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Shilsen's Eberron SH (Finished - The Last Word : 9/20/15)
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<blockquote data-quote="shilsen" data-source="post: 2821100" data-attributes="member: 198"><p>Written by shilsen 10/30/05</p><p></p><p><strong>Session 12 - The Guardian Angels Take Flight</strong></p><p></p><p>Corven ir’Lanya Deneith - Human Art6</p><p>Gareth Byron Deneith - Human Pal3/Clr2/Exorcist of the Silver Flame1</p><p>Luna - Shifter Drd6</p><p>Mithral 6 of 6 - Warforged Ftr2/Scout4</p><p>Nameless - Human Wiz5/Alienist1</p><p></p><p>After returning to the inn, the adventurers find Bodo waiting for them. He says that he asked around Callestan and Oldkeep about Daask and also a little about anything to do with a sword, but reports no success. Gareth thanks him for his efforts but also tells him to hold off on asking people about the subject for now. After a quick dinner, they all head for bed, other than Six, who returns to crafting his sculptures.</p><p></p><p>Some time before dawn, both Gareth and Nameless have unusual dreams. Gareth has a dream during which he feels his powers as an exorcist and as a worshipper of the Flame expand. Nameless too comes to a realization in his sleep, cracking the formula for summoning pseudonatural creatures that he has been studying since he was able to do is in the complex where they fought Desro. He also dreams of the same kalashtar woman that he had dreamed of nearly a month ago, right after their arrival in Sharn. In this dream, she warns him of danger and tells him to seek out "the enlightened Havakhad" in the Overlook district. </p><p></p><p>Nameless rises early, shakes Gareth awake, says, "I am sneaking out, probably for some nefarious purpose," and departs, leaving an irritated paladin and a chortling druid, Luna having awoken to hear the exchange. The mage heads for the Overlook district, directly above the Underlook area where their inn is, and finds it to be a residential area full of apartment townhomes. Though most are made of plain gray granite, some of them show signs of Riedran architecture. A number of kalashtar move around the area, and though they are still a minority, there are more of them than he has seen anywhere else in Sharn.</p><p></p><p>After asking someone on the street about Havakhad, Nameless is directed to a large hall called the Gathering Light, which is apparently a communal meeting place for the local kalashtar. There, he meets a woman called Selkatari, who turns out to be the exact image of the woman who has appeared in his dreams. She is surprised and confused at being informed about this, and calls a scholar called Hanamelk. After hearing about the dreams, Hanamelk suggests she take Nameless to Havakhad.</p><p></p><p>Accompanied by four guards (she explains that there has been some trouble for Havakhad but does not explain what), she leads him to a small but beautiful shrine at the top of a nearby tower, which is dedicated to Il-Yannah, the force that the kalashtar revere. Nameless meets Havakhad, the ancient kalashtar who tends the shrine. After being told of the dreams, Havakhad asks a little about Nameless. He confesses that he has no idea what the dreams may mean, adding that since the kalashtar are incapable of dreaming, they have limited understanding of other races' experience of dreams. Nameless assures Havakhad that his dreams usually involve more tentacles than the ones with Selkatari. Havakhad seems to find that amusing and opines that, tentacles or no, these are visions of some kind and are too specific to be coincidental. He promises to meditate on it and speak to Nameless again. Havakhad seems pleased to meet Nameless, especially when the latter displays some knowledge of Dal Quor (the plane of dreams), the plane the spirits that make up the kalashtar came from. However, Nameless' suggestion that Edgar (his rock) help with the question of the dreams doesn't seem to raise his stature in Havakhad's eyes.</p><p></p><p>Before Nameless leaves, Havakhad asks if he has had many dealings with the Riedrans (whom Nameless knows the kalashtar are apparently strongly opposed to). Nameless tells him of the solitary meeting with them at the Karrnathi embassy and gives some details of those he met. Havakhad suggests that Nameless be a little wary of them and then bids him goodbye. Nameless heads back down to Underlook to join the others for a late breakfast.</p><p></p><p>During breakfast, Gareth tells Bodo that he has to undergo schooling. After some arguing, Bodo manages to persuade Gareth that he should be allowed to find information on available schools in Sharn and eventually leaves to do so, looking fairly depressed. After Bodo is gone, Six tells Gareth that he has something to say to Gareth. He then proceeds to lecture Gareth about how the loss of his sword was due to his own pride and overconfidence, and predicts that Gareth will suffer more if he is not less humble about his abilities and more careful in his actions. Gareth does not react positively to the criticism and the two are soon engaged in a freewheeling and long argument about what they have been doing, their current plans and the future. Much of the disagreement is about Killian and how much the group should trust him or his information. Ironically, the argument ends up with Gareth defending Killian and arguing that the information he has given them has been correct so far and that he has no real proof that Killian is a villain, though he suspects it. Nameless and Luna spend most of their time rolling their eyes or laughing at the argument, though they do tend to side with Six regarding the need to be very skeptical about Killian and whether the information he gives them is a trap. Corven joins in, though not as stridently as Six and Gareth. He also takes a more moderate position than either of the two, agreeing with each to some degree, though he too supports Six in the belief that Killian sold them out to the Boromars during the attack on the drug den. Gareth says that Killian seemed surprised and a little irritated at the news that the Boromars got the drugs and argues that since Killian had wanted them to destroy the drug den and said nothing about recovering the drugs, that was probably not the gnome's intent. Corven replies that he doesn't trust any of Killian's reactions at all, and feels that the reaction time from the Boromars was too quick unless they had a troop waiting there every day. Six adds to that by saying that the Boromars never showed the least curiosity about the identities or aims of the group, which leads him to believe that they knew who the adventurers were. Gareth responds that if he finds out that Killian is working for the Boromars he will go down to the casino and kill him personally, even if he has to die in the process. A couple of the others comment that they'd put money on the dying, which doesn't improve matters.</p><p></p><p>The argument, which does not seem to be going anywhere, is thankfully interrupted by the arrival of Narik and his companion priest Lothas. Narik greets the group and, after they retire to their rooms, asks about the attack on the drug den. The adventurers tell him about it, without too much information about the Boromars, though Gareth takes time to tell him about the ogre thrice. Narik mentions that he saw Deemin and Finch looking the worse for wear at the Clifftop Adventurers Guild and says that he thinks they might not be keen on accompanying them into the Cogs. Gareth tells him that they will have more information but should be able to make a quick in-&-out attack, which Narik agrees is the best kind. Narik also asks the group about issues of treasure and they eventually decide that everyone participating will get an equal share of any coinage recovered, and any equipment and magical items will be randomly chosen, with Gareth's sword and amulet going directly to him. After the agreement is reached, Gareth asks Narik about the presence of bards in the Adventurers Guild, but is told that they are rare. Narik says that if he wants to find bards, he should check the Golden Horn, an inn located in the University district, where the local chapter of some bard organization is located.</p><p></p><p>Narik also has some information about transportation for leaving Sharn, which Six had asked for. He tells them about the lightning rail leaving Sharn twice a day from Terminus, while Orien caravans and coaches leave regularly from Wroann's Gate (both districts in Lower Tavick's). There are also ships leaving from the Grayflood and Ship's Towers areas regularly, some heading south and west to Xen'drik, with the trip varying from a month to a dozen days depending on whether one travels by a regular sailing ship or one run by House Lyrandar. The rare Lyrandar elemental galleon takes only three or four days, but is very costly. Regarding Xen'drik, Narik also says that there are a couple of expeditions being planned over the next month, adding that Clifftop Adventurers Guild members are popular for such expeditions since many are experienced with Xen'drik. </p><p></p><p>After deciding that he will stop by again two days later to find out about the trip into the Cogs, Narik leaves with Lothas. Once he is gone, the adventurers head in various directions. Despite the argument with Six, Gareth decides to follow a suggestion the warforged warrior made, namely to contact someone from the Finders Guild regarding his sword. He heads for Deathsgate, where he visits Karr'Aashta's Investigations and talks to Karr'Aashta. The latter is interested to hear about the loss and claims to have certain expertise regarding the Cogs. Gareth gives him detailed information about the loss of the sword and his discoveries thus far, only not mentioning Killian as a source. Karr'Aashta promises to do some investigating and speak to Gareth in a couple of days, as well as quoting him a base price for the information of 50 galifars, which may be higher depending on how difficult he finds it to be (along with payment for any spellcasting involved). Gareth promises to pay whatever is needed.</p><p></p><p>Corven, meanwhile, heads to the Esoteric Order to begin work on crafting a wand of scorching ray, having been studying the art of wand creation for the last few weeks. Since he is a little short on the money needed, he borrows 700 galifars from Luna, who has not spent as much as most of the others. </p><p></p><p>Luna and Six visit the University, where Luna spends a little time in the library checking information on Xen'drik, while Six locates and speaks to Larkin Habershar, a research scholar he heard during the Aureon's Crown festival. He learns a little about Desro and Dals Nelmo, but not much more than he already knew. Afterwards, both Six and Luna speak to Dala Arand, a young scholar who had mentioned to Six that she is involved with planning a trip to Xen'drik. She confirms that she is planning an expedition primarily financed by Kidro Osanak, the owner of one of the nearby antiquities stores that specialize in Xen'drik artifacts. </p><p></p><p>Dala takes the pair to meet Kidro, whose shop is located in the Seven Towers district in the area colloquially called Little Xen'drik. At the store, Window on Yesterday, Luna and Six meet Kidro, who is a wizened old gnome. He is happy to meet them and gives them some information about the way expeditions to Xen'drik are often financed. He says that the current one is in the beginning stages of planning, so it may actually take place anywhere from a couple of weeks to over a month later. When Six asks about the specific aim for this expedition, Kidro says that he has information about a ruin belonging to the ancient giant civilization that has not been explored fully, and he wishes to finance the recovery of anything found there. Dala adds that she will probably accompany this expedition. Kidro asks some questions about the group and is pleased to learn that they are members of the Clifftop Guild. He makes plans to speak to them in a few days, after checking on their references at the Guild. Six also lets him know that he can speak to House Deneith and the Cyran Embassy about them, which seems to impress him.</p><p></p><p>Leaving Dala with Kidro, the pair head back to the University, since Six wants to speak to Flamewind, the resident gynosphinx with oracular powers that he has heard of. A student directs them to the library, where they find Flamewind walking among the back shelves. The strange-looking creature has a giant lion's body, but with orange stripes on black, and a folded pair of black wings like that of a great falcon. Her head and face is that of a beautiful elf woman, but with a distinctly feline cast, and she wears a silver diadem on her brow. She greets Luna and Six politely when they speak to her. Six says that they are planning to travel to Xen'drik and would like any guidance that she could give them, mentioning that he has heard of her oracular powers. Flamewind smiles and says that she has many people, especially scholars and adventurers, speak to her in hopes of some information. Unfortunately, her oracular powers are not at her control and they activate without any warning. Even as she is saying this to them, she stops, growls softly and then shakes her head from side to side. Then her eyes begin to glow softly and she looks at the pair and intones softly, her voice growing deep as she does so:</p><p></p><p><em>Prophecy dances around you. Some fulfill, some are fulfilled, and some flee - the choice is yours. Where present and future spark, where light is turned to dark, to the ghost of the city where the past await. The chamber may hold you, make you or break you. Beyond sky and sea you go, but only to your roots return. Face dream and madness, dust and death; use them against each other, as they use you. You already carry destruction within you, but without it you may fail. The sword is the key, but the key is not the sword. Dragon's wings. The prophecy...</em></p><p></p><p>She falls silent and the glow fades from her eyes as she growls quietly one more time as if in emphasis. Looking at Luna and Six, she comments, "Interesting. That's the first time in over a year that I had a response exactly when someone asked me. I think I will watch your future career intently." Flamewind explains that she cannot provide an explanation of the vision, but spends a little time speaking to the pair. Then she takes her leave, saying that she may contact them later.</p><p></p><p>Luna and Six return to the inn, to rejoin Nameless and Gareth. Corven joins the others in the evening after having completed his crafting work for the day. The group exchanges information about what they have learned. Corven grabs an early dinner and heads to High Walls to follow up on the investigation. There, he meets Cala at the Bitter Draft. She tells him that she has been doing a little checking and has found a worker named Rolan who thinks he saw Hestia and Drass in the Blackbones area of the Cogs, which is below High Walls. Rolan is present in the tavern and speaks to Corven. He says he remembered it because he bumped into them by mistake and the guy swore at him. Though he does not know Drass or Hestia personally, the people he saw fit the description Cala gave. Corven asks whether Rolan could say where the pair was going or had come from, but Rolan says that with the size of the Cogs, it's impossible to say.</p><p></p><p>Corven thanks him and when he leaves, discusses with Cala what options there are for the investigation. While they are conversing, Corven catches a glimpse of a flame-shaped tattoo on the arm of a man heading for the exit*. The man's jerkin had moved for a moment, revealing the tattoo. Corven quietly points it out to Cala and the pair leave the tavern and follow the man, who is dressed like a laborer. From the marks on his clothing, Corven guesses that he is a bricklayer. The pair successfully follow him down the street and down a couple more, before he ends up at what looks like a boardinghouse. Corven quickly infuses an invisibility spell, uses it on himself and follows the man in. He heads up to a room on the next floor and enters, closing and locking the door behind him. After listening at the door and hearing nothing to indicate that there is anyone else in there, Corven returns to Cala. He suggests that she get someone to keep an eye on the house and the man, and that they can enter the room the next morning when the occupant is at work. Cala agrees and takes Corven to the nearby home of Toras, a former member of her company, and arranges for it. </p><p></p><p>Corven and Cala return to the tavern, where Corven spends some time having a few drinks, talking with her and getting to know some people. Eventually, he makes it back to Underlook and the Happy Harvest, and packs up for the night. </p><p></p><p>***</p><p>The next morning, while they are wrapping up breakfast and planning to all accompany Corven to High Walls, the innkeeper Palk comes to the group and tells them that there is someone asking for them. This turns out to be a well-dressed young gnome, who introduces himself as Flim Turen, a correspondent from the Korranberg Chronicle. After the momentary thought of "Oh Gods! It's the Press!", which is shared by many of the Misfits, they ask how they can help him. Flim says that he believes the group was involved in an attack on a tavern at Tumbledown. There is a universal denial of his statement, to which he then asks, "How about an attack on a drug den in Tumbledown?"</p><p></p><p>To the horror or amusement of the others, Luna says, "Oh, that's different - we did that." Flim quickly flips open a pad and begins to ask questions about it. Gareth persists in saying, "No comment," to most of his questions, but that doesn't help much since most of the others, especially Luna, provide Flim with varying degrees of information. Gareth gets especially agitated when Nameless smiles and says, "My friend here is looking for his sword," but luckily for him, Flim doesn’t seem to spend too much time on the subject.</p><p></p><p>During the discussion, Six asks Flim exactly how they knew they were involved. Flim says that since it was mid-afternoon, there were dozens of witnesses, and the attack involved a human wearing full plate armor covered with symbols of the Silver Flame accompanied by a warforged with a spiked chain, it was not difficult to find them (the shifter, half-elf and three other humans helped narrow it down). He says that he checked at the Cathedral and at the Clifftop Adventurers Guild and obtained their names and location accordingly.</p><p></p><p>When Flim asks what the group is called, Luna laughingly says that they are "the Guardian Angels", a name that Flim says will definitely help make the story a little memorable. He also asks about their goals and aims, and Luna mentions something about cleaning up the place. Flim seems highly amused at the notion and asks whether he can quote her, since "Guardian Angels Vow to Clean Up Sharn!" would make a great byline. This leads to a combination of hilarity, face-palming and comments of "Oh, we're so dead" from the newly renamed group.</p><p></p><p>Deciding that he might as well join in, Gareth asks Flim when the article would appear and learns that it would be out on the 6th, two days later. He tries to persuade Flim to delay the article, promising that he will then get a better story. Flim asks why he should believe that, to which Gareth replies, "Because you have my word and I am a paladin." Flim waits for a couple of seconds, as if expecting more, and then says, "Should I repeat my question?", leading to even more hilarity at the table. Still, after some of the others join in and the Guardian Angels promise to speak with him on the 6th and give him more information if he manages to delay the story, he says that he will do what he can. </p><p></p><p>After he leaves, Gareth tells Nameless that he should not reveal things about the sword's loss, which leads to a short argument about trust and backing up one's allies, with Gareth arguing that Nameless is hurting Gareth's attempt to recover a treasured family heirloom and Nameless arguing that they have all almost got themselves killed trying to help find Gareth's sword and are continuing to do so. This argument is interrupted before it really takes off, by a Sivis messenger with a letter for Gareth from his family, and the Guardian Angels make their preparation and leave.</p><p></p><p>As they are about to catch a skycoach, they spot Killian a skybridge away, also hailing a skycoach. He does not seem to have seen them. Quickly deciding that some should follow him, Six and Luna take a skycoach and do so, while the others continue to High Walls. Luna wildshapes into a dog before doing so, hoping that this will let her get close to Killian, if need be, without getting spotted. </p><p></p><p>Their skycoach follows Killian's till it reaches the Dragon Towers area of Middle Central, where he disembarks. They do so too and follow him at a distance until he enters the House Sivis enclave. Seeing that he is not accosted by either the guards to the extended enclave area or those guarding the inner enclave proper (which is what he enters), they presume he is known here. Six waits for a few minutes to draw a rough sketch resembling Killian, and then heads for the guards with Luna in tow. When they stop him, he shows the picture and says that he is looking for this person. One of the guards looks at the picture and asks, "Kylyman?" Not particularly surprised at the variant name, Six says, "Yes" and the pair are let through to the inner enclave. One of the guards who leads them in says that their timing is good since Kylyman just returned.</p><p></p><p>Inside the enclave, Six speaks to a receptionist in the foyer and says that Kylyman is expecting him. She leaves and returns shortly with Killian in tow. He seems confused at seeing Six, though he shows no signs of recognition, and says that he does not know who Six is. While Luna and he note that Killian/Kylyman's voice is a little different to Killian's, Six says that he knows the gnome as Killian and has met him a number of times. After a minute of trying to work out what is going on, the gnome's expression clears and he says, "Yes, yes, now I remember. Please follow me," and leads the pair to a private room.</p><p></p><p>There, he explains that he still has no idea what Six is speaking of, but wanted to discuss this elsewhere than the foyer, where they were drawing attention. While Six speaks to him, Luna in canine form makes sure to sniff around the gnome in the hopes that she will be able to identify him by smell if she has to later. Six tells the gnome about their meetings with Killian and he reiterates that he has never seen them before and is called Kylyman. He also says that evidently someone is impersonating him, and asks for as much information as possible. Six tells him everything about Killian, the meetings in the Lucky Nines casino, the loss of Gareth's sword (he also asks Kylyman if he can help and provides a sketch of it), where the group can be found, and about their planned meeting that evening. Kylyman notes down everything he says and thanks him for it, saying that he will investigate this immediately. </p><p></p><p>Once this information has been exchanged, the gnome tells Six that if the warforged needs to contact him, he should simply visit the enclave and ask for Kylyman Dorian d'Sivis. Six asks what he does there, and Kylyman says that he is a member of the Speakers Guild, but gives no other details. He bids Six goodbye and the latter leaves, with Luna in tow.</p><p></p><p>The other three, meanwhile, reach High Walls, meet Cala at her lodgings in the New Cyre inn, and accompany her to the suspect's home. On the way she says that she has discovered that he is a bricklayer named Neb, who was in Breland when the Day of Mourning occurred, and has been here ever since. Other than that she knows nothing about him. Reaching the boardinghouse, they speak to a couple of the people who have been watching it, who say that Neb left for work nearly an hour ago and that he is part of a crew repairing an old building two streets away.</p><p></p><p>Cala says that she will speak to the landlady about them searching the room and goes to do so, while the three Guardian Angels head upstairs. Corven picks the lock to reveal a simple and small room, and then searches it thoroughly with Nameless' help, while Gareth stands guard. He eventually finds another of the parchments with the flame-shaped symbol and the name Zokar, but this one without a date on it. When Cala joins them, Corven shows her the parchment and they decide to bring the man back to the house and question him.</p><p></p><p>The four of them head downstairs and Cala sends a boy to Neb with a message regarding trouble with his room. A few minutes later, they see Neb approach with the boy, at which point Corven uses a detect thoughts spell that he has infused. As soon as he enters the sitting room they are in, Cala shuts the door behind him. Surprised at seeing the armed and armored group, Neb begins to stammer, seem worried and asks what they want. Corven begins to read his mind and discovers that he is worried that "they know".</p><p></p><p>Neb makes a break for the window, which Nameless promptly shuts, and Cala knocks him out. After they tie him up, he is revived and questioned again. This time he blusters and threatens them that if they do not free him, Zokar will burn them. When he is asked about Zokar, Corven picks up images of flame in his mind. Neb says only that Zokar will burn them as he will burn the enemies of Cyre. When they ask about the three missing people, Neb claims not to know them, but Corven picks up images of a burning figure laid out on a stone slab (though the image shows no fuel for the fire). While the questioning continues, Corven picks up a steadily increasing degree of fear and eventually Neb begins to beg the group to free him, because otherwise Zokar will punish him.</p><p></p><p>Moments after saying this, Neb goes rigid for a moment and then begins to scream and writhe around as if in considerable pain. Gareth attempts to exorcise him, just in case he is possessed, which has no effect. With Neb screaming in pain and shouting, "No, Zokar! I did not tell them anything! Please spare me!", Corven asks what is happening and where Zokar is. He picks up feelings of great pain and the name "Kielsten" in Neb's mind. A moment later, Neb's body explodes into a burst of flame, scorching Gareth and badly burning the other three**, especially Cala, who was trying to restrain Neb. The flames continue to burn around and all over Neb's body, but the others notice that he does not seem to be badly burnt. Even so, he screams in agony and arches his back, and then is literally split in half from the groin to the chin. As he is, streaks of black shoot up his body and all three of the Angels recognize it as a manifestation of a necromantic death effect, though they do not recognize the specific effect. Whatever it is, it is extremely effective, since it kills Neb instantly. The flames disappear too, leaving a slightly scorched corpse. Corven notices that the tattoo on his arm, which had begun to pulse and glow as the flames appeared (and more brightly than the flames), fades back into being a normal tattoo - or at least looking like one. </p><p></p><p>With all the commotion now ended, the landlady (who had abandoned her sitting room to the group) sticks her head in, takes one look at the corpse, screams and passes out. </p><p></p><p>* 29 Spot check! </p><p>** Natural 1s for Corven and Nameless, who now have no eyebrows</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="shilsen, post: 2821100, member: 198"] Written by shilsen 10/30/05 [B]Session 12 - The Guardian Angels Take Flight[/B] Corven ir’Lanya Deneith - Human Art6 Gareth Byron Deneith - Human Pal3/Clr2/Exorcist of the Silver Flame1 Luna - Shifter Drd6 Mithral 6 of 6 - Warforged Ftr2/Scout4 Nameless - Human Wiz5/Alienist1 After returning to the inn, the adventurers find Bodo waiting for them. He says that he asked around Callestan and Oldkeep about Daask and also a little about anything to do with a sword, but reports no success. Gareth thanks him for his efforts but also tells him to hold off on asking people about the subject for now. After a quick dinner, they all head for bed, other than Six, who returns to crafting his sculptures. Some time before dawn, both Gareth and Nameless have unusual dreams. Gareth has a dream during which he feels his powers as an exorcist and as a worshipper of the Flame expand. Nameless too comes to a realization in his sleep, cracking the formula for summoning pseudonatural creatures that he has been studying since he was able to do is in the complex where they fought Desro. He also dreams of the same kalashtar woman that he had dreamed of nearly a month ago, right after their arrival in Sharn. In this dream, she warns him of danger and tells him to seek out "the enlightened Havakhad" in the Overlook district. Nameless rises early, shakes Gareth awake, says, "I am sneaking out, probably for some nefarious purpose," and departs, leaving an irritated paladin and a chortling druid, Luna having awoken to hear the exchange. The mage heads for the Overlook district, directly above the Underlook area where their inn is, and finds it to be a residential area full of apartment townhomes. Though most are made of plain gray granite, some of them show signs of Riedran architecture. A number of kalashtar move around the area, and though they are still a minority, there are more of them than he has seen anywhere else in Sharn. After asking someone on the street about Havakhad, Nameless is directed to a large hall called the Gathering Light, which is apparently a communal meeting place for the local kalashtar. There, he meets a woman called Selkatari, who turns out to be the exact image of the woman who has appeared in his dreams. She is surprised and confused at being informed about this, and calls a scholar called Hanamelk. After hearing about the dreams, Hanamelk suggests she take Nameless to Havakhad. Accompanied by four guards (she explains that there has been some trouble for Havakhad but does not explain what), she leads him to a small but beautiful shrine at the top of a nearby tower, which is dedicated to Il-Yannah, the force that the kalashtar revere. Nameless meets Havakhad, the ancient kalashtar who tends the shrine. After being told of the dreams, Havakhad asks a little about Nameless. He confesses that he has no idea what the dreams may mean, adding that since the kalashtar are incapable of dreaming, they have limited understanding of other races' experience of dreams. Nameless assures Havakhad that his dreams usually involve more tentacles than the ones with Selkatari. Havakhad seems to find that amusing and opines that, tentacles or no, these are visions of some kind and are too specific to be coincidental. He promises to meditate on it and speak to Nameless again. Havakhad seems pleased to meet Nameless, especially when the latter displays some knowledge of Dal Quor (the plane of dreams), the plane the spirits that make up the kalashtar came from. However, Nameless' suggestion that Edgar (his rock) help with the question of the dreams doesn't seem to raise his stature in Havakhad's eyes. Before Nameless leaves, Havakhad asks if he has had many dealings with the Riedrans (whom Nameless knows the kalashtar are apparently strongly opposed to). Nameless tells him of the solitary meeting with them at the Karrnathi embassy and gives some details of those he met. Havakhad suggests that Nameless be a little wary of them and then bids him goodbye. Nameless heads back down to Underlook to join the others for a late breakfast. During breakfast, Gareth tells Bodo that he has to undergo schooling. After some arguing, Bodo manages to persuade Gareth that he should be allowed to find information on available schools in Sharn and eventually leaves to do so, looking fairly depressed. After Bodo is gone, Six tells Gareth that he has something to say to Gareth. He then proceeds to lecture Gareth about how the loss of his sword was due to his own pride and overconfidence, and predicts that Gareth will suffer more if he is not less humble about his abilities and more careful in his actions. Gareth does not react positively to the criticism and the two are soon engaged in a freewheeling and long argument about what they have been doing, their current plans and the future. Much of the disagreement is about Killian and how much the group should trust him or his information. Ironically, the argument ends up with Gareth defending Killian and arguing that the information he has given them has been correct so far and that he has no real proof that Killian is a villain, though he suspects it. Nameless and Luna spend most of their time rolling their eyes or laughing at the argument, though they do tend to side with Six regarding the need to be very skeptical about Killian and whether the information he gives them is a trap. Corven joins in, though not as stridently as Six and Gareth. He also takes a more moderate position than either of the two, agreeing with each to some degree, though he too supports Six in the belief that Killian sold them out to the Boromars during the attack on the drug den. Gareth says that Killian seemed surprised and a little irritated at the news that the Boromars got the drugs and argues that since Killian had wanted them to destroy the drug den and said nothing about recovering the drugs, that was probably not the gnome's intent. Corven replies that he doesn't trust any of Killian's reactions at all, and feels that the reaction time from the Boromars was too quick unless they had a troop waiting there every day. Six adds to that by saying that the Boromars never showed the least curiosity about the identities or aims of the group, which leads him to believe that they knew who the adventurers were. Gareth responds that if he finds out that Killian is working for the Boromars he will go down to the casino and kill him personally, even if he has to die in the process. A couple of the others comment that they'd put money on the dying, which doesn't improve matters. The argument, which does not seem to be going anywhere, is thankfully interrupted by the arrival of Narik and his companion priest Lothas. Narik greets the group and, after they retire to their rooms, asks about the attack on the drug den. The adventurers tell him about it, without too much information about the Boromars, though Gareth takes time to tell him about the ogre thrice. Narik mentions that he saw Deemin and Finch looking the worse for wear at the Clifftop Adventurers Guild and says that he thinks they might not be keen on accompanying them into the Cogs. Gareth tells him that they will have more information but should be able to make a quick in-&-out attack, which Narik agrees is the best kind. Narik also asks the group about issues of treasure and they eventually decide that everyone participating will get an equal share of any coinage recovered, and any equipment and magical items will be randomly chosen, with Gareth's sword and amulet going directly to him. After the agreement is reached, Gareth asks Narik about the presence of bards in the Adventurers Guild, but is told that they are rare. Narik says that if he wants to find bards, he should check the Golden Horn, an inn located in the University district, where the local chapter of some bard organization is located. Narik also has some information about transportation for leaving Sharn, which Six had asked for. He tells them about the lightning rail leaving Sharn twice a day from Terminus, while Orien caravans and coaches leave regularly from Wroann's Gate (both districts in Lower Tavick's). There are also ships leaving from the Grayflood and Ship's Towers areas regularly, some heading south and west to Xen'drik, with the trip varying from a month to a dozen days depending on whether one travels by a regular sailing ship or one run by House Lyrandar. The rare Lyrandar elemental galleon takes only three or four days, but is very costly. Regarding Xen'drik, Narik also says that there are a couple of expeditions being planned over the next month, adding that Clifftop Adventurers Guild members are popular for such expeditions since many are experienced with Xen'drik. After deciding that he will stop by again two days later to find out about the trip into the Cogs, Narik leaves with Lothas. Once he is gone, the adventurers head in various directions. Despite the argument with Six, Gareth decides to follow a suggestion the warforged warrior made, namely to contact someone from the Finders Guild regarding his sword. He heads for Deathsgate, where he visits Karr'Aashta's Investigations and talks to Karr'Aashta. The latter is interested to hear about the loss and claims to have certain expertise regarding the Cogs. Gareth gives him detailed information about the loss of the sword and his discoveries thus far, only not mentioning Killian as a source. Karr'Aashta promises to do some investigating and speak to Gareth in a couple of days, as well as quoting him a base price for the information of 50 galifars, which may be higher depending on how difficult he finds it to be (along with payment for any spellcasting involved). Gareth promises to pay whatever is needed. Corven, meanwhile, heads to the Esoteric Order to begin work on crafting a wand of scorching ray, having been studying the art of wand creation for the last few weeks. Since he is a little short on the money needed, he borrows 700 galifars from Luna, who has not spent as much as most of the others. Luna and Six visit the University, where Luna spends a little time in the library checking information on Xen'drik, while Six locates and speaks to Larkin Habershar, a research scholar he heard during the Aureon's Crown festival. He learns a little about Desro and Dals Nelmo, but not much more than he already knew. Afterwards, both Six and Luna speak to Dala Arand, a young scholar who had mentioned to Six that she is involved with planning a trip to Xen'drik. She confirms that she is planning an expedition primarily financed by Kidro Osanak, the owner of one of the nearby antiquities stores that specialize in Xen'drik artifacts. Dala takes the pair to meet Kidro, whose shop is located in the Seven Towers district in the area colloquially called Little Xen'drik. At the store, Window on Yesterday, Luna and Six meet Kidro, who is a wizened old gnome. He is happy to meet them and gives them some information about the way expeditions to Xen'drik are often financed. He says that the current one is in the beginning stages of planning, so it may actually take place anywhere from a couple of weeks to over a month later. When Six asks about the specific aim for this expedition, Kidro says that he has information about a ruin belonging to the ancient giant civilization that has not been explored fully, and he wishes to finance the recovery of anything found there. Dala adds that she will probably accompany this expedition. Kidro asks some questions about the group and is pleased to learn that they are members of the Clifftop Guild. He makes plans to speak to them in a few days, after checking on their references at the Guild. Six also lets him know that he can speak to House Deneith and the Cyran Embassy about them, which seems to impress him. Leaving Dala with Kidro, the pair head back to the University, since Six wants to speak to Flamewind, the resident gynosphinx with oracular powers that he has heard of. A student directs them to the library, where they find Flamewind walking among the back shelves. The strange-looking creature has a giant lion's body, but with orange stripes on black, and a folded pair of black wings like that of a great falcon. Her head and face is that of a beautiful elf woman, but with a distinctly feline cast, and she wears a silver diadem on her brow. She greets Luna and Six politely when they speak to her. Six says that they are planning to travel to Xen'drik and would like any guidance that she could give them, mentioning that he has heard of her oracular powers. Flamewind smiles and says that she has many people, especially scholars and adventurers, speak to her in hopes of some information. Unfortunately, her oracular powers are not at her control and they activate without any warning. Even as she is saying this to them, she stops, growls softly and then shakes her head from side to side. Then her eyes begin to glow softly and she looks at the pair and intones softly, her voice growing deep as she does so: [I]Prophecy dances around you. Some fulfill, some are fulfilled, and some flee - the choice is yours. Where present and future spark, where light is turned to dark, to the ghost of the city where the past await. The chamber may hold you, make you or break you. Beyond sky and sea you go, but only to your roots return. Face dream and madness, dust and death; use them against each other, as they use you. You already carry destruction within you, but without it you may fail. The sword is the key, but the key is not the sword. Dragon's wings. The prophecy...[/I] She falls silent and the glow fades from her eyes as she growls quietly one more time as if in emphasis. Looking at Luna and Six, she comments, "Interesting. That's the first time in over a year that I had a response exactly when someone asked me. I think I will watch your future career intently." Flamewind explains that she cannot provide an explanation of the vision, but spends a little time speaking to the pair. Then she takes her leave, saying that she may contact them later. Luna and Six return to the inn, to rejoin Nameless and Gareth. Corven joins the others in the evening after having completed his crafting work for the day. The group exchanges information about what they have learned. Corven grabs an early dinner and heads to High Walls to follow up on the investigation. There, he meets Cala at the Bitter Draft. She tells him that she has been doing a little checking and has found a worker named Rolan who thinks he saw Hestia and Drass in the Blackbones area of the Cogs, which is below High Walls. Rolan is present in the tavern and speaks to Corven. He says he remembered it because he bumped into them by mistake and the guy swore at him. Though he does not know Drass or Hestia personally, the people he saw fit the description Cala gave. Corven asks whether Rolan could say where the pair was going or had come from, but Rolan says that with the size of the Cogs, it's impossible to say. Corven thanks him and when he leaves, discusses with Cala what options there are for the investigation. While they are conversing, Corven catches a glimpse of a flame-shaped tattoo on the arm of a man heading for the exit*. The man's jerkin had moved for a moment, revealing the tattoo. Corven quietly points it out to Cala and the pair leave the tavern and follow the man, who is dressed like a laborer. From the marks on his clothing, Corven guesses that he is a bricklayer. The pair successfully follow him down the street and down a couple more, before he ends up at what looks like a boardinghouse. Corven quickly infuses an invisibility spell, uses it on himself and follows the man in. He heads up to a room on the next floor and enters, closing and locking the door behind him. After listening at the door and hearing nothing to indicate that there is anyone else in there, Corven returns to Cala. He suggests that she get someone to keep an eye on the house and the man, and that they can enter the room the next morning when the occupant is at work. Cala agrees and takes Corven to the nearby home of Toras, a former member of her company, and arranges for it. Corven and Cala return to the tavern, where Corven spends some time having a few drinks, talking with her and getting to know some people. Eventually, he makes it back to Underlook and the Happy Harvest, and packs up for the night. *** The next morning, while they are wrapping up breakfast and planning to all accompany Corven to High Walls, the innkeeper Palk comes to the group and tells them that there is someone asking for them. This turns out to be a well-dressed young gnome, who introduces himself as Flim Turen, a correspondent from the Korranberg Chronicle. After the momentary thought of "Oh Gods! It's the Press!", which is shared by many of the Misfits, they ask how they can help him. Flim says that he believes the group was involved in an attack on a tavern at Tumbledown. There is a universal denial of his statement, to which he then asks, "How about an attack on a drug den in Tumbledown?" To the horror or amusement of the others, Luna says, "Oh, that's different - we did that." Flim quickly flips open a pad and begins to ask questions about it. Gareth persists in saying, "No comment," to most of his questions, but that doesn't help much since most of the others, especially Luna, provide Flim with varying degrees of information. Gareth gets especially agitated when Nameless smiles and says, "My friend here is looking for his sword," but luckily for him, Flim doesn’t seem to spend too much time on the subject. During the discussion, Six asks Flim exactly how they knew they were involved. Flim says that since it was mid-afternoon, there were dozens of witnesses, and the attack involved a human wearing full plate armor covered with symbols of the Silver Flame accompanied by a warforged with a spiked chain, it was not difficult to find them (the shifter, half-elf and three other humans helped narrow it down). He says that he checked at the Cathedral and at the Clifftop Adventurers Guild and obtained their names and location accordingly. When Flim asks what the group is called, Luna laughingly says that they are "the Guardian Angels", a name that Flim says will definitely help make the story a little memorable. He also asks about their goals and aims, and Luna mentions something about cleaning up the place. Flim seems highly amused at the notion and asks whether he can quote her, since "Guardian Angels Vow to Clean Up Sharn!" would make a great byline. This leads to a combination of hilarity, face-palming and comments of "Oh, we're so dead" from the newly renamed group. Deciding that he might as well join in, Gareth asks Flim when the article would appear and learns that it would be out on the 6th, two days later. He tries to persuade Flim to delay the article, promising that he will then get a better story. Flim asks why he should believe that, to which Gareth replies, "Because you have my word and I am a paladin." Flim waits for a couple of seconds, as if expecting more, and then says, "Should I repeat my question?", leading to even more hilarity at the table. Still, after some of the others join in and the Guardian Angels promise to speak with him on the 6th and give him more information if he manages to delay the story, he says that he will do what he can. After he leaves, Gareth tells Nameless that he should not reveal things about the sword's loss, which leads to a short argument about trust and backing up one's allies, with Gareth arguing that Nameless is hurting Gareth's attempt to recover a treasured family heirloom and Nameless arguing that they have all almost got themselves killed trying to help find Gareth's sword and are continuing to do so. This argument is interrupted before it really takes off, by a Sivis messenger with a letter for Gareth from his family, and the Guardian Angels make their preparation and leave. As they are about to catch a skycoach, they spot Killian a skybridge away, also hailing a skycoach. He does not seem to have seen them. Quickly deciding that some should follow him, Six and Luna take a skycoach and do so, while the others continue to High Walls. Luna wildshapes into a dog before doing so, hoping that this will let her get close to Killian, if need be, without getting spotted. Their skycoach follows Killian's till it reaches the Dragon Towers area of Middle Central, where he disembarks. They do so too and follow him at a distance until he enters the House Sivis enclave. Seeing that he is not accosted by either the guards to the extended enclave area or those guarding the inner enclave proper (which is what he enters), they presume he is known here. Six waits for a few minutes to draw a rough sketch resembling Killian, and then heads for the guards with Luna in tow. When they stop him, he shows the picture and says that he is looking for this person. One of the guards looks at the picture and asks, "Kylyman?" Not particularly surprised at the variant name, Six says, "Yes" and the pair are let through to the inner enclave. One of the guards who leads them in says that their timing is good since Kylyman just returned. Inside the enclave, Six speaks to a receptionist in the foyer and says that Kylyman is expecting him. She leaves and returns shortly with Killian in tow. He seems confused at seeing Six, though he shows no signs of recognition, and says that he does not know who Six is. While Luna and he note that Killian/Kylyman's voice is a little different to Killian's, Six says that he knows the gnome as Killian and has met him a number of times. After a minute of trying to work out what is going on, the gnome's expression clears and he says, "Yes, yes, now I remember. Please follow me," and leads the pair to a private room. There, he explains that he still has no idea what Six is speaking of, but wanted to discuss this elsewhere than the foyer, where they were drawing attention. While Six speaks to him, Luna in canine form makes sure to sniff around the gnome in the hopes that she will be able to identify him by smell if she has to later. Six tells the gnome about their meetings with Killian and he reiterates that he has never seen them before and is called Kylyman. He also says that evidently someone is impersonating him, and asks for as much information as possible. Six tells him everything about Killian, the meetings in the Lucky Nines casino, the loss of Gareth's sword (he also asks Kylyman if he can help and provides a sketch of it), where the group can be found, and about their planned meeting that evening. Kylyman notes down everything he says and thanks him for it, saying that he will investigate this immediately. Once this information has been exchanged, the gnome tells Six that if the warforged needs to contact him, he should simply visit the enclave and ask for Kylyman Dorian d'Sivis. Six asks what he does there, and Kylyman says that he is a member of the Speakers Guild, but gives no other details. He bids Six goodbye and the latter leaves, with Luna in tow. The other three, meanwhile, reach High Walls, meet Cala at her lodgings in the New Cyre inn, and accompany her to the suspect's home. On the way she says that she has discovered that he is a bricklayer named Neb, who was in Breland when the Day of Mourning occurred, and has been here ever since. Other than that she knows nothing about him. Reaching the boardinghouse, they speak to a couple of the people who have been watching it, who say that Neb left for work nearly an hour ago and that he is part of a crew repairing an old building two streets away. Cala says that she will speak to the landlady about them searching the room and goes to do so, while the three Guardian Angels head upstairs. Corven picks the lock to reveal a simple and small room, and then searches it thoroughly with Nameless' help, while Gareth stands guard. He eventually finds another of the parchments with the flame-shaped symbol and the name Zokar, but this one without a date on it. When Cala joins them, Corven shows her the parchment and they decide to bring the man back to the house and question him. The four of them head downstairs and Cala sends a boy to Neb with a message regarding trouble with his room. A few minutes later, they see Neb approach with the boy, at which point Corven uses a detect thoughts spell that he has infused. As soon as he enters the sitting room they are in, Cala shuts the door behind him. Surprised at seeing the armed and armored group, Neb begins to stammer, seem worried and asks what they want. Corven begins to read his mind and discovers that he is worried that "they know". Neb makes a break for the window, which Nameless promptly shuts, and Cala knocks him out. After they tie him up, he is revived and questioned again. This time he blusters and threatens them that if they do not free him, Zokar will burn them. When he is asked about Zokar, Corven picks up images of flame in his mind. Neb says only that Zokar will burn them as he will burn the enemies of Cyre. When they ask about the three missing people, Neb claims not to know them, but Corven picks up images of a burning figure laid out on a stone slab (though the image shows no fuel for the fire). While the questioning continues, Corven picks up a steadily increasing degree of fear and eventually Neb begins to beg the group to free him, because otherwise Zokar will punish him. Moments after saying this, Neb goes rigid for a moment and then begins to scream and writhe around as if in considerable pain. Gareth attempts to exorcise him, just in case he is possessed, which has no effect. With Neb screaming in pain and shouting, "No, Zokar! I did not tell them anything! Please spare me!", Corven asks what is happening and where Zokar is. He picks up feelings of great pain and the name "Kielsten" in Neb's mind. A moment later, Neb's body explodes into a burst of flame, scorching Gareth and badly burning the other three**, especially Cala, who was trying to restrain Neb. The flames continue to burn around and all over Neb's body, but the others notice that he does not seem to be badly burnt. Even so, he screams in agony and arches his back, and then is literally split in half from the groin to the chin. As he is, streaks of black shoot up his body and all three of the Angels recognize it as a manifestation of a necromantic death effect, though they do not recognize the specific effect. Whatever it is, it is extremely effective, since it kills Neb instantly. The flames disappear too, leaving a slightly scorched corpse. Corven notices that the tattoo on his arm, which had begun to pulse and glow as the flames appeared (and more brightly than the flames), fades back into being a normal tattoo - or at least looking like one. With all the commotion now ended, the landlady (who had abandoned her sitting room to the group) sticks her head in, takes one look at the corpse, screams and passes out. * 29 Spot check! ** Natural 1s for Corven and Nameless, who now have no eyebrows [/QUOTE]
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