Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mathew_Freeman" data-source="post: 1323609" data-attributes="member: 1846">Out of game note: for some reason, while I was out of the game, it was decided that Xiang would return to Gaxmoor. I've still not decided why this should be, and so I'm going to write this as though Xiang was teleported from the Pool of Hapy straight to the rest of the group at the Gorge of Osiris. Hopefully that'll still make sense. After an amount of time at the Pool of Hapy, Xiang recieved a sending from Dovistar back in Gaxmoor. The others in the group had decided to return to the Gorge of Osiris, despite earlier misgivings, and wanted him along. Xiang sighed. It seemed his brief and ill-concieved attempt to take some time away from the rest of them was doomed to failure. Once again feeling the remarkable power of Dovistars Teleport Summoning spell, Xiang travelled the immense distance to Gaxmoor in an instant, arriving in the now almost familiar teleport chamber in the tower of the White Way. Xiang took a split second to ponder whether his skill at arms was enough to defeat the Shield Golem that stood watch, as he always did, and as ever resolved never to try. The White Way had gained many things through an association with the party, and it would be foolish in the extreme to ever get on the wrong side of them. Still, it does no harm to question one's own ability. A quick conversation ensued with Dovistar, and he was sent onwards to the Gorge of Osiris. A long discussion of events that he had missed ensued, with Aos excitedly pointing towards the various divine communications he had had, and their accuracy, Cho telling the story in her clean, precise manner, and Leo's somewhat dry account of events. The only section that really caught Xiang's attention was the armour they had recovered from the Tomb of Guthron. "It did what? And you sold it to Ulfius?" Xiang was slightly shocked. To give such a powerful item to another when they knew it would enhance his power to an incredible amount...then he forced himself to think about things from the point of view of the others. They weren't sure that they'd see him again. The group that had recovered the armour made around 45,000gp each in selling it. At this point Xiang noticed that Tarquin seemed to be wearing Ulfius' old armour, meaning that Ulfius himself was now wearing the Armour. Combined with the Hammer that he weilded, Xiang reckoned that Ulfius was probably the most dangerous fighter in the area, possibly the world. He took a deep breath and put it behind him. "So what now?" asked Xiang. Leo filled in exactly what they were planning. It seemed that the Priests in the Temple were asking them to voyage in a magical boat to clear out an infestation of demon-crocodiles in the area underneath the Temple. Apparently these crocodiles were far larger than the one they had fought before. Cho spoke in the language that they shared that the Priests were not to be trusted, but that the group had come to no firm conclusion about what to do should this be proved. Xiang shrugged. His job was to attack the enemies of the group, but given that so many in the group had quicker reflexes than him when it came to starting fights he normally just went with the flow. Once Aos started dancing around with his little rapier, his undoubted skill and speed working, Xiang's options quickly cleared up for him. They re-entered the Temple. Xiang was also filled in on what the party had gone through to gain entry, and was extremely happy to learn that he had missed explaining what good and what evil he had done in his life. The question stayed with him was several days afterwards. What would he had answered? During his time serving under the command of Warmaster Kung, he had fought in many battles. But did that make his actions evil? He had, at that time, merely been a good soldier - following orders. At what point did he realise what he was doing, and begin thinking of the theft of the Spear and subsequent escape? And the deeds he had done with this group? Were they any better? All he had done was continued to kill things. In the end, Xiang did what he almost always did. He filed the thought away at the back of his mind and added it to the long, long list of things that he had to think about one day. The main Temple Hall was certainly impressive. Shrines lined it's edges, each to a different Aryptian God or Goddess. Aos and Titania moved to one immediately, leaving a small donation. Xiang snorted quietly to himself - such a donation served no purpose. At Mount Fire, the Warmaster was considered almost a God himself, and to insult him by leaving a few paltry coins was to invite disaster. Far better to avoid the sight of the Gods entirely, unless you were prepared to draw their eye entirely upon you. Leo was in conversation with the High Priest as to the exact nature of what was about to happen, and with a nod of assent from Priest began casting spells, including reading one from a scroll. As he completed the scroll, he turned and looked around the room again as if searching for something. The he looked directly at Aos and Cho and said "Come then, evil awaits." There was an immediate sense of tension in the room. Elros in particular became very twitchy, pausing for several seconds before joining the rest of the group on the boat. There was a great sense of uncertainty around everyone, but after a few seconds the High Priest spoke an arcane word and the mysterious reed boat sank into the floor. For several seconds the boat moved through solid stone before settling down neatly onto an underground river. The High Priest stood at the rear of it, and Aos moved up next to him. Sensing that this would be a good idea, Xiang joined him. The boat increased in speed, moving at a pace that could only be possible with magical assistance. With a start, Xiang realised that Aos had stabbed the High Priest, who had clutched at his side and then vanished with his other hand upon an amulet. A short but intense argument followed, with Aos apologising for not grappling the Priest. Xiang kept his eyes on the water, now that the treachery was clear. The boat moved into a larger cave, the walls opening out around them. Ahead was a small island, with some sort of structure upon it surrounded by pillars. However, what really caught Xiang's attention was the large creature moving rapidly towards the boat. Shouts from other people indicated that there was more than one of these creatures. They looked similar to the demon-crocodile in the villlage, but larger...and with hippo heads? Xiang took a moment to be surprised, then set the Spear in readiness. There was a brief moment of confusion as the demon reared up out of the water and placed it's front legs on the boat, snapping at Xiang with it's massive mouth and catching hold of him! Xiang scored a desperate scratch with the Spear, but struggled to escape the creature's grip. A low boom! behind him told him that Saphie was fireballing another one. Help was at hand as Tarquin moved across the boat and cast dismissal, sending the creature back to it's home plane! Xiang was relieved, such a creature was incredibly dangerous if it chose to try and drag him underwater. Others in the boat were not fairing so well. Spinning around to assess the situation, Xiang was just in time to see Cho and Elros disappear off the boat in the jaws of two of the monsters, and that Aos had apparently escaped one by the skin of his teeth. Xiang fired a shot of White Foul Flame at the only visible creature, scorching it's side, and then moved forwards to strike at it with the Spear. Between himself and Aos, the creature was killed, but Cho and Elros had disappeared from sight. Leo cast a chain lightning into the water, but it seemed as though the two powerful warriors had been lost. The boat floated quietly on towards the island. After quick discussion, the group attempted to move on. As they ascended the steps, various stange colours swirled around them. Xiang looked around at the various pillars, seeing scenes of evil worship taking place upon them. The central building was surrounded by four statues. Stopping the group, Leo sent his ever-present prying-eyes spell forwards. As an eye moved next to each statue, it spoke, speaking of the laying down of weapons or spell equipment that the weilders might worship inside and promising greater treasures inside.  The group, as one, dismissed this idea. Moving forwards, the statues animated one at a time. And one at a time Xiang and Aos slew them. The fight was short and brutal. To attempt an entry to the temple, Saphie summoned a Hound Archon, and bid it open the gates. As it did so, Xiang invoked the Shield of Green Fire to protect him from any magical effects that might affect his mind. The statue of Set inside came as no great surprise to anyone. And when it spoke, telling all present to bow down and worship him, Xiang felt the enchantment roll off his Shield, and stepped forwards. One blow from the Spear and the statue crumbled, broken. Only Tarquin had fallen for it's enchantment, and he quickly regained his composure. Exiting the temple, it was clear that destroying the statue had had a powerful effect. The columns now showed pictures of Osiris worship, and a pathway of light led across to a ledge on the far side of the water. Saphie attempted to determine if the guardian creatures had been dismissed as well, allowing recovery of the dead party members, but it became clear that they were still there. She hurridley retreated. Moving across the pathway, the group found a bas relief of a doorway surrounded by other images. Four of the images were those of the statues outside the temple, and the group quickly determined that the heads could be moved. Moving the heads in the order the statues had attacked them in, and then opening the door, a long upwards leading corridor was revealed. The party advanced cautiously, but after a fair distance they felt a tug, and were swept forwards. A voice boomed in their heads as Set claimed them for his own...and then a second voice, that of Aos' Goddess spoke and rescued them! As vision cleared, everyone found themselves in the Gaxmoor teleportation chamber. Once Dovistar had been brought up to speed, he agreed to teach Leo a powerful spell - limited wish. With this spell, it was hoped that the bodies of Cho and Elros could be recovered. The following day, Leo and Dovistar worked their magics togther, returning the bodies to the Tower of the White Way. Both were in a bad way, but Elros had lost his head and was thus unable to be resurrected. Cho's body was taken to the Temple of Urnus Gregaria, and with the help of the High Priest and Tarquin was returned to life. The mission had been a failure, but word from Arypt arrived. The group had achieved some sort of success, since they now held several of the items that the undead lord needed to gain full power. Without them, he could only threaten a small area...it seemed by luck more than judgement the party had succeeded.</blockquote>

Verification