"Thank you, warrior. I could not ask for a more selfless action." He returns to his desk, pale and coughing. "But it would be folly, and another act of evil on my part to let you go. I cannot send more to that place with no hope of return. I will not commit others to the same fate as my brothers. No, I still hope to find the answer to mastering this mirror somewhere in my family lore." He gestures to his many stacks of tomes.
The assembled Pathfinders look about. All possess enough training to recognize that the Baron does, in fact, have some very interesting tomes out. There are books perhaps not to be found even in the archives of the Grand Lodge.
The titles include A Short History of the Usklands, a crumbling copy of Zon-Kuthon's holy text, The Umbral Leaves; and something called Sojourner in the Sunless Waste. Locked in a case by itself is a particularly ornate book, with rich black leather binding, opals studding its edges and a silver crescent moon on the cover.
"I.. my shadow lies within it. One less tool for my enemy to use." He smiles wanly.
"I have not found the means yet to destroy the mirror; my men have stuck it to no avail. Whatever damaged it in the first place possessed a power beyond my reckoning. Yet the answer to it's destruction must be here among these tomes of lore."
The Baron seems to sink back in defeat. He clearly possesses some planar lore, but he is one sickly man and the number of tomes in here is significant. A few keen minds, however, set to the task would clearly make greater progress in finding the elusive solution to the woes Karpad and the Baron.
K(arcana, history, planes and religion) are all valid checks, and as a group you can try each check once to find a solution. Using the library gives you a +5 check (including to aids). Let me know if you have any questions. As many people as you want may aid, and the Baron will attempt to aid you as well.
Stepan looks in wonder at Leastrie. "Is that why my health has been failing; I... did not know."
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Guilford takes the lead in researching the arcane topics found in the library.
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Baldwyn looks over the books with the team, his brow furrowed the whole time. "Dammit, if I'd wanted schoolin', I'd have gone to school... But maybe this helps?"
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Kris will help whomever professes skill in anything but Religion. She leads a splinter study, simply because even if someone else is a true expert, putting all eggs in one basket is sometimes a fatal decision. If the Baron looks sickly of ability damage (not drain), she'll use a Lesser Restoration scroll.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Stepan walks over to the locked case with the Book of Night Without Moon, draws it down, and holds it in his hands.
"I must conquer my fear".
He opens the book up and a shadow emerges from the book, hovering expectantly in front of the Baron.
"Return to me" he says to it.
In a moment that defies reason the creature swirls around him three times and then forms quasi-legs from its shadow-stuff. It seems to step upon his toes, and then slowly peel itself to the floor. The process takes a minute, but when it is done the shadow flickers upon the floor like any other shadow. A small bit of color returns to the man's cheek, although it looks like will take him some time
Stepan then joins the others in searching the books.
As the Pathfinders attend to their research they slowly collect bits of information:
Kris finds an interesting passage in the Umbral Leaves- "Those who displease the Lord of Pain and his servants will know exile. For the Lord has fashioned prisons from the very essence of his holy midnight realm. And these prisons are mirrors of the world and have been given a will of their own. They use this divine spark of consciousness to better keep the unfaithful in fetters and pain for all of eternity. Lo, the unfaithful find darkness and agony in these realms, but it is darkness and agony without the transcendence of the Mignight Lord's blessed revelations."
Guilford locates an extensive passage from A Short History of the Usklands - "And it came to pass that in the 500th year of the coming of the Midnight Lord, one of his great servants known as a Nightshade was released from a Midnight Mirror in the Usklands. The passage of such a powerful entity damaged this Midnight Mirror. Where once a simple command word sufficed to transport prisoners in and out of the realm of the mirror, now freedom demanded that one trade places with another on the outside. The effect was not unlike the dweomer known as magic jar. However, the Mirror still functioned perfectly adequately in matters of adding new prisoners to the realm."
"Furthermore, the shadow essence of the damaged mirror leaked into the surrounding countryside. One can only conjecture that the simultaneous rise in the Kayal population, creatures normally only born on the shadow plane, is linked to this leakage."
Guilford estimates the date under discussion to be Absalom Reckoning year -4793; 500 years after the start of the Age of Darkness, some 9500 years ago. Uskland apparently refers to an ancient name for Karpad and surrounding regions.
The researches of the Pathfinders and their desperate patron continue into the night.
*******
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Kris finishes reciting the passage and resists the urge to point out the fickle irony of the statement. She again offers the Lesser Restortation, especially once fighter-y types start getting fatigued.
Knowledges, again to aid smarter folk (excluding religion)
Chuurock pages through the tome "Sojourner in the Sunless Waste"
It is a particularly fascinating tome, the travels of an unnamed man in the shadow plane. It goes into great cultural and anatomical detail regarding the native inhabitants of the darker planes. Tucked away in one section is a fascinating passage:
"The touch of creatures native to the shadow realm is often anathema to those of the material realm. However, I hypothesize the touch of certain materials from the material plane to be bane to specific shadow entities. I believe the destruction of the intelligences controlling Zon-Kuthon's Midnight Mirrors could be brought about using a piece of the mirror itself. The piece of the mirror would (eventually) channel the power of the controlling entity into the material realm, where it could not survive. Such destruction would cause the dissolution of the mirror's demi-plane and disgorge the inhabitants into the material realm. Naturally, since the Midnight Mirrors are indestructible, my hypothesis is untestable."
As Leastrie reads the passage the Baron gives a shout.
"Yes... that is the answer." He runs to his desk and pulls out a small case. Inside, is the shard of a mirror. He holds it aloft for the Pathfinders to see. "This is a piece of the Midnight Mirror that was near the mirror when I found many years ago. This shard could destroy the mirror!"
A few things occur to the Pathfinders as a fortunate byproduct of the hours spent studying
- The shadow plane is cold (but not severely so); cold enough, however to cause exposure to those without protection.
- Creatures without darkvision will be in darkness without a light source
- Non-magical light sources are impeded
- Casting light magic requires great magical skill.
You have come to the realization that these books - magical or no - are of great significance lore-wise. Obtaining the books, or at least rights to copy them, would be of considerable value for the society.
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"That glass shard would work very well as a makeshift dagger against creatures on the shadow plane. We'd need to wrap it with leather to make a handle, but are any of you good with daggers?"
"I'd be very hesitant to face shadow creatures on our plane without the ability to offer my Protection From Evil spell, but alas it is not one that I have prepared at present."
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"Not particularly, but is there seriously anyone who can't use a knife properly?" Kris states. "It's pointy-end-first."
Kris, during a restroom break, checks the bag for her temporary companion.
I meant Babyshade. Maybe he wants to live on the Shadow Plane! No more preemptive hatred, do ho ho!
You have a very unique relationship with your undead, by the way...
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"I should be more clear. The shard only has a special effect against the intelligence inside that mirror, whatever form it takes. And I meant who is our best weapon-wielder? Leastrie? Baldwyn? Even I can use a dagger, I'm just not likely to hit anything with it."
"If you're all ready to go, I suppose I can be too."
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"Our only pressure for time is the disease. As we don't know what all will be spit out when the plane is defeated, we might be better off to ensure the mirror is in a very brightly lit place before we begin." Pointing at Guilford. "We could also delay specifically for the purpose of preparing the spells that we think will be most beneficial in, around, before, during and after any such fight. Right now I am heavily prepared to counter temporary ability loss, which may or may not be what the group would prefer."
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"That was my thought as well Chuurock. Now, you can see in the dark already. I can cast the Darkvision spell on myself and up to two others, and use the scroll to grant it to Baldwyn. Otherwise, my current spells are not geared for a particular encounter. As I said earlier, I could prepare several casting of Protection from Evil. This can be a very powerful defense against evil outsiders, and I'd imagine it would be useful against shadows as well. Also, I do have my Oil of daylight in case our Darkvision is not enough. Does anyone think we'd be better off with a little extra preparation?"
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Leastrie begins to sort through his gear. "I too have an oil of daylight. I also have a potion that allows one to endure extreme heat and cold. Let's see, um, an oil that grants a weapon magical properties, and lastly, ten arrows that will touch ghosts and other incorporeal creatures. If any of you would have use of these, speak up. I also have an ioun torch for lighting."
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"Friends, I was able to glean some information about the shae, the race to which Nicasor, our Baron's tormentor, is alleged to belong. I'm not sure if they are all evil by nature. I propose the following: I can cast the darkvision spell upon myself and Leastrie. I'll use Baldwyn's scroll and save a Bull's Strength spell for Baldwyn. I can then offer Protection from Evil on three of us. Again, I propose to enchant our warriors - Leastrie and Baldwyn, and perhaps myself. Preparing like this will take me some time, but should grant us some advantage at least."
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"Fair enough Chuurock. These shae are amorphous. I think this means they may be harder to strike than ordinary creatures. They are immune to critical blows, at the least. Perhaps if I prepared a few Burning Hands or Magic Missiles to aid Shandor? We could make it very hard on a creature with spells that don't miss. I will prepare the darvision spells. No reason we shouldn't all have it. Kris, my apologies for excluding you earlier, but I'm guessing the spell will not be of much use to you..."
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"I'd better rest Shandor. At times like these I do envy those of you gifted with the ability to use magical spontaneously. It sound like Chuurock could use some rest as well. Chuurock, I'll take care of Protection from Evil on myself and one other. Would you prepare a few castings of it as well?"
Level 1: Protection From Evil x2; Burning Hands; Enlarge Person
Level 0: Detect Magic, Light, Open/Close, Read Magic
When ready to head out, Guilford will put on his cold weather gear and prepare to cast the darkvision spells.
The Baron looks hesitant in the moments before the group leaves for the night.
"The mirror is in the basement. Take the stairs down and bear right; the mirror is at the end of the hall. My apologies, but I am not ready to face the mirror again with you. Our towns jail cells are in the basement as well; those are in the halls to the left. I trust you not to meddle with anything but the mirror."
He pauses. "My family altar is in the basement as well, although I have not been there in some time. My aunt is the caretaker of the altar; I would recommend politeness to her if she is present. The two of us are perhaps not on the best of terms."
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Fully healed with a night's rest, Baldwyn dresses in his layers and readies to enter. As an afterthought, he pulls out a flaming rock from his pouch and sets it spinning around his head.
-Posted with Wayfinder
The six descend the stairs into the poorly lit basement. Their heavy footsteps echo against the aging stone walls. The walls of this dark chamber are lined with hooks, knives, and other instruments of pain. A steel altar, encrusted with dried blood and graven runes, sits in the room’s center. Behind the altar stands an iron maiden, whose cover depicts a woman in a bridal veil and dress.
As Baldwyn and Leastrie enter the room, an insubstantial woman steps out of the iron maiden. Her form is of a young, very beautiful woman; at least, she would be beautiful if not for the scars which mar her face, and the various ethereal instruments of pain lacing her ghostly body. Those with religious training know her to be a ghost, and that these grievous wounds clearly reflect the rather unpleasant manner of her demise.
"Strangers and visitors to the shrine of my Lord. I am Lady Evgenia Boroi, the Midnight Bride; and who might you be?" She hovers a few inches off the ground expectantly waiting for a reply. Ghostly drops of blood trickle from her body as she floats.