[KAUAI]The Rod of Seven Parts: Of Hexes and Gems

[BRP2]

Lewit asks Arquesta a short question:Before we get into it too deeply, I am curious about something. Do you think the so-called "Queen" has more agents in disguise as people-folk... er that's not my question, of course that is true, my question is, do you think they are plenty of them in this very town working together with Traven, and now that Traven has been killed, they will come looking for us before the day is over?

He grabs a piece of Voadam's food with his bare hand and puts it in his mouth.

 

[SlagMortar]

Brakkus helps himself to a little of everything that has been set before them. He very carefully slices the bites and chews precisely, glad to have something on which he can exert some control. His eyes are wide as he glances up tracking the conversation between Voadam and Arquesta. He grows concerned about Gamad when he hears the rod may be trying to exert control.

"Let us start with what the Rod is, then proceed to the Dukes, the Queen, the Rod's multipart nature, and ending with what type of control the rod will seek to exert, and how it is tainted with Chaos."

"The most pressing matters seem to be the type of control and who else might be seeking the rod, unless the rest of the explanation will not last long. I'd hate to lose the part we've already found while we talk about the greater implications."

 

[Strahd_Von_Zarovich]

Gamad

Dter turns purple with anger and starts to retort, "I'll put my boot up your--" when a loud pop accompanied by a bang and a flash of smoke reverberates in Gamad's room. Through the smoke, Gamad watches the short stocky form of his dwarven cleric comrade slowly morph into a tall human man who sports a suit of chainmail, a backpack stuffed full of what looks to be adventuring gear, a light wooden shield, and a wooden holy symbol. The human bears a battleaxe and looks every bit as confused as Gamad must surely feel.

By the Gods!
The albino short wizard calls and watch the transformation.
Gods riddance of the grumpy one.
He shoots a quick glance at his bed, where the wand is hidden under the mattress.
Any more surprises? It just read my mind
He thinks excitedly, watches the human priest,
A magic …
Gamad points his finger, hold the broom tightly, ready himself to reduce the human to the size of a Halfling and shoots questions
Who are you? Speak fast! Are you Dter in disguise, are you here by my request, are you here to protect the wand?

 

[Voadam]

Lewit asks Arquesta a short question:Before we get into it too deeply, I am curious about something. Do you think the so-called "Queen" has more agents in disguise as people-folk... er that's not my question, of course that is true, my question is, do you think they are plenty of them in this very town working together with Traven, and now that Traven has been killed, they will come looking for us before the day is over?

He grabs a piece of Voadam's food with his bare hand and puts it in his mouth.

Voadam scowls and resists the urge to stab Lewitt's hand with his fork and pin it to the table. He catches Lewitt's attention with his knife and then points to the serving platter. "Please help yourself." He then mutters "Animal human transformation curses that leave a portion of the former personality behind, yes such can happen."

He turns back to Arquesta. "They raise good points. First priority should be learning the risks of holding Forsythe's wand and how to deal with them, then determining the big picture lore and fill in the gaps of understanding. One of the spider wolves, a spellcasting one, took humanoid form and the name Traven to hunt down Forsythe. Also there is an agent of the Queen who summoned others and sent them after Forsythe. So let us talk of how the wand will seek to exert control, what the taint of the Queen's Chaos implies, and what other demonic forces you know of in the city right now? That would be helpful."

 

[CanadienneBacon]

Arquesta places a few of the sauced mushrooms on a plate and places the plate on the floor under the table by her bench. "Here, goblin, you might enjoy these. A taste of your former wildlands. I see you are adept at hiding. The Buttonslows might pale at the look of your hide, but are otherwise welcoming folk who will do you no harm, should you wish to sit at table with us."

"When certain segments are assembled, the Rod has both major and resonant powers. Using the Rod when two or more segments are affixed to one another risks drawing the attention of the Queen, who can sense these powers being used. The more minor abilities of individual segments may be used alone with less risk, though I should caution you that because of the taint, there is not ever a time when using the Rod bears no risk of attention. As you do not currently have but the one segment, you are at little risk of attuning yourselves to the major or resonant powers, but if you're to seek out the other segments, this information will become your shield. One portion of the Rod, when held in hand, can be used to sense where the next piece lies; you've only to imagine the Rod in your mind while holding a segment to use this ability. It's therefore crucial that not even a single segment make its way to the Queen or her minions. The segment that one of you now bears is the Rod's tip, its smallest piece. My people believe the Queen may have been unable to taint this segment and that its power to cure wounds may remain intact at five uses per day. I caution you further than the Rod is newly arrived on this world and thus its powers may be subtly changed from my last expectation, or, for that matter, those of the Queen. I'm not privy to the details of the taint laid upon the Rod." This last statement pains Arquesta to say but she continues on in a hushed voice. "Hold but a single piece and you may find yourself drawn to order. The Rod, while tainted, cannot be anything that what it originally was crafted to be, an item of Law. The effect can be lessened only by giving the segment to another, and even then may linger in the former bearer's mind for some time."

Arquesta pauses a moment to sip from her cup. "How many of these wolf spiders did you say attacked your last location? The Queen is not, to my knowledge, so fast in her tracking. An hour, perhaps twelve, might pass ere the Queen is able to accurately discern a segment's location once it has been used. There are other events, too, that may spark her attention. A change in bearer, adding a segment, breakage, and holding a segment that has been used multiple days garners further risk. Knowing how many fiends attacked you is useful information in knowing whether there may be more in the city."

 

[Voadam]

"Two spider wolves were summoned by someone who crept in when Forsythe had the wand with him. The summoner released the wolves then left. Separately Traven was a spellcasting one with arms thick as an ogre's in his true form. He had been hiding there in humanoid form looking for the wand and did not make his move until Forsythe brought it out. Traven served a different lord. One newly freed from ages-long imprisonment who is bent upon clawing his way back to the heights of fiendish power.."

Voadam considers. "The timing of the Queen's sensing is valuable information, thank you. That means that having transferred possession of the segment to a new holder, the Queen might become aware of the event and send her agent out to again attempt to recover it. Damn. At least it is no longer where the transfer occurred. And from his spellcasting I'd expect him to desire a day to replenish his magics before making another attempt to reclaim it by force. I still want to hear what tale you bear of the Rod, the Queen, and the Dukes. And of you and your people. It is not every street performer who talks of this world as if it were not the only one. I am indeed a worldwalker with an interest in seeing the Rod not fall into the wrong hands. I would hear your tale."

 

[CanadienneBacon]

"I am truly called Arquestan, of the vaati race that humans sometimes refer to as Wind Dukes. We are not well known on this realm; this form I bear is an aspect of my curse, one that I garnered at the hands of a rival over a disagreement regarding the Rod. Qadeej of the Bledrudeam, a wizarding caste of vaati, will seek the segments, but ware him! If the Queen is alert to the presence of the Rod, then no doubt Qadeej is as well. He is aloof, cunning, and crafty and will seek to thwart your discovery. My interest in the Rod, and," Arquesta leans in close to speak bluntly to everyone, "you is therefore both keen and pressing. Through you, perhaps I will be vindicated if the Rod can be found, restored, and returned to the wendeam Council of Nine in the Vale of Aaqa."

Arquesta sits back on her bench seat and feeds bits of quartered egg a section at a time to the ratlings in the brass cage. "The Rod is older than am I. The vaati forged it as a great artifact of Law during a time of war with Chaos to stave off the Queen's invasion. Our people were saved, though in small number, and the Vale kept intact, but the Rod was stolen by Miska the Wolf Spider during the battle of Pesh. When the fiend Miska attempted to teleport away with our treasure, the Rod shattered into seven segments and was lost. That wolf spiders attacked you is strong evidence that Miska survived the wrath of his Queen and is leading her efforts here in Teggest, just as he did at Pesh, though perhaps through lesser minions in this human city. The Queen favors gating her servants; I know nothing of summoning. Such arts are beneath her."

 

[Voadam]

That wolf spiders attacked you is strong evidence that Miska survived the wrath of his Queen and is leading her efforts here in Teggest, just as he did at Pesh, though perhaps through lesser minions in this human city. The Queen favors gating her servants; I know nothing of summoning. Such arts are beneath her."[/COLOR]

"Beneath a Queen but not beneath a servant mortal cultist. Voadam considers I am unfamiliar with the forces of Law or the Vaati. I have dealt with Chaos before though, and know a little lore of the members of the Courts of Chaos and various Demon Lords. But Chaos is multitudinous and I have not heard of Miska. Who is this Queen? The DemonQueen of Spiders? The Swordmistress? Another?

 

[CanadienneBacon]

"She is Queen of all Chaos, ruler of the Steaming Fen on the plane of Limbo. Her body is said to be a mass of mauve tentacles, two of which are long enough to conduct melee with opponents up to 60 feet away. And though she possesses great resistance to magic, she herself is Mistress of the Arcane and a powerful mage. She rules the Fen through intimidation, favors granted and capriciously withdrawn, and shrewd bargaining. Not an entity to be trifled with." Arquesta halves a stewed plum and gingerly places one of the halves in her mouth. "Though you needn't worry; the Queen is unlikely to leave her home plane. She's far more likely to squeeze things to her liking via foreign agents abroad. Like those wolf spiders you encountered today. They're Miska's servants."

 

[SlagMortar]

Brakkus smiles at Arquesta's delicate manner. Surely her story is true. A gentlelady would not deceive us. "How common is this knowledge about the rod? Will there be others besides you who would recognize these signs and seek the rod as well? Or is it known to only a few, and we should expect all opposition comes from the, ehrm, Demon Lords?"