For the Love of Tomeri...(23June2004)
- Thread starter simmo
- Start date
simmo
First Post
Tallarn said:
Hence the name of the adventure/module Dead Gods
Hats off to Monte Cook for writing a superb and inspirational set of adventures.cmnash said:
Thanks. I've spent quite a bit of time in between gaming sessions trying to tie in the character backgrounds, events happening in Lammed and the Great Modron March & Dead Gods adventures.
Good luck with running the adventures! Please let me know how it goes in your campaign. Any chance of a Story Hour?
Last edited:
simmo said:Good luck with running the adventures! Please let me know how it goes in your campaign. Any chance of a Story Hour?
I would love to, but am due to move house shortly so not yet, but maybe soon ... the campaign so far is detailed here:
http://www.cmnash.co.uk
if youo get the chance to look, I'd welcome feedback
BTW, is Talimar and the others going to appear soon?
simmo
First Post
Part 32 Footsteps of the gods
The companions travelled away in from devastation at the hidden-watch temple of Maazecorian and passed by the city of Ironridge. No once spoke a word as each of the companions was absorbed by their inner thoughts.
A week passed and they finally reached the edge of the land that Littleby indicated was the Realm of the Norns. The trees grew wild with vines covering their lower trunks. Briars and shrubs formed impenetrable walls of vegetation and not a single flower bloomed or bird sang. In fact the whole forest had a deathly silence that was both severe and intense.
Serena shivered and drew her cloak tighter around her shoulders. She mentally called for Zakar to lend his support for the journey ahead. Sir Osbourne had drawn his sword and was about to carve a path when he felt Littleby's hand gently touching his arm. The dwarven lore-master shook his head to indicate to the paladin that he should harm nothing in the woods. He raised his other arm and pointed to a well concealed path that meandered in between the large tree trunks.
The path led them deep in to the woods where the trees grew taller and the silence deepened. Unseen watchers followed their every movement and the hairs on the nape of Cade's neck rose. The halfling spun run suddenly at odd moments to try to catch sight of who might be spying on them but to no avail.
In the depths of the dark forest where the trees towered overhead and blocked out most of the light, the trees grew so close together that the path led them across several fallen tree trunks. One fallen tree was of such size that it dwarfed all others. As the companions climbed higher up the trunk to get to the other side they discovered that there was somewhat more light filtering through the branches. Their view was still obscured by the wall of vegetation all around, but somehow it felt less claustrophobic.
“How long until we reach the Yggdrasil?” Cade finally broke the stifling silence with his question.
“We are already on it,” Littleby stated.
“Eh? When did that happen?” Cade began smiling at the thought that he'd finally managed to set foot on the World Ash.
“I'm not sure,” Littleby confessed. “Be careful not to fly or move too far away from the tree.”
“Why is that?” Cade asked.
“Because if you do then you will find yourself stranded in the Astral.”
After walking for awhile further the companions were finally able to catch sight of other branches and the view was staggering. Sir Osbourne summed up everyone's thoughts when he exclaimed: “Verily that is some Tree!”
The travellers camped on a large branch in the tree and the period of darkness passed without incident. In the morning as the companions awoke they found a small humanoid creatures with squirrel-like features perched in the middle of their camp.
Cade sang a few notes under his breath and approached the strange creature in their midst.
“Greetings, we are travellers who are passing through. We mean you no harm.”
“You speak our language?” the creature asked in astonishment.
“I speak all languages,” Cade replied humbly with a large smile.
“You are not here to follow the metal walking river?” the Ratatosk asked.
“No,” Cade said chuckling. “I hope not to come across them again.”
“Why are you travelling on the branches of the great Mother?”
“We are looking for the town of Crux. It is either along here” Cade pointed up a long thin branch. “Or up there,” he said pointing to a down-ward sloping large branch.
The Ratatosk chittered as it thought over the question. Finally it smirked and twirled its tail. “Answer me this and I will show you the way:
Moon and stars are my friends,
but darkness is my mother.
The sun is bitter enemy,
chasing me like no other.
“Night,” Littleby replied in a heartbeat.
“Yes,” the creature's voice dropped and it broke eye contact. “Night has fallen over Crux.”
True to its word the Ratatosk led them along several branches, past juncti flat section where a gigantic branch met the trunk of the tree.
Cade thanked the creature in its native tongue and was about to step in to the village when the Ratatosk began pulling Serena's arm in an attempt to lead her around the settlement. The heart seer felt somewhat perplexed by the sudden turn of events, but it was clear to her that the pitiful creature was doing it out of desperation rather than in jest or malice.
“Come, come. Meet grlitteryere tribe,” the creature chittered. “This is not good place.”
“Cade can you ask it to explain?” Littleby asked.
“My tribe, they not well. My tribe is ill.” The Ratatosk looked at Serena pleadingly with its big tearful eyes.
“Well certainly,” Serena replied with a reassuring smile. She threw her companions a look that said 'I can't just leave, I need to help'.
Littleby sighed and followed behind, but Cade thought the matter over. No reward had been promised by the creature but perhaps it might be able to provide some information. The tribe might even owe him a favour, but Cade admonished himself that he was beginning to sound awfully close to being a Ring-Giver.
The Ratatosk led the travellers to the home of its nearby tribe who lived in several hollowed out holes in the great tree. The chieftain sat with a holly crown on his head and beside him stood the tribe's wise-woman who wore a wooden mask with a bladed head-dress made of sharp leaves.
Serena and the others could immediately tell that something was wrong in the way that the creatures stared at them and bared their teeth. A few of the Ratatosks hissed and formed in to defensive groups.
Down one of the branches Littleby spied something wrong with the tree. The wood looked as though it had ripples going through it that were frozen in place. As he walked over the warped wood of the branch closer to the centre he saw the wood beneath his feet was blackened and dead. This was not caused by fire but rather had all the hallmarks of being caused by Negative Energy.
But the amount of energy required to produce such an effect on the World Ash staggered Littleby's mind. As he stood in the inner ring he could still feel the echo of the power that was manifest at the site. He began to unpack some of his sacks and satchels in preparation of casting a spell.
Serena called Zakar to her side and he did so with utter reluctance. Every step for him felt as though he was walking through an ocean of evil and his entire body shook. The rattling of his canine teeth was such that Serena led him to the one of the outer rings and that was when she noticed the Ratatosk tribe again.
The chieftain and the rest of the tribe were advancing in a slow hunting crouch with their teeth bared and their eyes glazed over. One of the creature howled furiously and flung itself at the heart seer. The hound archon batted it aside with his fist, grabbed Serena and attempted to run back to the others. Littleby spoke several arcane words and the crazed Ratatosks were magically repelled further along the branch.
“What are we going to do about them?” Cade asked. The sight of the tree natives driven in to a murderous frenzy was somewhat disconcerting and the halfling was hoping to leave quickly.
“We need to do something soon as they are beginning to overcome the spell.”
“I could mind-blast them,” Serena suggested. “Then we could tie them up and lead them to Crux. Perhaps we can get help there.”
“Just do it fast,” Littleby whispered fiercely as the strain on repelling the creatures was beginning to show.
The heart seer of Tomeri focused her thoughts in to a ball of energy and sent it hurtling along the branch. The torc that she'd bought at A'kin's shop thrummed with energy and amplified the mental blasts ten-fold. The Ratatosk minds were overcome by the psionic blasts and fell unconscious one by one.
As Serena, Sir Osbourne and Zakar were tying up the creatures, Littleby finished his preparations and began to cast his spell. The dwarven lore master sat in the inner ring of the warped wood where a strange impression was formed on the dead wood and cast Legend Lore.
Time passed and Littleby sat with his eyes closed focusing all of his energies in to the spell. His face sagged as the answers to his questions came back and when he opened his eyes his face was ashen.
“What is it?” Cade asked eagerly. “What did you find out?”
“A being known as Tenebrous stepped on to the Yggdrasil at this location from the Astral.”
“And.... why did this Tenebrous have such an effect on the Tree?” Cade asked.
“Because Tenebrous is something that has come back from the dead.”
“That still does not answer my question,” Cade's smile was a little strained as he knew that there was bad news coming. “What's so special about Tenebrous?”
“Tenebrous is..... Orcus returned to unlife.” Littleby said quietly. “He has come back as an undead god. He is a shadow of his former self and has chosen the name Tenebrous. The first word that he spoke when he arose again was 'Vengeance'.”
The silence that followed Littleby's revelation lasted an eternity. Finally Serena let out the breath that she'd been unconsciously holding. “Sweet Tomeri,” she exclaimed.
The companions travelled away in from devastation at the hidden-watch temple of Maazecorian and passed by the city of Ironridge. No once spoke a word as each of the companions was absorbed by their inner thoughts.
A week passed and they finally reached the edge of the land that Littleby indicated was the Realm of the Norns. The trees grew wild with vines covering their lower trunks. Briars and shrubs formed impenetrable walls of vegetation and not a single flower bloomed or bird sang. In fact the whole forest had a deathly silence that was both severe and intense.
Serena shivered and drew her cloak tighter around her shoulders. She mentally called for Zakar to lend his support for the journey ahead. Sir Osbourne had drawn his sword and was about to carve a path when he felt Littleby's hand gently touching his arm. The dwarven lore-master shook his head to indicate to the paladin that he should harm nothing in the woods. He raised his other arm and pointed to a well concealed path that meandered in between the large tree trunks.
The path led them deep in to the woods where the trees grew taller and the silence deepened. Unseen watchers followed their every movement and the hairs on the nape of Cade's neck rose. The halfling spun run suddenly at odd moments to try to catch sight of who might be spying on them but to no avail.
In the depths of the dark forest where the trees towered overhead and blocked out most of the light, the trees grew so close together that the path led them across several fallen tree trunks. One fallen tree was of such size that it dwarfed all others. As the companions climbed higher up the trunk to get to the other side they discovered that there was somewhat more light filtering through the branches. Their view was still obscured by the wall of vegetation all around, but somehow it felt less claustrophobic.
“How long until we reach the Yggdrasil?” Cade finally broke the stifling silence with his question.
“We are already on it,” Littleby stated.
“Eh? When did that happen?” Cade began smiling at the thought that he'd finally managed to set foot on the World Ash.
“I'm not sure,” Littleby confessed. “Be careful not to fly or move too far away from the tree.”
“Why is that?” Cade asked.
“Because if you do then you will find yourself stranded in the Astral.”
After walking for awhile further the companions were finally able to catch sight of other branches and the view was staggering. Sir Osbourne summed up everyone's thoughts when he exclaimed: “Verily that is some Tree!”
The travellers camped on a large branch in the tree and the period of darkness passed without incident. In the morning as the companions awoke they found a small humanoid creatures with squirrel-like features perched in the middle of their camp.
Cade sang a few notes under his breath and approached the strange creature in their midst.
“Greetings, we are travellers who are passing through. We mean you no harm.”
“You speak our language?” the creature asked in astonishment.
“I speak all languages,” Cade replied humbly with a large smile.
“You are not here to follow the metal walking river?” the Ratatosk asked.
“No,” Cade said chuckling. “I hope not to come across them again.”
“Why are you travelling on the branches of the great Mother?”
“We are looking for the town of Crux. It is either along here” Cade pointed up a long thin branch. “Or up there,” he said pointing to a down-ward sloping large branch.
The Ratatosk chittered as it thought over the question. Finally it smirked and twirled its tail. “Answer me this and I will show you the way:
Moon and stars are my friends,
but darkness is my mother.
The sun is bitter enemy,
chasing me like no other.
“Night,” Littleby replied in a heartbeat.
“Yes,” the creature's voice dropped and it broke eye contact. “Night has fallen over Crux.”
True to its word the Ratatosk led them along several branches, past juncti flat section where a gigantic branch met the trunk of the tree.
Cade thanked the creature in its native tongue and was about to step in to the village when the Ratatosk began pulling Serena's arm in an attempt to lead her around the settlement. The heart seer felt somewhat perplexed by the sudden turn of events, but it was clear to her that the pitiful creature was doing it out of desperation rather than in jest or malice.
“Come, come. Meet grlitteryere tribe,” the creature chittered. “This is not good place.”
“Cade can you ask it to explain?” Littleby asked.
“My tribe, they not well. My tribe is ill.” The Ratatosk looked at Serena pleadingly with its big tearful eyes.
“Well certainly,” Serena replied with a reassuring smile. She threw her companions a look that said 'I can't just leave, I need to help'.
Littleby sighed and followed behind, but Cade thought the matter over. No reward had been promised by the creature but perhaps it might be able to provide some information. The tribe might even owe him a favour, but Cade admonished himself that he was beginning to sound awfully close to being a Ring-Giver.
The Ratatosk led the travellers to the home of its nearby tribe who lived in several hollowed out holes in the great tree. The chieftain sat with a holly crown on his head and beside him stood the tribe's wise-woman who wore a wooden mask with a bladed head-dress made of sharp leaves.
Serena and the others could immediately tell that something was wrong in the way that the creatures stared at them and bared their teeth. A few of the Ratatosks hissed and formed in to defensive groups.
Down one of the branches Littleby spied something wrong with the tree. The wood looked as though it had ripples going through it that were frozen in place. As he walked over the warped wood of the branch closer to the centre he saw the wood beneath his feet was blackened and dead. This was not caused by fire but rather had all the hallmarks of being caused by Negative Energy.
But the amount of energy required to produce such an effect on the World Ash staggered Littleby's mind. As he stood in the inner ring he could still feel the echo of the power that was manifest at the site. He began to unpack some of his sacks and satchels in preparation of casting a spell.
Serena called Zakar to her side and he did so with utter reluctance. Every step for him felt as though he was walking through an ocean of evil and his entire body shook. The rattling of his canine teeth was such that Serena led him to the one of the outer rings and that was when she noticed the Ratatosk tribe again.
The chieftain and the rest of the tribe were advancing in a slow hunting crouch with their teeth bared and their eyes glazed over. One of the creature howled furiously and flung itself at the heart seer. The hound archon batted it aside with his fist, grabbed Serena and attempted to run back to the others. Littleby spoke several arcane words and the crazed Ratatosks were magically repelled further along the branch.
“What are we going to do about them?” Cade asked. The sight of the tree natives driven in to a murderous frenzy was somewhat disconcerting and the halfling was hoping to leave quickly.
“We need to do something soon as they are beginning to overcome the spell.”
“I could mind-blast them,” Serena suggested. “Then we could tie them up and lead them to Crux. Perhaps we can get help there.”
“Just do it fast,” Littleby whispered fiercely as the strain on repelling the creatures was beginning to show.
The heart seer of Tomeri focused her thoughts in to a ball of energy and sent it hurtling along the branch. The torc that she'd bought at A'kin's shop thrummed with energy and amplified the mental blasts ten-fold. The Ratatosk minds were overcome by the psionic blasts and fell unconscious one by one.
As Serena, Sir Osbourne and Zakar were tying up the creatures, Littleby finished his preparations and began to cast his spell. The dwarven lore master sat in the inner ring of the warped wood where a strange impression was formed on the dead wood and cast Legend Lore.
Time passed and Littleby sat with his eyes closed focusing all of his energies in to the spell. His face sagged as the answers to his questions came back and when he opened his eyes his face was ashen.
“What is it?” Cade asked eagerly. “What did you find out?”
“A being known as Tenebrous stepped on to the Yggdrasil at this location from the Astral.”
“And.... why did this Tenebrous have such an effect on the Tree?” Cade asked.
“Because Tenebrous is something that has come back from the dead.”
“That still does not answer my question,” Cade's smile was a little strained as he knew that there was bad news coming. “What's so special about Tenebrous?”
“Tenebrous is..... Orcus returned to unlife.” Littleby said quietly. “He has come back as an undead god. He is a shadow of his former self and has chosen the name Tenebrous. The first word that he spoke when he arose again was 'Vengeance'.”
The silence that followed Littleby's revelation lasted an eternity. Finally Serena let out the breath that she'd been unconsciously holding. “Sweet Tomeri,” she exclaimed.
Mathew_Freeman
Adventurer
So it was at this point that we found out that instead of trying to stop the return of Orcus, we were actually going to end up dealing with the problem instead. Whoopee. Huzzah. Can't you sense my joy?
Next! A trip to a baaaaaaaaaaaad place!
Next! A trip to a baaaaaaaaaaaad place!
simmo
First Post
GM's note
Hello again, it's been awhile since the last update and quite a bit has happened. My apologies for not updating the story hour on a regular basis, but work, gaming and preparing for a friend's wedding have taken up all of my time.
The first bit of news that I have is: the campaign has ended. The players have completed (a slightly abbreviated version of) The Great Modron March and Dead Gods and it has been a thrilling game to run with an amazing group.
The second bit of news is that I have come up with a means to bribe my players in to writing up what has happened. This means that the gap between the death of Maanzecorian and the end of the campaign will be filled in. I may include some 'We Interrupt This Adventure' updates to fill in some additional information and highlight a few of the dramatic moments from the perspective of the GM.
Finally, this campaign has finished but it has opened up a whole new campaign to take place afterwards. We will not be starting it right away as I am taking a break from GMing for awhile, but if/when we do continue it - then I will start another Story Hour.
Happy Gaming and I'll see you at GenCon Indy 2004 if you're there.
Simmo
Hello again, it's been awhile since the last update and quite a bit has happened. My apologies for not updating the story hour on a regular basis, but work, gaming and preparing for a friend's wedding have taken up all of my time.
The first bit of news that I have is: the campaign has ended. The players have completed (a slightly abbreviated version of) The Great Modron March and Dead Gods and it has been a thrilling game to run with an amazing group.
The second bit of news is that I have come up with a means to bribe my players in to writing up what has happened. This means that the gap between the death of Maanzecorian and the end of the campaign will be filled in. I may include some 'We Interrupt This Adventure' updates to fill in some additional information and highlight a few of the dramatic moments from the perspective of the GM.
Finally, this campaign has finished but it has opened up a whole new campaign to take place afterwards. We will not be starting it right away as I am taking a break from GMing for awhile, but if/when we do continue it - then I will start another Story Hour.
Happy Gaming and I'll see you at GenCon Indy 2004 if you're there.
Simmo
Mathew_Freeman
Adventurer
This is a horribly condensed version of the major events that led up to the end of the campaign, mostly from Cade's viewpoint. I've tried to mimic the excellent characters that simmo came up with, but they're a pale comparison to the real thing. It might appear in several parts.
Revelations
Cade and Caleb were sat in a bar, near to the Harmonium Headquarters. Littleby had headed inside with Dunster, intent on getting him healed up, and so while they waited for him to return they started doing some of what they did best - drinking and chatting. Accompanying them were Sir Osbourne de Maddox (sat very quietly in the next booth reading a religious text and drinking water), the three mephits (trying to steal everyone else's drinks/money/items/lives/souls) who were flapping about making a lot of noise and screeching at each other, and Bugger the Modron, who was busily examining his drink with minute detail.
Cade had spotted a sign on the way in reading "All weapons must be declared before entry - The Management" and had swiftly changed it to "All weapons must be hidden before entry - The Harmonium" and was quietly observing the bartender scratch his head and try to work out when it had happened. A couple of regulars were also arguing for the return of their weapons so that they could hide them.
Cade giggled.
When the Expansionist Faction had come to take Dunster away (Cade's mental eyes widened at the sheer size of the fleet they had brought with them) they'd left several powerful magic items. Caleb and Cade had been discussing which ones should go to which people, when it occoured to them to see what would happen if Bugger the Modron recieved an Ioun Stone that would make him more intelligent.
At this point Littleby returned, clutching a flagon of Dwarven Ale and muttering under his breath about the lack of a sense of humour prevalent in Harmonium Guards these days. He sat down next to Bugger and joined in on the conversation.
Bugger had gone quiet after setting the Ioun Stone whizzing around his head. Various little clicks and whirrs came from him. Suddenly he looked up again and said:
"New processes completed. Acessing higher functions. New information revealed."
This stopped the inane conversation of everyone bar the mephits, who continued to discuss the relative eating habits of the various Elemental Lords. Littleby quickly asked Bugger what new information he had learned.
"Revealing information to non-Modron life form brings cessation of existence via fail safe mechanism. Bugger regrets this."
With some magical probing and a hefty break enchantment, and with some trepidation, the group tried to block the fail safe. Whatever this was, it was important. Modrons do not go about revealing information without good reason. Cade held his breath as Littleby asked the question again:
"Fail safe mechanism...compromised." A little bit of grey-green fluid oozed from Bugger's mouth. "Bugger postulates reason for Modron March pausing. Modron March only pauses when Primus' attention is totally focused elsewhere. Modron March pauses at exact instant of death of major life forms, including Baron Bwimb. Extrapolation - Tenebrous is killing them. Further extrapolation - Tenebrous has killed Primus and is controlling the Modrons."
Cade gasped. The concept that the leader of the Modrons had been replaced was horrifying. That he had been replaced with Tenebrous was worse. His mind raced to understand this...but Littleby had got there first.
"If Tenebrous controls the Modrons, why are they marching early?" the Dwarven Loremaster spoke quietly to Bugger.
"Modron March equals search for information leading to Wand of Orcus. Tenebrous requires Wand to return to full power. Modrons are unwittingly helping him."
One of the mephits fainted at the news.
"Bugger has compromised himself. Bugger will be hunted by other Modrons for revealing information. Bugger does not wish to end independant existence. Bugger will go to safe place."
The Modron cast some sort of spell and began to sink into the floor, pausing for a second.
"Wand of Orcus must not return to Tenebrous. Wand must be destroyed. Tenebrous must be destroyed." And with that, he was gone.
Just at the moment, a Malkir walked through the door.
Divergence And The Words of Power
This Malkir had many arcane devices strapped all over him, and seemed somewhat agitated.
"Ah, you're here. Good. You were supposed to be." He spoke rapidly, but in a slightly distracted manner. "Now, at this point you've discovered...what you need to know. I tell you about the Words of Power, and we head off. Good."
He glanced up. Caleb was still clearly trying to work out if this was actually Malkir or just someone that looked like him, Littlby was sat bolt upright in rapt attention...and Cade just grinned his normal smile.
"Tenebrous has the Last Word. When spoken it...undoes...it's target. Totally. Beyond any form of return, bar one, the Word of Rebirth. It does, however, damage him every time he uses it, but if he gets to the Wand he'll have enough power to use it much more often. Which is, of course, bad for, well, the multiverse in general." He turned to Littlby "I can take you there." Littlby shut his mouth, caugh just before asking a question.
Malkir spoke again. "You must come with me now. The Lady's forces don't like chronomancers - I'm a chronomancer, did I mention that yet? I forget - so I must leave. Meet me here." And he threw down a map before vanishing in a cloud of magical motes of light. Three dabu's burst through the door a second later and began questioning everyone in their speech bubble language. Cade got rid of them as quickly as he could.
The group left a note for Serena to meet them at the location that Malkir had left, and headed to the portal.
Cade wondered how Malkir was feeling now he'd obviously diverged again. Cade had heard it was supposed to be dangerous. Hopefully Malkir was ok, Cade felt a strange sort of kinship towards him.
Revelations
Cade and Caleb were sat in a bar, near to the Harmonium Headquarters. Littleby had headed inside with Dunster, intent on getting him healed up, and so while they waited for him to return they started doing some of what they did best - drinking and chatting. Accompanying them were Sir Osbourne de Maddox (sat very quietly in the next booth reading a religious text and drinking water), the three mephits (trying to steal everyone else's drinks/money/items/lives/souls) who were flapping about making a lot of noise and screeching at each other, and Bugger the Modron, who was busily examining his drink with minute detail.
Cade had spotted a sign on the way in reading "All weapons must be declared before entry - The Management" and had swiftly changed it to "All weapons must be hidden before entry - The Harmonium" and was quietly observing the bartender scratch his head and try to work out when it had happened. A couple of regulars were also arguing for the return of their weapons so that they could hide them.
Cade giggled.
When the Expansionist Faction had come to take Dunster away (Cade's mental eyes widened at the sheer size of the fleet they had brought with them) they'd left several powerful magic items. Caleb and Cade had been discussing which ones should go to which people, when it occoured to them to see what would happen if Bugger the Modron recieved an Ioun Stone that would make him more intelligent.
At this point Littleby returned, clutching a flagon of Dwarven Ale and muttering under his breath about the lack of a sense of humour prevalent in Harmonium Guards these days. He sat down next to Bugger and joined in on the conversation.
Bugger had gone quiet after setting the Ioun Stone whizzing around his head. Various little clicks and whirrs came from him. Suddenly he looked up again and said:
"New processes completed. Acessing higher functions. New information revealed."
This stopped the inane conversation of everyone bar the mephits, who continued to discuss the relative eating habits of the various Elemental Lords. Littleby quickly asked Bugger what new information he had learned.
"Revealing information to non-Modron life form brings cessation of existence via fail safe mechanism. Bugger regrets this."
With some magical probing and a hefty break enchantment, and with some trepidation, the group tried to block the fail safe. Whatever this was, it was important. Modrons do not go about revealing information without good reason. Cade held his breath as Littleby asked the question again:
"Fail safe mechanism...compromised." A little bit of grey-green fluid oozed from Bugger's mouth. "Bugger postulates reason for Modron March pausing. Modron March only pauses when Primus' attention is totally focused elsewhere. Modron March pauses at exact instant of death of major life forms, including Baron Bwimb. Extrapolation - Tenebrous is killing them. Further extrapolation - Tenebrous has killed Primus and is controlling the Modrons."
Cade gasped. The concept that the leader of the Modrons had been replaced was horrifying. That he had been replaced with Tenebrous was worse. His mind raced to understand this...but Littleby had got there first.
"If Tenebrous controls the Modrons, why are they marching early?" the Dwarven Loremaster spoke quietly to Bugger.
"Modron March equals search for information leading to Wand of Orcus. Tenebrous requires Wand to return to full power. Modrons are unwittingly helping him."
One of the mephits fainted at the news.
"Bugger has compromised himself. Bugger will be hunted by other Modrons for revealing information. Bugger does not wish to end independant existence. Bugger will go to safe place."
The Modron cast some sort of spell and began to sink into the floor, pausing for a second.
"Wand of Orcus must not return to Tenebrous. Wand must be destroyed. Tenebrous must be destroyed." And with that, he was gone.
Just at the moment, a Malkir walked through the door.
Divergence And The Words of Power
This Malkir had many arcane devices strapped all over him, and seemed somewhat agitated.
"Ah, you're here. Good. You were supposed to be." He spoke rapidly, but in a slightly distracted manner. "Now, at this point you've discovered...what you need to know. I tell you about the Words of Power, and we head off. Good."
He glanced up. Caleb was still clearly trying to work out if this was actually Malkir or just someone that looked like him, Littlby was sat bolt upright in rapt attention...and Cade just grinned his normal smile.
"Tenebrous has the Last Word. When spoken it...undoes...it's target. Totally. Beyond any form of return, bar one, the Word of Rebirth. It does, however, damage him every time he uses it, but if he gets to the Wand he'll have enough power to use it much more often. Which is, of course, bad for, well, the multiverse in general." He turned to Littlby "I can take you there." Littlby shut his mouth, caugh just before asking a question.
Malkir spoke again. "You must come with me now. The Lady's forces don't like chronomancers - I'm a chronomancer, did I mention that yet? I forget - so I must leave. Meet me here." And he threw down a map before vanishing in a cloud of magical motes of light. Three dabu's burst through the door a second later and began questioning everyone in their speech bubble language. Cade got rid of them as quickly as he could.
The group left a note for Serena to meet them at the location that Malkir had left, and headed to the portal.
Cade wondered how Malkir was feeling now he'd obviously diverged again. Cade had heard it was supposed to be dangerous. Hopefully Malkir was ok, Cade felt a strange sort of kinship towards him.
Mathew_Freeman
Adventurer
Another Pub, A Fight and A Terrible Tragedy
Arriving in the gatetown to Elysium, the group were swiftly reunited with both the ChronoMalkir and Serena, who arrived looking somewhat worried, as usual.
ChronoMalkir explained many more details - that Nyon should be meeting them later, that they had to go to a Tower and retrieve the Word of Rebirth, but do it before Tenebrous took the Last Word (time travel had clearly distorted his perceptions a little). Without further ado (although with a small regret that all the excellent partying going on around them would continue without them) Cade followed the rest of them outside.
Moving swiftly on.
A short fight with some servants of Wee Jas was an entertaining diversion. Cade had never seen an Ineveitable before, but didn't get much chance to see this one as it was swiftly destroyed. Avoiding the reinforcements, the group got on a boat that appeared to sail more through sand than water, heading towards the Tower that ChronoMalkir had spoken of.
The sand swept around them continuously, getting inside clothing, hair, in Cade's eyes. Eventually he sought refuge under the wings of Sir Osbourne, who stood steadfast against it. The Tower hove into view.
Waiting in front of it was Nyon.
Serena went to step forwards and speak to him...and then collapsed, screaming. Nyon ran forwards to comfort her, and as she stared up at him, wild eyed, he spoke to her in a tone that spoke of godlike sadness.
"Yes. That feeling was the feeling of the death of Tomeri. Tenebrous has slain her."
Serena lowered her face and wept, in the Shadow of the Tower of the Words of Power, in the arms of the God of Destiny who she'd hated, in front of her friends, in front of Malkir, Serena Allman wept for the death of her Goddess.
A short while later, a flash of light appeared on a distant hill, rapidly coming closer. It was revealed to be a Planetar, a former servant of Tomeri. "Will you accept my service, lady? The souls that Tomeri looked after have a need of a home. Will you let them in? Will you accept the power that is offered to you, in love and in wisdom?"
Serena got slowly to her feet. She met the gaze of the Planetar steadily, though tears continued to run down her face. "Yes," she said. "I will take the power."
The Planetar spoke a word, and the Garden Opened all around the group. Cade grinned even wider as it erupted around them, exactly as Serena had described. The distant mountains, the lake, the cottage...but the thing she had never mentioned were the thousands of souls filling the space.
Serena's face was radiant - she had taken on the mantle of her Goddess, and become a Power herself.
Arriving in the gatetown to Elysium, the group were swiftly reunited with both the ChronoMalkir and Serena, who arrived looking somewhat worried, as usual.
ChronoMalkir explained many more details - that Nyon should be meeting them later, that they had to go to a Tower and retrieve the Word of Rebirth, but do it before Tenebrous took the Last Word (time travel had clearly distorted his perceptions a little). Without further ado (although with a small regret that all the excellent partying going on around them would continue without them) Cade followed the rest of them outside.
Moving swiftly on.
A short fight with some servants of Wee Jas was an entertaining diversion. Cade had never seen an Ineveitable before, but didn't get much chance to see this one as it was swiftly destroyed. Avoiding the reinforcements, the group got on a boat that appeared to sail more through sand than water, heading towards the Tower that ChronoMalkir had spoken of.
The sand swept around them continuously, getting inside clothing, hair, in Cade's eyes. Eventually he sought refuge under the wings of Sir Osbourne, who stood steadfast against it. The Tower hove into view.
Waiting in front of it was Nyon.
Serena went to step forwards and speak to him...and then collapsed, screaming. Nyon ran forwards to comfort her, and as she stared up at him, wild eyed, he spoke to her in a tone that spoke of godlike sadness.
"Yes. That feeling was the feeling of the death of Tomeri. Tenebrous has slain her."
Serena lowered her face and wept, in the Shadow of the Tower of the Words of Power, in the arms of the God of Destiny who she'd hated, in front of her friends, in front of Malkir, Serena Allman wept for the death of her Goddess.
A short while later, a flash of light appeared on a distant hill, rapidly coming closer. It was revealed to be a Planetar, a former servant of Tomeri. "Will you accept my service, lady? The souls that Tomeri looked after have a need of a home. Will you let them in? Will you accept the power that is offered to you, in love and in wisdom?"
Serena got slowly to her feet. She met the gaze of the Planetar steadily, though tears continued to run down her face. "Yes," she said. "I will take the power."
The Planetar spoke a word, and the Garden Opened all around the group. Cade grinned even wider as it erupted around them, exactly as Serena had described. The distant mountains, the lake, the cottage...but the thing she had never mentioned were the thousands of souls filling the space.
Serena's face was radiant - she had taken on the mantle of her Goddess, and become a Power herself.
Mathew_Freeman
Adventurer
Cade and the others sat stunned at one side, observing the changes in their friend. She visibly became more powerful, more there. Even when the soul of her mother approached, Serena turned and welcomed her.
[Player note - Serena became a demigod, using rules from Deities and Demigods. I'm not going to go into all the details myself, that's for randomling to write herself if she wishes. And besides, events catch up with us rather quickly at this point]
Nyon and Malkir between them did a lot more explaining. Tenebrous could be stopped if the Word of Rebirth was gained from this Tower. Malkir could take them all back in time to gain it before Tenebrous arrived, thus preventing him from knowing they had it. The group agreed. Nyon also told them he had foreseen all that had occoured, and all his manipulation had been to drive them towards this moment so that they could do something about.
Casting a powerful magical spell, Malkir wrapped them all in a field of Time and travelled with them backwards, to an earlier age. When the field collapsed, the Tower looked no different, but the ruins around it were full buildings again.
Gaining access by flying in through the roof, the group solved riddles and bypassed a gigantic snake to gain access to the final room. The Guardians of the Words gave Serena (the only one of them who could safely speak a Word of Power), after some arguing, the Word of Rebirth and the group left just as Tenebrous broke through the door behind them. Cade had just enough time to make a fractional eye contact before the timefield took them.
Arriving back in the present, one of the guardians was outside the Tower. He explained that Tenebrous had killed the other one, and urged the party to make all haste to stop him.
Nyon continued his explanations, telling them the future course of events, and predicting his own death against Tenebrous. He told Serena that if ever she spoke the Word of Rebirth, she spoke it for Tomeri, not for him. Serena nodded, too full of emotion to speak.
Cade and the others were just about to try and make their way to Pandamonium (the alleged home of the Wand of Orcus) when yet another unexpected event occoured...
[Player note - Serena became a demigod, using rules from Deities and Demigods. I'm not going to go into all the details myself, that's for randomling to write herself if she wishes. And besides, events catch up with us rather quickly at this point]
Nyon and Malkir between them did a lot more explaining. Tenebrous could be stopped if the Word of Rebirth was gained from this Tower. Malkir could take them all back in time to gain it before Tenebrous arrived, thus preventing him from knowing they had it. The group agreed. Nyon also told them he had foreseen all that had occoured, and all his manipulation had been to drive them towards this moment so that they could do something about.
Casting a powerful magical spell, Malkir wrapped them all in a field of Time and travelled with them backwards, to an earlier age. When the field collapsed, the Tower looked no different, but the ruins around it were full buildings again.
Gaining access by flying in through the roof, the group solved riddles and bypassed a gigantic snake to gain access to the final room. The Guardians of the Words gave Serena (the only one of them who could safely speak a Word of Power), after some arguing, the Word of Rebirth and the group left just as Tenebrous broke through the door behind them. Cade had just enough time to make a fractional eye contact before the timefield took them.
Arriving back in the present, one of the guardians was outside the Tower. He explained that Tenebrous had killed the other one, and urged the party to make all haste to stop him.
Nyon continued his explanations, telling them the future course of events, and predicting his own death against Tenebrous. He told Serena that if ever she spoke the Word of Rebirth, she spoke it for Tomeri, not for him. Serena nodded, too full of emotion to speak.
Cade and the others were just about to try and make their way to Pandamonium (the alleged home of the Wand of Orcus) when yet another unexpected event occoured...
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