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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Hairy Minotaur" data-source="post: 4105803" data-attributes="member: 11574">The rabbitt done died“What item are you talking about?” Haimish pleads“Why the blood of Thynuklith of course, isn’t that why you’re here to unload it?” The gnome answers“You mean this rock?” Haimish produces the wrapped, large, and cold object from his backpackOohing and ahhing erupt from around the table as Haimish catches the glimpse of a mummy lumbering up behind him in the glistening of the ice chunk. “Lord Ina-Herit shall not be denied this opportunity.” The mummy speaks and shoves the gnome out of his seat. Then sits in the now empty chair“Recompense! This shall get reported.” The gnome squeals“Run along mosquito, or the next time you cut a deal it’ll be for which organ of yours I atrophy first.” Lord Ina-Herit hissesDisappointed but apparently sufficiently intimidated the gnome teleports away from the table.“Can we conclude this now?” Kalen sighs“Hold your tongue soulless, I wish to savoir the hunt of the find first.” The erinyes speaksKalen opened his mouth to object when their waiter brought over a fried gelatinous cube with bearded devil sauce for dessert. “So recitalist, tell your tale.” The erinyes requestsHaimish recites the party’s trip through Hledra, the mummy drawing particular interest to the ghost dragon, while the erinyes has Haimish repeat the altar altercation with Menthos four times, laughing more gleefully with each retelling.“Where is this maniac? I saw no teifling with you when your troupe arrived.” The erinyes inquires“We don’t know where he is; he went through some fiendish hell hound trap and never saw him again.” Haimish answers“Lucky bastard.” The erinyes replies“Where is this Hledra, I may have need to finish your pathetic plundering job.” Lord Ina-Herit asks“Find your own guide; take out an advertisement, commune, or guess. Any of those work just as well.” Haimish answers“I like the cut of you jib bard. Is there something special you want for your birthday?” The erinyes inquires“No, as for payment for this highly valuable, collector’s prize of an artifact. I’m a bard, use your imaginations. I predict you’ll do well.” Haimish advises“My liege has already informed me to make the winning bid, let us retire to come to an agreement.” Lord Ina-HeratIna-Herit’s comments enrage the table as female drow shows up as well, berating Kalen for delaying her attendance at such an important occasion. The drow snatches a chair from a nearby table, spins it and sits as close to Haimish as possible while simultaneously blocking Lord Ina-Hiret’s view.“Well, human?” The drow says“I like games, you all like games? We’re going to play a game now and the winner shall get certain considerations on their bid.” Haimish states“Lolth demands the item at all cost!” The drow shoutsHaimish thought to ask her what Orcus thought of that, but remembered a mummy had shown up talking about his liege and he figured he had just made a connection on that.“I have a planer rift to the elemental plane of ice, whoever can tell me how to close it, shall get a greater place amongst the bids.” Haimish says“What’s that supposed to mean?” The drow says“It means I won’t accept any bids from those with no answer to my question.” Haimish says, and with that the rakshasa, drow, and erinyes teleport out to find the answer while the two undeads remain at the table. “Aren’t you going to run off and find the answer to my question?” Haimish asks“No need, I have your answer.” Ina-Hiret states“So then give me your bid.” Haimish replies“No, give me the item first and you shall have your answer.” The mummy says“Not likely, if you don’t want to be a good sport, then don’t even bother submitting a bid and you can go about rotting your existence away somewhere else.” Haimish responds “I will not leave this place without the rock, if it does not come by me through your hands then it will come by through others. One thing is certain, it will be mine to present to my liege.” Ina-Herit challengesHaimish ignores the ranting mummy next to him and focuses on Kalen who sits motionless.“You don’t get it either, not without my answer.” Haimish talks over the mummy at Kalen“Quite.” Kalen replies and snaps his fingers and a green robed man from the School of Ancient knowledge approaches the table from behind Haimish.“Search the cellar library area fifty-one and find this book.” Kalen shows the man a slip of paper, “bring the book back here and be quick.” The man teleports off, “you’ll have your answer post haste.” Kalen advises“Must be nice to have the school at your fingertips.” Haimish implies, “I wonder what the Mormekar’s think of that?”“They think nothing; the dead are useless except for spare parts. However much like my desiccated friend here stated so eloquently. You will give me the rock now.” Kalen held his right hand out as his eyes flashed red for a moment.“Ha! You’re a one trick pony with a bad leg. Here’s to hoping your nanny brings back the right book or you’re going to lose.” Haimish saysMenthos made it back to Kindoras Keep nine days after exiting Hledra, his only company on the trip was the nasty weather and packs of wolves. No other intelligent life wandered outside in a Majestic Blizzard. Menthos was happy to see the keep still standing and the columns of smoke meant the pyromancers finally got around to lighting something useful. Too tired to deal with the captain, Menthos spider climbed over the wall and crossed the courtyard into the priest quarters, both happy and irked that he was able to do so without so much as a yell to “stop!” He stumbled down the hallway to his own room and collapsed on the bed. It was early evening the next day before he arose to find his room was doubling as a storage closet as well. Boxes and crates were piled across the northern wall a smell of paste hung faintly in the air, Menthos thought there must be some wet flour in some of the boxes. Menthos stretches the journey from his muscles and gets up to have a look around the cold keep.The hallway outside his room was quiet as he walked down to Aleena’s quarters, hoping to catch her before her sundown sermon. Lightly rapping on her door brought a fiery, “Leave me the hell alone!” then soft sobbing. Menthos tries to push the door open but it is barred from the other side, so he elects to spend the next few minutes pouring eldritch blasts over the door until it disintegrates under the onslaught. “What did you do that for? Now I’m going to have to replace that.” Aleena calls out from a desk on the far side of the room.“I just love it when you talk all spiritual like that.” Menthos replies, hoping for a hug or a glad you’re safe greeting, “what no hug?”“I’m not feeling well, I’ve been throwing up all week and I ache in tender places.” Aleena answers“Withdrawal, very common I women I’ve met, luckily I’m back so you can get your fix.” Menthos says proudly“I don’t think that’s the problem at all.” Aleena says“Says you, what do you know you’re just a cleric of a fire god, maybe you should consult a liaison to the fire god instead? I’ll be taking requests all day.” Menthos saysAleena smiles weakly and inquires as to Menthos’ travels this past two weeks. Menthos relates his story and hands over the vial for inspection as well. Aleena can’t give anymore information than Menthos already has so she returns the item to Menthos. At the end of his narrative Menthos asks to speak with Helle or Statinistor about Hledra. Aleena advises she will set that up after giving the sundown address to the keep.Aleena gives Menthos a kiss as she leaves the room with a deliberate walk. After judging her to be far enough along the hallway, Menthos finds the secret door near the far left corner of Aleena’s room that he found exploring one night. Opening it to reveal the small chamber with a large brazier in the middle. The warlock pours oil over the coals and ignites them creating a brilliant rush of yellow and oranges as the flame charges into the ceiling of the chamber. A few moments later the visage of Statinistor appears in the fire and addresses the teifling.“Menthos, tis good to know you escaped unharmed along with your companions.” Statinistor states“Oh, so they made it out alive without me did they? Where are they now?” Menthos asks“On an off-shifted island called Troy, they are being harassed by retrievers among other things. Although your ogre friend remains in Highcastle.” Statinistor answers“Hmm. Then my plan worked, they escaped while I have the treasure?” Menthos comments“Yes, yes. Toy with them and make them think you are weaker, then when they finally sense they are about to die, the grim realization that they were too cocky to fight effectively destroys whatever will to fight on that they had left. Excellent choice of tactics.” Statinistor replies“What’s wrong Aleena?” Menthos inquires“Such concern for your fellow man.” Statinistor begins, Menthos couldn’t tell if the priest was being sarcastic or genuine, “Although you should know, you caused it.”“That was a joke back there with the withdrawal comment.” Menthos answers“Yes, but the facts remain. You got her pregnant.” Statinistor answers“Ah crap. This is what ruined my brother Tehas’ life, what happens now?” Menthos asked, hoping the answer didn’t involve a lot of skin flailing or soul melting.“Nothing it will be dealt with when the time comes, for now why don’t you step into the brazier and return to Highcastle, there is much to show you.” Statinistor answered.“I need to corral a few things here first, but as long as I have you on the prompter. What do you know about a temple under Hledra?” Menthos asks explaining the altar and big undead fight they fled from."I know of no temple below Hledra, this concerns me as there must be some kind of deific presence if blade barriers were cast and temples are still functioning." Statinistor answers“What of this prophesy that almost paralyzed the pyromancers?” Menthos asks"Prophesies are vague enough that they could be applied almost anywhere, Kador tells me there is a growing darkness to the north. But most concerning to us is the spread of disease ahead of this early winter, the Morwynites can't keep up with the amount of sick and dying that lay upon their doorstep." Statinistor replies“How can I stop the gate from creating this weather?” Menthos asks"The magic of this year's early winter is neither arcane nor divine, it most resembles your ability, yet not the same." Statinistor answers“Your answer sucks.” Menthos retorts, “What’s been going on down there lately?” "Our repeated attempts to sanction the School of Ancient Knowledge, have met with disaster. There is now open hostility between us and we believe they have subverted agents within the Courts of Maal. Be wary of the school, we no longer send solitary priests out from the temple. They never return. We also find it odd that the Church of Mormekar has chosen to publicly denounce the School of Ancient Knowledge for some reason. Going so far as to even dispute land grants which are trivial and I cannot recollect the last time anyone disputed this simple procedure, least of all to the school.” Statinistor starts, "Aleena tells me Kindoras Keep is thriving no thanks to your lashing tongue against the pyromancers who fled in fear when a frost worm attacked."“I am not sorry for getting them motivated.  They were shirking their responsibility.  We easily could have been destroyed had they not got up to their post.” Menthos responds"Kador tells me before the next full moon you shall have a revelation that will make your fire more pure. I am happy you have returned so that I may be able to be there when you receive this blessing." Statinistor comments, “also a Babau clutch and an Osiluth commander arrived in Highcastle yesterday looking for a party matching some of the people you are know to carouse with. They left about an hour after arriving, apparently satisfied that whatever they were looking for was no longer here. You wouldn't know anything about this would you?” Statinistor inquired“No, I took out an interest free loan.” Menthos deflects the question.Menthos takes a deep breath, walks into the flames and is transported back to the scrying room in Statinistor’s quarters.</blockquote>

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