The room goes black and distant stars slowly can be seen. Each of you feel an icy hand clutch your hearts. Then you hear a female's otherworldly voice, coming to you as a whisper, "I accept your offer. You shall be marked and blessed by me, The Dark Lady, guardian of death, your Mistress. When you get a chance go see King Joeseph and Jellena Darkling my mouth piece and high priestess. They will get you settled when you return from the Verge. Beware the god of fire and what sleeps in that mountain. The elf Saronis you should make your ally if not companion."
A moment later the three of you are back in your room with sweat pouring down your bodies. You can still feel the icy grasp of her hand.
You innately know that your wishes are limited but there are exclusions. You can only wish for 10 x your level before you level up. Any unused wishes are forfeit should you not use them before you Max out your xp for your level. So you have up to 20 wishes. You will need to learn about the exclusions on your own.
"Joe, A wish could make your quest easier to complete."
"Niversal, the draught of bodily restoration is merely a perk of being apart of our Familia. You have gone through the ritual and are apart of my familia. The draught restores your body to its peak performance in your life, also giving you back those years, also for a day it boosts your physical abilities by +4 and your mental ones by +2. Now that I have answered your questions may you enjoy this meal." She states and Jellena's eyes return to normal. She relaxes into her seat looking a bit fatigued.
Joe nods solemnly at his diety. "What do you think I should do with my Dark Soul Orb in the meantime? Isn't it true if the wish is not used in time, it births a new Dark Lord and the process starts all over again?"
"I don't know. I believe Frank has researched the Dark Souls the most. If you don't want to make your wish now you could always save it." She says simply.
Her eyes take on a magical blue glow as the magical words for the cantrip of detect magic are said. Then she offers Artemis, "It is an Elixir of Fire Breath it confers the ability to spit gouts of flame. You can breathe fire up to three times, each time dealing 4d6 points of fire damage to a single target up to 25 feet Away. The victim can attempt a DC 13 Reflex save for half damage. Unused blasts of fire dissipate 1 hour after the liquid is consumed."
---
She replies to Serill, "The umbral dragons... do be weary as you take upon their flesh. Their sadistic and cruel tendencies may well begin to twist you. Though I know not all half dragons take all the qualities of their parentage, especially once acquired rather than born by it. If it is what you wish then say so upon the stone."
---
As Joe says the words you can feel a burning sensation on your arm. As you pull back your gauntlets and armor upon your arm, let alone any other covering you find a black dot that seems hot. "As you achieve hurdles the magical tattoo will grow. Then it will change to another color slowly, showing you the amount of time you have to finish the quest."
---
"Ryada that is an excellent question. One that I have suggestions but the option will still be yours to choose. I know you wish to have power equal to those of your fellow Night Hawks, want to be able to resist being controlled again, and perhaps a way to bring your confidence back again. You could become Fey Blessed or Fey Touched as those both..." She goes on explaining about them but then comes around full circle and decides those would not work. "Many of the templates will change you outwardly and eventually may change your core being as well. Though perhaps you would accept becoming holy..." She explains the advantages of this.
---
"Delman my good and faithful servant. The bow you search for is closer than you know but it has been given to another. Instead I will send you to the Cave of Ur'Legrutha. It is North of New Faces in a country known as Nemesis. Know that these are evil lands and for my servants and those who are good will find it hard to live here. In the Blood Mountains of Malice you will find a bleak white tower on the mountain you must search for the cave. Do not go to the white tower." She says stressing the importance of the tower.
---
"Markas you should ask for Arcann's Silver Blade. Though it may be cursed through trials and tribulations you will be able to eventually cleanse the weapon." She states with a wry grin.
The Mistress smiles upon Joe as he muses. After he asks his second question she gives Joe two answers, "You likely won't like these answers but here they are; Yes, you would need a magic caster of equal caliber as Merlynn to man her Sanctum or complete the quest, 'One for Another.' It is an arderous quest that only the king of Avalon can complete. Will you take the quest, only once you take it will you begin to learn the particulars of the quest. It is a hidden quest."
---
"Ed there are many places that you can get stronger but one of the safest places is a magical site. I will imbue you with the scent of treasure so that you can find such places easier for yourself and your group." She simply states in response to the dog.
"Joe as her soul never traveled to our parallel world she is out of my scope of awareness. You may have another question as I cannot answer your question." She replies in neutral tones.
As the whole group of Night Hawks are now around the stone table Jellena's voice changes with an otherworldly edge. Her eyes roll into the back of her head and then the orbs turn midnight black. "Hello my children, my Chosen. I see you have all brought sacrifices and soon there will be plenty to share among you. I am glad to see what you have done in my name. I will give Jellena some sites that with your unique skill sets you shall be able to purge for us. Though that is secondary to the death of the next Dark Soul. As some of you know, Jellena is my voice, believe what she says is my word. I will allow each of you a question and the answer will come from me before I leave Jellena. What would you ask of me?"
Either she is amused or can't believe the words coming out of your mouth, "My poor fool you talk of rapport and yet you make it transactional. The questions you ask are easy to answer to answer I was looking for more. But you can only lead a horse to water." She then stops and decides on how she is going to word her next statement.
"If you join my familia you shall have eternal youth, my blessing which will enhance your abilities, a life full of adventure, and the ability to slay undead better. What do I want, I want to smite all undead. I want the natural cycle to continue. I expect little from my priests and familia, my dogma is loose compared to other gods, except when it comes to undead. You will get rapport with my oracle and she is my voice. She is my tool. If you want a friend or more from me, I am not your goddess." She says speaking plainly.
There is a light rap at Joe's door. As the door was not locked one of the half-dressed oracles comes in with a decent sized box in her arms. She closes the door and brings forth the box. She asks in a sultry voice, "You are here for a leveling ritual correct? How many hours will you be exercising and you are now a 5th level like our high priestess?"
John:
"Though even with eternal punishment, divine retribution, eternal life, or the offering of 100 virgins; most simply lived. They did what they wanted for the most part. Living under my tenants is strong for some but not for most. As you are not a divine caster, you will get to choose how closely to my way you choose. After all you do have a life of choices that guides your actions so far. Offense, no. You must understand Chosen have been coming here for eons." She stops for a minute and then readdresses, "Now we were getting off subject. What questions do you have for me? I can tell you are not a S$!ty person, otherwise you would be in pain. So what are your questions?"
Here we go with the spoiler tango... yes when you separate I do prefer spoilers!!! You are more than welcome to tell each other what happened but typically people don't. Just saying...
With a simple invocation of her name, "Mistress" A complete body transformation happens before your eyes.
You can sense the full power of a god enter the room. Your hair stands on end in awareness. You know your body is going into overdrive with adrenaline to stay prepared. Looking upon the Mistress you see beauty but at the same time a more simple woman. Jellena had definitely been more complex as opposed to the form before you now.
She steps around the room and asks, "Now what questions would you ask of me that my oracle could not answer?"
Joe you feel as if your heart is touched by death and love at the same time, like a hand caressing it. You know that harming her would be a poor choice. But you can use your words at your leisure.
She nods but also says, "Do not thank me, thank your oracle. The library will be fine. I am glad you are sorry my paladin. But now you must put it behind as you focus on the future." She gives him a smirk and then gets up and gives his forehead a kiss. Lifting his chin, as it is now in her palm, so he is looking at her, "Serve me well as I know you will."
You are in a black hall, with black marble floors and black drapes. You don't see any light source and yet you can see. Then you turn around and she is sitting in a white stone throne. She whispers to you, "the spirit you know as Brandon will return to you. Your oracle is very faithful to you. To make him stronger you will have to accomplish a feat and burn the corpses of the plague cultists to the South of the Red Salt Mountains within the eye of the drinking wheel of Cithaeron."
Frank's dream:
Your first labor is to kill the Lion of Cithaeron. You see a tall mountain of blood red stone. Each step you take leaves a trail of bloody steps. With its death its pelt can be traded to an oracle for the unlocking of your warhammer's first ability.
Jellena's dream:
The lion shall fall by acid and lightning. Glowing amethysts mark the resting place of the true reward.
Delman's dream:
The naga Kristelle again smiles at you from across a chasm. You feel her caress again. You hold a bone vial, you take off the cork and within is a glowing blue gem. Looking up you see her face turn to horror.
Artemis's dream:
The Fire Rainstorm cultists are looking for you. The key will be found and used to open the vault. Beyond the doors lie a Dark Soul. You need to find fire resistance by then or your hide will be the Devil's.
At that moment the portal behind you, some 50 feet back, opens again. Out comes a being you know is the Mistress, you have never seen her before but you know it is her. It seems like she says something but you dont hear any words. She also does not move her lips. She then looks at you and in your head you hear,"Artemis if you continue to make deals with demons, you will likely turn out like them."
Joe gains the specials of the clever godling for his levels.
At that moment the portal behind you, some 50 feet back, opens again. Out comes a being you know is the Mistress, you have never seen her before but you know it is her. You hear the voice again, it is from her though her lips dont move. "You may make any choice you want. I allow free will. Though I offer a fourth choice. If you do nothing you will be returned shortly. Know that I detest demons and that is who you are working with now.
Artemis:
At that moment the portal behind you, some 50 feet back, opens again. Out comes a being you know is the Mistress, you have never seen her before but you know it is her. She looks at Frank as if having a conversation but her lips dont move. Then she looks at you, likely using telepathy she tells you, [b]"Joining the collective or dealing with demons is your choice, but know that the more you deal with them the more it weighs on your soul"
In a nimbus of electrified black lightning she appears. She does not speak but smiles at her children. She picks up the staff, walks over to where the demon gate was an reopened it. Stepping through it closes behind her.
