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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Eccles" data-source="post: 905794" data-attributes="member: 5675">Yvgeny's letter concerning conversations with a Staff of PowerYour eminence, The following is a transcript of my discussions with the ogre mage’s staff. I have included this so that you may gain an insight into its behaviour; its M.O. was mostly inscrutable to me. Additionally, I have written the entire dialogue from the point of view of the third person. Please forgive this conceit; I do not write it thus to absolve myself of any sin for speaking to such an instrument. Rather, it is purely in the interests of a more documentary approach. Yes, yes, I’m playing to the gallery, and I simply wish to conceal it! Just ask Pavel to look it over, I’m sure he’ll burst my bubble! In the first instance that Yvgeny touched the staff, the green gem at the tip glowed, and a feeling of well-being and confidence suffused him. Then it spoke in a soft, almost feminine voice, saying: Staff (voice): “You're not human after all, are you?” Yvgeny: “No, not human, although I'll thank you if you'll keep that to your self. If you show me that you can be trusted I'll tell you more, because I think we can make a good partnership. Suffice it to say (for now) that my friends and I are working for the greater good, and number one on our list is clearing this dungeon of the minions of your ex-master. Incidentally, did you notice how easily we dealt with him? I think you picked the wrong side, so I hope you'll be helpful. Exactly how helpful can you be, by the way? It is my particular wish that you dedicate yourself to helping further the cause of Ilmater, my god. He likes to ease the suffering of the needy, what do you say to that? “Speak.” The gem on the staff then flickered, subsiding to a dimmer glow for a few moments. Suddenly, the staff spoke again: Staff (voice): “Speak, it orders me.” A second, more powerful voice then suddenly entered Yvgeny’s head, without passing through his conscious hearing. The voice was harsh and male. Staff (telepath): Orders US. Then the voice and telepathic entities within the staff conversed with Yvgeny, in turns: Staff (voice): “Servant of this Ilmater, god of things not dwarven.” Staff (telepath): This is good. Staff (voice): “This pleases me.” Staff (telepath): Pleases US. Staff (voice): “We can help much.” Staff (telepath): We can offer you the hearts and minds of those who oppose you. We can assist you in the tasks that lie before you. We can help you subdue and outwit any foe that stands in your way. You are more powerful than the last master. Staff (voice): “Master of many years.” Staff (telepath): Speak now in turn, thing that is not dwarf, yet is not man. Staff (voice): “Yes, speak... Aasimar.” Staff (telepath): What powers have you? Staff (voice): “What powers do you have?” Staff (telepath): What bring you to bargain? Staff (voice): “What have you to trade?” Yvgeny: “Speak not of bargains, if you will spend time out of the pocket dimension you were incarcerated in: Bargains are for devils and their addle-minded petitioners. I will not petition you to help me. “Now, you know me as an aasimar, and you see truly. That should be sufficient to tell you some measure of my power. Additionally, I am a priest of Ilmater. This is a god of healing, who eases the suffering of others. I am inclined to act the same way, so if you consider this a weakness you will not share my path. I can heal, bless, enhance my strength and durability and protect myself and others from evil. I can destroy undead, or make them run in fear from my faith. I am also a monk, as your previous master was, with the ability to stun a foe with a single punch, using the power of my god to enhance the blow. “It is my desire to aid the cause of my adopted homeland, the nation of Damara, which is across the Moonsea from these Desertsmouth Mountains. As such, I aid in any effort which diminishes the strength of Damara's foes, or who threaten those countries that Damara would enlist as allies. As such, the rabble of your ex-master did threaten the peace of Daggerdale and had also performed heinous acts against the dwarves of this stronghold. What know you of the modus operandi of your ex-master? Was he acting on his own, or did some greater power drive him to attack this place? “Now, tell me of your own desires, and I will tell you whether I, or one of my allies, can fulfill them. “Speak, please.” Staff (voice): “Incarcerated?” The green gem sparkled when the staff said this, as if amused at Yvgeny’s conceit concerning the bag of holding. Staff (voice): “What means a moment in a bag to a creation of wood and stone? The ages of nature have been endured.” Staff (telepath): And have been found wanting. Staff (voice): “Your powers are interesting, although barely sufficient when laid up against our previous walking servant.” Staff (telepath): Truly that was a creature with power and potential. Staff (voice): “Speak of your foes. What creatures are you charged to destroy?” Staff (telepath): And your question of the last walker's goals is not answerable. We were kept within a glove and used only in battle. Staff (voice): “We demand that we not be incarcerated outside the flows of time once again. Our hearts are things of earth and nature.” Staff (telepath): We know only that he was charged with furthering the Entraat Phineal. Staff (voice): “We shall not assist you further until our needs have been met.” Staff (telepath): Agreed. Yvgeny: “Your ‘previous walking servant’ was soundly beaten by a few bats, as I recall. As for my power: What use is power if it is used purely to lord it over a rabble whose greatest achievement was to destroy a small outpost of dwarves? My ambition is to complete the cycle begun by my celestial ancestor: I would ascend to the upper planes, the better to serve my god. What thinkest thou of that? As for my foes: You wish for specifics? I think we can start with the Zhentarim and the Thayans. These use slaves as if they were chattels, which frankly disgusts me. The Zhentarim, additionally, are bullies and ruled by representatives of the worst of gods: those who exploit the weak. It cannot be borne! I also have issues with the Drow, for the same reasons. What is your stance? “You must also give me more insight into your own abilities, if you wish to avoid incarceration. You indicate that you have the ability to reduce your size, but surely a great work of wood and stone such as yourself would have far greater powers? This information will also provide me with a better guide as to which of my companions would better suit your demeanour. I have chosen myself as a temporary intermediary, for your powers are unknown and could be dangerous. Incidentally, would you name yourselves? I would style you ‘Legion’ if that is appropriate and does not affend. “I thank you for the information concerning the ‘Entraat Phineal.’ I admit this has little meaning to me at present, although diverse of my companions may prove more knowledgeable. Yvgeny then walked off a goodly distance from the camp, to ensure no magic could affect his companions. He then cast a spell of protection from evil, and removed the staff from the bag. Yvgeny: “Now: Please speak of your own abilities and whether we have a common path.” Both voices then spoke simultaneously (via audible sound and telepathically) as the staff was lifted from the bag: Staff (telepath): We have no interest in your ambitions. Staff (voice): “We have no interest in your ambitions.” Staff (telepath): We have no interest in your foes. Staff (voice): “We have no interest in your foes.” Staff (telepath): We shall speak no further until our needs have been met. Staff (voice): “We shall speak no further until our needs have been met.” Staff (telepath): We are in an unpleasant state. We are to be cleaned in purest snow-melt water and then dried. Staff (voice): “In the beard of a Dwarf.” Staff (telepath): In the beard of a Dwarf. Yes. This is satisfactory. Then we shall speak further. The gem abruptly stopped shining. Yvgeny shook his head sadly, and then made to put the staff back in the bag. Clearly, he could not oblige the staff to discuss its reticence, and he was not prepared to take any risks without proof the staff was not evil. As Yvgeny moved to put the staff back in the bag, however, he felt a tingling. Some of the day’s injuries suddenly melted away! The staff very nearly fell from Yvgeny’s surprised fingers, but he managed to keep a hold on it. Staff (telepath): We sense that you are unwilling to aid us. Staff (voice): “We are not so ungracious.” Staff (telepath): We shall see you in another age. Staff (voice): “You can place us into your sack now.” Yvgeny then felt a pressure within his mind, but threw off the spell. Yvgeny: “Oh, you are still speaking to me then? I had supposed you were sulking, but I thank you for easing the tightness in my chest. Now, I'm sure there's snow-melt water around here, as we are in the mountains, although it will require some rather trecherous climbing to reach the snow-line. Additionally, at that point I will not be in the vicinity of a dwarf. Are you sure you want to be dried with a dwarf's beard? They're notoriously testy about their facial hair and the only dwarf available in the vicinity is my companion. He's a barbarian with an axe. Now, how about I bless some of this lovely clean spring water to clean you with, and then dry you in my tabard?” Staff (voice): “At no stage have we pretended to stop speaking to you.” Staff (telepath): At least so far as is possible. However if you wish to act in partnership, you will need us willing. Staff (voice): “We shall need to compromise. We shall compromise on the water.” Staff (telepath): We shall not compromise with the beard of the dwarf; the Petter Shaal must be obeyed. Staff (voice): “Without respect and trade, we are reluctant to assist you further.” Yvgeny at this point was presented with a choice: To throw away the chance that the staff could aid in the current quest, and any further tasks that could prove useful to his cause, or to risk angering the dwarf. Quite simply, it was not in his nature to avoid risks, so Yvgeny chose to risk the dwarf… Yvgeny: “Khondar. Khondar!” Yvgeny shakes the dwarf. Yvgeny: “Wake up. I have a request of some delicacy, and I need your help.” The sleepy dwarf rolls over and blinks at Yvgeny before asking: Khondar: “What's wrong?” Yvgeny: “I have... Talked to the staff we picked up after kicking the magic ogre's head in. It's agreed to help us in getting your stronghold back, but first it insists on being cleaned in pure water and then dried... In the beard of a dwarf. I realise this is slightly beneath your dignity, but could you indulge it? I shall make sure it renders every aid in your quest. It heals, you know.” To Yvgeny’s great surprise, Khondar agreed almost on the instant. Blessing Khondar’s undwarvishly unpredictable nature, Yvgeny washed the staff in some holy water, and then dried it in Khondar’s beard. The rest of the story concerning the staff is yet to unfold, but the following has been noted concerning its powers and personality: - The staff can act as a powerful weapon (in the conventional sense). It is very well balanced, allowing it to be wielded in either the main weapon hand or off-hand without difficulty. Its magical enchantment also increases the wielder’s accuracy, allowing a greater number of strikes on target, and also does greater damage per hit. It can cure simple wounds. It can communicate, both vocally and telepathically. It dislikes dwarves. It likes to be perfectly clean. This borders on obsessive. It has powers of suggestion (as per the spell). It has either a personality, or several personalities, of its own.This has manifested in attempting to force its will upon Yvgeny on more than one occasion, with Yvgeny being subordinated on one occasion. I hope this document provides some enlightenment, your eminence. I will of course keep you informed of any further discoveries I make concerning this staff, but I will not compromise my mission in doing this. Please have faith, your eminence, and trust me. Yvgeny. Ilmater save the King.</blockquote>

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