Story HourPost your ongoing tales from your campaigns, and read those from others for inspiration. Lots of other RPG boards post "Story Hours", but this is where it started!
Wow - that's one cool proposal, Avi! Congratulations to you both
It seems like she has Absolutely No Idea what you're up to. Sweet!
__________________ D&D, frankly, is the most fun when you get your ass handed to you but you still manage to find away to come out on top of the pile of corpses, looking like a typical Conan novel cover. - joachim
/makes mental note to dive into the depths of the thread and read the bits outside the updates.
EDIT: Just read the update. Woah! How dare you do a classic cliffhanger there. Argh! Can't wait for the next bit
It's part of the job requirement. Do unto the readers as you would do unto your players
Quote:
OT: Thanks for the tips - she loved Jaipur. They got a local taxi driver to become their personal guide/ chauffeur for a week and that was great. She knows a film director from Delhi who she looked after during a film festival but he was in Mumbai, unfortunately. Still - taxi driver personal chauffeur FTW!
They also got followed around by lots of teenage boys. She's 6' 2" and blond - no surprise
Luckily no-one shouted "Behemoth"....
Now they're in Nepal at about 1600m and regretting all those cigarettes!
Glad to help. I've last been to Nepal (only Kathmandu) a couple decades ago and it was a beautiful place.
Quote:
Originally Posted by carborundum
Wow - that's one cool proposal, Avi! Congratulations to you both
It seems like she has Absolutely No Idea what you're up to. Sweet!
Don't jump the gun on the congratulations. Remember, Gareth got engaged this year too, and wait till you see what happens to him
On that note, I'm in the process of preparing to return to the US in a few days, so the next update will likely be delayed for a while.
Lastly, I see we're up past 50 pages and 1000 responses. I was not expecting this campaign or story hour to last this long!
__________________ shilsen is broken - Crothian (and this is why)
My Eberron Story Hour. Updated November 12. Almost at the climax!
Speaking of which has the party played any more adventures since the incident?
What Rackhir said. We took a break from 3e and played some 4e, nominally set in Eberron too. I'm a little burned out on 3e after nearly a decade of playing it, plus I'm not a fan of how it handles higher level play. Plus I really like how 4e works for both players and DM, so I'm going to focus on that eventually. But when we get back to this campaign, which'll happen some time after I'm back in the US, we'll be sticking with 3e till it ends.
__________________ shilsen is broken - Crothian (and this is why)
My Eberron Story Hour. Updated November 12. Almost at the climax!
The two figures that appear in the middle of Nalyna’s gymnasium are just as the Angels remember them – identical creatures, appearing at first glance to be extremely beautiful male humanoids with supple, lithe bodies, naked except for the boots and wrap-around skirts they wear. The effect is spoiled by the large, leathery wings on their backs, similar to those grown by Korm when wearing the aspect of the cloaker, and especially the black pits where their eyes should be. Both creatures have a complicated-looking sigil in their chests, and each has a heavy mace hanging from a loop on his belt.
But what is different from the last time is that the twins are now alone, unprepared, and faced by enemies specifically ready for them. As the former devas look around in surprise, tiny tentacles emerging from their eye-sockets to quest blindly at the air like an earthworm, the Angels rush in.
The twins are incredibly fast, but not quick enough to beat Gareth and Nameless. The paladin casts a dimensional anchor, striking one of their foes and covering him with a gleaming green field of energy which prevents them from escaping magically. With their enemies constrained to stay, Nameless goes for a more direct assault, conjuring up two gigantic earth elementals. The creatures appear on either side of one of the twins, bent over to fit beneath the ceiling of the room, and strike instantly, huge fists smashing into their enemy.
Their target staggers back at the impact and then simply disappears from view. Even though the Angels cannot see him, they see the effects of what he does next, since the wounds on the visible ex-deva disappear. The latter glances at Nameless and Gareth, causing a blade barrier to erupt among the two. As both alienist and paladin leap out of the way of the storm of magical metal, the second twin also disappears.
There is the faintest whisper of movement and Nameless snaps, “They’re both moving! Over there!” and indicates a particular area, his magically heightened vision clearly picking out their position.
“Got it,” says Six calmly, pulling out an object from his magical haversack and opening its shutter. Light flows from the lantern (obtained by the Angels in the lair of the dragon Kallionaxis) and the twins’ invisibility melts away in the brightness. An instant later, Korm and Nalyna fly among them, swords hacking, while Luna’s faerie fire lights them up further, in case they avoid the lantern’s beam.
Not that she needed to bother. As the twins try to strike back at their foes, a bolt of silver smashes into the closest – the form of Gareth driven by all the power of the Endless Blade. The target shudders as the paladin smites him, looking down with an expression of mild surprise at the blade driven nearly hilt-deep in his chest. The former celestial, long corrupted by the magic of the daelkyr, looks at Gareth wordlessly for a moment … and then explodes into nothingness.
So does his brother, and the two blasts rock the room, putting large cracks into the walls, and then there is silence.
Korm flaps down to the ground and spits out some blood, large bruises already forming across his torso as he completely failed to avoid the blasts*, and swears in orcish. “Sh*t! That hurt! I guess that’s what the divination warned of.” He glances at Nalyna, whose divine protections have enabled him to emerge untouched, just as Gareth has. “Sorry – but we did tell you there’d be damage.”
“I know,” says the elderly paladin, looking around with a mildly rueful expression. “And I have no recriminations. This will be easily repaired.” He looks curiously at the spot their two enemies had occupied, where not a trace of them remains. “That was … interesting. And quick. But I was pleased to be of service. Is there any other help you need in this regard?”
“No,” says Nameless, shaking off the after-effects of the blast, “And I appreciate your help. But,” he pauses thoughtfully, “Could we use this room a little further?”
“How come?” asks Luna.
“I was thinking of using the bowl another time,” explains Nameless, “And this seems a good place to do so, if anything unexpected happens.”
“Unusual? Impossible,” says Six, drawing a guffaw from Korm, but the alienist ignores it. Nalyna simply looks curious and then says, “Of course you may use it. May I ask what bowl this is?”
“A relic of the daelkyr, the masters of the creatures we just slew,” says Nameless. “I have learned some things from it in the past and hope to do so again, but there is always a risk in using it. If you want to take the chance of more action, you could stay and watch.”
“Then I shall do so,” says the half-elven paladin.
While Nalyna and the others watch, Nameless opens a bag of holding and produces the blue crystal bowl – which had ironically once been in the possession of the twins they just destroyed. When he touches it, the alienist feels no effect whatsoever, and he realizes that his mind blank is preventing the item from mentally contacting him – and vice versa.
Nameless proceeds to dismiss his abjuration and then touches the bowl, this time instantly feeling the jolt of its attempt to warp his mind. But where a normal human being would instantly be driven insane, the feeling is all too natural to the alienist and has little effect. He concentrates, negating the mental assault, and then focuses further, attempting to bend the bowl to his will. After a few moments of effort, he feels himself succeed – and everything goes black.
The others who are watching see Nameless’ eyes roll back in his head till only the whites show, while his lips begin to twitch and move as if he were speaking, though no words emerge. “Something’s wrong,” says Gareth worriedly, and Six nods mechanically.
“Probably,” says the warforged. “The bowl is also not showing the mist and lights that it does.”
Luna shakes Nameless and frowns as there is no response. The frown deepens as Korm cheerfully says, “Maybe a daelkyr ate his mind through the bowl.”
The Gatekeeper is actually half-correct.
After a few moments, the blackness clears and Nameless finds himself floating in a gray, misty void. He possesses – as far as he can make out – no body, existing only as pure consciousness. There is movement in the fog before him, within which he can make out a distinctly humanoid form, but he cannot make out details. All that he can see clearly are the two eyes set in the mist-shrouded face – they are his own.
Recognition comes even easier as the figure begins to speak, in a voice which – thought it sounds as if it were coming from a long distance away – is quite distinct. Nameless once used to hear it inside his head and also heard it in the Cyst in the Mournland. It is the daelkyr Antaryami, twin to the trapped Antaratma, and it says, “So, Nameless – or should I say Edgar Thorn? You come to bother me again. After you aided me in the Mournland I thought you would be wise enough to avoid my path. But now you slay my minions, steal my possessions, and come to speak with me?”
Oh, great! Nameless doesn’t let his concern show in his voice, replying cheerfully, “We have a survey for you to fill out. How many residents are there in your household?”
Antaryami emits an exasperated sighs, a sound which causes a sharp pain in the center of Nameless’ invisible brow. Though he says nothing, the daelkyr evidently notices the effect. “See?” it says, in a tone both threatening and triumphant, “Did you really think even your mind can survive contact with mine? I could destroy you right now!” Before Nameless can respond, the daelkyr’s tone shifts to strangely complimentary, perhaps even cajoling. “But I do not wish to destroy you. You are a work of art, Nameless. And you opened Khorvaire to us. Our armies march across your land even now, reaping its people for Xoriat. Because of you! Why then should you fight us? You cannot win!”
Meanwhile, in the world outside Nameless’ mind, the others watch in growing alarm as his rolled-back eyes begin to darken. Then black smoke begins to seep from his nostrils, slowly forming a cloud around him. But through it all, the alienist doesn’t respond to their ministrations in any way.
Inside his mind, Nameless is still engaged with Antaryami. The daelkyr continues speaking, barely letting the alienist get a word in. “Do you think Cyäegha will protect you and your world? The Watcher cares not for such things.” There is a moment’s pause at the harsh laugh from Nameless at the thought of aid from Cyäegha. “And even he does not watch you – and your…,” the daelkyr hesitates as if seeking a word that is alien to it, “…friends as I do. Does Cyäegha know that you are in Argonnessen?”
He knows a little too much! I wonder if he is reading my mind right now. Half wondering how to ascertain if that is the case, and half wishing to distract the daelkyr, Nameless breaks in, “You comprehend less than I thought if you imagine that I expect Cyäegha to aid me. As for why I seek what you think of as futile, that too is sadly beyond your comprehension. There is a certain concept we call ‘responsibility’ here on Khorvaire.”
“Responsibility?” The daelkyr’s tone is again that of one exploring an unfamiliar subject.
“Yes,” says Nameless. “I feel a responsibility to some of those around me. They do not know the perils we face. I do. They lack the tools to face these dangers. I do not. And some of their danger comes from my past and my choices. So I feel responsible and I act accordingly. I don’t expect you to understand.” He laughs again. “Anyhow, I have to save the world. As Luna so quaintly puts it, we keep our stuff here.”
“So,” says the daelkyr, “You wander among the people of Io’lokar, even though they will not aid you against me? That is why you seek futilely for allies among the dragons?”
Damn. He probably is reading my mind. And … perhaps I can do the same in return. Nameless doesn’t bother to answer, instead putting forth his will and trying to contact the daelkyr’s mind. He instantly has success, sensing an immensely powerful intellect before him.
But the attempt doesn’t go unnoticed. Antaryami stops speaking instantly and then, after a moment, says, its tone now cold and deadly, “Really? You dare? Then let us put it to the test.”
Nameless feels the strange sensation of the daelkyr’s mind flowing over and around his own, exerting tremendous pressure as it attempts to crush his psyche. Luckily, the tenuous nature of the mental connection makes it easier for the alienist to resist, though he estimates that he can only do so for a short period of time. Nameless exerts his mental powers, holding back the crushing grip of Antaryami’s will even as he attempts to wriggle out from the mental grasp. He succeeds at the former – for the moment – but not the latter.
Outside, just as the daelkyr strikes at Nameless’ mind, the black smoke around his physical body increases drastically in both strength and volume. Swirling up around him, the smoke darkens and thickens, hiding Nameless from view as it solidifies. Luna, who had a hand on his shoulder, is pushed back. “Hey!” she shouts, feeling muscle and cold, ebon flesh under her hands. “What’s going on?”
“That!” shouts Korm, pointing up above her. A gigantic, serpent-like creature rears above the druid, fully thirty feet in length and perhaps a third in breadth. Its body is broken into segments like an earthworm, each bearing a ring of small tentacles. Four longer tentacles, each equal to a human body in size, ring the mouth-like opening at one end of creature’s body, and a giant spine-like tail – equal in length to the largest tentacles extends from the other extremity.
Surprisingly, Gareth is the quickest to respond, slashing into the creature again and again. The dark flesh parts under the edge of the Endless Blade, deep purple blood pouring forth from the wounds. The giant worm jerks at the wounds, drawing a smile from the paladin.
“Nameless didn’t actually turn into that, did he?” asks Nalyna, hesitating for a moment.
“I doubt it,” says Gareth, raising his sword to strike again. “But i…”
He never finishes the sentence, as the worm strikes back, its giant maw snapping shut where he stood. When it rears back up again, Gareth is gone.
“Let’s not discuss the possibilities,” suggests Six, tumbling away from the worm and activating a wand embedded in his arm to haste the group. “Kill the thing before any more of us disappear.”
“Very well,” says Nalyna, moving forward to attack as Gareth did. As he strikes, spells from Luna and Korm hit right above his head, burning and further wounding the creature.
The worm flagellates at the various wounds, but before it can retaliate, a shape appears behind it. The figure is wounded and battered, his form dripping with purple fluid so that his features are almost hidden, but it is clearly Gareth. The paladin calls on the Silver Flame and brings down the Endless Blade over and over, gleaming with argent fire. The worm shudders at each blow and finally collapses limply to the floor as the final blow severs it into two halves, the others jumping out of the way of the falling bulk.
Trapped inside his own mind, Nameless has no idea what is occurring outside, but he feels a sudden slackening of the grip in his psyche. Again he tries to break free but to no avail, and now tiredness begins to set in. Growing steadily more concerned, Nameless racks his mind for another way to escape, and something tells him that his spells – which he is certain that he cannot use as normal – are an option. Nameless concentrates, letting one of his most powerful spells fade from his mind, and instantly feels energized as the released magical energy flows into him.
But for only a moment, as he feels the daelkyr seize upon it**. “Very clever, Nameless,” says its mental voice, “But not quick enough. You are in my realm now. See?” The crushing mental pressure increases and only the momentary increase in energy that Nameless just received lets him resist it.
Outside, Korm chuckles at Gareth’s return. “You’re back, I see. Did you get swallowed? I couldn’t tell.”
“Yes,” says Gareth, wiping slime off himself. “By the Flame, that hurt like Dolurrh!” He glances at Nalyna. “Luckily, that dimension door your people use works here too. So I popped out and…,” he gestures dismissively at the pieces of the worm.
Which immediately rolls over and smashes all four of the large tentacles into him, bruising muscle and bone and taking him off his feet.
Gareth cries out at the completely unexpected attack and looks up to see that the second half of the worm is in motion too. Its spine-like tail flashes down at his helpless form – and is intercepted in mid-strike by Luna’s body as she reflexively throws herself across him***.
She screams as the spike rams through her body, shooting a dark poison into her that only her druidic immunity lets her resist. A second later Nalyna, Korm and Six leap onto the creature’s halves, hacking and slashing.
At the same time, Nameless feels a minor shift in the power of the mental grip on him. Realizing that using his prepared spell energy can help but is also something that Antaryami can absorb and block, the alienist comes up with another idea. He attempts to channel the energy of a quickened spell, discovering that it is as quick to use as when casting such a spell. Again, he feels a momentary surge which is almost instantly leeched away by the daelkyr.
And as it does so, Nameless releases the energy of his most powerful spell. The arcane power surges through him, and he realizes – just as he had hoped – that the daelkyr cannot react quickly enough to steal this energy in time. Nameless draws in as much of the released power as he can gather and then exerts himself in a huge mental effort. This time it works. There is a sudden release of pressure, the attendant sense of freedom punctuated by a fading snarl of frustration from Antaryami which sends a stabbing pain through Nameless’ mind.
The alienist opens his eyes, only to groan in pain and look down to find himself almost cut into half. Korm standing over him with a surprised expression, hurriedly lowers his blade and reaches down to cast a heal. “Damn, Nameless – what happened? One moment we’re fighting that weird black worm and then you’re in its place.”
“What worm?” asks Nameless, staggering to his feet.
“It’s complicated,” says Six, looking him carefully in the face. “Good eyes.”
“Also complicated,” says Nameless, “But, in short, I met the daelkyr. And the bowl is compromised, as I expected would happen.” The alienist looks down at the innocuous-looking crystal object and gestures, sending an empowered disintegrate into it. There is an anti-climactically soft puffing sound and it falls apart into a small pile of dust.
With the bowl disposed of, Nameless explains to the others in some detail what happened to him. Having done so, he says, “I picked up a little information while I was in mental contact with the daelkyr. I’m fairly certain that Antaryami is still on Xoriat and was able to communicate with me across the planes due to the now open connection between Khorvaire and Xoriat. Even with my usage of the bowl, that sort of communication would have been impossible earlier. I also got the impression that the daelkyr was hiding something and wasn’t quite as pleased or confident as he wanted me to think he was.” The alienist strokes his forehead gingerly, since he has developed a fairly painful headache. “I think it very likely, though I can’t be certain, that he gained some knowledge from my mind too.”
Gareth has been eyeing Nameless suspiciously for a few moments, and suddenly his eyes begin to glow with the characteristic silver light which appears when he detects for evil or for someone’s thoughts. While the others turn to him in surprise, Nameless frowns. “What are you doing?”
“Just checking on you,” says the paladin. “Something seems awry since you returned. This’ll just take a moment.”
“You could have asked,” says Nameless, beginning to walk back and forth, which he knows makes it difficult for Gareth to gain any information even with his particularly specialized abilities. “Anyhow, I’m fine.”
“Maybe,” says Gareth, frowning, “But I’d like to know for sure. Now hold still, please.”
“I’d rather not,” says Nameless, before turning to Nalyna. “Thank you for your hospitality. I shall have to leave now. We are heading back to Sharn shortly, but I’m sure we will return again soon.”
Nalyna inclines his head and says, “You are always welcome,” with a bemused look in his eyes.
Nameless turns to the others and says, “Let’s head outside, shall we? See you on the road.” And disappears, using Io’lokar’s dimension door power.
The others quickly follow, joining Nameless outside Nalyna’s house. Gareth and Nameless promptly proceed to have an argument about whether the alienist needs to let Gareth examine his thoughts or not. Nameless utterly refuses to let the paladin do so, continuing to move around Gareth when he tries to focus on him and successfully resisting the power when he does.
“Damn it!” Gareth growls in frustration, turning to the others, “Make him listen to me!”
Korm, who has been watching with growing amusement, chuckles and says, “How do you expect us to do that? And don’t you think you’re overreacting?”
“No, I don’t!” snaps the paladin, “Considering the things we are dealing with, we need to be certain that Nameless hasn’t been taken over or…”
Six says dryly, “Yes, it would be horrifying if any of us had been tainted by our contact with strange, eldritch horrors. Oh, wait…”
Nameless chuckles harshly at the warforged’s witticism and says, “Listen – I just don’t appreciate you probing around me. And I’m certainly not letting you into my head. So you’ll just have to trust me.”
“And you need to trust me! Us!” says Gareth hotly, “If you don’t, I’m … I’m … not returning to Khorvaire with you.”
“Fine by me,” shrugs Nameless.
A few minutes later, the Angels stand in a loose circle around Nameless, along with the two members of the Wayfinder Foundation – or at least all of the Angels save Gareth. The paladin stands nearby, with a dark expression and his arms folded across his chest.
“Come on, Gareth,” says Luna, “Won’t you drop it and come back with us? How about letting him check your thoughts for just a minute, Nameless?”
“No,” say both the alienist and the paladin at once. Nameless follows with a cheerful wave at Gareth and then transports himself and his passengers away, leaving a fuming Gareth behind.
* And ate 100 pts of damage instantly.
** Mechanically, each spell Nameless was burning gave him a bonus on his opposed Int check against the daelkyr equal to its level, so he was on close to even terms. But thanks to Rackhir’s stellar rolling, he burned through all his 8th and a couple of 7th level spells before he broke free.
*** The attack would have taken him to -14, except for Luna using a swashbuckling card to take his damage instead.
__________________ shilsen is broken - Crothian (and this is why)
My Eberron Story Hour. Updated November 12. Almost at the climax!
Wow - that's one cool proposal, Avi! Congratulations to you both
It seems like she has Absolutely No Idea what you're up to. Sweet!
Thank you. And no she had no clue. While we had discussed marriage I would never tell her if I was interested and she would always ask if I was planning to at some point (months, years, w/e).
Quote:
Originally Posted by shilsen
Don't jump the gun on the congratulations. Remember, Gareth got engaged this year too, and wait till you see what happens to him
Shil is a sadist.
__________________ If you know someone is going to grow up to be the next Hitler would you kill him while he was an innocent baby? My paladin would.
Yikes! Waht on earth was that about? The daelkyr took over Nameless body? And made it even freakier than it already is - eek!
And Nameless & Gareth have had a serious falling out/ disagreement/ tiff. It's only because they care =)
__________________ D&D, frankly, is the most fun when you get your ass handed to you but you still manage to find away to come out on top of the pile of corpses, looking like a typical Conan novel cover. - joachim
Yikes! What on earth was that about? The daelkyr took over Nameless body? And made it even freakier than it already is - eek!
And Nameless & Gareth have had a serious falling out/ disagreement/ tiff. It's only because they care =)
__________________ D&D, frankly, is the most fun when you get your ass handed to you but you still manage to find away to come out on top of the pile of corpses, looking like a typical Conan novel cover. - joachim
Yikes! Waht on earth was that about? The daelkyr took over Nameless body? And made it even freakier than it already is - eek!
I think, it was more like Nameless being used as a conduit, but you know just as much as we do about exactly what happened.
Quote:
Originally Posted by carborundum
And Nameless & Gareth have had a serious falling out/ disagreement/ tiff. It's only because they care =)
Actually, if he'd just bothered to ask first, Nameless would have been fine with Gareth checking him out. But Gareth being Gareth, doesn't understand the concept of "manners" or that other people might not like him demanding they do what ever the hell it is he wants.
__________________ "We are all Individuals! They chanted in unison...
LOL - What is it about paladins and their insufferable belief that they are not only right, but that no one else can also be right (or have a point) at the same time?
__________________ D&D, frankly, is the most fun when you get your ass handed to you but you still manage to find away to come out on top of the pile of corpses, looking like a typical Conan novel cover. - joachim
LOL - What is it about paladins and their insufferable belief that they are not only right, but that no one else can also be right (or have a point) at the same time?
It's probably one of those "Which came first" questions. Does playing a paladin get people to act like that or does getting to act like that attract people to the paladins. Probably something of both. Gareth is the Champion of the Silver Flame after all.
Just ask come within earshot of him and he'll tell you.
I probably should have pointed out that if there was some eldrich evil controlling Nameless, it would make his brains run out of his ears, like the times he used his powers on the Ziggurat.
That would have gotten him to stop post haste...
He did NOT like what it did to him the times he did that.
__________________ "We are all Individuals! They chanted in unison...
THAT's what I should have said! Wow-ee! What a zinger...
... he'd be laughing on the oth...
...guys?
...guys?
__________________ D&D, frankly, is the most fun when you get your ass handed to you but you still manage to find away to come out on top of the pile of corpses, looking like a typical Conan novel cover. - joachim
Apologies for the delay, but I've been busy with college work. On the brighter side, we just had our first session of the Eberron game after a long hiatus, and it was amusing as hell. Let's just say that the Angels have decided to hit Xoriat with Thronehold (capital of the empire of Galifar when it governed Khorvaire). Literally.
__________________ shilsen is broken - Crothian (and this is why)
My Eberron Story Hour. Updated November 12. Almost at the climax!
__________________ D&D, frankly, is the most fun when you get your ass handed to you but you still manage to find away to come out on top of the pile of corpses, looking like a typical Conan novel cover. - joachim
When the Guardian Angels (sans Gareth) arrive at the Gray House, they are met by first Fett and then Trillia, who is more or less permanently ensconced there now. Fett informs the Angels that he received a message from the Redcloak commander about a pair of lizardmen arriving at the outskirts of Sharn claiming to bear a message for the Angels. They are currently being held by the Redcloaks in the main city jailhouse.
After a short rest and exchange of news, the Angels proceed to find these messengers. They find them to be a male and female, both wearing body paint which they had seen while battling the armies in Q’barra. Only the female, who identifies herself as Kim’iir and seems to be the senior of the two, can speak a heavily accented form of the Common tongue, but both are fluent in Draconic. Neither of them seems to be particularly perturbed about being in captivity, and Kim’iir says that they were sent by Rhashaak, whom she calls “the holy one”. The male, Vulat, clarifies that they were specifically dispatched by Huu’rak, the Voice of Rhashaak, who ordered them to “find the Guardian Angels in Sharn and ask them to come to Haka’torvhak.” The two lizardfolk, both of whom are apparently druids, have been traveling for over a fortnight in search of the Angels using their magical abilities.
“I wasn’t expecting a message from Rhashaak,” Nameless says dryly, “But in view of our past I’m not surprised. Can you tell us why he wants us?”
“I know only what Huu’rak told us, mighty one,” says Kim’iir respectfully. “The holy one seeks aid against the invaders from beyond. If you do not help, then perhaps the holy one will fall, and the great evil he guards will be unleashed into this world.”
Korm chuckles sardonically and looks around. “Hands up, everyone who expects that there’s a dimensional seal as part of this story!”
As the lizardfolk look at the Gatekeeper in seeming confusion, Nameless says, “What sort of invaders are these? And just so I’m clear, Rhashaak is a giant black dragon, right?”
“Yes, the holy one is one of the scaled gods. As for the invaders, we have not seen them. But we have heard the holy one battle them in the depths of his temple. Huu’rak said that they came from beyond this world.” She hesitates and then says, “We do not know what that means.”
“Oh, we do!” responds Luna excitedly. “See, there are all these different worlds, right? And Xoriat is thi…”
“Please, Luna,” Nameless quickly cuts her off. “Try not to make the poor lizardfolk’s heads explode.”
Six, meanwhile, address Kim’iir. “Can you tell us anything about your recent war on the humans? Rhashaak ordered that – right?”
The lizardwoman hesitates, clearly not wanting to risk giving offense, and then carefully answers, “The holy one ordered us to go to war to take back the land that was ours. It belonged to us before the humans came.” She hesitates again and then says, “We do not know the holy one’s plans – only what we are told by Huu’rak. If you wish to know more you must come with us. Will you?”
Nameless says, “One moment,” and then moves away to confer with his companions. After a quick discussion, the Angels decide that it might be profitable to comply with the request, since it may give them more information and possibly allies. “And maybe he has treasure! Especially wall hangings,” opines Luna optimistically, which nobody else responds to.
Returning to the lizardfolk, Nameless says, “We will come with you. Tomorrow. Until then, you’ll have to wait here.”
The lizardfolk look disappointedly around the cell that they are in and then bow. “Thank you.”
After instructing the guards to be as hospitable as they can be to the lizardfolk, the Angels head back to the Gray House. There, Nameless fills in Trillia on the rod of planar summoning which the Angels recovered from Kallionaxis’ hoard and asks her to do some research for him on possible powerful pseudonatural creatures whom he might summon.
Afterwards, the alienist visits the local house Sivis station and dispatches a message to Jaela Daran, informing her about the rod too and explaining that the Angels are about to attack the ziggurat. He requests the name of a particularly powerful celestial, such as a planetar, who she thinks might help in this area. Nameless adds that he and the others will visit her in Flamekeep the next morning.
The Angels spent the rest of the evening relaxing and making plan, as well as catching up on news around Khorvaire – especially any that pertains to the war. The situation has not changed much in the four days since they last departed for Argonnessen, but things are going slightly better for the nations of Khorvaire, which are slowly pushing back the aberration armies. Thrane especially seems to be doing well, which the Angels hope means that Jaela will have a little more leisure to help them.
* * * * *
The next morning, Luna and Six return to Io’lokar, where they meet Gareth and explain to the paladin that he’s a pain in the ass, that they are going to Thrane and then Q’barra, and that they’d like him along. Having calmed down from his anger at Nameless, the paladin agrees to accompany them.
When they return to Sharn, Gareth asks the alienist politely, albeit a little grumpily, if he will allow the paladin to cast a few divinations at him. “Certainly,” says Nameless, with a slight smirk, “All you had to do was ask.”
“I won’t,” says Gareth, “And I’ll actually check about whether it would be a good idea to do so. I don’t want a repeat of that giant black worm, whatever it was.”
“In that case,” suggests Nameless, “Could you ask whether it would be safe to cast a commune about the ziggurat? I’d like to know more about that as well.”
Gareth looks a little concerned at the idea, having bad memories of divinatory magic aimed at the ziggurat, but agrees to do so. He begins with an augury about doing a divination on Nameless and then one about casting a commune about the ziggurat. The answer to both questions is “Weal.”
After mentioning what the result was, Gareth asks, “Any suggestions for questions?”
“Why not ask how you can best help Nameless work against Xoriat?” suggests Korm.
“All right.” Gareth casts his spell and asks the question. The solemn voice which he associates with the Silver Flame speaks in his mind, replying, “Nameless is the key, to allowing Xoriat fully into Eberron, or locking it forever out of your world. But so are you all. The key cannot be turned except by the aid of the Guardian Angels, for good or for ill. Trust and work together. You will fall or rise as one.”
When told what the answer was, Nameless grimaces slightly and rasps, “For once, I would just like to be the second on the left, instead of the Chosen One.”
Korm grins at him and says, “Hey, you’re special. Deal with it!”
“What about Q’barra?” Luna asks Gareth. “Can you ask if this Rhashaak has any good stuff? Can we trust him? Should we kill him?”
“Or perhaps just ask whether we should go to Q’barra first or to the ziggurat?” suggests Six.
“Yes,” Nameless puts in quickly, before Luna can add more. “That would be useful information.”
“Done,” says Gareth, beginning his next spell. When he finishes, the reply he gets is: “All ways are dark. Power lies with the mad wyrm, power to aid your cause. But time aids the daelkyr’s cause too. Choose one path and follow it to the end.”
“Not that helpful,” says Six, “But that is very standard. Shall we try the commune, anyway?”
“Why not? Gareth already prepared the spell,” says Korm, before grinning, “Plus I want to see if his brain runs out his ears again!”
“Thank you,” says the paladin bitterly, before taking a deep breath. “But I’m willing to try it. I can ask thirteen questions.”
“Good,” says Nameless. “Then we can ask about Rhashaak too.”
“All right.” Gareth casts his spell and begins to ask questions.
“Is Rhashaak going to betray us if we go to help him?”
“Not if you truly aid him.”
“Is there something he would be likely to do to help us against the ziggurat?”
“Yes.”
“That’s good to know,” says Nameless. “I have a bad feeling about the ziggurat. Here’s something else I’m concerned about, considering what we were told about those twin fallen devas serving the bound daelkyr lord Kyrzin. Ask if Kyrzin is likely to be found at the ziggurat.”
Gareth does so and the reply is, “No.”
“Will a master earth get us to the ziggurat without trouble?”
“No.”
“Will the ziggurat complete whatever it will in less than a month?”
“Yes.”
“Will the ziggurat complete whatever it will in less than a week?”
“Yes.”
“Will the ziggurat complete whatever it will in the next 24 hrs?”
“Unclear.”
“Will the ziggurat complete whatever it will in less than 3 days?”
“Unclear.”
“Will the ziggurat complete whatever it will in less than 5 days?”
“Unclear.”
“Okay, can we stop asking about time?” grumbles Luna. “This stupid spell is not helpful there!”
“How about this,” suggests Korm, “Does their plan require us to go there for it to succeed?”
Gareth relays the spell’s answers: “It would help.”
“Great!” says Korm. “Will the universe be safer if Nameless killed himself right now?”
As some of the others look at the Gatekeeper with amusement, Gareth asks the question and then replies, “No.”
“I could have told you that,” rasps Nameless. “There’s no way it would be that easy. Next question – is there a specific procedure we need to use to destroy the ziggurat?”
“No.”
“Good. So, one more question. Perhaps…,” the alienist begins, but Gareth cuts him off as he asks, “Am I a paladin of the Silver Flame?”
As Korm chortles at the question, Gareth nods and repeats, his expression simultaneously relieved and concerned, “Currently.”
“Hah! I think the Silver Flame has a sense of humor!” says Korm.
Gareth shrugs, looking faintly embarrassed, and says, “It seemed a good idea. And that’s the end of the spell. So what next?”
“Next we go to Thrane,” says Nameless, “But I just remembered someone we decided to contact – the vampires in Undersharn.”
“Oh, yeah!” says Luna excitedly. “They were nice! Can we visit them?”
“We don’t have time for that,” says Nameless, “But I’ll contact them via sending.” He casts the spell, focusing on the vampire leader Mina, and delivers his message: “Hope you are fine after Xoriat’s attacks. Can you speak to Calderus and ask for aid? Also, could you warn of incursions from below Sharn?”
A few moments later, he receives Mina’s response: “We are hiding. Have fought aberrations. Will kill any we see. Am confident Calderus would oppose Xoriat. Will attempt to contact her.”
The alienist tells the others what Mina replied, adding, “It’s a small thing, but every little bit helps. And…”
He stops as there’s a polite knock, followed by Fett sticking his head around the door. “Sorry to interrupt,” says the Angels’ major-domo, “But the people from the Wayfinder Foundation are here to speak to you.”
The Angels descend to meet the visitors, who turn out to be Tiem and Fanil, the two Wayfinders who went to Argonnessen with them. Tiem explains that they are here to ask when the Angels will be able to take them back to Argonnessen, so that they can prepare accordingly.
Nameless smiles mirthlessly and says, “It’s quite possible we might be dead soon, but otherwise we will be happy to help.” As the surprised Wayfinders stare at him, he says, “We’ll probably be busy for a few days, so why don’t you stop back in a week and we’ll have a better idea when we can return?”
The Wayfinders are clearly disappointed, but they nod and say that they will stop by a few days later to see what the Angels’ situation is.
Once they have left, Luna says, “Let’s go. I’m getting bored, so if anyone else shows up and starts asking for stuff or for us to do things, I might bite them.”
“And that’s the best reason for moving quickly that I’ve heard,” says Nameless dryly. “Let’s pick up our passengers and go.”
The Angels stop at the jail and pick up the lizardfolk – and then inform them that they need to sit in the portable hole while the Angels travel to Thrane. Though clearly uncomfortable at the idea, Kim’iir asks, “This is safe? And later you will come to Haka’torvhak with us?”
“Yes, we will. But first we need to go take care of something, which will enable us to accompany you.”
“Very well. We will do what you wish.” The lizardfolk descend into the portable hole and Nameless picks it up, before transporting the entire group to Flamekeep.
There, after making sure that the lizardfolk are safely bestowed somewhere in the Cathedral of the Silver Flame, the Angels are quickly brought before Jaela Daran. The Keeper of the Silver Flame greets them and spends a short time filling the Angels in on what has occurred in Khorvaire since they left. Little of it is new, other than some details about the success of the Thranish armies in driving back aberration attacks and the fact that forces are being amassed by Thrane (and some other countries) on the borders of the Mournland because many of the attacks seem to emerge from there. The Angels, in turn, tell her about everything that occurred with them since they left. Jaela listens with great interest, asking about a few things, especially regarding the now-destroyed bowl and Nameless’ mental contact with the daelkyr.
She is also quite interested about their impending visit to Q’barra, though she expresses no opinion about it other than to say, “I believe your skills would be very helpful in the battles occurring across Khorvaire, but if you can find a way, in Argonnessen or in Q’barra, to more permanently end this conflict, then you should certainly explore it.” The eleven-year old girl sighs, momentarily looking substantially older and more tired than she physically is, and says, “The Silver Flame tells me that your actions will make a great difference to this conflict and I,” she smiles a little, “Am not about to disbelieve it.”
“Thank you,” rasps Nameless. “We do our best, though I could sometimes do without the responsibility. Anyway, as you know from my last sending, I’m hoping you can help us. I’m concerned about what we will find at the ziggurat. We barely came out of the last visit alive, and I’m presuming this time will be even more dangerous. I want to take as much backup with us as we can. Can you recommend something – or someone – to summon?”
Jaela clearly hesitates and then says, “Yes, I can, but I should point out first that the vast majority of celestials – and extraplanar creatures – have no interest in the doings of Eberron. So it is difficult to think of many which would help here without substantial coercion. With that caveat, I consider one good possibility to be Enitharmon*. He is a particularly militant planetar from Shavarath, who has performed services for the Silver Flame in the past, well before my time. Not that he’s a worshipper of the Flame, however, since the Flame has no worshippers outside Eberron. But he might be amenable to your request. I will give you access to an area from which you can summon him, if you wish.”
“I would appreciate that,” says Nameless.
“Very well.”
A quarter of an hour later, the Angels stand with Jaela in a huge chamber near the large summoning circle in its center, watching as Nameless uses the magical rod from Argonnessen. As the spell is completed there is a faint shimmering in the circle’s center, along with a momentary glimpse of a reddish sky and what seems to be a fortified wall with battlements. Then the scene disappears, leaving behind a nine foot tall green humanoid with a hairless head, wearing gleaming silver armor and wielding a two-handed sword from which dark blood still drips.
The figure throws a wrathful glance around the chamber, focusing quickly on Nameless. “You! How dare you summon me now? I was in the middle of battle. Where is this place?”
“This is Eberron, mighty Enitharmon,” replies Jaela quickly, “At the Cathedral of the Silver Flame, where I believe you have been in the past. We would not call you unless there was dire need. There is a great war here too, one where we could use a warrior of your prowess. But Nameless here can explain specifically why he called you.”
The planetar seems somewhat mollified at Jaela’s tone, and the alienist quickly begins to explain. Gareth winces slightly at the harshness of his tones, knowing that Nameless cannot help sounding unnaturally rough and wondering whether the planetar will take it amiss. And Enitharmon does frown as soon as Nameless explains who they are, but more as if he is attempting to recollect something than in anger. “The Guardian Angels? Sharn?”
“Yes, and we…”
“Wait!” interrupts the planetar, “Are you the ones who defeated the fool Zokar and returned him to Syrania?”
“Who’s Zokar?” asks Luna.
“Zokar was the Radiant Idol,” Nameless says, “The fallen angel whose cult of Cyrans we dissolved and whom we killed in the sewers … seven months ago.”
“So it was you!” Enitharmon beams. “You didn’t actually kill Zokar, since he couldn’t be slain permanently in your – this – world. The fool was actually under my command before he had delusions, was cast down and fled to your world. I was pleased to destroy him when you sent him back. He described you in great detail before I did so. That was … amusing.” A fierce smile spreads across the planetar’s countenance, and then turns slightly less vicious as he says, “This is also an amusing coincidence. I will help you.”
“I wouldn’t bet on it being a coincidence,” Six mutters, while Nameless bows awkwardly and says, “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” says the planetar. “I may ask you for recompense of some kind later. But, for now, what do I have to battle?” He spins his greatsword in an arc and smiles in anticipation.
“We will be going on a very dangerous quest soon,” explains Nameless, “Where we will likely face many powerful enemies. We would like you to accompany us on it until the end, which should only take a day or two at most.”
“So you don’t need me for anything right now?” frowns the celestial.
“No, but I wished to speak to you now and ask your permission to call you when we begin our quest.”
Enitharmon continues to frown for a few moments, but then his expression clears and he nods. “Very well.” He raises his greatsword and says, “Now send me back. I have foes to slay!”
“Of course.” Nameless produces a red gem and extends it to the planetar, saying, “Please take this. It will let us communicate with you.” Once Enitharmon takes it, the alienist ends the spell, causing the planetar to disappear instantly. The alienist breathes deeply and turns to the Keeper. “Thank you for your help, Jaela. We will return here after we’re done with Rhashaak, to collect Enitharmon.”
“Certainly,” Jaela replies. “Would you like to rest here in Flamekeep or will you leave now?”
“Now, I think,” says Nameless. “We have no real reason to stop, and I’d like to know why we were called to Haka’torvhak.”
“All right.”
A few minutes later, the Angels are reunited with the two lizardfolk. Nameless asks for a good location in Haka’torvhak to travel to, so Kim’iir provides a very detailed description of a stone altar and some buildings around it. Once the two passengers are in the portable hole, the alienist casts a greater teleport.
The Angels appear right next to the altar mentioned, a large cracked stone slab decorated with deep carvings of astrological and other signs. It is situated within a large, open courtyard in the middle of an ancient city. The surrounding buildings are mostly broken, some of them overgrown with vegetation, their distinctive shapes such as the Angels have not seen for a long time – at least not since they saw the island where they found the Key and the ruins of the Demon Wastes.
Not that they have time to focus on architectural issues. Around them sit or stand two dozen large lizardfolk, their black wings and size identifying them as the same species that the Angels fought in their previous battles in Q’barra. The ogre-sized creatures bare their fangs and raise their weapons at the advent of the strangers.
“Crap!” says Gareth.
“Everybody stick together,” says Six.
“Cool!” says Luna.
* Yup, if you think you recognize the name, you probably do. Thanks, Sepulchrave.
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My Eberron Story Hour. Updated November 12. Almost at the climax!
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