After Fragos treats Giorge is he lucid?
"Let's get going. I get the feeling the Giorge's allies are headed here as we speak."
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As time passes Giorge begins to stir. Mumbling at first, until he finally speaks.
"Fragos...", his voice painfully dry.
"What's going on? Where's Mask?, his eyes dart from person to person. He lifts a hand and than stares at it. Tears stream down his face as he realizes that while the taint is gone he is still not...himself
"Mask is dead. As for you, I have cleansed you of your taint and cast whatever it was that possessed you back into he dark abyss from whence it came." Fragos picks up Giorge's new shield, turning it over a he examines it. "Killing you would have been senseless. You serve a purpose bigger than youself, and it was time for you to return to the path of light."
He throws the shield down in disgust. "Tag along. We're going to Veluna. I'll cure everybody's remaining ills there, and we'll destroy your demonic trappings as well."
Jahangir's brow furrows in concern as he regards the demented ranger. . "Step back Giorge. Explain yourself. You must tell us everything you know of the enemy. You know what is at stake. What awaits us in Veluna?"
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"Veluna, really nothing close the mountains is safe." He takes a deep breath and continues.
"Shothragot is destroying everthing, everyone in his path. The smoke you see is from the burning towns, fields, and forest. Anyone not willing to take on his dark blessings is marked and killed...That is what happened to Veluna. And it will soon be the fate of many more. Urnst, Ulek, Ekbir. As I speak the people of Greyhawk are undersiege, and without the Circle...I fear very little can stop what’s coming. It would be a miracle if we could...” Giorge wipes his face of tears and turns facing the group
"Huh. Is that so?" Fragos closes his eyes and touches his holy symbol. When he opens his eyes again, they seem somewhat different...
"I burned Shotragot out of your body less than a minute ago, Giorge. It cannot possibly have razed Veluna since then, and you cannot possibly have known about it. I'm starting to think that all that crying and whining was just an act and that you were a willing vehicle for your possessor."
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"Doubt me if you wish. But do you think I was the only servant of Shothragot? Orcs, goblins, elementals, the Cult of the Elder Elmental Eye. They all serve the elder evil that grows in Lortmil!" Giorge stares at Fragos
"I would think seeing the corruption of the jaebrin and Mask would enlighten you. What you deal with here is evil not of this world. This is an evil that seeks only to corrupt, undo and destroy everything we have."
Jahangir scowls at the ranger and speaks through gritted teeth, "If you still serve this dark power Giorge I will put an end to you."
"Do you still serve Shothragot"
"Ah... I..." Fragos can't quite contain himself any more, and bursts into a deep belly laugh. "You might be a demon-tainted, sociopathic bastard, Giorge, but I still like you. Killing you will make me very sad. I suspect that will be a bit down the road, though. Right now, it seems to me like we need to cooperate in order to save our world."
"Enough of this chit chat" Kutho growls"where do we go Giorge...and do you know what we must do to destroy this beast"
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Giorge's face quickly becomes serious. "The gems are the key. It feeds on there energies, each one making it stronger. But destroying them that will weaken it. '...And in the last days, the sleep of a thousand years shall end when the herald appears, blotting out the sun in all its awesome glory. Its shuddering bulk shall sound the trumpets of destiny, those clarion calls to bring forth He Who Waits, the Dark God, the Wrongly Held...' "
A puzzled look crosses his face "There was more, but I can't seem to remember"
"As for what to do, I am lost. As I said it would be better to run. But I know that's not 'me' talking. If you wish we can be in Veluna by evening. Don't expect much though, and be warry of those seeking the gem. It calls to the darkest hearts, and clouds the mind of those that carry it."
"And if Veluna is the destination I can take us there. I can see that Fragos tires from todays events. And that most of you suffer Shothragot's taint in your veins."
The paladin speaks in hushed tones to Fragos, "If we are bound for Veluna I'd prefer we use our own methods until we determine where our friend's allegiances truly lie."
"Feel free. Just remember, if you stab us in the back, we will not show you mercy again."
Kelgan continues to stand there menacingly.
"By all means, go ahead and get your blade. We'll take tea later when we get to a more appropriate location." Fragos gestures vaguely towards the northeast. "If not Veluna, then where? I'll get us to a location you deem 'safe'."
"I say we head for Greyhawk. There are those we may need to aid."
"I say we head for Greyhawk. There are those we may need to aid."
"Aye we should make all haste to our allies."
"Let's do it. We can fly there quickly and relatively safely. Don't let go of each other, though - it'll be a long fall."
Kutho walks over to the fallen nymph..no longer beautiful just another corpse in the long trail he knows stretches behind the party.
"Her spirit is free now at least ..what should we do with the shell?"
He searches her...laying anything of value aside
Raizen warns everyone against taking any of the things of the jaebrin. He just feels uneasy about them.
"We should destroy what we don't take. Those crossbows were nasty."
"Can someone see what magical items she had?
I can attempt to identify any magical weapon or armor she has with a little time."
"Our enemies might be able to track us if we carry away those things."
"They can probably track us by the gem anyways. Which is why they were targeting Raizen in the first place.
We can always dump the stuff later on once we find out what it can do."
"Good point."
Aye lets head for Greyhawk..even under siege it will be more secure than here"
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Day becomes night, and by the time the clock chimes it's second bell the Wanderers have arrived.
Greyhawk, the Free City, Gem of the Flanaess is aflame!
As the Wanderers come closer it is easy to see that the Old City has already fallen to Shothragot's horde. Orcs, goblins, trolls, beasts of all manner surround and enter the walls.
Citizens can be seen trapped and screaming outside the walls of the New City. Even more can be seen heading toward the High Quarter.
"Damn. We've been away too long."