el-remmen
Moderator Emeritus
Here's a nice long one for ya. . . 5 to go. . .
Session #98 (complete) (1)
Ratchis was creating a form of camp over near the empty chicken coop, as Kazrack laid down his prayer stone, annoyed that he could not determine the direction to the First Mountain. Bastian and Roland poked around the dry storage for something immediately edible, but Gunthar found some cooking wine and was drinking that despite the bleating protests of a monodrone. Sergio was whistling a tune as he filed at his nails sitting on a small barrel. Martin the Green walked over to Ratchis.
“So, we’ll rest here and tomorrow we go to the Dark Room?” he asked the Friar of Nephthys.
“No,” Ratchis replied, not looking up as he rolled out his hyenadon skin. “We’re going to the Audience Chamber.”
“And then to the Dark Room?”
Ratchis sighed. “Okay…”
“Not a guest area,” a tridrone said, in rising dissonant tones, as it approached Martin. “Cannot stay here.”
“Can you lead us to…”
“Air Room. Guest quarters… Follow,” the modron turned and walked towards one of the portals. The Keepers of the Gate quickly gathered their things to follow.
Ratchis noticed a duodrone directing two monodrones in lifting the still wrapped corpse of Ora-Amira-El. He ran over to shoo them away.
“Immolation of fiend corpse ordered,” the duodrone said.
“You’re going to burn it?” the half-orc asked.
“Affirmative.”
“Very well,” Ratchis replied. “I saw a pig in the frozen room. Do you think I could take it?”
“No authority to grant permission,” the duodrone replied, and continued what it was doing.
Ratchis shrugged and retrieving the frozen pig, he left with his companions. They were led back through the Dining Room and back to the Air Room with its cloud-like rooms. As the party prepared to get some sleep, modrons brought them large bowls of pork stew and large slabs of stale bread that Ratchis ate with relish.
“What did you do with that pig?” Roland asked as the Keepers of the Gate gathered in one large room to talk and eat.
“I put it in one of the smaller rooms and realizing I could control the temperature of the room by willing it, I made it as warm as I could and left the pig in there to thaw,” Ratchis replied.
“Chopping up the pig will make it thaw faster,” Kazrack said.
“I need to be able to cut it open carefully,” Ratchis explained. “I want the bladder. I was thinking we might fill it with air and figure out a way for Martin to use it to breathe while in the Negative Material Plane.” (2)
Martin’s head drooped and he shook it slowly back and forth. “There is no point, Ratchis… I have acclimated myself to the reality of my fate…”
“Well, I have not,” Ratchis replied. “And while we can still try, we should try…”
“I agree,” Kazrack said. “It makes no sense to me for this human god to put a task upon you that you can only accomplish by dying, and hold death over your head to get you to do it…”
“The ways of the gods are ever mysterious to us mortals,” Roland said.
“Can we stop talking about this?” Martin said. “In fact, I am going to get some sleep. Tomorrow, I die… And nothing is going to change that.”
The watch-mage rose and left.
“Poor Martin…” Bastian said quietly.
“Yeah,” said Gunthar, slurping down the last of his stew. “He’s going to die a virgin.”
Ratchis punched the Neergaardian in the arm.
After the modrons had cleared away the bowls, everyone bedded down. The half-orc took the first watch and woke Gunthar to take the second.
“Everything’s fine,” Gunthar grumbled, rolling over. “We already saved the world. Get some shut-eye…”
Ratchis nudged him again.
“Alright…” But the Neergaardian did not get up. Ratchis kicked him this time.
“Snuffles! It’s alright. I close my eyes in order to hear better,” Gunthar said, and he was kicked again. He sat up and rubbed his eyes and looked up at the half-orc. “You know, I bet there was a time you used to get kicked…”
“There are too many random factors for us to sleep here unprotected,” Ratchis said as he walked off to claim his spot.
After he had heard Ratchis’ snoring for a few minutes, Gunthar shook Bastian awake.
“Your turn to take watch,” he said to the bearded warrior. “Snuffles and I have been up half the night watching and he finally just zonked out. Watch out for monsters, or whatever…”
Gunthar went back to sleep.
Tholem, the 4th of Ese – 565 H.E. (3)
In what they assumed was morning, the Keepers of the Gate awoke to a cube-shaped quadrone trilled a loud rolling click that drew them all out into the main area of the Air Room.
“I am designated Four of Six,” the quadrone said. The thing had the most human-like face of all the modrons, but it was disturbingly over-sized, and its mouth enunciated words in an exaggerated fashion. I am to bring you to the Dining Room to have a meal, and then to the Audience Chamber to speak with the Decaton.”
“Thank you, Four,” Roland said.
“I am designated Four of Six,” the quadrone repeated.
“Four of Six, we still need to prepare our spells,” Martin the Green said walking over. “Would it be okay if we did that first before coming with you?”
“I am to wait at your leisure,” the modron replied. It walked on its six legs to stand by one of the portals.
Martin moved to one corner and began to draw his spellbooks from his bags. Kazrack walked over to him.
“Martin, I was thinking we should discuss what spells we might prepare in hopes of finding some that might be cast before your journey to the realm of Void,” Kazrack said. “Something that will help you survive…”
“It is pointless,” Martin replied, looking up. “I am going to prepare some spells the best I can, but there is nothing anyone can do to help me avoid my fate.”
“But what if we use the Cube?” Kazrack said, referring to the Wurfel Kraft.
“It won’t help,” Martin replied. He raised his hands in frustration and then drew his knees up to his disfigured face, clutching a spellbook close to his chest.
“But Martin, I don’t see why you are so resigned…” Kazrack began, but Roland drew the dwarf away.
“Leave him alone, Kazrack,” the Bastite said. “He has a heavy heart because he knows he is going to die. The only way you can help is by being quiet and supportive.”
Kazrack sputtered in disbelief for a few moments as the priest of Bast stared him down, but he left the mage alone.
Martin the Green sighed and slid his legs back down, but as he reached to open the spellbook on his lap, he flinched and gasped and then pushed it away as if it were a spider crawling on him.
It was the Book of Black Circles. (4)
Sighing again, he picked up the book and slid it back into its sleeve and into a backpack, and proceeded to prepare his spells.
-----------------------------------------
Later, after a meal of bland porridge and more stale bread in the dining room, but with lots of wine to wash it down with, Four of Six made to lead them to talk to the decaton.
“I am going to go back to the Air Room and work on that bladder some more,” Ratchis said. Martin rolled his eyes, but said nothing. After checking with the modrons, he went back through the proper portal, while the others were led to the Earth Room.
The Audience Chamber did not have as many modrons in the tiered seats as it did the very first time the Keepers of the Gate visited it. However, there were about a dozen or so of mixed types, including two pentadrones flanking the decaton up on the balcony.
“Martin the Green and the Keepers of the Gate,” Martin heard the decaton polytonal voice in his head. “Pardon my malfunction. Voice operations need repair. Only telepathic contact possible. Re-assimilation through Modron Station must wait. Must ask Keepers of the Gate questions. Questions have primacy over instructions regarding Plane of Time. Martin the Green must relay to companions.”
Martin explained to the others about the decaton being unable to speak, but expressed his confusion as to what the rest of it meant.
“Why will we not be getting instructions?” Martin asked.
“Your other companion is not with you, ” the decaton responded telepathically.
“He is working on creating a device he hopes will help me survive the quest that I came here for,” Martin responded. “But still… Why no instruction?”
“Time is short. Time has past. And now there are other intruders in Hurgun’s Maze . In the guise of orcs. Not orcs,” the decaton said. “They must not be allowed to reach the Control Room. The modrons must attend to their stations for travel to Plane of Time. You must do this thing. Do you know this other party? ”
“We can guess who they are,” Martin replied, and then paraphrased what the decaton said to the others.
The modrons in the tiered seats began to file out.
“Can we have one of your servants retrieve our companion?” Martin asked. The decaton agreed, and a few minutes later Ratchis arrived, his pig bladder breathing contraption not in any kind of working condition. Martin conveyed what the decaton had told him.
“Ask him when the trip into the plane of time is to begin,” Kazrack said to Martin.
“It has already happened. It is about to happen. It may never happen,” the decaton replied.
Martin the Green shrugged his shoulders. “The answer has no meaning,” he told the others.
“Intruders are fighting the para-elemental guardians. Intruders are now entering Dining Room. No longer orcs. Please intercept,” the decaton was pressing the colored gems on the console before him with two of his ten tentacles about his spherical head. “Note, travel between chambers may be hazardous while in the plane of Time. Consequence algorithms too long to process.”
“Uh… About the guardians,” Martin replied, mentally. “Is there a way we might get past them?”
“Guardians are shut down for the journey. Other rogue elements may still be a danger. Please intercept. Behind you through portal to Entrance Room. Left to Dining Room. Intercept.” The decaton pointed with three of his tentacles. “Do not allow them into Control Room. Free Hurgun.”
Martin nodded and told the others.
“Let’s get this over with,” Kazrack said. Bastian handed Sergio a short sword, since the bard still had no weapon.
The Keepers of the Gate filed through the portal they had first passed through when entering the Audience Chamber and found themselves back in the Entrance Room. The central column holding the spiral stair out of the Maze was in the process of rising, and the elements in the four corners roiled and burbled and bubbled and spat, much as they did before, but none of the figures came to life. They noticed the foul ooze freezing into geometric shapes every few moments was as large as it had been before it became the creature they had slain. It had somehow grown back. (5)
They passed between the ooze and the ice and then turned left to walk through the portal between the ooze and the magma. Kazrack went through first, followed closely by Martin.
The Dining Room’s many crystal chandeliers glowed like mini-suns as the Keepers of the Gate entered. The tables had been straightened and recovered with cloths. While some of the surrounding cases holding the plate and cutlery sets were still broken, all the shattered glass had been cleared away.
There were a group of humans gathered around the longest table. Some were sitting, and others paced nearby, one was sitting up on the table itself, feet on a chair. The man sitting on the table wore black leather pants with bright yellow stripes, and a shirt to match. He was slight man in a with a wide-brimmed feathered hat, with long slicked-back bluish-gray hair, sharp powdered features, bright white teeth and the slightest point to his thin ears. It was Razzle Greyish.
There was a tall man in a breast plate with a nasty-looking mace at his side. He wore a tunic with a golden ankh emblazoned on an open tome. A similar sigil was a golden holy symbol about his neck. It was hard to recognize his features beneath his helmet with its long ankh-shaped noseguard, but it was clearly Cordell of Thoth.
One of the pacing ones turned and noticed Kazrack and then Martin as they came them through. He was a young man with olive skin, square jaw and lean stature of a Herman-Lander. He was a few inches shorter than six feet tall, and had close cropped black curls on his head. The few mousy whiskers on his chin showed his youth. He wore travel-stained black studded leather armor and his hand was quickly on the hilt of his sword. It was Logan Naismith. Martin frowned as he noticed their former companion was bare foot, and the bottoms of his pants appeared to have burned away some.
At the head of the table was a tall woman. She was lithe and pale, with her long light brown hair in a single thick braid that fell down her back. She had a freckled face that was just barely on the pretty side of plain. She wore robes of various shades of lavender and had a staff on the table before her. It was Alexandra the Lavender. (6)
Standing beside her was a familiar figure in billowing robes of varying shades of crimson. He had bright green eyes and long curly auburn hair. His beard had tiny glints of brighter red in it. He wore a short sword at his side. It was Richard the Red.
The rogue watch-mage turned to see the Keepers of the Gate entering the room.
“Richard! We were sent to find you!” Kazrack announced, hefting his halberd.
“Ah! There you are!” Richard the Red smiled and began to walk in their direction, looking to his companions. “Didn’t I say that if we waited here long enough they would come find us? It made no sense to wander about.” He looked pointedly at Razzle.
The swordsman leapt to his feet and danced on the table, bowing to Martin the Green as he doffed his hat.
“Welcome to Hurgun’s Maze,” Martin announced, as the last of his companions slipped into the room, fanning out a bit. Roland immediately changed into his panther-form. “I’m afraid you’ve come at a metaphysically awkward time.”
“Martin the Green! It is good to that you have found us. There is much of import we must discuss before it is too late,” Alexandra said, standing.
“Alexandra! I must say I am very surprised to see you here,” Martin replied.
“I realized I needed to come myself when I discovered more information about the Book of Black Circles,” Alexandra explained. “I was able to contact Richard the Red and tell him some of it, but I could not risk letting you know too soon, in case…”
“In case what?” Martin asked. Gunthar gave Logan a wink, tracing out the edge of the pommel of his short sword, Hornet. He pointed at the young warrior’s bare feet and let out a breathy laugh.
Ratchis stepped towards the raised area in one corner of the Dining Room, where Logan had moved to, scowling at Gunthar, while Kazrack walked into the room a ways in the opposite direction. Roland pawed his way forward along the left side of the long table. Cordell of Thoth looked down at the panther warily as the Bastite approached. Razzle leapt off the table in an impressive somersault when Richard admonished him to get down.
“I think Alexandra is having difficulty getting to the specifics of the matter because of how difficult it will be accept,” Richard explained. “I would not have accepted it so readily, but if Alexandra the Lavender thinks something difficult to accept must be done, well then… Most likely it must be done. You see, she has figured out that you must not destroy the Book of Black Circles.”
There was a long silence as Martin the Green stared at Richard the Red, and then re-positioned the glare to rest on Alexandra the Lavender for a moment as well. Ratchis whispered to Nephthys to grant him the ability to detect charm, expecting to see the familiar aura about the watch-mage of Bountiful, but there was none.
“Well, I guess there is something to be said for your blunt approach, Richard,” Alexandra smirked. She turned back to Martin, coming around the table. Roland continued to creep towards the watch-mage, sniffing. “But, Martin, what he has said is essentially the case. Have you ever wondered why the Brotherhood of the Lost allowed you to have the book?”
“They did not allow me,” Martin replied. “We took it from the gear of some monks we defeated in the Pit of Bones.”
“Fine. Well, why did they not send forces after you to retrieve their book?” Alexandra asked.
“It is possible they did and they never found us,” Martin said. “But more likely, since Rahkefet is patron of those who have gone astray, they hoped I would be corrupted by the Book of Black Circles and fulfill some precept of their god…”
“Yes, that is likely, but only a happy bonus for their twisted order,” Alexandra replied. “However, I have discovered there is more to it than that. The destruction of the Book of Black Circles in the negative material plane unlocks a great celestial chain that keeps Rahkefet from extending his power into this plane. It completes the events needed for him to become a god as his kin are gods.”
“Why would Osiris want Rahkefet to be free?” Kazrack sputtered, interrupting. “The more I hear of this human god, the more I think you all are duped to call this god ‘good’.”
“What I call good and what you call good can be different and both still be right,” Ratchis said, sighing. “This may be wisdom beyond what any of us can grasp.”
“So what am I supposed to do?” Martin asked. “Disobey Osiris and die? And who knows what will happen if I die while in possession of the Book?”
“Destroying the book will most likely kill you as well,” Richard said.
“I have resigned myself to that,” Martin replied.
“Be that as it may, do you really want to be responsible for the freeing of an evil god?” Richard asked.
”His power has been kept at bay since the time of Agon the God-King (7), it must remain that way,” Alexandra the Lavender said. “Marchosias the Corruptor, however, terrible he may be, is a mortal threat. If we must choose between evil…”
“Are you suggesting I allow the Book of Black Circles to corrupt me?” Martin was agog.
“Not purposefully,” Richard said. “But it is inevitable.”
“Richard, this reminds me of an episode with drow witches about a year ago,” Ratchis said.
“In Richard’s defense,” Kazrack coughed, obviously pained to say it. “The argument makes sense. We cannot not allow the power of an evil god to enter the world and lead people astray.”
“If it be Osiris’ will…” Ratchis began.
“I am Roland of Bast,” Roland said, still in panther-form, as he sat before Alexandra. “We have met before briefly. I am a friend of your former companion, Norena of Bast. (8) You wouldn’t happen to know where she is?”
“She has not been seen since she left to reconnoiter the orcs force,” Richard replied for the watch-mage, but Alexandra nodded. “There has been no response to our sendings.”
“Where’s Dorn?” Logan was asking Ratchis.
“Dorn has passed,” Ratchis replied.
“Kazrack killed him,” Gunthar said, smiling.
“Shut up, Gunthar,” Ratchis said.
“And we liked him ten times more than we like a little pissant like you, so you better watch yourself,” the Neergaardian continued, jerking a thumb in Ratchis’ direction. “I mean, Snuffles here doesn’t take kindly to betrayal.”
“Shut up, Gunthar,” Ratchis said again, but he looked to Logan. “Why did you leave?”
“After talking with Richard and thinking on the matter, I realized the course of action that needed to be taken and that I needed to work with a group who actually takes action instead of pissing and moaning about it for hours before doing so,” Logan replied, but his tone did not match his words. They seemed sadder. He looked up and sneered at Gunthar once more.
Bastian walked over to Richard the Red and they shook hands friendlily. “It is always good to see you, Richard,” Bastian said. “It is a shame we end up on the opposite sides of this issue.”
“It need not be that way,” Richard replied quietly with a smile. Bastian smiled back and shook his head.
“How did you get in here, anyway?” Bastian asked the crimson-robed mage.
“We found the entrance on the Earth Tower after spending a couple days in the guise of orcs, wandering the fortress above,” Richard explained.
Roland called Martin over to where he was sitting in front of Alexandra. He had only met the watch-mage of Bountiful once or twice, but still there was something not right about here that he could not lay a paw on. He hoped Martin might have a better clue.
Martin walked over explaining to Richard and his companions how the Hurgun’s Maze was entering the plane of Time “I am not even sure what the consequences will be anywhere in the Maze once we are in the Plane of Time,” he said. “But we need to go to the Control Room, if we are to expel or destroy the elemental.”
“Very well, we will come with you,” Richard said. “I would love to see the Control Room of the legendary Hurgun’s Maze.”
“That cannot be allowed,” Kazrack announced. “The decaton who rules the creatures that serve Hurgun has said as much and we have given our word that we would not allow it.”
Richard sighed. Martin walked back over near Ratchis at the half-orc’s signal. The friar of Nephthys was trying to draw the attention of all of his companions to get them to withdraw towards the portal they had come through.
“You should stay here for your own protection,” Ratchis said. “If we fail in our task it may be up to you, however misguided you are, to try to fix the situation.”
“Surely some compromise can be reached?” Alexandra said. “What if Martin were to stay here and continue to talk with us while the rest of you deal with this threat?”
“No,” Ratchis replied.
“Would you be willing to swear to return here to discuss the Book of Black Circles before going on to destroy it?” Richard suggested. “In order to give us a chance to convince you of the proper course of action?”
“Well, that seems reasonable…” Martin began.
“No,” Ratchis said again. “If you want to convince him, do it now and quickly. We can make no promise to return here, especially if it turns out we have a limited window of opportunity to find the Dark Room and send Martin through the gate there.”
“What is the source of this information regarding Rahkefet and the Book of Black Circles?” Martin asked Alexandra.
“The Book of Agon,” the watch-mage replied. “A rare tome kept up to date by the Librarians of Thoth in Moon City. Of which I am fortunate enough to have a few pages copied directly from it. And then there was the information of a fallen monk of Anubis who revered Rahkefet, that repented his actions… I can show you the pages and go over the confession in detail, if you like…”
“I am not sure we have the time,” Martin replied. “The decaton mentioned traveling between rooms will be dangerous once we are in the plane of time, we should make our way to the Control Room. I give my word I shall return…”
Ratchis grunted his disapproval.
“I think perhaps we should come with you anyway,” Richard said.
“But you just said…”
“But I did not know about the danger of passing through the portals,” Richard explained. “We cannot risk losing track of you now that we have found you. It is not that I do not trust your word, Martin, but you may end up being unable to return.
Kazrack began to froth with anger. “Why should we have to return if you are going to come with us? What you say makes no sense! You are only trying to use words to confuse us, as usual! You will stay here if I have knock you unconscious to make sure that you do!” His hands tightened about his halberd.
“You can try,” Richard the Red replied with a smile.
Bastian walked over to Martin and leaned in to whisper, “Get the others to go with you out the portal. I will do my best to delay them.” He ripped a patch from his Wayfarer’s Robe and in a moment was holding bottle of wine. He walked towards Razzle offering some.
“Let’s just do the job,” Logan said, turning to Richard and pulling his sword. “I told you talking wouldn’t accomplish anything.”
“Let’s just go,” Martin said to Ratchis, turning to him.
“I am not sure we can leave without making sure Richard and his companions will stay,” Ratchis said, turning to the others, but then quickly turning back to Martin. The half-orc scooped up the gawky watch-mage and began to carry him towards the portal behind them.
“Manus mentallus forsus!” Richard cast his spell, and a huge disembodied hand appeared between Ratchis, Martin and the portal. “I’m sorry, but we can’t let you leave with that book.”
Roland leapt onto and over the table, pouncing at Richard the Red, but the watch-mage stepped aside deftly, avoiding the Bastite. Suddenly, Logan was tumbling towards Gunthar, sword in hand. The Neergaardian cried out, for even though Hornet was out and flashing in that moment, Logan caught him under the arm, sending a jet of blood down Gunthar’s chain shirt. (9)
Ratchis dropped Martin and clutched at the belt of chain links about his waist. “Nephthys, I call this prayer to you, that if this comes to bloodshed, let us smite our enemies more quickly!”
“Thoth, I call your prayers to this room to cancel those of Queen of Chaos!” Cordell cast a prayer as well, balancing the influence of the gods.
Gunthar’s short sword of speed flashed twice, scraping against Logan’s slower parries to draw blood. “I’m gonna stick this in you further than I stick my longsword in your momma!” Gunthar laughed. “I’ll teach you how to take a joke.”
“Lentus! Martin chanted, trying to withdraw from the great hand that kept pushing him away from the portal. Cordell’s movements were arrested.
“There is no reason for this to be happening!” Alexandra the Lavender put her hands in the air to call for calm.
Razzle ran past Roland, sticking the panther in the hindquarters as he went past. And then the half-elf swordsman flipped up onto the table, turning in mid-flight to face Kazrack, who was charging at him. But it was too late, and the rapier was too light a weapon to knock the halberd very far out alignment. Blood was drawn as Razzle was knocked back onto his rear.
“I think I’ll just stand in the corner and see if I can figure out who I think is right,” Sergio said quietly and side-stepped into a corner to do just that.
“The plan was to fall back,” Kazrack complained to his companions, swinging at the leaping Razzle. “But as soon as one way was blocked you all scattered!”
“You ran forward as well,” Bastian said, holding up his shield and readying his warhammer, but not joining the melee.
“Yes, well, I’m supposed to do that,” Kazrack replied.
“We should all fall back,” Bastian said. “Fighting here is not furthering our goals. Alexandra is right!”
“Lentus!” The Keepers of the Gate recognized the spell Richard the Red cast even as it was too late to do anything about it. Roland felt his movements slow for less than moment, but the effect was warded off by his ring of alacrity. (10) Kazrack, on the other hand, was not so lucky.
Roland leapt at Richard once again, and once again the wizard was too fast for him. The watch-mage spun around and looked to Ratchis who was calling to him.
“Richard! When are done taking the fight out of your companions, then we are going to have long talk!” And with that the Friar of Nephthys charged into the fight between Logan and Gunthar, cutting the young Herman-Lander deeply across the chest with his two-handed sword.
As Logan looked up in surprise, Gunthar’s sword found their openings and their former companion’s body jerked twice more.
Logan stumbled back and looked at Ratchis. “I would have left the fight between me and Gunthar,” he croaked. “I wouldn’t have tried to stop you…” As he crumpled forward Gunthar brought his long sword down cleaving the top of Logan’s head open.
“No!!!” Ratchis cried, shoving Gunthar away, but it was too late.
“No one tries to kill me and lives,” Gunthar spat, and grabbed at a deep cut in his shoulder. Ratchis noticed how much blood the Neergaardian had lost. Speaking of blood, Roland was noticing that the wound Razzle had dealt him was still oozing life steadily despite not being that big a cut..
He saw the half-elf leaping off the table at Kazrack, finding an opening between plates with his thin blade. The rapier whipped about at furious speed. Roland considered leaping into that fight, when he heard a familiar voice over the melee.
“Oh Divine Mother of Cats! Though who art as merciful as though art agile, hold that half-breed in place so that peace may prevail!”
Ratchis felt a spell wash over him, but his aura of freedom helped to protect him from the magic influence. (11)
“Norena?” Roland padded over to Alexandra the Lavender, as Cordell called on Thoth to dispel the slow spell on him.
Martin the Green continue to try to push past the huge disembodied hand to get to the portal, but it hovered with great speed to always interpose itself and push him back, not matter how he turned. “Lentus!” he cast again, and this time no one was effected. Bastian ran over to push the hand away from Martin to give the latter a chance to escape, but it was too strong.
Alexandra the Lavender’s form melted away to reveal Norena of Bast, with her tall svelte frame and sharply defined features. Her narrow green eyes outlined in black pencil sparkled and contrasted with her long curly red locks. She wore a simple low-cut maroon dress, and amber cat’s eye encased in gold on a fine chain just long enough to make the medallion draw more attention to the cut of the dress.
“Lies! Subterfuge! I knew we could not trust them all along!” Kazrack spat, swinging his halberd so hard that Razzle winced as the basket hilt of his rapier barely knocked it away.
“It wasn’t lies, silly!” Razzle replied, beginning to dance back just fast enough to keep the slowed Kazrack struggling to get blows in. “It was just using a face you could trust. What she said is still true. You can still trust us.”
“I never trusted you,” Kazrack replied. “But you can trust me when I say this: I will heal you when you are bleeding out on the ground from my halberd blows. I will not let you die.” And with that he scored a deep blow, but Razzle was able to roll with it tumbling back too fast for the dwarf to catch up. The swashbuckler drew out a glass vial and downed its contents. He threw the vial at Kazrack, laughing as his wounds closed, still dancing back and forth. His rapier buzzed.
Kazrack noticed the wounds from the rapier were still bleeding. (13)
Richard spoke a word and sprinkled a bit of diamond dust over his head.
Ratchis looked up at Gunthar from where he was confirming what he already knew, Logan was dead. “Go and help the others, and if you attack anyone else that is helpless I will kill you myself.”
“It was a miracle he lasted as long as he did,” Gunthar replied, choking down a flask of the Blood of Ashronk (12) “Someone was bound to kill that kid…” And with that he ran to aid Kazrack.
The Neergaardian reached him just as the dwarf was done calling on his gods to grant him bull’s strength, and they turned when they heard Richard said, “I’m sorry, but I’m forced to do this…” and followed it up with an arcane chant. A tumbling sphere of white cold came barreling at the two of them and then exploded in a million crystal shards. Gunthar was sent flying back on to his ass and was having a hard time getting back up, while Kazrack was able to crouch down and brace himself. His lungs burned from the cold, and bits of ice hung in his beard and he retreated to cast a spell of healing upon himself.
Cordell was getting back up from a hard blow dealt to him by Ratchis, crunching his armor in on one side, and slammed his heavy mace into the half-orc’s chin driving him back for a moment.
“Norena, I think we need to take a moment and have a philosophical discussion,” Roland said to his fellow priest. “But first I need to help my companions.”
“Oh yes, I agree,” Norena said smiling. “It seems like a very good compromise. And I think I will shift in a form I find a little more comfortable for these kinds of situations.” And with that her form began to melt and stretch and fur exploded from her skin. In half a moment, she was a long and lithe cat. Her form was dull reddish-yellow with black speckles, and had a deep chest and narrow waist. (14)
Roland leapt off towards Gunthar and cast a cure critical wounds spell on him. Norena leapt away and did the same for Razzle.
The dancing swordsman laughed and leapt back towards the still slowed dwarf, and Kazrack felt the sting of the rapier some more.
Cordell and Ratchis disengaged, both breathing heavy, and looking for an opening. They were close to evenly match in terms of skill, but the Librarian of Thoth had suffered a couple of heavy blows more than the half-orc. Martin the Green ran forward and managed to cast his greater invisibility spell on Ratchis before the great hand began to push him away again.
Bastian leapt over and yanked the watch-mage out of the way.
End of Session #98
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Notes:
(1) This session was played on Sunday, October 2nd, 2005.
(2) The Negative Material Plane is airless.
(3) After all that has happened, this is still just the third day in Hurgun’s Maze.
(4) DM’s Note: I made a secret Will save for him, but then allowed a Spot check to notice the Book before he opened it. Basically, he had retrieved it unconsciously, in a moment where the book was taking control.
(5) See Sessions #91 & 92
(6) She appeared way back in Session #7, but Martin talks about her all the time, and she appeared in Logan’s dream in Session #75.
(7) In the Third Age, an avatar of Rahkefet, ruled the Spice & Thread Islands (what is Thricia today) using two artifacts, the Orb of Might and the Crown of Might. He was called Agon the God-King.
(8) Norena of Bast and Alexandra the Lavender were once members of the same adventuring company, and are old friends.
(9) DM’s Note: Logan rolled a critical hit and did sneak attack damage against Gunthar; doing 22 hit points of damage.
(10) For information about the Ring of Alacrity, go here: http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Magical+Item+-+Ring+of+Alacrity
(11) DM’s Note: The version of the Friar of Nephthys class being used at the time awarded a +2 bonus to the priest against all mind-influencing spells. This ability has been changed since this session. For more info on Friars of Nephthys Characters go here: http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Friar+of+Nephthys+Characters
(12) You gotta love a Rapier of Wounding
(13) Ratchis gave Gunthar a couple of the clay vials at the Neergaardian’s insistence. For more info on the Blood of Ashronk potions, go here: http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Magical+Item+-+Blood+of+Ashronk
(14) A reddish cheetah
Session #98 (complete) (1)
Ratchis was creating a form of camp over near the empty chicken coop, as Kazrack laid down his prayer stone, annoyed that he could not determine the direction to the First Mountain. Bastian and Roland poked around the dry storage for something immediately edible, but Gunthar found some cooking wine and was drinking that despite the bleating protests of a monodrone. Sergio was whistling a tune as he filed at his nails sitting on a small barrel. Martin the Green walked over to Ratchis.
“So, we’ll rest here and tomorrow we go to the Dark Room?” he asked the Friar of Nephthys.
“No,” Ratchis replied, not looking up as he rolled out his hyenadon skin. “We’re going to the Audience Chamber.”
“And then to the Dark Room?”
Ratchis sighed. “Okay…”
“Not a guest area,” a tridrone said, in rising dissonant tones, as it approached Martin. “Cannot stay here.”
“Can you lead us to…”
“Air Room. Guest quarters… Follow,” the modron turned and walked towards one of the portals. The Keepers of the Gate quickly gathered their things to follow.
Ratchis noticed a duodrone directing two monodrones in lifting the still wrapped corpse of Ora-Amira-El. He ran over to shoo them away.
“Immolation of fiend corpse ordered,” the duodrone said.
“You’re going to burn it?” the half-orc asked.
“Affirmative.”
“Very well,” Ratchis replied. “I saw a pig in the frozen room. Do you think I could take it?”
“No authority to grant permission,” the duodrone replied, and continued what it was doing.
Ratchis shrugged and retrieving the frozen pig, he left with his companions. They were led back through the Dining Room and back to the Air Room with its cloud-like rooms. As the party prepared to get some sleep, modrons brought them large bowls of pork stew and large slabs of stale bread that Ratchis ate with relish.
“What did you do with that pig?” Roland asked as the Keepers of the Gate gathered in one large room to talk and eat.
“I put it in one of the smaller rooms and realizing I could control the temperature of the room by willing it, I made it as warm as I could and left the pig in there to thaw,” Ratchis replied.
“Chopping up the pig will make it thaw faster,” Kazrack said.
“I need to be able to cut it open carefully,” Ratchis explained. “I want the bladder. I was thinking we might fill it with air and figure out a way for Martin to use it to breathe while in the Negative Material Plane.” (2)
Martin’s head drooped and he shook it slowly back and forth. “There is no point, Ratchis… I have acclimated myself to the reality of my fate…”
“Well, I have not,” Ratchis replied. “And while we can still try, we should try…”
“I agree,” Kazrack said. “It makes no sense to me for this human god to put a task upon you that you can only accomplish by dying, and hold death over your head to get you to do it…”
“The ways of the gods are ever mysterious to us mortals,” Roland said.
“Can we stop talking about this?” Martin said. “In fact, I am going to get some sleep. Tomorrow, I die… And nothing is going to change that.”
The watch-mage rose and left.
“Poor Martin…” Bastian said quietly.
“Yeah,” said Gunthar, slurping down the last of his stew. “He’s going to die a virgin.”
Ratchis punched the Neergaardian in the arm.
After the modrons had cleared away the bowls, everyone bedded down. The half-orc took the first watch and woke Gunthar to take the second.
“Everything’s fine,” Gunthar grumbled, rolling over. “We already saved the world. Get some shut-eye…”
Ratchis nudged him again.
“Alright…” But the Neergaardian did not get up. Ratchis kicked him this time.
“Snuffles! It’s alright. I close my eyes in order to hear better,” Gunthar said, and he was kicked again. He sat up and rubbed his eyes and looked up at the half-orc. “You know, I bet there was a time you used to get kicked…”
“There are too many random factors for us to sleep here unprotected,” Ratchis said as he walked off to claim his spot.
After he had heard Ratchis’ snoring for a few minutes, Gunthar shook Bastian awake.
“Your turn to take watch,” he said to the bearded warrior. “Snuffles and I have been up half the night watching and he finally just zonked out. Watch out for monsters, or whatever…”
Gunthar went back to sleep.
Tholem, the 4th of Ese – 565 H.E. (3)
In what they assumed was morning, the Keepers of the Gate awoke to a cube-shaped quadrone trilled a loud rolling click that drew them all out into the main area of the Air Room.
“I am designated Four of Six,” the quadrone said. The thing had the most human-like face of all the modrons, but it was disturbingly over-sized, and its mouth enunciated words in an exaggerated fashion. I am to bring you to the Dining Room to have a meal, and then to the Audience Chamber to speak with the Decaton.”
“Thank you, Four,” Roland said.
“I am designated Four of Six,” the quadrone repeated.
“Four of Six, we still need to prepare our spells,” Martin the Green said walking over. “Would it be okay if we did that first before coming with you?”
“I am to wait at your leisure,” the modron replied. It walked on its six legs to stand by one of the portals.
Martin moved to one corner and began to draw his spellbooks from his bags. Kazrack walked over to him.
“Martin, I was thinking we should discuss what spells we might prepare in hopes of finding some that might be cast before your journey to the realm of Void,” Kazrack said. “Something that will help you survive…”
“It is pointless,” Martin replied, looking up. “I am going to prepare some spells the best I can, but there is nothing anyone can do to help me avoid my fate.”
“But what if we use the Cube?” Kazrack said, referring to the Wurfel Kraft.
“It won’t help,” Martin replied. He raised his hands in frustration and then drew his knees up to his disfigured face, clutching a spellbook close to his chest.
“But Martin, I don’t see why you are so resigned…” Kazrack began, but Roland drew the dwarf away.
“Leave him alone, Kazrack,” the Bastite said. “He has a heavy heart because he knows he is going to die. The only way you can help is by being quiet and supportive.”
Kazrack sputtered in disbelief for a few moments as the priest of Bast stared him down, but he left the mage alone.
Martin the Green sighed and slid his legs back down, but as he reached to open the spellbook on his lap, he flinched and gasped and then pushed it away as if it were a spider crawling on him.
It was the Book of Black Circles. (4)
Sighing again, he picked up the book and slid it back into its sleeve and into a backpack, and proceeded to prepare his spells.
-----------------------------------------
Later, after a meal of bland porridge and more stale bread in the dining room, but with lots of wine to wash it down with, Four of Six made to lead them to talk to the decaton.
“I am going to go back to the Air Room and work on that bladder some more,” Ratchis said. Martin rolled his eyes, but said nothing. After checking with the modrons, he went back through the proper portal, while the others were led to the Earth Room.
The Audience Chamber did not have as many modrons in the tiered seats as it did the very first time the Keepers of the Gate visited it. However, there were about a dozen or so of mixed types, including two pentadrones flanking the decaton up on the balcony.
“Martin the Green and the Keepers of the Gate,” Martin heard the decaton polytonal voice in his head. “Pardon my malfunction. Voice operations need repair. Only telepathic contact possible. Re-assimilation through Modron Station must wait. Must ask Keepers of the Gate questions. Questions have primacy over instructions regarding Plane of Time. Martin the Green must relay to companions.”
Martin explained to the others about the decaton being unable to speak, but expressed his confusion as to what the rest of it meant.
“Why will we not be getting instructions?” Martin asked.
“Your other companion is not with you, ” the decaton responded telepathically.
“He is working on creating a device he hopes will help me survive the quest that I came here for,” Martin responded. “But still… Why no instruction?”
“Time is short. Time has past. And now there are other intruders in Hurgun’s Maze . In the guise of orcs. Not orcs,” the decaton said. “They must not be allowed to reach the Control Room. The modrons must attend to their stations for travel to Plane of Time. You must do this thing. Do you know this other party? ”
“We can guess who they are,” Martin replied, and then paraphrased what the decaton said to the others.
The modrons in the tiered seats began to file out.
“Can we have one of your servants retrieve our companion?” Martin asked. The decaton agreed, and a few minutes later Ratchis arrived, his pig bladder breathing contraption not in any kind of working condition. Martin conveyed what the decaton had told him.
“Ask him when the trip into the plane of time is to begin,” Kazrack said to Martin.
“It has already happened. It is about to happen. It may never happen,” the decaton replied.
Martin the Green shrugged his shoulders. “The answer has no meaning,” he told the others.
“Intruders are fighting the para-elemental guardians. Intruders are now entering Dining Room. No longer orcs. Please intercept,” the decaton was pressing the colored gems on the console before him with two of his ten tentacles about his spherical head. “Note, travel between chambers may be hazardous while in the plane of Time. Consequence algorithms too long to process.”
“Uh… About the guardians,” Martin replied, mentally. “Is there a way we might get past them?”
“Guardians are shut down for the journey. Other rogue elements may still be a danger. Please intercept. Behind you through portal to Entrance Room. Left to Dining Room. Intercept.” The decaton pointed with three of his tentacles. “Do not allow them into Control Room. Free Hurgun.”
Martin nodded and told the others.
“Let’s get this over with,” Kazrack said. Bastian handed Sergio a short sword, since the bard still had no weapon.
The Keepers of the Gate filed through the portal they had first passed through when entering the Audience Chamber and found themselves back in the Entrance Room. The central column holding the spiral stair out of the Maze was in the process of rising, and the elements in the four corners roiled and burbled and bubbled and spat, much as they did before, but none of the figures came to life. They noticed the foul ooze freezing into geometric shapes every few moments was as large as it had been before it became the creature they had slain. It had somehow grown back. (5)
They passed between the ooze and the ice and then turned left to walk through the portal between the ooze and the magma. Kazrack went through first, followed closely by Martin.
The Dining Room’s many crystal chandeliers glowed like mini-suns as the Keepers of the Gate entered. The tables had been straightened and recovered with cloths. While some of the surrounding cases holding the plate and cutlery sets were still broken, all the shattered glass had been cleared away.
There were a group of humans gathered around the longest table. Some were sitting, and others paced nearby, one was sitting up on the table itself, feet on a chair. The man sitting on the table wore black leather pants with bright yellow stripes, and a shirt to match. He was slight man in a with a wide-brimmed feathered hat, with long slicked-back bluish-gray hair, sharp powdered features, bright white teeth and the slightest point to his thin ears. It was Razzle Greyish.
There was a tall man in a breast plate with a nasty-looking mace at his side. He wore a tunic with a golden ankh emblazoned on an open tome. A similar sigil was a golden holy symbol about his neck. It was hard to recognize his features beneath his helmet with its long ankh-shaped noseguard, but it was clearly Cordell of Thoth.
One of the pacing ones turned and noticed Kazrack and then Martin as they came them through. He was a young man with olive skin, square jaw and lean stature of a Herman-Lander. He was a few inches shorter than six feet tall, and had close cropped black curls on his head. The few mousy whiskers on his chin showed his youth. He wore travel-stained black studded leather armor and his hand was quickly on the hilt of his sword. It was Logan Naismith. Martin frowned as he noticed their former companion was bare foot, and the bottoms of his pants appeared to have burned away some.
At the head of the table was a tall woman. She was lithe and pale, with her long light brown hair in a single thick braid that fell down her back. She had a freckled face that was just barely on the pretty side of plain. She wore robes of various shades of lavender and had a staff on the table before her. It was Alexandra the Lavender. (6)
Standing beside her was a familiar figure in billowing robes of varying shades of crimson. He had bright green eyes and long curly auburn hair. His beard had tiny glints of brighter red in it. He wore a short sword at his side. It was Richard the Red.
The rogue watch-mage turned to see the Keepers of the Gate entering the room.
“Richard! We were sent to find you!” Kazrack announced, hefting his halberd.
“Ah! There you are!” Richard the Red smiled and began to walk in their direction, looking to his companions. “Didn’t I say that if we waited here long enough they would come find us? It made no sense to wander about.” He looked pointedly at Razzle.
The swordsman leapt to his feet and danced on the table, bowing to Martin the Green as he doffed his hat.
“Welcome to Hurgun’s Maze,” Martin announced, as the last of his companions slipped into the room, fanning out a bit. Roland immediately changed into his panther-form. “I’m afraid you’ve come at a metaphysically awkward time.”
“Martin the Green! It is good to that you have found us. There is much of import we must discuss before it is too late,” Alexandra said, standing.
“Alexandra! I must say I am very surprised to see you here,” Martin replied.
“I realized I needed to come myself when I discovered more information about the Book of Black Circles,” Alexandra explained. “I was able to contact Richard the Red and tell him some of it, but I could not risk letting you know too soon, in case…”
“In case what?” Martin asked. Gunthar gave Logan a wink, tracing out the edge of the pommel of his short sword, Hornet. He pointed at the young warrior’s bare feet and let out a breathy laugh.
Ratchis stepped towards the raised area in one corner of the Dining Room, where Logan had moved to, scowling at Gunthar, while Kazrack walked into the room a ways in the opposite direction. Roland pawed his way forward along the left side of the long table. Cordell of Thoth looked down at the panther warily as the Bastite approached. Razzle leapt off the table in an impressive somersault when Richard admonished him to get down.
“I think Alexandra is having difficulty getting to the specifics of the matter because of how difficult it will be accept,” Richard explained. “I would not have accepted it so readily, but if Alexandra the Lavender thinks something difficult to accept must be done, well then… Most likely it must be done. You see, she has figured out that you must not destroy the Book of Black Circles.”
There was a long silence as Martin the Green stared at Richard the Red, and then re-positioned the glare to rest on Alexandra the Lavender for a moment as well. Ratchis whispered to Nephthys to grant him the ability to detect charm, expecting to see the familiar aura about the watch-mage of Bountiful, but there was none.
“Well, I guess there is something to be said for your blunt approach, Richard,” Alexandra smirked. She turned back to Martin, coming around the table. Roland continued to creep towards the watch-mage, sniffing. “But, Martin, what he has said is essentially the case. Have you ever wondered why the Brotherhood of the Lost allowed you to have the book?”
“They did not allow me,” Martin replied. “We took it from the gear of some monks we defeated in the Pit of Bones.”
“Fine. Well, why did they not send forces after you to retrieve their book?” Alexandra asked.
“It is possible they did and they never found us,” Martin said. “But more likely, since Rahkefet is patron of those who have gone astray, they hoped I would be corrupted by the Book of Black Circles and fulfill some precept of their god…”
“Yes, that is likely, but only a happy bonus for their twisted order,” Alexandra replied. “However, I have discovered there is more to it than that. The destruction of the Book of Black Circles in the negative material plane unlocks a great celestial chain that keeps Rahkefet from extending his power into this plane. It completes the events needed for him to become a god as his kin are gods.”
“Why would Osiris want Rahkefet to be free?” Kazrack sputtered, interrupting. “The more I hear of this human god, the more I think you all are duped to call this god ‘good’.”
“What I call good and what you call good can be different and both still be right,” Ratchis said, sighing. “This may be wisdom beyond what any of us can grasp.”
“So what am I supposed to do?” Martin asked. “Disobey Osiris and die? And who knows what will happen if I die while in possession of the Book?”
“Destroying the book will most likely kill you as well,” Richard said.
“I have resigned myself to that,” Martin replied.
“Be that as it may, do you really want to be responsible for the freeing of an evil god?” Richard asked.
”His power has been kept at bay since the time of Agon the God-King (7), it must remain that way,” Alexandra the Lavender said. “Marchosias the Corruptor, however, terrible he may be, is a mortal threat. If we must choose between evil…”
“Are you suggesting I allow the Book of Black Circles to corrupt me?” Martin was agog.
“Not purposefully,” Richard said. “But it is inevitable.”
“Richard, this reminds me of an episode with drow witches about a year ago,” Ratchis said.
“In Richard’s defense,” Kazrack coughed, obviously pained to say it. “The argument makes sense. We cannot not allow the power of an evil god to enter the world and lead people astray.”
“If it be Osiris’ will…” Ratchis began.
“I am Roland of Bast,” Roland said, still in panther-form, as he sat before Alexandra. “We have met before briefly. I am a friend of your former companion, Norena of Bast. (8) You wouldn’t happen to know where she is?”
“She has not been seen since she left to reconnoiter the orcs force,” Richard replied for the watch-mage, but Alexandra nodded. “There has been no response to our sendings.”
“Where’s Dorn?” Logan was asking Ratchis.
“Dorn has passed,” Ratchis replied.
“Kazrack killed him,” Gunthar said, smiling.
“Shut up, Gunthar,” Ratchis said.
“And we liked him ten times more than we like a little pissant like you, so you better watch yourself,” the Neergaardian continued, jerking a thumb in Ratchis’ direction. “I mean, Snuffles here doesn’t take kindly to betrayal.”
“Shut up, Gunthar,” Ratchis said again, but he looked to Logan. “Why did you leave?”
“After talking with Richard and thinking on the matter, I realized the course of action that needed to be taken and that I needed to work with a group who actually takes action instead of pissing and moaning about it for hours before doing so,” Logan replied, but his tone did not match his words. They seemed sadder. He looked up and sneered at Gunthar once more.
Bastian walked over to Richard the Red and they shook hands friendlily. “It is always good to see you, Richard,” Bastian said. “It is a shame we end up on the opposite sides of this issue.”
“It need not be that way,” Richard replied quietly with a smile. Bastian smiled back and shook his head.
“How did you get in here, anyway?” Bastian asked the crimson-robed mage.
“We found the entrance on the Earth Tower after spending a couple days in the guise of orcs, wandering the fortress above,” Richard explained.
Roland called Martin over to where he was sitting in front of Alexandra. He had only met the watch-mage of Bountiful once or twice, but still there was something not right about here that he could not lay a paw on. He hoped Martin might have a better clue.
Martin walked over explaining to Richard and his companions how the Hurgun’s Maze was entering the plane of Time “I am not even sure what the consequences will be anywhere in the Maze once we are in the Plane of Time,” he said. “But we need to go to the Control Room, if we are to expel or destroy the elemental.”
“Very well, we will come with you,” Richard said. “I would love to see the Control Room of the legendary Hurgun’s Maze.”
“That cannot be allowed,” Kazrack announced. “The decaton who rules the creatures that serve Hurgun has said as much and we have given our word that we would not allow it.”
Richard sighed. Martin walked back over near Ratchis at the half-orc’s signal. The friar of Nephthys was trying to draw the attention of all of his companions to get them to withdraw towards the portal they had come through.
“You should stay here for your own protection,” Ratchis said. “If we fail in our task it may be up to you, however misguided you are, to try to fix the situation.”
“Surely some compromise can be reached?” Alexandra said. “What if Martin were to stay here and continue to talk with us while the rest of you deal with this threat?”
“No,” Ratchis replied.
“Would you be willing to swear to return here to discuss the Book of Black Circles before going on to destroy it?” Richard suggested. “In order to give us a chance to convince you of the proper course of action?”
“Well, that seems reasonable…” Martin began.
“No,” Ratchis said again. “If you want to convince him, do it now and quickly. We can make no promise to return here, especially if it turns out we have a limited window of opportunity to find the Dark Room and send Martin through the gate there.”
“What is the source of this information regarding Rahkefet and the Book of Black Circles?” Martin asked Alexandra.
“The Book of Agon,” the watch-mage replied. “A rare tome kept up to date by the Librarians of Thoth in Moon City. Of which I am fortunate enough to have a few pages copied directly from it. And then there was the information of a fallen monk of Anubis who revered Rahkefet, that repented his actions… I can show you the pages and go over the confession in detail, if you like…”
“I am not sure we have the time,” Martin replied. “The decaton mentioned traveling between rooms will be dangerous once we are in the plane of time, we should make our way to the Control Room. I give my word I shall return…”
Ratchis grunted his disapproval.
“I think perhaps we should come with you anyway,” Richard said.
“But you just said…”
“But I did not know about the danger of passing through the portals,” Richard explained. “We cannot risk losing track of you now that we have found you. It is not that I do not trust your word, Martin, but you may end up being unable to return.
Kazrack began to froth with anger. “Why should we have to return if you are going to come with us? What you say makes no sense! You are only trying to use words to confuse us, as usual! You will stay here if I have knock you unconscious to make sure that you do!” His hands tightened about his halberd.
“You can try,” Richard the Red replied with a smile.
Bastian walked over to Martin and leaned in to whisper, “Get the others to go with you out the portal. I will do my best to delay them.” He ripped a patch from his Wayfarer’s Robe and in a moment was holding bottle of wine. He walked towards Razzle offering some.
“Let’s just do the job,” Logan said, turning to Richard and pulling his sword. “I told you talking wouldn’t accomplish anything.”
“Let’s just go,” Martin said to Ratchis, turning to him.
“I am not sure we can leave without making sure Richard and his companions will stay,” Ratchis said, turning to the others, but then quickly turning back to Martin. The half-orc scooped up the gawky watch-mage and began to carry him towards the portal behind them.
“Manus mentallus forsus!” Richard cast his spell, and a huge disembodied hand appeared between Ratchis, Martin and the portal. “I’m sorry, but we can’t let you leave with that book.”
Roland leapt onto and over the table, pouncing at Richard the Red, but the watch-mage stepped aside deftly, avoiding the Bastite. Suddenly, Logan was tumbling towards Gunthar, sword in hand. The Neergaardian cried out, for even though Hornet was out and flashing in that moment, Logan caught him under the arm, sending a jet of blood down Gunthar’s chain shirt. (9)
Ratchis dropped Martin and clutched at the belt of chain links about his waist. “Nephthys, I call this prayer to you, that if this comes to bloodshed, let us smite our enemies more quickly!”
“Thoth, I call your prayers to this room to cancel those of Queen of Chaos!” Cordell cast a prayer as well, balancing the influence of the gods.
Gunthar’s short sword of speed flashed twice, scraping against Logan’s slower parries to draw blood. “I’m gonna stick this in you further than I stick my longsword in your momma!” Gunthar laughed. “I’ll teach you how to take a joke.”
“Lentus! Martin chanted, trying to withdraw from the great hand that kept pushing him away from the portal. Cordell’s movements were arrested.
“There is no reason for this to be happening!” Alexandra the Lavender put her hands in the air to call for calm.
Razzle ran past Roland, sticking the panther in the hindquarters as he went past. And then the half-elf swordsman flipped up onto the table, turning in mid-flight to face Kazrack, who was charging at him. But it was too late, and the rapier was too light a weapon to knock the halberd very far out alignment. Blood was drawn as Razzle was knocked back onto his rear.
“I think I’ll just stand in the corner and see if I can figure out who I think is right,” Sergio said quietly and side-stepped into a corner to do just that.
“The plan was to fall back,” Kazrack complained to his companions, swinging at the leaping Razzle. “But as soon as one way was blocked you all scattered!”
“You ran forward as well,” Bastian said, holding up his shield and readying his warhammer, but not joining the melee.
“Yes, well, I’m supposed to do that,” Kazrack replied.
“We should all fall back,” Bastian said. “Fighting here is not furthering our goals. Alexandra is right!”
“Lentus!” The Keepers of the Gate recognized the spell Richard the Red cast even as it was too late to do anything about it. Roland felt his movements slow for less than moment, but the effect was warded off by his ring of alacrity. (10) Kazrack, on the other hand, was not so lucky.
Roland leapt at Richard once again, and once again the wizard was too fast for him. The watch-mage spun around and looked to Ratchis who was calling to him.
“Richard! When are done taking the fight out of your companions, then we are going to have long talk!” And with that the Friar of Nephthys charged into the fight between Logan and Gunthar, cutting the young Herman-Lander deeply across the chest with his two-handed sword.
As Logan looked up in surprise, Gunthar’s sword found their openings and their former companion’s body jerked twice more.
Logan stumbled back and looked at Ratchis. “I would have left the fight between me and Gunthar,” he croaked. “I wouldn’t have tried to stop you…” As he crumpled forward Gunthar brought his long sword down cleaving the top of Logan’s head open.
“No!!!” Ratchis cried, shoving Gunthar away, but it was too late.
“No one tries to kill me and lives,” Gunthar spat, and grabbed at a deep cut in his shoulder. Ratchis noticed how much blood the Neergaardian had lost. Speaking of blood, Roland was noticing that the wound Razzle had dealt him was still oozing life steadily despite not being that big a cut..
He saw the half-elf leaping off the table at Kazrack, finding an opening between plates with his thin blade. The rapier whipped about at furious speed. Roland considered leaping into that fight, when he heard a familiar voice over the melee.
“Oh Divine Mother of Cats! Though who art as merciful as though art agile, hold that half-breed in place so that peace may prevail!”
Ratchis felt a spell wash over him, but his aura of freedom helped to protect him from the magic influence. (11)
“Norena?” Roland padded over to Alexandra the Lavender, as Cordell called on Thoth to dispel the slow spell on him.
Martin the Green continue to try to push past the huge disembodied hand to get to the portal, but it hovered with great speed to always interpose itself and push him back, not matter how he turned. “Lentus!” he cast again, and this time no one was effected. Bastian ran over to push the hand away from Martin to give the latter a chance to escape, but it was too strong.
Alexandra the Lavender’s form melted away to reveal Norena of Bast, with her tall svelte frame and sharply defined features. Her narrow green eyes outlined in black pencil sparkled and contrasted with her long curly red locks. She wore a simple low-cut maroon dress, and amber cat’s eye encased in gold on a fine chain just long enough to make the medallion draw more attention to the cut of the dress.
“Lies! Subterfuge! I knew we could not trust them all along!” Kazrack spat, swinging his halberd so hard that Razzle winced as the basket hilt of his rapier barely knocked it away.
“It wasn’t lies, silly!” Razzle replied, beginning to dance back just fast enough to keep the slowed Kazrack struggling to get blows in. “It was just using a face you could trust. What she said is still true. You can still trust us.”
“I never trusted you,” Kazrack replied. “But you can trust me when I say this: I will heal you when you are bleeding out on the ground from my halberd blows. I will not let you die.” And with that he scored a deep blow, but Razzle was able to roll with it tumbling back too fast for the dwarf to catch up. The swashbuckler drew out a glass vial and downed its contents. He threw the vial at Kazrack, laughing as his wounds closed, still dancing back and forth. His rapier buzzed.
Kazrack noticed the wounds from the rapier were still bleeding. (13)
Richard spoke a word and sprinkled a bit of diamond dust over his head.
Ratchis looked up at Gunthar from where he was confirming what he already knew, Logan was dead. “Go and help the others, and if you attack anyone else that is helpless I will kill you myself.”
“It was a miracle he lasted as long as he did,” Gunthar replied, choking down a flask of the Blood of Ashronk (12) “Someone was bound to kill that kid…” And with that he ran to aid Kazrack.
The Neergaardian reached him just as the dwarf was done calling on his gods to grant him bull’s strength, and they turned when they heard Richard said, “I’m sorry, but I’m forced to do this…” and followed it up with an arcane chant. A tumbling sphere of white cold came barreling at the two of them and then exploded in a million crystal shards. Gunthar was sent flying back on to his ass and was having a hard time getting back up, while Kazrack was able to crouch down and brace himself. His lungs burned from the cold, and bits of ice hung in his beard and he retreated to cast a spell of healing upon himself.
Cordell was getting back up from a hard blow dealt to him by Ratchis, crunching his armor in on one side, and slammed his heavy mace into the half-orc’s chin driving him back for a moment.
“Norena, I think we need to take a moment and have a philosophical discussion,” Roland said to his fellow priest. “But first I need to help my companions.”
“Oh yes, I agree,” Norena said smiling. “It seems like a very good compromise. And I think I will shift in a form I find a little more comfortable for these kinds of situations.” And with that her form began to melt and stretch and fur exploded from her skin. In half a moment, she was a long and lithe cat. Her form was dull reddish-yellow with black speckles, and had a deep chest and narrow waist. (14)
Roland leapt off towards Gunthar and cast a cure critical wounds spell on him. Norena leapt away and did the same for Razzle.
The dancing swordsman laughed and leapt back towards the still slowed dwarf, and Kazrack felt the sting of the rapier some more.
Cordell and Ratchis disengaged, both breathing heavy, and looking for an opening. They were close to evenly match in terms of skill, but the Librarian of Thoth had suffered a couple of heavy blows more than the half-orc. Martin the Green ran forward and managed to cast his greater invisibility spell on Ratchis before the great hand began to push him away again.
Bastian leapt over and yanked the watch-mage out of the way.
End of Session #98
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Notes:
(1) This session was played on Sunday, October 2nd, 2005.
(2) The Negative Material Plane is airless.
(3) After all that has happened, this is still just the third day in Hurgun’s Maze.
(4) DM’s Note: I made a secret Will save for him, but then allowed a Spot check to notice the Book before he opened it. Basically, he had retrieved it unconsciously, in a moment where the book was taking control.
(5) See Sessions #91 & 92
(6) She appeared way back in Session #7, but Martin talks about her all the time, and she appeared in Logan’s dream in Session #75.
(7) In the Third Age, an avatar of Rahkefet, ruled the Spice & Thread Islands (what is Thricia today) using two artifacts, the Orb of Might and the Crown of Might. He was called Agon the God-King.
(8) Norena of Bast and Alexandra the Lavender were once members of the same adventuring company, and are old friends.
(9) DM’s Note: Logan rolled a critical hit and did sneak attack damage against Gunthar; doing 22 hit points of damage.
(10) For information about the Ring of Alacrity, go here: http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Magical+Item+-+Ring+of+Alacrity
(11) DM’s Note: The version of the Friar of Nephthys class being used at the time awarded a +2 bonus to the priest against all mind-influencing spells. This ability has been changed since this session. For more info on Friars of Nephthys Characters go here: http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Friar+of+Nephthys+Characters
(12) You gotta love a Rapier of Wounding
(13) Ratchis gave Gunthar a couple of the clay vials at the Neergaardian’s insistence. For more info on the Blood of Ashronk potions, go here: http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Magical+Item+-+Blood+of+Ashronk
(14) A reddish cheetah
