Marcus shrugs sadly, "Well then I guess it's up to us, I can only hope we prove up to the challenge. Anyway good day you sir, if you ever have need of aid you have but to ask."
At that moment Marcus's stomach rumbled to remind him that he hadn't eaten. So he headed back to the inn where he noticed his friend Ranek giving him a meaningful look. Thurvek was there too and Marcus nodded at him. Noting the bags under Ranek's eyes, Marcus observed, "Looks like you didn't sleep properly either. My rest was plagued with dreams, but they evaporated with the morning light leaving me none the wiser."
Yondul gave Marcus and tired nod and let him go.
Ari finally decides to come downstairs and sees at least a couple of her companions. She walks over and greets them with a smile.
"Did I hear something about bad dreams? You weren't alone. Maybe that witch wasn't as crazy as everyone thinks."
Noticing that Marcus's boots appear dirty from being outside recently, Ari adds, "Find out anything useful, Marcus?"
"Bad dreams, indeed. I remember something of them. I was somehwere, in familiar surrounds, but I did not know where. I thought I had been casting something, but then I wasn't sure I could remember I could cast spells. I wandered...where ever I was, seeing people I might know or places I have been in. The people talked to me, but their words were like nothing, and forgotten as soon as heard. I no longer had teeth, and knew I used to be more than I was in the dream. I could not remember what it is I had lost.
"And then I remembered. I remembered I had a mind capable of understanding complex arcane formulae, with a memory for the both the obscure and complex. It was then broken by...I do not know, someone I resisted, I just referenced as 'him.' He broke my mind in his anger, taking it apart piece by piece, until I was nothing but a drooling, foolish imbecile, left to wander aimlessly through Waterdeep, my home, the subject of laughter and ridicule. I could have avoided that fate, had I helped 'him', instead of resisting him. He would only allow me such windows of clarity, to remember what I was, as a punishment. And then, the clarity would slip away, and I would be, again, a fool and an imbecile."
Ranek looked at the others. "Those of you who remember dreams from our time in the mine - were yours similar? Thoughts of the consequences of resisting some entity instead of serving it?"
To Lady Ariyana Marcus replied, "Well I met the old fellow who has been tending the shrine. A little odd he greeted me as if a friend but I've never set eyes on him before. Seemed harmless enough mind you."
Marcus then listened to Ranek's story with increasing alarm, "That's no good at all! You did well to resist my friend. Thing is even the most righteous may succumb eventually to a persistent foe seeking to invade the mind. I don't really remember my dream but I know it wasn't pleasant. We must find some way of warding ourselves!"
Stumbling downstairs, Barra heard the tail-end of the conversation and shrugged. "Sleep in the temple, that's what we used to do when we were kids. Works surprisingly well, if you don't mind being up early."
Ari nods to Marcus. "At least the shrine has someone to tend it. That's good."
She frowns as Ranek begins recounting his dream. She looks more and more distressed as he continues speaking.
Ari replies, "We need to figure out how to shield more than just our dreams. That thing in the mine seemed capable of hearing our every thought. Unless we can find magical items that will accomplish the task for us, I fear using magic to do so would be impractical."
Ranek thinks a moment, then says, "What about Aldon's gifts? They seem to work..differently...than the Art, and the solution may lie in them."
”Aye. And we need to find it. What are the chances that it will even stick around now that we know of it?”
"We need to go back there of course." replied Marcus, "I worry what will happen if that thing keeps whispering in our sleep night after night. Lets find Aldon and see if he can suggest anything to ward us."
"We need to go back there of course." replied Marcus, "I worry what will happen if that thing keeps whispering in our sleep night after night. Lets find Aldon and see if he can suggest anything to ward us."
Ari nods at Marcus's suggestion. "Sounds like a plan. We should also decide soon if we're going to venture back into the mine. Personally, I think we should, and as soon as possible. Even if it did leave, our chances of being able to follow it will decrease the longer we wait."
"Well of course we're going back." Barra says. "We still need to find those ashes, and there's no guarantee that, a day after we leave, more kids won't be taken. If we wait, it probably shouldn't be more than a day."
He checks the weight of his purse.
"Ideally less."
Aldon experiences bad dreams as well. He wakes and begins focusing on the crystals he took from the foes' lair.
"Aye then. It's decided. We move. At the very least we can get back before they can move everything. Also there's that untrustworthy elfling down there too."
"Aye then. It's decided. We move. At the very least we can get back before they can move everything. Also there's that untrustworthy elfling down there too."
Aldon experiences bad dreams as well. He wakes and begins focusing on the crystals he took from the foes' lair.
"Oh look here comes Aldon..." exclaimed Marcus who then proceeded to explain to him their worries. "So" he asked, "Do you think there's any way you can ward us while we rest? If it helps I can pay to Lord Torm for protection but I'm not entirely sure if that would help."
"Sadly, I am not powerful enough to do so. Yet. I can relieve some symptoms suffered from the result of bed dreams.
You all went through that as well last night eh?
Before we do anything involving leaving town, I would like to get the crystal I acquired from the enemy stronghold looked at by a local Sage. Perhaps we can use it against our foe".
Marcus hid his disappointment as best he could, "I may be able to call upon the grace of Lord Torn to do something similar." Grinning at Akdondrick he said, "Between the two of us we'll just have to make do. Speaking of which I wouldn't count on there being a sage around, although it wouldn't hurt to ask around."
Marcus then heads off into the Market to see if anyone has heard tell of a sage in the area.
Marcus hid his disappointment as best he could, "I may be able to call upon the grace of Lord Torn to do something similar." Grinning at Akdondrick he said, "Between the two of us we'll just have to make do. Speaking of which I wouldn't count on there being a sage around, although it wouldn't hurt to ask around."
Marcus then heads off into the Market to see if anyone has heard tell of a sage in the area.
[Dice=Gather rumours]1d20+10
Marcus gets a few cold looks, but markedly fewer with the children returned. The first few people point him to Utrish, who they don't seem to know had gone, but eventually he's directed to the home of the trader Oparil Turnskull. He's no wizard, but a few people tell Marcus that he has an interest in strange things.
A few hours later, Marcus returns and tells the others, "I may have found what passes for a sage in these parts. Apparently a trader by the name of Oparil Turnskull has an interest in strange things. I think we should drop by and say hello..."
"Yes. Let us do that. Then we can head back to the enemy stronghold. This evil must be stopped! Then we can get back to our original quest".
Oparil lived in a larger house near Auvandell's main square, just in the shadow of the bell tower. A haggard serving man answered the door and nearly turned the group away before recognizing them as the heroes who saved the children. That got them apologies and prompt ushering into a sitting room where they bided only a few breaths before Oparil himself appeared. He was a hard-eyed, older man with more hair on his chin than atop his head and looked every bit as haggard as his servant.
"Well met," Oparil said in a tired voice. "What can I do for the Heroes of Auvandell?"
Aldon smiles slightly at the honorific, "In our travels I found something that I know to be on the Way in nature but I cannot divine its specific purpose, we were hoping that perhaps you could take a look at it and let us know if you can decipher its specific use?"
”Aye. And it’s urgent. Those children we saved? Others may yet be in danger. Your help in this could save lives.”
Ranek went along to the man's home - not because he felt he had anything to contribute to the discussion of the crystal, but because he felt it important to speak with the man and cultivate trade connections on behalf of the family business. He would take care of that after more pressing matters, however.
[dice=Diplomacy]1d20+7
”Aye. And it’s urgent. Those children we saved? Others may yet be in danger. Your help in this could save lives.”
"Yea damn right!" Thurvek says, pounding his fist in his hand. "Let's go!"
Marcus would have added more, but he felt that Bolkvar and Aldonrick had said everything and he didn't want to crowd the man.
Marcus would have added more, but he felt that Bolkvar and Aldonrick had said everything and he didn't want to crowd the man.
Oparil nodded, "Yes, I do appreciate the severity of the situation. I am no practitioner of the magical arts, but I do read of them a great deal. In another life, perhaps..." The merchant drifted into a brief reverie.
"Forgive me a moment's lapse. The dreams, you understand. I can't say how much I can help, but I'll gladly look at your enchanted object. It may be something I've heard of. And I'll hear nothing of sages fees. Not for you worthies."
Ari goes with the others to see Oparil. She's quite impressed with Bolkvar's diplomatic acumen, particularly since he's a dwarf.
Assuming everyone decides to hand over the item to the man, Ari waits to hear the results.
Marcus watches curious to see what Oparil would make of the crystal they found, especially when they tell him where they found it...
Aldon hands the crystal over to Oparil.
"Out of curiosity, when did the dreams start?" Barra asks, looking through the shop's tchotchkes like a base tourist.
"Out of curiosity, when did the dreams start?" Barra asks, looking through the shop's tchotchkes like a base tourist.
Oparil began examining the crystal as he spoke, "Oh...it's hard to say now. It's been a few tendays, I think."
"Where was it that you found this?"
"From whence we rescued the children".
"From whence we rescued the children".
"Was that up above the old mines? Strange, that... I think that this... It may be some sort of gem magic. There are some spells that require gems. Others live inside them somehow, caught in the facets and glinting like sunlight. This topaz, you see how it catches the light? Magic is like light sometimes. Or sound. Elf magic, betimes. Lost long ago. Mayhaps there's a whisper of lost ages inside it."
At the sound of 'elf magic', Thurvek folds his arms to his chest, and huffs to himself, "Elves.."
Marcus listened with interest before replying, "Well we did meet an Elf, called herself 'Lady Amkathra of the Seven Veils'. She claimed that thee master of the complex we found her in bound her there, against her wish to flee. We weren't entirely clear of her sanity but apparently this master goes by the name Copperdeath which sounds vaguely draconic to me."
Certainly Aldon knew it was psionic so no surprise to Aldon to be sure.
With new knowledge, he considers what purpose the crystal has now...
Marcus listened with interest before replying, "Well we did meet an Elf, called herself 'Lady Amkathra of the Seven Veils'. She claimed that thee master of the complex we found her in bound her there, against her wish to flee. We weren't entirely clear of her sanity but apparently this master goes by the name Copperdeath which sounds vaguely draconic to me."
"A live elf? So far from the High Forest? If she's been bound there...and by Copperdeath... That's... I know they live many centuries, but that many? Copperdeath was the Wyrmslayer's dragon."
"It's a rock - sounds more like dwarf magic to me. And neither would stoop so low as surgery." Barra mutters, but nods. "Seems to me we owe her some questions, now that the children are out of danger."
Ranek's mind went rapidly, thinking of the implications. The elf said she was held by Copperdeath...but Copperdeath is the Wyrmslayer's dragon...which means he's dead...or at least that's what the stories claim... There must be more to this.
Ranek asked, "Master Oparil, is there any kind of library or other place that may have books on the history of the region in Auvandell?"
Ranek's mind went rapidly, thinking of the implications. The elf said she was held by Copperdeath...but Copperdeath is the Wyrmslayer's dragon...which means he's dead...or at least that's what the stories claim... There must be more to this.
Ranek asked, "Master Oparil, is there any kind of library or other place that may have books on the history of the region in Auvandell?"
"Not this side of Silverymoon," Oparil said. "Used to be I had a few tomes myself -paid enough for 'em too- But then there was orcs... Always orcs."
Barra snorted. "A bard would likely be more useful than any book, 'round these parts. Old folks will know more than any southlander's library. But... last question from me: any there troublemakers been up into the mountain, that you can remember? Even if it was years ago."
Marcus nodded, "Orcs are... seemingly irremediable" He sighed inwardly at the waste of all the indiscriminate slaughter caused by Orc hordes over the years.Grinning at Barrah he said, "A bard would be nice but I have a feeling we're just going to have to find things out the hard way. We know there's something mighty odd a-foot, we'll have to see if we can't get to the bottom of it."
Barra snorted. "A bard would likely be more useful than any book, 'round these parts. Old folks will know more than any southlander's library. But... last question from me: any there troublemakers been up into the mountain, that you can remember? Even if it was years ago."
"Up in the mountains? Not in...might be forty years now unless 'venturers went up there and didn't say to anyone. Barely safe in the foothills, except in the pass."
Ari nods in agreement with Marcus. "The longer we linger here the more likely whatever that thing was escapes. There's also the elf to attend to, one way or another. We should head back to the mine soon."
”Aye then. To the mine. We’ve tarried enough.”