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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Seravin" data-source="post: 2513169" data-attributes="member: 6783">Hallowings and LoreThe south-eastern most cavern of the complex marked the ‘The Grell Caves’ contains a tall, vari-colored pillar which detects as strongly magical.  From this cave take the south-eastern tunnel and travel for a day.  Travellers will find a wide intersecting tunnel heading in a northerly direction.  The map describes the tunnel complex leading to ropers and quaggoths.  Travellers can camp relatively safely in a side tunnel located almost two miles north of the intersection.  From there it is another full day’s journey to the new shrine.Where the north tunnel splits to the east and west, take the eastern fork and travel for about a mile.  On the north wall, at eye level, is Sarath’s mark next to a non-descript looking tunnel.  The tunnel is tight but passable for a fully armored man and winds about through a hundred feet of rock.  Beyond is a cavern that can easily camp sixty or seventy people.  I’ve formed the altar out of the rock on the north wall and laid a powerful warding to keep it from being descecrated.  In anticipation that it would be used as a way point for guiding rescued captives back to the surface, the altar is keyed to only allow Imperial citizens approach safely.  All other creatures or beings will cause the hallowing to invoke a horizontal blade barrier about three feet up from the ground, and filling the cavern out to forty feet in front of the altar.  Allies are advised to lure or force opponents towards the altar without actually getting close themselves.                                                  ---Excerpt from Jared’s report to Colonel Megara.---Jallarzi was again sitting in her usual place on her bunk, this time with Kestral’s mysterious blade in her lap.  Laid out before her were a handful of specially marked ivory plaques arranged in mystically powerful arrangement, whilst thin streams of incense smoldered in a bowl sitting on the floor next to the bunk.  The young wizardess’ eyes were closed as she murmured low chants designed to clear her mind and open it to the arcane echoes that hung about the adamantine blade in her lap. Then…connection.  Jallarzi’s eyes snapped open, revealing wide violet orbs.  Her pupils were reduced to pinpricks and the whites were completely gone.  Jallarzi sucked in a deep breath almost like she was in shock, taking in more incense as well as whatever arcane knowledge the air bore.Her friends looked towards her with interest.  She had come back late in the day with the remaining shopping items and had reported success in turning over the young Geoffrey.  While she was gone Jared and Kellron had finished their shrine, leaving Kestral and Tore to entertain themselves.Upon returning, Jallarzi hadimmediately set to the task of trying to identify Kestral’s blade.  Now it seemed as if they would finally learn something about its history.Jallarzi slumped suddenly on the bunk, her vision over.  She shook her head and blinked quickly, trying to bring tears to her stinging eyes.  Taking a few quick breaths, Jallarzi laid the blade on the bed, swung her legs over the side, and stood up and stretched.  Collecting her incense, she snuffed it and brought it over to the table where the others sat.Jallarzi took a drink of water that Jared offered and stretched some more, more trying to get comfortable then drawing out the courier’s anticipation.  Settled, the wizardess looked to Kestral and repeated: The Song of Angels lays shaped and bound.  Deverat is not what he was – sleeping.Kestral looked blankly at Jallarzi then at Kellron and Jared.  Jared and Jallarzi shook their heads.  The name and title didn’t mean anything to them.  Kellron however rocked back in his chair.“Deverat is what General Linnatch named his sword.”  Seeing that the others didn’t understand he continued.  “Deverat, the Song of Angels, is also the Sundering Sword.  The Sundering Sword.  It’s the sword of my order.”He looked to the blade resting casually on the bunk.  He stood up and walked over to it, picking it up when he reached it.  The weapon was a short-sword, a blade given to a peasant army, though the adamantine metal of the blade bespoke of its true cost.  In his large hand, the blade was almost a large dagger.“Do you think this is really Deverat?”  He asked, not quite believing.Jared reached out and gestured for it.  “Let’s find out.  If it’s an enchantment of some sort, Sarath will let me break it.”Jared began his prayer once he held the blade.  It was a long prayer, but it proved successful.  At the end of his invocation, streamers of silver and gold energy began to surround the blade and the entire room filled with the sound of war drums.  The streamers became brighter and the priest had to shift his grip as the blade grew both longer and heavier.  The war drums changed to a single, male voice chanting a slow paen in some celestial tounge.  Then the light was gone and the room was quiet.  The friends looked at one another and then to the blade in Jared’s hand, not sure what to do next.  The sword took the initiative.:Free!:  It spoke in their minds with a gladsome baritone of a voice.  :The dreams are over thanks to you young priest; my humblest of thanks.:Jared nodded his welcome.  “It was my pleasure…Deverat?”:Aye, that is my name now.  I fought in the First War and sung the war chants for Sarath.: There was pride in the voice.  :I fell in subsequent battles and my spirit was reforged into a blade.  Now I advise the followers of Sarath.:  Deverat’s voice turned grim.  :I was to sing and remember the valor of General Linnatch at the battle of the Silver Way, but treachery betrayed us.  It was the wizards, or at least some of them.  They turned on us and scattered the army.  I tried to defend the General, but the attack was from surprise and they had studied well.  The general was slain, though he gave a good accounting of himself.  I thought I might have a chance to overwhelm the will of one of the betrayers, but it wasn’t to be.  They used their magics to bind me and render me unrecognizable.  After that I slept.:In their mind they could almost see an image of Deverat; a visage of a tall, armored warrior with dark hair and bright blue eyes filled their minds.  The image smiled kindly and seemingly turned to Kestral as it spoke again.  :You woke me lass, and for that you have my thanks.  Your attempts to activate the magic touched my mind and brought hope to my dreams and for that I thank you.  It was an honor to serve at your side, and I hope to continue to do so.  It gladdens my spirit knowing that you continue on this quest unasked.: The gratitude and affection in the words was palpable.Kestral stared at the blade, emotions warring across her face.  Unsure of what to say she said nothing.Kellron finally found his own voice.  “So what now, Deverat?”  He asked.The sword couldn’t shrug, but they felt it anyway.  :That is up to you, Field-Captain.  I owe the lass a debt of gratitude and it would do her much good to be paired up with me.  At the same time I know that General Linnatch would like the order to live on, which is through you.:  The tip of the sword seemed to drop a bit in Jared’s hand, like a drooping head.  :In this incarnation though I am just a sword, not the weilder.  I will call the war chants, give you advice, and stay as sharp as your faith is strong; how I am used though is up to you.:Kellron looked to Kestral.  She threw up both hands.   “It…He was in my mind?  Uh-uh.  He’s your sword.  You need him for the order.”  Kestral wanted nothing to do with the blade.  It said it was an angel.  The coin dies in the bottom of her pack suddenly seemed much heavier. Kellron nodded, not quite understanding why Kestral so readily gave up the honor of bearing Deverat, but thankful for it.  “It’s settled then.”  He said, reaching for the blade.  “I guess we have some catching up to do.” :Certainly.:  Said the blade.  :Though I know much from the young Kestral’s mind when she touched mine.  Be sure Kestral that I will continue to look after you to the best of my ability.:  Deverat seemed unaware or perhaps just uncaring that the woman had rejected him.Kestral kept her mouth shut and tried very hard not to think of Imperial coin dies for the rest of the evening.</blockquote>

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