The Psionicle, Part VIII

[GnomeWorks]

The Council, once more...

Shardorn leads you to the clocktower. You venture up the steps, and the wooden door at the top is wide open - the githyanki invites you with a gesture.

-----

Meanwhile... Animus manages to sneak away from the rest of the group, and locates a small temple. Robed priests wander about inside, but other than that it is calm and silent.

-----

The party, including Shardorn, Jirlai, and Tori'shel, has gathered completely in the Council's room.

"Your group has changed much since our last meeting," The githyanki says quietly. "Shardorn was not with you, as she came into Garanasseur in the last few days. However, two of your companions we do not recognize... and strange companions they are..."

"However, that is not important for the moment." The blue interrupts her. "Right now, we need to see that the treaty has been signed, and you must give us a report on what occured while you were in the yuan-ti lands."

The githyanki nods slightly in response to the blue's words, and remains silent.

 

[Dalamar]

Syld clears his throat as he begins.
"First, we had some trouble getting there as one of the drivers had been replaced with an illithidkin, but we managed to slay it. We did loose the remaining driver however and so Jansson and I had to fly the carriages to the village."
Syld waits if any of the others wants to add something.

 

[Zhure]

Osius

"And it appears the illithid truly want this device. They assaulted an entire yuan-ti village for it."

 

[Jarval]

"And we had to fight off a dozen illithidkin on our return journey. And Jirlai and Tori'shel," he gestures towards the mage and technologist. "were working together to try and take the Eye from us. It seems we need to worry about more than just the illithid, as they were commanded by a githyanki, who seemed quite powerful."

 

[GnomeWorks]

Syld
"First, we had some trouble getting there as one of the drivers had been replaced with an illithidkin, but we managed to slay it. We did loose the remaining driver however and so Jansson and I had to fly the carriages to the village."

The Council members are silent for a moment.

"It is unfortunate that we were unaware of the illithidkin." The githyanki says quietly. "You are fortunate, however, for having dealt with the threat."

Osius
"And it appears the illithid truly want this device. They assaulted an entire yuan-ti village for it."

"The illithid mounted an assault..." The blue says, evidently surprised.

"This cannot bode well for our newfound allies." The githyanki says. "If we lost them as soon as we found them..."

Jansson
"And we had to fight off a dozen illithidkin on our return journey. And Jirlai and Tori'shel were working together to try and take the Eye from us. It seems we need to worry about more than just the illithid, as they were commanded by a githyanki, who seemed quite powerful."

The Council turns to regard the two who were mentioned, and Tori'shel and Jirlai visibly step back.

"It is my belief," Shardorn says, "that the githyanki my companions speak of is none other than Ratheqar."

Jirlai nods in acknowledgement of what the cleric says. "The goblin is correct." He says simply.

The Council is silent for a long moment. The githyanki is the first to break the silence.

"The illithid and Ratheqar." She says. "Our enemies are numerous, while our allies dwindle in number."

The blue then addresses the group: "That will do for a report. If you would now give us the treaty, you can be on your way... unless, that is, you have any questions or other information you think would be useful to us."

 

[Jarval]

"There is one thing. The Staff of Ancient Penumbra has bonded with the Gem of Telepathy. It also successfully dominated one of our companions, and nearly overpowered another. Is there any way we can separate the gem from the staff, or wield the Staff safely?"

 

[Dalamar]

Syld hands the treaty the blue.

 

[dkoz]

"I don't want to forget to mention the Staff threatened us with death if we didn't allow it to bond with the Eye also."

 

[GnomeWorks]

Jansson
"There is one thing. The Staff of Ancient Penumbra has bonded with the Gem of Telepathy. It also successfully dominated one of our companions, and nearly overpowered another. Is there any way we can separate the gem from the staff, or wield the Staff safely?"

"It would seem, then," The githyanki says, "that the Psionicle has begun to construct itself. As for it mentally dominating your companion... the Staff, of course, is an illithid artifact, and is designed to be used by the most powerful of their kind. It will attempt to posess any who wield it and force them to find the nearest illithid."

"As for separating the Gems from the Staff... we do not believe that there is any way to seperate them. Even if there were, it would be unadvisable - remember that this artifact is the base of the Psionicle, and that it must be constructed. The evil disposition of the Staff must be overlooked, when one considers that the future of all who use psionics hangs upon it." As the githyanki speaks, the blue's expression darkens slightly.

"We do not know of a way for you to wield the Staff safely. If you could perhaps feign cooperation, you may be able to wield it... however, we are not certain if this would work."

-----

The blue takes the treaty from Syld, and unrolls it. Three small gems fall out of it as he does so. "Hmm..." The blue says, gathering them up. "I believe these are yours..." He hands them to Syld with a mildly annoyed look.

Syld - you do not recognize the gems. Each is a tiny emerald.

-----

Desimus
"I don't want to forget to mention the Staff threatened us with death if we didn't allow it to bond with the Eye also."

"The 'Eye'?" The blue says, moving his gaze from the treaty to the sorcerer. "We don't recognize the name. However, if the Staff wanted to bond with it..."

"It is a piece of the Psionicle." The githyanki says. "That is the only explanation. If that is the case, we recommend - very highly - that you allow it to combine with the Psionicle. Perhaps once you have given the Eye to it, it will then cooperate with you."

"We do not need to stress the importance of the Psionicle to you." The blue says simply. "You are well aware of the consequences of not constructing it. We expect that you will make the decisions... that must be made."

 

[Zhure]

Osius

"The council is of course wise. We should continue combining the two elements of the Psionicle. Do you learned ones also know of another piece we could try to locate?"