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Story Hour
Tokiwong's Story Hour... aka Big trouble in little Cormyr
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<blockquote data-quote="Aust Meliamne" data-source="post: 904" data-attributes="member: 95"><p>The Outer World, in a forest of twilight:</p><p></p><p>Thev was puzzled as he looked at the strange mauroth tausoth youth. She was slight in build and had ebon skin with her shoulder length hair in white curls. Her eyes were soft and lavender and she had a beaming smile as she talked to the party as best as she could. Her command of Elven was not the best, but the party was able to get the young girl, Mali, to lead them to her home in the city, she called Sivael.</p><p></p><p>The band of heroes and their young guide traipsed through the ancient forest dwarfed by the massive trees the loomed over them. The night sky was not visible through the thick natural canopy of branches and leaves hundreds of feet overhead. The party traveled for some time, before reaching a large clearing stretching for miles, they had arrived at the city of Sivael.</p><p></p><p>The city was a wash of glowing light and crystalline spires. The spires nearly as tall as the massive trees of the forest they had passed through. The city was alive with glowing lights darting from one spire to another; the city was a strange exotic sight of delights. Mali led the party to a large 20-foot diameter crystalline disk embedded in the ground. The party was quizzical about the whole situation, but followed and stood on the disk. For a moment there was noting, then Mali waved her hands, shadowy wisps dancing over the crystal, it then launched into the air. The party was in a word astounded. The disk rose into the air quickly and whizzed by the multitude of crystalline spires with ease and grace, passing large crystalline flying ships, looking like sail boats made of crystal, of varying colors. The disk dipped under a ship, the parties’ reflection quite visible in the red crystalline underbelly of the flying craft. The disk finally came to rest floating next to a balcony. Mali bade the party to exit and step on the balcony. Mali followed the party onto the balcony and the crystalline disk flew away, most likely returning from whence it came. The balcony lead to a high archway with scintillating beads draped across the archway.</p><p></p><p>The interior was of the same crystal that made up the exterior of the spire, the room was awash with a motley of glowing colors. The floor was covered in various soft pillows, and Mali bade the party to take a seat. She went out of the room apparently looking for someone.</p><p></p><p>Thev sat down, breaking the silence, “I take it we are not anywhere near Cormyr?”</p><p></p><p>Rhea nodded, “I have been to this city before, in a dream. But I could not believe this city existed. It is too fantastic.”</p><p></p><p>Xenon sat with a sigh; “Well I can honestly say that the magic at work here is not totally beyond my comprehension.”</p><p></p><p>Talindra sat down on a large pillow, quite comfortable, “Well whatever this all is, I am impressed. Just like Tom said, this has become quite the adventure.”</p><p></p><p>Aust was silent and sat; his eyes belied the amazement in his heart. As he sat Mali returned with an older male native, he was dressed in leather armor and had a sword at his side, he seems as stunned to see the party as they were to see him. He took a moment to gather himself before setting eyes on Rhea, his eyes opening with amazement.</p><p></p><p>“Why you have returned, just as the elder predicted…” the young man says his tail swishing back and forth excitedly.</p><p></p><p>Rhea blinked, “What are you talking about?”</p><p></p><p>The lad blinked, “When you came before, that was not an accident, it must have been fate. The elder said you would return. I am glad it is not a moment too soon.”</p><p></p><p>Rhea looked confused, “You mean it wasn’t a dream?”</p><p></p><p>He continued, “No, I remember it very clearly. And now you have returned, just as the Elder said you would, by Serael. Peace may finally to this land.”</p><p></p><p>The party exchanged strange looks as Rhea continued confused, “Then where is this Elder, maybe she can answer my questions?”</p><p></p><p>“Alas, I wish she could, nut she has fallen into an undying sleep, shortly after you left this place,” he looks down sadly, “before she entered her sleep she said you would return.”</p><p></p><p>Xenon listened with mock amusement while focusing his thoughts inward, using the power of the ring given to him by Owen, “Lucas, can you hear me?” he thought.</p><p></p><p>There was a moment of silence, then a weak voice returned, “Xenon, is that you? I can barely hear you, are you on another plane?”</p><p></p><p>Xenon furrowed his brow, “I believe so, and I think we found those mauroth tausoth beings your were so enamored with old man. If it is possible I think you should join us to offer any guidance you can.”</p><p></p><p>Lucas retorted his mental voice faint, “I will see what I can do, I will need time to prepare.”</p><p></p><p>Xenon shook himself back to the present, to see the group discussing their next plan of action. It seemed that the young lad, was named Kalas and Mali was his sole sibling. The city they were in was the last bastion of his race, the mauroth tausoth. It seemed long ago their race was nearly hunted to extinction by and outworlder named Lathos. Lathos was name already familiar to the party although, they knew him as someone in a myth that had brought freedom from the yolk of a terrible empire of corruption and evil. The city of Sivael although strong, suffered infrequent attacks by the forces of the Shadis Masin, who seemed to be imprisoned in this world with the mauroth tausoth. The heroes decided they need more information before they could act, and Kalas suggested that they should consult with the Lin Tau, a circle of castrated magus whose knowledge was quite in depth in these matters. Kalas offered to arrange an audience with the Lin Tau and the party was more then happy to let him. When Kyoko inquired about the Shield of Lathos and its possible whereabouts, the party had originally gone to the Citadel of Honin Tau to find said shield, he said that it is possible that it lied on the Lost Isle far to the East across the blue waters. He said it was a place that the mauroth tausoth could not go, and beyond their reach. All had died or at least not returned from such a foolish journey. Kyoko looked frustrated, but decided to mull over the brief clues she had.</p><p></p><p>Rhea sat down and sighed, “Well I guess we must wait until Kalas returns before we can make a decision on what step to proceed to first. I personally believe we should find this supposed second Eye first.”</p><p></p><p>Talindra nodded in agreement, “I agree with you Rhea.”</p><p></p><p>Kyoko shook her head no, “We need more information on what is really going on, their story of Lathos conflicts with the stories I have read about him. There may be something larger at work here. If I could just figure it out.”</p><p></p><p>Thev turned to Aust, “You know right about now, I would take fighting goblins in the sewers then this mess we have gotten ourselves into.”</p><p></p><p>Aust chuckled, “I agree with you friend, I totally agree.”</p><p></p><p>Xenon relaxed on a large plush pillow waiting, he looked at his ring nervously is patience stretching to the breaking point. He finally muttered, “Lucas, where are you.”</p><p></p><p>Before the party could react to his words, there was a flash in the center of the room. As there eyes adjusted to the twilight once more, the enigmatic Lucas once again stood before them. They were breathless once more, and exchanged puzzled glances. Xenon smiled to himself, “Right on time I suppose,” he muttered.</p><p></p><p>Lucas smiled at Xenon, “I would like to see you travel to a different plane at the drop of a hat, Xenon.”</p><p></p><p>Xenon snorted, “Well at least you are here.”</p><p></p><p>Rhea blinked, “Lucas how did you? How did you know we were here?”</p><p></p><p>Lucas smiled, “Xenon gave me the link I needed, the rest was quite easy for those that know how, although returning is quite another story I am afraid. This realm seems to have a one way conduit, the way out seems to be sealed and purposely so. Leaving will be as difficult for me as it will be for you. I assume you have all come up with a plan.” Lucas sat and drew up his hood over his thin angular clean-shaven face. His graying curly locks contrasting with his bright blue eyes.</p><p></p><p>Kyoko nodded with suspicion in her eye, “Yes we have, we wait for now until we can have an audience with the Lin Tau. They should provide us with the answers we need to make an educated decision, Lucas.”</p><p></p><p>Kyoko stood back waiting in the doorway, she never did quite trust Lucas or Xenon, and even now felt that the old man was playing a game she did not enjoy. They both seemed to be focused on the abstract and not on the people, at least in her eyes. She swished her tail in thought mulling over the events of the evening, and what both of them hoped to gain from this current predicament.</p><p></p><p>Thev, along with Aust waited silently, neither having any real input to add to the current conversation. Thev would have been quite content anywhere else except where he was. He did not quite understand the events transpiring, though he did know that there was a presence of evil at the root. The problem for him, was what could possibly be the evil. The Shadis Masin were evil, he understood that, but there was something else, which he could not place his finger on. It was pervasive and at times haunted him, maybe it was the feeling of uneasiness that he was not getting any closer to bringing the murderers of fellow Knights to justice. Aust was content to shine his blade and converse with Blak-Fang on a number of topics relating to warfare. </p><p></p><p>Finally the young lad, Kalas returned with news that the Lin Tau would grant them an audience. The party, along with Lucas followed Kalas onto a crystalline disk. The disk whisked the group upward over the crystalline spires then began to plummet downward in a controlled spiral, spiraling around a glowing lavender crystalline tower. Down towards a vaporous mist. The disk broke through the mist and hovered within a small clearing of bare trees, there was a small pond of crystal clear water at the center of the clearing with a gnarled black tree standing over it. Kalas bade the party to step off and approach the pond.</p><p></p><p>The party stepped off and entered the cool misty clearing wary, it seemed like there was a rush of whispers all around. Akin to a symphony of crickets, yet far more sinister. The party was nervous and looked around a slight yet stern male voice called out, “Welcome those from beyond our world, we are the Lin Tau.”</p><p></p><p>“You wish for us to help you?” another older voice called from the darkness.</p><p></p><p>“We have questions,” Kyoko replied nervously.</p><p></p><p>“We have answers outworlder, what are your questions?” an effeminate male voice replied.</p><p></p><p>Aust and Thev both nervous drew their blades and looked around wary. Lucas continued to smile enigmatically listening, while Xenon watched Kyoko parley with voices with a mirthful grin. Rhea listened in silence her hand resting on Dancer’s hilt. Kyoko continued, “We wish to know about Lathos and the Shadis Masin. What can you tell us?”</p><p></p><p>“We know of these things, Lathos is the butcherer of our people, the Shadis Masin are his agents of destruction against us,” a weaker older male voice retorted.</p><p></p><p>“I have heard that, but that conflicts with the knowledge we have learned of him. Is it possible that both stories may both be right and wrong?” Kyoko continued her eyes shifting back and forth amongst the mist-covered trees. </p><p></p><p>A figure stepped from the tree line towards the small pool. He was short in height and slight in build, a purple robed flecked with crystals billowed loosely across his body. His face was ebon like the rest of his kind his eyes though were a soft red and his hair was long and silk like. He had a soft feminine look, which was further enhanced by his soft smooth voice, “I am Sacha and I believe I may be able to answer to your questions.”</p><p></p><p>Kyoko lead the group over to the pond and met Sacha halfway, “Thank you Sacha, I am Kyoko, I was hoping you could shed some light on Lathos, and the Shadis Masin.”</p><p></p><p>Sacha nodded, “Hmm, Lathos he is well known to my people for the evil that he brought against us. It was long ago, when I was much younger; I had only first joined the ranks of the Lin Tau, a novice when he came with his followers. They were as they called themselves, Tel-quessir,” gesturing to Aust. </p><p></p><p>Aust nodded, “Elves, it is elven for the people.”</p><p></p><p>“These elves seemed to be explorers or possibly advance scouts of an army we do not know but they were well armed, but came in peace at first. They arrived from the sky on ships of gold and silver, they were as mystified by us as we were of them. They brought strange ways to our kind; I was among the first to meet with them and with Lathos. He was a kind man with an honest soul I thought, slightly more trusting then I thought a man in his position should be. His closest men were not of his caliber though. They were schemers and plotters; they had the taste of something foreign to my people, ambition. Or maybe it is a natural progression of society to become better then our fellow man,” Sacha paused thinking.</p><p></p><p>Kyoko nodded taking in the knowledge, “He seems like such a good man, what happened, what caused the change?”</p><p></p><p>Sacha snapped himself to reality, “I do not know honestly, I have pondered that same question for quite some time. But I do know that his closest agents, they are the Shadis Masin. I do not know the why and how of it, but they somehow tapped into something dark and powerful. It shattered their colony of Shikar, and they were born. There were five in number, scions of destruction and genocide. Valkar the Black-Hearted, general of their undead armies, a dark soul of a warrior and bitter scourge of our people, he was the first to rise up against our people. Followed by the baleful Lansinoon, a mad creature bent on bringing his mad visions to fruition. The beast of shadow and flame, Vorgrimm scoured the eastern lands and destroyed my ancestral home, he was more then he was a beast of epic proportions. And the foul enchantress Soriel Thela destroyed the sacred havens in the northlands and put to death thousands of my kind,” he paused clenching his fist.</p><p></p><p>Kyoko nodded soaking in all that information, “But you said there were five, who is the fifth?”</p><p></p><p>Sacha returned his gaze to Kyoko, “He was one of my kind, he is the betrayer, K’thelis.”</p><p></p><p>Kyoko nodded and thought upon the words, and was about to reply when she heard an explosion overhead, a loud boom and then sudden appearance of crystalline debris falling down through mist. Landing well away from the party but close enough to alarm then. Kalas called for the party to join him quickly; it seemed that the city was under attack. The party rushed towards the crystalline disk and climbed on, but Lucas simply disappeared in a flash of magic.</p><p></p><p>The party was whisked high up into the sky to see several black crystalline ships, each nearly 100 feet long, assaulting various spires, crewed by undead. Kalas snarled and the disk whipped under the nearest ship then rose up level with the main deck. The heroes dashed off the disk and fanned out prepared to do battle with the gaunt skeletal undead. This particular ship harbored nearly fifteen man-sized undead plus two large brutish zombies. </p><p></p><p>Rhea clutched Dancer tightly in her hands and allowed the power of her goddess Eilistraee to pour threw her, forcing most of the undead to flee, unable to face the glory of holiness. Many scrambled over the far edge plummeting down into the mists, with nary a scream. Both Thev and Aust waded into combat hacking those few undead that remained apart, while Talindra knocked an arrow and fired shots into the vicious melee, picking off the vagrant undead with reckless abandon. Xenon used his magic to unleash magic missiles into the fray as Thev and Aust engaged the large brutes. Rhea flanked the large brute facing Thev and they fought bravely trying to bring the undead creatures down. Aust unleashed powerful attacks that nearly crippled the already dead brute, but not before it returned a smashing blow to his right side. He could hear several of his ribs crack under the power of the blow. Thev was doing worse though even with Rhea’s aid the creature hand landed several smashing blows that had Thev coughing up his own blood. As the creature raised its bone axe to slice Thev in twain, Aust finished his own opponent clipping of its leg and then spun and impaled the second creature killing it for the second time, making great use of his cleave ability.</p><p></p><p>Talindra spied out of the corner of her eye a strange sight, an ebon black ebon winged creature was pulling a child from a spire, no wait, and the creature was pulling Mali. Talindra screamed aloud as the others turned to see the creature fly from the balcony and drops its victim on a one of the waiting ships. It then flew upward high into the night sky. The party watched as it arced up then dove down, Kalas tried to dive but it was too late; the beast crushed him as it landed on the deck of the ship. The party was horrified as the creature growled, dripping greenish saliva. It stood nearly eight feet on the shoulders and had a sleek reptilian allure to it. It crouched low on its four legs its red predator-like eyes scanning the party preparing to attack.</p><p></p><p>Talindra lashed enraged and swung Midnight, the creature dipped low under her strike and slammed her with a vicious claw across her chest sending her sprawling. Rhea chanted and prepared her blade with true strike, Dancer glowed with holy power. Thev and Aust dashed forward to head of the beast from getting to Kyoko or Xenon who were both preparing spells. Kyoko called upon mage armor and moved into the fray while Xenon launched more magic missiles at the creature. Thev landed a glancing blow, while Aust landed a quick slash across the face. The creature snarled some of its wounds quickly sealing right before their eyes.</p><p></p><p>The ebon beast read back its wings spreading wide and spit out a spray of a greenish acid over the party. The spray was quick but most of the party was quicker, excluding Thev and Xenon who were both caught amidst the spray and were burned painfully. Talindra rolled to her left and dove in with a quick slash but the beast was still quicker then her slashing blade. Aust followed up with a powerful strike driving Blak-Fang through the beast’s side, opening a wound that would have been mortal on a lesser creature. Thev shrugged off the acid and tried to attack but pain overrode his senses and he could not hit his mark. Rhea moved to strike, Dancer guided by divine forces. Dancer hit its mark and the beast howled in pain, snarling at Rhea. Kyoko flanked the beast and attempted to stab it but once again the creature was much too fast. Xenon summoned a flaming sphere and singed the beast, focusing his magical energies.</p><p></p><p>Talindra spun and finally landed a vicious slash along its left side even as the gash on the right side healed with terrible speed. The creature dove on to Thev tearing him with a vicious bite sending the mighty paladin sprawling on his back. The weakened crystalline floor gave way and the two crashed through the deck and nearly out of the bottom of the craft. Thev was able to grab a ledge before plummeting hundreds of feet to his death. He clung for dear life as the creature held onto his lower leg snarling. Before the group could react Kyoko dove down through the hole and attempted to impale the creature, but to no avail. She was able to dislodge it though and the beast plummeted far below into the mist spreading its bat like wings at the last moment. Kyoko grabbed the same ledge Thev was on lucky and hoisted herself up; Thev did the same panting.</p><p></p><p>The group came together on the main deck much worse for the wear and watched as the black ships crewed by undead began to retreat. One of the ships exploded in a fiery ball before getting too far and its remains spewed forth into the mist hundreds of feet below. The party watched grimly as the rest of the undead fled with many captives. </p><p></p><p>Kyoko and Aust went down below to see if they could find anything of use and rummaged through the holds looking for anything of value, while dire events were about to take place above them. In their search they found two chests filled with gems of many shapes and sizes. Kyoko through the use of a detect magic spell was able to determine that three of the gems had particularly strong magical power. In the meanwhile, other events were transpiring right above them. </p><p></p><p>Thev grimaced and coughed up blood, “This, is horrible... We should…” he could not continue his words before collapsing, his body shaking terribly. The party turned and tried to calm him, but there was nothing they could do. His mouth was eschewing blood with every word and cough. He could not stand and his ebon black skin quickly grew more pallid. Xenon went to the wheel of the ship and with some quick thinking and a bit of luck was able to will the ship with his magical talents towards a spire. The party pulled together and hoisted Thev off of the ship and into the spire, luckily it was a place of healers and many of the wounded had already been brought here for care. Talindra along with Rhea laid Thev down on a cot his eyes glassy and far away. Rhea clutched his hands tightly, tears welling up in her eyes. Talindra watched unsure of what to do, while resting a hand on Thev’s shoulder hoping the paladin would get better any moment.</p><p></p><p>Thev coughed up blood, “Rhea, come close…” he whispered his health deteriorating right before their eyes.</p><p></p><p>Rhea leaned in close, “Thev hold on, we can get you through this, tell us what is wrong…” her face awash with tears.</p><p></p><p>Thev hacked and spoke weakly, “I… I always,” he could not continue blood eschewing from his throat, life draining quickly from the mighty paladin. Rhea clutched his hand tightly screaming for Thev to stay with them. Xenon turned his head, his face was cold and distant, and he was focused on where Lucas had gotten himself to.</p><p></p><p>But the rest of this story shall be concluded on another night.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Aust Meliamne, post: 904, member: 95"] The Outer World, in a forest of twilight: Thev was puzzled as he looked at the strange mauroth tausoth youth. She was slight in build and had ebon skin with her shoulder length hair in white curls. Her eyes were soft and lavender and she had a beaming smile as she talked to the party as best as she could. Her command of Elven was not the best, but the party was able to get the young girl, Mali, to lead them to her home in the city, she called Sivael. The band of heroes and their young guide traipsed through the ancient forest dwarfed by the massive trees the loomed over them. The night sky was not visible through the thick natural canopy of branches and leaves hundreds of feet overhead. The party traveled for some time, before reaching a large clearing stretching for miles, they had arrived at the city of Sivael. The city was a wash of glowing light and crystalline spires. The spires nearly as tall as the massive trees of the forest they had passed through. The city was alive with glowing lights darting from one spire to another; the city was a strange exotic sight of delights. Mali led the party to a large 20-foot diameter crystalline disk embedded in the ground. The party was quizzical about the whole situation, but followed and stood on the disk. For a moment there was noting, then Mali waved her hands, shadowy wisps dancing over the crystal, it then launched into the air. The party was in a word astounded. The disk rose into the air quickly and whizzed by the multitude of crystalline spires with ease and grace, passing large crystalline flying ships, looking like sail boats made of crystal, of varying colors. The disk dipped under a ship, the parties’ reflection quite visible in the red crystalline underbelly of the flying craft. The disk finally came to rest floating next to a balcony. Mali bade the party to exit and step on the balcony. Mali followed the party onto the balcony and the crystalline disk flew away, most likely returning from whence it came. The balcony lead to a high archway with scintillating beads draped across the archway. The interior was of the same crystal that made up the exterior of the spire, the room was awash with a motley of glowing colors. The floor was covered in various soft pillows, and Mali bade the party to take a seat. She went out of the room apparently looking for someone. Thev sat down, breaking the silence, “I take it we are not anywhere near Cormyr?” Rhea nodded, “I have been to this city before, in a dream. But I could not believe this city existed. It is too fantastic.” Xenon sat with a sigh; “Well I can honestly say that the magic at work here is not totally beyond my comprehension.” Talindra sat down on a large pillow, quite comfortable, “Well whatever this all is, I am impressed. Just like Tom said, this has become quite the adventure.” Aust was silent and sat; his eyes belied the amazement in his heart. As he sat Mali returned with an older male native, he was dressed in leather armor and had a sword at his side, he seems as stunned to see the party as they were to see him. He took a moment to gather himself before setting eyes on Rhea, his eyes opening with amazement. “Why you have returned, just as the elder predicted…” the young man says his tail swishing back and forth excitedly. Rhea blinked, “What are you talking about?” The lad blinked, “When you came before, that was not an accident, it must have been fate. The elder said you would return. I am glad it is not a moment too soon.” Rhea looked confused, “You mean it wasn’t a dream?” He continued, “No, I remember it very clearly. And now you have returned, just as the Elder said you would, by Serael. Peace may finally to this land.” The party exchanged strange looks as Rhea continued confused, “Then where is this Elder, maybe she can answer my questions?” “Alas, I wish she could, nut she has fallen into an undying sleep, shortly after you left this place,” he looks down sadly, “before she entered her sleep she said you would return.” Xenon listened with mock amusement while focusing his thoughts inward, using the power of the ring given to him by Owen, “Lucas, can you hear me?” he thought. There was a moment of silence, then a weak voice returned, “Xenon, is that you? I can barely hear you, are you on another plane?” Xenon furrowed his brow, “I believe so, and I think we found those mauroth tausoth beings your were so enamored with old man. If it is possible I think you should join us to offer any guidance you can.” Lucas retorted his mental voice faint, “I will see what I can do, I will need time to prepare.” Xenon shook himself back to the present, to see the group discussing their next plan of action. It seemed that the young lad, was named Kalas and Mali was his sole sibling. The city they were in was the last bastion of his race, the mauroth tausoth. It seemed long ago their race was nearly hunted to extinction by and outworlder named Lathos. Lathos was name already familiar to the party although, they knew him as someone in a myth that had brought freedom from the yolk of a terrible empire of corruption and evil. The city of Sivael although strong, suffered infrequent attacks by the forces of the Shadis Masin, who seemed to be imprisoned in this world with the mauroth tausoth. The heroes decided they need more information before they could act, and Kalas suggested that they should consult with the Lin Tau, a circle of castrated magus whose knowledge was quite in depth in these matters. Kalas offered to arrange an audience with the Lin Tau and the party was more then happy to let him. When Kyoko inquired about the Shield of Lathos and its possible whereabouts, the party had originally gone to the Citadel of Honin Tau to find said shield, he said that it is possible that it lied on the Lost Isle far to the East across the blue waters. He said it was a place that the mauroth tausoth could not go, and beyond their reach. All had died or at least not returned from such a foolish journey. Kyoko looked frustrated, but decided to mull over the brief clues she had. Rhea sat down and sighed, “Well I guess we must wait until Kalas returns before we can make a decision on what step to proceed to first. I personally believe we should find this supposed second Eye first.” Talindra nodded in agreement, “I agree with you Rhea.” Kyoko shook her head no, “We need more information on what is really going on, their story of Lathos conflicts with the stories I have read about him. There may be something larger at work here. If I could just figure it out.” Thev turned to Aust, “You know right about now, I would take fighting goblins in the sewers then this mess we have gotten ourselves into.” Aust chuckled, “I agree with you friend, I totally agree.” Xenon relaxed on a large plush pillow waiting, he looked at his ring nervously is patience stretching to the breaking point. He finally muttered, “Lucas, where are you.” Before the party could react to his words, there was a flash in the center of the room. As there eyes adjusted to the twilight once more, the enigmatic Lucas once again stood before them. They were breathless once more, and exchanged puzzled glances. Xenon smiled to himself, “Right on time I suppose,” he muttered. Lucas smiled at Xenon, “I would like to see you travel to a different plane at the drop of a hat, Xenon.” Xenon snorted, “Well at least you are here.” Rhea blinked, “Lucas how did you? How did you know we were here?” Lucas smiled, “Xenon gave me the link I needed, the rest was quite easy for those that know how, although returning is quite another story I am afraid. This realm seems to have a one way conduit, the way out seems to be sealed and purposely so. Leaving will be as difficult for me as it will be for you. I assume you have all come up with a plan.” Lucas sat and drew up his hood over his thin angular clean-shaven face. His graying curly locks contrasting with his bright blue eyes. Kyoko nodded with suspicion in her eye, “Yes we have, we wait for now until we can have an audience with the Lin Tau. They should provide us with the answers we need to make an educated decision, Lucas.” Kyoko stood back waiting in the doorway, she never did quite trust Lucas or Xenon, and even now felt that the old man was playing a game she did not enjoy. They both seemed to be focused on the abstract and not on the people, at least in her eyes. She swished her tail in thought mulling over the events of the evening, and what both of them hoped to gain from this current predicament. Thev, along with Aust waited silently, neither having any real input to add to the current conversation. Thev would have been quite content anywhere else except where he was. He did not quite understand the events transpiring, though he did know that there was a presence of evil at the root. The problem for him, was what could possibly be the evil. The Shadis Masin were evil, he understood that, but there was something else, which he could not place his finger on. It was pervasive and at times haunted him, maybe it was the feeling of uneasiness that he was not getting any closer to bringing the murderers of fellow Knights to justice. Aust was content to shine his blade and converse with Blak-Fang on a number of topics relating to warfare. Finally the young lad, Kalas returned with news that the Lin Tau would grant them an audience. The party, along with Lucas followed Kalas onto a crystalline disk. The disk whisked the group upward over the crystalline spires then began to plummet downward in a controlled spiral, spiraling around a glowing lavender crystalline tower. Down towards a vaporous mist. The disk broke through the mist and hovered within a small clearing of bare trees, there was a small pond of crystal clear water at the center of the clearing with a gnarled black tree standing over it. Kalas bade the party to step off and approach the pond. The party stepped off and entered the cool misty clearing wary, it seemed like there was a rush of whispers all around. Akin to a symphony of crickets, yet far more sinister. The party was nervous and looked around a slight yet stern male voice called out, “Welcome those from beyond our world, we are the Lin Tau.” “You wish for us to help you?” another older voice called from the darkness. “We have questions,” Kyoko replied nervously. “We have answers outworlder, what are your questions?” an effeminate male voice replied. Aust and Thev both nervous drew their blades and looked around wary. Lucas continued to smile enigmatically listening, while Xenon watched Kyoko parley with voices with a mirthful grin. Rhea listened in silence her hand resting on Dancer’s hilt. Kyoko continued, “We wish to know about Lathos and the Shadis Masin. What can you tell us?” “We know of these things, Lathos is the butcherer of our people, the Shadis Masin are his agents of destruction against us,” a weaker older male voice retorted. “I have heard that, but that conflicts with the knowledge we have learned of him. Is it possible that both stories may both be right and wrong?” Kyoko continued her eyes shifting back and forth amongst the mist-covered trees. A figure stepped from the tree line towards the small pool. He was short in height and slight in build, a purple robed flecked with crystals billowed loosely across his body. His face was ebon like the rest of his kind his eyes though were a soft red and his hair was long and silk like. He had a soft feminine look, which was further enhanced by his soft smooth voice, “I am Sacha and I believe I may be able to answer to your questions.” Kyoko lead the group over to the pond and met Sacha halfway, “Thank you Sacha, I am Kyoko, I was hoping you could shed some light on Lathos, and the Shadis Masin.” Sacha nodded, “Hmm, Lathos he is well known to my people for the evil that he brought against us. It was long ago, when I was much younger; I had only first joined the ranks of the Lin Tau, a novice when he came with his followers. They were as they called themselves, Tel-quessir,” gesturing to Aust. Aust nodded, “Elves, it is elven for the people.” “These elves seemed to be explorers or possibly advance scouts of an army we do not know but they were well armed, but came in peace at first. They arrived from the sky on ships of gold and silver, they were as mystified by us as we were of them. They brought strange ways to our kind; I was among the first to meet with them and with Lathos. He was a kind man with an honest soul I thought, slightly more trusting then I thought a man in his position should be. His closest men were not of his caliber though. They were schemers and plotters; they had the taste of something foreign to my people, ambition. Or maybe it is a natural progression of society to become better then our fellow man,” Sacha paused thinking. Kyoko nodded taking in the knowledge, “He seems like such a good man, what happened, what caused the change?” Sacha snapped himself to reality, “I do not know honestly, I have pondered that same question for quite some time. But I do know that his closest agents, they are the Shadis Masin. I do not know the why and how of it, but they somehow tapped into something dark and powerful. It shattered their colony of Shikar, and they were born. There were five in number, scions of destruction and genocide. Valkar the Black-Hearted, general of their undead armies, a dark soul of a warrior and bitter scourge of our people, he was the first to rise up against our people. Followed by the baleful Lansinoon, a mad creature bent on bringing his mad visions to fruition. The beast of shadow and flame, Vorgrimm scoured the eastern lands and destroyed my ancestral home, he was more then he was a beast of epic proportions. And the foul enchantress Soriel Thela destroyed the sacred havens in the northlands and put to death thousands of my kind,” he paused clenching his fist. Kyoko nodded soaking in all that information, “But you said there were five, who is the fifth?” Sacha returned his gaze to Kyoko, “He was one of my kind, he is the betrayer, K’thelis.” Kyoko nodded and thought upon the words, and was about to reply when she heard an explosion overhead, a loud boom and then sudden appearance of crystalline debris falling down through mist. Landing well away from the party but close enough to alarm then. Kalas called for the party to join him quickly; it seemed that the city was under attack. The party rushed towards the crystalline disk and climbed on, but Lucas simply disappeared in a flash of magic. The party was whisked high up into the sky to see several black crystalline ships, each nearly 100 feet long, assaulting various spires, crewed by undead. Kalas snarled and the disk whipped under the nearest ship then rose up level with the main deck. The heroes dashed off the disk and fanned out prepared to do battle with the gaunt skeletal undead. This particular ship harbored nearly fifteen man-sized undead plus two large brutish zombies. Rhea clutched Dancer tightly in her hands and allowed the power of her goddess Eilistraee to pour threw her, forcing most of the undead to flee, unable to face the glory of holiness. Many scrambled over the far edge plummeting down into the mists, with nary a scream. Both Thev and Aust waded into combat hacking those few undead that remained apart, while Talindra knocked an arrow and fired shots into the vicious melee, picking off the vagrant undead with reckless abandon. Xenon used his magic to unleash magic missiles into the fray as Thev and Aust engaged the large brutes. Rhea flanked the large brute facing Thev and they fought bravely trying to bring the undead creatures down. Aust unleashed powerful attacks that nearly crippled the already dead brute, but not before it returned a smashing blow to his right side. He could hear several of his ribs crack under the power of the blow. Thev was doing worse though even with Rhea’s aid the creature hand landed several smashing blows that had Thev coughing up his own blood. As the creature raised its bone axe to slice Thev in twain, Aust finished his own opponent clipping of its leg and then spun and impaled the second creature killing it for the second time, making great use of his cleave ability. Talindra spied out of the corner of her eye a strange sight, an ebon black ebon winged creature was pulling a child from a spire, no wait, and the creature was pulling Mali. Talindra screamed aloud as the others turned to see the creature fly from the balcony and drops its victim on a one of the waiting ships. It then flew upward high into the night sky. The party watched as it arced up then dove down, Kalas tried to dive but it was too late; the beast crushed him as it landed on the deck of the ship. The party was horrified as the creature growled, dripping greenish saliva. It stood nearly eight feet on the shoulders and had a sleek reptilian allure to it. It crouched low on its four legs its red predator-like eyes scanning the party preparing to attack. Talindra lashed enraged and swung Midnight, the creature dipped low under her strike and slammed her with a vicious claw across her chest sending her sprawling. Rhea chanted and prepared her blade with true strike, Dancer glowed with holy power. Thev and Aust dashed forward to head of the beast from getting to Kyoko or Xenon who were both preparing spells. Kyoko called upon mage armor and moved into the fray while Xenon launched more magic missiles at the creature. Thev landed a glancing blow, while Aust landed a quick slash across the face. The creature snarled some of its wounds quickly sealing right before their eyes. The ebon beast read back its wings spreading wide and spit out a spray of a greenish acid over the party. The spray was quick but most of the party was quicker, excluding Thev and Xenon who were both caught amidst the spray and were burned painfully. Talindra rolled to her left and dove in with a quick slash but the beast was still quicker then her slashing blade. Aust followed up with a powerful strike driving Blak-Fang through the beast’s side, opening a wound that would have been mortal on a lesser creature. Thev shrugged off the acid and tried to attack but pain overrode his senses and he could not hit his mark. Rhea moved to strike, Dancer guided by divine forces. Dancer hit its mark and the beast howled in pain, snarling at Rhea. Kyoko flanked the beast and attempted to stab it but once again the creature was much too fast. Xenon summoned a flaming sphere and singed the beast, focusing his magical energies. Talindra spun and finally landed a vicious slash along its left side even as the gash on the right side healed with terrible speed. The creature dove on to Thev tearing him with a vicious bite sending the mighty paladin sprawling on his back. The weakened crystalline floor gave way and the two crashed through the deck and nearly out of the bottom of the craft. Thev was able to grab a ledge before plummeting hundreds of feet to his death. He clung for dear life as the creature held onto his lower leg snarling. Before the group could react Kyoko dove down through the hole and attempted to impale the creature, but to no avail. She was able to dislodge it though and the beast plummeted far below into the mist spreading its bat like wings at the last moment. Kyoko grabbed the same ledge Thev was on lucky and hoisted herself up; Thev did the same panting. The group came together on the main deck much worse for the wear and watched as the black ships crewed by undead began to retreat. One of the ships exploded in a fiery ball before getting too far and its remains spewed forth into the mist hundreds of feet below. The party watched grimly as the rest of the undead fled with many captives. Kyoko and Aust went down below to see if they could find anything of use and rummaged through the holds looking for anything of value, while dire events were about to take place above them. In their search they found two chests filled with gems of many shapes and sizes. Kyoko through the use of a detect magic spell was able to determine that three of the gems had particularly strong magical power. In the meanwhile, other events were transpiring right above them. Thev grimaced and coughed up blood, “This, is horrible... We should…” he could not continue his words before collapsing, his body shaking terribly. The party turned and tried to calm him, but there was nothing they could do. His mouth was eschewing blood with every word and cough. He could not stand and his ebon black skin quickly grew more pallid. Xenon went to the wheel of the ship and with some quick thinking and a bit of luck was able to will the ship with his magical talents towards a spire. The party pulled together and hoisted Thev off of the ship and into the spire, luckily it was a place of healers and many of the wounded had already been brought here for care. Talindra along with Rhea laid Thev down on a cot his eyes glassy and far away. Rhea clutched his hands tightly, tears welling up in her eyes. Talindra watched unsure of what to do, while resting a hand on Thev’s shoulder hoping the paladin would get better any moment. Thev coughed up blood, “Rhea, come close…” he whispered his health deteriorating right before their eyes. Rhea leaned in close, “Thev hold on, we can get you through this, tell us what is wrong…” her face awash with tears. Thev hacked and spoke weakly, “I… I always,” he could not continue blood eschewing from his throat, life draining quickly from the mighty paladin. Rhea clutched his hand tightly screaming for Thev to stay with them. Xenon turned his head, his face was cold and distant, and he was focused on where Lucas had gotten himself to. But the rest of this story shall be concluded on another night. [/QUOTE]
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Tokiwong's Story Hour... aka Big trouble in little Cormyr
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