Our First E-mail Role-playing session
Okay the point of this thread is so that you can communicate in character to each other. Any replies to this thread must be in character. This will allow you to interact with each other in character on your travel to Sharn, I'll start the scene with Dr. Lazarus.
Dr. Lazarus: Well I wish I could have seen the temple with my own eyes. Ah how amazing that would have been. It will take me a while to go through all these manuscripts and I'll need some help translating. There is an old friend in Sharn that perhaps you could convince to come here and help us out. His name is Olakki, he's a hobgoblin priest of the sovereign host, and you’ll find him in lower Sharn in the Lower Dura. Also because I left sharn in a hurry I had a few notes and an ancient map stashed away on the morgrave campus. While you’re in Sharn if you could retrieve those for me it would go a long way to piecing together this puzzle.
Insight- Dr. Lazarus is very interested in every last detail you have to tell him about the temple. His eyes seem to wander and glaze over when you talk about anything else.
Grayos: The temple itself was not much to gawk at. Unless you don't mind doing you're gawking from the digestive juices of foulspawn oozes. One could hardly step anywhere without stepping into one of those fetid creatures... Or having one fly at one's face.
I can't say I speak for the rest of... The party, but for the most part the temple seemed unremarkable beyond any other crumbling structure, save for two things. On the one, the very NON-crumbling, very FUNCTIONAL portal to another realm. On the second, a mural before we entered, showing a host of powerful aberrations showing reverence to what appeared to be a human. It was rather hard to discern the creature as it was in a sitting position upon a stone throne as well as the peculiar armor it wore. Have you heard the name "Bell-uh-shee-ra" before? Could it be related to this "Duke of Aberrations"
And what, pray tell, would these notes and ancient map pertain to?
So far, the only record I've of gold was about 510 gold (hard to recall without looking) from something to do with the kobold layer, as well as 75 gold worth of residuum. Other than the magic items, we don't have much in the way of cash beyond what everyone started with.
I still don't see the point in selling the shield, it won't get us much, and it's not like there's a better alternative.
Dr. Lazarus: it sounds very exciting. Like history coming alive. I wonder how the creature managed to survive the millennia he was trapped in there. I'm sure I would go mad!
In regards to the portal, how large was it? Is it destroyed?
Oh that mural must have been a sight to see. It sounds very much like it was depicting one of the Daelkyr overlords.
Wait did you say Belashyrra????
<Dr. Lazarus stares at Tor intently>
<Tor returns his stare with a glare of his own>
Mathas: He did. Do you know anything about the tentacled thing that spoke in my mind on the other side of the portal? No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get the voice out of my head. It offered to help me on my quest.
Dr. Lazarus: If it truly was a portal to Xoriat, very little is known what lies in that realm. Strange and powerful lurk in that realm. What of the others did they hear voices or were you singled out?
Mathas: I believe I am the only one, though I did catch Tor whispering to his clothing....I think.
Dr. Lazarus: oh the notes and map are pertaining to the research I was doing. The map itself will help identify other possible locations of dhakanni temples. She has much of that information, but we may now have the key to put it all together thanks to your heroic efforts.
Grayos: I can't imagine that its sanity is entirely intact. As far as the portal to the aforementioned creature, it was large enough to fit a horse through. I cannot speak to the functionality of it. It was not physically destroyed that I recall, merely reducing in size and power as I attempted to channel energy into it to close it. I can only imagine it must have closed as when I came to, the phasing, tentacled creatures were no longer trickling in.
If that is indeed how one properly pronounces it, then yes, apparently I did. Is that a significant name in your circles?
The key? How so?
Dr. Lazarus: It seems strange that the portal was active, if it was active during the millennia he was stranded in there then why did he not use it to break out of his prison?
Ahh Belashyrra is a name I know well. It is thought that 6 immortal Daelkyr still remain imprisoned in the dark corridors of Kyber it is said that their influence still reaches up into the light of eberron.
It is said that each of them is immortal, each schemes endlessly, and each has nigh godlike powers.
Perhaps the most infamous of them, not necessarily the greatest, is Belashyrra, the lord of eyes. It is said that he touches the dreams of cultist who pray his name and sends commands to illithids, aboleths, foulspawn and of course his personal favorite creation, beholders.
Of the Daelkyr Belashyrra was considered the artist and it was his plan to use eberron and its people as his canvas. That when he was done eberron would be a testament to his talents and beautiful to his eyes alone and those eyes would be everywhere so he could look upon his work and smile.
That explains Tor's robe, even right now he could be watching us. It is said that he would gift "The Coat of Eyes" to his most devoted followers so that he could observe events around the world as they come to pass.
Grayos: Nine Hells, really? This Belashyrra sounds as though he's a true connoisseur of things macabre. Maybe we should have Tor wear a mantle over his coat, could that function as a serf's way to cover up the eyes? Is there a way to remove it?
Who's to say the portal wasn't opened by this goblin that was originally wearing the coat that Tor so graciously models? It took arcane energy to close it, why does it not seem logical that it could be opened in the same fashion? Perhaps this coat of eyes lay dormant until the goblin picked it up, and then became influenced to open the portal?
Mathas: So in other words, Doctor, we've now given Belahyrra a window into exactly where we are and what we are doing at all times. I would think we'd need to remove that coat from Tor in order to move inconspicuously; otherwise we are probably in for a rude awakening the moment we stay in any one place too long.
Do you think there is a tie to the necklace that Graelen is wearing and Belashyrra? The necklace reminds me somewhat of the creature that spoke to me within the portal.
Dr. Lazarus: in a manner of speaking, yes. The gift of a symbiont is not to be taken lightly. I imagine if you anger it too much the results could be very detrimental to Tor and I doubt that he will be able to remove it of his free will. No to remove the bond of the coat would require some sort of powerful magical ritual. Assuming you want Tor to survive the severing?
Perhaps Belashyrra wishes you to have the coat, perhaps he knows something we don't? Or perhaps the coat was tired of being locked up for a millennia an just wants to breathe?
The necklace is clearly linked to xoriat and perhaps Belashyrra. Perhaps it was the necklace that caused the portal to reopen? Or perhaps it was your mere presence there? Perhaps the necklace is linked to the creature on the other side of the portal.
So many questions, so little time.
Mathas: Too many "perhaps", Doctor. I suppose we may find more answers out later. This ancient map and notes you have at the Morgrave Campus in Sharn, will those be any help in answering our questions? Can you give us directions where the campus is in Sharn, and do you expect that there will be others interested in this map? In other words, are we walking into a trap?
Dr. Lazarus: Yes the map and notes will be a great help along with Olaakki. I highly doubt there will be any resistance, I hid them a while ago on campus in the Shava House in room 214 under the floor boards in the bedroom. If my old benefactor new of the map she would be very interested in it.
Morgrave University is located in the Upper Menthis Plateau district. You'll have to come up with some way to get onto campus, but I'm sure that won't be a problem for capable folk such as yourself. But I would leave my name out of it as I did not part with Morgrave University on good terms.
Be very careful in Sharn, it can be a dangerous place at the best of times.
Grayos: Things that make one go "hmm". Why would Belashyrra be tied back to Xoriat? If he's incarcerated below Eberron, why xoriat at all? The tentacles began writhing once we neared the temple, which we've determined as associated with Xoriat. The Coat relates to Belashyrra as a form of scrying, or at least that's the rumor. But the two together don't seem to react. It does not appear that the coat sprung to the bearer of the necklace, nor does the necklace appear to dance when close to the coat. Could Belashyrra have a being in Xoriat, a compatriot that would attempt to rescue him from Kyber? Could we be facing two creatures working toward the same end?
As far as Tor, well, I imagine that we want him to survive. I can't speak to the effectiveness of him protecting the less-armored folk in the party, but he does serve his function... Occasionally. Who could we see about removing the coat?
You say some of these books are in a language that Olakki can translate, what of the others? More importantly, ritual books. Keys to arcane power. Not entirely concerned with journals and the like.
Dr. Lazarus: All good questions to which I don't have answers to. Hopefully these journals and other books will provide us with answers to the questions.
As to the question of Tor and his symboiont, I'm afraid at the moment there fates are intertwined. You may be able to cover the robe up, but to remove it completely will require powerful magic. I have heard of a ritual that removes curses and the like (remove affliction), you may be able to find someone in Sharn that could remove it. But be forewarned, the ritual itself could kill Tor by just trying to sever the bond.
If you have no further questions I will get back to studying these manuscripts. Have a safe journey to Sharn, may your travels be uneventful.
Tor: The symbiotic creature is a coat, I cannot hide it but it will serve its purpose as I serve a purpose for it till it no longer needs me.
Okay the point of this thread is so that you can communicate in character to each other. Any replies to this thread must be in character. This will allow you to interact with each other in character on your travel to Sharn, I'll start the scene with Dr. Lazarus.
Dr. Lazarus: Well I wish I could have seen the temple with my own eyes. Ah how amazing that would have been. It will take me a while to go through all these manuscripts and I'll need some help translating. There is an old friend in Sharn that perhaps you could convince to come here and help us out. His name is Olakki, he's a hobgoblin priest of the sovereign host, and you’ll find him in lower Sharn in the Lower Dura. Also because I left sharn in a hurry I had a few notes and an ancient map stashed away on the morgrave campus. While you’re in Sharn if you could retrieve those for me it would go a long way to piecing together this puzzle.
Insight- Dr. Lazarus is very interested in every last detail you have to tell him about the temple. His eyes seem to wander and glaze over when you talk about anything else.
Grayos: The temple itself was not much to gawk at. Unless you don't mind doing you're gawking from the digestive juices of foulspawn oozes. One could hardly step anywhere without stepping into one of those fetid creatures... Or having one fly at one's face.
I can't say I speak for the rest of... The party, but for the most part the temple seemed unremarkable beyond any other crumbling structure, save for two things. On the one, the very NON-crumbling, very FUNCTIONAL portal to another realm. On the second, a mural before we entered, showing a host of powerful aberrations showing reverence to what appeared to be a human. It was rather hard to discern the creature as it was in a sitting position upon a stone throne as well as the peculiar armor it wore. Have you heard the name "Bell-uh-shee-ra" before? Could it be related to this "Duke of Aberrations"
And what, pray tell, would these notes and ancient map pertain to?
So far, the only record I've of gold was about 510 gold (hard to recall without looking) from something to do with the kobold layer, as well as 75 gold worth of residuum. Other than the magic items, we don't have much in the way of cash beyond what everyone started with.
I still don't see the point in selling the shield, it won't get us much, and it's not like there's a better alternative.
Dr. Lazarus: it sounds very exciting. Like history coming alive. I wonder how the creature managed to survive the millennia he was trapped in there. I'm sure I would go mad!
In regards to the portal, how large was it? Is it destroyed?
Oh that mural must have been a sight to see. It sounds very much like it was depicting one of the Daelkyr overlords.
Wait did you say Belashyrra????
<Dr. Lazarus stares at Tor intently>
<Tor returns his stare with a glare of his own>
Mathas: He did. Do you know anything about the tentacled thing that spoke in my mind on the other side of the portal? No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get the voice out of my head. It offered to help me on my quest.
Dr. Lazarus: If it truly was a portal to Xoriat, very little is known what lies in that realm. Strange and powerful lurk in that realm. What of the others did they hear voices or were you singled out?
Mathas: I believe I am the only one, though I did catch Tor whispering to his clothing....I think.
Dr. Lazarus: oh the notes and map are pertaining to the research I was doing. The map itself will help identify other possible locations of dhakanni temples. She has much of that information, but we may now have the key to put it all together thanks to your heroic efforts.
Grayos: I can't imagine that its sanity is entirely intact. As far as the portal to the aforementioned creature, it was large enough to fit a horse through. I cannot speak to the functionality of it. It was not physically destroyed that I recall, merely reducing in size and power as I attempted to channel energy into it to close it. I can only imagine it must have closed as when I came to, the phasing, tentacled creatures were no longer trickling in.
If that is indeed how one properly pronounces it, then yes, apparently I did. Is that a significant name in your circles?
The key? How so?
Dr. Lazarus: It seems strange that the portal was active, if it was active during the millennia he was stranded in there then why did he not use it to break out of his prison?
Ahh Belashyrra is a name I know well. It is thought that 6 immortal Daelkyr still remain imprisoned in the dark corridors of Kyber it is said that their influence still reaches up into the light of eberron.
It is said that each of them is immortal, each schemes endlessly, and each has nigh godlike powers.
Perhaps the most infamous of them, not necessarily the greatest, is Belashyrra, the lord of eyes. It is said that he touches the dreams of cultist who pray his name and sends commands to illithids, aboleths, foulspawn and of course his personal favorite creation, beholders.
Of the Daelkyr Belashyrra was considered the artist and it was his plan to use eberron and its people as his canvas. That when he was done eberron would be a testament to his talents and beautiful to his eyes alone and those eyes would be everywhere so he could look upon his work and smile.
That explains Tor's robe, even right now he could be watching us. It is said that he would gift "The Coat of Eyes" to his most devoted followers so that he could observe events around the world as they come to pass.
Grayos: Nine Hells, really? This Belashyrra sounds as though he's a true connoisseur of things macabre. Maybe we should have Tor wear a mantle over his coat, could that function as a serf's way to cover up the eyes? Is there a way to remove it?
Who's to say the portal wasn't opened by this goblin that was originally wearing the coat that Tor so graciously models? It took arcane energy to close it, why does it not seem logical that it could be opened in the same fashion? Perhaps this coat of eyes lay dormant until the goblin picked it up, and then became influenced to open the portal?
Mathas: So in other words, Doctor, we've now given Belahyrra a window into exactly where we are and what we are doing at all times. I would think we'd need to remove that coat from Tor in order to move inconspicuously; otherwise we are probably in for a rude awakening the moment we stay in any one place too long.
Do you think there is a tie to the necklace that Graelen is wearing and Belashyrra? The necklace reminds me somewhat of the creature that spoke to me within the portal.
Dr. Lazarus: in a manner of speaking, yes. The gift of a symbiont is not to be taken lightly. I imagine if you anger it too much the results could be very detrimental to Tor and I doubt that he will be able to remove it of his free will. No to remove the bond of the coat would require some sort of powerful magical ritual. Assuming you want Tor to survive the severing?
Perhaps Belashyrra wishes you to have the coat, perhaps he knows something we don't? Or perhaps the coat was tired of being locked up for a millennia an just wants to breathe?
The necklace is clearly linked to xoriat and perhaps Belashyrra. Perhaps it was the necklace that caused the portal to reopen? Or perhaps it was your mere presence there? Perhaps the necklace is linked to the creature on the other side of the portal.
So many questions, so little time.
Mathas: Too many "perhaps", Doctor. I suppose we may find more answers out later. This ancient map and notes you have at the Morgrave Campus in Sharn, will those be any help in answering our questions? Can you give us directions where the campus is in Sharn, and do you expect that there will be others interested in this map? In other words, are we walking into a trap?
Dr. Lazarus: Yes the map and notes will be a great help along with Olaakki. I highly doubt there will be any resistance, I hid them a while ago on campus in the Shava House in room 214 under the floor boards in the bedroom. If my old benefactor new of the map she would be very interested in it.
Morgrave University is located in the Upper Menthis Plateau district. You'll have to come up with some way to get onto campus, but I'm sure that won't be a problem for capable folk such as yourself. But I would leave my name out of it as I did not part with Morgrave University on good terms.
Be very careful in Sharn, it can be a dangerous place at the best of times.
Grayos: Things that make one go "hmm". Why would Belashyrra be tied back to Xoriat? If he's incarcerated below Eberron, why xoriat at all? The tentacles began writhing once we neared the temple, which we've determined as associated with Xoriat. The Coat relates to Belashyrra as a form of scrying, or at least that's the rumor. But the two together don't seem to react. It does not appear that the coat sprung to the bearer of the necklace, nor does the necklace appear to dance when close to the coat. Could Belashyrra have a being in Xoriat, a compatriot that would attempt to rescue him from Kyber? Could we be facing two creatures working toward the same end?
As far as Tor, well, I imagine that we want him to survive. I can't speak to the effectiveness of him protecting the less-armored folk in the party, but he does serve his function... Occasionally. Who could we see about removing the coat?
You say some of these books are in a language that Olakki can translate, what of the others? More importantly, ritual books. Keys to arcane power. Not entirely concerned with journals and the like.
Dr. Lazarus: All good questions to which I don't have answers to. Hopefully these journals and other books will provide us with answers to the questions.
As to the question of Tor and his symboiont, I'm afraid at the moment there fates are intertwined. You may be able to cover the robe up, but to remove it completely will require powerful magic. I have heard of a ritual that removes curses and the like (remove affliction), you may be able to find someone in Sharn that could remove it. But be forewarned, the ritual itself could kill Tor by just trying to sever the bond.
If you have no further questions I will get back to studying these manuscripts. Have a safe journey to Sharn, may your travels be uneventful.
Tor: The symbiotic creature is a coat, I cannot hide it but it will serve its purpose as I serve a purpose for it till it no longer needs me.