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Muddled Pasts - Pathfinder 3.5
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<blockquote data-quote="jydog1" data-source="post: 5571816" data-attributes="member: 48156"><p><strong>Session #33 - May 20, 2011 - Don't Be Expecting a Father's Day Present, Either</strong></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">Notes: Decided to change my luck and bought a Pound O Dice. There was a great tournament to determine the worthy, and an extremely plain white d20 with red numbers beat out an identical twin to win top spot.</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">The effects were immediate and dramatic, starting with a Will save roll of 18 and never really looking back. Sure, there were some bad rolls, but it was like night and day compared to what it used to be. Okay, it boned my only attack roll of the combat, but when I needed to get better than 12 followed by better than 15 – 15! - on a crucial dispel magic, the die came through. It's so good I feel it deserves a name. I will contemplate this.</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">Queen of the Fellnight in her throne room makes for one hell of a fight, especially since we were low on spells. We probably could have rested up after whomping the centaurs two sessions ago but charged the open gates of the citadel instead, and in retrospect that was a good idea.</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">So. Once more into the breach, dear friends. Dinner was quiche, sausage, and salad.</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">From the journal of Grezzalik M'Rethen:</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">We stood outside the entrance to Rhoswyn's throne room, casting spells in preparation to enter the lair of the Fey Queen. I was fairly low on juice myself but still had a few tricks up my sleeve. I summoned a fire elemental that appeared with no difficulty, read a blink scroll, cast keen edge on Londis, and just before we headed in I covered all of us with Haste. We would never be more ready.</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">Plus, all the spell casting helped to keep my mind off the unique family situation I'd just discovered. Loric and I were going to have a chat when we were done with this bitch.</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">I didn't trust the elf who'd sired me but as we burst into the huge chamber it appeared the information he'd given us was correct. Eight twisted trees served as pillars, lining a route to the throne at the far end. There were a few other scattered trees around as well, and I ran in behind Londis, our plan firmly locked in my mind. As he ran toward the throne his invisibility-canceling magic revealed Rhoswyn waiting for us, and OF COURSE she launched into a monologue about how we were impudent worms and how she was going to crush us and blarg blarg blarg – by Shelyn's Grace, these meglo-maniacs do love to hear themselves talk! My concern wasn't the Queen, though – we'd figured someone of her power would have little problems shedding the effects of my spells, so I had a different job – her sidekick.</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">No problem. Just a massive stone troll.</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">It spotted Londis and started to go after him, carrying a huge maul in one gnarled hand and a large chain in the other. It had been a while since I'd cast a pit spell, but it still worked just fine and the troll dropped with a surprised thump. Excellent. My fire elemental roared up to Rhoswyn but she dodged it almost effortlessly. I frowned. She shouldn't be that agile, and she had almost no fear of the ball of flame. There were several nightingales in a cage next to the throne, and they shrank away from the heat.</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">My wind ruffled from a breeze that quickly increased to a gale, buffeting me as it roared past me toward the others. It was somewhat like an air elemental that I could summon, yet somehow wrong. Arrows hissed past my head from Calfalas' bow, three of them thunking into pillars. Another bit of info gleaned from Loric – Rhoswyn could cast from within these pillars and tree stride between them, but cold iron both kept her from going into them and expelled her if inside. Two bolts from Trixie's crossbow shrieked by, the buzz audible over her kazooing and the howl of the whirlwind. Five down, three to go.</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">Londis smacked Rhoswyn after she vowed to turn him into a pig (OOC: the first of our really big saves) and she vanished – an illusion. Of course. The troll was just getting to the top of the pit, one empty hand scrabbling for purchase. Dropped our maul, did we? I contemplated blasting it with some lightning but the angle was bad, and instead I pulled a cold-iron tipped bolt from my quiver and jammed it into the nearest pillar.</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">There was a scream, followed by a most unladylike string of cursing. I knew Rhoswyn had popped out of the column but couldn't see her – we weren't close enough to Londis. I started to pull out my Dust of Appearance when the troll, having swatted my elemental into a cloud of embers and moving much more quickly than I expected, was suddenly swinging a clawed hand at me. As it closed the world abruptly went dead quiet, and I muttered a silent curse. It hit me and dammit, it hurt(OOC: knocked me down to 19 hits). I saw Firendrin flying ahead of me and an enlarged Tofa chasing the sound of Rhoswyn's voice – Calfalas had drilled the final two pillars but the Queen could use the very walls as well, just not fully concealed. I couldn't hear anything but I saw Trixie's head snap back for a moment before her entire body shuddered and changed . . . suddenly there was just a nightingale to be seen, which darted to the nearest tree. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />! Trixie was a bird!</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">I turned my back on the troll and ran toward her – in retrospect, probably not my smartest move, but I had to get away from the field that was cast on the blasted thing – and I felt the edge of the chain tug at my cloak as it whispered by. Sound returned with a rush and I fought through the layers of Rhoswyn's power to let the spell have a change to be effective – and it was. A somewhat confused Trixie found herself sitting on a tree branch with a whirlwind raging below her – yeah, that was still around too.</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">Londis had found Rhoswyn again and, after giving her a good cuff, tried to tear her staff away. This would be a good thing, as it was a branch from the World Tree and was much too nice a thing for her to have. She yanked it back with surprising force and moved again. As Tofa tussled with the troll she reappeared by her throne and grabbed one of the caged nightingales. It gave a sad trill and fell motionless as Rhoswyn suddenly looked much healthier. Bloody hell.</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">Still, our plan was working, as Rhoswyn appeared somewhat annoyed. She looked at me and said, “You're becoming a pain in the ass, so why not just become an ass!” I felt her magic tugging at the very edges of my being, but I shrugged it off. Tofa grabbed her and succeeded in separating the Queen from her staff while Londis enveloped them in a field of silence, but the damn troll broke her free. </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px"> Firendrin used one of his hexes to put the troll to sleep, and his summoned grell tried to grab the queen but missed. </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">I decided to make her life more miserable when she reappeared, but failed (OOC: a great loophole – no doubt she had SR up the wazoo, but a simple Acid Splash cantrip does damage, offers no save or SR, and would allow me to put the disruptive effect on her – or at least make her make concentration checks. Alas, the 4 that came up was one of the night's few bad rolls, and she had an insane touch AC of like 21 anyway). I wasn't as lucky avoiding the stupid elemental, and this time it scooped me up and knocked me around as I watched Tofa crush the sleeping troll (OOC: down to 8 hits now). I tried to cast a spell at Rhoswyn from where I was but it was too disorienting. Just as I was starting to worry that this damn thing would be the death of me, I felt the delicious warmth of healing and saw Trixie drawing her arm back. Renewed, I slipped free of the elemental in time to see Londis grab what appeared to be a battered and blind Rhoswyn and hear him yell, 'Pit us!'</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">No problem. I was running on a flat wineskin magic-wise but I had enough to make another hole, and the two of them fell out of sight. Seconds later there was a meaty thump, and as I dispelled the casting Londis rose up on the splattered corpse of Rhoswyn, former Queen of the Fellnight.</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">I'd seemed to have taken the most damage – hells, Londis hadn't take a scratch until I dropped him in the pit. Staff in hand, we found Rhoswyn's private chambers and roof access. Once there, with Londis and Firendrin aiding me, I recalled the ritual. The the small amount of power I had left flickering around the staff I performed it as well as I could and when done crakced an eyelid with nervous anticipation – just in time to see the glowing rings of the wards fire back up. We'd done it. Calfalas slapped my back with a large grin.</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">As we headed back downstairs Londis was discussing ways to damage the scrying stone, but Loric was waiting for us. His bodyguard stood nearby looking a little rumpled, as did the Mac Bac feagals, who had been performing yeoman's work keeping the rest of the creatures away from us. After Rhoswyn had died there'd been a tremor in the tree and various cries of despair. Before anyone could do anything Firedrin walked up to the scrying mirror and started babbling some sort of incantation. The eyes on the frame all snapped open and the dwarf saw something he didn't like, as his eyes took an even more insane cast than usual. A huge eye peered at us from the depths for a second before vanishing, and Firendrin started cackling. To sum things up, we stuffed a rag in his mouth and knocked him out, as it proved the only way to shut him up. He looked completely nuts now.</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">After we finsihed with the witch, the White Court ambassador greeted us with a slow clap. “Most impressive. I applaud you. Mab will be most pleased.”</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">I snorted. “Yeah, well, I hate to break your heart but we don't give a rat's ass about making Mab happy.”</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">He looked wounded. “It can never hurt to gain the favor of the Winter Court, son.”</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">“</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">Tell that to the Summer Court,” retorted Londis, and Loric nodded and smiled, conceding the point.</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">“</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">Wonderful,' I growled, “now while my friends here loot everything imaginable several times you can tell me what's going on with my mother.”</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">“</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">What? She's perfectly happy.”</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">I cocked my head. “She's cooing to balls of yarn and calling them Grezz. That doesn't sound happy, it sounds either insane or ensorcelled.”</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">He spread his hands. “She's merely living in a world of her happiest memories. No pain, no recollection of betrayals, how could it be any better for her? You don't know what she went though.”</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">“</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">Of course I do,” I said. “The pirate attack, being transformed by Medea and her merry crew, you 'rescuing' her, I know.”</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">His eyes narrowed. “Here she doesn't remember those things, and her life is better for it.”</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">“</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">Are you serious?” I spat on the ground. “That's not a life, that a prison you're keeping her in to amuse yourself.”</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">“</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">She enjoys it.”</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">“</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">Has she told you that?”</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">“</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">She doesn't need to, I know she does.”</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">I shook my head, crossed my arms, and tried not to let how weary I was show. “That's her choice, not yours. Take the spell off and let her decide.”</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">Loric laughed. “If I take it off, it's off forever. Actually, all you need to do is take her past the wards and she'll be released.”</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">“</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">Fine.”</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">“</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">Is it? Tell me, Grezzalik, what did you truly do in this fight? Did your so-called mighty spells do a single thing?”</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">“</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">We had a plan, each of us tasks to accomplish.”</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">“</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">Pah. You're my child, Grezzalik, and you've barely tapped your potential. It's going to waste! So much power available to you. I offer another idea – stay here with me and your mother. I will teach you things you haven't even imagined, and you will become a force to be reckoned with, my son.”</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">My turn to chuckle. “Son? Loric, you mean about as much to me as a guy on the corner selling bananas, except that at least he has something useful to me. You may have sired me, but you're not my father. I've been doing just fine without you.”</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">“</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">Da,” added Tofa, examining a glittering headband. “And I do not like you either.” She had the birdcage in her hand and jerked her head at me. “Is time to go. You, elf, promised us safe passage. Make it so.”</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">Loric looked from her to me, totally unreadable. He held up his hands and gestured to my mother. “Take her, then. My bodyguard will go with you. I'm so very disappointed, but perhaps we'll meet again..”</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">I rolled my eyes. “Please. I'm sure Mab will have quite the feather for your cap given your success here, courtesy of our dirty work.” With a final glance I walked out, leading my mother.</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">The escort? Not necessary. Everything we saw got out of our way unbidden and there was actual . . . fear in their eyes. Might just have been because we were still packing cold iron, but waxing the Queen probably had something to do with it.</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">Several things happened as we passed outside the wards. The nightingales turned into two humans and two elves, all of whom . . . kept acting like birds. Too long for them, I guess. My mother, on the other hand, aged fifteen years in an instant – still a beautiful woman, but clearly one in her late thirties now. She looked at me with confusion and terror.</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">“</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">What's . . . where am I? What's going on?”</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">I held out placating hands. “Mom? Mom, it's me, Grezz. Your son.”</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">Her brows furrowed. “Grezz? No, you're only six, not big . . . what's going on?” She was verging on panic.</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">I should have suggested that Trixie play some soothing music, but it didn't occur to me. “Mom, it's me. You were a prisoner of Loric's . . . it's me? Listen, remember this song you used to sing me?” I began to warble a simple rhyme she'd told me was a family song, back when I was young. She listened with a mixture of bewilderment and perhaps a tiny bit of comprehension. Clearly, this was not going to be taken care of in a night. </span></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px">We heard a shout and show Daverre rushing over and waving with excitement. I looked at my mother and sighed. All in good time. All in good time.</span></span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="jydog1, post: 5571816, member: 48156"] [b]Session #33 - May 20, 2011 - Don't Be Expecting a Father's Day Present, Either[/b] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Notes: Decided to change my luck and bought a Pound O Dice. There was a great tournament to determine the worthy, and an extremely plain white d20 with red numbers beat out an identical twin to win top spot.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]The effects were immediate and dramatic, starting with a Will save roll of 18 and never really looking back. Sure, there were some bad rolls, but it was like night and day compared to what it used to be. Okay, it boned my only attack roll of the combat, but when I needed to get better than 12 followed by better than 15 – 15! - on a crucial dispel magic, the die came through. It's so good I feel it deserves a name. I will contemplate this.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Queen of the Fellnight in her throne room makes for one hell of a fight, especially since we were low on spells. We probably could have rested up after whomping the centaurs two sessions ago but charged the open gates of the citadel instead, and in retrospect that was a good idea.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]So. Once more into the breach, dear friends. Dinner was quiche, sausage, and salad.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]From the journal of Grezzalik M'Rethen:[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]We stood outside the entrance to Rhoswyn's throne room, casting spells in preparation to enter the lair of the Fey Queen. I was fairly low on juice myself but still had a few tricks up my sleeve. I summoned a fire elemental that appeared with no difficulty, read a blink scroll, cast keen edge on Londis, and just before we headed in I covered all of us with Haste. We would never be more ready.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Plus, all the spell casting helped to keep my mind off the unique family situation I'd just discovered. Loric and I were going to have a chat when we were done with this bitch.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]I didn't trust the elf who'd sired me but as we burst into the huge chamber it appeared the information he'd given us was correct. Eight twisted trees served as pillars, lining a route to the throne at the far end. There were a few other scattered trees around as well, and I ran in behind Londis, our plan firmly locked in my mind. As he ran toward the throne his invisibility-canceling magic revealed Rhoswyn waiting for us, and OF COURSE she launched into a monologue about how we were impudent worms and how she was going to crush us and blarg blarg blarg – by Shelyn's Grace, these meglo-maniacs do love to hear themselves talk! My concern wasn't the Queen, though – we'd figured someone of her power would have little problems shedding the effects of my spells, so I had a different job – her sidekick.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]No problem. Just a massive stone troll.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]It spotted Londis and started to go after him, carrying a huge maul in one gnarled hand and a large chain in the other. It had been a while since I'd cast a pit spell, but it still worked just fine and the troll dropped with a surprised thump. Excellent. My fire elemental roared up to Rhoswyn but she dodged it almost effortlessly. I frowned. She shouldn't be that agile, and she had almost no fear of the ball of flame. There were several nightingales in a cage next to the throne, and they shrank away from the heat.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]My wind ruffled from a breeze that quickly increased to a gale, buffeting me as it roared past me toward the others. It was somewhat like an air elemental that I could summon, yet somehow wrong. Arrows hissed past my head from Calfalas' bow, three of them thunking into pillars. Another bit of info gleaned from Loric – Rhoswyn could cast from within these pillars and tree stride between them, but cold iron both kept her from going into them and expelled her if inside. Two bolts from Trixie's crossbow shrieked by, the buzz audible over her kazooing and the howl of the whirlwind. Five down, three to go.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Londis smacked Rhoswyn after she vowed to turn him into a pig (OOC: the first of our really big saves) and she vanished – an illusion. Of course. The troll was just getting to the top of the pit, one empty hand scrabbling for purchase. Dropped our maul, did we? I contemplated blasting it with some lightning but the angle was bad, and instead I pulled a cold-iron tipped bolt from my quiver and jammed it into the nearest pillar.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]There was a scream, followed by a most unladylike string of cursing. I knew Rhoswyn had popped out of the column but couldn't see her – we weren't close enough to Londis. I started to pull out my Dust of Appearance when the troll, having swatted my elemental into a cloud of embers and moving much more quickly than I expected, was suddenly swinging a clawed hand at me. As it closed the world abruptly went dead quiet, and I muttered a silent curse. It hit me and dammit, it hurt(OOC: knocked me down to 19 hits). I saw Firendrin flying ahead of me and an enlarged Tofa chasing the sound of Rhoswyn's voice – Calfalas had drilled the final two pillars but the Queen could use the very walls as well, just not fully concealed. I couldn't hear anything but I saw Trixie's head snap back for a moment before her entire body shuddered and changed . . . suddenly there was just a nightingale to be seen, which darted to the nearest tree. :):):):)! Trixie was a bird![/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]I turned my back on the troll and ran toward her – in retrospect, probably not my smartest move, but I had to get away from the field that was cast on the blasted thing – and I felt the edge of the chain tug at my cloak as it whispered by. Sound returned with a rush and I fought through the layers of Rhoswyn's power to let the spell have a change to be effective – and it was. A somewhat confused Trixie found herself sitting on a tree branch with a whirlwind raging below her – yeah, that was still around too.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Londis had found Rhoswyn again and, after giving her a good cuff, tried to tear her staff away. This would be a good thing, as it was a branch from the World Tree and was much too nice a thing for her to have. She yanked it back with surprising force and moved again. As Tofa tussled with the troll she reappeared by her throne and grabbed one of the caged nightingales. It gave a sad trill and fell motionless as Rhoswyn suddenly looked much healthier. Bloody hell.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Still, our plan was working, as Rhoswyn appeared somewhat annoyed. She looked at me and said, “You're becoming a pain in the ass, so why not just become an ass!” I felt her magic tugging at the very edges of my being, but I shrugged it off. Tofa grabbed her and succeeded in separating the Queen from her staff while Londis enveloped them in a field of silence, but the damn troll broke her free. [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2] Firendrin used one of his hexes to put the troll to sleep, and his summoned grell tried to grab the queen but missed. [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]I decided to make her life more miserable when she reappeared, but failed (OOC: a great loophole – no doubt she had SR up the wazoo, but a simple Acid Splash cantrip does damage, offers no save or SR, and would allow me to put the disruptive effect on her – or at least make her make concentration checks. Alas, the 4 that came up was one of the night's few bad rolls, and she had an insane touch AC of like 21 anyway). I wasn't as lucky avoiding the stupid elemental, and this time it scooped me up and knocked me around as I watched Tofa crush the sleeping troll (OOC: down to 8 hits now). I tried to cast a spell at Rhoswyn from where I was but it was too disorienting. Just as I was starting to worry that this damn thing would be the death of me, I felt the delicious warmth of healing and saw Trixie drawing her arm back. Renewed, I slipped free of the elemental in time to see Londis grab what appeared to be a battered and blind Rhoswyn and hear him yell, 'Pit us!'[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]No problem. I was running on a flat wineskin magic-wise but I had enough to make another hole, and the two of them fell out of sight. Seconds later there was a meaty thump, and as I dispelled the casting Londis rose up on the splattered corpse of Rhoswyn, former Queen of the Fellnight.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]I'd seemed to have taken the most damage – hells, Londis hadn't take a scratch until I dropped him in the pit. Staff in hand, we found Rhoswyn's private chambers and roof access. Once there, with Londis and Firendrin aiding me, I recalled the ritual. The the small amount of power I had left flickering around the staff I performed it as well as I could and when done crakced an eyelid with nervous anticipation – just in time to see the glowing rings of the wards fire back up. We'd done it. Calfalas slapped my back with a large grin.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]As we headed back downstairs Londis was discussing ways to damage the scrying stone, but Loric was waiting for us. His bodyguard stood nearby looking a little rumpled, as did the Mac Bac feagals, who had been performing yeoman's work keeping the rest of the creatures away from us. After Rhoswyn had died there'd been a tremor in the tree and various cries of despair. Before anyone could do anything Firedrin walked up to the scrying mirror and started babbling some sort of incantation. The eyes on the frame all snapped open and the dwarf saw something he didn't like, as his eyes took an even more insane cast than usual. A huge eye peered at us from the depths for a second before vanishing, and Firendrin started cackling. To sum things up, we stuffed a rag in his mouth and knocked him out, as it proved the only way to shut him up. He looked completely nuts now.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]After we finsihed with the witch, the White Court ambassador greeted us with a slow clap. “Most impressive. I applaud you. Mab will be most pleased.”[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]I snorted. “Yeah, well, I hate to break your heart but we don't give a rat's ass about making Mab happy.”[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]He looked wounded. “It can never hurt to gain the favor of the Winter Court, son.”[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]“[/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Tell that to the Summer Court,” retorted Londis, and Loric nodded and smiled, conceding the point.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]“[/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Wonderful,' I growled, “now while my friends here loot everything imaginable several times you can tell me what's going on with my mother.”[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]“[/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]What? She's perfectly happy.”[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]I cocked my head. “She's cooing to balls of yarn and calling them Grezz. That doesn't sound happy, it sounds either insane or ensorcelled.”[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]He spread his hands. “She's merely living in a world of her happiest memories. No pain, no recollection of betrayals, how could it be any better for her? You don't know what she went though.”[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]“[/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Of course I do,” I said. “The pirate attack, being transformed by Medea and her merry crew, you 'rescuing' her, I know.”[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]His eyes narrowed. “Here she doesn't remember those things, and her life is better for it.”[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]“[/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Are you serious?” I spat on the ground. “That's not a life, that a prison you're keeping her in to amuse yourself.”[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]“[/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]She enjoys it.”[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]“[/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Has she told you that?”[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]“[/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]She doesn't need to, I know she does.”[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]I shook my head, crossed my arms, and tried not to let how weary I was show. “That's her choice, not yours. Take the spell off and let her decide.”[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Loric laughed. “If I take it off, it's off forever. Actually, all you need to do is take her past the wards and she'll be released.”[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]“[/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Fine.”[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]“[/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Is it? Tell me, Grezzalik, what did you truly do in this fight? Did your so-called mighty spells do a single thing?”[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]“[/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]We had a plan, each of us tasks to accomplish.”[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]“[/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Pah. You're my child, Grezzalik, and you've barely tapped your potential. It's going to waste! So much power available to you. I offer another idea – stay here with me and your mother. I will teach you things you haven't even imagined, and you will become a force to be reckoned with, my son.”[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]My turn to chuckle. “Son? Loric, you mean about as much to me as a guy on the corner selling bananas, except that at least he has something useful to me. You may have sired me, but you're not my father. I've been doing just fine without you.”[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]“[/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Da,” added Tofa, examining a glittering headband. “And I do not like you either.” She had the birdcage in her hand and jerked her head at me. “Is time to go. You, elf, promised us safe passage. Make it so.”[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Loric looked from her to me, totally unreadable. He held up his hands and gestured to my mother. “Take her, then. My bodyguard will go with you. I'm so very disappointed, but perhaps we'll meet again..”[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]I rolled my eyes. “Please. I'm sure Mab will have quite the feather for your cap given your success here, courtesy of our dirty work.” With a final glance I walked out, leading my mother.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]The escort? Not necessary. Everything we saw got out of our way unbidden and there was actual . . . fear in their eyes. Might just have been because we were still packing cold iron, but waxing the Queen probably had something to do with it.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Several things happened as we passed outside the wards. The nightingales turned into two humans and two elves, all of whom . . . kept acting like birds. Too long for them, I guess. My mother, on the other hand, aged fifteen years in an instant – still a beautiful woman, but clearly one in her late thirties now. She looked at me with confusion and terror.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]“[/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]What's . . . where am I? What's going on?”[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]I held out placating hands. “Mom? Mom, it's me, Grezz. Your son.”[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Her brows furrowed. “Grezz? No, you're only six, not big . . . what's going on?” She was verging on panic.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]I should have suggested that Trixie play some soothing music, but it didn't occur to me. “Mom, it's me. You were a prisoner of Loric's . . . it's me? Listen, remember this song you used to sing me?” I began to warble a simple rhyme she'd told me was a family song, back when I was young. She listened with a mixture of bewilderment and perhaps a tiny bit of comprehension. Clearly, this was not going to be taken care of in a night. [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]We heard a shout and show Daverre rushing over and waving with excitement. I looked at my mother and sighed. All in good time. All in good time.[/SIZE][/FONT] [/QUOTE]
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