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Shadows of Greatness, a Forgotten Realms campaign UPDATED February 1, 2008
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<blockquote data-quote="sniffles" data-source="post: 2471810" data-attributes="member: 30035"><p><strong>The Chamber of Dawn</strong></p><p></p><p>We had determined that at the end of each of the five radial passages in the underground structure stood an angled reflecting column. Above each column was a cunningly designed trap door intended to admit sunlight. We at once set about uncovering the columns and opening the trap doors. The shafts above the trap doors were all blocked by many years of debris. I stood upon one of the reflecting columns while Rock steadied me, and found that there was a circular catch, apparently intended to be opened by a priest or servitor using a pole. By stretching my arm as far as I could reach, I was able to depress the catch. Rock and I scarcely managed to avoid the fall of earth and stones that tumbled in when the trap door openend. A brilliant shaft of noontime sunlight flowed down the shaft and into the passage in which we stood. Much to my surprise, the light flowed around the bend in the passage without hesitation. We followed the light into the curving main passage and saw that it turned the corner into that corridor in a most unnatural manner.</p><p> </p><p>Erim had managed to open another of the shafts from above, and now light shone from all five passages. When the rays of light met in front of the magical section of wall that Liadan and Nekaya had examined earlier, the wall vanished, revealing another passageway. We had suspected that there must be a hidden chamber in the center of the arc formed by the curved corridor, since the symbol of Elishar included a dot at the center of its arc. </p><p> </p><p>Liadan approached the new passage with much interest. Nekaya descended into the subterranean structure and joined her in the entrance to the passageway. Strangely, though we could see a clear passage, we could also see an image of solid earth in that space. At the end of the passage a small circular room was just visible. Strange lights glimmered from within the chamber.</p><p> </p><p>Liadan and Nekaya went first toward the circular room. Within it we could now see a small dais in the center of the floor, and murals upon the walls. Something shining in the form of a man stood upon the low dais, the beam of sunlight halting where it struck this shape. </p><p> </p><p>As the two young ladies made to enter the chamber, a voice spoke in a tongue I could not understand. But Nekaya appeared to recognize the words. She told us that the figure had said that as we did not bear a certain mark, we were not welcome in this place. The figure now resovled itself into a man-like creature seemingly made of white crystal. Then the light within the chamber pulsed twice, and two more crystalline entities appeared, one of green and the other black in color. The black crystal man assumed an threatening stance, while the green figure stood at the rear of the room, watching us with its featureless face.</p><p> </p><p>I was so concerned with the threat of these crystalline things that I hardly noticed the murals upon the walls. Rock told us later he had noticed that they, too, were all in shades of white, green and black. The different sections of color intertwined in an intricate pattern, and where one color crossed another the images within appeared different. The green images were all obviously of our world, Toril, and showed pleasant pastoral scenes. The white images appeared even more pleasant and brilliant. But the black scenes were difficult to make out. Where the black and green scenes intermingled, the imagery became less pleasant, showing scenes of decay and destruction. Rock could not make anything out where the black and white bands mingled.</p><p> </p><p>Nekaya began to speak in her native Mulan tongue, conversing with the white crystal figure. It told her that this room was known as the Chamber of Dawn, but it gave her little other information. It appeared to her that as none of us carried the emblem of Elishar, the crystal beings that were the chamber's guardians would not give us any information. Then Erim called out to us that the light was fading, and we hurriedly exited the Chamber of Dawn. Once the noon light vanished from the tunnels, the wall reappeared across the end of the hall that led to the chamber.</p><p> </p><p>We decided to remove ourselves to the upper temple area uphill, where the portal lay, and seek further knowledge from that ruined structure. Sadly most of the murals and carvings there had been much damaged, perhaps by the presence of the ogres. We rested there for the remainder of the day while Nekaya carved herself a likeness of Elishar's emblem to wear. Curiously, as Rock told us more of what he had seen in the murals, he indicated that he had noticed a structure in the form of a bird, shown in yellow in the green band of images. This sounded to Liadan like an illustration of Morningdawn Hall, a great temple of Lathander that lies in Shadowdale. But this hall is not yellow; it is made of rose-colored glass. None of us could fathom why it would be shown in yellow, nor how it came to be depicted in a mural in a structure that was made long before Morningdawn Hall came into existence. Perhaps, as Elishar was a god of prophecy, these murals portray events that have not yet come to pass.</p><p> </p><p>After a quiet night, we determined to investigate the Chamber of Dawn once again, hoping that Nekaya's new symbol would gain us more information. Before noon we spent our energies in preparing to disguise the shafts above the trapdoors, so that when we departed this place we might hide them from prying eyes. As noon neared we descended to the tunnels once again to await the opening of the Chamber. This time Nikos and Phaele came with us, so that fresh eyes might observe the chamber's interior.</p><p> </p><p>When the Chamber opened I remained at the end of the entry passage to watch for the fading of the sunlight. Erim had also joined the others, and both he and Liadan called upon the powers of magic to allow them to understand the speech of the crystal guardians, though they would not be able to communicate with the guardians themselves. This magic required them both to touch Nekaya so that they might comprehend the words. In this manner they all proceeded down to the Chamber of Dawn when the entrance appeared.</p><p> </p><p>On this occasion, when the white guardian saw the symbol Nekaya wore, it receded into a crystal nodule that was set into the wall. Liadan then stepped across the low dais, and observed that she felt infused with a positive energy. She attempted to expend a power granted her by Lathander, and found that her power was restored immediately rather than having to wait until the following dawn. Nekaya also trod upon the dais and felt a similar experience.</p><p> </p><p>Phaele examined the murals upon the walls intently. She speculated that the black band represented the Plane of Shadow, but while it seemed logical that the white band then represented a Plane of Light, no such plane was known to exist to her knowledge. She also told us that there was so much magic in the chamber that for a moment when she cast the spell to detect it, she was blinded by the energy. </p><p> </p><p>Sadly our time in the Chamber of Dawn was too brief to glean anything further. We retreated once again as the sun moved on its endless course and its rays grew too dim to activate the magic. Once we returned to the surface we spent some while covering the trap doors, and Liadan used Lathander's grace to seal up the hole that had been broken in the ceiling of the curved corridor. We then decided to spend the remainder of the day traveling toward Camber. We had realized that it must now be the beginning of Spring, and soon our friend Billy Tanner would celebrate his nuptials. As visiting Camber would not take us far out of our way should we continue toward Calimshan, we decided to go and wish the Tanners well.</p><p> </p><p>We found the river much higher than it had been when we passed heading toward Arrabar. We took the time to make our way back to the ford to cross the waters. This carried us near to the Winterwood once again. As we rode quietly along the edge of the wood, Liadan appeared to catch sight of something no one else could see. She suddenly spurred Shadowcast away from us, then began riding to and fro in a most curious manner. When we caught up with her and Rock called out to ask her what she was doing, she announced that Califax was galloping toward her repeatedly and then veering aside! </p><p> </p><p>We all recalled how she had claimed to see Califax running ahead of her during our last visit to this place, and suspected some phantasm. But when the mages sought for evidence of magic, they felt some stirring as the image of the great steed drew nearer. Each time Liadan rode toward Califax he would turn aside, then circle back to approach. At last, Liadan dismounted and stood her ground when the horse moved toward her. Suddenly she staggered, and at once all of us could see Califax there, just completing a powerful kick with both of his rear legs!</p><p> </p><p>Though Califax had often snapped or kicked at Liadan when she groomed him, this kick did not seem as petulant as his previous behavior. He continued to kick and bite her as she stood before him. Liadan grew angry with his viciousness and blasted him with holy light, though her first attempt seemed not to touch him. Rock had also dismounted and stood behind her, and I now urged Aratan up to stand guard at her other side. Nekaya moved nearer astride Pekawa. </p><p> </p><p>Shadowcast was standing behind Rock at this time, and quite unexpectedly began to attack my friend. Her behavior was odd and unnatural, as though she did not truly wish to strike at him, and as she is not a trained warhorse her kicks were weak. We all recalled that in the past Califax had shown the ability to control other horses when he led us to Gadron's hidden lair. </p><p> </p><p>Shadowcast kept striking out at Rock, and Rock grew frustrated with the horse's attentions. He attempted to calm her but his efforts had no effect. He then struck her a mighty blow with his fist, and she toppled to the ground! Truly my friend has a prodigious might. But I was too concerned with what occurred between Califax and Liadan to give much thought to Shadowcast. For after Rock struck down Liadan's horse, he then stepped nearer and remarked to Liadan that perhaps this behavior was some test of her worthiness.</p><p> </p><p>Liadan then caught hold of Califax's mane when he stepped closer to bite her, and vaulted upon his back. He wore no bridle or saddle, only a blanket that was near to slipping off. When Liadan sprang astride him he bolted away from us. Nekaya reacted more quickly than I and sent Pekawa galloping after him, and I followed a moment later. Aratan is swifter than Nekaya's great steed, and I was quickly able to catch up to the disturbed Califax. Liadan was clinging on his back with great determination, but when he carried her into a low-hanging tree limb she could not maintain her grip and fell to the ground.</p><p> </p><p>Liadan scrambled to her feet, but Califax loomed over her in a most aggressive manner and renewed his attacks upon her. He now appeared extremely threatening to my eyes, and I doubted that Rock's suggestion was accurate. Something was seriously amiss with Califax. Liadan shouted angrily that Califax would never try to harm her in this way, and continued blasting him with Lathander's divine light. Earlier Nikos had flung a number of darts unerringly at the horse, and Califax was now burnt and bloodied, but showed no sign of relenting.</p><p> </p><p>I rode up to him as Liadan once again sprang onto his back, and was able to catch hold of his ear. This obviously irritated him greatly but I was able to maintain my grip against his tossing head for a few moments. Then he pulled free of my grasp and Liadan tumbled to the ground again. Califax made as if to trample her and I swiftly pushed Aratan in his way. He then began circling about, seeking an opening to renew his attacks. I kept Aratan moving, always interposing my faithful mount between Califax and Liadan.</p><p> </p><p>Nekaya provided healing to Liadan and joined me in blocking Califax's approach. He had become so persistent that I drew my sword and shouted to him in anger that he would die if he attempted to harm Liadan again. His eyes were wild and I felt that my words meant nothing to him, though I had known him to have the intelligence of a man. Then Liadan decided to call upon Lathander's power in the manner that she would employ to turn aside an undead thing. She stepped between Pekawa and Aratan to aim her spell. As Califax lunged toward her once again, he was rebuffed by some invisible force. Suddenly he reared, blood and foam flying from his lips, and emitted a harsh scream that echoed among the trees. Then he vanished.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="sniffles, post: 2471810, member: 30035"] [b]The Chamber of Dawn[/b] We had determined that at the end of each of the five radial passages in the underground structure stood an angled reflecting column. Above each column was a cunningly designed trap door intended to admit sunlight. We at once set about uncovering the columns and opening the trap doors. The shafts above the trap doors were all blocked by many years of debris. I stood upon one of the reflecting columns while Rock steadied me, and found that there was a circular catch, apparently intended to be opened by a priest or servitor using a pole. By stretching my arm as far as I could reach, I was able to depress the catch. Rock and I scarcely managed to avoid the fall of earth and stones that tumbled in when the trap door openend. A brilliant shaft of noontime sunlight flowed down the shaft and into the passage in which we stood. Much to my surprise, the light flowed around the bend in the passage without hesitation. We followed the light into the curving main passage and saw that it turned the corner into that corridor in a most unnatural manner. Erim had managed to open another of the shafts from above, and now light shone from all five passages. When the rays of light met in front of the magical section of wall that Liadan and Nekaya had examined earlier, the wall vanished, revealing another passageway. We had suspected that there must be a hidden chamber in the center of the arc formed by the curved corridor, since the symbol of Elishar included a dot at the center of its arc. Liadan approached the new passage with much interest. Nekaya descended into the subterranean structure and joined her in the entrance to the passageway. Strangely, though we could see a clear passage, we could also see an image of solid earth in that space. At the end of the passage a small circular room was just visible. Strange lights glimmered from within the chamber. Liadan and Nekaya went first toward the circular room. Within it we could now see a small dais in the center of the floor, and murals upon the walls. Something shining in the form of a man stood upon the low dais, the beam of sunlight halting where it struck this shape. As the two young ladies made to enter the chamber, a voice spoke in a tongue I could not understand. But Nekaya appeared to recognize the words. She told us that the figure had said that as we did not bear a certain mark, we were not welcome in this place. The figure now resovled itself into a man-like creature seemingly made of white crystal. Then the light within the chamber pulsed twice, and two more crystalline entities appeared, one of green and the other black in color. The black crystal man assumed an threatening stance, while the green figure stood at the rear of the room, watching us with its featureless face. I was so concerned with the threat of these crystalline things that I hardly noticed the murals upon the walls. Rock told us later he had noticed that they, too, were all in shades of white, green and black. The different sections of color intertwined in an intricate pattern, and where one color crossed another the images within appeared different. The green images were all obviously of our world, Toril, and showed pleasant pastoral scenes. The white images appeared even more pleasant and brilliant. But the black scenes were difficult to make out. Where the black and green scenes intermingled, the imagery became less pleasant, showing scenes of decay and destruction. Rock could not make anything out where the black and white bands mingled. Nekaya began to speak in her native Mulan tongue, conversing with the white crystal figure. It told her that this room was known as the Chamber of Dawn, but it gave her little other information. It appeared to her that as none of us carried the emblem of Elishar, the crystal beings that were the chamber's guardians would not give us any information. Then Erim called out to us that the light was fading, and we hurriedly exited the Chamber of Dawn. Once the noon light vanished from the tunnels, the wall reappeared across the end of the hall that led to the chamber. We decided to remove ourselves to the upper temple area uphill, where the portal lay, and seek further knowledge from that ruined structure. Sadly most of the murals and carvings there had been much damaged, perhaps by the presence of the ogres. We rested there for the remainder of the day while Nekaya carved herself a likeness of Elishar's emblem to wear. Curiously, as Rock told us more of what he had seen in the murals, he indicated that he had noticed a structure in the form of a bird, shown in yellow in the green band of images. This sounded to Liadan like an illustration of Morningdawn Hall, a great temple of Lathander that lies in Shadowdale. But this hall is not yellow; it is made of rose-colored glass. None of us could fathom why it would be shown in yellow, nor how it came to be depicted in a mural in a structure that was made long before Morningdawn Hall came into existence. Perhaps, as Elishar was a god of prophecy, these murals portray events that have not yet come to pass. After a quiet night, we determined to investigate the Chamber of Dawn once again, hoping that Nekaya's new symbol would gain us more information. Before noon we spent our energies in preparing to disguise the shafts above the trapdoors, so that when we departed this place we might hide them from prying eyes. As noon neared we descended to the tunnels once again to await the opening of the Chamber. This time Nikos and Phaele came with us, so that fresh eyes might observe the chamber's interior. When the Chamber opened I remained at the end of the entry passage to watch for the fading of the sunlight. Erim had also joined the others, and both he and Liadan called upon the powers of magic to allow them to understand the speech of the crystal guardians, though they would not be able to communicate with the guardians themselves. This magic required them both to touch Nekaya so that they might comprehend the words. In this manner they all proceeded down to the Chamber of Dawn when the entrance appeared. On this occasion, when the white guardian saw the symbol Nekaya wore, it receded into a crystal nodule that was set into the wall. Liadan then stepped across the low dais, and observed that she felt infused with a positive energy. She attempted to expend a power granted her by Lathander, and found that her power was restored immediately rather than having to wait until the following dawn. Nekaya also trod upon the dais and felt a similar experience. Phaele examined the murals upon the walls intently. She speculated that the black band represented the Plane of Shadow, but while it seemed logical that the white band then represented a Plane of Light, no such plane was known to exist to her knowledge. She also told us that there was so much magic in the chamber that for a moment when she cast the spell to detect it, she was blinded by the energy. Sadly our time in the Chamber of Dawn was too brief to glean anything further. We retreated once again as the sun moved on its endless course and its rays grew too dim to activate the magic. Once we returned to the surface we spent some while covering the trap doors, and Liadan used Lathander's grace to seal up the hole that had been broken in the ceiling of the curved corridor. We then decided to spend the remainder of the day traveling toward Camber. We had realized that it must now be the beginning of Spring, and soon our friend Billy Tanner would celebrate his nuptials. As visiting Camber would not take us far out of our way should we continue toward Calimshan, we decided to go and wish the Tanners well. We found the river much higher than it had been when we passed heading toward Arrabar. We took the time to make our way back to the ford to cross the waters. This carried us near to the Winterwood once again. As we rode quietly along the edge of the wood, Liadan appeared to catch sight of something no one else could see. She suddenly spurred Shadowcast away from us, then began riding to and fro in a most curious manner. When we caught up with her and Rock called out to ask her what she was doing, she announced that Califax was galloping toward her repeatedly and then veering aside! We all recalled how she had claimed to see Califax running ahead of her during our last visit to this place, and suspected some phantasm. But when the mages sought for evidence of magic, they felt some stirring as the image of the great steed drew nearer. Each time Liadan rode toward Califax he would turn aside, then circle back to approach. At last, Liadan dismounted and stood her ground when the horse moved toward her. Suddenly she staggered, and at once all of us could see Califax there, just completing a powerful kick with both of his rear legs! Though Califax had often snapped or kicked at Liadan when she groomed him, this kick did not seem as petulant as his previous behavior. He continued to kick and bite her as she stood before him. Liadan grew angry with his viciousness and blasted him with holy light, though her first attempt seemed not to touch him. Rock had also dismounted and stood behind her, and I now urged Aratan up to stand guard at her other side. Nekaya moved nearer astride Pekawa. Shadowcast was standing behind Rock at this time, and quite unexpectedly began to attack my friend. Her behavior was odd and unnatural, as though she did not truly wish to strike at him, and as she is not a trained warhorse her kicks were weak. We all recalled that in the past Califax had shown the ability to control other horses when he led us to Gadron's hidden lair. Shadowcast kept striking out at Rock, and Rock grew frustrated with the horse's attentions. He attempted to calm her but his efforts had no effect. He then struck her a mighty blow with his fist, and she toppled to the ground! Truly my friend has a prodigious might. But I was too concerned with what occurred between Califax and Liadan to give much thought to Shadowcast. For after Rock struck down Liadan's horse, he then stepped nearer and remarked to Liadan that perhaps this behavior was some test of her worthiness. Liadan then caught hold of Califax's mane when he stepped closer to bite her, and vaulted upon his back. He wore no bridle or saddle, only a blanket that was near to slipping off. When Liadan sprang astride him he bolted away from us. Nekaya reacted more quickly than I and sent Pekawa galloping after him, and I followed a moment later. Aratan is swifter than Nekaya's great steed, and I was quickly able to catch up to the disturbed Califax. Liadan was clinging on his back with great determination, but when he carried her into a low-hanging tree limb she could not maintain her grip and fell to the ground. Liadan scrambled to her feet, but Califax loomed over her in a most aggressive manner and renewed his attacks upon her. He now appeared extremely threatening to my eyes, and I doubted that Rock's suggestion was accurate. Something was seriously amiss with Califax. Liadan shouted angrily that Califax would never try to harm her in this way, and continued blasting him with Lathander's divine light. Earlier Nikos had flung a number of darts unerringly at the horse, and Califax was now burnt and bloodied, but showed no sign of relenting. I rode up to him as Liadan once again sprang onto his back, and was able to catch hold of his ear. This obviously irritated him greatly but I was able to maintain my grip against his tossing head for a few moments. Then he pulled free of my grasp and Liadan tumbled to the ground again. Califax made as if to trample her and I swiftly pushed Aratan in his way. He then began circling about, seeking an opening to renew his attacks. I kept Aratan moving, always interposing my faithful mount between Califax and Liadan. Nekaya provided healing to Liadan and joined me in blocking Califax's approach. He had become so persistent that I drew my sword and shouted to him in anger that he would die if he attempted to harm Liadan again. His eyes were wild and I felt that my words meant nothing to him, though I had known him to have the intelligence of a man. Then Liadan decided to call upon Lathander's power in the manner that she would employ to turn aside an undead thing. She stepped between Pekawa and Aratan to aim her spell. As Califax lunged toward her once again, he was rebuffed by some invisible force. Suddenly he reared, blood and foam flying from his lips, and emitted a harsh scream that echoed among the trees. Then he vanished. [/QUOTE]
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