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Post by venger on Jun 6, 2011 10:12:21 GMT -5
Epicaste and Danaus, while grateful for your rescue, are somewhat bewildered.
The sacred garden is overrun with beasts and serpents, some of whom bear the sign of Ulsimagarus and wield objects of forbidden power from the Old Times. The caverns to the great city of Ulsamaran are choked with the refuse of millenia -- you say they've been frozen in time for ages (a fact about which Danaus still seems skeptical). Friedrich, whom they refer to as a "caste-menial", bears the mark of Zargon and you all seem to be little more than opportunistic, albeit good-natured, treasure-seekers.
Before they assist you in the plundering of their heritage, they wish to know if your intentions are honorable and if you will aid them on their journey to Laanhatra, the City of the Gods, to uncover the fate of their peoples.
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Post by Ginger on Jun 6, 2011 12:24:52 GMT -5
We're definitely open to aiding them, as Laanhatra sounds awesome. Assuming we get out of here ok, we should have them visit Ben the sage, who a) we promised to return to and b) will definitely know much of what they seek and have leads for them.
They need to understand that we have several important and quasi-timely quests (druids to aid, a girl to rescue, etc.). We know that it must be a mind-bogglingly terrible blow to not now about their civilization, but it's less urgent than some other important quests. We visited the city to aid our quest to save the Forest Kingdom, so that's a key priority for us.
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Post by Wolfgar on Jun 6, 2011 13:56:32 GMT -5
Paavo concurs. He adds that we seek to find ancient objects of power that we can use against the evil that currently plagues our world. If going to Laanhatra will help us to destroy this evil we will seek it out.
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Post by venger on Jun 8, 2011 21:43:36 GMT -5
The same maps we agreed weren't physically represented in the game and thus could not be lost or destroyed?
Sure why not? We'll look at your maps on Sunday and I'll fill in any info they might be able to provide.
You pass before them a wide assortment of magical objects--
They recognize Angvmar, a legendary sword. A potent weapon against the forces of Chaos, that will grant strength to its wielder amongst other properties.
They recognize the non-magical shield with the four arrows as having anti-magic properties.
The device wielded by the yuan-ti they refer to as a forbidden object of power from the Old Times, terrible weapons that wrought the near-destruction of the Elders.
Interestingly they recognize the whip of Lord Zeal as a similar such object.
Nothing else immediately leaps out at them, but we can review your Post-Its.
They are familiar with the various teleporters that you've encountered in the ruins -- the transporter in the shrine of Madeira that takes you to the magic garden. The teleporter in the well at the gazebo which takes you to the grand chapel of Ulsimagarus. The teleporter in the palace which will take you to either the shrine of Madeira or the platform in the garden, depending on what it is set to.
They are familiar with the passages you describe, which they name the Wind-Walker Tunnels, a wonder of the ancient world, connecting fabled Ulsamaran to the city of Terabar. They are not mages and do not know how the portals function, other than through the lighting of the blue & silver incense.
The Sign of Ulsimagarus as you have witnessed allows access through the hallowed halls of the palace and other doors thus sealed.
-glass beads from yuan-ti nest (no idea)
-evil short sword from manticore lair (no idea)
Vault of Elders-- is just that, a vault, containing the knowledge and power of the Ancients, sealed against the end of the world.
Golden Tablets of Laanhatra-- required to pass beyond the Sentinel which guards the gates to the City of the Gods.
Talisman of Phe - a potent artifact which they have apparently never heard of.
Alizandar the Great King did ride upon the wind UNDER the mountains to the fabled city of Ulshamaran, where he did meet Zargon, the King of Demons and bested him at games of chance earning a fabulous pearl of wisdom that rests in his golden crown...
Time permits!
They are unfamiliar with the name Zeal. Are you showing them the gauntlet?
As far as the Sentinel goes, there is one in the garden of Ulsimagarus, guarding the gates to the Outer Night. Another guards Laanhatra. They are ancient servitors and guardians of the Elders, beings of magick and metal.
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Post by Ginger on Jun 9, 2011 7:55:36 GMT -5
We won't show them the gauntlet, but Colby can describe it pretty well. Colby can also show them the scroll he has in the ancient language describing a spell to be used on the Sentinel.
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Post by Wolfgar on Jun 9, 2011 9:18:03 GMT -5
They recognize Angvmar, a legendary sword. A potent weapon against the forces of Chaos, that will grant strength to its wielder amongst other properties. Did Paavo feel stronger when he wielded it? They recognize the non-magical shield with the four arrows as having anti-magic properties. Who has this shield? Let's make sure we don't take a critical on it. They are familiar with the passages you describe, which they name the Wind-Walker Tunnels, a wonder of the ancient world, connecting fabled Ulsamaran to the city of Terabar. They are not mages and do not know how the portals function, other than through the lighting of the blue & silver incense. Do they have any idea where we can get more of this incense? Alizandar the Great King did ride upon the wind UNDER the mountains to the fabled city of Ulshamaran, where he did meet Zargon, the King of Demons and bested him at games of chance earning a fabulous pearl of wisdom that rests in his golden crown... Have we found a crown with a large pearl? The helmet we found - is there a large pearl in it? Do they know where the crown is supposed to be? Or where Alizandar was buried? As far as the Sentinel goes, there is one in the garden of Ulsimagarus, guarding the gates to the Outer Night. Another guards Laanhatra. They are ancient servitors and guardians of the Elders, beings of magick and metal. This sounds like the metal statue we saw from above when we were exploring after "defeating" the Immortal King. Where in the garden are the gates to the Outer Night? |
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Post by Wolfgar on Jun 9, 2011 9:23:06 GMT -5
The sage Benesarion has general knowledge of weapons of antiquity- and he believes surely that there are weapons of unimaginable power, locked for untold aeons in the Vault of Ages, in the Citadel of Ixx at Ixx'taqa. Shamshir-e Zomorrodnegar- (the emerald-studded sword) slayer of demons, grants it wielder protection from magic and the wounds it inflicts are only healable by magical means. The sword Sacnoth, taken from the spine of the dragon-crocodile Tharrgavverug, sharper than any blade, and always keeps watch for its wielder. The blade Melethling, said to be the magical embodiment of love and courageousness. Do they know the whereabouts of the blades mentioned by Benesarion or the Citadel of Ixx? |
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Post by Wolfgar on Jun 9, 2011 9:35:35 GMT -5
We won't show them the gauntlet, but Colby can describe it pretty well. Colby can also show them the scroll he has in the ancient language describing a spell to be used on the Sentinel. I have no problem showing them the gauntlet so long as no one touches it. Colby read the scroll using comprehend languages. Can we get a summary of what it said? We will quote what the Masque of Vorrha told us regarding the Gauntlet and the Sentinel to see if they can make heads or tails of it. How can we destroy the Gauntlet?Many ages ago there was great strife between the two great civilizations - the coastal lands fell to the hordes of the Enemy. In haste, the Sentinel was created to counter the threat, a creation having great intellect and power. Only one of pure intent may employ the Sentinel. Only one of pure intent may destroy the Gauntlet. Where is the Sentinel?The destinies of the Gauntlet and the Sentinel were linked by the Making. Silent it remained. Silent still while the family declined and fell. And silent in the empty, long years following their abandonment. Silent, it awaited the day when the Guardian would return. |
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Post by venger on Jun 9, 2011 17:12:08 GMT -5
The Gauntlet -- As you describe the properties of the Gauntlet, particularly its powers of possessions they seem aghast. Epicaste calls it a malfera a word which does not translate. They seem anxious and do not wish to see it.
Paavo did not feel any stronger wielding the sword Angvar, though it did feel incredibly light in his hands, so take that as you will?
Marcus is holding the arrow-shield.
They would imagine that the incense would be kept in the Hall of Arrivals in the Windwalker Tunnels, or nearby. It was never a scarce commodity.
The helmet does not contain a pearl, nor does the crown you recovered.
They look very uneasy at the prospect of defiling the tomb of their great king Alizander. And also the crown passed to his heirs, both Epi and Danaus were but children at the time of King Agemmenon's coronation, but he wore it then.
Epicaste and Danaus indicate the direction where Friedrich indicated he saw a flash of gold, to the.. uh.. we'll just say south.
(The statue you previously encountered was an obsidian man, 8' tall and of regal bearing, wearing a crown set with three large, violet gems.)
They have heard of these weapons (who hasn't?) and the Citadel of Ixx, which is the demense of Gorm -the Stormlord, Warrior-God, Divine Smith- just as this Citadel is the seat of Ulsamarigus' power. It lies to the west, beyond the High Hak, at the Anvil of the World.
The scroll detailed a ritual called the Unceasing Vigilance of Holy Sentinel, which Colby believes to be written in a clerical script.
On the back was a brief, scribbled lamentation decrying the lack of acolytes to maintain the rituals and maintain the holy rites to hold chaos at bay.
As far as the the Gauntlet/Sentinel are corncerned, that means almost nothing to them. "Silent" or "Silence" might refer to the period of time after the "Fall" when the Elders ceased their communications and most of the great magic slowly stopped working...
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Post by Wolfgar on Jun 9, 2011 18:19:42 GMT -5
They look very uneasy at the prospect of defiling the tomb of their great king Alizander. And also the crown passed to his heirs, both Epi and Danaus were but children at the time of King Agemmenon's coronation, but he wore it then. Paavo rants at them: Don't you get it. Your city has fallen into ruin. It has been taken over by bugbears and snake men abominations. You can help us recover the glorious items of your civilization or allow the evil that abides here to find them. There is no third option where your shrines and tombs remain perfectly secure for all eternity. Maybe somewhere in the world your people still thrive and those items of importance to your cultural heritage can be repatriated. But until the time that they can be located isn't it better to secure these items from further defilement rather then let them fall into the hands of these creatures? Once he has had a chance to vent he will ask for their forgiveness. He can understand how shocking this all must be. But they must understand that the only reason we even ventured to these ancient ruins is to help save our society which is now threatened by powerful evil forces. Chagrined, he asks if they recognize any of the location to which the portal leads? The Portal changes approximately once an hour: 1) Underwater ruins. 2) Scorched and blasted plain lit by a hellish red glare. Strange monoliths can be seen in the distance. 3) White sand desert under a scorching sun. 4) Broken stone landscape beneath stormy skies. 5) Sunny flower-filled meadow. |
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Post by Ginger on Jun 9, 2011 20:43:58 GMT -5
We'll describe to them that the tunnel we were in had collapsed and ask if they know of a parallel tunnel to go through to the other valley.
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Post by Wolfgar on Jun 10, 2011 8:39:06 GMT -5
We can also draw a map of the tunnels since they were pretty straightforward. We can indicate where the collapsed section was.
We do have a potion of gaseous form. Someone could drink half of it and explore through the collapsed section to see if they can find where the incense was kept. Once the potion wore off you could collect the incense and then drink the other half of the potion. Better would be if we had a potion of polymorph self.
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Post by Ginger on Jun 10, 2011 10:08:08 GMT -5
We also have a Wraithform spell I could conceivably read out of Cathebad's book.
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