Undying - Chapter 7
Undying – Chapter 7
OOC Notes:
Exp is 5800 for 22nd, 4200 for 23rd.
Loot:
40,000gp in assorted undigested paraphernalia
+4 heavy steel shield
This Week’s Adventure:
Ralishaz paused to look over the perfectly still water. As he stared off, his form seemed to waver somehow – he would appear slightly blurry then suddenly snap back into focus. “I’m glad you could come. We’ll have more guests in a few minutes but we can begin our discussion now.”
Scorch opened with what I believe he thought was small talk. “So is this… thing with Venn permanent?”
Ralishaz was as calm as the water and said “I proposed an arrangement to Venn, and he accepted.” The answer went on a bit longer but the net result was “yes”.
“So who else are we expecting?” I asked, curious at which forces Ralishaz would bring together.
“Meltorannan, and a few others,” he replied. Meltorannan was a solar in service to Pelor that we had encountered once before. “The other deities and their limited rules of engagement have brought us to this situation.” As he finished the sentence, a planetar and a demon streaked from the sky and smashed into the water a few hundred yards away. I tried to follow them, but it was becoming more difficult. For every battle I could see, there were ten more happening in the ethereal, and the winking in and out was starting to make me light-headed.
“We are at the end of the culmination of a long and precise plan put into effect by Fraz. He is attempting to… well it’s hard to explain the mechanics… he is utilizing the far realms to channel a great deal of energy in a complicated scheme to make himself a deity.”
“His plan was to try to oust a few deities and take power that way, becoming one of the few deities native to the Prime. After all, how many Prime-based deities are there? Iuz, Vecna… and they are truly more demi-gods than fully divine beings. The Prime has very few beings of such power, and once he was one of them, the other gods would have great difficulty dealing with him.”
“And he was using the Lich Queen to traffic souls for him?” Aethramyr asked.
“Vlaakith was just as much a pawn of Fraz as anyone else. When she was no longer useful, he arranged for you to destroy her, cleaning up his tracks for him.”
Ralishaz reflected before continuing, trying to find the proper words. “There are agreements in place among existing deities you see. How do I explain this in terms you will understand… Oh and for your reference, I am now the most powerful deity on the Prime. We function as deities at a higher level than you do. We cannot make fine adjustments, only gross actions. Were a deity to come to the Prime – one who is not native to it I mean – he would enact great general changes, but like a giant trying to pull the wings from a fly, he would do as much damage as good since he cannot focus his actions very closely.”
“Fraz is attempting to become a Prime-based deity. I’m uncertain what portfolio he is trying to subsume – there are several candidates. The vacancies are there, he simply needs the raw power to do it. The souls he has been stealing are commerce used to bargain for that power. Fraz is playing a delicate yet precise game. He has opened holes from the far realms into the Prime. Or at least he had, until it was stopped.”
For the first time, Ralishaz showed a hint of a smile.
“So you were responsible for the interdiction?” Scorch asked.
I jumped in. “Well, which one? I’m confused but there several actions by different forces weren’t there? The original interdiction inhibited travel, but then there’s the current one preventing souls from being drawn away.”
Ralishaz paitently explained. “The first interdiction was the work of Fraz, but of course not him directly. He never works directly. But I am the one preventing the souls from being drained to the far realms. I cannot hold the shield forever, but it would be consuming enormous amounts of Fraz’ effort to open these holes, and I am hoping that I can outlast him.”
I was still feeling fairly confused about what was going on, particularly regarding some of the incidental happenings, but before I could start a series of questions I heard the flapping of wings announcing the arrival of a celestial.
Chance, one of Ralishaz’ avatars, stepped from behind her lord and called up to the solar “Have you come to discuss an agreement with My Lord?”
Meltorannan plummeted from the sky, then stopped his descent with one beat of his wings and landed lightly. “I have come to discuss it, if the offer still stands as we discussed.”
Chance answered back “My Lord is busy at the moment talking to these people but when he is done he will be glad to attend you.”
Ralishaz laughed ever so slightly and called out “Chance, you can let him come through. We can discuss these topics openly.”
As Meltorannan came forward he placed a hand gently on Dravot’s shoulder and said quietly “Fear not. We keep Brindinford safe for you.”
Dravot, who I then realized had been a cauldron on the verge of boiling over, spat back “And I was to be told of this when?”
If Meltorannan was fazed by this, he did not let on. “You were to be told when this is completed.”
It was then that Dravot noticed that Meltorannan bore no symbol of Pelor anywhere on him. Before he could ask, Meltorannan addressed Ralishaz. “Aylwyn is coming – I can still feel him. No doubt he will attempt to discuss this, but I’m sure he means no harm to us. He should be here momentarily – he refuses to use the ability to transport himself, presumably in observance of some limit you have placed?”
Chance was still hovering nearby. “You presume much, solar.”
Meltorannan looked at her casually. “I can presume what I will, lackey.”
Dravot decided to interrupt. “Would you mind explaining the lack of symbols of Our Lord?”
Meltorannan looked sad, and perhaps even somewhat embarrassed. “In due time, friend. In due time.”
I turned back to Ralishaz, still wondering why we had open war on the Prime. “So why the invasion of fiends and celestials?”
“Fraz’ plan was complicated, and you made it more complicated. He tried to slay you, and in the same thrust release a primal and make a further distraction for the dragons and others. In addition, he arranged for Orcus and Graz’zt to invade. This led to the rebellion among some of the celestials.”
Dravot shot a look at Meltorannan as Ralishaz continued. “The pillars of light are a stopgap measure. Creating this barrier is taking all my reserves. I am not completely solidified yet here. When you brought me to the prime many months ago, it took me some time to gather my corporeal form and energy. I must apologies for my departure causing cracks to the underdark but I assumed Meepo could handle it.”
Aethramyr stopped him. “Wait. You mean your entire body came here with the rest of Ru’un Khazai?”
Ralishaz nodded. “I transported my entire being here. Oh, that reminds me.” He directed his comments at Scorch. “I have reclaimed the eye of the dead god. It is part of the reason I am able to accomplish some of the tasks you now see.”
“Oh,” Scorch said disappointedly. “So much for the spell pool.” Scorch had been trying hard to re-establish the spell pool of the Grey Guild for some time, but time and circumstance had worked hard to prevent it. Then Scorch clutched at his chest at a small pendant, and fell to his knees. He felt some kind of burning sensation of unbelievable intensity, and then it passed.
Ralishaz looked calmly at Scorch while he recovered his wits. “I didn’t say we couldn’t share it. But this time it stays under my control. We don’t want that mess happening again.”
“In any case,” the sule god went on “the barrier is being heavily assaulted. The pillars of light are a place to shed all the extra energy being poured into the barrier. I am also using it to protect the earth primal’s prison, but that will not hold and the prison will be under assault soon enough.”
I was overwhelmed. There was just too much to take in all at once, and I couldn’t find a stable center of the storm to calm myself. I looked at Ralishaz with pleading eyes and asked “So how long until the world ends?”
A new voice announced itself behind me. “This world will not end soon while we are here.” Aylwyn had finally arrived. I may have been confused but I was still angry at the hosts, and here was finally one of them to answer for their lack of action.
“Oh?” I asked. “Well that’s a relief given how well your actions have prevented us from getting here in the first place!”
Aylwyn wasn’t in the mood to be chastised, not that I cared. “Oh, considering how your Lord has protected Celene to this point I would think you would be more grateful. Or does His every move need to be registered and approved by you? You’ll pardon me if I’m a tad irate – apparently some of us have forgotten our vows.” With that he glared at Meltorannan.
Bolo tried to step in. “Kayleigh speaks out of fear. We do not have the information you do. We are mortals and rely on faith, and her faith is lacking. Thank you for all you have done so far.”
To myself, I just repated over and over “He can’t help it he’s an idiot.” But at least it puzzled Aylwyn for a moment and he stopped ranting.
Aylwyn turned to Dravot and his head sagged. “I apologize. I did not think it would come to this point.”
Dravot was not interested in apologies. “Where. Is. Brindinford?”
Meltorannan answered “Brindinford has been moved to a demi-plane of its own making. If we left it where it was, sooner or later Orcus and his forces would have destroyed it and everyone there. We also knew that some beings” he glared hard at Aylwyn “were willing to let that happen. We chose to violate our vows to protect the people on the Prime. Too long has evil been allowed free reign. Too long has chaos been allowed. We decided among those that follow me that the Prime needs more direct intervention. It was at this point that Ralishaz made us an offer. An offer that I, speaking for the rebels, have chosen to agree to.”
Aylwyn just shook his head while Meltorannan went on. “The Prime has suffered too long at the intervention of outsiders, elementals, and beings from off-plane. Thus we have agreed to take on the title of Judges. From this point on, those who serve under me and have sworn to my cause now swear allegiance to Ralishaz. We will lend him support and endeavor to enforce stricter order on the Prime.” As Meltorannan spoke his skin began fading from alabaster white to a more ashen grey.
I still didn’t fully understand this shift in loyalty, but the battle between fiend and celestial was still a stalemate. I asked “Are you and your bretheren in a position to repel the forces of Orcus and Graz’zt?”
Ralishaz had only a hint of satisfaction when he answered “They are now.” As he said this, the solar continued to change. His wings became gull grey, and his sword faded into wisps of ether and smoke, and then reformed into a long staff. Meltorannan was now fully a servant of Ralishaz.
Dravot was furious. “So we’ve avoided Fraz and Orcus but now you will be masters of the Prime? How is this any better?”
Meltorannan looked almost hurt. “No. We are trying to prevent this from happening again.”
In the skies above, and throughout the ethereal, the Judges joined into the battle. As each staff struck a fiend, there was a flash and the fiend was banished back to the Abyss. Slowly at first, but with increasing speed, the tide turned, and the fiends were turned back.
Unable to keep my feet any longer, I plopped onto a large rock. I wanted to understand but didn’t know where to begin. “So is Orcus’ attack turned back?”
Ralishaz gestured absently for a moment and then said “You have to understand something. Orcus is, in my opinion, dumb as a post. Sure he’s a demon prince and all. But Orcus has the mistaken belief that he can extend his rule on the Prime. And while he expects many things, he doesn’t begin to realize how devious Fraz is. This is because he actually thinks he is smarter than Fraz.”
“But if you can cleanse the Prime of this mess…” I started.
“Not entirely but I can enforce certain rules. My portfolio has changed somewhat However Rauxes is not technically part of the Prime right now so that complicates things where Rauxes is concerned and by extension Orcus.”
I looked at Ralishaz with what is, I’m sure, the same look one would get from a cow after attempting to explain divination magic to it.
“Orcus is smart enough to know how to skirt by some of the rules I can enforce,” Ralishaz went on. “I can enforce the rules, but that’s not the same as keeping them from being broken. I can make it more difficult, but a being of sufficient power such as Orcus – particularly Orcus who can take the unliving and enhance them – will be more difficult to handle. Orcus violates the rules but he is now entrenched and therefore it is harder to enforce them on him.”
Dravot was irate – he saw this as merely trading one evil tyrant for another. He asked icily “And what do you get out of this?”
Ralishaz’ calmness washed away for a moment and let through what I suspect was something more typical of Venn. “What have I gotten? Did I mention that I’m now the most powerful being on the Prime?!?”
Dravot was unsatisfied. “I’m still not seeing a difference between one tyrant or another.”
“I did not instigate the rebellion, I simply offered an option to mitigate it.”
Bolo asked “So what did instigate it?”
Ralishaz waved at us. “You discussed it yourselves. Where are the deities? Why aren’t they doing anything? You were not alone in these questions and indeed some of the very celestial host itself asked them as well. Why aren’t we doing something about this?”
Ralishaz wandered slightly. “You should know that Rauxes itself is a direct result of Pelor’s last incursion onto the Prime. Rules are rules after all. If one is allowed excess, then by compact and association another deity is allowed further sway for a time. And of course some are more subtle than others. Your Sehanine manages to function on the Prime more effectively than others because she works through agents which she contacts through an entirely separate realm. And her husband is perhaps the most subtle of all.”
There was something there. Something in that statement was for me. I wish I had asked more. But the conversation was wandering across a dozen topics and it was difficult to keep a clear head. Instead I went another route. “So your forces have removed the demons, but that still leaves the undead, and whomever you said was about to assault the earth primal, and of course the fact that Fraz is still drawing out souls.”
“Fraz, unlike Orcus, is not stupid. He knew sooner or later he’d get direct intervention of some sort. The Prime has been invaded far too many times in the last six months. Fraz has collected a great deal of power, and he has given a large measure of that power to Orcus, but Orcus spends it foolishly. In any case, Fraz will be spending power holding open the portals to the far realms, and this is taxing. He cannot keep it up for very long.”
I was starting to sense the entire point of drawing us here. “And so who is attacking the primal?”
“Oh, they’re probably from Orcus. There’s an undersea monstrosity down there moving towards the prison. With it are two outsiders too powerful for the Judges to turn away. They should reach the prison in ten or fifteen minutes. I could say more but they have been partially protected, and I am stretched somewhat thin.”
The catch at last – the reason we were brought here: to defend the prison. “Why us?”
Ralishaz was frank. “Only a handful of beings are capable of defending the earth primal. Of those, only you would I even consider asking. Only you have shown a concern for preserving the Prime. While I may share a certain… outlook with the Circle of Eight, they are impotent fools. They’re more concerned with maintaining their petty games than maintaining the state of the Prime in general. Their subtle manipulation even of you show that they are more worried about a balance of power than they are the nature of the Prime itself. If they will not show concern, then I will assume that role. I could compel you I suppose, but I would not even if I were not so strained. If you cannot do it freely than I do not know what it would benefit to compel you.”
“But what would be the point really?” I asked. “Even if we defeat this attack now, what good does it do? They would just attack again.”
“You underestimate how costly this has been for Orcus and Fraz. If you succeed, it will not be a final victory, but it will buy you many months of time to regroup and plan.”
I just nodded at that. I didn’t think there was much question we would act, and apparently neither did Ralishaz. He continued on. “I perceive two threats. How you deal with them I cannot advise. The primary threat is the one to the prison located under the Nyr Dyv. But the second threat is merely a distraction – whether you engage it or not is your choice. Coming through the forest is a Gulthias Horror of some power making its way to Dyvers. Presumably it’s coming to create general havoc to distract any defenders.”
We started discussing the particulars, but Dravot was not interested. He instead turned to Aylwyn. There was no question on his face, just disappointment.
Aylwyn said “If it’s any consolation to you, I know little more than you do. But I do have faith. I know the longer goals will bear their fruit. If it was an easy path to walk, you would not have been chosen. Though I do not agree with the doing of it, Brindinford was moved to protect you.”
“And why could I not be told of this? Have I done so little that I am not worthy of knowing this? Thorkeld arrived to find everyone he’d ever known and cared about was gone, and probably dead. Does his faith mean so little that he should suffer so?” Dravot’s anger flashed in his eyes, but the solar did not wince.
“Telling you would have jeapordized Brindinford’s safety. Had Thorkeld known ahead of time, your enemies would have had more time to find it’s hiding place.”
Still unsatisfied Dravot asked “And what about after the fact? We could not be told then?”
Aylwyn tried to suppress a bitter smile. “That would be in about five minutes, Saint. We are still finishing up.”
“So what of this threat in the lake? Should I help? Or should I follow the lead of my god and stand idly by?”
Aylwyn was showing great patience. “I said you would be tested. This is your test of faith. You must decide.”
Dravot pondered this for a few silent moments, and finally he nodded that he would go. I personally had no doubt. A war of the gods is a difficult matter and feels impossible to deal with. But a threatening sea monster is another matter entirely and I knew he would not sit by while he could act. Then I stepped in. “I’m sorry to intrude but we have some fundamental problems as well. Namely that we cannot breath or fight effectively underwater.”
Aylwyn looked quietly at me with a small smile. “If Dravot wishes to go, then I shall make it possible.” He invoked his divine mandate, and we were all able to breathe and move underwater. The gesture cost him severely however – his cheeks were sunken and he was battered and bruised, the scars of his recent battle weighting on him more heavily. Dravot cast a small blessing on him to ease his discomfort and Aylwyn seemed to genuninely appreciate the gesture more than the blessing itself.
“Well that only leaves us one more problem,” I said. “Our time is short and we must quickly reach the middle of the lake. And if my memory serves, we lack enough teleportation magic to do the job.”
Scorch had been pondering his crystal for some time. “I think I can help with that now. I think I have this figured out. It’s very different from before, but still…”
The plan was set. Scorch had discerned enough to utilize the spell pool and we could teleport out. We had one too many to all teleport to the temple below the lake, so Windsaber would go stall the Gulthias Horror while we fought off the monster. Windsaber bounded off and we were quickly teleported to the middle of the great inland sea.
The shafts of glowing light penetrated the water, and the closer the water was to the barrier, the less it moved. At the very end, everything just stopped – the water, the fish, everything. We descended into the depths of the water and passed all manner of fish, none of which were moving at all.
In with the fish were some creatures called reekmurks. They were some kind of native to the plane of shadow, and could be dangerous if they swarm. To see more than one would be unusual at best – in these numbers it was obviously no chance. Dravot called a great light from his mace, and as we descended the burning light of Pelor caused the creatures to shrivel and die just from the bright light.
As we reached the bottom, we started to make out spires rising from the seabed piercing the radiance of Pelor descending with us. The stone seemed natural enough, but there was no coral or fungus growing on it. The broken architecture looked reminiscent of Ekbir in design. Then we realized the stone wasn’t natural at all – the ruins were all made from isometril.
At the bottom, there were several structures half buried in the sand. But one building was out of place with the others. It was fairly ornate, and clearly not Sule in design. It appeared to be from a much later time, and was covered in carvings used by grey elves. Our best guess is that it was only built some 2000 years ago, which made it an infant compared to the other structures. The carvings seemed to indicate some kind of contract but it was not related to the primal – it would have been far too recently built for that.
The carvings indicated that the builders knew of the primal, and used its presence to hide their prize as well. Then we found another carving near the door – the upper body of a being surrounded by three rings.
The small temple held a binder.
Suddenly the barrier faded, and fish and plants began moving once again. The fish suddenly scattered as if pursued and we knew the beast must be very close – Bolo guessed it was only a few hundred feet away now. We made our last preparations just as long tentacles began touching the edge of the illumination. Then with a sudden push, a giant red eye appeard and a massive kraken tasted the water, wondering what these strange creatures were, and how we would taste.
On either side of the kraken were two twisted monstrosities that could have only come from the far realms. Their anatomy made no sense with long serpentine bodies and mouths in improbable places. Surrounding these twisted things were some small dog-like demons – skulvens.
A giant sea monster the size of a village square, two twisted demons from the far realms, and their hunting packs; well, at least something in this day was typical for us.
Valanthe sliced open one of the skulven with a single stroke, and they proved to be weak creatures. Scorch decided that this creature would need to be weakened before it would be more manageable, and drained away some of the creature’s strength. But then the kraken lashed out in a flurry of tentacles flailing at everyone from an insanely long way away. Everyone was injured, but Bolo (who was in the form of a kraken himself, albeit a much smaller one by comparison) was nearly ripped in half by the assault. If it hadn’t been for the divine luck bestowed by Ralishaz’ avatar Cheat, he may very well have been killed on the spot.
Bolo spoke a Holy Word, and while it was not strong enough to dismiss the worms it was more than able to banish the skulven. Then with a brief look at each other, Aethramyr and I charged the kraken.
A creature the size of a house, and I charged it. It was depressing but necessary – arrows would not fly far underwater. To do any good at all, I would have to be very close to the kraken, and given how large it was, it was going to take everything Aethramyr and I had to defeat it.
Valanthe came in from behind the kraken and we started what I was sure would be the long process of destroying this beast. Valanthe, Aethramyr and I attacked mercilessly with everything we had. Scorch further weakened the creature – I’m sure such a massive beast could not grasp how it had become so tired. The kraken was flailing in pain but still fighting and snapped all its tentacles at Aethramyr. But it had been so weakened that its assault was far less potent than it should have been and Aethramyr absorbed the punishment and continued to attack. Dravot invoked Pelor’s name and our wounds were all healed, and we renewed our attack. Finally Valanthe drove Shadowcut deep into an already open wound as large as she was. The blade struck hard, and the kraken stiffened for a moment, then began sinking limply to the lake bed.
Meanwhile, Dravot and the paladins were holding off the worms. As Zira slashed at one of them, their ichor spewed into the water and made Bolo and Zira wretch violently. Scorch was able to banish one of the snakes, and the other was being slowly hacked apart by Dravot and the paladins. Bolo put his own tentacles into play and finally ripped the creature apart, and with that the earth primal was safe.
Now able to take more time, we set about reading the full set of inscriptions on the temple. It seemed to state that whomever had done this believed the location of two of the binders had been compromised, and had moved them. Valanthe was able to open the temple door, and we went down the hallway to the single room within.
Inside, the binder waited, its rings pulsing through the water. We were wondering which binder it was, when it made the answer plain. In a rolling wave, all the magic surrounding us dissipated. Bolo immediately reverted to his elven form. Of course this meant that none of us could breathe any longer. However the binder accounted for this too, and the water in the area was transmuted into air, and we stood before the trapped prince.
There was still the Gulthias horror attacking Dyvers to be considered, so I was brief. “Prince Tupal ben Baharol, greetings. Let’s get you out of here, and then we’ll get you out of that.”
We heard the Prince in our mind. He was stuffy and formal. “Very well, then by contract you must take control of the binder and I shall obey.”
All eyes turned to Scorch who was managing to keep his lust in check, at least for now. I shrugged and attempted to take control of the binder, but despite a good try it did not yield to my control. We looked to Dravot who had the strongest will of us, and he was able to force the binder to obey.
Thwarted an assassination, stopped a giant sea monster, talked to a new diety, and rescued a binder. I hope we can stop for dinner soon.
