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Last Stand of the Dorinthians
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<blockquote data-quote="Deuce Traveler" data-source="post: 3440557" data-attributes="member: 34958"><p><strong>End of Chapter 2- Illusions</strong></p><p></p><p><span style="color: Blue">"So it was elves who built the chair, and twisted by kobolds into a mockery of what it was, blanking minds instead of enriching them." <em>They should have known, enriching of the soul comes from experience, not from the knowledge of the dead.</em></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">"Sad."</span> Alexander shook his head. There was still work to do. Mad or not, that gnome was capable of horrendous aberrations. That was not to be permitted, and now that he knew that they had effectively been fighting against risen living dead, a feeling of genuine anger was born, along with simpathy for the gnomes' situation.</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: blue"><em>This war is bringing the same plague to each and every pack, the circle of life is being mocked at at every corner.</em> "We'll need any help you can provide, 'cause we are bringing him down."</span> Again anger showed on his face despite a crooked half-smile.</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">Kel trembled, visibly shaken by the thoughts of what his ancestors had wrought. <span style="color: seagreen">"I will help,"</span> he said, his voice wavering with pent up emotion. <span style="color: seagreen">"It seems only fitting that one of the elf race should put an end to this blasphemy."</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">Silas was grim-faced and silent. <span style="color: orange"><em>Will these threats to our safety never be put to rest?</em></span> Finally he spoke up. <span style="color: orange">"Of course you can count me among those who go to confront this renegade."</span> Silas took little of the gnomes' supplies, knowing that they would need what they had to recover from the attacks that had nearly destroyed their homes.</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">Silas approached Alexander: <span style="color: orange">"By your leave, I would like to use my magics to see what can be learned about the elven armor that you now wear."</span> </span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">"Read the runes if you can,"</span> answered Alexander to Silas' request, not caring much, but not devoid of interest.</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">Silas also wanted to check out the rune-filled book that was taken from the kobold leader. Silas casts his spell and the words on the armor and book form for him. He realized that Kel was very close. The armor said 'Larinthree, the Tree of Life'. As for the book, the abjurer realized instantly that it was a spellbook with the following spells: <em>ghost sound, read magic, detect magic, disrupt undead, touch of fatigue, burning hands, color spray, cause fear, chill touch, ray of enfeeblement, scorching ray, spectral hand, mirror image.</em></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">The party began to gather supplies, restocking on food, water, and ammunition. Horacios was kind enough to cast a <em>detect magic</em> on Alexander's new armor, but it came up with a negative result.</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">Now, curious, Alexander asked for Silas' opinion. <span style="color: Blue">"Does it say why an elven armorer would have this built, for a larger body?"</span> </span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">Silas looked perplexed. <span style="color: orange">"I'm afraid that I'm only able to decipher the runes. Which, incidentally, read 'Larinthree, the Tree of Life'. Why the elves forged armor so much larger than their body type, I don't know. Maybe Kel or another elf would know. Or perhaps a bard might know some history of the armor. Maybe it was intended for this golem Horacios mentioned. Ah, which reminds me..."</span> Silas fell silent as he seemed to retreat into his thoughts. Absent-mindedly he wandered off, muttering about golems and peering about the gnomes' warrens.</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">The abjurer wracked his brains for all the information that he knew or had heard about golems. After that, he sought out Horacios to see if the gnome could offer some information about golems and Astraughlay's abilities as a wizard to help prepare them for the upcoming confrontation.</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">Horacios and Silas moved sadly through the remains of the gnomish library, picking through some of the more helpful tomes about golems. The two discovered that flesh golems were invulnerable to most magic, although fire and cold would slow them and electricity would heal them. It was possible that bathing a flesh golem in constantly burning magical flame would disable the creature, but that was something beyond the duo.</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">Afterwards, Silas pored over the kobold's spellbook which was written partially in the arcane language of magic and also partly with scribbled notes in draconic. The abjurer realized that with a kobold in the party, Silas would be able to learn all the spells outside of his forbidden spheres if Rix agreed to help decipher the text. One spell could be learned automatically for each spell Rix agreed to help with. Silas doubted that he could withstand the withering scorn and abuse that Rix would heap upon him the entire time they were working on the spells. And he doubted that Rix would agree to it anyway. So Silas contented himself with using <em>Read Magic</em> and <em>Comprehend Languages</em>, and just doing a quick skim of the material.</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">Alexander realized he hadn't a fixed opinion about Silas. He was for sure a brave man, and a smart one... but the half-orc didn't really know how to feel about the absent look which sometimes invaded his eyes. Alexander, since birth, had been accustomed to emotional reactions and clear, practical thought, the kind of thought The Hunt required.</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: blue"><em>Strange... maybe he had someone close to him die? He is far too different from those called scholars to be one of them. I'll better ask him, later. It is dangerous for an adventurer to constantly be lost in thought.</em></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">Even though he didn't usually care about these personal matters, of late he and Kel had been the main guides of the party. He was starting to feel somehow as a pack leader, and therefore he cared about the pack.</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">The party was able to find the following from what the gnomes scavenged off their dead, and the gnolls and goblins:</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">Medium-size equipment:</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">13 Battle-axes</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">10 Spears</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">2 Longspears</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">6 Maces</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">3 Morningstars</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">4 Clubs</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">15 Daggers</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">3 Longbows</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">2 Crossbows</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">27 Arrows</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">19 Crossbow Bolts</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">16 Backpacks</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">10 Suits of Studded Leather</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">3 Large Wooden Shields</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">27 Rations, Trail</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">14 Waterskins</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">Small Sized:</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">12 Suits of Padded Armor</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">10 Suits of Leather</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">4 Chain Shirts</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">3 Suits of Studded Leather</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">20 Wooden Bucklers</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">15 Hand-Axes</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">5 Battle-Axes</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">5 Short Swords</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">10 Small Crossbows</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">100 Crossbow Bolts</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">50 Rations, Trail</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">25 Waterskins</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">Finally, the leader of the gnomes pulled Dartis aside once the party made their preparations and said, <span style="color: purple">"Young noble, be careful out there. We've recently put some 2-gnome patrols out to search the area and one was ambushed a short while ago. Poor Draphreen was attacked and dragged off by some large, giggling monster before his friend could come to his aid. We found the corpse, or most of it. His arm had been torn off, gnawed clean of the flesh clear to the bone, and left a few hundred feet away. The patrols never did find his head. Again, be careful out there. I don't know where this giggling creature came from, but it seems there are worse things out there now than kobolds."</span> Loughphray spoke mechanically, his eyes distant as if from shock.</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">Accepting only some rations and waterskins as payment, Kel withdrew himself from the company of the others. <span style="color: seagreen">"I will be outside in the open. You will find me before departing,"</span> the last said as a statment; not a question. </span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">Harindan Loughphray chased down Kel, and looked at him in shock as the priest interrupted his discussion with Dartis to delcare he would sleep outside. <span style="color: purple">"Alone? By the gods, Dartis! Is your friend mad? Did you not tell him about our slain patrolman?"</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">Pausing at the words of Harindan the solemn elf replied, <span style="color: seagreen">"Then I will be just inside the cave entrance and it will be the easier for me to be found,"</span> he dropped his head and starts to walk, deep in thought. <span style="color: seagreen">"I yearn for the feel of the skies above me. I must at least step outside for a moment."</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">DM's Note: I decided not to have the elf killed by a troll.</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">Silas listened in concern as Dartis related the information he got from Harindan about the slain patrolman. <span style="color: orange">"Do you think the troll may have followed us? I'm not certain golems can giggle or I would think it..."</span> Silas abruptly paused. <span style="color: orange">"My guess would be that it is an illusion sent by Astraughley."</span> Again Silas paused. <span style="color: orange">"Wait. Didn't the troll that got loose at the kobold lair giggle as it killed the kobolds? If this is it then I feel some responsibility for leading the creature back here."</span> He took a deep breath. <span style="color: orange">"I think we should hunt it down and kill it."</span> DM's Note: Noble, but suicidal unless they had a plan. The characters were 2nd level.</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">As they continued to talk, Silas related the information that he had learned about golems and recommended carrying torches or flammable oil, if they could find any.</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">"Spending the night outside will be enough to lure the creature,"</span> Alexander commented, on the hunting of the troll. <span style="color: Blue">"If we can prepare the terrain ahead of time, the better."</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">After some discussion, the party instead decided to step out into the wild and follow Horacios' directions, keeping a watch out for a troll attack that never came. It took three slightly uneventful nights to travel to the large lake silhouetted by five large peaks, although Rix swore something was giggling outside the camp during his watch on the last night.</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">After heading towards the second peak from the left, the party found itself circumventing the lake and walking along a tree-covered ridge. Soon the trees became a string of petrified wood which created a thick canopy over their heads. After several more minutes, the party realized that underneath the dirt beneath their feet was hardened cobblestones, much eroded due to the passage of time.</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">They saw the cobblestoned path raise at a slight angle, only to plateau ahead of them after a few hundred feet and about fifteen feet higher than their position. Five hundred feet past the beginning of this plateau could be seen a dome-like structure, the glow of a flickering fire highlighting a doorway. Also on the plateau, the adventurers could see two rows of thin, square pillars with motifs unnoticeable from the distance.</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">As they approached, they noted that most of the light of the fading evening was not penetrating the canopy of petrified trees above them. They also couldn't help the feeling that they were somehow being watched.</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">Dartis maintained an uneasy lookout as they approached. His arrow was nocked and ready. </span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Green">"This place is old, and though your kinsmen made it Kel, it is no longer of their work nor wholesome in the least. Come Silas, let us light a torch in preparation of night. I fear we are already known and the light will not betray us further,"</span> said Dartis. He now wore the masterwork chainmail that was left after Alexander discovered the elven chain.</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">Silas lit a torch. <span style="color: orange">"Perhaps we should make a camp before travelling further."</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">"We wouldn't be able to see any better by day,"</span> answered Alexander as he pointed towards the petrified canopy. <span style="color: Blue">"This place..."</span> he took a moment to breathe before the magnificience of the construction, having never before seen a building greater in architecture than a fort. <span style="color: Blue">"Lets keep moving then."</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">The party made last minute preparations before continuing, with Silas walking with his staff in his right hand and his lit torch in his left. Because of a slight breeze, the flame casted strange shadows from the pillars that jumped and danced with each twist of the fire. No animals were heard as the adventurers continued on, just a deathly silence and a chilly wind that caused some to shiver involuntarily.</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">The party walked the upward slope and reached the beginning of the plateau. The pillars showed carvings of elven figures with wings, flying upwards in between symbols of the sun, moon, and trees. Alexander and Dartis took another step forward in order to get a better look, when a bright flash of light temporarily blinded everyone.</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">Message to party:</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">Your vision clears and you gasp in amazement. The trees have become wooden and beautiful, with bright, warm sunlight peering down upon you from a clear sky above you. These strong, tall trees grow on either side of you, making a majestic mockery of the overgrown, petrified monstrosities that you had previously walked under. All around you are elves, but of a kind you've only heard in faery tales. Their beauty tears at your heart as these winged sylvan creatures fly gracefully around you, some circling you playfully as childish laughter reaches your ears. The pillars next to you gleam from the sunlight with a polished finish, showing the skills of craftsmen greater than you thought possible.</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">A delegation of female winged elves land in front of you, blocking the view of the path ahead with their formation. They smile at you as they approach with crowns made of leaves, a beautiful song of peace issuing forth from their red lips. Pale arms reach out, crown you, and touch you, while tender eyes look at you with wonder and promise. They speak in a rythm that seems like song, <span style="color: white"><strong>"Heroes, welcome. You have passed our test of courage and found the hidden observatory of the Larinthree elves. I know you are confused, but we've been affecting your minds from afar. Your kingdom still exists, and your friends are unharmed. We have need of such men as you, but first you deserve to enjoy the rest of true heroes. Come with us to the lake and join our dance. Let us tend to you, brave Dorinthians, and give you the joy that you deserve. We have been waiting for heroes to come to our land for so long."</strong></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">Dartis stood in shock for a heart beat. He then spoke slowly and distinctly. <span style="color: Green">"Yes, yes, Dorinthia still stands. But only here," </span> he said, placing his fist on his chest. <span style="color: Green">"No witchcraft or sorcery could casue me to falsely witness or to ever forget the screams of a thousand dying countrymen upon the fields of Kalden. Yes indeed heroes have come, but not for the foul purposes you have lain your webs. Never will I forget Kalden, Never will I forget Kalnian, Never will I forget Dorinthia and I will not have you defiling the proud memory of a proud people,"</span> ended Dartis in a shout.</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue">Breathless, chest heaving from emotion, Dartis screamed again. <span style="color: Green">"We have come for you Astraughlay! And I will see you lay as carrion and offal for the vultures for your mockery here! Do you hear me Astraughlay! Oh yes, a pleasing display, one that would entice any man. But you have failed to account for Dorinthian pride, honor and heritage. Dorinthia lives indeed, she lives in me! So take your toys and play with them yourself. You have failed Astraughlay! We have come for you,"</span> finished Dartis, tears streaming down his face. Dorinthia lived, he so wanted to believe it, he so wanted it to be true. But the blood, the stench of war, the cries and screams of battle, he knew it could not be so. But if only it could, if only it could. If only his family were indeed safe, if only his home still stood. If only he could believe this paradise. He wanted to but Dorinthia called him, called him to be true.</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: blue"><em>Huntress... Guide me...</em></span> Alexander stepped forth, and as Dartis proclaimed his truth, Alexander intoned his in a crescendo... first a low whisper... then his voice... then his declaration of loyalty to his quest. The prey was marked. Nothing else remained to be said.</span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">"<span style="font-size: 10px">My conviction is stronger today</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"><span style="font-size: 10px">As I fight to uncover you, unholy lie</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"><span style="font-size: 10px">And the fear isn't going away</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"><span style="font-size: 10px">As the warriors still die</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"><span style="font-size: 15px">Damnation a moment away in my eyes</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"><span style="font-size: 15px">If we give in to control for the sake of your unholy lie</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"><span style="font-size: 15px">It's doom for the Circle and for us all</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"><strong><span style="font-size: 15px">Don't you know the war is far from over now</span></strong></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"><strong><span style="font-size: 15px">The Circle must remain unbroken</span></strong></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"><strong><span style="font-size: 15px">Brothers die defending The Hunt!</span></strong>"</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"><strong>"The Hunt is eternal. <span style="font-size: 18px">We are on the chase tonight</span>"</strong></span> Alexander smashed his fist against the emblazened tree on his armor, and moved foward along with Dartis. <span style="color: blue"><em>The circle can't go back, unharmed friends? No, dead friends. The circle can't go back.</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Silas gazed at the wonders around him in surprise and no small amount of growing joy. However, when Dartis stepped forward and began his emotion-filled cry, soon followed by Alexander's own roar of defiance, he realized they were right. <span style="color: white"><em>"...You have passed our test of courage..."</em></span><em> they said, but any who would recreate the horrors of war in another's mind in such a fashion cannot be good.</em> Quietly Silas murmured, <span style="color: orange">"Either they speak true and are heartless creatures, touched of evil, or they lie or are the lies of a madman given illusionary life. Either way they are no friends of mine."</span> Silas smiled grimly. <span style="color: orange">"You just made an error, Astraughlay."</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Kel stood motionless and silent while the sylvan delegation delivered their writ. His eyes glazed over and his lips started to silently move, a prayer to the Huntress bubbling from his lips without being vocalized. The wild elf's eyes took on a haunted look, his body started to shake, his muscles trembling, a tear slowly rolled down his smooth, chiseled cheek. <span style="color: seagreen">"This can not be,"</span> he said as Dartis started his impassioned speech. <span style="color: seagreen">"This is a falsehood. Surely we would know of the existence of our winged brethren?"</span> Kel said bewildered, his eyes darting around the clearing trying to find evidence of the deception.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Kel looked around for evidence that there was an illusion, and noticed the scene pause and flicker, becoming less 'real' when his companions spoke and moved bravely forward. The priest followed, although somewhere in his mind something about these elves rang true... he remembered stories told to him when he was young about when elves soared, but passed them as children's tales.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">The winged elves pleaded and begged that the party would not continue, their cries becoming more shrill and desperate as they pushed forward. Finally the scene in front of the group seemed to melt away, and with a cry, so did the beautiful elves, their colors merging into an angry, gigantic face of a gnome. His hair twisted and writhed with fire, his teeth black, and his eye wild and insane. <span style="color: red">"Turn back pigs,"</span> he screamed in a demonic voice. <span style="color: red">"Turn back or be slaughtered like the cattle you are."</span> An unnatural fear rose inside of the party as the large head floated above the adventurers, the terrain cast into a reddish hue from the heat and glow of his hair. The group now was halfway to the dome.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Kel struggled forward, each step like a stab through his heart, his companions a blur through the tears that stung his eyes. His heart beated heavy in his chest and his breathing became laboured as he struggled to draw great gasping breaths into his lungs. He stumbled as Astraughlay's image broke the illusion. <span style="color: seagreen">"Confirmation. Betrayal. Lies,"</span> the elf hunter cried as he shook his head and pulled his longsword from its scabbard. <span style="color: seagreen">"Retribution,"</span> he growled as he stepped forward, death promised in his hard, steely eyes.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Rix smirked at the face of the gnome, they always failed to know the right way to bait a trap. He checked the bolt in his crossbow and waited.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">The party's defiance caused the face to fall in surprise, ripple, and fade away. The petrified forest returned to sight as they remembered it, and the adventurers saw that they were now more than halfway across the elevated walkway. They walked further towards the dome, its interior flickering orange with the glow of a strange fire. As they stepped into the wide doorway, they saw that the inside of the once-great dome was littered with dirt and mud, with a pit full of an unnaturally pure-orange, silent flame in the center. A raised platform was held up by several wooden columns. A winding staircase started near the fire and reached upwards to the opposite side of the dome, where it touched the above platform's floor. Just underneath a tall, open ceiling was a black glass sphere resting on this second floor. As eyes fell onto it, it swirled with a interior inky smoke and suddenly each adventurers' vision was blinded by another flash of light.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">What Rix saw:</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">You see an image of yourself sitting on a throne deep in caves of beautiful kobold craftmanship. Several females attend to you, and two kobolds from rival clans kneel below you in a gesture of respect and servitude. You hear a voice in your mind. <span style="color: red">"It can be yours, Vaerixsjach, lost of the kobolds. They need not be made into living zombies to serve you. All will know the power and genious of Vaerixsjach, and I can show you how to make them respect you. How to make them obey. All you need to do is turn around and forget these gnomes, and the path to leadership is yours. Turn around Vaerixsjach. You owe them nothing, but I would owe you so much."</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: sienna">"Now that is a delightful image, petty and unimaginative though. Not that I wouldn't like it, but I'd prefer it if there were a number of gnomes spitted around me in the image, particularly you right in the center."</span> Rix smiled maliciously, <span style="color: sienna">"Lead on. There's at least one gnome that I'm finally going to get to kill and nothing is going to stop me."</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">What Kel saw:</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">You have returned home, wiser and honored among the elven people. You hold something wrapped in cloth in your arms, and a voice speaks inside your head, <span style="color: red">"In your hands can be the works of an ancient race of elves, now forgotten in all but children's tales. You can bring honor to your family name, and peace with the Dorinthians and neighbors. All you need to do is forget this quest, Kel, honored of the Huntress. Kel, I have seen the future of your people. They will burn, Kel, and I can't stop it alone. Turn around from this mission, priest, and become my tool to save your race."</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: seagreen">"AAAIIIIIIEEEEEE,"</span> Kel cried, his voice ringing with pain. <span style="color: seagreen">"Get out of my head gnome,"</span> he managed with gasping, ragged breaths. <span style="color: seagreen">"Evil incarnate, this can not be!"</span> The elf steadied himself and his voise rung out in defiance. <span style="color: seagreen">"You will perpetrate this abomination no longer gnome,"</span> he shouted. <span style="color: seagreen">"We are your doom!"</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">What Alexander saw:</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">You see yourself in a woodsman's home by a beautiful lake. It takes a moment to realize that it is the clear lake you used to jump in as a child. Several strong, young men who look simalar to you work happily on a nearby boat, while a familiar woman of beauty wraps her arms around you tenderly. A voice is heard inside your head. <span style="color: red">"Alexander, the Lady's champion. It is a dark road you will travel, and your dreams will not become reality. Unless you help me. Alexander, turn back. You need not die here. Do an old man this favor, and I promise that I can help guide you to the future you deserve. A quiet home, strong boys, and Syra Dorin as your wife. In my visions I see her suffering before she dies. Work for me, Alexander, and we can create a future deserving of your courage. I can show you how to save her and live happily ever after. She deserves no less."</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">What Dartis saw:</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Men surround you and the mighty, white charger you ride, chanting your name as they pump their fists in joy. You wear the emblem of Dorinthia on your chest, as do they. The capital of the Tallione Empire lies before you, it's gates breached and your flag now flying on its battlements. A boy comes up to you and offers a crown as a voice says, <span style="color: red">"Yes, Dartis Kalnian. This is a vision of what can be. The Dorinthian kingdom returning from the ashes in even greater glory than before, like a pheonix from the ashes. I can tell you how to make this happen, my lord. I can tell you where the few, lost survivors of your kingdom are before they are completely exterminated. You can reach them in time and bring them to safety in your new village. Just do an old man a favor. Turn around and forget this quest, and I will grant you this boon."</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Dartis listened enraptured by the vision spinning in his head. He was lost within the beautiful vision, reveling in it's glory. His heart's every desire. To have it all come crashing down as the vision faded away, replaced again by the mundane dreariness of the ancient temple. Dartis stood crestfallen and heartbroken, ashamed to have been tricked, but more sorrowful yet that the vision in his mind would not, could not be true.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">What Silas saw:</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">You are reading by a window in a large estate, a study full of magical books spread out before your smiling face. Several young apprentices bustle quickly around you, asking for your advice in their experiments as your proud wife looks on. It is then that you realize that one of the apprentices is your own child, aged to adulthood. A voice can be heard in your mind saying, <span style="color: red">"Ahhh... Silas Eyrstan the Caernite. You have come such a long way to save your family. You should be in a study making discoveries that will benefit your people, not stuck trekking through the mud risking your life. What happens to your family should you fall? And fall you will, Silas, unless you give this life up. I can guide you to safety and show you knowledge you've only dreamt. All you have to do is forget this quest, abjurer. Turn around, and see to the family that needs you."</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Silas stood, rooted to the spot. His hand grasped his quarterstaff with such force that his knuckles turned white. Except for that grip he seemed to tremble. Very slowly he turned, looking back the way the group has come, back towards the remnants of once proud Dorinthia. Tears began to leak from his eyes but then, slowly, his mouth set in a grim frown, jaw clenched tightly. Quietly murmuring to himself Silas said, <span style="color: orange">" 'Kill everyone', you said, Astraughlay. As much as I want to, I can't turn back now."</span> Slowly, with great effort, Silas turned back towards the dome. Speaking loudly, <span style="color: orange">"Friends, this evil creature makes promises he can't keep."</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">With quarterstaff and boots ringing on the broken pavement beneath his feet, Silas strode forward.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">The party followed,denying the voice in their heads his victory. A screeching noise could be heard, and soon the visions clear, revealing the interior of the dome once again. A crack formed on the surface of the large, black sphere and smoke began to billow out from it. They had defeated the sphere's illusions and passed their trials against falsehood, fear, and temptation.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Down the stairs bounded a large, bald humanoid that looked like a patchwork of muscles and flesh, and hiding behind him was a robed, frightened gnome with a worn, pointed hat. <span style="color: red">"Go away,"</span> the gnome yelled in common. With a nervous chuckle he said, <span style="color: red">"We're not interested in whatever your selling."</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">He looked quite mad.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Question from Fenris, Dartis' player: Mad like crazy?</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">DM's answer: Crazy. Like loco. His deck of many things is missing a few cards.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Dartis' player: Two tacos short of a combination plate. Got it.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: seagreen">"A madness has gripped you gnome,"</span> Kel said as he cautiously moved forward at an angle to force the gnome to fight on more than one front. <span style="color: seagreen">"And we mean to rid you of it one way or another. I beseech you Huntress <em>Bless</em> us in this endeavour,"</span> the feral looking priest cried as he thrusted the petrified claw he used for his focus skyward. Suddenly, emerald energy burst from the symbol and flowed over the elf and his companions, leaving sparkling motes of energy dancing across their bodies.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Blinking away tears at a second loss of his kingdom, Dartis pulled back his bow. <span style="color: Green">"We are selling nothing. But we have a large measure of justice to deliver," </span> he replies as he loosed a pair of arrows at the old gnome.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Silas stopped and watched the patchwork humanoid for a moment. <span style="color: orange">"That must be the golem,"</span> he said to no one in particular. Flexing his left hand in preparation for spell-casting he waited for the creature to advance. DM's Note: I was hoping that the party would work together to knock the flesh golem into the pit of magical fire, but I had to let them work it out.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Dartis' two arrows surprised everyone, both slamming into the flesh golem. The creature bellowed and charged forward, but Silas' <em>burning hands</em> spell slowed it so that it was still a few steps away from the bowman and unable to attack him.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Kel's sword screeched as the elf drew it from its scabbard. <span style="color: seagreen">"Huntress be my shield,"</span> he intoned as he tapped the claw that hung around his throat upon his forearm and prepared himself to engage the enemy.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">He had cast <em>Shield of Faith +2</em>.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: orange">"Not quite what I was hoping for,"</span> murmured Silas. Filing the information about the golem away in his head, Silas took a step back and cast <em>Shield</em> upon himself.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Rix moved quickly away from the golem creature, <span style="color: sienna"><em>Let them deal with the lackey...</em></span> He aimed his crossbow at the gnome and loosed the bolt.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Dartis fired two more shots, his first bouncing off the flesh golem's skin, while his next embedded itself deep into its neck. Alexander got into the act, getting in close and slashing at it with his blades, but missed. Still, he drove the creature back, a few feet closer to the pit. In retaliation, the flesh golem punched Alexander, knocking the wind out of the half-orc and bringing him to his knees. Alexander began to wonder if a direct attack was really in his best interest.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Rix fired his crossbow bolt, nailing the gnome as the crazy man ran up the stairs. He screeched in pain, but was still able to cast a spell. Rix saw a number of images appear around the gnome, each looking like an eerie twin.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Kel, sword gripped loosely in his hand, moved cautiosuly forward into a postion where he could attack the golem.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Alexander charged upwards, intent on meeting the gnome in single combat.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Silas' eyes darted from the golem to the pit and back again. <span style="color: orange">"Push him back!"</span> he hollered. Glancing about and seeing his companions occupied in combat, Silas gritted his teeth then dashed forward to bull rush the monster. DM's Note: Yea realization! It was crazy that the wizard bull rushed the golem...</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">The gnome had three extra images around him when he appeared above the party on the platform. Rix fired, but misses badly. Dartis moved next, firing two arrows at the gnome, and impacting with one arrow, but it hit the wrong Astraughlay. The gnome's image disappeared, leaving him with two. With a chuckle, he cast a spell that caused a cone of colors to reach down towards the party, just barely enveloping Rix, who fell unconscious.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">The flesh golem raised a fist to crush Alexander, when Silas screamed and ram into the creature. Amazingly, the golem was partly lifted unto the abjurer's staff (DM's note: Natural 20 for Silas!, not so good an opposed roll by the flesh golem...) and knocked backwards to the edge of the pit. It swung at Silas, missing the wizard with a fist that glanced off his magical shield. With a frightened wail, the creature saw the flames of the pit that it was falling into and made a desperate grab, snagging Silas' robes. The two fell into the flames.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Kel arrived right as Silas went over the edge. As he peered down, he could see the abjurer desperately grasping for the side as he slid ever deeper into the flame. The flesh golem was frozen by contact with the fire, a look of pain and anguish stuck onto his face. His arm was also frozen, and it grasped Silas' robes in a unbreakable grip. Quickly thinking, Kel reached down and grabbed Silas' arm, preventing the magic-user from slipping further down into the fire, although the flames burned clothes and skin.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: seagreen">"Cut the robe. I can't hold the weight of both of you,"</span> Kel screamed as he desperately tried to pull Silas to solid ground.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Seeing Silas fall into the pit, Dartis quickly sprung into action. Judging that Alexander would keep the gnome busy for a bit, Dartis dashed over, his bow still in his left hand, his right quickly drew his trusty sword and the young noble reached down to cut the robe still being held by the foul construct.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Silas stared in amazement and horror down at the golem. He never imagined that such a creature could feel pain and anguish. He was frozen and somewhat sickened by the revelation and the result of his own action. Despite the pain of some burns, he was nearly oblivious to his own precarious situation. That quickly changed as Kel yelled and only as Dartis began cutting at his robe did Silas begin scrambling at his belt for his dagger.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Kel had trouble holding the weight of Silas and the creature, but kept Silas from being engulfed in the flames, though not from the abjurer being burned once more. Dartis fell next to Kel, and slashed at the robe, cutting a tear in it. Silas was forced to drop his quarterstaff in order to scramble out of the pit, but finally was free. The trio rolled outside of and away from the pit, and Silas extinguished the budding flames on his clothes before they became stronger.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">With a roar, Alexander charged the gnome, but after a few arcane words, the half-orc stopped in mid-charge, a friendly look on his face as he smiled at the man (DM's note: charmed).</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Player of Rix's note: Rix remained unconscious. Visions of sugar plum faeries danced... what?</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Kel rolled to his feet, grabbing his long sword from where it lay on the ground. <span style="color: seagreen">"You are a fool gnome,"</span> he shouted as he flung his hand forward. <span style="color: seagreen">"Huntress aid me, Huntress wrap him in your arms,"</span> he cried, his fingers poiting at the mad gnome with an entanglement spell.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Despite the pain from burns that he received, Silas reached around and pulled out his crossbow. He pushed back a shock of hair that had fallen into his eyes and then loaded a bolt into the weapon. With a look of grim determination, he took a step towards the gnome but stopped and fired.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Dartis fired two arrows, but both hit the two left over images, which were dispersed. Silas' shot went wide, missing the gnome. Kel's spell went off, and some buds of grass that were growing in some of the cracks in the platform suddenly grow taller and wrapped themselves around the gnome's ankles, immobolizing him and also Alexander. The gnome looked in fear at where the images were last and produced a wand while mumbling something. A mystical arrow appeared next to him and rushed at Dartis, striking him. The gnome then ducked, disappearing from view of those below the platform, although the charmed Alexander could still see him and pleaded for everyone to stop the violence.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Silas scanned the room to see if there was any way that he could circle around and cut off the gnome's line of retreat, but the only way that Silas could see the gnome escaping, was by one of the two stairs that led up to the platform, or by jumping down 15 feet.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Kel started to negotiate his way forward, trying to avoid the area with the vines and position himself so he could attack the gnome.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Dartis led the group upstairs, but once they got to the top of the platform, they saw no signs of him. The charmed Alexander said to the party, <span style="color: blue">"He disappeared!"</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">There was a cot in the corner, a workbench with some equipment on it, a bookcase, and the sphere, which was now leaking black smoke. Some patches of grass were overgrown near the far end of the platform, but the gnome was nowhere to be seen.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Below the platform, Rix became conscious, but was blinded and stunned, unsure of where he was or what was going on.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Dartis swore, <span style="color: Green">."Alright he either popped down a rabiit hole or turned invisible. Kel, you and I can look for any secret trap doors or whatnot he may have used. Silas, work on seeing if he's invisible, or waking up Alexander from that stupor he's in. Once Rix is on his feet again he can help search as well."</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Silas looked over at Alexander and frowned. <span style="color: orange"><em>How the...</em></span> He shook his head and turned his mind to the other problem set him by Dartis. Quickly figuring out what he needed to do, Silas stepped up to the edge of tall grass and cast <em>Detect Magic</em>. Beginning where the gnome was last seen, Silas began scanning the area for magical auras, looking especially for those illusionary in nature. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Rix groped about blindly for his crossbow and reloaded it just in case.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Before dropping his entanglement spell so that the party could better search for the gnome, Kel spent several seconds examining the area where the gnome last was, looking for any sign that he might perhaps still be entangled. <span style="color: seagreen">"Hold. Let's just make sure that he isn't invisible and still entangled before we go any further,"</span> he said to his companions. DM's Note: Clever player.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Kel noticed the grass looking strange around the place that the gnome was last seen, almost as if the twined blades of grass were shoes wrapped around an unseen person.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Silas saw a humanoid-like aura crouched down near some grass that was overgrowing on the platform. The grass was also glowing, but that was probably because of Kel's spell. He also noticed a glow from the black sphere. The humanoid-like aura was illusion-based, the grass was nature-based, and the black sphere's aura was divination-based.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Kel whispered to his friends, <span style="color: seagreen">"It is as I suspected. He is still trapped in the Huntress's thorny embrace."</span> As he talked, he sheathed his sword and unslung his longbow, nocking an arrow in preperation.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Dartis drew an arrow to his cheek. <span style="color: Green">"Just tell me where to shoot,"</span> he whispered back. <span style="color: Green">"Damn it Alexander, you let him get away!"</span> cried Dartis loudly.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Oblivious to the plan, and doing his best to maintain concentration on the <em>Detect Magic</em> spell, Silas said, <span style="color: orange">"There,"</span> and pointed towards the crouching gnome. He then dropped another bolt into his crossbow.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">When Silas yelled and pointed, an angry hiss was heard, then a magical arrow appeared and struck the abjurer as the gnome became visible before the party, wand in hand.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Kel fired his arrow in retaliation, but missed the gnome. Dartis fired next, two arrows flying in the air. Both slammed into the gnome with such force that he was ripped from the grass that held him and landed with a thud onto the ground. Blood quickly pooled underneath the gnome, and in his final weazing the party heard him say, <span style="color: red">"Beaten? I've been... beaten? This was ... not seen in ... sphere... Perhaps... perhaps some can... be saved... But... the greatest... greatest crime... will break you... as it... as it... did me... They will... betray... I saw... the great tree... burn..."</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Astraughley, master illusionist of the Loughphray gnomes, died with a shudder. But for a moment before he was silenced forever, so did his madness.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Rix recovered with the dying of the gnome. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Silas stared at the dead gnome a moment then sighed. The sense of relief he felt was considerable and he looked to see how his companions were faring. Once he had assured himself that everyone was still standing and faring tolerably well, he began looking around the hall with interest. The smoking sphere attracted his attention and he moved to investigate before Alexander got a whim to bash the thing to pieces.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Kel dropped his spell, unstrung his bow and secured it across his back. Then he cautiously walked forward and knelt beside the gnome, searching him for anything useful. <span style="color: seagreen">"Is everyone OK? Does anyone need to feel the healing touch of The Huntress?"</span> he asked after his search was finished.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Silas looked up when Kel spoke. He grinned. <span style="color: orange">"Well, I'm still standing so I guess I'm ok. But I'm feeling a bit singed. And that golem struck Alexander pretty hard. It's no wonder he's been wandering around like a witless loon."</span> He chuckled but looked to see if Alexander had shaken off the effects of the spell.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Green">"yeah, Rix is awake now at least and seems to be getting better. But Alexander did get hit pretty hard. I'm fine,"</span> said Dartis as he headed over to prod the dead gnome with his sword and ensure that the gnome was indeed dead and not an illusion.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Healing not being his forte, Dartis began to search the surroundings. Seeing Silas eyeing the sphere he issued a caution. <span style="color: Green">"Silas, whatever that blasphemous thing is, or was created to do, I can't claim to know. But that thing was obviously what drove Astraughley mad. I think it best to leave it alone, I don't want you to suffer the same fate as he,"</span> Dartis emphasized the last point by kicking the dead gnome.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Rix and Alexander recovered, joining the party by the sphere as the last of the black smoke inside rolled and began to pour out of the broken glass. A final image could be seen briefly inside the darkness, and was that of a great tree covered in flame. The size of the tree caused it to be a great conflagaration, which looked as if it may soon burn into the surrounding forest. A group of elves looked on, their eyes wide in horror. The image soon disappeared, and the sphere then became empty and useless. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Kel recognized the burning great tree as the ancient tree of his homeland. As he watched the image, one of the elven figures gave a cry of anguish and fell to his knees. His face was young, but tight with stress beyond his elven features. As Kel concentrated on the figure, the face turned towards the viewer. Kel knew that he stared at himself. The image of the future Kel disappeared with the last wisp of smoke.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Kel shook his head in shock as the image faded away. <span style="color: seagreen">"Even in his death he plays tricks on my mind,"</span> he cursed with anger. After a moment he moved over to his injured friends and called on the power of The Huntress to heal them.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">A search of the gnome revealed a jewelled electrum dagger estimated to be worth about 200 gp. It looked more ornamental and gnomish in design. A search of the bookcase seemed appealing at first, especially since the party immediately found two garnets in a dish worth 10gp each. Further searches revealed nothing but trash, much of it half-eaten meals from the gnomes disgusting diet of nearby rodents.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">The gnome's corpse had the wand that he was creating magical floating arrows with. It also had seven copper pieces, a scroll with arcane symbols on it, two flasks of an unknown liquid, and a tome with the pages filled with a more arcane language.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Besides the ever-burning flesh golem below, there was nothing else that the party found of interest... except, of course the various images of flying elves etched into the walls.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Dismayed by the image in the sphere, Silas turned away. As his companions searched the area he studies the images on the walls with growing enthusiasm, especially since ancient civilizations appealed to his training as a Caernite scholar. He almost had to be dragged away to check the writings on the scroll and in the book but he planned to do so. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Silas walked around, noting the interesting carvings etched into the walls of the dome. Unlike dwarven carvings which are completely dug out, the humanoid forms presented were done with the externally thick lines that were then filled with a small number of fine, thin lines.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Most of the carvings depicted some unknown historical events, such as the meetings conducted between different delegations of winged elves. The more recent-looking carving showed the winged elves bringing gifts to other humanoids, such as dwarves, orcs, and humans. These were followed by scenes of wars and battles, scenes of more delegations, followed by more battles, fields of dead non-elven humanoids, and finally by wingless elves walking over the ruins of elven settlements.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Silas returned from studying the images on the walls to the gathering of his companions and friends. <span style="color: orange">"I've been thinking. Perhaps we should either bury the gnome or carry his body back for the gnomes to bury. He used to be friends with Horacios."</span> Silas glanced towards the pit. <span style="color: orange">"And maybe we should finish off that golem. When I pushed it into the pit it had such a look of fear and pain on its face. I hesitate to leave it like it is, and yet, I don't want it to run free, either."</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Rix scowled at his being denied his pleasure, he walked up the platform, pointed his loaded crossbow down at the gnome, and plugged the bolt point blank into the corpse just for sure. <span style="color: sienna">"Let us take him back and show them that they were the cause of their own destruction."</span> He smirked at the irony of the situation.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Green">"Kind of like the Dragon clan was, right Rix?" </span> Added Dartis.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">The party returned to the gnomish hills as heroes to the people, as the adventurers were able to finish the forces that had menaced the demihumans. Astraughlay Kondeeistreigh was returned to his people to be buried as the villian he became, and not as the man he once was. As a reward for your services, each member was rewarded with the remnants of the gnome coffers: coins adding up to 300gp each.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Also, Silas had his old staff replaced with a masterwork version fit for himself. The gnomes also design a masterwork crossbow for Rix to replace his old one. Alexander was given a <em>potion of cure medium wounds</em> since he has a tendency to be at the wrong side of a weapon. Dartis' bow was reworked in order to give it a stronger pull (now gave a +1 strength bonus to damage). And Kel worked with the local priests to help give the dead proper funerals. In return, he was allowed to keep three vials of antitoxin and two vials of holy water.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">The gnomes also identified some of the spoils from the last battle. The jewelled dagger was not magical, and neither were the garnets. The party was given 200gp for these items, just below their maximum value and a far better price than they would get anywhere else.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">The two flasks were <em>potions of bless</em>, while the wand was one of magic missile with 48 charges left. The scroll was a <em>scroll of protection from arrows</em>. DM's note: In retrospect, I should have had the gnome read it before the battle.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">The spellbook Silas recovered had the following spells:</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">All 0 level spells from PHB.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">1st level: Detect Secret Doors, Identify, Charm Person, Color Spray, Disguise Self, Nystul's Magical Aura, Silent Image, Ventriloquism, Cause Fear</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">2nd level: Locate Object, See Invisibility, Blur, Hypnotic Pattern, Invisibility, Mirror Image</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">3rd level: Displacement</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">DM's note: Too bad that he made illusion and necromancy blocked spheres. I had no intention of screwing Silas over, but he chose the blocked spheres after I had chosen the protaganists in chapter 2, a necromancer kobold and illusionist gnome. Since Silas could not go to a wizard's school, he had to learn spells from what he found.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">The party made their way safely home, their trip uneventful, and the adventurers stronger for their experience.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Thus Ends Chapter 2 - Illusions</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Characters had now levelled up to 3rd.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: Blue"><span style="color: Blue">Next: Chapter 3 - The Imperials</span></span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Deuce Traveler, post: 3440557, member: 34958"] [b]End of Chapter 2- Illusions[/b] [COLOR=Blue]"So it was elves who built the chair, and twisted by kobolds into a mockery of what it was, blanking minds instead of enriching them." [I]They should have known, enriching of the soul comes from experience, not from the knowledge of the dead.[/I] [COLOR=Blue]"Sad."[/COLOR] Alexander shook his head. There was still work to do. Mad or not, that gnome was capable of horrendous aberrations. That was not to be permitted, and now that he knew that they had effectively been fighting against risen living dead, a feeling of genuine anger was born, along with simpathy for the gnomes' situation. [color=blue][I]This war is bringing the same plague to each and every pack, the circle of life is being mocked at at every corner.[/I] "We'll need any help you can provide, 'cause we are bringing him down."[/COLOR] Again anger showed on his face despite a crooked half-smile. Kel trembled, visibly shaken by the thoughts of what his ancestors had wrought. [color=seagreen]"I will help,"[/color] he said, his voice wavering with pent up emotion. [color=seagreen]"It seems only fitting that one of the elf race should put an end to this blasphemy."[/color] Silas was grim-faced and silent. [color=orange][i]Will these threats to our safety never be put to rest?[/i][/color] Finally he spoke up. [color=orange]"Of course you can count me among those who go to confront this renegade."[/color] Silas took little of the gnomes' supplies, knowing that they would need what they had to recover from the attacks that had nearly destroyed their homes. Silas approached Alexander: [color=orange]"By your leave, I would like to use my magics to see what can be learned about the elven armor that you now wear."[/color] [COLOR=Blue]"Read the runes if you can,"[/COLOR] answered Alexander to Silas' request, not caring much, but not devoid of interest. Silas also wanted to check out the rune-filled book that was taken from the kobold leader. Silas casts his spell and the words on the armor and book form for him. He realized that Kel was very close. The armor said 'Larinthree, the Tree of Life'. As for the book, the abjurer realized instantly that it was a spellbook with the following spells: [i]ghost sound, read magic, detect magic, disrupt undead, touch of fatigue, burning hands, color spray, cause fear, chill touch, ray of enfeeblement, scorching ray, spectral hand, mirror image.[/i] The party began to gather supplies, restocking on food, water, and ammunition. Horacios was kind enough to cast a [i]detect magic[/i] on Alexander's new armor, but it came up with a negative result. Now, curious, Alexander asked for Silas' opinion. [COLOR=Blue]"Does it say why an elven armorer would have this built, for a larger body?"[/COLOR] Silas looked perplexed. [color=orange]"I'm afraid that I'm only able to decipher the runes. Which, incidentally, read 'Larinthree, the Tree of Life'. Why the elves forged armor so much larger than their body type, I don't know. Maybe Kel or another elf would know. Or perhaps a bard might know some history of the armor. Maybe it was intended for this golem Horacios mentioned. Ah, which reminds me..."[/color] Silas fell silent as he seemed to retreat into his thoughts. Absent-mindedly he wandered off, muttering about golems and peering about the gnomes' warrens. The abjurer wracked his brains for all the information that he knew or had heard about golems. After that, he sought out Horacios to see if the gnome could offer some information about golems and Astraughlay's abilities as a wizard to help prepare them for the upcoming confrontation. Horacios and Silas moved sadly through the remains of the gnomish library, picking through some of the more helpful tomes about golems. The two discovered that flesh golems were invulnerable to most magic, although fire and cold would slow them and electricity would heal them. It was possible that bathing a flesh golem in constantly burning magical flame would disable the creature, but that was something beyond the duo. Afterwards, Silas pored over the kobold's spellbook which was written partially in the arcane language of magic and also partly with scribbled notes in draconic. The abjurer realized that with a kobold in the party, Silas would be able to learn all the spells outside of his forbidden spheres if Rix agreed to help decipher the text. One spell could be learned automatically for each spell Rix agreed to help with. Silas doubted that he could withstand the withering scorn and abuse that Rix would heap upon him the entire time they were working on the spells. And he doubted that Rix would agree to it anyway. So Silas contented himself with using [i]Read Magic[/i] and [i]Comprehend Languages[/i], and just doing a quick skim of the material. Alexander realized he hadn't a fixed opinion about Silas. He was for sure a brave man, and a smart one... but the half-orc didn't really know how to feel about the absent look which sometimes invaded his eyes. Alexander, since birth, had been accustomed to emotional reactions and clear, practical thought, the kind of thought The Hunt required. [color=blue][i]Strange... maybe he had someone close to him die? He is far too different from those called scholars to be one of them. I'll better ask him, later. It is dangerous for an adventurer to constantly be lost in thought.[/i][/color][i][/i] Even though he didn't usually care about these personal matters, of late he and Kel had been the main guides of the party. He was starting to feel somehow as a pack leader, and therefore he cared about the pack. The party was able to find the following from what the gnomes scavenged off their dead, and the gnolls and goblins: Medium-size equipment: 13 Battle-axes 10 Spears 2 Longspears 6 Maces 3 Morningstars 4 Clubs 15 Daggers 3 Longbows 2 Crossbows 27 Arrows 19 Crossbow Bolts 16 Backpacks 10 Suits of Studded Leather 3 Large Wooden Shields 27 Rations, Trail 14 Waterskins Small Sized: 12 Suits of Padded Armor 10 Suits of Leather 4 Chain Shirts 3 Suits of Studded Leather 20 Wooden Bucklers 15 Hand-Axes 5 Battle-Axes 5 Short Swords 10 Small Crossbows 100 Crossbow Bolts 50 Rations, Trail 25 Waterskins Finally, the leader of the gnomes pulled Dartis aside once the party made their preparations and said, [color=purple]"Young noble, be careful out there. We've recently put some 2-gnome patrols out to search the area and one was ambushed a short while ago. Poor Draphreen was attacked and dragged off by some large, giggling monster before his friend could come to his aid. We found the corpse, or most of it. His arm had been torn off, gnawed clean of the flesh clear to the bone, and left a few hundred feet away. The patrols never did find his head. Again, be careful out there. I don't know where this giggling creature came from, but it seems there are worse things out there now than kobolds."[/color] Loughphray spoke mechanically, his eyes distant as if from shock. Accepting only some rations and waterskins as payment, Kel withdrew himself from the company of the others. [color=seagreen]"I will be outside in the open. You will find me before departing,"[/color] the last said as a statment; not a question. Harindan Loughphray chased down Kel, and looked at him in shock as the priest interrupted his discussion with Dartis to delcare he would sleep outside. [color=purple]"Alone? By the gods, Dartis! Is your friend mad? Did you not tell him about our slain patrolman?"[/color] Pausing at the words of Harindan the solemn elf replied, [color=seagreen]"Then I will be just inside the cave entrance and it will be the easier for me to be found,"[/color] he dropped his head and starts to walk, deep in thought. [color=seagreen]"I yearn for the feel of the skies above me. I must at least step outside for a moment."[/color] DM's Note: I decided not to have the elf killed by a troll. Silas listened in concern as Dartis related the information he got from Harindan about the slain patrolman. [color=orange]"Do you think the troll may have followed us? I'm not certain golems can giggle or I would think it..."[/color] Silas abruptly paused. [color=orange]"My guess would be that it is an illusion sent by Astraughley."[/color] Again Silas paused. [color=orange]"Wait. Didn't the troll that got loose at the kobold lair giggle as it killed the kobolds? If this is it then I feel some responsibility for leading the creature back here."[/color] He took a deep breath. [color=orange]"I think we should hunt it down and kill it."[/color] DM's Note: Noble, but suicidal unless they had a plan. The characters were 2nd level. As they continued to talk, Silas related the information that he had learned about golems and recommended carrying torches or flammable oil, if they could find any. [COLOR=Blue]"Spending the night outside will be enough to lure the creature,"[/COLOR] Alexander commented, on the hunting of the troll. [COLOR=Blue]"If we can prepare the terrain ahead of time, the better."[/COLOR] After some discussion, the party instead decided to step out into the wild and follow Horacios' directions, keeping a watch out for a troll attack that never came. It took three slightly uneventful nights to travel to the large lake silhouetted by five large peaks, although Rix swore something was giggling outside the camp during his watch on the last night. After heading towards the second peak from the left, the party found itself circumventing the lake and walking along a tree-covered ridge. Soon the trees became a string of petrified wood which created a thick canopy over their heads. After several more minutes, the party realized that underneath the dirt beneath their feet was hardened cobblestones, much eroded due to the passage of time. They saw the cobblestoned path raise at a slight angle, only to plateau ahead of them after a few hundred feet and about fifteen feet higher than their position. Five hundred feet past the beginning of this plateau could be seen a dome-like structure, the glow of a flickering fire highlighting a doorway. Also on the plateau, the adventurers could see two rows of thin, square pillars with motifs unnoticeable from the distance. As they approached, they noted that most of the light of the fading evening was not penetrating the canopy of petrified trees above them. They also couldn't help the feeling that they were somehow being watched. Dartis maintained an uneasy lookout as they approached. His arrow was nocked and ready. [COLOR=Green]"This place is old, and though your kinsmen made it Kel, it is no longer of their work nor wholesome in the least. Come Silas, let us light a torch in preparation of night. I fear we are already known and the light will not betray us further,"[/COLOR] said Dartis. He now wore the masterwork chainmail that was left after Alexander discovered the elven chain. Silas lit a torch. [color=orange]"Perhaps we should make a camp before travelling further."[/color] [COLOR=Blue]"We wouldn't be able to see any better by day,"[/COLOR] answered Alexander as he pointed towards the petrified canopy. [COLOR=Blue]"This place..."[/COLOR] he took a moment to breathe before the magnificience of the construction, having never before seen a building greater in architecture than a fort. [COLOR=Blue]"Lets keep moving then."[/COLOR] The party made last minute preparations before continuing, with Silas walking with his staff in his right hand and his lit torch in his left. Because of a slight breeze, the flame casted strange shadows from the pillars that jumped and danced with each twist of the fire. No animals were heard as the adventurers continued on, just a deathly silence and a chilly wind that caused some to shiver involuntarily. The party walked the upward slope and reached the beginning of the plateau. The pillars showed carvings of elven figures with wings, flying upwards in between symbols of the sun, moon, and trees. Alexander and Dartis took another step forward in order to get a better look, when a bright flash of light temporarily blinded everyone. Message to party: Your vision clears and you gasp in amazement. The trees have become wooden and beautiful, with bright, warm sunlight peering down upon you from a clear sky above you. These strong, tall trees grow on either side of you, making a majestic mockery of the overgrown, petrified monstrosities that you had previously walked under. All around you are elves, but of a kind you've only heard in faery tales. Their beauty tears at your heart as these winged sylvan creatures fly gracefully around you, some circling you playfully as childish laughter reaches your ears. The pillars next to you gleam from the sunlight with a polished finish, showing the skills of craftsmen greater than you thought possible. A delegation of female winged elves land in front of you, blocking the view of the path ahead with their formation. They smile at you as they approach with crowns made of leaves, a beautiful song of peace issuing forth from their red lips. Pale arms reach out, crown you, and touch you, while tender eyes look at you with wonder and promise. They speak in a rythm that seems like song, [color=white][b]"Heroes, welcome. You have passed our test of courage and found the hidden observatory of the Larinthree elves. I know you are confused, but we've been affecting your minds from afar. Your kingdom still exists, and your friends are unharmed. We have need of such men as you, but first you deserve to enjoy the rest of true heroes. Come with us to the lake and join our dance. Let us tend to you, brave Dorinthians, and give you the joy that you deserve. We have been waiting for heroes to come to our land for so long."[/b][/color][b][/b] Dartis stood in shock for a heart beat. He then spoke slowly and distinctly. [COLOR=Green]"Yes, yes, Dorinthia still stands. But only here," [/COLOR] he said, placing his fist on his chest. [COLOR=Green]"No witchcraft or sorcery could casue me to falsely witness or to ever forget the screams of a thousand dying countrymen upon the fields of Kalden. Yes indeed heroes have come, but not for the foul purposes you have lain your webs. Never will I forget Kalden, Never will I forget Kalnian, Never will I forget Dorinthia and I will not have you defiling the proud memory of a proud people,"[/COLOR] ended Dartis in a shout. Breathless, chest heaving from emotion, Dartis screamed again. [COLOR=Green]"We have come for you Astraughlay! And I will see you lay as carrion and offal for the vultures for your mockery here! Do you hear me Astraughlay! Oh yes, a pleasing display, one that would entice any man. But you have failed to account for Dorinthian pride, honor and heritage. Dorinthia lives indeed, she lives in me! So take your toys and play with them yourself. You have failed Astraughlay! We have come for you,"[/COLOR] finished Dartis, tears streaming down his face. Dorinthia lived, he so wanted to believe it, he so wanted it to be true. But the blood, the stench of war, the cries and screams of battle, he knew it could not be so. But if only it could, if only it could. If only his family were indeed safe, if only his home still stood. If only he could believe this paradise. He wanted to but Dorinthia called him, called him to be true. [color=blue][I]Huntress... Guide me...[/I][/color] Alexander stepped forth, and as Dartis proclaimed his truth, Alexander intoned his in a crescendo... first a low whisper... then his voice... then his declaration of loyalty to his quest. The prey was marked. Nothing else remained to be said. [COLOR=Blue]"[SIZE=2]My conviction is stronger today As I fight to uncover you, unholy lie And the fear isn't going away As the warriors still die[/size] [SIZE=4]Damnation a moment away in my eyes If we give in to control for the sake of your unholy lie It's doom for the Circle and for us all[/SIZE] [B][SIZE=4]Don't you know the war is far from over now The Circle must remain unbroken Brothers die defending The Hunt![/SIZE][/B]" [COLOR=Blue][B]"The Hunt is eternal. [SIZE=5]We are on the chase tonight[/SIZE]"[/B][/COLOR] Alexander smashed his fist against the emblazened tree on his armor, and moved foward along with Dartis. [color=blue][I]The circle can't go back, unharmed friends? No, dead friends. The circle can't go back.[/I][/color] Silas gazed at the wonders around him in surprise and no small amount of growing joy. However, when Dartis stepped forward and began his emotion-filled cry, soon followed by Alexander's own roar of defiance, he realized they were right. [color=white][I]"...You have passed our test of courage..."[/I][/color][I] they said, but any who would recreate the horrors of war in another's mind in such a fashion cannot be good.[/I] Quietly Silas murmured, [color=orange]"Either they speak true and are heartless creatures, touched of evil, or they lie or are the lies of a madman given illusionary life. Either way they are no friends of mine."[/color] Silas smiled grimly. [color=orange]"You just made an error, Astraughlay."[/color] Kel stood motionless and silent while the sylvan delegation delivered their writ. His eyes glazed over and his lips started to silently move, a prayer to the Huntress bubbling from his lips without being vocalized. The wild elf's eyes took on a haunted look, his body started to shake, his muscles trembling, a tear slowly rolled down his smooth, chiseled cheek. [color=seagreen]"This can not be,"[/color] he said as Dartis started his impassioned speech. [color=seagreen]"This is a falsehood. Surely we would know of the existence of our winged brethren?"[/color] Kel said bewildered, his eyes darting around the clearing trying to find evidence of the deception. Kel looked around for evidence that there was an illusion, and noticed the scene pause and flicker, becoming less 'real' when his companions spoke and moved bravely forward. The priest followed, although somewhere in his mind something about these elves rang true... he remembered stories told to him when he was young about when elves soared, but passed them as children's tales. The winged elves pleaded and begged that the party would not continue, their cries becoming more shrill and desperate as they pushed forward. Finally the scene in front of the group seemed to melt away, and with a cry, so did the beautiful elves, their colors merging into an angry, gigantic face of a gnome. His hair twisted and writhed with fire, his teeth black, and his eye wild and insane. [color=red]"Turn back pigs,"[/color] he screamed in a demonic voice. [color=red]"Turn back or be slaughtered like the cattle you are."[/color] An unnatural fear rose inside of the party as the large head floated above the adventurers, the terrain cast into a reddish hue from the heat and glow of his hair. The group now was halfway to the dome. Kel struggled forward, each step like a stab through his heart, his companions a blur through the tears that stung his eyes. His heart beated heavy in his chest and his breathing became laboured as he struggled to draw great gasping breaths into his lungs. He stumbled as Astraughlay's image broke the illusion. [color=seagreen]"Confirmation. Betrayal. Lies,"[/color] the elf hunter cried as he shook his head and pulled his longsword from its scabbard. [color=seagreen]"Retribution,"[/color] he growled as he stepped forward, death promised in his hard, steely eyes. Rix smirked at the face of the gnome, they always failed to know the right way to bait a trap. He checked the bolt in his crossbow and waited. The party's defiance caused the face to fall in surprise, ripple, and fade away. The petrified forest returned to sight as they remembered it, and the adventurers saw that they were now more than halfway across the elevated walkway. They walked further towards the dome, its interior flickering orange with the glow of a strange fire. As they stepped into the wide doorway, they saw that the inside of the once-great dome was littered with dirt and mud, with a pit full of an unnaturally pure-orange, silent flame in the center. A raised platform was held up by several wooden columns. A winding staircase started near the fire and reached upwards to the opposite side of the dome, where it touched the above platform's floor. Just underneath a tall, open ceiling was a black glass sphere resting on this second floor. As eyes fell onto it, it swirled with a interior inky smoke and suddenly each adventurers' vision was blinded by another flash of light. What Rix saw: You see an image of yourself sitting on a throne deep in caves of beautiful kobold craftmanship. Several females attend to you, and two kobolds from rival clans kneel below you in a gesture of respect and servitude. You hear a voice in your mind. [color=red]"It can be yours, Vaerixsjach, lost of the kobolds. They need not be made into living zombies to serve you. All will know the power and genious of Vaerixsjach, and I can show you how to make them respect you. How to make them obey. All you need to do is turn around and forget these gnomes, and the path to leadership is yours. Turn around Vaerixsjach. You owe them nothing, but I would owe you so much."[/color] [color=sienna]"Now that is a delightful image, petty and unimaginative though. Not that I wouldn't like it, but I'd prefer it if there were a number of gnomes spitted around me in the image, particularly you right in the center."[/color] Rix smiled maliciously, [color=sienna]"Lead on. There's at least one gnome that I'm finally going to get to kill and nothing is going to stop me."[/color] What Kel saw: You have returned home, wiser and honored among the elven people. You hold something wrapped in cloth in your arms, and a voice speaks inside your head, [color=red]"In your hands can be the works of an ancient race of elves, now forgotten in all but children's tales. You can bring honor to your family name, and peace with the Dorinthians and neighbors. All you need to do is forget this quest, Kel, honored of the Huntress. Kel, I have seen the future of your people. They will burn, Kel, and I can't stop it alone. Turn around from this mission, priest, and become my tool to save your race."[/color] [color=seagreen]"AAAIIIIIIEEEEEE,"[/color] Kel cried, his voice ringing with pain. [color=seagreen]"Get out of my head gnome,"[/color] he managed with gasping, ragged breaths. [color=seagreen]"Evil incarnate, this can not be!"[/color] The elf steadied himself and his voise rung out in defiance. [color=seagreen]"You will perpetrate this abomination no longer gnome,"[/color] he shouted. [color=seagreen]"We are your doom!"[/color] What Alexander saw: You see yourself in a woodsman's home by a beautiful lake. It takes a moment to realize that it is the clear lake you used to jump in as a child. Several strong, young men who look simalar to you work happily on a nearby boat, while a familiar woman of beauty wraps her arms around you tenderly. A voice is heard inside your head. [color=red]"Alexander, the Lady's champion. It is a dark road you will travel, and your dreams will not become reality. Unless you help me. Alexander, turn back. You need not die here. Do an old man this favor, and I promise that I can help guide you to the future you deserve. A quiet home, strong boys, and Syra Dorin as your wife. In my visions I see her suffering before she dies. Work for me, Alexander, and we can create a future deserving of your courage. I can show you how to save her and live happily ever after. She deserves no less."[/color] What Dartis saw: Men surround you and the mighty, white charger you ride, chanting your name as they pump their fists in joy. You wear the emblem of Dorinthia on your chest, as do they. The capital of the Tallione Empire lies before you, it's gates breached and your flag now flying on its battlements. A boy comes up to you and offers a crown as a voice says, [color=red]"Yes, Dartis Kalnian. This is a vision of what can be. The Dorinthian kingdom returning from the ashes in even greater glory than before, like a pheonix from the ashes. I can tell you how to make this happen, my lord. I can tell you where the few, lost survivors of your kingdom are before they are completely exterminated. You can reach them in time and bring them to safety in your new village. Just do an old man a favor. Turn around and forget this quest, and I will grant you this boon."[/color] Dartis listened enraptured by the vision spinning in his head. He was lost within the beautiful vision, reveling in it's glory. His heart's every desire. To have it all come crashing down as the vision faded away, replaced again by the mundane dreariness of the ancient temple. Dartis stood crestfallen and heartbroken, ashamed to have been tricked, but more sorrowful yet that the vision in his mind would not, could not be true. What Silas saw: You are reading by a window in a large estate, a study full of magical books spread out before your smiling face. Several young apprentices bustle quickly around you, asking for your advice in their experiments as your proud wife looks on. It is then that you realize that one of the apprentices is your own child, aged to adulthood. A voice can be heard in your mind saying, [color=red]"Ahhh... Silas Eyrstan the Caernite. You have come such a long way to save your family. You should be in a study making discoveries that will benefit your people, not stuck trekking through the mud risking your life. What happens to your family should you fall? And fall you will, Silas, unless you give this life up. I can guide you to safety and show you knowledge you've only dreamt. All you have to do is forget this quest, abjurer. Turn around, and see to the family that needs you."[/color] Silas stood, rooted to the spot. His hand grasped his quarterstaff with such force that his knuckles turned white. Except for that grip he seemed to tremble. Very slowly he turned, looking back the way the group has come, back towards the remnants of once proud Dorinthia. Tears began to leak from his eyes but then, slowly, his mouth set in a grim frown, jaw clenched tightly. Quietly murmuring to himself Silas said, [color=orange]" 'Kill everyone', you said, Astraughlay. As much as I want to, I can't turn back now."[/color] Slowly, with great effort, Silas turned back towards the dome. Speaking loudly, [color=orange]"Friends, this evil creature makes promises he can't keep."[/color] With quarterstaff and boots ringing on the broken pavement beneath his feet, Silas strode forward. The party followed,denying the voice in their heads his victory. A screeching noise could be heard, and soon the visions clear, revealing the interior of the dome once again. A crack formed on the surface of the large, black sphere and smoke began to billow out from it. They had defeated the sphere's illusions and passed their trials against falsehood, fear, and temptation. Down the stairs bounded a large, bald humanoid that looked like a patchwork of muscles and flesh, and hiding behind him was a robed, frightened gnome with a worn, pointed hat. [color=red]"Go away,"[/color] the gnome yelled in common. With a nervous chuckle he said, [color=red]"We're not interested in whatever your selling."[/color] He looked quite mad. Question from Fenris, Dartis' player: Mad like crazy? DM's answer: Crazy. Like loco. His deck of many things is missing a few cards. Dartis' player: Two tacos short of a combination plate. Got it. [color=seagreen]"A madness has gripped you gnome,"[/color] Kel said as he cautiously moved forward at an angle to force the gnome to fight on more than one front. [color=seagreen]"And we mean to rid you of it one way or another. I beseech you Huntress [I]Bless[/I] us in this endeavour,"[/color] the feral looking priest cried as he thrusted the petrified claw he used for his focus skyward. Suddenly, emerald energy burst from the symbol and flowed over the elf and his companions, leaving sparkling motes of energy dancing across their bodies. Blinking away tears at a second loss of his kingdom, Dartis pulled back his bow. [COLOR=Green]"We are selling nothing. But we have a large measure of justice to deliver," [/COLOR] he replies as he loosed a pair of arrows at the old gnome. Silas stopped and watched the patchwork humanoid for a moment. [color=orange]"That must be the golem,"[/color] he said to no one in particular. Flexing his left hand in preparation for spell-casting he waited for the creature to advance. DM's Note: I was hoping that the party would work together to knock the flesh golem into the pit of magical fire, but I had to let them work it out. Dartis' two arrows surprised everyone, both slamming into the flesh golem. The creature bellowed and charged forward, but Silas' [i]burning hands[/i] spell slowed it so that it was still a few steps away from the bowman and unable to attack him. Kel's sword screeched as the elf drew it from its scabbard. [color=seagreen]"Huntress be my shield,"[/color] he intoned as he tapped the claw that hung around his throat upon his forearm and prepared himself to engage the enemy. He had cast [i]Shield of Faith +2[/i]. [color=orange]"Not quite what I was hoping for,"[/color] murmured Silas. Filing the information about the golem away in his head, Silas took a step back and cast [i]Shield[/i] upon himself. Rix moved quickly away from the golem creature, [color=sienna][i]Let them deal with the lackey...[/i][/color] He aimed his crossbow at the gnome and loosed the bolt. Dartis fired two more shots, his first bouncing off the flesh golem's skin, while his next embedded itself deep into its neck. Alexander got into the act, getting in close and slashing at it with his blades, but missed. Still, he drove the creature back, a few feet closer to the pit. In retaliation, the flesh golem punched Alexander, knocking the wind out of the half-orc and bringing him to his knees. Alexander began to wonder if a direct attack was really in his best interest. Rix fired his crossbow bolt, nailing the gnome as the crazy man ran up the stairs. He screeched in pain, but was still able to cast a spell. Rix saw a number of images appear around the gnome, each looking like an eerie twin. Kel, sword gripped loosely in his hand, moved cautiosuly forward into a postion where he could attack the golem. Alexander charged upwards, intent on meeting the gnome in single combat. Silas' eyes darted from the golem to the pit and back again. [color=orange]"Push him back!"[/color] he hollered. Glancing about and seeing his companions occupied in combat, Silas gritted his teeth then dashed forward to bull rush the monster. DM's Note: Yea realization! It was crazy that the wizard bull rushed the golem... The gnome had three extra images around him when he appeared above the party on the platform. Rix fired, but misses badly. Dartis moved next, firing two arrows at the gnome, and impacting with one arrow, but it hit the wrong Astraughlay. The gnome's image disappeared, leaving him with two. With a chuckle, he cast a spell that caused a cone of colors to reach down towards the party, just barely enveloping Rix, who fell unconscious. The flesh golem raised a fist to crush Alexander, when Silas screamed and ram into the creature. Amazingly, the golem was partly lifted unto the abjurer's staff (DM's note: Natural 20 for Silas!, not so good an opposed roll by the flesh golem...) and knocked backwards to the edge of the pit. It swung at Silas, missing the wizard with a fist that glanced off his magical shield. With a frightened wail, the creature saw the flames of the pit that it was falling into and made a desperate grab, snagging Silas' robes. The two fell into the flames. Kel arrived right as Silas went over the edge. As he peered down, he could see the abjurer desperately grasping for the side as he slid ever deeper into the flame. The flesh golem was frozen by contact with the fire, a look of pain and anguish stuck onto his face. His arm was also frozen, and it grasped Silas' robes in a unbreakable grip. Quickly thinking, Kel reached down and grabbed Silas' arm, preventing the magic-user from slipping further down into the fire, although the flames burned clothes and skin. [color=seagreen]"Cut the robe. I can't hold the weight of both of you,"[/color] Kel screamed as he desperately tried to pull Silas to solid ground. Seeing Silas fall into the pit, Dartis quickly sprung into action. Judging that Alexander would keep the gnome busy for a bit, Dartis dashed over, his bow still in his left hand, his right quickly drew his trusty sword and the young noble reached down to cut the robe still being held by the foul construct. Silas stared in amazement and horror down at the golem. He never imagined that such a creature could feel pain and anguish. He was frozen and somewhat sickened by the revelation and the result of his own action. Despite the pain of some burns, he was nearly oblivious to his own precarious situation. That quickly changed as Kel yelled and only as Dartis began cutting at his robe did Silas begin scrambling at his belt for his dagger. Kel had trouble holding the weight of Silas and the creature, but kept Silas from being engulfed in the flames, though not from the abjurer being burned once more. Dartis fell next to Kel, and slashed at the robe, cutting a tear in it. Silas was forced to drop his quarterstaff in order to scramble out of the pit, but finally was free. The trio rolled outside of and away from the pit, and Silas extinguished the budding flames on his clothes before they became stronger. With a roar, Alexander charged the gnome, but after a few arcane words, the half-orc stopped in mid-charge, a friendly look on his face as he smiled at the man (DM's note: charmed). Player of Rix's note: Rix remained unconscious. Visions of sugar plum faeries danced... what? Kel rolled to his feet, grabbing his long sword from where it lay on the ground. [color=seagreen]"You are a fool gnome,"[/color] he shouted as he flung his hand forward. [color=seagreen]"Huntress aid me, Huntress wrap him in your arms,"[/color] he cried, his fingers poiting at the mad gnome with an entanglement spell. Despite the pain from burns that he received, Silas reached around and pulled out his crossbow. He pushed back a shock of hair that had fallen into his eyes and then loaded a bolt into the weapon. With a look of grim determination, he took a step towards the gnome but stopped and fired. Dartis fired two arrows, but both hit the two left over images, which were dispersed. Silas' shot went wide, missing the gnome. Kel's spell went off, and some buds of grass that were growing in some of the cracks in the platform suddenly grow taller and wrapped themselves around the gnome's ankles, immobolizing him and also Alexander. The gnome looked in fear at where the images were last and produced a wand while mumbling something. A mystical arrow appeared next to him and rushed at Dartis, striking him. The gnome then ducked, disappearing from view of those below the platform, although the charmed Alexander could still see him and pleaded for everyone to stop the violence. Silas scanned the room to see if there was any way that he could circle around and cut off the gnome's line of retreat, but the only way that Silas could see the gnome escaping, was by one of the two stairs that led up to the platform, or by jumping down 15 feet. Kel started to negotiate his way forward, trying to avoid the area with the vines and position himself so he could attack the gnome. Dartis led the group upstairs, but once they got to the top of the platform, they saw no signs of him. The charmed Alexander said to the party, [color=blue]"He disappeared!"[/color] There was a cot in the corner, a workbench with some equipment on it, a bookcase, and the sphere, which was now leaking black smoke. Some patches of grass were overgrown near the far end of the platform, but the gnome was nowhere to be seen. Below the platform, Rix became conscious, but was blinded and stunned, unsure of where he was or what was going on. Dartis swore, [COLOR=Green]."Alright he either popped down a rabiit hole or turned invisible. Kel, you and I can look for any secret trap doors or whatnot he may have used. Silas, work on seeing if he's invisible, or waking up Alexander from that stupor he's in. Once Rix is on his feet again he can help search as well."[/COLOR] Silas looked over at Alexander and frowned. [color=orange][i]How the...[/i][/color] He shook his head and turned his mind to the other problem set him by Dartis. Quickly figuring out what he needed to do, Silas stepped up to the edge of tall grass and cast [i]Detect Magic[/i]. Beginning where the gnome was last seen, Silas began scanning the area for magical auras, looking especially for those illusionary in nature. Rix groped about blindly for his crossbow and reloaded it just in case. Before dropping his entanglement spell so that the party could better search for the gnome, Kel spent several seconds examining the area where the gnome last was, looking for any sign that he might perhaps still be entangled. [color=seagreen]"Hold. Let's just make sure that he isn't invisible and still entangled before we go any further,"[/color] he said to his companions. DM's Note: Clever player. Kel noticed the grass looking strange around the place that the gnome was last seen, almost as if the twined blades of grass were shoes wrapped around an unseen person. Silas saw a humanoid-like aura crouched down near some grass that was overgrowing on the platform. The grass was also glowing, but that was probably because of Kel's spell. He also noticed a glow from the black sphere. The humanoid-like aura was illusion-based, the grass was nature-based, and the black sphere's aura was divination-based. Kel whispered to his friends, [color=seagreen]"It is as I suspected. He is still trapped in the Huntress's thorny embrace."[/color] As he talked, he sheathed his sword and unslung his longbow, nocking an arrow in preperation. Dartis drew an arrow to his cheek. [COLOR=Green]"Just tell me where to shoot,"[/COLOR] he whispered back. [COLOR=Green]"Damn it Alexander, you let him get away!"[/COLOR] cried Dartis loudly. Oblivious to the plan, and doing his best to maintain concentration on the [i]Detect Magic[/i] spell, Silas said, [color=orange]"There,"[/color] and pointed towards the crouching gnome. He then dropped another bolt into his crossbow. When Silas yelled and pointed, an angry hiss was heard, then a magical arrow appeared and struck the abjurer as the gnome became visible before the party, wand in hand. Kel fired his arrow in retaliation, but missed the gnome. Dartis fired next, two arrows flying in the air. Both slammed into the gnome with such force that he was ripped from the grass that held him and landed with a thud onto the ground. Blood quickly pooled underneath the gnome, and in his final weazing the party heard him say, [color=red]"Beaten? I've been... beaten? This was ... not seen in ... sphere... Perhaps... perhaps some can... be saved... But... the greatest... greatest crime... will break you... as it... as it... did me... They will... betray... I saw... the great tree... burn..."[/color] Astraughley, master illusionist of the Loughphray gnomes, died with a shudder. But for a moment before he was silenced forever, so did his madness. Rix recovered with the dying of the gnome. Silas stared at the dead gnome a moment then sighed. The sense of relief he felt was considerable and he looked to see how his companions were faring. Once he had assured himself that everyone was still standing and faring tolerably well, he began looking around the hall with interest. The smoking sphere attracted his attention and he moved to investigate before Alexander got a whim to bash the thing to pieces. Kel dropped his spell, unstrung his bow and secured it across his back. Then he cautiously walked forward and knelt beside the gnome, searching him for anything useful. [color=seagreen]"Is everyone OK? Does anyone need to feel the healing touch of The Huntress?"[/color] he asked after his search was finished. Silas looked up when Kel spoke. He grinned. [color=orange]"Well, I'm still standing so I guess I'm ok. But I'm feeling a bit singed. And that golem struck Alexander pretty hard. It's no wonder he's been wandering around like a witless loon."[/color] He chuckled but looked to see if Alexander had shaken off the effects of the spell. [COLOR=Green]"yeah, Rix is awake now at least and seems to be getting better. But Alexander did get hit pretty hard. I'm fine,"[/COLOR] said Dartis as he headed over to prod the dead gnome with his sword and ensure that the gnome was indeed dead and not an illusion. Healing not being his forte, Dartis began to search the surroundings. Seeing Silas eyeing the sphere he issued a caution. [COLOR=Green]"Silas, whatever that blasphemous thing is, or was created to do, I can't claim to know. But that thing was obviously what drove Astraughley mad. I think it best to leave it alone, I don't want you to suffer the same fate as he,"[/COLOR] Dartis emphasized the last point by kicking the dead gnome. Rix and Alexander recovered, joining the party by the sphere as the last of the black smoke inside rolled and began to pour out of the broken glass. A final image could be seen briefly inside the darkness, and was that of a great tree covered in flame. The size of the tree caused it to be a great conflagaration, which looked as if it may soon burn into the surrounding forest. A group of elves looked on, their eyes wide in horror. The image soon disappeared, and the sphere then became empty and useless. Kel recognized the burning great tree as the ancient tree of his homeland. As he watched the image, one of the elven figures gave a cry of anguish and fell to his knees. His face was young, but tight with stress beyond his elven features. As Kel concentrated on the figure, the face turned towards the viewer. Kel knew that he stared at himself. The image of the future Kel disappeared with the last wisp of smoke. Kel shook his head in shock as the image faded away. [color=seagreen]"Even in his death he plays tricks on my mind,"[/color] he cursed with anger. After a moment he moved over to his injured friends and called on the power of The Huntress to heal them. A search of the gnome revealed a jewelled electrum dagger estimated to be worth about 200 gp. It looked more ornamental and gnomish in design. A search of the bookcase seemed appealing at first, especially since the party immediately found two garnets in a dish worth 10gp each. Further searches revealed nothing but trash, much of it half-eaten meals from the gnomes disgusting diet of nearby rodents. The gnome's corpse had the wand that he was creating magical floating arrows with. It also had seven copper pieces, a scroll with arcane symbols on it, two flasks of an unknown liquid, and a tome with the pages filled with a more arcane language. Besides the ever-burning flesh golem below, there was nothing else that the party found of interest... except, of course the various images of flying elves etched into the walls. Dismayed by the image in the sphere, Silas turned away. As his companions searched the area he studies the images on the walls with growing enthusiasm, especially since ancient civilizations appealed to his training as a Caernite scholar. He almost had to be dragged away to check the writings on the scroll and in the book but he planned to do so. Silas walked around, noting the interesting carvings etched into the walls of the dome. Unlike dwarven carvings which are completely dug out, the humanoid forms presented were done with the externally thick lines that were then filled with a small number of fine, thin lines. Most of the carvings depicted some unknown historical events, such as the meetings conducted between different delegations of winged elves. The more recent-looking carving showed the winged elves bringing gifts to other humanoids, such as dwarves, orcs, and humans. These were followed by scenes of wars and battles, scenes of more delegations, followed by more battles, fields of dead non-elven humanoids, and finally by wingless elves walking over the ruins of elven settlements. Silas returned from studying the images on the walls to the gathering of his companions and friends. [color=orange]"I've been thinking. Perhaps we should either bury the gnome or carry his body back for the gnomes to bury. He used to be friends with Horacios."[/color] Silas glanced towards the pit. [color=orange]"And maybe we should finish off that golem. When I pushed it into the pit it had such a look of fear and pain on its face. I hesitate to leave it like it is, and yet, I don't want it to run free, either."[/color] Rix scowled at his being denied his pleasure, he walked up the platform, pointed his loaded crossbow down at the gnome, and plugged the bolt point blank into the corpse just for sure. [color=sienna]"Let us take him back and show them that they were the cause of their own destruction."[/color] He smirked at the irony of the situation. [COLOR=Green]"Kind of like the Dragon clan was, right Rix?" [/COLOR] Added Dartis. The party returned to the gnomish hills as heroes to the people, as the adventurers were able to finish the forces that had menaced the demihumans. Astraughlay Kondeeistreigh was returned to his people to be buried as the villian he became, and not as the man he once was. As a reward for your services, each member was rewarded with the remnants of the gnome coffers: coins adding up to 300gp each. Also, Silas had his old staff replaced with a masterwork version fit for himself. The gnomes also design a masterwork crossbow for Rix to replace his old one. Alexander was given a [i]potion of cure medium wounds[/i] since he has a tendency to be at the wrong side of a weapon. Dartis' bow was reworked in order to give it a stronger pull (now gave a +1 strength bonus to damage). And Kel worked with the local priests to help give the dead proper funerals. In return, he was allowed to keep three vials of antitoxin and two vials of holy water. The gnomes also identified some of the spoils from the last battle. The jewelled dagger was not magical, and neither were the garnets. The party was given 200gp for these items, just below their maximum value and a far better price than they would get anywhere else. The two flasks were [i]potions of bless[/i], while the wand was one of magic missile with 48 charges left. The scroll was a [i]scroll of protection from arrows[/i]. DM's note: In retrospect, I should have had the gnome read it before the battle. The spellbook Silas recovered had the following spells: All 0 level spells from PHB. 1st level: Detect Secret Doors, Identify, Charm Person, Color Spray, Disguise Self, Nystul's Magical Aura, Silent Image, Ventriloquism, Cause Fear 2nd level: Locate Object, See Invisibility, Blur, Hypnotic Pattern, Invisibility, Mirror Image 3rd level: Displacement DM's note: Too bad that he made illusion and necromancy blocked spheres. I had no intention of screwing Silas over, but he chose the blocked spheres after I had chosen the protaganists in chapter 2, a necromancer kobold and illusionist gnome. Since Silas could not go to a wizard's school, he had to learn spells from what he found. The party made their way safely home, their trip uneventful, and the adventurers stronger for their experience. Thus Ends Chapter 2 - Illusions Characters had now levelled up to 3rd. Next: Chapter 3 - The Imperials[/COLOR][/COLOR] [/QUOTE]
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