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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Tellerian Hawke" data-source="post: 8297534" data-attributes="member: 6790669">SOME TIME AGO, AFTER STEPPING THROUGH ABIGAIL'S PORTAL:Lathir steps through the portal, and in the wink of an eye, he is standing alone, in the midst of a ruined village, which is filled with skeletal corpses, lying in the street, almost completely covered by rain-soaked leaves. The huts and tents are nothing now but burnt piles of debris; and in the center of the village, the well is bereft of its bucket, and reeks of spoiled, stagnant water. Next to the well, stands the centerpiece of the village, the Portal Tree, the runes carved deep into its trunk--normally glowing--now dark and dormant. Lathir muses to himself that it was a good plan, killing the master druid first, taking the staff... But how did she turn the portal runes dark? No one but a druid may use the powers of the staff to control the portal. How did she pull it off?Lathir spends three days examining the site, looking for clues, trying to figure out a scenario that made sense, and trying to ascertain his purpose in being summoned here.At some point, being tired of standing, Lathir leans against and touches the tree, and is surprised, as his hand is held fast, and a shock of energy flows through his body! In the brief moment that it takes for this to happen, Lathir experiences a vision!In the vision, Vulka and her giants are laying waste to the village, killing and burning. Vulka is facing off against the Druid in single combat. The combat lasts through several tense exchanges; but hidden in the bushes is a male Drow elf. When the Druid's back is turned, the Drow casts a spell, and whispers something. The Druid gets a blank look in his eyes, and mumbles, "Must protect the village. Must close the portal." He then touches the staff to the tree, causing the runes to go dark. As he does this, Vulka grins, and runs a giant-sized, black, iron spear through the Druid's chest, killing him instantly.Vulka says, "Davayte posmotrim, kak eti druidy mogut zashchitit' svoi dragotsennyye lesa bez svoyey malen'koy seti portalov!"[spoiler=If you speak Cloud Giant]Vulka says, "Let's see how these druids can protect their precious forests without their little portal network!"[/spoiler][gm] In his vision, Lathir understands everything that Vulka says. Thus, Lathir may look at the spoilers. [/gm]The Drow elf grins, stepping out of the bushes where he had been hiding.He removes a black, silken patch of cloth from his pocket, and folds it out onto the ground. Lathir recognizes the magic, for he has seen Respen use it before: A Portable Hole.Vulka rips the staff from the dead Druid's hands, which are still grasping it. As she does so, there is a shower of sparks, and a flash of blue light. Vulka screams in pain, dropping the staff, and kicking it into the portable hole with her boot.Vulka curses, "Oy! Proklyataya shtuka menya potryasla!"[spoiler=If you speak Cloud Giant]Vulka curses, "Ouch! The damned thing shocked me!"[/spoiler]The Drow elf simply chuckles, and begins to fold the cloth, so that he may replace it in his pocket....and with that, the vision ends, and Lathir has the answer to his question.Lathir muses inwardly, to himself: ~So, this Drow again. It's the second time I've laid eyes on him. He used a Suggestion spell; devious little vermin. When we finally meet, he shall die for that deed alone, let alone all of the other vile acts he has committed. He shall know the justice of the forest; he shall feel the wrath of the sisters. I swear this, here and now.~When Lathir swears the oath, a voice inside his head says: "I am proud of you this day, my servant. You have done well in deciphering these clues I have left for you. Bear this purpose in mind: The Drow is a defiler. You are right to want for his destruction. His true name is Glimval, although he uses the name of Quinnlan among the Giants. He is part of a plot to despoil the forests of the surface world, and to corrupt the druidic portals, for use by his kind, to spread their war of darkness across your world. For that reason alone, I demand his death, and the burning of his body on a ritual funeral bed, built in the shadow of the Great Oak of the Vesve Forest. Ellis Kvar can show you the way to it, and he can also help you build the bed.The Key of Krigala now resides in the treasure horde of the Jarl of the Great Ice Rift. The sacred staff was a gift from Vulka, to acquire the loyalty and allegiance of the Frost Giants. They are now allied in purpose. Since they have dared to ally themselves against me, I demand the deaths of the Hill Giants and their allies in the Steading, as well as the deaths of the Frost Giants of the Glacial Rift. You will act as my agent in this; you will deliver the brunt of my wrath. For that purpose, take this ring."A golden ring inset with a green emerald appears on the pinky finger of your right hand.[spoiler="LATHIR'S EYES ONLY"]The Ring of Vengeance (Minor Artifact)Does not take up a magic item slot. May be worn on fingers, or toes.The ring is impervious to damage.The ring is dormant (non-functional) in Human form.The ring only functions for the Chosen of Meilikki.When in Wildshape, the ring causes the animal form's claws to become UNBREAKABLE +4 Adamantine slashing & piercing weapons. [+4 to hit and damage, base damage = 1d6+4, Crit: 19-20 x2 (2d6+8) Type: Slashing AND Piercing][/spoiler]The voice continues, "But now, you must go to the aid of your friends. Their destinies are inter-twined with the well-being of the forest. They are in grave peril. Prepare yourself, you are about to join them! Fight alongside them, armed with the fury of nature, and the resolve that comes from the pursuit of your oath!"[spoiler=" LATHIR'S EYES ONLY"]And with that, there is a momentary flash of light, and you suddenly find yourself in desert environs... You are hidden within a patch of dense foliage, next to a pool of clear water, obviously an oasis. You can see your friends in the distance; they are preparing to fight! And directly in front of you, where the foliage ends and the sand begins, you see the form of a Lamia materializing, as she casts an attack spell, thereby ending her invisibility. She is camouflaged to look like the sand, as the result of wearing a thin, wispy veil. But you are close enough to easily distinguish it. She is so focused on your friends, she is completely unaware of your presence. You will receive a +2 circumstantial Initiative Bonus! Go ahead and roll initiative.[/spoiler]</blockquote>

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