The Devil is in the Details
Hullashfjord, October 29, LE 653
As the laughter fades, Magnimiliar discovers a large chest underneath the table, near where the barbazu had been sitting. Inside is a wealth of treasure: mixed coin totaling at least 12,000 gp; numerous potions; a suit of full plate; and a dozen or more gems, some looking quite valuable. Magnimiliar drops it all into his
Bag of Holding; a proper inventory can wait until later.
The group (with horses) waits nervously for night to pass. Jonetello, Zook, and Elbryn are standing guard; the others are resting as best they can, Magnimiliar curls up in a corner, then decides he needs more protection. He borrows Kalenthas' shield to use as an extra blanket.
Unfortunately, the barbazu has other ideas. A slow, deliberate scraping begins, as if someone were dragging something against the back wall of the great hall. A couple sleepers wake up, alarmed, but when nothing further happens they go back to sleep. A few minutes later, the scraping resumes - this time along the north wall. Worried that the spellcasters won't get enough sleep, most of them put wax in their ears to (hopefully) ensure that they won't wake up. The scraping is heard against the south wall - and then, for a while, there is silence. Elbryn thinks to look outside, but the door has been barred and no one really wants to unbar it quite yet. As all of the windows had been firmly boarded up prior to their arrival, the group can do little but wait, and hope. There comes a sound as if someone were on the roof, walking slowly to and fro. This, too, subsides after a minute or two.
After a couple peaceful hours, there is a sudden gasp from the back of the hall. The young woman sags to the floor. The group rushes to her side. She says her name is Kira Merafar. She tells, briefly, how the devil appeared and slew the entire village, sparing no one but herself. Why was she spared? She does not know, save that she was forced to act as the devil's servant. After a few minutes, she stands, walks to one of the horses, and begins rummaging through a saddlebag. Ignoring the party's questions, she finds a blanket and covers the charred body of the old man, her former chieftain. She turns to the party and asks to be given a weapon so that she might help defend her village. Elbryn hands her a silver dagger, but then Jontello gives her a long sword. She is clearly not trained in its use, but just as clearly has every intention of trying her best. The group returns to their watch.
At midnight, or thereabouts, there comes a deep tolling, as of a giant bell, from above the great hall. The group recalls no bell tower, and Kira assures them that no such bell exists within the village. The bell tolls thirteen times and then stops. A horrendous screaming commences, a woman's voice, coming from just outside the doors. Kira listens, shuddering, then offers that although at least one woman did escape, that does not sound like her voice. The screaming builds and then fades off into a pitiful moan, and then silence. It begins once more, the same voice, then dies off for good. Several people want to see what is outside, but they are talked out of it.
A half-hour, maybe more, passes. Suddenly, several people notice that the air is growing warm. On the north wall, wisps of smoke are rising, quickly spreading to the other walls and roof. The great hall is on fire! Quickly, as smoke begins to collect under the high roof, those on watch awaken the sleepers, then unbar the doors and look outside.
"If you drop your weapons and surrender to me, you may go free," speaks a sinister voice out of the darkness. Elbryn considers this an excellent
Suggestion, lets go of his sword, and vanishes into the darkness. A humanoid figure can be seen by the light of the fire, a glaive clutched in its hands. The group attacks: as Jonetello runs forward, a few spells from the party strike the barbazu - but none penetrate its innate resistance to magic. Jonetello courageously takes the creature on single-handed, receiving several wounds which bleed freely. His fighting quickly turns defensive, and the barbazu has a difficult time penetrating his nimble swordplay.
Then a second barbazu appears at the entrance to the hall, next to Mystarion, Zook, Thorald, and Leilen. "Remember me?" it asks in a mocking tone, as it strikes at Zook. With two front-line fighters otherwise occupied, the remainder of the party has a hard time keeping this devil at bay. It lands a pair of deadly wounds on Zook, who is too busy fighting to attempt to heal them. It then turns on Thorald; but is Leilen whose skill turns the tide, placing arrow after arrow into the flank of the beast with magically-enhanced quickness. At last, the barbazu has had enough, and it charges Leilen, dealing him a serious wound and forcing him to retreat (along with Mystarion, who with few spells and no magic weapon, has little chance of affecting the creature). Kira retreats as well, sword ready in case the devil should decide it is her turn to perish.
Outside, Elbryn stops running. He has surrendered to the barbazu, he has gone free - can he now not return? After considering the matter for a moment, he decides his surrender has lasted long enough - and rushes back toward the fight.
"Kalenthas! I need help!" Jonetello cries, as the devil's glaive scores another hit, and the blood flows freely down Jonetello's side. Kalenthas rushes outside, moving as fast as he can toward the combat. "What happened to my shield?" he mutters as he closes on Jonetello. The devil, seeing the priest who decimated his undead army, snarls and seems to grow stronger in his fury. He strikes at Kalenthas, ignoring Jonetello, and lands two solid hits on the already weakened halfling. Blood flowing from the wounds, Kalenthas collapses even as Elbryn returns, rushing up to the devil opposite Jonetello and providing a greatly-needed flanking opportunity.
Inside, Magnimiliar loads his crossbow, knowing that its magic will not help against the enchantments that protect the barbazu's fiendish hide. He fires, and lands a telling blow straight into the devil's black heart. The barbazu falters for a moment, then retaliates, bringing his glaive down and all but killing Magnimiliar with one furious blow. Beside him, Zook falls to the ground, overcome by his wounds. Thorald's next strike opens a wound of black fire on the barbazu, and it vanishes in a cloud of smoke, leaving only its glaive behind. Mystarion is able to stabilize Magnimiliar, but finds that Zook has already died: seemingly, the headband he wore allowed him to fight even while at death's door. After making sure Magnimiliar is alive, Leilen runs for the door to assist with the battle outside.
"You have fought well," the barbazu intones, sneering at Jonetello. "I thank you for the 389 souls you have given me. Perhaps one or two more shall join them before long." Soon after he speaks those words, a pair of arrows from Leilen finish him off. He slumps to the ground, lifeless, his body left behind along with his weapon. The battle is over; but still the vicious wounds of the barbazu are taking their toll. Leilen runs to Kalenthas' side, but even as he binds one wound, Kalenthas issues a final sigh, and passes on. Elbryn acts swiftly to ensure that Jonetello does not suffer the same fate. That done, the group quickly moves their horses and belongings out of the burning building, then destroys the glaive that remains outside. By the time they remember the second glaive within, the fire has grown too intense to retrieve it. Thorald attempts to enter, but the smoke and flames are too much. The group decides to depart the village, and return later if need be to destroy the glaive and re-consecrate the village.
As the group descends from the plateau, Kira demands that they halt and return to her the spoils of the village. "I am chieftain now, and the treasure of the village belongs to me." The party is angered by this attitude: they save her life, two of their companions are dead, and all she cares about is money? They insist on receiving part of the spoils as reward for their deeds, but Kira is insistent.
"You are not from Velland," she states. "This is how such things are done in Velland." Finally, the group assents, and sullenly counts out her money, gems, and whatnot, placing it all in sacks. There is some sentiment to let her carry it all, but in the end they place it on their own steeds and continue south.
Hullashfjord, October 30, LE 653
The group reaches the village of Rocsun, just south of Kavael. Kira leads them to the great hall, where she demands entry to speak with the lord within. The guards laugh, until she tells the tale of Kavael, and the fate of its people. "Only by the might of these people was the devil slain, and they will tell the truth of what I say," she finishes. The party nods, and the guards decide to admit her. The party starts to leave, but Kira requests their presence inside.
Kira speaks boldly to the Harulf Hulash, the chieftain of the village, telling her story in greater detail, then naming herself chieftain of the Merefar clan. Before Harulf can argue, she continues: "And as chieftain, I would reward those who fought, and died, to slay the devil." She counts out 6,000 gold pieces and presents them to the party, along with the full plate (which is magical, she says), three gems, and the potions. She then produces a treasure which she had concealed from the barbazu, the village's greatest possession: a
Headband of Intellect, and gives it to the party as well. "As for the rest of my clan's treasure: I have no more clan, so I must find a new one. This gold and these gems will be my dowry, for the man worthy of my hand." Harulf laughs, and promises her a brave and worthy husband. The party warns the lord of the glaive left in the burning great hall and takes their leave. They return to Magehaven as swiftly as the magic boat will carry them. Once there, after exchanging swift greetings with the guard, they ask for divination to discern if Zook and Kalenthas wish to return to the living. They are taken to the Tower of High Divination, where Maia Azure awaits. Magnimiliar, reunited with his new love, smiles and sighs as he takes his seat in the divining chamber, trying his best to think pure thoughts.
Maia casts
Contact Other Plane, seeking the mind of Garl Glittergold. Her question is simple: Does Zook Mirnig desire to return to life?
* * *
Zook, meanwhile, is in Garl's prankster school, serving as volunteer/victim for lesson after lesson. A shining, golden gnome approaches, and everyone falls silent. \
"Saywhatifyouwanttostayhere," the figure mutters.
"What?"
"Saywhatifyouwanttostayhere."
"What?"
Garl sighs. "You are almost hopeless! If the choice were yours: to stay here, or to return to the living, which would you choose?"
Zook needs little time to decide. "I would wish to stay here, lord."
Garl nods. "Very well." He smiles. "But first, you must take this pebble from my hand..."
* * *
Maia sighs, and ends the spell. "Your friend Zook would not choose to return," she says.
After a moment of respectful silence, she begins casting again. This time, she seeks the Wisdom of Pelor. Thorald, the only party member who knows Celestial, hears her questions...
"Is Magnimiliar Ivellios a good man?" She pauses a moment, then nods before asking her next question.
"Does Kalenthas Thistleberry wish to return to life?"
A minute passes, then another. Maia's brow furrows, and she thinks a moment before asking her next question. "If a spell to return him from the dead were cast, would he refuse it?" After a moment, she speaks again: "Is he still unsure what he would do?" She sighs and ends the spell. "Your friend Kalenthas is torn, it would seem," she says.
"Sounds like Kalenthas," says Jonetello, and several of the party nod in agreement.
The group turns in for the night. Magnimiliar offers to escort Maia to her house, and is astonished when she says yes. With a dumbfounded look on his face, he heads off with her.
Magehaven, October 31, LE 653
The party spends a day resting, cleaning up, and restocking. Leilen Identifies the magic items found in Kavael:
·
+1 Full Plate
·
Potions of Speak with Animals, Detect Undead, and Spider Climb
·
Headband of Intellect +2
Mystarion pounces on the
Headband. Elbryn tries on the plate, but is not trained in the proper wearing of such heavy armor. The potions are distributed, as is the gold (including proceeds from the sale of the three gems, together worth around 3,000 gp).
Several people speak with Quewellen about producing new magic items, and many orders are placed. Leilen, Magnimiliar, Elbryn, and Jonetello all decide to take advantage of the "research discount": in exchange for a decrease in item cost, Quewellen will produce items using newer, experimental methods of magic item creation. Such items usually possess special qualities above and beyond those of most magic items. Items requested are:
·
Slippers of Spider Climb (Leilen, paid for)
·
Boots of Silence (Magnimiliar; +5 to Move Silently)
·
Ring of Sustenance (Jonetello, part of trade)
·
+1 Leather (Leilen, part of trade)
·
Potions of Bull's Strength (Elbryn, paid for)
·
+1 Rapier (Jonetello, part of trade)
Items traded to Quewellen include the
+1 Plate and Jonetello's
Horseshoes of Disguise. In addition, Thorald spends some time gathering materials to construct a psionic
Amulet of Health - finding just the right crystal takes some time. Jonetello begins composing a dirge for Zook, and plays some gnomish songs in the evening to an enthusiastic audience. Mystarion hits the books again, copying more spells from Magehaven's stock.
That evening, a tired, battered young man approaches Magehaven. Stymied by its defenses, he makes camp nearby, and is quickly captured by the Hunters. When questioned (and his
Thoughts Detected), he claims to be Ravenfield, apprentice to a powerful sorcerer by the name of Baronton Mginoff. The two of them had been ambushed by a black elf and his wolf companions; Ravenfield survived, finding his master gone but a book left behind. The book contains directions to Magehaven and a message written in a language unknown to him. He agrees to give up the book to the village, and to remain within the village until this matter can be explored more fully. He is led to an empty cottage where he plummets into sleep, safe at last after weeks of flight.
Magehaven, November 1, LE 653
Early that morning, Thorald is awakened by insistent knocking on his door. Selphyra is there, with exciting news: another stranger has come to the village? Would he like to see? What about his friends? Thorald awakens the others, and together they make their way to Ravenfield's cottage, and hear his story. As they listen, a messenger arrives from the council: they would like to speak with Ravenfield, and the party is invited as well to observe.
The council tells the party about Ravenfield's book. They do not know the name Baronton Mginoff, and do not know how he, or anyone, came into possession of such detailed directions to their village. The rest of the book is written in Sylvan, and contains a detailed description of a high mountain peak where a valuable book is hidden. The description is so detailed, says Carl Whitebeard, head of the council, that teleportation should be possible. He turns to a middle-aged woman dressed in the robes of a master. "Laura of the Mist has volunteered to retrieve the book, this afternoon," he says.
"Would you be willing to take anyone with you?" asks Leilen. Laura starts to shake her head, but Carl prods her gently. "Yes, yes, of course - but only five hundred and twenty-five pounds worth," she says reluctantly. "Ravenfield can go, of course - the rest of you decide and meet me here at noon. Don't be late!" She departs, clearly a little miffed.
The party informs the council that they might wish to stay a few weeks, but were not sure if Thorald would be permitted to stay. "The council has decided that Thorald may remain so long as the omens do not change their course," Carl says. "If they remain clear, he may stay the winter, if need be. We will provide you with transport to one of the towns of Velland, when the time comes to leave."
The group spends some time deciding who should go, and finally settles on Thorald and Leilen. At noon, they meet in the central square, where Laura is waiting with several apprentices. Everyone receives an
Endure Elements for each element, as well as
Mage Armor, before Laura announces she is ready to begin. "Stay close to me - if there is trouble and I have to
Teleport away, I won't wait for you to come back!" She raises her hands, incants: and in a flash, the foursome appear atop a snow-covered, windswept peak.
Several boulders lay strewn about them. As the group looks around, one of the boulders sprouts eyes, and then lifts a head. A draconic form shakes free of the snow and regards the humans. Its scales are a deep grey, its eyes black. It speaks in a deep voice that carries easily over the wind:
"What has leaves which turn but do not fall?"
"What has a spine but no bones?"
"What ends but can always begin again?"
"I can probably blast it if need be," mutters Laura, "but I am no good at riddles." She readies a spell, but Thorald raises a hand.
"I think I know this one," he whispers, "...a book!" The group agrees and pronounces the answer. Meanwhile, Leilen is recalling an ancient tale, about a grey dragon and a seer named Albreth the Prophet, who is said to have predicted (among other things) the fall of the Tataiafar Empire, the founding of Rellenor, and the rise of Sygwerdan...
"Very good," the dragon says, and then speaks another riddle:
"White headed yet bald am I.
I wear a white wreath made with neither leaf nor branch.
I have roots but no leaves, sides but no bottom.
My tears run freely through spring, but dry by autumn."
This one causes a little more thought, but before long Ravenfield speaks the answer: "A mountain."
"You have spoken well," says the dragon, and a book emerges from the snow and drifts toward them. "Now you may go," it declares, setting its head down and turning away from the group. Laura takes the book and casts...and the group is back in Magehaven, not five minutes after they left.
Laura sets the book down, then along with her assistants cast a series of divination spells. "No magic or evil," she declares, and leafs open the book. "It's all Abyssal to me," she says. Leilen takes a quick look, and manages to decipher some of the text; apparently, the language is similar to the ancient Elvish tongue used in the time of the Empire. From what he can see, the book contains a series of cryptic quatrains, speaking of fire, towers falling, and great battles and diseases. The meaning is clearly subtle enough to escape the use of a simple
Comprehend Languages spell; the material must be translated by hand. Leilen goes with Laura to the "Hedge Wizard's" quarter, where a group of learned wizards begin the translation. Before long, it is clear to Leilen that these are the Prophecies of Albreth, a work quoted in countless tales and accounts of ancient times, but thought lost since the fall of the Tataiafar Empire. Soon afterward, one of the wizards gasps, making some conclusion...and asks Leilen to leave. "We wish to keep this within Magehaven for the moment," he says, "but we will let you know if we need you."
That evening, the funeral for Zook Mirnig is held. Zook's body, dressed simply with the medallion of Garl Glittergold on his breast, lies on a simple bier surrounded by logs and kindling. An area in front of the bier is lit by poles glowing with magical light. Azimuth, Master of the illusionist's school, stands ready to conduct the service. The group gathers, along with others from the village. "As Zook sought instruction in the mastery of illusion - a very gnomish undertaking - it seems fit that I complete the rites of his passage from this world." He speaks for a few moments concerning the bravery and courage of the gnomish paladin, then asks that his companions come forward and speak of him. Jonetello stands, and begins the dirge which he has composed telling of the bravery, courage, and trickiness of his companion. A moment of silence follows his lament.
"Now, would three of Zook's closest companions please stand," Azimuth requests. Thorald, Jonetello, and Elbryn stand. "In keeping with gnomish tradition, Zook's companions will perform an interpretive dance expressing their respect for their friend, and their grief at his passing." The three exchange glances for a moment, then manage a fitting, if somewhat awkward, performance. Jonetello plays up Zook's trickster side, tripping the others as they dance. When they are done, Azimuth gestures, dimming the light, as two torchbearers approach the bier. They set the logs alight, and watch in silence as Zook's mortal shell begins to burn.
Then the entire bier erupts in a cacophony of light and noise, shooting fireworks high into the sky with a whistle and a series of BANGs! The funeral party is stunned for a moment, and just as they are gathering their wits, Zook sits up on the bier. "Fooled you!" he cried, and laughs for a few final moments - before Azimuth dismisses the illusion with a gesture and a smile. "So let it end, how Zook wished it to be," he says, and the group disperses, as the flames complete their job.
The next morning, the council summons Ravenfield and the party, to inform them that the book has been mostly translated. It is, or claims to be, the prophecies of Albreth, thought lost. The council is not ready to release the translation until more work can be done, but within the book itself, the author commanded that one passage be made available to all within the "haven of mages". Carl provides two written copies of that passage:
Prophecy of Midnight
At midnight many things move
Leaves on high branches fall
The moon falls from the tower
Whispered words across ghostly worlds
The darkness fell long ago
On knights of greatness and power
Shall they rise again?
Shall midnight be the next or final hour?
The barge drifts on the lake
Carries the symbol and tool
Damned by many, read by few
Its evil soon begins anew
In Dhrahellend the dead walk at midnight
Westward on waters edge
Death and decay are their companions
Yet the living walk there as well
In Mordallend the moon fell long ago
Creatures of green crawl from its light
Countless footsteps echo in the hills
Dragons have many colors
The stars give signs, even at midnight
Pages turn as souls are lost
In dark waters coral dies
Is it death or a third life?
In Nardhellend midnight comes
Methods of darkness too many to count
Laughter and tears, laughter once more
Dragons shall fall, armies shall pause
Shadows fall longest at midnight
In the starlight their darkness is seen
Who stands master over them?
In Nardhellend he shall seek.
In Tataya the rocks mourn
Greatness past and long forgotten
Stones await a dream
Stones shall answer them
In Tataya midnight passes
Countless graves give lament
Who shall hear them?
The mourning begins anew
Dhrahellend's harbors glisten
In midnight's glow, harbor still
Evil, injustice, deceit, torment
Stones did not craft it all
Who shall return and shall fall?
At midnight many things move
Flowers freeze atop the high mountain
Weeks, years, centuries, fortnights
Do not these have midnights as well?
- Albreth the Prophet
Several of the party identify place names from the stanzas:
Mordallend: A province of the fallen Tataiafar Empire, spanning all the human and demi-human kingdoms: Rellenor, Kinfeld, Velland, Thelden, Madrazzar, and much wild land around them. (See
http://home.earthlink.net/~speares/mordallend )
Drahellend: A sub-region of Mordallend, covering the area around Lake Drelmist.
Nardhellend: A sub-regio of Mordallend, covering the mountains and fjords in and around Velland.
Tataya: The province of the fallen Tataiafar Empire which contained the Imperial capital. Adjacent to Mordallend, to the northeast, through several rings of high mountains.
The group spends much of the day discussing the passage and what it might mean.
Jonetello grows restless. Walking the village, he decides to inquire about the possibility of sparring with some of the Hunters who protect the village, and is quickly directed to Sara Greenbriar. Sara eagerly accepts the invitation. In fact, she says, the village often has such tournaments, where the participants are protected by a special spell so that they will not suffer permanent harm. The spell also allows spells to be cast, so wizards can participate. She offers to gather a team of seven or eight, and agrees with Jonetello that the match will be held in five days time.