As the fires die down in the engine room and your hearts finally stop thumping wildly in your chest from the dangerous situation you were in, you realize that the train is finally slowing down. The conductor has inserted a crystal into his control helm in the captains cabin and speaks over the messaging gem in the ceiling. The fire has damaged it somewhat, so the sound is not perfectly clear, but you make out enough to understand that he has finally been able to reestablish control over the fire elemental in the engine and that they would be picking up the passengers post haste. What is left of the lightning rail spins around, hovering over the crystal blue pyramids that mark the rails path, and then slowly makes its way back down to where the poor cabin was left behind.
As the rail settles back into a normal rhythm, and the group surveys the extensive damage that was done to the wealthy and middle-class companions, Alexia spots something shiny from beneath one of the burned up benches in the middle-class cabin. Picking it up, she can see a long sword of remarkable make, with dark etchings in the blade that make up ancient runes.
[sblock=History DC 15]
These runes look like an ancient form of Karnathi.
[sblock=History DC 20]
These first part of the ancient Karnathi runes say "Victory in Blood; Service Forever". It is a saying that was common amongst high ranking Karnathi military leaders. The second half simply says "Morin".
[sblock=History DC 25]
The name "Morin" sparks a memory of something you read in a history book long ago. Dortallis Morin is the name of a somewhat known Karnathi general. He was known for bleeding his victims slowly so that his hands were covered in the blood of his enemies. If this is who the ancient runes are referencing, then the sword you are looking at would be named "Heart Stopper". It is said that the wielder of Heart Stopper commands the attention of his allies and can ensure victory in even the clumsiest of subordinates. [/sblock] [/sblock] [/sblock]
[sblock=Longsword]
This longsword is a Performer's Longsword +2
[/sblock]
While Alexia marvels at her find, Masumi is busy thinking about the connection she had made with Shaefa, her new Patron. Moving her fingers over the ice-blue tattoo on her wrist, she sees mental flashes of a cavern filled with ice.
[sblock=Masumi only] Shaefa sits in a throne of ice besides her mother, a beautiful but terrible queen of the ice realm. Both of the blue-skinned women smile and beckon you closer.
"So you have accepted our invitation!" Shaefa exclaims happily.
Her mother looks at you warmly (if that can be said appropriately about an ice queen) and offers you a set of dark blue leather gloves. The insides are not lined with fur, but they seem to keep your hands plenty warm in the chilly cavern.
"Masumi, keeper of many souls, there is a prophesy unfolding. Fate plays before us and the only choices we have are to follow it's path as it flows onwards, or kick and scream as it pulls us along. Which would you choose young one? Think quickly, for time is nearly up. Our world is threatened by a great evil; one that will transcend from our world into yours. All that will be left is death and despair. Follow the road that isn't to a place that is no longer. There you will find the seeds of evil. Follow the southern wind to the home of fire's voice and ride the crest to a land of pale ice. Seek the model man with no soul of his own. The model man has death in his hands. You must make him drop it."
[/sblock]
Masumi's vision blurs and after blinking a few times, she realizes that she is back in the burned out wealthy cabin of the lightning rail. Once again feeling the icy burn of the tattoo on her wrist, she notices that the dark blue leather gloves were still on her hands.
[sblock=Gloves]
These are Gloves of Eldritch Admixture [/sblock]
[sblock=ooc] What are the rest of you doing while the lightning rail travels back to pick up its displaced passengers? [/sblock]
[/sblock]
