When the Guardian Angels (sans Gareth) arrive at the Gray House, they are met by first Fett and then Trillia, who is more or less permanently ensconced there now. Fett informs the Angels that he received a message from the Redcloak commander about a pair of lizardmen arriving at the outskirts of Sharn claiming to bear a message for the Angels. They are currently being held by the Redcloaks in the main city jailhouse.
After a short rest and exchange of news, the Angels proceed to find these messengers. They find them to be a male and female, both wearing body paint which they had seen while battling the armies in Q’barra. Only the female, who identifies herself as Kim’iir and seems to be the senior of the two, can speak a heavily accented form of the Common tongue, but both are fluent in Draconic. Neither of them seems to be particularly perturbed about being in captivity, and Kim’iir says that they were sent by Rhashaak, whom she calls “the holy one”. The male, Vulat, clarifies that they were specifically dispatched by Huu’rak, the Voice of Rhashaak, who ordered them to “find the Guardian Angels in Sharn and ask them to come to Haka’torvhak.” The two lizardfolk, both of whom are apparently druids, have been traveling for over a fortnight in search of the Angels using their magical abilities.
“I wasn’t expecting a message from Rhashaak,” Nameless says dryly, “But in view of our past I’m not surprised. Can you tell us why he wants us?”
“I know only what Huu’rak told us, mighty one,” says Kim’iir respectfully. “The holy one seeks aid against the invaders from beyond. If you do not help, then perhaps the holy one will fall, and the great evil he guards will be unleashed into this world.”
Korm chuckles sardonically and looks around. “Hands up, everyone who expects that there’s a dimensional seal as part of this story!”
As the lizardfolk look at the Gatekeeper in seeming confusion, Nameless says, “What sort of invaders are these? And just so I’m clear, Rhashaak is a giant black dragon, right?”
“Yes, the holy one is one of the scaled gods. As for the invaders, we have not seen them. But we have heard the holy one battle them in the depths of his temple. Huu’rak said that they came from beyond this world.” She hesitates and then says, “We do not know what that means.”
“Oh, we do!” responds Luna excitedly. “See, there are all these different worlds, right? And Xoriat is thi…”
“Please, Luna,” Nameless quickly cuts her off. “Try not to make the poor lizardfolk’s heads explode.”
Six, meanwhile, address Kim’iir. “Can you tell us anything about your recent war on the humans? Rhashaak ordered that – right?”
The lizardwoman hesitates, clearly not wanting to risk giving offense, and then carefully answers, “The holy one ordered us to go to war to take back the land that was ours. It belonged to us before the humans came.” She hesitates again and then says, “We do not know the holy one’s plans – only what we are told by Huu’rak. If you wish to know more you must come with us. Will you?”
Nameless says, “One moment,” and then moves away to confer with his companions. After a quick discussion, the Angels decide that it might be profitable to comply with the request, since it may give them more information and possibly allies. “And maybe he has treasure! Especially wall hangings,” opines Luna optimistically, which nobody else responds to.
Returning to the lizardfolk, Nameless says, “We will come with you. Tomorrow. Until then, you’ll have to wait here.”
The lizardfolk look disappointedly around the cell that they are in and then bow. “Thank you.”
After instructing the guards to be as hospitable as they can be to the lizardfolk, the Angels head back to the Gray House. There, Nameless fills in Trillia on the rod of planar summoning which the Angels recovered from Kallionaxis’ hoard and asks her to do some research for him on possible powerful pseudonatural creatures whom he might summon.
Afterwards, the alienist visits the local house Sivis station and dispatches a message to Jaela Daran, informing her about the rod too and explaining that the Angels are about to attack the ziggurat. He requests the name of a particularly powerful celestial, such as a planetar, who she thinks might help in this area. Nameless adds that he and the others will visit her in Flamekeep the next morning.
The Angels spent the rest of the evening relaxing and making plan, as well as catching up on news around Khorvaire – especially any that pertains to the war. The situation has not changed much in the four days since they last departed for Argonnessen, but things are going slightly better for the nations of Khorvaire, which are slowly pushing back the aberration armies. Thrane especially seems to be doing well, which the Angels hope means that Jaela will have a little more leisure to help them.
* * * * *
The next morning, Luna and Six return to Io’lokar, where they meet Gareth and explain to the paladin that he’s a pain in the ass, that they are going to Thrane and then Q’barra, and that they’d like him along. Having calmed down from his anger at Nameless, the paladin agrees to accompany them.
When they return to Sharn, Gareth asks the alienist politely, albeit a little grumpily, if he will allow the paladin to cast a few divinations at him. “Certainly,” says Nameless, with a slight smirk, “All you had to do was ask.”
“I won’t,” says Gareth, “And I’ll actually check about whether it would be a good idea to do so. I don’t want a repeat of that giant black worm, whatever it was.”
“In that case,” suggests Nameless, “Could you ask whether it would be safe to cast a commune about the ziggurat? I’d like to know more about that as well.”
Gareth looks a little concerned at the idea, having bad memories of divinatory magic aimed at the ziggurat, but agrees to do so. He begins with an augury about doing a divination on Nameless and then one about casting a commune about the ziggurat. The answer to both questions is “Weal.”
After mentioning what the result was, Gareth asks, “Any suggestions for questions?”
“Why not ask how you can best help Nameless work against Xoriat?” suggests Korm.
“All right.” Gareth casts his spell and asks the question. The solemn voice which he associates with the Silver Flame speaks in his mind, replying, “Nameless is the key, to allowing Xoriat fully into Eberron, or locking it forever out of your world. But so are you all. The key cannot be turned except by the aid of the Guardian Angels, for good or for ill. Trust and work together. You will fall or rise as one.”
When told what the answer was, Nameless grimaces slightly and rasps, “For once, I would just like to be the second on the left, instead of the Chosen One.”
Korm grins at him and says, “Hey, you’re special. Deal with it!”
“What about Q’barra?” Luna asks Gareth. “Can you ask if this Rhashaak has any good stuff? Can we trust him? Should we kill him?”
“Or perhaps just ask whether we should go to Q’barra first or to the ziggurat?” suggests Six.
“Yes,” Nameless puts in quickly, before Luna can add more. “That would be useful information.”
“Done,” says Gareth, beginning his next spell. When he finishes, the reply he gets is: “All ways are dark. Power lies with the mad wyrm, power to aid your cause. But time aids the daelkyr’s cause too. Choose one path and follow it to the end.”
“Not that helpful,” says Six, “But that is very standard. Shall we try the commune, anyway?”
“Why not? Gareth already prepared the spell,” says Korm, before grinning, “Plus I want to see if his brain runs out his ears again!”
“Thank you,” says the paladin bitterly, before taking a deep breath. “But I’m willing to try it. I can ask thirteen questions.”
“Good,” says Nameless. “Then we can ask about Rhashaak too.”
“All right.” Gareth casts his spell and begins to ask questions.
“Is Rhashaak going to betray us if we go to help him?”
“Not if you truly aid him.”
“Is there something he would be likely to do to help us against the ziggurat?”
“Yes.”
“That’s good to know,” says Nameless. “I have a bad feeling about the ziggurat. Here’s something else I’m concerned about, considering what we were told about those twin fallen devas serving the bound daelkyr lord Kyrzin. Ask if Kyrzin is likely to be found at the ziggurat.”
Gareth does so and the reply is, “No.”
“Will a master earth get us to the ziggurat without trouble?”
“No.”
“Will the ziggurat complete whatever it will in less than a month?”
“Yes.”
“Will the ziggurat complete whatever it will in less than a week?”
“Yes.”
“Will the ziggurat complete whatever it will in the next 24 hrs?”
“Unclear.”
“Will the ziggurat complete whatever it will in less than 3 days?”
“Unclear.”
“Will the ziggurat complete whatever it will in less than 5 days?”
“Unclear.”
“Okay, can we stop asking about time?” grumbles Luna. “This stupid spell is not helpful there!”
“How about this,” suggests Korm, “Does their plan require us to go there for it to succeed?”
Gareth relays the spell’s answers: “It would help.”
“Great!” says Korm. “Will the universe be safer if Nameless killed himself right now?”
As some of the others look at the Gatekeeper with amusement, Gareth asks the question and then replies, “No.”
“I could have told you that,” rasps Nameless. “There’s no way it would be that easy. Next question – is there a specific procedure we need to use to destroy the ziggurat?”
“No.”
“Good. So, one more question. Perhaps…,” the alienist begins, but Gareth cuts him off as he asks, “Am I a paladin of the Silver Flame?”
As Korm chortles at the question, Gareth nods and repeats, his expression simultaneously relieved and concerned, “Currently.”
“Hah! I think the Silver Flame has a sense of humor!” says Korm.
Gareth shrugs, looking faintly embarrassed, and says, “It seemed a good idea. And that’s the end of the spell. So what next?”
“Next we go to Thrane,” says Nameless, “But I just remembered someone we decided to contact – the vampires in Undersharn.”
“Oh, yeah!” says Luna excitedly. “They were nice! Can we visit them?”
“We don’t have time for that,” says Nameless, “But I’ll contact them via sending.” He casts the spell, focusing on the vampire leader Mina, and delivers his message: “Hope you are fine after Xoriat’s attacks. Can you speak to Calderus and ask for aid? Also, could you warn of incursions from below Sharn?”
A few moments later, he receives Mina’s response: “We are hiding. Have fought aberrations. Will kill any we see. Am confident Calderus would oppose Xoriat. Will attempt to contact her.”
The alienist tells the others what Mina replied, adding, “It’s a small thing, but every little bit helps. And…”
He stops as there’s a polite knock, followed by Fett sticking his head around the door. “Sorry to interrupt,” says the Angels’ major-domo, “But the people from the Wayfinder Foundation are here to speak to you.”
The Angels descend to meet the visitors, who turn out to be Tiem and Fanil, the two Wayfinders who went to Argonnessen with them. Tiem explains that they are here to ask when the Angels will be able to take them back to Argonnessen, so that they can prepare accordingly.
Nameless smiles mirthlessly and says, “It’s quite possible we might be dead soon, but otherwise we will be happy to help.” As the surprised Wayfinders stare at him, he says, “We’ll probably be busy for a few days, so why don’t you stop back in a week and we’ll have a better idea when we can return?”
The Wayfinders are clearly disappointed, but they nod and say that they will stop by a few days later to see what the Angels’ situation is.
Once they have left, Luna says, “Let’s go. I’m getting bored, so if anyone else shows up and starts asking for stuff or for us to do things, I might bite them.”
“And that’s the best reason for moving quickly that I’ve heard,” says Nameless dryly. “Let’s pick up our passengers and go.”
The Angels stop at the jail and pick up the lizardfolk – and then inform them that they need to sit in the portable hole while the Angels travel to Thrane. Though clearly uncomfortable at the idea, Kim’iir asks, “This is safe? And later you will come to Haka’torvhak with us?”
“Yes, we will. But first we need to go take care of something, which will enable us to accompany you.”
“Very well. We will do what you wish.” The lizardfolk descend into the portable hole and Nameless picks it up, before transporting the entire group to Flamekeep.
There, after making sure that the lizardfolk are safely bestowed somewhere in the Cathedral of the Silver Flame, the Angels are quickly brought before Jaela Daran. The Keeper of the Silver Flame greets them and spends a short time filling the Angels in on what has occurred in Khorvaire since they left. Little of it is new, other than some details about the success of the Thranish armies in driving back aberration attacks and the fact that forces are being amassed by Thrane (and some other countries) on the borders of the Mournland because many of the attacks seem to emerge from there. The Angels, in turn, tell her about everything that occurred with them since they left. Jaela listens with great interest, asking about a few things, especially regarding the now-destroyed bowl and Nameless’ mental contact with the daelkyr.
She is also quite interested about their impending visit to Q’barra, though she expresses no opinion about it other than to say, “I believe your skills would be very helpful in the battles occurring across Khorvaire, but if you can find a way, in Argonnessen or in Q’barra, to more permanently end this conflict, then you should certainly explore it.” The eleven-year old girl sighs, momentarily looking substantially older and more tired than she physically is, and says, “The Silver Flame tells me that your actions will make a great difference to this conflict and I,” she smiles a little, “Am not about to disbelieve it.”
“Thank you,” rasps Nameless. “We do our best, though I could sometimes do without the responsibility. Anyway, as you know from my last sending, I’m hoping you can help us. I’m concerned about what we will find at the ziggurat. We barely came out of the last visit alive, and I’m presuming this time will be even more dangerous. I want to take as much backup with us as we can. Can you recommend something – or someone – to summon?”
Jaela clearly hesitates and then says, “Yes, I can, but I should point out first that the vast majority of celestials – and extraplanar creatures – have no interest in the doings of Eberron. So it is difficult to think of many which would help here without substantial coercion. With that caveat, I consider one good possibility to be Enitharmon*. He is a particularly militant planetar from Shavarath, who has performed services for the Silver Flame in the past, well before my time. Not that he’s a worshipper of the Flame, however, since the Flame has no worshippers outside Eberron. But he might be amenable to your request. I will give you access to an area from which you can summon him, if you wish.”
“I would appreciate that,” says Nameless.
“Very well.”
A quarter of an hour later, the Angels stand with Jaela in a huge chamber near the large summoning circle in its center, watching as Nameless uses the magical rod from Argonnessen. As the spell is completed there is a faint shimmering in the circle’s center, along with a momentary glimpse of a reddish sky and what seems to be a fortified wall with battlements. Then the scene disappears, leaving behind a nine foot tall green humanoid with a hairless head, wearing gleaming silver armor and wielding a two-handed sword from which dark blood still drips.
The figure throws a wrathful glance around the chamber, focusing quickly on Nameless. “You! How dare you summon me now? I was in the middle of battle. Where is this place?”
“This is Eberron, mighty Enitharmon,” replies Jaela quickly, “At the Cathedral of the Silver Flame, where I believe you have been in the past. We would not call you unless there was dire need. There is a great war here too, one where we could use a warrior of your prowess. But Nameless here can explain specifically why he called you.”
The planetar seems somewhat mollified at Jaela’s tone, and the alienist quickly begins to explain. Gareth winces slightly at the harshness of his tones, knowing that Nameless cannot help sounding unnaturally rough and wondering whether the planetar will take it amiss. And Enitharmon does frown as soon as Nameless explains who they are, but more as if he is attempting to recollect something than in anger. “The Guardian Angels? Sharn?”
“Yes, and we…”
“Wait!” interrupts the planetar, “Are you the ones who defeated the fool Zokar and returned him to Syrania?”
“Who’s Zokar?” asks Luna.
“Zokar was the Radiant Idol,” Nameless says, “The fallen angel whose cult of Cyrans we dissolved and whom we killed in the sewers … seven months ago.”
“So it was you!” Enitharmon beams. “You didn’t actually kill Zokar, since he couldn’t be slain permanently in your – this – world. The fool was actually under my command before he had delusions, was cast down and fled to your world. I was pleased to destroy him when you sent him back. He described you in great detail before I did so. That was … amusing.” A fierce smile spreads across the planetar’s countenance, and then turns slightly less vicious as he says, “This is also an amusing coincidence. I will help you.”
“I wouldn’t bet on it being a coincidence,” Six mutters, while Nameless bows awkwardly and says, “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” says the planetar. “I may ask you for recompense of some kind later. But, for now, what do I have to battle?” He spins his greatsword in an arc and smiles in anticipation.
“We will be going on a very dangerous quest soon,” explains Nameless, “Where we will likely face many powerful enemies. We would like you to accompany us on it until the end, which should only take a day or two at most.”
“So you don’t need me for anything right now?” frowns the celestial.
“No, but I wished to speak to you now and ask your permission to call you when we begin our quest.”
Enitharmon continues to frown for a few moments, but then his expression clears and he nods. “Very well.” He raises his greatsword and says, “Now send me back. I have foes to slay!”
“Of course.” Nameless produces a red gem and extends it to the planetar, saying, “Please take this. It will let us communicate with you.” Once Enitharmon takes it, the alienist ends the spell, causing the planetar to disappear instantly. The alienist breathes deeply and turns to the Keeper. “Thank you for your help, Jaela. We will return here after we’re done with Rhashaak, to collect Enitharmon.”
“Certainly,” Jaela replies. “Would you like to rest here in Flamekeep or will you leave now?”
“Now, I think,” says Nameless. “We have no real reason to stop, and I’d like to know why we were called to Haka’torvhak.”
“All right.”
A few minutes later, the Angels are reunited with the two lizardfolk. Nameless asks for a good location in Haka’torvhak to travel to, so Kim’iir provides a very detailed description of a stone altar and some buildings around it. Once the two passengers are in the portable hole, the alienist casts a greater teleport.
The Angels appear right next to the altar mentioned, a large cracked stone slab decorated with deep carvings of astrological and other signs. It is situated within a large, open courtyard in the middle of an ancient city. The surrounding buildings are mostly broken, some of them overgrown with vegetation, their distinctive shapes such as the Angels have not seen for a long time – at least not since they saw the island where they found the Key and the ruins of the Demon Wastes.
Not that they have time to focus on architectural issues. Around them sit or stand two dozen large lizardfolk, their black wings and size identifying them as the same species that the Angels fought in their previous battles in Q’barra. The ogre-sized creatures bare their fangs and raise their weapons at the advent of the strangers.
“Crap!” says Gareth.
“Everybody stick together,” says Six.
“Cool!” says Luna.
* Yup, if you think you recognize the name, you probably do. Thanks, Sepulchrave.
