GM Hansj's page

With the combined efforts of the spell casters, the party has what seems like moderate size clump of the Fecund Chaos mostly under control. It is a bit confusing since Valish's organization has mostly spoken vaguely about the qualities of this - entity? substance?

Sitting on the deck of their medium sized Chaos Boat, the party members mostly shake off the immediate effect Fecund Chaos. The large manifestation screeches and moves a bit closer - yet it seems more angry at the world than immediately hostile.

At this point, Azzim and Rollo each launch attacks to hold the entity and each manage to overcome it's innate resistance to magical control. When the creature reach Rollo's clenched fist, it divides into many smaller copies of itself, each screeching and emitting further waves of chaos - but Azzim telekinesis is suited to controlling just such a cloud. The cloud swirls, under the control of Azzim - at least for the moment.

Mthal'ree, who insisted on traveling on the boat, remarks "Remarkable. You may be the first crew of Valish's to achieve a successful hunt. But even with some lucky spells, this rises questions. Perhaps there have been other successful crews we haven't heard. What shall we say over the communicator and how to keep this thing bound for longer?...

So Azzim's glimpse of the past of Marizoton is interesting... As a glimpse it shows only a scattered if key element;
* The creation of the plane by the Entari, a group of transplanar philosophers who appeared that day as a glowing yellow light floating above the Sea Of Chaos
* A period in which the Entari used the Fecund Chaos to delve into deeper meaning of the existence of living creatures. Paradoxical situations were created and then allowed to resolve with intervention.
* A period where Marizoton was a haven of plane hopping artists, using the Fecund Chaos to produce bizarre effects...
* A period in which Marizoton exported luxury products produced by Fecund Chaos
* The present period, starting a few hundred years ago, in which adventures pursued the Fecund Chaos to produce changes in the multiverse.

The most obvious conclusion that can draw is that Entari have grown board with their creation and increasingly neglect it. It is notable that each period has been followed by the plane being almost entirely reworked.

Meanwhile, the day of Valish's next hunts appears and the party boards their Chaos-boat and brings it up to full power, the engine whirling unevenly. Today, the sea resemble dirty fiberglass insulation, the sails and the wheels of your boat are equally effective. Valish's orders come in - seek coordinates Alpha-X-pi, with each boat on it's own to chart a path to that hypothetical point. Leery of the whirlpool and the Purple Whisper, the party "wing it", taking a spiral path to Valish's coordinate. Then, about three quarters of the way to the ostensible destination, passing The Shoe, a creature materializes out of the fuzz. It has three tentacles extending from a squid like body and three eyes in a triangle around a circular, toothed mouth. It heads directly for the boat, which it dwarfs. It seems by all reports, this a manifestation of the Fecund Chaos and opportunity to gain some or suffer damage from it.

Will save 26 or suffer a point of chaos damage. Protection from chaos and mind blank provide pluses.

I have been extremely busy. Hopefully post tomorrow

Asking around, Rollo finds there are times of stability in The Sea Of Chaos. Maybe once a month but as often as once a week, the Sea is completely calm and unmoving - of course, the sailors avoid those times since sailing is impossible.

Searching thoroughly, Terex doesn't find any surveillance equipment on the party's boat but the boat's communication gear is rather poorly designed and could give away a lot of information about the boat unless used carefully.

So, on the day before Valish's next hunt, Marinol, Valish's 1st mate, has drawn a crude map of their estimate of The Sea Of Chaos's current configuration. The map shows several of the features currently acitve in the Sea. "The Whirlpool", "The Shoe", "The Umbilical Circle", "The Pentagon", "The Ruby" and "The Purple Whisper". Valish has given the various groups general directions avoid the first three and aim for the Ruby but with each boat choosing it's own course. The Whirlpool has a reputation for being dangerous but also for reducing a crew's ability to sense and move in chaos. The Shoe gives dreams of travel and wandering. The Umbilical Circle tends to give experiences of rebirth, The Pentagon summons creatures from other planes (sometimes according to an observer's wishes, sometime otherwise). The Ruby occasionally supposedly can give one's heart desire but has reputation for cultivating vain hope. The Purple Whisper tells events of the past and future but distant lands.

Mthal'ree notes, "The Purple Whisper sounds most interesting, perhaps make a detour to it. We should visit the whirlpool but I have a certain urge to wait a bit. I am not sure what the history and origin of these features are. Walking around town and speaking to various smooth-skins hasn't yielded me much but perhaps you have research ideas. This places seems to have little history or a forgotten history"

Clues to follow, decisions to make...

The Sea's liquid has a texture like whipped cream but is easily navigable by sail.

The party sits at Mundun's bar, the next day, when Marizoton resembles a typical magical-medieval world with a lot of glowing purple on ordinary items. The discussion is mostly through hive-mind but with some exclamations out loud. Mthal'ree has recovered considerably and Mundun stocks a form of honey that serves as a mild intoxicant for their kind. Even in the hive-mind, their voice has a slight buzz to it. "What can you tell me of this Valish? You say you have gone on one expedition with him so far? Perhaps you can determine his motives by his how he steers the boat? Alternately, we could go back to the area this hobgoblin said he found me, 'the whirlwind'? But perhaps we should learn more of this Fecund Chaos?... Also, if you believe I am carrying a coded massage, you are welcome to investigate, just nothing too painful please..."

You have three days until Valish's next expedition. Narvin, Valish's current leutenant, has mentioned that this time the party (minus Rollo naturally) will pilot it's own boat-submarine and chart it's own course to the target, once Valish divines the location of the target.

Naturally, this is talking of actions and strategies leading up to the next hunt

So, after reviving Mthal'ree and getting their story, the party and the insect warrior heads to a rendezvous with Rollo at Mundun's Tavern - one of the fixed points in the ever-changing fluidity of Marizoton. Over the hive mind you renew old acquaintance and compare notes on the state of this island in The Sea Of Chaos.

Rollo recalls the creature being carried as in a species connected to agent GIFT, whose deification was documented by The Organization soon after it happened.

Terex gets close enough to be fairly sure of the identity and get begin telepathic communication. The Organization provides a protocol for agents to double check identities in the field without compromising their identity and Terex can begin that...

Also, as the rest of the party is taking Mthal'ree away down the (currently) stone path leading from the docks (which have Babylonian architecture today), you spy a familiar figure standing at the dock's base, near a monolith...

Mthal'ree tells you everything and nothing. You know the apparent problems on Gift's plane but not their cause or how to get to the plane though it clearly is related to the Fecund Chaos. So more investigation is needed.

Rathol nods, "It is agreed, It is sworn, hang it. I will be in touch, You work for Valish, am I right? Perhaps see you at Mundun's" and then directs that a stretcher be brought for the creature and you are able to take it back to your living quarters.

After several hours of healing and restoration, Mthal'ree tells their story. He is warrior born in the city of Ralth'eer some years after the Great Return. Like most of the continent, Ralth'eer worships G.I.F.T. as the divine who facilitated The Return and who has protect, raised and partially guided their race.

However, forty years after his birth, the continent faced a series of different threats, seemingly from multiple directions. At one point, mechanars appears and attempt the conversion of a large section of a continent to living machines and other points creatures seemingly composed of the Fecund Chaos appeared to create rents in space and time. G.I.F.T. and her priests offered powerful weapons and effective leadership to counter these threats (which seemed to come from multiple planar dimensions) but the plane itself appeared to still be sealed against ordinary contact with other planes (apparently an effect of G.I.F.T. reversing The Great Absorption). And this sealing means outside help was not available to face these outside invasions.

Thus Mthal'ree chose to venture into one of time-space rent opened by the Fecund Chaos creatures, plunging into a terrifying whirlpool, a variety of hard describe adventures and winding up finally unconscious in The Sea Of Chaos. Now, he is uncertain how he can return to Ralth'eer but willing, eager, to help the party, who apparently knew G.I.F.T. as a mortal...

Rathol narrows his eyes and a bit more haggling ensues... "Okay, let's make a deal. We'll give you what little you know of this guy's background and you tell me what you discover in similar detail, not giving away any of your own secrets, (which everyone here has of course, hang it all). Swear by the Stone of Undoing..." Swearing to The Stone Of Undoing is closest that the highly chaotic come to unbreakable oaths - which it is to say it's still quite unpredictable and can be broken, sometimes. And naturally telling Rathol everything you learn might hinder you in the future but giving just a few details might be OK...

Meanwhile, once Rollo arrives in Marizoton, he's not that surprised to learn Valish doesn't run things but rather runs his mouth claiming to be the largest fisher for the Fecund Chaos in the town (though his success rate is rumored low). Still, some friends seem to have joined Valish' venture.

Three fishers of Fecund Chaos have swelled the size of Marizoton, The lizardman knightZim, the Hobgoblin Mrazin and a human wizard Valish.

Terex and Azzim survey the docks and Portus arrives quickly on getting the announcement of the found creature. Upon Portus' words, the warrior quivers and emmits a loud chirp but quickly returns to its listless state. Seeing your apparent interest, an enormous hobgoblin you as Rathol, the second mate of this ship (the Yarimbo), saunters down the gangplank... "An interesting specimen, you think? Mrazin will be very interested in him too I'm sure but we get many curios out there. For the right price I could let him go. Here, make my purse heavy with Orichalcum - and let me know what you find."

Of course, where the creature was found is important information too, which Rathol hasn't given you... Plus he may be hoping you'll do his research for him and pay him for the favor

Over the first weeks...

Porthus' exploration of Marizoton's bars, brewpub and alcohol-ration-dispensaries is fruitful. Interestingly, he discovers a local named Mundun's Tavern which never changes its' interior or offers despite constantly blowing change winds blowing. Kept by a humanoid Parrot named Jax, it can be difficult find and is frequented by many seasoned mercenaries as those few making Marizoton their permanent home. The best rumors start or can be heard here.

ARK-BAIN's study of Marizoton's time shifts is challenging but she makes steady progress. Oddly enough, Valish consults with "ARK" about his own study of time-shifts and his ideas are confused, daft, ever-changing and contradictory. Yet he seems to be groping something that's true - the time shifts are building to some kind of crisis that may hit four months from the present - though measuring time itself is difficult here.

Azzim and Terex also explore Marizoton's constantly shifting cityscape. Each day is new but finding features that last is a challenge. Each day you are at a city nestled against a harbor of some sort.

At the end of the first week, Valish calls you for what he calls a "preliminary sally". "We will sail through the chaotic sea seeking a small piece of Fecund Chaos my oracles have forseen. The chaotic sea takes many forms but Fecund Chaos itself in general takes the form of a whale, sea serpent, dinosaur or similar creature. We aim to capture the thing..." and so you depart in a small motorized sailboat - with oars and helicopter wings (since no single propulsion is reliable). Navigating the sea of chaos is like a strange, foggy dream. You sail smoothly through literal pea soup, hop briskly through lava and eventually come in sight of several grown whales, one with small calf, all seemingly made of alabaster and swimming through a glowing, bright blue sea. Valish maneuvers your beside it and attempts to net it but the whole turn suddenly to orange smoke and bubble away and you return to port. "Only one in twenty voyages yield result but that one success can make it worthwhile" notes Valish.

Several days later, Azzim and Terex note an insectisoid humanoid being lowered from one of the other ships in Marizoton's harbor and learn the creature was found near Fecund Chaos in the sea of chaos (the ship belongs to Mrazin the Hobgoblin and inquiries can be made).

"Welcome! Welcome! Welcome" shouts the face in the viewscreen. And as the party looks more closely, the face's mouth blows a bubble which expands into the room and forms a standard gate that seems like it leads to a military base in the Pandemonial Hinterlands. Stepping through, you find a haphazard training camp. Hundreds of warriors, mages and others train in drills that simulate chaos. The party drills with the other recruits for a couple weeks - standard for planar mercenary work, everyone can use their own gear and nearly everyone has some magic.

The drills give a small taste of the fecund chaos. Valish keeps a store tightly sealed. Those of the party that have experienced Pandemonium or other chaos planes notice an intelligence, a will and an emotion one doesn't experience in more conventional chaos (though naturally each plane in these wilds is slightly different). In your first encounters with Fecund Chaos, your characters experience a flashback in which you see what you life would be like if some alternative choice had been made.

Each company member is loaned a ring of planar adaptation and the drill are not hard for you - in fact, to play the part of ordinary mercenaries, you need to pull your punches, not outdistance too many in races, etc. Bluff checks . The drills, however, eventually winnow the original 1,000 mercenaries down to 89 and at this point Valish takes group on a long march spanning about 150 miles and six planes to approach Marizoton.

The final approach is on a weaving pathway above and through swirling clouds of proto-chaos. The pathway itself seems to be made of opaque, green-gray glass. Halfway through the process, a strange, almost indescribable entity forms in front of Valish (vaguely like a tree-trunk made of detached muscles), and says in Aklo, "I trust you have the required toll, Valish" at which point the wizard hands the thing several green ovals (like glowing, green jellybeans), at which point your line continues marching and enter Marizoton. Valish tells your group, "You will be joining the 150 troops remaining in Fort Valish from earlier expeditions. Feel free to explore the city but avoid getting caught up in it. Our next, first outing will be in four days..."

The chaos of Marizoton has been lately been manifesting as daily transforms. Each day the city appearing as being from a different era of technological development, from primitive to modern "mid-tech" Earth-like to the highly developed.... All of the inhabitants' cloth and appearance are adapted to these eras. The change is superficial, akin to change self...

This is the time to develop contact, let me know what general strategy you use to do that... Plus remember the flashback above

Berren needs little persuasion to allow Lyra to scan him. The results are fascinating and complex; effects cascading on effects. The Fecund Chaos destroys a couple scanners but eventually Lyra and her assistants get some partial result. Lyra manages to craft ten bracelets - these will keep the Fecund Chaos at bay in Berren's body for up to ten days before disintegrating - and they can be worn by party members to lessen the effects of the Fecund Chaos Each absorb 100 points of "Chaos Damage".

A further strange result Lyra gets, however, is that the final cure for Berren could lie in Marizoton itself - Fecund Chaos can refined into an antidote for itself as well as having many other properties.

Once Lyra's research is finished, Cordelia artfully brings the party together again and you set off for the bulky headquarters of the Sigil Mercenary "Guild". Once inside, you wander through various Gymnasium-like recruitment rooms (for the blood wars, the goblin wars and others) untill you reach a small slate door labeled "VaLish enTerPrises" in a twisting script. Knocking on this, an ebony skinned humanoid with the head of a vulture opens it up and gestures for you to enter. Inside, you see something like a waiting room. There are chairs for maybe twenty people but there only two Denuthian mech warriors in green sitting bored to one side. There is something like a view screen in the center of the room, however, where you can see the face of an elderly human looking out with a slightly glazed expression. "Welcome friends, I am Valish, let me know your interests and qualifications and I will determine whether I can use you in my continuing enterprises. I pay well in gold, Orichalcum, Ivory and Gange Berry Jam and I seek bold adventurers..."

Naturally, announce your latest alter-egos

As Azzim and Terex are researching Marizoton, Arlo and Lyra happen to drop by to see the pair's progress. At that point Cordelia also drops by (having a knack for find the party together). With her is slightly hunched, stocky human dressed in baggy gray cloak. "This is Berren, he has returned from a mission organized by Valish. I will let him tell his story..." As the man begins to speak, one eyes color and shape, then returns ... "It seemed simple enough - I've faced the undying and the demonic. But Fecund Chaos is a frustrating foe. Moreover, it seeps into you. Valish has been to Marizoton several time and it seemed like his demands were themselves becoming drowned in Chaos. At one point, he suddenly demanded we drop our other tasks and seek the Ruby Sword Of God Slaying. I barely survived the experiences and I am as you see me..." As he speaks, further subtle shifts in his form occur - an arm become a mandible and returns. He grows an inch. Things move under the cloak...

Cordelia mentions "The Organization is working a means for fully restoring our friend. Meanwhile, he has told us much of Valish's operation and can answer further questions if you have them. I think the only qualification one need to work with Valish is a taste for chaos and a lack of scruples. The Sigil Mercenary Guard, can provide a reference."

So what remains is the creation of identities...

Consulting the most known text only aids Azzim a bit. Planteau's Order And Chaos notes that those Forms arising from Chaos are ephemeral, lasting at most hundreds of years and often much less. And other classics wax poetic about the shifting, partial structures limbo without providing much "meat".
But seeking more obscure sources is more useful. Vandaneu provides five meditations which can be used preserve one's form, thoughts, self, body and mind within the most intense onslaught of Chaos and Ralon's obscure and often overlooked Realms Proximate To The Outer Oblong describes methods of tracing recent chaotic forms by seeking news from more distinct, nearby planes.
Following Ralon's methods, Azzim carefully searches the Interplanar Consortium's automated news archive and determines that Marizoton came into existences perhaps five hundred years ago, possible founded by an adventurer taking the name Binx, who served as the first Brisagenal and who still reside in Marizoton possibly serving as a puppet master for later Brisagenals. Further, he finds several groups searching for wizards and mercenaries willing to visit Marizoton - The lizardman knightZim, the Hobgoblin Mrazin and a human wizard Valish.

A bit more information later...

Some time after Azzim is removed and as the next assignment is being finalized with scribes delivering research dossiers to the party members, Arjunara visits Azzim and then Terex and takes them both to a magnificent garden plane that The Organization maintains. Walking along a marble path past flowing fountains, swaying willows and delicate lilly-like flowers, they come to a circular field of grass with a basketball sized emerald mounted on a pedestal in the center. "This arcane mechanism can extend the vitality of mortals in proportion to the will of a given person. It is a kind of alternative to godhood. It comes with its own set of risks and limits." he says, running his metal hand through his hand of flesh. "But it is quite useful if one begins to feel drained of vitality..

Basically, a character can enhance longevity/vitality at the cost of a certain cosmetic strangeness - if one wishes...

Cool GM, Could I ask do we get a level to 17, thinking we are so close to level 20 and epic.

Yes, everyone level to 17th level.

Also, think of a gift you would have gotten from one of camps, a magic worth up to 30K gp or some modest custom thing.

Everyone does think the multiverse loves symmetry like that, so it tends to make it true, Terexaltherin replies. That and the Rule of Three. So, are there any points of stability in the chaos, any Protean leaders or anything like that?

Once the party is safely away from the observation platform and back in the dark overstuffed leather chairs of Organization's Iron Wood conference room, Marizoton makes a human-like gesture and holds a hand-like claw to his three part mandible, "There is no single point of stability in Marizoton, I think - there is, however a shifting Pole of Order known of as the Brisagenal. The Brisagenal is usually (but not always) an intelligent being and they are the force in Marizoton that fends off the Fecund Choas and when the Brisagenal shifts, the realm shakes and threatens to collapse. Of course, the entire realm depends on opening-to the tide of the Fecund Chaos, since this Chaos holds all possibilities within it - despite it's great dangers"

I suppose we should acknowledge the games has become something like a post every-other-day game with Mondays being my day not to post but otherwise I'll aim to post at roughly the rate others post.

In the dark tavern, Ari wears a worn leather covering her slim form. Looking at the party, she is like a shinning light visible only to you. Still, knowing her, you sense the light is a bit tired... With Azzim's question, she seems to draw herself up, expand for a moment (in frustration or anger) and relaxes, smiles. "Dear Azzim, you have me, this is just a hunch. I could show several divinations pointing this way, including my own. I could argue the portents point this way. But really, I'm just following the pattern that you first had luck in a zone near extreme order and so next an area close utter chaos may hold important clues, if not a solution. Simplistic, I know. I wish we had a concrete lead but we don't. This is what we have...

As Terex describes his experiences, Arjunara looks perhaps a bit more tired (or at least his flesh-half appears so). "Yes, I too saw quite bit, several versions of the battle of Halsitin, a dwarf star with a magical and so-forth. But nothing really decisive." Cordelia, looking slightly more muscular though a bit less chic, "Similarly for me, and the situation of GIFT is something The Organization has not forgotten, once you return to Sigil, we shall tell you of our ideas..." Insert any further you wish here...

And so the party returns to Sigil, to what is now a standard debriefing and a standard vacation. Insert mission summary and vacation ideas. While many party members reacquaint with family, Ari Shadowfire offers the group a trip to a luxurious tropical island of extraordinary peaceful - except for remarkable giant flying fish races...

Finally, the Party heads to an obscure ghetto tavern (The Laughing Harpy) and meets with Ari and Phireston Malechon (an Organization member you haven't seen for years, indeed since he was part of an interview team years ago now). Phireston, a cloaked humanoid arachnid, leads the way to a gate of opaque blue stone hidden in a closet and you step through to a maze of tunnels in a glowing opaque material. Finally, you emerge to a larger room with a clear crystal in the center. "Look" he says and within the crystal, you see the moderate size frontier-style town, seemingly at the top of a high, snowy mountain. As you peer more closely, you can see an edge of the town is wavy and occasionally group of humanoids move into or out-of this gray haziness.

Speaking in a calm, whispering tone, Phireston say "This is Marizoton, a gateway to The Realm of Fecund Chaos - a dangerous realm having the potential to invade the realms of order... Visitors to Marizoton are generally desperadoes seeking to either unleash some unthinkable thing or to remake time itself. Whereas the inhabitants are those willing to humor their ideas and take their gold..."

Ari then adds "We are considering an expedition to Marizoton. You previously investigated a realm of pure order and now you can see the opposite. The aim of our expedition would be to learn about Marizoton, to thwart various insidious projects taking shape there and to possibly use the forces of Fecund Chaos to determine the situation of GIFT. Naturally, the plan is quite dangerous and here it would once do best to adopt an alternative identity - though it won't be necessary to conceal any of your godling natures, more dubious godlings voyage there regularly ... Any question"

Naturally, describe reactions, preparations as well as your stay in Sigil...

Monel smiles and the many faceted pageant continues, the Camp Of Miracles, the Camp of Colors and others get their opportunities to shine. The Camp Of Doors naturally overawes with . But occasionally, in measured intervals, the spot light switches to the events leading up to the transformation of Helaronthrop. Indeed, the Camp Of The Rose describes a number of tragic dramas on different earlier civilizations that lead up to the death and impersonation of Narvus. Finally, as the pageant reaches the present, Monel uses clever magic to spotlight Terex' own soft thoughts concerning the events. Monel incidentally highlight the little dragon's remarkable heroism in the end of false-Narvus. Of course here, the role of Galbardo has to come up, almost as an afterthought. And when the crowd turns to look at Galbardo, he's gone. In fact, exactly when he vanished or simply walked away is unknown... this is only one moment and in the next moment, all of the pageants participants come together for a finale.

All of the performances have been heightened by a sense of divine presence and this only increases towards the end. At the end, all assembled have brief vision of several the Higher Gods observing and approving of the events, a sensation striking deep into the heart of each good aligned creature present.

Then there is a long moment of silence and contemplation followed by soft careful discussion of the ending. But eventually the silence gives way to energetic chatter and a joyful afterparty begins... Here, the party members find themselves brought together again ... and face to face with Cordelia and Arjunara of The Organization. Arjunara smiles and says "A wonderful event, wouldn't you say? The God and godlings are a wonderful group. But surely you must be a bit tired of the limelight. Let us seek a very a different experience, if you are willing..." And the two lead the party on a different path away from The Grove, different from that you walked to enter.

The Path leads up the foothills and shifts dimension as you ascend. The journey involves ten hours of ascent and you find yourselves eventually at the gate of an old and austere farm house surrounded by a gray-green marsh land the farm house incidentally pattern on a farm in 7th century Japan. shivering slightly in the high wind, Cordelia remove a small bell from her purse, rings it and an aged Ogre Mage opens the door of the house and silently approaches, staring at the group. "We have come to help" she says... And the group, including Cordelia and Arjunara aids the silent Ogre in the most mundane yet backbreaking farm task for the next week, sleep only five hours before the dawn each day... But in that time, as the rhythm and extreme simplicity of the farm takes hold, you each find yourselves seeing visions of a wide variety of planes, visions you can direct where you wish...

At the week's end, the Ogre simply points back to the path you arrived by and you walk out. Arjunara, his cloak now matted, his hand more callused, remarks, "So this was the Keeper Of Visions. I hope you used your opportunity. Can ask you, for example, did you see any new threats our Organization might need to address?"

Everyone can mention a potential threat, only one will be dealt with now but ideas from everyone are great - remember to keep the nature of the threat somewhat vague. Also, everyone feel free to add whatever you wish the finale

The pageant continues with eerie threat of the negative crown, the menaced reaction of the crowd and it's swift dispatch. Then a feeling of many forces and individuals working together seems to flow in the background with the rise of more civilizations... Finally, during a lull, Monel steps forward as a "narrator of events" and says "This crown and it's dark image have an interesting story" and the pageant continues again but fragments of events from the party's adventure are now woven into the pageant's dance...

OK, let's add a bit more and then wrap it up...

Any request for next arc?

As the pageant continues, Terex takes control of the original Crystal Crown while Arlo throws open the doors to the negative material plane and Azzim holds the door open and several of Lyra's mech assistants monitor the situation.

Then the process of wrestling with the creation begins in earnest as the energy of corruption and deception seeks to return to the Groves Of Ansthenia which Arlo repeatedly batters and undos the thing with Lyra's weapons .... The struggle seems to continue for hours but is basically timeless...

...

Meanwhile, the stars and nebulae of the Pageant Of Creation swirl, and the glowing multitude of planets, planes and structures go into motion as the wider pageant begins, the dance of the creation and destruction of life and civilization intertwine, over millennia, Ruthania's vast forests appear while interstellar empires dance through spatial wormholes (courtesy of The Camp ), fire and light gleams from stars and engulfs forests, drama, tragedy and comedy plays through the various intelligent species (courtesy of the Camp Of Roses...)

Toward the middle of this epic, the crystal crown appears (the re-crafting of Arlo), knitting a multitude of forces together, producing a peaceful stasis across the cosmos... At which point, suddenly, a negative imagine of the crown appears and the entire pageant is divided for a long moment 'till the negative crown suddenly fades again...

....

And this corresponds to the point where the actual original crystal crown finally succumbs to the forces of pure destruction. And the pageant continues without further interruption.

Let me know what events you imagine ending the pageant...

The pageant is beginning, the quiet and subtle elements of each camp come out first, leading with gentle musical notes, peaceful hints of growth, rolling hills viewed from a distance and a sky where suns, stars, nebulae and galaxies roll gracefully in sped up time, and where simple but promising and quickly evolving species, also viewed from a distance, evoke life, birth and imagination... (the Camp of Sky is leading with the Camp Of Roots and Camp Of Crystal playing a part, other camps with relations to intelligent creatures mostly waiting though the Camp Of Doors provides a nexus of gravitational forces to hold this universe together, Lyra's dancers at the ready)

After this, engines of creation become more visible...

At this point, deep in the Camp Of Doors, Terex, Azzim and Arlo together opt for the quick and dirty option of opening Lyra's already existing door to the negative material plane and propelling the crown in, guiding it through. Terex using the control crystal, Azzim with subtle magic and Arlo and brute stubbornness informed by his close study of the crown.

For the task. Mention quick preliminary preparation plus Terex, will save 22, Azzim spellcraft 40 check, and Arlo, craft weapon 35 check. Lyra is away but performance check to see how the Camp of Door does in this phase of the pageant.

Soon after Terex switches the crowns, the Malphinean takes reproduction with the comment "This will grace the highest parts of the pageants... but at the same time, Terex' magical sense notice sinister lines of force coming from the real crown itself.

Meanwhile in the hours before, the different camps work closely together coordinate their floats and performances, this process of coordination indeed is what divine creators will look for at the pageant. And indeed, in these hours, everyone can sense the presence of higher gods in The Groves - not visible but simply as a presence.

One might think what connections The Camp Of Door will have with other mentioned camps or even make some other camps yourselves...

Azzim concentrates on his mind of on the nature of Galbardo, as the veil of fate parts, he sense already that Galbardo is strongly protected against divination magic and yet Azzim's mind and skill manages to move this protection aside...

Azzim beholds a scene, a flat rock area, where elemental crafters labor... Squinting, Azzim can see this is Helaronthrop, the old Helaronthrop, ancient before it's various transformations... And here, Azzim witnesses a deal between Galbardo and a variety of deceivers... A deal the party has already mostly puzzled out. But the motive, is strange... boredom. Galbardo fell, from a spirit of creation to spirit of banal authority, a spirit of self-producing bureaucracy... And by that token, he was able to surround himself with a cloak of unremarkableness. And so the true nature of Galbardo is revealed (though what exactly he's planning after the collapse of the main plot is a little uncertain but it seems likely an effort to harness all the residual/remaining power of the distorted crystal).

Meanwhile, the preparation for pageant of creation continue, each camp condensing it's contribution to a moving structure connected each other float; the Camp Of Fire, burning brightly, the spirits of The Camp Of Sky floating above... etc. The entire ensemble is expected to be wonderfully knit together as a fabric of creation.

Terex races against time and but has the duplicate crown ready for a switch only an hour before the parade is to begin. And at this time, Malphinean of The Camp Of The Sky walks all the way to the central crystal hall and approaches Galbardo, asking "Is the crown ready, I'm excited to have it flying across the camps..."

(Terex is in-place to do the switch at that point but he also must decide where the original crown goes... and figure out the purpose of this...)

Need a bit more time to post finale..., or close-to-finale...

Arlo considers - with the image Terex can transmit and resources from Helaronthrop, copying the crown would not be hard. For Terex, stealing the crown would be possible though challenging. Some sort of distraction and while the theft was attempted would help (perhaps Monel?)

And plans for the pageant continue.

As the Final Pageant of Creation approaches, soft pleasant music is everywhere, the sky is an especially appealing shade of blue and the air has a special freshness to it. Each camp has a unique theme, yet all blend together wonderfully. The Camp of Plants melding vines with the Camp Of Roses and so-forth...

Each camp looks forward to demonstrating their models to the High Powers of creation who may use these models in the process of planar generation, a process which can multiply each idea a thousand fold....

As is traditional, the Camp Of Roses will introduce the other camps with a series of dramatic and heartwarming plays, one of which will be Monel's creation describing the party's adventure.

As this final events get closer, Lyra and the other party members work on developing ties with the other camp leaders, so most leaders have a general understanding of the situation and know there a good deal of truth to Monel's composition.

Azzim thinks he could pretty easily open the demiplane and release it's contents with the proper word. Isolating it would be harder. The effect is almost not a demiplane but an area of space twisted in on itself...

Monel intends to Azzim's suggestion and emphasize the power of lies and the greater power of exposing lies...

The timing makes a dramatic reveal during the pageant one logical strategy but you could also try to stop the reveal of the crown beforehand, you have maybe eighteen hours....

(post delayed from last night 'cause Paizo went down in the middle of me post, apparently)

After searching extremely carefully, Terex finds a strange gate in in an empty square next Galbardo's private quarters - it only be entered by a series of complex movements and otherwise appears like empty air. The gate is guarded but not at a level that presents a challenge to the little dragon.

The gate leads to a very close demi-plane and Terex is surprised to see a crown made of many strangely cloudy crystals - seemingly, crystals which were reported to have disintegrated... paradoxically, the core crystal possessed by Terex seems quite capable of commanding these crystals.... Also, observing Galbardo, you wonder if he is some kind of construct, going through all his activities by rote.

Meanwhile, Monel give Azzim a copy of a manuscript containing a fictionalized version of the party's adventures in the Helaronthrop, asking "any particular scene you think should be emphasized, I will be reciting for the Camp Of Roses", adding "The Camp Of Doors might might want to include a description of or even people from New Helaronthrop in its final performance"

Azzim and Terex poke around the Camp Of The Crystal. Things are happy and relaxed as the workers finish the final, somewhat reduced exhibit. Just occasionally, speculations about the disintegration goes around. "All the auguries said it was a good thing." "Funny how little reaction Galbardo had" "I heard there was pollution in the source, hmm""I hear that Galbardo is working on an exhibit in secret..."

Terex and others investigate the Camp Of The Crystals while preparations continue for the Final Pageant. Galbardo doesn't do anything sinister but seems strangely listless. The Camp's exhibit is excellent but he seems removed from it's process while his two lieutenants, Narg and Chave are extremely active organizing things....

Terex guesses that the crystal that disintegrated had not yet had "stabilized" by being placed in a world. But by that token, the question is whether any of the crystals had been planted in worlds - either this year or the earlier years when "Narvus" was active...

And with that, Terex realizes a forensic look at The Crystal Camp's activity might be in order.

The Final Pageant itself, coming up the next day even, promises to challenge and distract all the camps at the same time...

Let me know what the Camp Of The Door does as its Finale and various ways of investigating the Camp Of Crystals... I'll add more as needed...

Assume you have the core crystal

The creature cuts it's cord and scuttles off, shrinking quickly with the side dimension and the party continues down the twisting and disorienting vistas of The Paths 'till you reach the path guarded by Xixanixis, who greets you with noble politeness and welcomes you back to The Groves Of Ansthenia where it seems you have been gone three days and now the various camps are in full bloom, twelve remarkable and intertwined models of new existence, with the Camp Of Doors fully involved.

The most notable thing is the way that a number of crystals in The Camp Of Crystals suddenly disintegrated about two days previously, leaving many exhibits far less awe inspiring. Yet with remarkably little work, the remaining crystals have been reworked. Most of craftpeople in The Camp have adjusted remarkably well but there are rumors a few are disgruntled... Monel notes: "Clearly this is the place we want to watch the most closely. Do we want to tell them the story and if so, who should tell the story and who shall we tell it to? Galbardo, the camp leader?"

Meanwhile, the Camp Of Door has expanded and prospered in the Party's absence. Lyra's mechs working with the various recruits and volunteers have produced a stunning medley of planar themes and stunning gates... Growing beyond their initial technological origins, the mechs have endowed the camp with an organic theme taken from Runethia of the Camp Of Plants.

Page 148 gives more info in the camps...

Earlier...

Azzim creates a ritual of protection that becomes part of the new Helaronthrop's social fabric. The magic suits itself to the relaxed feeling of the new town. Those entities not blending with the city's "energy", find instead what they seek; a wasteland, a volcano or similar thing...

Now...

The iridescent arachnid shrinks to half its size, spits out a pale web-tendril and slips to side passage (you recall that such creature can use these tendrils to pull themselves back through dimensional portals). "No doubt, I withdraw and avoid whatever thing is behind you good and powerful creatures... shall I spread the word to my fellows also?....

So the party along with Monel, carefully study the diagram Mithreena provides and begins winding their along "The Paths". This dimensional road takes the form of high mountain paths that wind from vista to vista, where when one vista is obscured and then another comes into view, the next vista is a little or extremely different from the last. To move forward, sometimes one most choose the correct winding and other one must

The journey is about three days. The usual threats of disorientation and wolf-spiders don't bother the party but on the second day, you turn a bend to see an especially large, irredescent blue and purple Planar Spider (45' diameter body, 100' extended legs). The human-like part of its head smiles and it says "greetings friends, what news of the paths? Rumor has it things have been rearranged lately, I would be grateful for news."

The thing is roughly block the path forward but not acting immediately aggressive.

Before she leaves, Mithereena leave a detailed sketch of the forking paths leading back to Groves Of Ansthenia - "There's a marvelous crystal spring on the way that I sadly didn't have time to investigate but if you stop tell me how it is..." Feel free to improvise this...

Monel is impatient on the second day, at one point he looks at Terex and says "Did you see something different? I mean different even than these Deceivers, who have a specific feel to them. I sense a different kind of disturbance... A bluff 30 will throw him off the track, if you wish... and several times he says, "I understand waiting and I think we found most of the rot but I feel I need to go back to the Groves to fully investigate these events and honestly I need you, at least some of you, to go with me."

New Helaronthrop continues dreaming and building, one school of creation building silvery tensile structures ten or twenty stories, moving rhythmically in the wind while any school builds glass, agate and granite villas melding seemlessly with rough stone (along the lines of Frank Lloyd Wright, etc).

Monel has a done a bit of work on defense and security while the rest of the party was occupied but once Terex and Azzim get involved, he quickly cedes the task to them, introducing them to few trusted individuals he's found...

Mithereena chats avidly with Lyra, Azzim and Terex in a peaceful bodega just a stone's throw from one center of Helaronthrop. She describes the latest innovations in each of the camps, speculation concerning the party's whereabouts, a couple of brief affairs at the Camp Of The Stars (which gets Monel's atten) and various other events.

As the day approaches sunset, the sky has the subtle dark hues of a brown agate and all seems remarkably peaceful.

Monel, sipping on a mineral ambrosia, stretches his dragonfly wings and says "I know I must begin the road home. My camp needs me. And so I will... tomorrow..."

The beauty of the new world is something one can nearly breath in... For the next few hours, the godlings continue stabilizing this new plane, rich with energy and potential.

While the non-godlings rest a deep slumber...

... and then, as a group of Clay Elementals are placing a series of quartz domes on certain crafting halls, a familiar voice, beautiful and melodious comes echoing across mountains, "What a marvelous new creation? Is this the secret the Camp of Door has been hiding these last few days? If so then you have outdone yourselves! What a coincidence to find you here! You must tell me all about this though I must warn the camps have been in an uproar since you left though not necessarily because you left..." Many heads turn with wonder and curiosity.

Mithereena! Godling of beauty, gossip and all things ephemeral

(Also Monel moves hither and yon, also strengthening the world as well as casting greater restoration, heal and whatever spells may be needed to get everyone up and running. He seemed to avoid the world forming to be ready for this... ).

One thing this reminds everyone of - the old Helaronthrop was intentionally very difficult to reach. This plane is effectively at a multiversal crossroads with all that this implies.

After the craftspeople with the party's aid resolve the key social and psychological contradictions of Helaronthrop, Lyra's nanites race against time to measure the city's outer and inner structure, the vast crafting knowledge contained within it, etc. while Terex brings together the synthesized hopes and aspirations of the craftspeople of the area. At the same time, Azzim groans having wound-up the force stabilizing the overall matrix while Arlo provides divine inspiration to the populace...

Insert all of you all's stunning narrative here, cool folks

In single, nearly-indescribable spiraling flash of light and activity, the soul of Helaronthrop and its inhabitants are taken from its home plane to the ... new place. The final result has nearly everyone in a shocked daze for several minutes.

When you back to reality, a new Helaronthrop spreads out before you, vastly changed. Whereas the old plane was frantic, dense city surrounded by the frenetic activity of the mines, this Helaronthrop spreads out, less a city than an interconnected network of villages. A serene calm spreads everywhere. Still, here and there tools, machinery and materials for crafting are scattered but any new production will be slow and very carefully considered. Already the inhabitant are sitting, chatting about what might or might not be needed, designing several versions on screens before activity commences, hoisting tankers of fortifying mineral tonics and re-learning the enjoyment of the process of crafting...

Monel reappears and bows, "Certainly I had already guessed I had chosen the most excellent of companions but 'wow', well done"

The population of (new) Helaronthrop looks to the party, half expecting a speech but perhaps just expecting another round...

As she calculates the pylon transform, Lyra can see that the world just outside Azzim's door might an ideal point to situate a remade Helanthrop could be ideally placed. At the same time, she can guess the pressure everyone is feeling is the threat of Helanthrop experiencing immediate planar implusion - time is of the essence. Azzim may be especially effected by the pressure since his magic is keeping the door in existence...

Terex is still curious about the creatures he saw, though he feel confident they were some spirits of fate.

Collective rolls for shaping Helanthrop's new form are fine. I'm thinking what they'd look like. The sum of individuals seems OK for now.

Slowly, the elemental crafters and merchants of Helaronthrop come together, guided by Lyra, heartened by Arlo and aided by the rest of the party (Monel is running seeing to little things everywhere).

A long procession forms, ready to come through the now huge door. The earth quakes cease but a low humming seems to come from everywhere.

Terex darts though door and stands on the meadow. It is a beautiful plateau filled with lichen, rock trees and other living-earth creatures. The air is very thin but crisp and pleasant. Thin streams of water, oil and other substance drift through the area (a Tuolumne Meadows of the zone of neutral good elemental-earth). But scanning further, Terex sees an encircling ring of mountains that seem to waver and reform at his glance and this tells him in one of the great planar cross - The Paths (mountain paths that shift from plane to as new vistas come into view). Perhaps even this the "source" of the paths.

But looking back, he sees only the door came though as a black square at ground level with the road leading only to the center of the plateau - getting back might be tricky disable device 35, meanwhile Terex is visible from the other side of the door and everyone feels an intense mental pressure.

And my nurse-roomate took my stitches out today.