At that very moment on the Material Plane, sequestered in a private chamber in the Vatican, Archmage and Alchemist Supreme Nicolas Flamel renews divinations regarding Nero's phylactery now that the Phylacterium has been breached.
What was hidden to all but the canniest diviners by potent abjurations had been magically unobscured by the opening of the Phylacterium. Now, he could discover the means of its destruction.
Ah! So! To destroy the phylactery, it must be subjected to a series of treatments including a specific sequence of spells and culminating in the phylactery being smited by a paladin. First, it must be submerged in holy water... No problem there... Then, subjected to the spells dispel evil, then holy word, then shatter, and at last, a true paladin must smite it! But...there is still something dark...something hidden...a final guardian, perhaps...or an evil avenger come to meet out unholy revenge on behalf of the Antichrist?
The market on Rue Pernell in Paris is truly a feast for the senses. The colorful sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and sensations are almost overwhelming to the keen eyes, ears, nose, and tongues of the adventurers...
Flamel has brought you to the marketplace at around dusk on the 6th of September. Nero will reincarnate in five days. Before then, the Mighty Ones have time to explore the stalls, vendors and shops on Rue Pernell.
Flamel assists each member of the party in finding buyers and sellers for exchange and upgrading of equipment, and dutifully facilitates the enchanting of weapons, armor, and other gear for the fair market price. By the time the party is finished selling, shopping and upgrading to confront Wormwood, it is 8 o'clock at night on September 6th.
Flamel replies to Sir Alphonse: Oui, Monsieur. It would seem that you and your companions are preordained to crush this Great Fire Serpent under your heels, in accordance with God's will. Lucifer, that Old Devil, Satan, seeks to force the very hand of God, to usher in the War of Armageddon prematurely. The Devil thinks he can twist God's divine plan and escape His predestined judgement as foretold by the prophet John in the book of Revelation. It is clear to me now, as I look upon the Mighty Ones, the Crusaders of the Catacombs, the Desert Jackals, the Lusty Fool... Flamel winks at Sir Alphonse with a grin, ... Oui, it is obvious... God has chosen you ladies and gentlemen to be His instrument of divine wrath! Now, let us join our hands in a ring... oui, like so...
The Mighty Ones link hands in a ring with Nicolas Flamel, and the Jewish alchemist-archmage chants words of conjuration magic, instantly whisking the party from the slope of the Black Forest mountain where the skull-shaped cave mouth that was the entrance to Grünerraver's cavernous lair now yawns empty and silent, off to the market square on Rue Pernell (named for his philanthropic late wife, Perenelle), in Paris...
If those fire protection potions are all that you needed before facing Wormwood, then I will be happy to teleport you all to the ruins of Pompeii, in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius... That location will provide better cover from which to ascend to the caldera, in which the Great Dragon of the Apocalypse lairs...
Thoughtfully rubbing his white-bearded chin again, Flamel adds, On the other hand, I dare to venture that Grünerraver had a rich hoard to plunder, indeed... If you should wish to unload some of the treasure in exchange for more potent arms, armor, or other equipment you may find useful in the coming battle... Well, the people of Paris suffered greatly during Grünerraver's attack on the Feast of Saint Valentine... It seems meet that you should enrich the markets of Paris... It would be truly helpful to a city struggling to repair the destruction wrought by the Tyrant of the Black Forest... Of course, you might rather spend the treasure in more familiar markets, perhaps in Rome. After all, you are the same Mighty Ones that defended the Eternal City from Wormwood on that terrible Saint Valentine's Day, oui?
Flamel sighs, grinning and shaking his head. Ah, now the old man is rambling! Haha! Wherever you wish to go next, Mighty Ones, I, Nicolas Flamel, am at your service!
Flamel strokes his white beard as he listens to Lord Perpireen's tale of misfortune. Ah, I am sorry to hear this, Lord of Sprites... That is... troubling news, indeed... Flamel frowns at the rocky path under his feet. This Archfey, Lady of Shadows, you speak of... She was once the Fey Queen of Connacht. She is a powerful warrior-queen, wily, treacherous, and promiscuous. She was the implacable foe of the warriors of Ulster... Anyway, let us attend to the rather pressing matter already at hand, shall we?
These most potent of protection from fire potions are worth 1,500 gold pieces each. I have seven of them on me at the moment, but if you think you'll need more than that, we can certainly stop by my home in Paris, where I have more in stock...
One can see how Nicolas Flamel has become one of the wealthiest men in Paris. It is believed that only the Dauphin Charles VII possesses as much wealth as this legendary alchemist.
I would join you in battle against Wormwood, if only to have the chance to be joined once more with my dear Perenelle... But I know that if she were still alive, she would kill me for throwing away my life so readily... Ah, dear Perenelle... There will never be another woman like her... Are you married, Monsieur Johann?
Johann Kaltgeboren wrote: "Er... just one thing, Sir. How about a protection from fire potion, as tough as you can make it. I have plenty of gold for you to convert into components.| Certainly, Monsieur Johann. That will be no problem. As you might know, I am an alchemist, and my experiments often put me in danger of being burnt by fire. Therefore, I have several of the most potent kind of fire protection potions for sale...
Flamel reaches into his handy haversack and procures a small vial of ruby liquid.
Nicolas Flamel has 6 potions of protection from fire (CL 10th) in his magic backpack...
Johann Kaltgeboren wrote: Johann thanks Flamel profusely. "It is your teleportations spells that we are most happy to receive from you, Sir. The antichrist will surely find a new body if we do not hurry to the location of the next key. As for me, I am already in possession of more material goods than I ever thought possible. I am ready to put an end to the Beast of our age, now and forever." Flamel nods and smiles in response to Johann.
Most excellent, sir! I will teleport you all to the foul Beast's lair at Mount Vesuvius in Italy, whenever you are ready. Looking to the others, he adds: What of the rest of you? Is there anything you may require before facing Wormwood?
Johann Kaltgeboren wrote: Johann is grateful to Flamel for speeding them on their way. "Your assistance is most timely. We must hurry to get to the third keyhole before the antichrist is reborn...But there is always time to dump off some dragon treasure."
I will level up with weekend and split up the dragon money, unless someone else wants to do it. Lord P, are you going to take anything or is it a five person split?
The elderly archmage-alchemist seems almost ecstatic to hear that the Mighty Ones have destroyed Nero Antichrist's material form, and is eager to aid them in finding and destroying the arch villain's phylactery.
Merciful Heavens! You are surely the saviors of Christendom, foretold in prophetic divinations by no less than five confirmed reliable oracles... Mon Dieu! What a propitious day this is! Anywhere you wish to go, Mighty Ones, I, Nicolas Flamel, will happily teleport you. Any magical item you wish to procure, I shall facilitate your purchase, and if no such thing exists in the current markets of Paris, Nuremberg or Rome, I, Nicolas Flamel, shall craft it for thee using my precious artifact, the philosopher's stone, which can transmute any form of matter into anything else one can imagine!
As a high level alchemist/wizard archmage, Nicolas Flamel can and is willing to greater teleport the party to wherever they need to go to buy whatever they need to buy, and in fact, might already have knowledge or even possession of whatever magic items you want to purchase. The market in Paris is among the best for variety and availability of even major magic items.
Upon encountering the Mighty Ones, and realizing they were Grünerraver's cause of death, Flamel is fulsome glad at their victory, and praises God and His champions for their heroic deed.
Honor, glory, and praise to Our Lord! And to ye Mighty Ones that have slain the vile wyrm Grünerraver! May God bless thee forevermore!
In his study in his home in Paris, Nicholas Flamel, world-famous alchemist and archmage, and secret member of the Order of the Hidden Heptarch, becomes magically aware that Grünerraver has been slain when a special contingency is triggered.
Mon Dieu! Grünerraver is dead! Hallelujah! I must go at once to his lair and determine his cause and time of death for my chronicle...
The archmage alchemist teleports to the mountain path before the skull-shaped cave entrance to Grünerraver's lair.
Signor Pusinboots wrote: Grünerraver the Green Wyrm wrote: At this very moment in Paris, Grünerraver, Green Wyrm of the Black Forest, falls upon the unprepared city with its lethal gaseous breath, filling the streets and plazas of the City of Lights with a green fog of death! The heroes of Paris quickly rise to her defense...
Cat Lord PusInBoots seeks out Nicolas Flamel, finding him hovering on a flying carpet above Notre Dame Cathedral, flinging lightning bolts at the green wyrm!
Bonjour, Monsieur Flamel! A pretty fine day for dragon slaying, non!? Hurling a bright blue bolt of lightning that scars the green wyrm's yellowish underbelly: Ah, it is you, Monsieur PusInBoots! Quickly! We must stop this menace from killing any more innocent Parisians!
Quinlan GM bot wrote: During the past few days, ever since he retired from active adventuring with the Crusaders of the Catacombs (right before their trip to Marrakech to overthrow the tyrranical Al'Haaq), Quinlan Ifrean the tiefling wizard has been busy working alongside famous alchemist and wizard, Nicolas Flamel, to formulate an alchemical flame retardant to treat the wooden structures of Rome with.
The two mages have succeeded in creating an effective fire retardant that can be mixed in water and applied to wood to make it fire resistant, but the problem they still face is formulating enough of the stuff in time for the Saint Valentine's Day Holocaust...
We need to recruit more alchemists, Master Flamel... We will never make enough of this stuff in time to be of any real help when the dragon comes...
Fear not, my horn-headed apprentice! You forget, I hold zee Philosopher's Stone, an artifact with which all manner of alchemical miracles may be worked! I can use zee Stone to multiply matter, my boy! We shall have plenty of zee fireproofing ointment by zee time zee dragon comes...
Master Flamel pulls a silken pouch from inside a pocket of his robe of eyes and empties its contents into his palm--a lump of purest gold that shines with a golden radiance...
Zis is why I, Nicolas Flamel, am chief among alchemists, and why I am zee richest man in Paris, besides His Majesty zee Dauphin...
In Paris, renowned alchemist and wizard Nicolas Flamel is a potent ally for the cause of civilization, peace, and goodwill among men, having been instrumental in the adventures of the Lucky Fools as they rescued King Charles VI from a secret prison in the Catacombs under Paris and restored the rightful monarch to the throne after dispatching the döppleganger the Church of Lucifer had placed on the French throne.
Flamel's house is attended by clockwork servants and homonculi, and has proven a rich source of new magical or alchemical upgrades to weapons, armor, and other gear of worthy and upcoming adventurers...
I would of course be happy to facilitate telelortations to transport the Crusaders and their gear to the palace of Marrakech, Your Holiness... Perhaps you could call upon Our Lord to intervene with a miracle, transporting all of the Crusaders of the Catacombs, at fully rested and restored vigor, along with all gear they will require to aid in the overthrow of the cruel Mohammedian slavelord?
Pope Eugenius IV wrote: Watching the Desert Jackals through legendary alchemist Nicolas Flamel's crystal ball, Pope Eugenius IV observes them and tries to imagine their conversation as they prepare to raid the palace of the Emir of Marrakech...
Who is that little sprite, there? Eugene asks Nicolas.
He is the Fey Lord Perpireen of the Seelie Court, Your Holiness. A versatile and inventive adventurer by all accounts...
Pope Eugenius IV wrote: Nicolas Flamel, alchemist wrote: Doubtless having divined this exact hour of need with precognitive magic, the renowned alchemist and wizard Nicolas Flamel teleports from his laboratory in Paris to the plaza before Saint Peter's Church on Vatican Hill in Rome, and presents himself to the Holy Father with all due reverence.
In Italian: Holy Father, I have come in the hour when I can most be of service to you. I have foreseen this hour in my crystal ball, Your Holiness. You wish to unite one band of brave crusaders with another that is very distant at this moment, yes?
Thank you for responding to what can only be the call of Our Lord, Monsieur Flamel... replies Eugenius with some measure of suspicion and wonder at the famed Parisian magician's sudden appearance here in Rome... The work of alchemy is merely decoding what is essentially Divine Providence, Your Holiness... Please, call me Nicolas... responds Flamel, kneeling before the pope to kiss his ring.
Doubtless having divined this exact hour of need with precognitive magic, the renowned alchemist and wizard Nicolas Flamel teleports from his laboratory in Paris to the plaza before Saint Peter's Church on Vatican Hill in Rome, and presents himself to the Holy Father with all due reverence.
In Italian: Holy Father, I have come in the hour when I can most be of service to you. I have foreseen this hour in my crystal ball, Your Holiness. You wish to unite one band of brave crusaders with another that is very distant at this moment, yes?
Nicolas Flamel arches his brows and grins wryly at Merlin and then Morganna.
In Draconic: Merlin is more forgiving than I would be if you tried to place such a hex of amnesia on me, Queen of the Blessed Isle of Apples!
Nicolas Flamel arches his brows and grins wryly at Merlin and then Morganna.
In Draconic: Merlin is more forgiving than I would be if you tried to place such a hex of amnesia on me, Queen of the Blessed Isle of Apples!
You are correct, Hisao of the Yellow Reeds.... The old emperor of Ancient Rome, Nero, is an undead abomination, as I have long suspected. My recent explorations of Rome have confirmed my suspicions.... Nero is a lich, and walks among us, disguised as a merchant of rare spices, or as the prodigal bastard son of Duke of Milan.... My recent divinations have revealed this much.... The location of Nero's phylactery, I could not discern.... wherever it is, its warded against magical scrutiny....
I know a more private location....
Flamel gestures for the Lusty Fools to follow him into a private room in the apothecary, exchanging discreet nods with the old Roman behind the counter.... Once therein, Flamel smiles and signals for the Lusty Fools to link hands with him....
And now for Old Nick's Disappearing Act....
As the Lusty Fools roam the streets of Rome, they encounter a variety of citizens and visitors, including a familiar old face--one they recognize from their time in Paris--the alchemist and wizard, Nicolas Flamel, whom they meet in an apothecary near the great Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican, shopping for alchemical reagents....
In English:Well, well! What a welcome surprise to see old friends here among so many strange faces! It's the Lusty Fools, yes? What brings you to Rome? Or should we discuss it somewhere more private?
At a feast thrown on the 30th of June by the Dauphin at the Royal Palace in Paris in honor of The Lusty Fools, Knights of Armaggedon....
I would normally charge a king's ransom for each such an item of magical power.... But if you Lusty Fools truly intend to forestall Armaggedon by slaying either The Beast Conflagratius, The Anti-Christ Nero, or Satan Himself.... Then you are heroes braver than any this world has seen since the days of classical antiquity. You deserve a place in the constellations beside Andromeda and Orion! You are heroes on par with Jason and the Argonauts, Theseus who slew the First Minotaur, and the demigod Heracles! I will be honored to gird you for the battles ahead of you, with armaments not seen outside the forge of Hephaestus!
Flamel will craft gifts of similar value for each of the Lusty Fools, in exchange for 6,000 gold francs to offset material costs.... Name your desired item with a value not to exceed 144,000 gp, subtract 6,000 gp of personal treasure, and the item will be crafted for you by Flamel in thanks for restoring the true Dauphin to the throne of France and working in general for the greater good of Europe.
No less a personage than Nicolas Flamel agrees to take Alphonse's commission to upgrade his magic belt with enhancements that make it a belt of physical might.... As a personal thank you to Alphonse for his bold deeds on behalf of France, he enchants the belt using his very own Philosopher's Stone, a potent artifact created by the legendary alchemist....
Alphonse's belt of physical might is actually a belt of physical perfection +6!
After dinner, clockwork servants clear away the platters, and Flamel offers after dinner victuals--strong brandy....
What will The Lusty Fools be doing now?
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Dinner is served at 7:00 PM in the dining room, a well-appointed chamber lit by a crystal chandelier and decorated with rich tapestries.
Clockwork servants serve the meal on silver platters: roasted duck and lamb, rubbed with garlic and other herbs, mushroom soup, grapes, cheese, warm bread, and a fresh salad, served with a delicious dry red wine.
Bon appetite, my esteemed guests!
The meal is delicious and satisfying, and the conversation stimulating. Flamel reveals a few interesting rumors:
The catacombs beneath Istanbul in Turkey are said to be filled with ancient treasures, guarded by golems, undead, and other ageless guardians....
The Romanian knightly Order of the Dragon is protecting the eastern borders of Christendom from Turkish invaders in Wallachia.... This order of cavaliers is led by the grandfather of Vlad Tepes, who will come to be known to future generations as Count Dracula, most infamous of vampires!
A French lord with a castle outside Narbonne has been cursed by God, and transformed into a monstrous beast for his callous treatment of the serfs on his land. According to the folk thereabouts, his servants have all been transformed into animated household objects. Beauty and the Beast!
Rumplestiltskin tells tales of a beautiful maiden trapped by her wicked foster mother in a high tower with no visible entrance.... It's said the maiden has incredibly long hair that has magical properties, and goes by the name Rapunzel....
Flamel regards the young Norseman for a moment....
Hmmm, an apprentice? You are a disciple of alchemy, eh? Let us discuss this possibility further over dinner, shall we, Monsiuer? Your activities as an adventurer might interfere with your study of alchemy.... But then again, you seem very intelligent, and might be capable of handling the responsibilities of both paths....
Not that I don't look forward to being reunited with my lovely Perenelle in Heaven.... It's just that as an alchemist, I have felt compelled to delay my own death until I have finished my extensive alchemical studies.... Now that I have done so to my satisfaction, I have ceased imbibing the Elixer myself, and will allow nature to take its course with this old body.... Of course, I still distill the Elixer for several favored patrons, such as Rumplestiltskin....
Well, my friends.... My clockwork chef will soon be preparing a fine dinner for this evening.... Would you care to join me? I will instruct him to make extra, it's no problem, really, and I rarely have dinner guests these days, ever since my dear wife, Perenelle, went to join our Lord some thirty-two years ago....
Yes, Madame Kiyu, I have many untranslated manuscripts that I've collected over the years, intending to translate them myself when I had the time.... Never seem to get around to it.... I also have some in Greek and Sanskrit, if you're interested....
I think Madame will be pleased with my stock.... My art began in your homeland, and it has been faithfully translated through the ages.... I can see already that I have plenty of everything that is on your list.... But I think your true purpose is to be united with your new company, Madame....
Flamel smiles strangely at The Lusty Fools....
May I introduce The Lusty Fools, Madame? I give you my word that they are not as uncouth as their company name might suggest.... In the short time that I have known them, I have seen no sign of lust or foolhardiness....
In English: I happen to have some English guests here as well.... As, perhaps, fortune would have it....
In French: Bonjour, Madame.... I am he.... You look a long way from home, if you'll pardon my saying so, Madame.... Welcome to my humble abode! How may I be of service?
Hoenheim Dobberkau *Nacht* wrote: Its a +1 Sawtooth Sabre
Nacht grips the blade and with his other arm lays the gold objects the beings used to barter on a table.
Oui, Monsiuer.... That blade seems to fit you well....
The old alchemist grins at Nacht....
Alphonse Veritas wrote: "We might head there on our travels, though it could yet be a while. Is that acceptable to you?" Flamel nods.
Fair enough....
If you should happen to be traveling through The Black Forest in the future, I know how you might turn a goodly profit.... A regular customer of mine, a gnome named Rumplestiltskin, will purchase my Elixer of Life for 1,000 gold marks per flask.... I normally sell them to him at this price on annual visits to The Black Forest, but I am getting weary of making the trip, and Rumplestiltskin refuses to come to Paris for various reasons of his own.... My expenses during the journey to and from the Black Forest often come to as much as 300 gold francs.... Rumplestiltskin usually purchases three Elixers of Life per year, which sustains him at his current age indefinitely.... Although I would be taking a slight loss this year, it would still be worth it to me to sell you gentlemen three of my Elixers of Life for 2,400 gold francs.... You could then make the journey to Rumplestiltskin's home in The Black Forest, a journey of twelve days, and sell the Elixers to him for 3,000 gold marks--a 600 gold piece profit for you. Being adventurers, you could surely live off the land during the journey, or at least spend somewhat less than I do when I make the journey.... What say you? You may find that some of Rumplestiltskin's magical wares for sale or trade are worth your while to make the journey alone.... He is renowned for wondrous items and magic beans that create colossal bean stalks that grow toward the cloud islands of the cloud giants, which is the only method for reaching those lofty realms without a flying steed....
Flamel discounts the price of Hisao's hat of disguise down to 1,500 gp instead of 1,800 gp, and considers the ninja's inquiry about tasks....
Hmmm.... You say you might be traveling to other places? Where, if I may inquire?
Flamel watches Nacht with curiosity for a few seconds, then speaks, in French:
Excellent! For heroes such as you, I will sell the curative potions at 40 gold francs each, and the curative wands at only 600 gold francs each!
Flamel continues, in French: But if the dragon is Wormwood, heralding the apocalypse, then the question arises.... Who is the Beast? Who is the Antichrist? No obvious candidate comes to my mind, I must confess.... Some warlord of the Far East, the book of Revelations would suggest.... Perhaps the Lord of the Ottoman Turks? Bayazet would have been a likely candidate, were he still alive....
Flamel considers this riddle for a moment, then regards each of The Lusty Fools carefully for a moment....
Would you happen to be the heroes who rid Notre Dame and our fair city from the traitorous priest, Pierre the Necromancer, and his devil-worshipping minions in the catacombs?
Monsieur Flamel nods affirmatively at Alphonse's and Paddy's inquiries about healing magic....
In French: I will trade this magic wand of curing that I keep on my person--I have several, all fully charged, and keep one at my side at all times--for 750 gold francs, or the equivalent in jewels.... I can sell you a few of them, if you like.... Or, if you prefer potions, I believe I have at least a dozen or so I could part with, at 50 gold francs each....
Regarding Paddy's inquiry about dopplegangers:
In French: Dopplegangers are clever, cunning, dangerous monsters, said to lurk in alarming numbers within large towns and cities such as this one.... They are infamous for murdering important public officials and taking their places, as the monsters are peerless shape-changers and masters of disguise.... The males are indistinguishable from the females, as far as human perception goes.... They are mind-readers, able to steal thoughts as readily as they steal appearances.... They are not especially harmed nor impervious to any particular mineral substance or form of energy, no more so than a human being.... Most, if not all, are evil and insidious enemies of mankind.
When Hisao mentions the dragon:
In French: Ah, yes.... The fire dragon from Mercury.... It's name is Conflagratius, or at least, the name it has given is such.... Likely, it has a secret true name.... It has taken up a lair within the fiery caldera of Mount Vesuvius in Italy, the same volcano that destroyed the city of Pompeii during the days of the old Roman Empire.... This fire dragon is of great age and size, greater than any remembered in recent history, and has proven its ability to burn entire towns to ashes! I fear for the future of Europe under this terrible tyrant's reign.... Already, a number of Europe's fairest maidens have fallen prey to this beast, and the coffers of most of the princes of Europe are annually drained to appease the monster's insatiable lust for treasure.... I fear that this dragon might herald Doomsday, as astrological forecasts made by myself and others suggest that Conflagratius might actually be the fiery comet prophecied by the apostle John in the book of Revelations as Wormwood! If this be true, then six months are indeed all the time our world has left before the End of Times!
A brief interval later, an elderly gentleman enters the room and greets The Lusty Fools, bowing courteously....
In French: Bonjour, Monsieurs, and welcome to House Flamel. I am Nicolas Flamel. I assume you have heard of my reputation as an alchemist and scribe, and have come either to ask for advice in alchemical matters, or to trade jewelry? I am quite knowledgeable about such things, and am well disposed to purchase from you any excess jewels you might have for sale....
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