Finrod:
Kara:
DM:
Fortitude save
Will save
Basil stands before the eye.. takes a deep breath and speaks.."How may we foil the machinations of the spider queen against our homeworld"
|
DM
Onyx
As each of you looks at the eye, the eye's brass carapace begins moving, opening upon itself section-by-section. The carapace points up at the ceiling, filling the entire temple is filled with a blinding, glorious light. Each segment that snaps away from the Eye brings more and more light into the temple interior. At this point the light is blinding that no one can see. The light that extends from the eye seems to wrapping itself around each of you, as if it were sliding tenrils. The only thing you see is the flickering shadows of those around you. Not even your companions are visible through this blinding light, as they are transparent to the holiest of lights.
You all feel a source of warmth and inquisitveness. Perhaps the light itself burrows deep into your soul. Voices echo within the light, singing hymns that none of you are familiar with, and none of you undertand. Somewhere, you heare the distinct scratching of a quill on paper. A sound so soft that you don't understand how you can perceive it in such a large, noisy temple.
Basil:
Finrod:
The sound of the quill moving over paper stops. Everyone hears the clank of metal, and suddenly you are wrapped in a black shadow, not unlike stepping into a cave from the outdoors. It takes several moments while each of you adjust to the much lower light level. The light that you first saw is gone, but you still see trace of it shining throughout the temple. Sadly, the world seems black, even though you can now see the pillars and walls and the Ursine Celestials around you. In Basil's hand is a piece of paper that shines with an echo of the vanished lights. Basil reads this to himself, and as each of you turn to one another, you see that Finrod is on the ground, unconsciouis and breathing, with no visible signs of struggle. You all do see tears have been streaming down your stalwart elven companion's cheeks.
The prophecy, once everyone can read it:
The bitter ice hides a giant's sword to crack the Abyssal armor
Search The Lady's Wisdom and the book of flesh
Bide your time, and Flee when the goddess shakes her web.
A pair of keys; a blackened tongue, a golden word.
Pass through three gates; serpent, darkness, stone
Kill the queen in her black pearl, and find
Near the fourth gate -- home.
"I believe you have found what you've come for, berk." Humbart says softly to Basil. Unfortunately, your friend may learned more about himself than he expected as well." Humbart says, looking sad at Finrod's state of being. "I am sorry, the Eye does have that effect on people, which is why we caution against exactly what you've done. Good luck with your quest."
Onyx kneels beside fallen Finrod. To Humbart the dwarf asks, "will he be well? Or has the celestial light forever seared his soul?"
Onyx kneels beside fallen Finrod. To Humbart the dwarf asks, "will he be well? Or has the celestial light forever seared his soul?"
"His soul is seared, but yes, with time he will be fine. Perhaps better for it. The chaos in his soul may be tempered by this bright light." Humbart says, thoughtfully. "Although I cannot assist with the healing in this holy place, there are many places in this Cage that offer such services. The Great Gymnasium and the surrounding areas are wonderful for such things."
Basil blinks as the holy vision vanishes.
"Thank you holy one..we will seek out healing for our companion and hope that this experience will leave him wiser in the ways of the powers above"
He bows low to Humbert the turns to the others his tone crisp ..
"Let us find somewhere to restore Finrod to his senses..and mull over this prophecy"
|
|
You all do see tears ...
Huergar blinks his eyes. He is dimly aware that Onyx is concerned about Finrod. He is trying to piece the situation back together in his mind when he realizes he is sitting on the ground. He gets to his feet awkwardly and takes a step toward Onyx to see if he can do anything to help.
One of the ursine celestials walks over, carrying a stretcher that will be able to carry Finrod. "This will help." He gently lifts Finrod onto the stretcher, and says to the remaining conscious members. "Now, whatever was written by the Eye, use it wisely. Be careful in whose counsel you use for figuring it out."
Humbart says to the party "Good luck, and you can keep the stretcher, this happens all the time."
"Onyx and Huergar might I impose upon you to bear Finrod along ..it would be easier if we kept the stretcher level."
Basil turns to Humbert.."I'll ensure this litter is returned as soon as possible holy one"
"Of course ..." Onyx dutifully helps Finrod onto the stretcher.
"May you direct us to a healer?" the dwarf asks Humbert. "This city is so large, it overwhelms us with choices."
Kara pipes up, finally coming around after her experiance with the Eye.
"I can look around if you want, I'm pretty good at finding places if I ask."
She gazes at Finrod, and sighs.
"It doesn't look like his body's hurt, so I can't use my magic to heal him. I'm starting to wish I could use a bit of magic like a preist. Can't be helped I guess."
"He'll be in need of a spell to restore his senses and clear his wits..is there perhaps a Temple dedicated to the eleven pantheon nearby holy one..we should seek help from his own for him"
"There is no need to return the stretcher, Sir Basil," Humbart begins.
"Although I definitely think that the best options for his type of soul lie within the Guildhall ward. Good luck on your travels."
Finrod:
Before you stands a great blasted land, pockmarked with many, many holes. From one sprouts a great rotting tree, and as you come closer, a great tendril stretches from the tree towards you, tearing into your scarred face. The tendril finds its way through you, and in your mind's eye you hear the words "You aren't worthy of the challenge. The queen will destroy you and leave you to the false goddess's pleasures. The Abyss is going to be the Queens."
You realize, horribly, that the vision before you isn't a tree, as it melts and becomes an amorphous blob... a handmaiden of the Goddess Lolth. "Lolth is watching with great interest, Finrod. Perhaps, just perhaps, you will serve as her meat, rather than her slave. Try as you might, neither the Black Archer nor the betrayer of the drow can save you now. You are mine."
As this occurs, you hear a sound, you're certain that it's Shevarash. "Aim True, and your arrow will strike so. I cannot bring you back. You must come back on your own, and show your strength... Only then can I save you." An arrow whizzes by your head, striking the Yolchol in the head, dissolving it on contact leaving the broken arrow shaft over a drop that was the Yolchol. Turning your head, you see a raven-haired elven male with a black hooded cloak, wearing a dark blue-black armor. He nods, turns, and walks away, still carrying the ashen longbow that fired the arrow. "Do not let them win." He says as he walks away.
"Please wait here a moment while I ask around for a healer," says Onyx. The dwarf approaches friendly-looking passerby for recommendations.
Diplomacy
Finrod twitches and groans in unconciousness. You can hear him muttering...
"...ia! ia! Yolchol ftahghn! No! No!"
Basil looks to Kara.."Can you find somewhere quickly for him..A place dedicated to Sehanine Moonbow would be best I think..though if needs be I can pray for spells that will assist him in a minor way"
The muttering turns into an alien, high pitched female voice;
Finrod starts to choke.
|
|
"This is a side of Finrod I've never seen before."
He gives Onyx a worried look when Finrod starts choking. "Did he eat something recently? Maybe we should punch him in the gut." This, of course, is an ancient dwarvish remedy for most everything.
EDIT: He looks skeptically at Finrod's lack of a sturdy gut. "Then again, maybe not."
"Hmm, a punch is probably unnecessary," ponders Onyx. "What he is saying concerns me. 'Perhaps, you will serve as her meat, rather than her slave'"
Basil looks to Kara.."Can you find somewhere quickly for him..A place dedicated to Sehanine Moonbow would be best I think..though if needs be I can pray for spells that will assist him in a minor way"
"I'll see what I can find, but no guarantees."
Kara heads out in search of a Sehanine temple...
Onyx and Kara's search do produce great results, finding a temple devoted to not just one, but the ENTIRE Elven pantheon in the Guildhall Ward. Sehanine Moonbow's section is easy enough to find, with the misty room filled throughout. The high priest of Sehanine, looks at Finrod, and shakes her head. "He saw that blasted Eye they say scribes the future out. I says it's a waste of time guardin' such a monster. Knockin' all our faithful out like that."
Looking af Finrod's body, she frowns as she moves his mask downward, exposing the horrific scarring that is there. "Oh my. He's met with a bit of trouble before... This is a sad one indeed. I'd bet he's really one of Shevarash's, but I'll not think to stop and ask how it works I knows what happened."
"Oh, me and my manners. Name's Riananon, cutters. High Priestess of the Lady of Dreams herself here in the cage. I assume that he got hurt and is in need of fixing. I'm happy to oblige, but do you have the jink, cutters? If not, I'm sure I can find a way to have you repay me." She says, with a wink, "But let's talk price first. I'll be happy to restore him to the former state you knew him in for, say, 500 gold, including the diamond dust I'll have to get from a supplier. Sound fair enough to you?"
Onyx/JZ/DM JZ:
"Oh, Honored Mother," implores Onyx, "Finrod sustained his injury in the course of a most noble quest. His recovery will determine the fate of worlds. We can provide you with the diamond dust, but can you forgive some or all of the gold coin cost?"
DM:
Indeed!
Finrod breathes a little easier here, he mutters...
Kara draws her newly gained sword from her belt.
"I also have a blade I can offer, but I can offer some minor healing if that could possible lower the price."
Basil snorts..."ah the true face of Sigil.. nothing without money. Come my friends we'll return to our Inn and I will heal Finrod myself"
Basil snorts..."ah the true face of Sigil.. nothing without money. Come my friends we'll return to our Inn and I will heal Finrod myself"
Before Basil turns to leave, the priestess frowns at him.
"A little bit of garnish for a friend indeed. You are quite stuffy, and your mind is clouded. It isn't you who is to pass judgement onto anyone."
Onyx hesitates to follow. But he is at a loss of words, for it is indeed unseemly that a house of worship would be charging such a princely fee for the service of healing.
Basil turns back to the woamn.."Lady..your 'bit off Garnish' is more than we as a group can afford..or perhaps you would have us sell our weapons and armour to purchase your services...I'm sure your goddess is very proud off you Madam..I give you good day"
and with that he turns on his heel and leaves ignoring any further comments from the money grubbing servant of the Elven gods
Kara, at a lost for words, hastily bows to the cleric and hurries after the group.
"That could have gone better. Do you think we could have more luck at a different temple?"
Basil looks down at the tiny woman and gives her a rueful look "Aye it could have gone better..but as to more luck elsewhere..well I think the folk here are more concerned with money than the well being off others..the sooner we find a way out and onwards the better in my opinion. This place is..wrong.I can restore Finrod..I have not prayed for Tyrs boon today as yet..I will do so as soon as we return to the Inn and I am reasonably certain Ican restore Finrod to his senses"
|
|
Huergar is relieved that someone in the group had enough sense to keep him from parting with the longsword. Funny, all the experience he has had with merchants in his lifetime, he should have seen it.
"Basil, I believe I owe you a drink. I don't recall our friends the telepathic rats charging anything for disgracing our tout. Even at the Styx Oarsman we were served free of charge. In Sigil I believe a shining berk can still find those who appreciate qualities other than abundance of coin."
"Finrod's conversation has taken an unexpected turn, but you have to admire his bold departure from convention. I imagine it's not every day we get to hear him share these particular feelings with us."
Finding a small, quiet inn in Sigil is like finding a needle in a haystack. You are all successful in finding a relatively quiet inn in the clerk's ward called the flying talon. The proprietor is a blue-skinned human looking creature, with excellent rates for a group room just the right size for your group. The group rate is 8gp per night, but you'll all be in one room, and, after looking the room over, the room is quite defensible.
Basil's praying for his spells results in waking Finrod from his trance-like state. He wipes the tears from his eyes, and blinks a few times as he comes out of it.
By this time, the evening has worn itself out pretty well, and it is uneventful for the rest of the night.