEIR ARSE AND TIED THEM UP." Quassine stares at the WORGS, "RIGHT?!" Quassine continues and addresses everyone, "If we don't let them loose, they are just going to die of starvation and thirst. It would be nice if they join our pack but I think they are too set in their ways to be good?"
The worgs growl, but Quassine you know they can speak common and goblin tongue. The elder worg replies, "Set us free, we are born to roam the wilds. We have no interest in returning to aid the giants."
Goliath approaches the worgs and begins to cut them free.
"Honor your pledge here, for if we meet on the field of battle we will put you down. Go lead your pack." He remarks to the elder.
"Brother Goliath speaks the truth Worg pack, run free! If we see you in battle against us, there will be no second chance."
The elder worg's eyes flash as it nods and it calls to the others who fall quickly in line and they bound off into the wilds.
A beautiful eagle lands near you and changes form! "Hi everyone, its me Ash! Xanya, I got your dreams and I came to tell you we are near, but that the scepters we carry have some risks. Here is a note from Karkoran who figured them out."
I give you a note that Karkoran wrote for you.
All scepters have these powers:
Recharge: The scepter can invoke a Death Knell spell effect, and as the spell it will kill the target victim, but rather than the normal spell effects, it will recharge the scepter 1 charge for each 2 HD of the victim up to a maximum of 4 charges.
Locate: Any scepter holder can locate another scepter on the same plane of existence, by making a DC 15 will save if they have the name of the other scepter. This can be blocked by various anti scrying magics or by placing the scepter in an extradimensional space or by a layer of lead. This use requires no charges but requires continuous concentration. The locator will feel a mental nudge in a certain direction toward the other scepter.
Destruction: Any scepter can be invoked destructively. This uses all remaining charges, and does 2d6 per charge in a 20' radius. For each 2d6 reduction in damage, the radius can be increased by 10'. This also destroys the scepter reducing it to nonmagic molten slag.
Only Greater Scepters have these powers:
Open Gate: A Greater Scepter can open a gate within an area where any three scepters, lesser or greater are within 1 mile of each other. The triangle ( or whatever shape is created by even more scepters ) is the field in which the gate may be opened. For each scepter above three an additional gate may be opened somewhere within the field ( 4 scepters = 2 gates ). The gate(s) is/are an opening up to 30' x 30' and visible as a shimmering semi opaque window. The gate is opened to wherever the Greater Scepter is that invoked the creation of the gate. Since the Greater Scepters can be used to 'Scry'(see below) on the Lesser Scepters, the gate can be invoked remotely using a holder of a Lesser Scepter as the eyes on the ground so to speak. The gate can be to another location on the same plane or to another plane. This effect takes 10 charges from each scepter participating in gate creation. The scepters must be at least 30' from each other to support the minimal size for the gate. The range of the gate creation is 1 mile but the target location must be visible with line of sight and line of effect to the location. The gate must be created vertically, and must be created on a solid immobile surface (for example the deck of a moving ship is invalid). It cannot be created in midair or within solid ground or within a liquid medium such as underwater. Targets on the linked planes have line of sight through the gate (with minor concealment due to the blurry effect) but not line of effect. The gates are two way.
Scry: Any Greater Scepter holder can 'scry' through a willing Lesser Scepter wielder using whatever senses are available to the Lesser Scepter holder who is being used as the local observer. An unwilling target gets a Will save DC 18 to resist, and is aware of the effect and can take preventative measures ( simply closing ones eyes or covering ears for example ). This use requires 1 charge and lasts up to 1 hour. The name of the scepter is required. The scepter must be held and wielded in order for the scrying to take effect. (Merely carrying the scepter is not enough).
"Karkoran thinks its may be safe for our groups to meet up without the magic gate opening. We are at the edge of the ice and Grobly and Tayanella are scouting one of the tunnels. Lump and Kark are waiting outside, and I left my raptors there. How are you all doing?"
"Hail sister Ash. We are glad you were able to defeat the threat of the scouting party. We have collected two scepters as well, but one remains with the loremaster at Cliffport. I suspect these scepters are the lesser ones. It is good you stopped us here. If the giant leader is scrying on these he could have opened the gate and scent overwhelming numbers against us."
He then looks back to his group.
"So what do we wish to do now. Bringing the scepters together is too much of a risk. It seem's Ash's group should continue with what they are doing and keep their two scepters away while we go back to help defend. We will need to take care and keep our scepters far enough from away so the army can't gain entrance to the city. That can be discussed later. With this information do we have anything to gain from meeting with our brothers and sisters at this time?"
The group meets their friend from their allies and discusses their plans with the scepters and how best to avoid any dangerous chances of a gate being opened on them.
The harpy steps near to Asheranthi after she changes from eagle form, "Oh so this is who was in your other group? Hmph."
She seems to be scrutinizing the girl.
Quassine looks at Goliath, Like I said, when we know about the scepters, we can then act accordingly. You took a 50/50 chance and you happened to be correct this time and perhaps you will be wrong the next time brother. Quassine looks to Ash, "My apologies, well met sister Ash. We are doing good and being normal siblings of not agreeing with each other but still remain effective." He goes back to addressing the group, "Since these devices can be operated remotely, or within 1 mile of each other, perhaps we should no longer take them back to Cliffort unless we can mitigate the remote nefarious powers? I do not have anti-scrying magic. So, did someone find some lead?" Quassine looks to Harpy and Ash's interaction, then speaks in Old Common, "Ash, please excuse our friend, we are hoping to convert her to one of our sisters. For now, she remains curious or she has some other plan or both."
(I only speak old common) "We had some harpies attack us, we killed them. They were good at blocking arrows though."
"Well if you want to meet up, I just came here to tell you about what Kark found. He has most of the ideas for the scepters. We are trying to find a way into the black ice. There are some tunnels, but we don't know which one. I am sending dreams to all the groups but I guess I should wait until we find something worthwhile. "
"Good luck with your harpy. Kark had a troll he wanted to save, but I think he just killed it in the end. We set some wolves free though."
"Any messages?"
"I spoke no words of my decision or others why so defensive brother. We came to a decision. It is fortunate that sister Ash here came when she did or it could have been a costly decision. Now let us not dwell and move on to what we need to do next. If we take the ship we can make up a good bit of the overland time and get back to Cliffport quickly. If we are lucky the dwarves will have some cave or mines or tunnels we can stash the scepters that will keep them far enough away but not able to be gotten too by the Giants. Though if they have led boxes then we can bury them in opposite directions far enough from the city to not risk threat. My vote stands now to take the boat and head back to help in the coming war."
"I have no messages sister Ash. Just be safe and let us know if you find any leads toward finding Goodwin."
"Yes we took a boat from those last guys. Good luck, wish you could come with us, we are pretty close I think. If we find it soon we can try to come fast. I don't remember when the army was going to arrive? Did they need to get these scepters in place first?"
"Ash! It's nice to see you." The very physical derro goes over to hug the mongrelfolk.
Xanya reads the notes and she thinks for a bit while the others talk, then suddenly her eyes glimmer. "This is the answer! We don't need to go to Cliffort, we got the key to finding and tracking down these other groups in our hands." She rushes over and get the scepter. "Any scepter should be able to track down any of the others right? Let me try it out."
After she's done concentrating she suggest to their visiting companion. "Ash, maybe our harpy got any information about the paths within the ice?"
"Ash, the note said something about the scepters' names, do you know any?"
"How do we figure out if a scepter is lesser or greater? That would be nice to know. Are any of your scepters a greater one? What about ours?"
"Based on what they can do it makes sense these are all lesser scepters. I suspect there is only one maybe two greater ones held by the leader of the giant army. These get set into place and he opens the gate. With this knowledge we can find the name of this one and the other in Cliffport while Ash's group has the name of their two. We don't have the name of any other so tell me sister how this changes things. The giants found these because they have the names. We can not track them down without the names of theirs and unless our harpy friend has that information." Goliath looks to the harpy.
"Do you sister battle harpy?"
"Well without such information I see no alternative to going back. We could wonder in hopes of another scout group stumbling upon us trying to track down the scepter or we can go to where we know the army will strike. Tell us sister battle Harpy do you know how many scepter there are?"
"Karkoran was able to find out the names of the scepters that we possess, using spellcraft. You may be able to do the same. My guess is the same as yours that you need the names of the other scepters to track them. I am also under the impression that the scepters we all possess are the lesser ones. I think Goliath has the right of it. We can use them to find each other since we know the names, but not the other army groups or their leaders. Unless your harpy here knows."
Earlier
Quassine bows to Goliath's response regarding the scepters.
Now
"I will begin to study the scepter while someone speaks to our sister to be, Harpo or helps me with the scepter?" Quassine walks over behind Goliath to carefully take out the scepter to study it while Goliath can focus on speaking with Harpo (Harpy).
"If we can't use the scepter to locate the others I agree with Goliath that we should use the boat, you can study it on board."
Quassine nod bows, "I will wait until then."
"do you know how to tell how many charges a scepter has?"
Quassine nod bows to Kiki, "Sister Kiki, if Sister Ash does not know, it will probably be revealed during my study"
Xanya, you are focus on the scepter, taking it from its box, and hold it aloft. You concentrate and know more about them now, you attempt to enforce your will upon it, however you realize you must know the name of the other scepter you wish to locate. You realize this immediately as you reread the note Asheranthi supplied.
Quassine, guided by the notes supplied by the other group, focuses on the scepter, and attempts to unravel its mystery aided by Xanya. Ikik scuttles about trying to help, but doesn't provide anything useful.
Quassine you are able to determine your scepter's name is 'Vepbihr' and that is has 38 charges remaining.
The group mulls over the knowledge they have now, more complete after reading the notes and Quassine's in depth examination of the item while Goliath questions your friendly neighborhood harpy.
Edit: Ninja'd
"Now that we know the secrets we also have the option of letting this thing blow up in an almost 400' diameter but for little damage. This would end us of it and the possibility of it being used against us. This would be the safest option. We should take it a bit away from the boat if we do this so not to harm the hull any. Ash I would suggest your group do the same as these are devastating weapons of war."
When asked if she knows the names of the scepters, she replies again in her broken crude Common tongue. "I don't know the names, those were kept a secret. We harpies were just soldiers to fight."
After the questioning she does seem to sit down cross legged facing Quassine as he examines the scepter. She seems oddly intrigued at times by your group's actions, and you wonder exactly what sort of upbringing this creature would have had. Many of you think back to your lives before Goodwin and also what you know of the squalor and ignorance in which many of the more savage races spend their entire lives. Based on the crude information supplied, you guess the battle harpies were raised to fight from an early age, and no attention is given to anything other than their prowess in battle. While many of you are quite skilled in battle, you have other interests, hobbies, skills and passions. You imagine the mind of a creature suddenly exposed to a world of possibilities and decisions where before it had but one path chosen for it. You are emboldened by your choice and your insight into Goodwin's principals deepens just a bit.
Goliath approaches the harpy.
"Come sister. I know what you are going through. Let us spar. Show me what you have learned. If you choose it I will be your teacher and show you the path of vengeance. I can teach you to use what you learned to strike back at those that forced you into this life. There are many ways and many options for you now. You need not decide but let us see what you got why our brother and sisters make a decision."
Quassine looks at Brother Goliath, "Sister Harpo may not know our form of none or little injury sparring. You may want to ask, how they trained first just in case she sticks you. Although unlikely but there is still a chance. As for the scepter, I say we hold on to it. You never know, we may be able to make it work to our advantage?" Quassine sighs, "What we really need is either a master scepter, make one, or somehow convert one the lesser to a greater scepter? Perhaps, you are correct brother, maybe we should destroy it until we find the master scepter? Well wait a second, if we store these in a magic null zone or protect it from scrying, the scepter will be disable." Quassine looks at Sister Ash, "Go ahead and bring your scepter to Cliffort. We will most likely be there before you and Sister Xanya or whomever can send a message back to the Lore Master of Cliffort regarding our findings? Quassine then looks at Sister Xanya inquisitively and adds, "We should return to Cliffort." Then he looks back at Sister Ash, "Sister Ash, do please tell us if you find anything interesting at the temple? Just in case, do you want us to come and find you if we don't hear from you in how many hours or days?
Hugging Xanya back and waving to everyone. "Goliath that is a good idea to activate the destruction option, then we can rid the world of them altogether. I can tell our group."
"I guess I should get back to my group, I'll need to walk back this time. I will let them know your plans and we can keep in contact via dreams. I should get back and help. They were trying to figure out which tunnel into the ice to take when I left. "
"If we find something, we will let the groups know. I have been sending dreams to the original groups of people to let them know we are on to something. I hope it isn't for nothing. You are so close you should come with us, but I guess the attack on the fort is soon? I think we decided to skip that and focus on seeking Father."
"Destruction..." Xanya's eyes glimmer as the visions of a huge explosion pass before her inner eye. Suddenly Cryxial speaks up. "We can't be sure all charges can be put to increasing the area, but I could simply carry the scepter away from you all and blow it up, then be back the next day. It would be painful, but it would be worth it to keep the rest of you safe. If we are sure, that might not be needed though..." Xanya suddenly shakes her head as she's brutally ripped from her daydream by the though of her companion blowing himself to bits. "I agree with Quassine that keeping it would be nice. In the future being able to open up gates might be nice as well, if we do win in the end. Though it does give the giants a scrying device for finding us, which I don't like... Maybe blowing it up is better after all. Either way, I think we all agree that we can take the boat back to Cliffort. I guess our trek here wasn't completely wasted. I tentatively vote for keeping it, and getting hold of an extradimensional space as soon as possible. Maybe Quassine can craft it?"
She turns toward Ash. "Why are you investigating the Black Ice rather than fighting against the giants? Though I guess the giants might originate from there... But I got the impression you were looking for a monestary? Either way, we met a Fey queen and her court earlier. We agreed to help them, as well as the dwarves of course. They might be able to help us find Goodwin in return, at least she promised so. So we'll be following that lead and taking three birds with one stone, helping Cliffort, the Fey and getting help to find dear Goodwin."
"A lead box will do for now. That is what the loremaster put the other in. I believe it stops the scrying magic. I believe these devices are too destructive and should be destroyed. They carry a great deal of responsibility to have. We can assume as it has not blown up on is yet that they can not be destroyed from a distance or scry with a greater scepter, but this can not be know for sure without a greater scepter. I vote for destruction. It is the only way to assure that it can not be used against us or the people of Cliffport."
"Don't worry brother Quassine. I don't think she will hurt me much."
Quassine smiles at Brother Goliath's spar response then attempts to rub his beard but realizes it is kind of hard with tentacles. He then sighs at the fact he can't rub his non-existent beard, "That is a good idea sister, let us make our own scepters? Let me draw up the schematics first before we destroy this scepter? Something designed by us would be safer for us. When we return and find out the Lore Master of Cliffort wants us to continue collecting the scepters and has a safety container to put them in, we will obviously start collecting them again."
For once Xanya is not sure what she wants to do with the situation, but that doesn't stop her from trying to drive forth action. "It seems we are decided where we are going next. By boat down the river as fast as possible, but for what to do with the scepter... Kiki should weight in before we decide. Both me and Quassine seems in favor of keeping it, though I'm not as bombastic."
Quassine shrugs, "I don't mind so much about destroying it now especially if there is time to make a schematic of it."
"I will first make a schematic and add notes of other things we have discovered since the Lore Master's office. Then we can destroy the scepter somewhere hopefully safe."
"Xanya, we did not want to get too involved with the dwarves and the giants, we said we would help, but our primary obligation is to Father. We stopped some giants and their scepters, and the dwarves have far more resources than we do. Aren't they part of a larger kingdom capable of raising their own armies? Anyhow, we have always pushed to find Father, and that continues to be where we allocate our resources. The dwarves can manage fine if their uppity leader would just grow a pair."
"Good luck on your journeys."
Ash will big farewell to the group and pull her furs about her and head back to her group.
Father would be displeased with such views and selfishness. Putting him above the needs of many. Have the others truly learned nothing of his teachings but power?
Goliath ponders as he finishes with the harpy if she took him up on the offer. He heads to the boat to begin to drag it back to the river.
"I think Quassine should study them first, then we destroy them."
Kiki looks thoughtfull for a moment and then grins " If we find other enemys, I could fly over them, trigger the cepter and drop it"
Xanya turns towards Ash and in an animated tone starts explaining their reasoning. "Helping the dwarves, the humans, the goatlings and the fey is the good thing to do. That's what Goodwin taught us. They also promised us aid in return, especially the aid from the fey queen sounds promising. Still, maybe we and the others who remain will be enough to defend these lands. Then we'll both recieve help and you'll find whatever you can in the monastery. I don't fault you for your decision, even if the one we make is different." She calms down towards the end. She's not angry, just deeply involved emotionally in the situation. "We should message the others about the capabilities of the scepters. If all goes well I'll message Lotham, Goggh and Maks about what they can do tonight. Maybe you can handle the other groups?"
At Kiki's mention of dropping the scepter on their enemies her eyes goes wide and her mouth falls open. "Wow, and here I thought our invisibility ambush against the giants worked out great, but that idea is even more insane. You don't even need to fly though. You can just sneak in while invisible and blow them all to pieces. I would hate to pass up such a powerful opportunity for no benefit to ourselves. Anyway. It seems like we have decided." She jumps of Cryxial to help Goliath drag the boat down to the river.
When you go to move the ship you find it far too heavy for even the two of you. You will probably need to kick out a some Ant Hauls and/or Bull's Strength to make it happen.
"Bah, this is annoying. We don't have ant haul, which would probably be best for this, though Enlarge Person and Bull's Strength aren't far behind. If you'll allow me to make you larger to move this Goliath?"
Cryxial joins in trying to pull and push the boat.
"Seems this boat is heavier then expected."
After a few divine words Goliath enlarges and his muscles bulge.
"There that should do it." He begins to drag the boat. Once at the waters edge he waits just putting the front of the haul in.
"Climb aboard." Once all are on the ship he gives it a final push before leaping up over the side and shrinking back down.
You probably lash a bunch of ropes to the boat to pull it since it is easier to move that way rather than trying to grab it by a small piece (that may tear off) and pull it.
Once in the water, the group seems ready to move on down the river. Does anyone have profession sailing or boat piloting?