The frost melts away at the touch of your hand and you manage to open the coffer with only a little trouble.
Inside rests the sword of your dream, a scimitar of some kind of unknown silver-like metal. Strange writings run up and down the hilt and even the blade itself. It looks wickedly sharp and completely untouched by the passing of the years.
As you grasp the sword, an intelligence from within the blade touches the intelligence deep inside yourself, your dream-self.
YES! The word seems to come from all three of you and with it the knowledge that all three are linked: man, sword and spirit.
The sword's name is Tempest. And you are Khalid the Moldspeaker, mortal host of Vardishal of the North Wind, the Great General, first servant of Nefeshti a Princess of the Elemental Plane of Air and Templar of the Five Winds.
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Khalid reaches down and grasps the hilt of the blade. After picking up the scimitar, Khalid's body briefly goes rigid and his eyes roll back in his head. Regaining his composure, he looks to the others around him...
"Now I understand...This blade is Tempest and I am Khalid the Moldspeaker, mortal host of Vardishal of the North Wind, the Great General, first servant of Nefeshti, Princess of the Elemental Plane of Air and Templar of the Five Winds."
Khalid looks at the scimitar on his belt, then back at the blade in his hand. With no hesitation he pulls the blade from its scabbard and hands it to Linah. Immediately afterwards, he sheaths Tempest.
Linah gasps in amazement. She had been following Khalid with curiosity written all over her face since he marched to the garden. "This is wonderful!", she exclaims and rushes to give Khalid a hug. "You are a saint of the Dawnflower! This is truly a blessing! Praise Sarenrae!", she continues to chant as she hugs Khalid.
Khalid reaches down and grasps the hilt of the blade. After picking up the scimitar, Khalid's body briefly goes rigid and his eyes roll back in his head. Regaining his composure, he looks to the others around him...
"Now I understand...This blade is Tempest and I am Khalid the Moldspeaker, mortal host of Vardishal of the North Wind, the Great General, first servant of Nefeshti, Princess of the Elemental Plane of Air and Templar of the Five Winds."
Khalid looks at the scimitar on his belt, then back at the blade in his hand. With no hesitation he pulls the blade from its scabbard and hands it to Linah. Immediately afterwards, he sheaths Tempest.
Grall comes around the corner, hearing some type of commotion going on, just to see Khalid get possessed. He draws his blade and quickly steps in between Linah and Khalid. You trrrust too easily Linahrrr, how do we know this "moldspeakerrrrrr" spirrrit hasn't taken overrr ourrr Khalid forrr some evil purrrpose! Stand where you arrre moldspeakerrr! he growls at Khalid.
Sajan scratches his head in confusion.
Did Khalid find the bird? he asks...
"Grall, no! Put down your blade", Linah calls out. "Khalid has bonded with the spirit of Vardishal, a saint of the Dawnflower and patron of this monastery! He is not possessed by some demon from the abyss."
Vardishal laid the eggs...? Sajan asks, strapping on his brass knuckles after seeing Grall's blade drawn, and keeping an eye out for the trouble Grall must have seen.
"Not that I know of such things, but I have significant reservations that Sarenrae would purposely afflict one of her followers with anything unpleasant. It appears that Khalid has been chosen to spearhead the work of the Dawnflower that was unfulfilled during Vardishal's life."
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Grall comes around the corner, hearing some type of commotion going on, just to see Khalid get possessed. He draws his blade and quickly steps in between Linah and Khalid. You trrrust too easily Linahrrr, how do we know this "moldspeakerrrrrr" spirrrit hasn't taken overrr ourrr Khalid forrr some evil purrrpose! Stand where you arrre moldspeakerrr! he growls at Khalid.
"Perhaps you are right, Grall..." Khalid says standing arms open and away from his blade. "I am willing to submit to whatever test you would have me go through, if you truly feel that my bond with Vardishal is something that could be dangerous to you."
"Do not be, silly Khalid. There is no need for tests. As Arjun said, this is a great blessing!"
Grall comes around the corner, hearing some type of commotion going on, just to see Khalid get possessed. He draws his blade and quickly steps in between Linah and Khalid. You trrrust too easily Linahrrr, how do we know this "moldspeakerrrrrr" spirrrit hasn't taken overrr ourrr Khalid forrr some evil purrrpose! Stand where you arrre moldspeakerrr! he growls at Khalid."Perhaps you are right, Grall..." Khalid says standing arms open and away from his blade. "I am willing to submit to whatever test you would have me go through, if you truly feel that my bond with Vardishal is something that could be dangerous to you."
Grall cringes at Linah's recrimination, I know nothing to test the spirrrits.. he grumbles as he ponders for a moment, Linahrrr, if you arrre surrre...
He slowly backs away and lets Linah take the other scimitar. He sheathes his blade looking at Khalid suspiciously out of the corner of his eye not sure what to make of his grand proclamations or even really what he is talking about. It is all above him...
Nuveril will not like this talk of strange egg-laying saint spirits... Sajan mutters, clearly worried.
Arjuns pats Sajan on the shoulder. "Don't worry, Sajan, it is a result of their constrictive and limited view of divinity. Why, did you know they actually have fewer than twenty major gods in their pantheon of worship? Let alone the absence of proper ancestor worship or elemental animism! I'm surprised they can even decide who to worship with such a limited selection. I cannot imagine what life would be like without Heskanda the Divine Potter, Iga the Judge of Level Surfaces, or Pushpahm the Patron Saint of Dancing Without Shoes!"
Arjuns pats Sajan on the shoulder. "Don't worry, Sajan, it is a result of their constrictive and limited view of divinity. Why, did you know they actually have fewer than twenty major gods in their pantheon of worship? Let alone the absence of proper ancestor worship or elemental animism! I'm surprised they can even decide who to worship with such a limited selection. I cannot even imagine what life would be like without Heskanda the Divine Potter, Iga the Judge of Level Surfaces, or Pushpahm the Patron Saint of Dancing Without Shoes!"
These people have strange religions... Fewer than twenty? That is less than Sajan's fingers AND toes... Perhaps being a Vudrani is the last reincarnation as a human before enlightenment...
Linah walks up to Grall and places her hand on his shoulder. "I am sorry, i did not mean to snap. You have a good soul and i admire your vigil but you will not find evil in Khalid. I hope you can trust me when i say that this is a truly joyous occation", she says with her warmest smile to the gnoll.
healed
1d8 + 3 healed
Nuveril comes around the corner, apparently in search of the rest of the party. As soon as she sees them, she growls, "The witch is missing. I tried to explain she was undoubtedly finally taken by the demon-spirit she summons, but the others insist she must be here somewhere...." She trails off as she notices the strange tableau: Khalid in the middle looking transported, Grall cringing suspiciously, and the rest looking on like something unusual has happened. "What is going on here?"
Khalid has had his spirit fused with an egg laying saint of Sarenrae... Sajan says, concern and unhappiness written into his voice.
Nuveril looks incredulously from Sajan to Khalid, taking in Linah's rapture, Grall's distrust, and Arjun's unconcern. Her hand goes to her weapon. "This is the witch's doing somehow, isn't it?"
Sabeen indeed appears to have disappeared at some time during the night.
In the place of the camp she set the night before is only the book she borrowed from Khalid, a note carefully folded between cover and first page.
The letter commences in an elegant feminine script:
I am very sorry but I must go. I have tasks to perform for the good of all and only I can do them. I know you will do well, you all have a much greater destiny than you know.
Nuveril, I will miss you most of all. But you must learn to trust in the magic of your allies or you will fall into fire. This I have seen.
You must be wary. The town sits admidst a Place of Power and all is not as it seems. Beware Xulthos, it seeks to ...
Here the script changes becoming messy and difficult to read.
... I like butterflies. Shiny butterflies flying up high in the sky with the clouds. I like clouds too, sometimes they look like things. I was supposed to tell you something important but I forgot. Sorry. My mind hurts real bad sometimes. Goodbye. S
Almah is furious at Sabeen's disapperance.
Desertion! Garvel I want you to find her! What if the gnolls catch her and she speaks of us!
Garavel's reply is as always smooth and without emotion.
Mistress. From the note she had a purpose and I doubt it was to be caught by gnolls. Besides in these hills we have little chance of tracking her. We are as likely to alert the gnolls ourselves than find her. Even if she were caught they may find her no more lucid than we did.
She stops and thinks.
Fine Garavel. You speak wisdom.
To the rest of you.
Please proceed as planned. But if you see any sign of Sabeen I want her returned. Tied, gagged and slung over Sajan's shoulder if that becomes necessary.
When the note is read aloud , Nuveril becomes visibly agitated. "She has my name on there, somewhere?" she asks, pointing blindly at the script on the page. "Burn it quickly, before her spirits can notice! Blot it out!" Beads of nervous sweat trickle down her brow, as she pleads.
Nuveril, were your parents goblins? My father always said that goblins feared their name being wrote down...
Arjun rubs his eyes, muttering something about herding cats. "The honorable Sabeen has been chosen for another calling. Let us mourn her passing from our party and look to the future of our mission. Does anyone have a preference for how to approach Kelmarane? I assume that the most direct route would also be the most dangerous, but otherwise I have little knowledge of such matters."
"Nuveril, there is nothing to worry about. She mentions you in a goodbye letter, not some curse." Khalid says, putting the book back in his pack.
"I will 'fall into fire?' Is that not a curse?" she responds hotly. "You have been cursed yourself. You think it is a coincidence that the witch and her demon-spirit disappear the same night you are compelled by a dream to dig up a haunted sword? It is too late," she concludes miserably. "It has been written and read aloud; everyone has heard it. There is no avoiding the malign spirits now; she has made me a target for their mischief. Damnable witch! I knew she would bring us all ill luck."
Nuveril, were your parents goblins? My father always said that goblins feared their name being wrote down...
"I know nothing of goblins, except as exotic tales carried from other lands. If your father's saying is true, then they are a wiser tribe than the stories imply. Writing grants power over people. It is better to die on your enemy's blade than to let him write your name. When the slavers buy and sell living souls, they use writing to let one man wield ultimate power over another, just like the accursed magic-wielders with their books and their scrolls." The disdain drips from her voice as she forms the words. "It is a true saying they have in the civilized lands: 'The pen is mightier than the sword.'"
Breakfast is ommelette. The enormous eggs have a rich gamey taste and are delicious.
It is nearing 7am and the searing heat of the day only a promise by the time you gather your gear and leave the monastery.
The first leg is a three quarter of a mile descent through the rocky hills down to the more gentle terrain around Kelmarane. The going is hard. While you can see the remains of a path that must once have been used by travellers to the monastery, over twenty years has seen it broken and blasted by what looks like frequent rock falls. You are forced to double back several times when a promising trail ends in a deadend or impassable stretch.
The hills are teeming with life even at this time of day and you see several snakes, scorpions and other small creatures most of which depart rapidly at your approach.
Perception
Grall
Nuveril
Linah
Khalid
Sajan
Arjun
As you proceed Khalid spots several brownish specs flying high in the sky above you. At that distance it is impossible to tell what they are or indeed their size but they seem content, at least for now, to simply circle above the hills.
In all your descent takes just over an hour and a half although you think that you will beat that substantially now you know the way.
As the terrain evens out you get glimpes of the town about a mile to your north. The town indeed seems built into a high hill and a stretch between the hill and the river water flowing south down from the mountains to the north. The town itself seems split into 3 sections: a lower very flat section near the river, a mid section as a wide fairly steep path ascends the hill in an s to the peak, and the peak itself a large flat area upon which sits the large round domed battle market to the east and what must be the church to Saranrae to the west. The hill is studded with clay bricked buildings but at this distance it is difficult to assess how many are whole.
In terms of approaches to the town, to the west and south west of the town lie the once lush pesh fields, historically Kelmarane's primary resource. Now the area is little more than fields of dust and grit with scattered clumps of vegetation. To the south the more gentle hills where you stand currently give way to flatter scrubland. To the east beyond the river the terrain becomes hilly once more, ascending up to bleak looking mountains. The river is about 50 feet wide and from here at least you see no easy method of passage. Vegetation runs as a strip beside the river on both sides.
Overall, relative to the fairly flat and featureless terrain, there is a fair bit of cover as you approach the town (although more at some aspects as per the description above). Areas that the original inhabitants would have kept clear for purposes of defense have largely been left overgrown by the gnolls (although there are some signs of half-hearted efforts at clearance).
During the trip Linah tries her best to convince Nuveril that the Sabeen's letter did not have a malaign intent, rather the opposite, and that a person of her strenght and determination should have nothing to worry about. Sabeen's sudden disappearence has her concerned and it has somewhat subdued her excitement over the miracle she witnessed this morning. Ever so often the young cleric stops to say a prayer to ask Sarenrae to watch over the witch.
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As you proceed Khalid spots several brownish specs flying high in the sky above you. At that distance it is impossible to tell what they are or indeed their size but they seem content, at least for now, to simply circle above the hills.
"Likely just carrion birds, hoping that we make one too many mistakes."
The group makes your way closer to the town, the terrain getting flatter as you go. You stop at about half a mile out, and then start working your way north-west in a clock-wise circle around the town taking care to watch for any gnoll patrols. However you see little sign of the Gnoll's passing in this area and the tracks that you do see seem old.
You begin to make your way through the ruined pesh fields. In contrast to the other terrain you've moved through you see very little sign of animal life here, mostly just insects, and no sign of the gnolls at all. A fine layer of dust, sand and grit soon coats your clothing and visibility is less than you would have guessed from outside.
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You emerge from the fields and the terrain slopes up again to more hills to the north west of the town. There are no buildings on this side of the hill although you can still see the battle market and church, a great statue of the Goddess still stands at the back of the church facing out at you toward the distant Pale Mountain to the north west.
By 11am you've reached the river nearly directly north of the town and just putting your finishing touches on your map. From a concealing hillock you can see much of the river section of the town including a bridge across the river. This seems to connect the town proper to what looks like a tannery and mill.
As you watch you spot your first sign of the Gnolls. A group of 5 (you think) of the creatures make their way through the river section to the bridge and then stop and return the way they came. It is difficult to discern their armaments from here but you think you see bows strapped to their backs and heavy weapons, perhaps axes or flails, at their sides.
As you watch you spot your first sign of the Gnolls. A group of 5 (you think) of the creatures make their way through the river section to the bridge and then stop and return the way they came. It is difficult to discern their armaments from here but you think you see bows strapped to their backs and heavy weapons, perhaps axes or flails, at their sides.
"What are they doing?" Nuveril muses. "Patrolling? If they have a regular schedule, that would be a good opportunity to set up an ambush."
Agreed.
"Where should we ambush them? Should we use some sort of bait or simply jump them as they pass us?"
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"Being in line of sight of the guard tower is not going to help us. It will take longer, but I suggest we circle back around and look for an ambush location outside of the tower's sight."
Thinking a few moments, he continues...
"Given the heat of the day we could also wait here and rest, while confirming that it really is a patrol. Certainly within a few hours they would come back through if it is a patrol."
Linah is quick to agree with Khalid. "That is a sound plan. Travelling in the midday heat can be exhausting. I rather conserve my strenght for when it is needed the most."
Our Gnoll can see in the darkness. We have a basic map, why not return as the sun falls to get a closer look... As long as we do not stray too close to any guards the darkness shall keep us from sight... And if we see a chance to strike swiftly to take a few lives, all the better. By the time I was finished with the Gnoll's that killed my parents, they feared the night and the death I brought.
"Will not the cover of darkness benefit our foes? If a fight were to erupt, they will have the benefit of darkvision, and should we use a light to limit their advantage it would surely be visible from the rest of the town?"
Gnolls can only see a short distance in the dark, so its still ideal for us to do a more detailed scout. We should only take a fight to them if we have the element of surprise, where we can quickly light a torch and rush in to overwhelm them. And then immediately withdraw as soon as our immediate foes are slain. Sajan is not suggesting a pitched battle.
"You have more experience with gnolls than i have. If you think it is best, i will not speak up against the plan. What do you think, Khalid?"
Sajan does not know much about anything, except farming and killing Gnolls... As long as Grall pays attention, we could learn a lot. We've already learnt they are somewhat complacent with their patrols...