A note for all:
Finrod sat up suddenly, looking around wildly. Seeing nothing more than his companions, he sat back with some relief. Tears streamed down his face.
"The light. It pierced me to my soul; leaving me paralysed and helpless. Then... I was somewhere else. Wait, we aren't at that temple now. Where are we?"
[ooc] In answer to the DM's comment..I've always had a problem with 'good' religions charging for their services beyond the cost off material components..it's akin to Basil saying to his companions "well Tyr has granted me the power to lay on hands but it will cost you xxx gold for me to do it"[ooc]
"In a back street Inn..Tyr's power has restored you to your senses..welcome back"
Basil looks around his companions..
"So..we have a riddle to solve with this prophecy"
The bow of beasts dissolves the taint of the corrupted.
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.
"Who do we get to interpret this for us..I am loth to rely on the advice of that demi fiend Rule of Three"
"So this is the answer you got when you asked how to blind the Spider Queen? I think if we each take a part and ask around, we might be able to figure it out. Riddles are so much fun it's too bad we don't have much time to spend on this one ourselves..."
"The bow of the beasts dissolves the taint of the corrupted.. might the rats from earlier know what that means?"
"Wait, wait, wait. I don't understand what you're talking about." Finrod rasps, shaking his head.
"Didn't you see it? The blasted land with all the holes pockmarked everywhere? The giant rotting tree?." Finrod clutches the ruined side of his face, trembling.
"It ... reached out to me somehow, reached a tendril out to my wound, pushed in and started feeding somehow. It was killing me, and it taunted me as it drank from my soul.
"'You aren't worthy of the challenge.' It said. 'The queen will destroy you and leave you to the false goddess's pleasures. The Abyss is going to be the Queens.'"
Finrod looks up at you. "Then the tree somehow melted and became a Yolchol, a handmaiden of Lolth! It said; '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!'"
"Then as she was killing me, I heard Him. I heard Shevarash speak! He said; '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.' And then an arrow struck the Yolchol in the head, dissolving it and leaving the broken arrow over a drop that was the Yolchol. I turned and I saw Him. He had the appearance of a raven-haired elf-lord with a black hooded cloak, wearing a dark blue-black armor. He nodded, turned, and walked away, still carrying the ashen longbow that fired the arrow."
"The last thing I heard Him speak before I awoke here was 'Do not let them win.'" Finrod turns his burning eyes on his companions.
"This is most disturbing," replies Onyx after a long silence. "We need more than just a sage, but a prophet to interpret these messages from the gods."
Kirel repeats the riddle for Finrod, while checking to make sure he'll be okay.
"So the answer to the first part has something to do with your bow?"
As Kirel ponders this, her eyes light up as she has an idea.
"The second part of the third line metions a 'book of flesh.' Aren't mind sometimes referred to as 'open books?'"
The day is starting in Sigil, and you realize that this is day Two of the three it will be to meet the nebulous, odd, and friendly stranger that is Rule-of-Three.
More thoughts, a.k.a. DM giving hints:
"Very well my friends you seek out Rule of Three..I will..remain here.I cannot in conscience continue to deal with him in ..that place"
"Basil, why don't you and I go to the Sensorium then? No one in this group really knows this city yet, and we shouldn't leave anyone alone. Plus, it wouldn't be right if we split up because one person does not want to go into a bar full of demons and devils."
"Who knows, we may even learn about a sage if we go there."
A rare grin crosses the young Paladins face momentarily.
"Aye..why not it cant do any harm ..can it?"
"Just don't get so drunk that the vrock look pretty." Her smiles shows that she is joking, atleast about the vrock looking pretty, but here words are still a warning.
"Any insight we can get into the riddle is essential, as long as it is true. Please remember that we may not have much time."
Finrod stands up from the cot. His legs shake a little, as if he had not stood in a long time. He straightens up slowly.
"I am with you still." He says slowly. "And we won't let them win."
He clenches his fist until the tendons stand out.
A serving wench looks at the elf and places a mug of ale in front of him.
"'ere you go sir. On the house. I do hope the other guy looks worse for wear than you do."
She smiles a buck-toothed smile and wanders off to help the rest of the clientele in the bar. The rest of the evening is quiet, as I said above. The next day, you have a few things to do to prepare yourselves for the meeting with Rule-of-Three.
Beginning the day, note for all:
At the Oarsman:
The whispy-bearded githzerai Rule-of-Three greets the party with a warm smile, a mug of ale for each of the three of you, and a handshake for each of you.
"Greetings my friends, my allies, my compatriots. What news have you from the that place, that building, that temple? There are but three, a trio, one and one and one of you. Has something awful, terrible, or vile befallen our silver haired friend or our highly moral ally? Further, have you obtained the prophecy, the divination, the foretelling?"
At the Civic Festhall:
There are three theaters in all. Ren Hall, which the first of two plays is occurring this evening, the first of which is a Lizard Man balet, and the second is a production staged as an Opera using Howlers all the way from Pandemonium! (Either show charges 40 gold pieces per person).
Elloweth Theater is staging a dance as well, although this one seems to be about aerial dance, something involving steam, dust, and air mephits. Charge: 15 gold pieces per person.
The third theater, Northumber Amphitheater has no shows listed, other than a duel between two wizards over a spellbook. There is a disclaimer on the sign saying "view at your own risk." The charge for this theater is 5 gold per person
The other part of the Civic Festhall is the Sensorium itself. There seems to be something about recorder stones and experiencing anything without any risk involved here. You see lots of people trying to budge in line, and many small scuffles are quickly stopped along the way in the line. The post that shows what's there shows three levels of "sensation." The first being a 20-minute session for 10gp, the second being a 45-minute dual session (for two people) costing 20gp per person, and the third session is a 'group sensation' that lasts for one hour for 50gp per person. A note below all of the senses is a reward showing "500gp for any new sensations. The Sensates may be gone, but the Sensorium still needs your senses!"
Basil looks over the list off ..diversions with a sceptical air..
"perhaps" he suggests to Kara "we should try the sensorium instead.."
He tries to find out more about what to expect using his best manner.
Diplomacy
Basil looks over the list off ..diversions with a sceptical air..
"perhaps" he suggests to Kara "we should try the sensorium instead.."
He tries to find out more about what to expect using his best manner.
Diplomacy1d20+14
The sensorium, as you see several of the members eagerly waiting in line, is where you can experience anything your heart desires. It is very much a way to learn about your senses, and even work within someone else's senses!
Basil joins the queue.."Shall we experience something together or singly m'Lady"
Finrod's memorized spells:
Ranger Level 1-- Gets 2+1 DC 12
>Longstrider (+10 ft move, 1 hour/level)
>Summon Nature's Ally I
Ranger Level 2-- Gets 1+0 DC13
>Spike Growth
DM:
Here's my list:
L0
Detect Magic
Detect Poison
Read Magic
Light
L1
Detect Secret Doors
Detect Undead
Magic Missile
Magic Missile
Obscuring Mist
+Identify
L2
Detect Thoughts
Locate Object
See Invisibility
Knock
+Detect Thoughts
L3
Clairaudience/Clairvoyance
Tongues
Lightning Bolt
Arcane Sight
+Clairaudience/Clairvoyance
L4
Locate Creature
Arcane Eye
Locate Creature
Geas Lesser
+Arcane Eye
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Huergar returns Rule of Three's handshake with friendly enthusiasm.
"Our highly moral friend was successful in questioning the eye and no harm befell him. He entrusted the answer to us, since he is constrained by his religious views from returning to this place. He means no offense. The silver haired lady decided to keep him company while we are away."
"If you'd like to hear the eye's response, our scholar" (indicating Onyx) "has it memorized. We could use your help interpreting it, I think."
Kara smiles. "I guess it depends on what the choices are, but perhaps something together if it can be managed?"
She glances around absentmindedly.
"I wonder what it costs to get a bit of the spotlight? It's been awhile since I've performed..."
"As long as it's nothing salacious I'm willing to try a shared experience"
Finrod looks around for possible threats.
Perception:
At the Oarsman:
Finrod looks around for possible threats.
Perception: 1d20+16
At the Sensorium:
Onyx clears his throat and recounts the riddle as if he had heard it just the moment before:
The bow of beasts dissolves the taint of the corrupted.
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.." the young Paladin almost blushes "I always wanted to...fly..is there a couples flight experience perhaps?"
"Recently, I've been wanting to.. oh this sounds silly! I've wanted to sit on clouds."
She smiles as she thinks more about it, looking more like an excited child than an experienced halfling adventurer.
"The chance to fly seems to go hand in hand with my cloud-walking. Let's try it Basil, and see what it is really like!"
At the Oarsman:
His eyes dart open, and have a wild look to them for a moment before he narrows them and leans into the table for only you three to hear "This reference to beasts, andimals, and creatures is surely a hint, a clue, an omen that open that you must go to the Beastlands to recover Thaas!" Before you can ask where or what 'the Beastlands' are, he keeps talking, although his voice becomes even lower, a whisper among the din of the bar. "I hate to lecture, expound, to pontificate, but Thaasi is a weapon of power, a demon-slaying longbow of the elves. It is an invention, concoction, a creation of the most ancient, old, and powerful magics. There must be a way to find it, recover it, and restore it to use!"
His eyes become more normal, and he takes a swig of his beer, and ignores questions for this point. "You could go directly to the World Tree, the World Ash, Yggdrasil. I would be glad to share with you the location of a portal, a gate, a doorway to beyond the Cage, and I can give you the planar key. Go to the Hive Ward, seek out the only tree that grows there, and walk on its lowest branch, stem, or limb whil humming th echant of the All-Father, a deity crucified on that very tree." He hums a few bars of a hymn you don't recognize, until a bone devil one table over clears his throat and his scorpion-like tail begins to twitch. Rule-of-Three drops silent, then continues:
That will take you there, to the world tree, to the beastlands, far from here. There you must seek Thaas yourselves as a group, a united front, a faction. I wish you good hunting, safe journey, and a speedy return."
Rule-of-Three toasts to the three party members, and smiles as he drains his beer and another is delivered to him very quickly thereafter.
At the Sensorium:
Each of you looks at one another as the gnome speaks well beyond the expected years of the waif. You hardly realize your hands across the table, as if they should always have been there, and the seats themselves are rather comfortable, and relaxing.
"Once I set the stone onto your hands, you'll need to relax, and clear your minds. Once both of you have done so, you'll be able to hear the voice of the stone, and then feel the sensation and see what it sees. Are you ready?"
Finrod looks up, his eyes afire.
Basil feels a bit awkward sitting in such comfortable surroundings its not a feeling he is accustomed to..he smiles acroos the table.."well then lets see what flight is about my Lady"
Onyx scribbles furiously in his journal.
"Fascinating, utterly fascinating. We are in your eternal debt, Rule-of-Three."
He stops, realizing what he just said and who (or what) he said it to.
"Er, a long-term debt, I meant to say."
"Yeah." Her eyes flash as she cups the stone with her right hand, trembling slightly...
"I might write a song about this later..."
Onyx scribbles furiously in his journal.
"Fascinating, utterly fascinating. We are in your eternal debt, Rule-of-Three."
He stops, realizing what he just said and who (or what) he said it to.
"Er, a long-term debt, I meant to say."
"Eternal, long-term, and forever debts are the kind that I like the best." The Githzerai smiles and takes a drink of his beer.
Basil and Kara:
After what seems like an eternity, you level off, and feel the beat of your heart, the rush of the wind on your faces, and the touch of the whispy clouds in your fingertips. You feel... everything in the air. The wind, the clouds, the birds in the sky... illusions, as you see with all of your eyes, but a pleasant one nonetheless.
Lightning comes across the clouds suddenly, the pleasant wind rushing on your face becomes a harsh gale filled with hail. You fight the wind, but it is forcing an uncontrolled free-fall, but you are still calm. The winds are with you, tossing you about as if you are a ball, a plaything for them.
You feel yourself losing altitude, and then the storm, just as quickly as it appeared, is gone... as is the vision.
Each of you blinks, and looks across at the other, and down at the stone, which has stopped glowing, your hands intertwined with one another's, still trembling from the vision.
|
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"Eternal, long-term, and forever debts are the kind that I like the best." The Githzerai smiles and takes a drink of his beer.
Huergar downs his ale to show that he is unconcerned.
"To a speedy return. I almost pity the hapless denizens of the Beastlands now that my elven friend has got that look in his eyes."
Kara breathes heavily, the exhilarating wonder of the experiance still fresh in her mind.
"I think Sigil's wonders out class any performance I've seen."
Her eyes light up and she grips Basil's hand tighter.
"We have got to get the others here next time we have a break. It was so beautiful, the feeling of flight, of being in that storm..."
She realizes she is holding Basil's hand and let's go, barely able to remember he may not like finding out he is suddenly holding hands with her...
Basil's fingers close over her hand as he looks down at the tiny yet perfectly formed woman..his eyes aglow with some inner light she has never seen before..
"That was..the most intense experience I have ever had....I thank you my Lady for giving me the chance to live it with you"
He raises her hand..dwarfed as it is in his and lays a courtiers kiss upon it then lets go.
Finrod pauses a moment before he rasps out; "Where is this Hive Ward then?"
Basil's fingers close over her hand as he looks down at the tiny yet perfectly formed woman..his eyes aglow with some inner light she has never seen before..
"That was..the most intense experience I have ever had....I thank you my Lady for giving me the chance to live it with you"
He raises her hand..dwarfed as it is in his and lays a courtiers kiss upon it then lets go.
Color rises to redden Kara's face, and she can't help but smile.
"Basil, you flatter me, I'm here because of you as much as you are here because of me! We shared the moment, so I thank you as well."
She pauses for a moment, then continues.
"After such a flight, it doesn't seem right to lie to you anymore. Remember when we first came to Sigil and Finrod said I looked like a singer he'd seen? Well, he wasn't far from the truth. My real name is Kara, and I don't just look like the singer, I am the singer."
Basil chuckles.."So you are the famous star whose disappearance caused so many tounges to wag.Well I dare say you had your reasons M'lady.More than one person of good mind has had to vanish into the crowd..sometimes I wish I could..but Tyr has laid a duty upon me and that duty is one I mst fulfil"
He stops for a moment and thinks then continues..
"Many see Paladins as some sort of unfeeling machine..with no thought in their heads but hunting down evil and destroying it...the reality is very different. We are but mortals with all the feelings and fears that brings..it is just that we have learnt to master the fear..focus it into a power for good. We can laugh and cry and love just as well as any other..but in the pursuance of our duty we must be aware of the fact that our god is always there with us, always watching.Tyr requires us to be just,to be even handed,if a sinner should repent his crimes and work towards the good off all then mercy would be his. Unrepentant evil on the other hand is to be hunted and destroyed at any cost..even my life. It is that knowledge that might make me seem at times..cold natured..the knowledge that each day might be my last"
he stops..
"I..I am sorry. I have wanted to tell someone that for a long time I trust I have not made you uncomfortable"
"Your trust is well placed. You know, I think both of are trying to hide who we are or what we feel, and it's nice to have someone to turn to. But who knew we needed to go to another plane to find that person?"
"If you ever need some one to talk to, I'm always willing to lend an ear."
She leans back, then laughs.
"The Valiant Knight, the Silver Lady, the Silent Hunter, the Shadow Axe, and the Smith of Eyes. We're quite a team, huh? I wonder... how many will ever know what we did? Will we even care if they don't?"
Basil nods.."The important thing is that we try..even if we fail we tried and our souls will be the better for it"
"I'd be happier if we had the 'Speaker of the Gods' with us still.My powers to heal and bolster our comrades are limited, a priest would be off great benefit"
"While I agree a preist would be a welcome addition, between us I think we can keep everyone alive. I have a few healing tunes, and my songs alone can increase moral and battle prowess. You have the righteous might of Tyr himself on you're side. I know the others are as skilled in thier feilds of expertise as we are, so we'll be fine. If you think we need a priest, we'll probably end up in a situation where we will. It's all in the way you think, Basil."
She lifts up her hand and watches as her nails grow longer, stronger, and sharper. Silver claws seem to blend seamlessly with her hand.
"And besides, Io decided to bless me with a few tricks too. We've got enough divine strength on our to side to handle nearly anything!"
The young knights eyes gleam with a righteous fire.."The blood of Dragons..hmm..an interesting ancestry you have my lady..you are right off course..we must make what we can with what we have..my Mother used to say that..before..."
He breaks off again his eyes not seeing anything in the area but something from his past..then he shakes himself.."Still it is the present we must focus on for now..I wonder how our comrades are faring"