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Story Hour
"Second Son of a Second Son" - An Aquerra Story Hour (*finally* Updated 04/19)
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<blockquote data-quote="el-remmen" data-source="post: 4438647" data-attributes="member: 11"><p><strong>Session #25 – “Smoke & Ruin” (part 2 of 3)</strong></p><p></p><p>Bleys, Timotheus, Victoria, Markos and Telémahkos made their way up to the third floor of Jakos’ tower. The stairs opened onto a dimly lit broad hallway decorated with dark wood paneling and cutting across the tower from east to west. To the right, the hall went twenty feet to large oaken double doors carved with the relief of a city upon a mountain surrounded by storm clouds.[sup]1[/sup] To the left the there was an alcove that led to another smaller oaken door. Across the hall was a linen closet, which Telémahkos checked out first.</p><p></p><p>“I would bet money that we are going to have to go through those double doors,” Markos said, as he and the other came into the hall. Bleys moved to the door in the alcove and Telémahkos cut him off. “Let me check it first!” he hissed. Markos came over and watched as Telémahkos inspected the seam, the floor in front of it, and then began to examine the lock, pulling a bundle of narrow tools from his sash.</p><p></p><p>“What does that one do?” Markos leaned in close and badgered Telémahkos with a plethora of questions regarding picking the lock. Victoria was standing facing the double doors while Timotheus kept watch at the top of the stairs.</p><p></p><p>“Markos… Move away,” Telémahkos said. After a minute’s work, he felt the lock click and he stood and backed away from the door. “It is unlocked,” he told the others.</p><p></p><p>“Aren’t you going to open it?” Markos asked.</p><p></p><p>“No… I checked it… I think it is free of traps, but… you never know…” Telémahkos answered. Bleys brushed past him and turned the knob. There was a sound like rushing wind and a blast of frost blasted out of the doorway, sending the watch-mage reeling. He huddled against the wall blue and shivering.</p><p></p><p>“Quick! Everyone huddle around him! Warm him up!” Timotheus ran over and wrapped his arms around Bleys holding his cloak around him and rubbing up and down. </p><p></p><p>“I am fine…” Bleys croaked, he pushed free of Tim’s bear hug and took a couple of staggered steps away. He shook his head clear and then stood up straight.</p><p></p><p>“Books!” Markos was looking into the room beyond, his eyes widening. “Spell… Books!” He lifted a foot to take a step in.</p><p></p><p>“Stop!” Bleys and Telémahkos said simultaneously. “There are bound to be more traps,” Bleys continued. “We may find answers in those tomes, but we must find Jakos before we risk looking into those.” Markos continued to look into the room longingly.</p><p></p><p>“It just struck me that Jakos may be possessed by whatever was possessing others like Laarus and Captain Firth,” Bleys said. “I need to change a spell I prepared… <em>protection from evil</em> will be more helpful. Stay alert.” And with that he sat at the top step, pulled his spellbook from his satchel and got to preparing a spell in place of another. [sup]2[/sup]</p><p></p><p>Telémahkos took this time to creep up to the double doors and press his ear to it. It took a moment to grow accustomed to the position and make out the faint chanting that was coming from the other side. The voice grew louder and there was a sound like rushing wind and a snarl. Telémahkos turned away from the door and alerted the others as he ran in their direction. “There is someone summoning a demon in there!” He cried, but it was too late. In that same moment the double doors burst open and through them leapt two of the dirty feral slashing creatures.</p><p></p><p>One of the little hulking monsters chased Telémahkos with its ape-like gait and tore into his backside with its black claws. Telémahkos yelped, and spun around, rapier in hand. “I can hold them back while we retreat!” he told his friends and he thrust the thin blade into the side of the creature’s head. It scrambled back, clawing at the blade, spitting and snarling. Telémahkos was startled when the second creature leapt past its companion to land on the fop’s left. He thrust awkwardly with his blade. The thing landed atop it, wrenching his arm with the weight of it, as he frantically yanked back to get into a defensive posture.</p><p></p><p>“Markos! Stay behind me!” Victoria moved around the skinny mage, spear thrust before her. “Anhur! Grant me strength!” She cried, calling on Anhur’s righteous fury. She shoved the other feral slasher away from Telémahkos with the tip of her spear, drawing blood as it was driven to the ground. [sup]3[/sup]</p><p></p><p>“Master Jakos!” Markos cupped his hands by his mouth as he yelled towards the open doors and moved to get down the steps. “We would parley! We have stolen nothing! We are here to help!”</p><p></p><p>Timotheus moved into the melee, ducking under Victoria’s spear to slash at the thing and drive it back before it could get at Telémahkos again. “Get out of Victoria’s way!” Telémahkos admonished his cousin, whipping <em>the Steel Whip</em> as he stepped towards the creatures and then deftly leapt and twisted to land behind them, flicking the blade on the back of the other’s head as it turned around.</p><p></p><p> The one on the ground scrambled to its feet, ignoring its opponents to its detriment. [sup]4[/sup] Tim, Telémahkos and Victoria all drove their weapons into its muscular body. It screamed and snarled and sunk its huge teeth into the flesh of Timotheus’ calf.</p><p></p><p>“Stay down beast!” Victoria grunted stabbing it in the side again. Blood spurted everywhere and its organs pulsed with savage life. It would not die.</p><p></p><p>Bleys, still gravely injured from the ward upon the door, hung back reaching for one of the spears on Victoria’s back, but she moved with too much speed and violence and could not get at it. [sup]5[/sup]</p><p></p><p>“Master of the Tower!” Marko continued to call over the sound of crunching sinew, tearing flesh, the knock of weapons and the snarls and barks of the slashers. He also loaded his crossbow. “Hear me! We come to aid you! Call off your guardians!”</p><p></p><p>“Ah-ha!” Timotheus grinned as he cracked the skull of one the creatures and it finally fell dead.</p><p></p><p>“Stand down and tell me what happened to Tellum and Crispin and I shall send my creatures away!” Bleys looked up. He had finally grabbed a spear. Standing in the doorway was a tall old man with long white hair and beard. He wore long red robes, and his skin was weathered and cragged. He had twinkling blue eyes. He had foreign accent, like a lilting sing-song to his pronunciation of Thrician common.</p><p></p><p>Telémahkos was busy keeping the remaining slasher at bay. He turned to put it between him and Tim, and it clawed him. “I will be more than happy to stand down as soon as these things stop trying to kill me!”</p><p></p><p>“We will stand down, but are force to defend ourselves against your minions,” Markos called back as Victoria shouldered her way between Timotheus and Telémahkos to drive her spear into the arm of the remaining creature, momentarily pinned the arm to its body. Timotheus took advantage of its pained distraction to thrust his sabre through its throat, killing it. It, like the others, melted into an icy puddle.</p><p></p><p>“You are Jakos?” Bleys the Aubergine asked the old man.</p><p></p><p>“I am Jakos Ilmari,” he answered. Victoria of Anhur shuddered and braced herself against the wall as she came out of her holy rage.</p><p></p><p>“Tellum said you unleashed the plague of insomnia,” Bleys said.</p><p></p><p>“Where is Tellum? I hope he is not hurt…” Jakos replied.</p><p></p><p>“We had to subdue him,” Markos answered. “It was the other that suffered more grievous wounds, but our priests tended to him and he is stabilized and being looked after by my cousin, Laarus of Ra.”</p><p></p><p>“Speaking of Laarus, does he have your leave to enter the tower?” Telémahkos asked as politely as he could. “He did not want to enter the premises without permission…”</p><p></p><p>“I assume you represent some authority?” Jakos asked.</p><p></p><p>“I am the current watch-mage assigned to Sluetelot,” Bleys replied. </p><p></p><p>Jakos reached under his beard and scratched. His eyes were bloodshot and there were dark puffy circles beneath them. “I don’t see what different it makes now,” he said. “You all broke in already and apparently have the authority to do so… Have him come in…”</p><p></p><p>Telémahkos went downstairs and informed the young priest of Jakos’ permission. He helped Laarus carry the injured guardians back into the tower, before leading him back up to the others.</p><p></p><p>“Master Jakos, you have still not addressed my statement,” Bleys said sternly. “Is it true what Tellum said? Did you unleash the plague?”</p><p></p><p>“Yes… I did it. I had to…” He seemed to grow more haggard in the moment of admission. </p><p></p><p>“And why was that?”</p><p></p><p>“My experiments led to accidentally allowing a nightmare demon into our world,” Jakos explained. “It controls people and feeds off them when they sleep… The plague of insomnia was a way to keep it from running rampant and endangering people while I sought away to send it back… But so far, nothing viable…” </p><p></p><p>“How can we help?” Markos asked.</p><p></p><p>“There is no helping,” Jakos replied. “I have gone through my tomes for days, the only hope is an impossibility.”</p><p></p><p>“Tell us of this impossibility,” Markos said.</p><p></p><p>“No! Start from the beginning,” Bleys insisted.</p><p></p><p>Jakos Ilmari led them into his study. It was paneled in stained oak, with countless nooks and shelves along jutting stone supports for the tower’s outer wall, and tall narrow windows with panes of blue-tinted glass. There were streaks of ice from that which encased the tower above. The shelves were packed with books, jars, bottles, skulls of animals, knick-knacks, statuettes and a myriad of other strange little things shoved sloppily here and there. Jakos made his way around a large desk piled with dozens of tomes, opened to various pages and pinning down scrolls and long rolls of parchment. At one corner was an opaque crystal sphere about six inches across. Markos’ eyes grew wide. He cracked his knuckles and walked nonchalantly over to the desk to get a look at the bizarre writing on the pages. </p><p></p><p>The old wizard gestured to some stools, but no one sat down but him. He searched frantically for a moment and then pulled a pipe out from under a pile, snapped his fingers and took three long puffs, the herbs inside crackling. A minty smell filled the room.</p><p></p><p>“I was seeking a way to reach <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Untamo" target="_blank">Untamo</a>,” Jakos finally began to relay his tale to the impatient adventurers. “He is the lost god of sleep and dreams of the great north. My research led me to believe he was somewhere in the <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/The+Abyss" target="_blank">Abyss</a>, and when I discovered an incantation for piercing the veil to where he might be, that I might contact his power of prophecy for the first time in centuries, I tried it… Unfortunately, it seems that if he is where I hypothesize he is, he is guarded by these nightmare demons, or perhaps one demon that can send multiple aspects of itself though the rift I created and that threatened Sluetelot…”</p><p></p><p>He cleared his throat and continued, “As soon as I realized what had happened I used an item I had in storage to confine it to the roof which I had enclosed in the magical ice you must have seen atop the tower…”</p><p></p><p>“We thought the ice was in order to keep the fires at bay,” Timotheus said.</p><p></p><p>Jakos shook his head. “The secondary powers of the item I used proved useful in that regard, but that was just serendipity… However, the demon’s influence could still be extended beyond the rift, and the plague of insomnia was the quickest and most effect solution to the problem that I could think of…”</p><p></p><p>“How did you effect the plague?” Bleys asked.</p><p></p><p>“I had a ritual that summons it in one of the books on magic of the north I have been studying,” Jakos explained. Markos began to bite his bottom lip, eager to sate his curiosity regarding arcane magics. The old wizard continued, “I figured it would give me time to research a way to give it some kind of corporeal form so it can be banished or fought, but… but the only power I have been able to find that could accomplish this is impossible to find…”</p><p></p><p>“What is this power you need?” Markos asked.</p><p></p><p>“No!” Bleys froze his fellow mage with glare, and then he turned to Jakos. He was taking charge of the interrogation. “Why did you not send word to Havesting for help?”</p><p></p><p>“Or to the watch-mage’s council?” Laarus added.</p><p></p><p>“He thought he could…” Victoria began.</p><p></p><p>“Let him answer!” Telémahkos whined.</p><p></p><p>“There was no time to discuss the solution. I had to act quickly, and once the plague of insomnia was in place, there didn’t seem much point in involving the authorities… I mean, I was certain I could find a solution… And even if Barakis were not dead, he and I never got along… So, I wouldn’t go to him…”</p><p></p><p>“And because of that the blood of innocents is now on your hands,” Laarus replied.</p><p></p><p>“Let’s castigate him later…” Markos rolled his eyes.</p><p></p><p>“Did you not know that I was appointed interim watch-mage?” Bleys asked.</p><p></p><p>Jakos shook his head. “I am a recluse. My guardians and servants are my only real contact with the world beyond.”</p><p></p><p>“Can we ask about what he needs to banish this demon now?” There was an urge of pleading in Markos’ voice as he turned to Bleys. The watch-mage nodded, and the old wizard spoke. “I need ‘the blood and light’ of a member splinter group of Ra-worshipers who have not existed since the <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Time+of+the+Six+Kingdoms" target="_blank">Time of the Six Kingdoms</a>,” Jakos explained. “The Order of Epiphany’s Dawning…”</p><p></p><p>“I know the name, but not much else,” Bleys said. “Were they not a heretical cult?”</p><p></p><p>“They were named as such and eventually expelled from the <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Sunra+Kingdom" target="_blank">Sunra Kingdom</a>, but it was not always like that,” Jakos said. “They were an order that are said to have had <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Special+Feats#bloodofthemystics" target="_blank">the blood of the Mystics</a> and saw their powers as a reflection of that holy light within all good mortal beings as placed in the mind and heart by Ra himself…”</p><p></p><p>“The Blood of the Mystics…?” Markos asked.</p><p></p><p>“The Mystics were known for the powers of the their mind; their use of the third eye which is neither arcane, nor divine…” Jakos said.</p><p></p><p>“What? There are only two powers, the arcane and the divine,” Markos scoffed.</p><p></p><p>“It is sometimes called ‘psionics’, and I assure you that while rare, it is real and neither arcane, nor divine,” Jakos said. “But it is academic, the Order of Epiphany’s Dawning has not existed in fourteen centuries!”</p><p></p><p>“You need to let me read your notes and look over your research,” Markos said. “Uh… I mean, let <em>us</em> read them…”</p><p></p><p>“Can you read <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Language+-+Seriph" target="_blank">Seriph</a>?” Jakos asked, cocking an eyebrow.</p><p></p><p>“Seriph?” </p><p></p><p>“The language of the <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Northern+Reaches" target="_blank">Northern Reaches</a> and the people of the <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Kalevala" target="_blank">Kalevala</a>,” Jakos answered. Markos stood and turned one of the books on the desk around towards him. It was written in long boxes of a curling baroque script he did not recognize.</p><p></p><p>“Surely not all of your books are in this tongue?” Markos asked.</p><p></p><p>“All of the relevant ones…”</p><p></p><p>“What about Laarus? Maybe he has the blood…” Timotheus offered. </p><p></p><p>“I am not a member of this lost order,” Laarus protested.</p><p></p><p>“You can summon the light of Ra right? You…” Timotheus began.</p><p></p><p>“That will not be enough,” Jakos interrupted. “We need the blood, too…”</p><p></p><p>“I can only suggest that since there is no one here smarter than me… though some more knowledgeable,” Markos began, smiling at his companions, before looking back at Jakos “…that you share your knowledge with me and we can work towards a solution together…”</p><p></p><p>“If you remove the insomnia effect can we perhaps sleep and enter the dream world they dwell in?” Victoria suggested.</p><p></p><p>Jakos shook his head. “It doesn’t work that way…” [sup]6[/sup]</p><p></p><p>“If it will get rid of this demons I will offer up my blood for this purpose,” Laarus suddenly said.</p><p></p><p>“You are descended of the Mystics?” Jakos asked. </p><p></p><p>“I have some connection to them,” Laarus explained. “I receive visions…”</p><p></p><p>“Are you sure you are not suffering from dementia from lack of sleep?” Jakos asked.</p><p></p><p>“He’s always suffering from dementia,” Telémahkos winked. “But the visions are real… If not specific…”</p><p></p><p>Markos grumbled his unwillingness to accept the veracity of his cousin’s visions of the future.</p><p></p><p>“And he talked to an ancient Mystic oracle on the way back from the <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Disputed+Territories" target="_blank">Disputed Territories</a>,” Timotheus added. “Or rather, it talked through him…” [sup]7[/sup]</p><p></p><p>“I guess it is worth a try…” Jakos replied. “If his blood works and he summons the light of Ra we should be able to make it take a physical form and kill it…”</p><p></p><p>“Can demons be killed?” Telémahkos asked with trepidation in his voice.</p><p></p><p>“Oh sure!” Timotheus answered for the wizard. “You can kill those things! Heroes do it all the time in the stories!”</p><p></p><p>“This is just a piece of a larger and much more horrible creature that dwells in the Abyss,” Jakos explained. “Detached from the rest of its body, it should be defeatable… Essentially we will be forcing this sentient dark energy to return to its source, as it will be unable to withstand the amount of effort it needs to remain here and fight us at the same time.”</p><p></p><p>“Do we have time to recuperate before we try this?” Markos asked.</p><p></p><p>“The sooner we solve this problem, the sooner the people of Sluetelot will be out of danger from this demon and from themselves,” Bleys said.</p><p></p><p>“I have some potions…” Jakos said, standing. He walked out into the hall an to the door the party had opened earlier. “Oh! You set off my <em>glyph of warding</em>!”</p><p></p><p>“I’m good at that,” Bleys said flatly.[sup]8[/sup] He had followed the older wizard out into the hall.</p><p></p><p>Jakos returned with several glass vials and described their healing properties to the young nobles. They distributed them among themselves according to whom was most injured, and the final potion of <em>cure light wounds</em> was given to Markos. “If one of us goes down, use this,” Timotheus said as he handed it over.</p><p></p><p>Bleys the Aubergine expressed a desire to hold off the ritual that would coalesce the demon that he might change some of the spells he had prepared that day for others. There was some disagreement about taking the time for this, and Jakos seemed irritated with the watch-mage, but in the end the party insisted. </p><p></p><p>Markos retrieved some extra crossbows from the tower’s armory on the lower level with Jakos’ permission in preparation for the fight.</p><p></p><p><em>…to be continued…</em></p><p></p><p>----------------------------------------------------</p><p><strong>Notes:</strong></p><p></p><p>(1) This is a depiction of the Holy City of the Kalevala, home of <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Gods+of+the+Northern+Reaches" target="_blank">the gods of the Northern Reaches</a>, but not to be confused with the City-State of the Kalevala, which is a mortal city in north.</p><p></p><p>(2) In Aquerra, <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Wizards" target="_blank">wizards</a> may trade out an uncast prepared spell for another, but this takes 15 minutes per spell level.</p><p></p><p>(3) The <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Feral+Slasher" target="_blank">feral slasher</a> failed its save versus <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Knockdown" target="_blank">knockdown</a>.</p><p></p><p>(4) Getting up from a prone position draws an attack of opportunity if one does not use a full-round action to get up.</p><p></p><p>(5) Bleys needed to makes a touch attack against AC 10.</p><p></p><p>(6) As a side note, I originally considered writing the adventure to have the final battle occur in some kind of ‘dreamscape,’ but then rejected the idea as too “high magic” and out there for my players to enjoy and out of scope for the flavor of adventures at this level in the Aquerra setting. Surprisingly, more than one player said afterwards, that they would have been fine with that. Just goes to show how bad I am sometimes at predicting my players’ tastes and ideas.</p><p></p><p>(7) This is a reference to the Mind of Oberah. See Session #21</p><p></p><p>(8) Bleys us making a bitter and facetious reference to the <em>sepia snake sigil</em> he set off in Session #8.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="el-remmen, post: 4438647, member: 11"] [b]Session #25 – “Smoke & Ruin” (part 2 of 3)[/b] Bleys, Timotheus, Victoria, Markos and Telémahkos made their way up to the third floor of Jakos’ tower. The stairs opened onto a dimly lit broad hallway decorated with dark wood paneling and cutting across the tower from east to west. To the right, the hall went twenty feet to large oaken double doors carved with the relief of a city upon a mountain surrounded by storm clouds.[sup]1[/sup] To the left the there was an alcove that led to another smaller oaken door. Across the hall was a linen closet, which Telémahkos checked out first. “I would bet money that we are going to have to go through those double doors,” Markos said, as he and the other came into the hall. Bleys moved to the door in the alcove and Telémahkos cut him off. “Let me check it first!” he hissed. Markos came over and watched as Telémahkos inspected the seam, the floor in front of it, and then began to examine the lock, pulling a bundle of narrow tools from his sash. “What does that one do?” Markos leaned in close and badgered Telémahkos with a plethora of questions regarding picking the lock. Victoria was standing facing the double doors while Timotheus kept watch at the top of the stairs. “Markos… Move away,” Telémahkos said. After a minute’s work, he felt the lock click and he stood and backed away from the door. “It is unlocked,” he told the others. “Aren’t you going to open it?” Markos asked. “No… I checked it… I think it is free of traps, but… you never know…” Telémahkos answered. Bleys brushed past him and turned the knob. There was a sound like rushing wind and a blast of frost blasted out of the doorway, sending the watch-mage reeling. He huddled against the wall blue and shivering. “Quick! Everyone huddle around him! Warm him up!” Timotheus ran over and wrapped his arms around Bleys holding his cloak around him and rubbing up and down. “I am fine…” Bleys croaked, he pushed free of Tim’s bear hug and took a couple of staggered steps away. He shook his head clear and then stood up straight. “Books!” Markos was looking into the room beyond, his eyes widening. “Spell… Books!” He lifted a foot to take a step in. “Stop!” Bleys and Telémahkos said simultaneously. “There are bound to be more traps,” Bleys continued. “We may find answers in those tomes, but we must find Jakos before we risk looking into those.” Markos continued to look into the room longingly. “It just struck me that Jakos may be possessed by whatever was possessing others like Laarus and Captain Firth,” Bleys said. “I need to change a spell I prepared… [I]protection from evil[/I] will be more helpful. Stay alert.” And with that he sat at the top step, pulled his spellbook from his satchel and got to preparing a spell in place of another. [sup]2[/sup] Telémahkos took this time to creep up to the double doors and press his ear to it. It took a moment to grow accustomed to the position and make out the faint chanting that was coming from the other side. The voice grew louder and there was a sound like rushing wind and a snarl. Telémahkos turned away from the door and alerted the others as he ran in their direction. “There is someone summoning a demon in there!” He cried, but it was too late. In that same moment the double doors burst open and through them leapt two of the dirty feral slashing creatures. One of the little hulking monsters chased Telémahkos with its ape-like gait and tore into his backside with its black claws. Telémahkos yelped, and spun around, rapier in hand. “I can hold them back while we retreat!” he told his friends and he thrust the thin blade into the side of the creature’s head. It scrambled back, clawing at the blade, spitting and snarling. Telémahkos was startled when the second creature leapt past its companion to land on the fop’s left. He thrust awkwardly with his blade. The thing landed atop it, wrenching his arm with the weight of it, as he frantically yanked back to get into a defensive posture. “Markos! Stay behind me!” Victoria moved around the skinny mage, spear thrust before her. “Anhur! Grant me strength!” She cried, calling on Anhur’s righteous fury. She shoved the other feral slasher away from Telémahkos with the tip of her spear, drawing blood as it was driven to the ground. [sup]3[/sup] “Master Jakos!” Markos cupped his hands by his mouth as he yelled towards the open doors and moved to get down the steps. “We would parley! We have stolen nothing! We are here to help!” Timotheus moved into the melee, ducking under Victoria’s spear to slash at the thing and drive it back before it could get at Telémahkos again. “Get out of Victoria’s way!” Telémahkos admonished his cousin, whipping [I]the Steel Whip[/I] as he stepped towards the creatures and then deftly leapt and twisted to land behind them, flicking the blade on the back of the other’s head as it turned around. The one on the ground scrambled to its feet, ignoring its opponents to its detriment. [sup]4[/sup] Tim, Telémahkos and Victoria all drove their weapons into its muscular body. It screamed and snarled and sunk its huge teeth into the flesh of Timotheus’ calf. “Stay down beast!” Victoria grunted stabbing it in the side again. Blood spurted everywhere and its organs pulsed with savage life. It would not die. Bleys, still gravely injured from the ward upon the door, hung back reaching for one of the spears on Victoria’s back, but she moved with too much speed and violence and could not get at it. [sup]5[/sup] “Master of the Tower!” Marko continued to call over the sound of crunching sinew, tearing flesh, the knock of weapons and the snarls and barks of the slashers. He also loaded his crossbow. “Hear me! We come to aid you! Call off your guardians!” “Ah-ha!” Timotheus grinned as he cracked the skull of one the creatures and it finally fell dead. “Stand down and tell me what happened to Tellum and Crispin and I shall send my creatures away!” Bleys looked up. He had finally grabbed a spear. Standing in the doorway was a tall old man with long white hair and beard. He wore long red robes, and his skin was weathered and cragged. He had twinkling blue eyes. He had foreign accent, like a lilting sing-song to his pronunciation of Thrician common. Telémahkos was busy keeping the remaining slasher at bay. He turned to put it between him and Tim, and it clawed him. “I will be more than happy to stand down as soon as these things stop trying to kill me!” “We will stand down, but are force to defend ourselves against your minions,” Markos called back as Victoria shouldered her way between Timotheus and Telémahkos to drive her spear into the arm of the remaining creature, momentarily pinned the arm to its body. Timotheus took advantage of its pained distraction to thrust his sabre through its throat, killing it. It, like the others, melted into an icy puddle. “You are Jakos?” Bleys the Aubergine asked the old man. “I am Jakos Ilmari,” he answered. Victoria of Anhur shuddered and braced herself against the wall as she came out of her holy rage. “Tellum said you unleashed the plague of insomnia,” Bleys said. “Where is Tellum? I hope he is not hurt…” Jakos replied. “We had to subdue him,” Markos answered. “It was the other that suffered more grievous wounds, but our priests tended to him and he is stabilized and being looked after by my cousin, Laarus of Ra.” “Speaking of Laarus, does he have your leave to enter the tower?” Telémahkos asked as politely as he could. “He did not want to enter the premises without permission…” “I assume you represent some authority?” Jakos asked. “I am the current watch-mage assigned to Sluetelot,” Bleys replied. Jakos reached under his beard and scratched. His eyes were bloodshot and there were dark puffy circles beneath them. “I don’t see what different it makes now,” he said. “You all broke in already and apparently have the authority to do so… Have him come in…” Telémahkos went downstairs and informed the young priest of Jakos’ permission. He helped Laarus carry the injured guardians back into the tower, before leading him back up to the others. “Master Jakos, you have still not addressed my statement,” Bleys said sternly. “Is it true what Tellum said? Did you unleash the plague?” “Yes… I did it. I had to…” He seemed to grow more haggard in the moment of admission. “And why was that?” “My experiments led to accidentally allowing a nightmare demon into our world,” Jakos explained. “It controls people and feeds off them when they sleep… The plague of insomnia was a way to keep it from running rampant and endangering people while I sought away to send it back… But so far, nothing viable…” “How can we help?” Markos asked. “There is no helping,” Jakos replied. “I have gone through my tomes for days, the only hope is an impossibility.” “Tell us of this impossibility,” Markos said. “No! Start from the beginning,” Bleys insisted. Jakos Ilmari led them into his study. It was paneled in stained oak, with countless nooks and shelves along jutting stone supports for the tower’s outer wall, and tall narrow windows with panes of blue-tinted glass. There were streaks of ice from that which encased the tower above. The shelves were packed with books, jars, bottles, skulls of animals, knick-knacks, statuettes and a myriad of other strange little things shoved sloppily here and there. Jakos made his way around a large desk piled with dozens of tomes, opened to various pages and pinning down scrolls and long rolls of parchment. At one corner was an opaque crystal sphere about six inches across. Markos’ eyes grew wide. He cracked his knuckles and walked nonchalantly over to the desk to get a look at the bizarre writing on the pages. The old wizard gestured to some stools, but no one sat down but him. He searched frantically for a moment and then pulled a pipe out from under a pile, snapped his fingers and took three long puffs, the herbs inside crackling. A minty smell filled the room. “I was seeking a way to reach [url= http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Untamo]Untamo[/url],” Jakos finally began to relay his tale to the impatient adventurers. “He is the lost god of sleep and dreams of the great north. My research led me to believe he was somewhere in the [url= http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/The+Abyss]Abyss[/url], and when I discovered an incantation for piercing the veil to where he might be, that I might contact his power of prophecy for the first time in centuries, I tried it… Unfortunately, it seems that if he is where I hypothesize he is, he is guarded by these nightmare demons, or perhaps one demon that can send multiple aspects of itself though the rift I created and that threatened Sluetelot…” He cleared his throat and continued, “As soon as I realized what had happened I used an item I had in storage to confine it to the roof which I had enclosed in the magical ice you must have seen atop the tower…” “We thought the ice was in order to keep the fires at bay,” Timotheus said. Jakos shook his head. “The secondary powers of the item I used proved useful in that regard, but that was just serendipity… However, the demon’s influence could still be extended beyond the rift, and the plague of insomnia was the quickest and most effect solution to the problem that I could think of…” “How did you effect the plague?” Bleys asked. “I had a ritual that summons it in one of the books on magic of the north I have been studying,” Jakos explained. Markos began to bite his bottom lip, eager to sate his curiosity regarding arcane magics. The old wizard continued, “I figured it would give me time to research a way to give it some kind of corporeal form so it can be banished or fought, but… but the only power I have been able to find that could accomplish this is impossible to find…” “What is this power you need?” Markos asked. “No!” Bleys froze his fellow mage with glare, and then he turned to Jakos. He was taking charge of the interrogation. “Why did you not send word to Havesting for help?” “Or to the watch-mage’s council?” Laarus added. “He thought he could…” Victoria began. “Let him answer!” Telémahkos whined. “There was no time to discuss the solution. I had to act quickly, and once the plague of insomnia was in place, there didn’t seem much point in involving the authorities… I mean, I was certain I could find a solution… And even if Barakis were not dead, he and I never got along… So, I wouldn’t go to him…” “And because of that the blood of innocents is now on your hands,” Laarus replied. “Let’s castigate him later…” Markos rolled his eyes. “Did you not know that I was appointed interim watch-mage?” Bleys asked. Jakos shook his head. “I am a recluse. My guardians and servants are my only real contact with the world beyond.” “Can we ask about what he needs to banish this demon now?” There was an urge of pleading in Markos’ voice as he turned to Bleys. The watch-mage nodded, and the old wizard spoke. “I need ‘the blood and light’ of a member splinter group of Ra-worshipers who have not existed since the [url= http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Time+of+the+Six+Kingdoms]Time of the Six Kingdoms[/url],” Jakos explained. “The Order of Epiphany’s Dawning…” “I know the name, but not much else,” Bleys said. “Were they not a heretical cult?” “They were named as such and eventually expelled from the [url= http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Sunra+Kingdom]Sunra Kingdom[/url], but it was not always like that,” Jakos said. “They were an order that are said to have had [url= http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Special+Feats#bloodofthemystics]the blood of the Mystics[/url] and saw their powers as a reflection of that holy light within all good mortal beings as placed in the mind and heart by Ra himself…” “The Blood of the Mystics…?” Markos asked. “The Mystics were known for the powers of the their mind; their use of the third eye which is neither arcane, nor divine…” Jakos said. “What? There are only two powers, the arcane and the divine,” Markos scoffed. “It is sometimes called ‘psionics’, and I assure you that while rare, it is real and neither arcane, nor divine,” Jakos said. “But it is academic, the Order of Epiphany’s Dawning has not existed in fourteen centuries!” “You need to let me read your notes and look over your research,” Markos said. “Uh… I mean, let [I]us[/I] read them…” “Can you read [url= http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Language+-+Seriph]Seriph[/url]?” Jakos asked, cocking an eyebrow. “Seriph?” “The language of the [url= http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Northern+Reaches]Northern Reaches[/url] and the people of the [url= http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Kalevala]Kalevala[/url],” Jakos answered. Markos stood and turned one of the books on the desk around towards him. It was written in long boxes of a curling baroque script he did not recognize. “Surely not all of your books are in this tongue?” Markos asked. “All of the relevant ones…” “What about Laarus? Maybe he has the blood…” Timotheus offered. “I am not a member of this lost order,” Laarus protested. “You can summon the light of Ra right? You…” Timotheus began. “That will not be enough,” Jakos interrupted. “We need the blood, too…” “I can only suggest that since there is no one here smarter than me… though some more knowledgeable,” Markos began, smiling at his companions, before looking back at Jakos “…that you share your knowledge with me and we can work towards a solution together…” “If you remove the insomnia effect can we perhaps sleep and enter the dream world they dwell in?” Victoria suggested. Jakos shook his head. “It doesn’t work that way…” [sup]6[/sup] “If it will get rid of this demons I will offer up my blood for this purpose,” Laarus suddenly said. “You are descended of the Mystics?” Jakos asked. “I have some connection to them,” Laarus explained. “I receive visions…” “Are you sure you are not suffering from dementia from lack of sleep?” Jakos asked. “He’s always suffering from dementia,” Telémahkos winked. “But the visions are real… If not specific…” Markos grumbled his unwillingness to accept the veracity of his cousin’s visions of the future. “And he talked to an ancient Mystic oracle on the way back from the [url= http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Disputed+Territories]Disputed Territories[/url],” Timotheus added. “Or rather, it talked through him…” [sup]7[/sup] “I guess it is worth a try…” Jakos replied. “If his blood works and he summons the light of Ra we should be able to make it take a physical form and kill it…” “Can demons be killed?” Telémahkos asked with trepidation in his voice. “Oh sure!” Timotheus answered for the wizard. “You can kill those things! Heroes do it all the time in the stories!” “This is just a piece of a larger and much more horrible creature that dwells in the Abyss,” Jakos explained. “Detached from the rest of its body, it should be defeatable… Essentially we will be forcing this sentient dark energy to return to its source, as it will be unable to withstand the amount of effort it needs to remain here and fight us at the same time.” “Do we have time to recuperate before we try this?” Markos asked. “The sooner we solve this problem, the sooner the people of Sluetelot will be out of danger from this demon and from themselves,” Bleys said. “I have some potions…” Jakos said, standing. He walked out into the hall an to the door the party had opened earlier. “Oh! You set off my [I]glyph of warding[/I]!” “I’m good at that,” Bleys said flatly.[sup]8[/sup] He had followed the older wizard out into the hall. Jakos returned with several glass vials and described their healing properties to the young nobles. They distributed them among themselves according to whom was most injured, and the final potion of [I]cure light wounds[/I] was given to Markos. “If one of us goes down, use this,” Timotheus said as he handed it over. Bleys the Aubergine expressed a desire to hold off the ritual that would coalesce the demon that he might change some of the spells he had prepared that day for others. There was some disagreement about taking the time for this, and Jakos seemed irritated with the watch-mage, but in the end the party insisted. Markos retrieved some extra crossbows from the tower’s armory on the lower level with Jakos’ permission in preparation for the fight. [I]…to be continued…[/I] ---------------------------------------------------- [b]Notes:[/b] (1) This is a depiction of the Holy City of the Kalevala, home of [url= http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Gods+of+the+Northern+Reaches]the gods of the Northern Reaches[/url], but not to be confused with the City-State of the Kalevala, which is a mortal city in north. (2) In Aquerra, [url= http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Wizards]wizards[/url] may trade out an uncast prepared spell for another, but this takes 15 minutes per spell level. (3) The [url= http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Feral+Slasher]feral slasher[/url] failed its save versus [url= http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Knockdown]knockdown[/url]. (4) Getting up from a prone position draws an attack of opportunity if one does not use a full-round action to get up. (5) Bleys needed to makes a touch attack against AC 10. (6) As a side note, I originally considered writing the adventure to have the final battle occur in some kind of ‘dreamscape,’ but then rejected the idea as too “high magic” and out there for my players to enjoy and out of scope for the flavor of adventures at this level in the Aquerra setting. Surprisingly, more than one player said afterwards, that they would have been fine with that. Just goes to show how bad I am sometimes at predicting my players’ tastes and ideas. (7) This is a reference to the Mind of Oberah. See Session #21 (8) Bleys us making a bitter and facetious reference to the [I]sepia snake sigil[/I] he set off in Session #8. [/QUOTE]
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"Second Son of a Second Son" - An Aquerra Story Hour (*finally* Updated 04/19)
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