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Message: <blockquote data-quote="el-remmen" data-source="post: 1330952" data-attributes="member: 11">session #51 (part i)Session #51“You see, it is all starting to make sense to me,” Martin added.“Well, explain it to us, by all means,” Jeremy said sarcastically, and laughed.Derek smiled, but Martin frowned and continued, “Briendel translated a lot of that marginalia in gnomish to me.”“Maraga-whatzit?” Jeremy asked.“The notes in gnomish in those books we found.  Remember I told you about the place of power?  Well, there was speculation in those notes that increasing ‘mortal fear’ and ‘chaos’ in the area between those four places of power will weaken the curtains between this world and the realm of shadow.  Someone who controlled that power could do a lot of things,” Martin’s pallid face suddenly seemed calm as he confidently explained what he had been able to learn from the complicated notes. “I don’t get it,” Jeremy said and Derek shrugged.“Martin, I believe you need to be more explicit in your explanations,” Beorth said.Ratchis cleared his throat and nodded.“The plane of shadow exists in parallel to this world, and it does with all worlds.  It touches even the foundation of the heavens and the hellish realms of demons,” Martin said with some passion and then began to cough.  He sipped some tea and continued.  “If someone could control this connection to the shadow realm he could then summon things, foul things, and taint animals and monsters with the foulness of darker realms, like those wolverines that Mozek’s brothers had with them.”The watch-mage turned to Captain Fistandilus and frowned, “And I am sad to have to tell you Captain but the notes in those books pretty much tell the tale of Mozek’s demonic parentage and that of his brothers.  Though it does not say how many there were.”“Thirteen,” Captain Fistandilus replied, and then he let out a long slow breath.  “Though the seven that remained in Garvan were killed in the battle.”“I think Hurgun’s Maze is the key,” Beorth suddenly said.  “We have learned it is a planar nexus, correct?”Martin and Ratchis nodded, and then Kazrack followed suit. Jeremy shrugged, “That stuff makes my eyes glaze over.”Derek laughed.“No wonder everyone is so anxious to find out where it is and how to get in,” Beorth went on.  “It must be the key to controlling this anomaly, that is probably why Hurgun built it, or the entrance to it, in this area.”“Seems reasonable,” said Kazrack.“I believe that creature, you know the one with the pyramidal shape and the horn-like nose and three spindly legs and arms is the key to finding the Maze,” Martin said.  “I believe it came from there, and if I can examine it and try to communicate with it we may not need waste our time going to the Pit of Bones.” (1)“It is gone,” Distelbowden said, coming back into the room.“Gone?”“It disappeared the night of the battle.  We did not think of it that night, feeling it was best kept safe in its room, but the next morning when we went to give it some exercise and let it wander about a bit, it was gone.”“I would bet anything that Mozek took it,” Kazrack said.“Natan-Ahb does not approve of gambling,” Belear chastised.“He probably used it to find the Maze,” Martin theorized.“Or killed it to keep us from learning something from it,” Ratchis suggested.“So all we need do is tell the King of Gothanius,” Kazrack.  “Explain to him that he is being manipulated.”Beorth shook his head, “Kings and lords of men are often prideful.  I do not think he will as easily convinced as all that.”“Anyway, he wants to expand Gothanius,” Derek piped in.  “He summoned the dragonhunters because he plans to bring Greenreed Valley into the kingdom, don’t you think he’s already considered what he may have to do to accomplish that?”“His men destroyed the orcs that were near here,” Ratchis said.“Gnomes are not orcs,” Belear said, and Ratchis grunted.“And he cannot be totally unreasonable,” Kazrack said.  “He certainly cannot want to fight a war on two fronts.”“Two fronts?” Jeremy asked.“The Menovians,” Ratchis answered.  “They would use any sign of weakness or excuse to conquer Gothanius like they did Rhondria.”The room was silent as everyone considered what was being shared and speculated upon.Finally, Ratchis spoke, “Captain Fistandilus, would your people be willing to send a delegation of some kind to parley with the human king?”“I don’t know,” the gnome replied. “And I don’t know that I trust this king of men or any of his representatives.”“I could send word to the king so that he at least more fully understands the situation,” Martin proffered.Derek rolled his eyes.“I have to talk this all over with Hatzel, who is leader today, and then we will bring it before the elder’s council,” Captain Fistandilus explained.  “But I will tell you one thing, if such a negotiation were to occur we would want Martin present.”“Huh? Me?” Martin was shocked.“We trust you, Martin,” the Captain said.  “You have given us reason to, but the kings of men have given us reason not to trust them.  My people remember the Mountain Wars as well as Belear’s do.”“We may be away at the Pit of Bones a long time,” Ratchis said.  “Martin may not be available for such a negotiation.”Fistandilus shook his head.  “I’m afraid it will have to be Martin or no one.  He of all men I know would not let us agree to anything that was not fair, or if he thought there was some trickery in it.”Ratchis sighed.“You do me honor, Captain,” Martin stood and bowed, and then swaying, for he was still very weak, he fell back into his seat. Captain Fistandilus excused himself, as he had to return to duty and explained that he had to examine the new armor being made in smithy before turning in for the night.After he had gone Beorth said, “You know, the gnomes may not let us leave.”“What? Why would they do that?” Jeremy asked, shocked.“They kept us here last time did they not?” Beorth stood and paced the room.  “Jana told me you were here for months.”“Yes, but they let us go then, they’ll let us go now,” Ratchis said.  “They know we are trying to help them.”“Do you think it would be wise for him to let us go so Martin can tell the king about the gnomes’ preparations for war?”  Do you think this will deter him? Or rather make him more cautious, make whatever war comes more protracted?  There are consequences no matter what actions we take.  We must choose wisely, but regardless of what we choose the number of souls Anubis must guard over will grow before this is all over.”“No matter what, word must be sent to the Academy,” Martin said, weakly.  “It is this kind of potential abuse of power and threat to the free peoples of the world that the Academy was formed to stop.”The watch-mage began to cough, his now frail body convulsing as he gasped for breath.  Beorth hurried over and kept him from falling, and soon after led the mage back to his room to rest more.---------------------Days passed. Jeremy and Derek spent their time playing with the young gnomes, the wild and complicated games they often played.  Derek suspected they made up the rules on the spot, but Jeremy confirmed that what he had witnessed had seemed consistent, though the rules of a game could change depending on the day of the week, the color of the sunset or whether the number of players was a prime number.“What’s a prime number?” Derek asked.Jeremy shrugged his shoulders.Martin spent his days recovering and going over the books and spells recovered from the Necropolis with Briendel.  They made a list of spells to tear from the books and have Beorth destroy as he has asked for them to do if they found any spells of black necromancy. (2)They also discovered a lot more from the books and marginalia, like how the vampire Ratchis had beheaded was named Zedarias and was a necromancer from the late portion of the Third Age and that he worshiped Rahkefet. (3)It seemed he had been tricked by a powerful monkey-demon, infected with vampirism and trapped in that sarcophagus.  The notes even speculated that the vampire’s eternal pain in his undying thirst is what supported the seemingly insupportable chasm ceilings of the chambers below.   The monkey-demon was a servant of the same demon-lord that Mozek’s mother served.  And they learned her name was Ora-amira-elThe notes in gnomish had been made by Mozek’s father, a normal mortal gnome name Socher, who having discovered the Necropolis wanted its power and summoned the greater succubus.  But the notes were garbled and some of it seemed fractured or mad.  Some of it seemed to suggest that Socher had figured out a way to contact other planes and make deals with other infernal creatures and that he had made just such a deal to get rid of the succubus, but he still feared his own children.Martin’s mind boggled at all this information about the netherworlds he was gaining.  The more he absorbed the more confused he felt he became trying to juggle and sculpt speculation and scenarios, trying to figure out the best way to explain it all to the others.He spent his time cross-referencing between the notes and the illustrated guide to fiends he had found.  The Academy of Wizardry had taught him a great deal of general knowledge about so-called ‘outsiders’, but nothing had prepared him for such an intense immersion in the subject.  Put beside the lore of names and planes and summoning, the school of illusion seemed paltry to him.  And for the first time in his life he wondered if he might have been better off studying under the Master Summoner of the Academy.Beorth spent his days in quite meditation and getting the final fittings for his splint mail armor.  It was beautifully crafted.Kazrack spent his days alternately working in the forge or studying with Belear.  The dwarves gathered gear and supplies for the journey back to Abarrane-Abaruch.  They made their plans and got the blessing from Captain Fistandilus (who consulted with whomever was in charge that day) and soon it was the night before they were to leave.Teflem, the 27th of Prem – 564 H.E.Golnar, Jolnar and Tolnar were forbidden to go to the pub that night, as they were likely to get to drunk march out the next day.  They were glum about it. Captain Adalar was questioning Kazrack intensely about the fighting habits of quaggoths, and for whatever else might be known about the drow. (4)Jeremy and Derek said quick good-byes to the dwarves, and then went to the pub as they usually did in the evening.  Ratchis sat quietly in the common room at Kazrack’s request, while different gnomes came in and out all night to bid the dwarves farewell.Beorth spoke with Belear.“Father Belear, I have been thinking long and hard about the dilemma with these peace-loving gnomes and the human king,” he said in his always-serious tone.  “I have prayed on it, and I have read over the notes I put together that serve as my memory.  I wanted to ask you if your people have a connection to…”The paladin looked at his notes.“The Nauglimir Dwarven Merchant Consortium?”“Yes, most dwarven stronghold do,” Belear explained.  “It is the lifeline of trade between the vast majority of dwarves and even the towns of other races in Derome-Delem, and to some extent abroad.  Why?”“I remembered Jana mentioning something about this dwarven consortium building a road to Gothanius.  The subject also came up when we were trying to decide if and to whom we might send messages about our predicament,” the paladin paused.“And?”“Expanding his kingdom is important to the King of Gothanius, but so is trade and so is his relationship with the NDMC.  Perhaps some pressure from them can accomplish what we cannot and force him to look for a peaceful resolution to this dispute.”Belear nodded.  “You are very wise. They say the blind develop other senses and foresight to overcome their blindness.  So too have you gained something in having lost connection to your past self.”“Do you think it will work?” Beorth asked.“There is hope,” Belear replied.  “When I return to Abbarrane-Abaruch I will meet with a representative of the Consortium.  I will even send a letter to Mnormthord-Wyrmraugh if I must.” (5) The night ended with a small meal and a toast.“We are in your debt,” Ratchis said, lifting his foaming mug of ale out, since he could not lift it up due to the low ceiling that caused him to slouch more than half the time he was inside.“I more than any,” Kazrack added.“We have only done what is right; what needed to be done,” Belear replied.  “I only wish that I could accompany you to this ‘Pit of Bones’.  It was once a might dwarven fortress, and there will wonders to behold there.”“To safe journeys and quests fulfilled,” Kazrack said, lifting his mugs.  The dwarves and gnomes followed suit.“Here! Here!” Jeremy and Derek yelled bursting drunkenly into the common area.The next morning Martin gave Belear message to be sent via the Nauglimir Dwarven Merchant Consortium to watch-mages in Bountiful, Ettinos and the Far Shore League. Blodnath pulled Jeremy aside and gave him a set of thieves’ tools as a gift.“Keep working on it, kid,” he said.  “Remember to be patient, and those locks will start unlocking themselves if you wait long enough.”Jeremy thanked him and rushed to the room he and Derek shared to unroll the black cloth and examine the fine tools. Ralem, the 1tst of Sek – 564 H.E.It was two nights later that Captain Fistandilus finally got back to them.  It was evening, and he came to share supper with the party and Distelbowden and he brought Ashkenbach, Briendel and Obenhammer along.As was gnomish custom, the Captain did not discuss business he had with the Fearless Manticore Killers until after everyone had finished eating.“In the past few days we have had many discussions,” the Captain began.  “We have agreed that you free to come and go as you will.  You are no longer our guests, but our cousins (6), and as such you shall be shown the way out and how to find the four hills without escort.”“We are honored at your trust,” said Kazrack.Ratchis nodded.“You will have to take an oath beforehand that you will reveal it to no one,” the Captain said in a very serious voice.  “It is considered a grave crime to our people.”“You can trust us,” Jeremy said, smiling.“What of the delegation?” Beorth asked, dispensing with the pleasantries.Fistandilus sighed, “We have not yet decided if we are going to recognize Gothanius as a sovereign nation to even be negotiated with.”“What?” Jeremy dropped a spoon on the table.“But recognized or no, you need to parley with any significant force,” Kazrack said, aghast. “Unless you want it to come to bloodshed.”“I certainly do not,” the captain said, adamantly.  “But I must consider all options, and they say gnomes are like badgers it is dangerous to pull us from our holes.”No one knew what to say.“But,” the Captain continued.  “Martin could negotiate for us, that is use reason to convince this human king that sending his soldiers against us will do naught but kill more soldiers and bring an enemy into this world that neither one of us want to have to deal with.”“Perhaps we should go see the King right away,” Martin suggested to the others. “And then go to the Pit of Bones.”Kazrack shook his head.  “What if this king did not let us go?  He, too, may want you to advice him and negotiate for him.”“Or think we are in league with his enemies if we come representing the gnomes,” Beorth added, delivering his gloomy assessments phlegmatically.“We have to risk it,” Martin said, wide-eyed.  “I mean, I don’t know what else to do. If only I could get a message through to Alexandra or Barnstable or the Academy itself, then they would tell me what it is I ought to do.”There was a long awkward pause and then they all agreed that they should make their way to Summit and then travel from there to Twelve Trolls and seek an audience with the King of Gothanius.The next day was spent gathering supplies and bidding farewell to their gnomish friends and the morning after that found them climbing through the craterous valley to arrive at Summit.Captain Fistandilus and a patrol of gnomish guards escorted them along the hidden path out of Gravan and to the now burned ruin of the traitors’ safehouse.  It was only a three-hour march. (7)The shadows were long when then came atop the ridge and onto the streets of Summit.  It seemed eerily quiet.  The only sound was the wind whipping around the buildings.They headed towards the Sun’s Summit Inn, and the square they saw a large pavilion tent pitched across from the town well.   Two lightly armored soldiers flanked the entrance, holding spears, and having shields on their backs.------------------------------------------Notes:(1)    The strange creature that only said “Haaaahnt!  Hooornt!” was first seen in Session #16.  It was speculated that it came from Hurgun’s Maze as that was the only part of its language the gnomes could interpret.(2)    Necromancy comes in three varieties.  ‘Black Necromancy’ is powered by the negative material plane and regardless of the effect is always evil.  ‘Grey Necromancy’ can be used for good or evil, though they are generally considered a corruptive influence.  ‘White Necromancy’ channels positive energy and is considered innately good.(3)    Rahkefet is the son of Set.  Known as the God of the Lost and the Astray, he is considered a lost of ‘forgotten’ power.  It is said that in The Time Before he was pharaoh.(4)    Abbarrane-Abaruch was assaulted by scores of quaggoth using great tactics and possessing great skills in battle.  It was for that reason that such a small force was all that could be afforded to fulfill the ancient pacts between their races and be sent to help the gnomes.  The Fearless Manticore Killers informed the dwarves that returning drow were behind the well-planned quaggoth attacks.(5)    Mnornthord-Wyrmraugh (called ‘Rockmar’ by humans) is the headquarters of the Nauglimir Dwarven Merchant Consortium and the oldest existing dwarven city in Aquerra.(6)    Gnomes consider all other gnomes their cousins, as they believe they are all related.(7) When the party was first led here the gnomes blind-folded them and took them on a circuitous two-day trek.  (Session #15)</blockquote>

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