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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Canaan" data-source="post: 2985333" data-attributes="member: 40239">Chapter 25:  Brightstone Keep, ReduxThanks for the continued support Biscuit.  And wait NO longer for Hu Li antics!!!**********The ducks at Balian’s tower were more ornery than the last time we were there.  One of them waddled right up to Talon and bit him in the side.  Luckily there was no impediment to entrance, minimizing our exposure to the angry birds.  The drawbridge was down.  Hu Li stood at the other side, grinning broadly.I recalled in that moment just how much I loathed that supercilious smile. “Foul creatures, aren’t they.” He said as we crossed the drawbridge and approached him. I could not discern from his inflection whether his statement was insult, compliment, joke or merely an observation. “Lilian!” Hu Li continued, his arms suddenly up and outstretched. “The most comely female specimen in the entire Kingdom!  Hello, my dear.  It has been too long!”  Hu Li’s toothy grin grew as he prepared to hug the approaching champion. In a fashion most appropriate, Lilian greeted the ostentatious Hu Li.  “It has been too long for good friends to be apart.” She politely said, allowing herself to be embraced by the wizard.In the middle of their embrace, Hu Li smugly glanced over Lilian’s shoulder to the rest of us, then his face suddenly twisted with repulsion.“Gah!” He recoiled. “What in the bowels of the Eyeless Hollow Ones is THAT!” He nearly screamed, pointing right at Shallahai.Expressionless, Shallahai advanced on the wizard until he was nearly on top of him.  “You are a waste of water, Jordan!” Shallahai suddenly seethed, eyes glowing white.“That’s the Acolyte Hu Li!” Hu Li retorted with somewhat less forcefulness than usual as the wizard recoiled in fear from the menacing druid.Shallahai had never spoken to us about his feelings on Hu Li after the incident with the bead of force.  Clearly, Shale had not forgiven the wizard for the foolishness that cost him his life, and those emotions still lingered. Hu Li looked around at the rest of us, then back to Shallahai.  “Shale?” He asked, an octave too high.“Shale is no more, because of you, fool!  I am Shallahai.  I am Her answer to the wicked deeds of man and fiend.  And you will find me much less tolerant of your idiocy than was Shale.”  Shallahai answered.Hu Li shrank back a little, but he was clearly puzzled.I put a hand on each of their shoulders.  “Shallahai is Shale reincarnated by the power of The Green through Master Baern of the Wiltangle Forest.” “Oh.”  Hu Li responded.  Then he looked at my hand on his shoulder with disgust.  “You’re touching me again, priest.” He said in an irritated voice.Praying to Canaan for patience, I lifted my hand from the wizard’s shoulder, resisted the urge to cup it into a fist and allowed it to fall at my side.Gabriel, however, succumbing to his old ill temper, struck Hu Li clean in the face. “Ow!”  Hu Li cradled his bleeding nose.  “What in the Hells was that for?” He whined.“Oh please, Jordan!  Don’t feign ignorance.  Aesendal is dead.  Shale died.  We nearly died trying to return Shale to us.  We return and you greet us as though nothing happened?  You make jokes and smug remarks without ever once saying, ‘I’m sorry?!’  While you were here comfortable in your tower with your insane master, we risked life and limb!”  Gabriel spat.Hu Li took it all in and looked down at Gabriel’s wooden leg, arching an eyebrow.Full of hubris, Hu Li retorted, “And somewhat unsuccessfully, I see. And how dare any of you blame me? Talon is the master of tactics, not I! It was by his blunderings that we found ourselves beset as we did. Caged in by our enemies… "“APPRENTICE!”  Came the shrill voice from inside the tower.  “QUIT DALLYING OUT THERE WITH THE DUCKS, I AM IN SORE NEED OF YOUR TONGUE.  QUICKLY!”Hu Li sighed heavily.  The proud façade gone, and shoulders suddenly slumped. “You think you know what I have endured?” He responded to Gabriel in a strangely lucid, if tired, voice.  “You don’t know the half of it.”  Hu Li turned away and walked inside.We followed.* * * *Helena was visiting with Balian when we arrived in the study.  She was as unnervingly beautiful and alluring as ever.“Oh look, Balian.  It’s Evora and crew!”  She purred.“Hello.” Balian said in his characteristically shrill voice while adjusting his backless robe.  Eight scabrous, oozing sores covered his back, slowly bleeding a black fluid that smelled vaguely of vinegar and soiled feet. It was disgusting.Orolde was dabbing one of them with a beige sponge dripping with some milky fluid.  Hu Li entered the room just before us and immediately went over to his master, knelt down and assisted him in adjusting his robe to expose the eight sores.“Nancy is particularly in need of your special ministrations, Apprentice.” Balian cooed.  “Yes master.” Hu Li responded as he began to lick the black ichor from one of the sores on the lower right of Balian’s back.“Ahhhh.” Breathed Balian.  “Excellent.  That’s good, Apprentice. That’s good.”Helena looked away from that vile scene and over to us, her expression going from revilement to a pleasant smile.“It’s a pity that Veshra got away.  But don’t despair.  I’ve been doing some inquiring.  I think I’m close to finding out who released her.” She started.“That’s great news, Lady Helena.” I responded enthusiastically.  “You will let us know as soon as you know?” I asked.“Most certainly, I will.” She responded.  Then she seemed to look at Shallahai for the first time.“What in the planes are you?” she asked, rising from her chaise lounge to inspect Shallahai, intrigued.“This is Shallahai.  Shale reincarnated and evolved by the hand of The Green.” I responded.“Fascinating.”  She responded, preoccupied with Shallahai.  “What interesting skin.”  She whispered.“Are there more of you?” She asked Shallahai.“None that I am aware of, Lady Helena.” Shallahai responded.“Hmm.” She put her hands on her voluptuous hips satisfied and turned to the rest of us.  “So, what does bring you here today?”“We were at Brightstone Keep, which has been overrun by humanoids, Orcs and some giant hunchbacked green monsters with black claws and long warty noses.  We nearly didn’t survive.  The green giants kept regenerating and wouldn’t die.  We had hoped to obtain some guidance from Balian as to what they are and we came to collect Hu Li to help us defeat them.”  I responded.“Bah!  Hu Li?” Came Balian’s shrill voice.  “Yes Master?” Hu Li stopped licking to respond.“Not you. Keep licking, Apprentice or it will be the Tentacle Room for you!”  Balian spat.“Yes Master.” Hu Li quickly replied and renewed his licking with vigor.Turning his attention back to us, he continued. “Help you?  Like he helped you defeat the Priest of Orcus and his minions?”  Hu Li is an incompetent boob!” Balian nearly shrieked.Hu Li paused his licking to whine, “Master, please!” He quickly resumed his ghastly tongue ministrations on Balian’s sores.“Quiet, Boy!” Balian retorted.“But it wasn’t my fault.” Hu Li whined.“Not your fault?!  Who told you, ‘don’t throw the bead into the room when your friends are in it,’ hmm?!”  Balian scolded Hu Li.“But Master, I forgot!”  Hu Li whined.“Oh for the love of Xuityuliifor!  To the Tentacle Room with you!” Balian commanded Hu Li.“Yes Master.” Hu Li responded, despondently, slowly getting up and walking out of the room.Gabriel was angry with Hu Li.  But he was clearly conflicted over how Balian was treating him.  Nonetheless, his recent embrace of Canaanism allowed him to hold his tongue.When Hu Li left, Balian turned his attention to the rest of us.  Gabriel’s wooden leg caught his eye.  “Your leg’s off, boy.” He said to Gabriel.“Yes, I know.” Gabriel responded angrily.“What’d you go and do that for?” Balian asked.Gabriel looked puzzled.“Uh Master, It wasn’t his doing.  A dire wolf ripped it off of him in Wiltangle Forest.” I said, trying to clear things up.“How rude.” Balian retorted.“Yes well, we were wondering if you knew anything that could fix his leg.  A spell perhaps? Or a ritual?”  I asked.“Hmm.  Let me think about that one.”  Balian mused.“Didn’t you say you were fighting some green giants with hunchbacks and black claws?” Balian asked.“Yes, Master.  We were.  At Brightstone Keep.”  I replied.Balian got up and walked over to a wall of bookshelves, perusing the spines for a moment, looking for a particular title.  “Ah, there it is.” He said triumphantly as he pulled down a thick dusty volume and placed it on the table.He opened the book to a picture.  “There.” He pointed at the picture.  “Is that it?”  He asked.We all gathered around the reading table and looked at the picture.  It looked very much like the creatures we fought in the Keep.“Yes! That’s it!” I cried.“That’s a Troll.” Balian replied flatly.“It can only be killed by fire or acid.  Otherwise, it will keep regenerating its wounds.” Balian explained.“These trolls seemed to be immune to fire.” Shallahai said.“That’s impossible.” Balian discounted Shallahai’s comment with a wave of his hand.Shallahai merely shrugged.“Come to think of it, troll blood might be used in a ritual to replenish Gabriel’s leg.  I’ll need a lot of it, though.  Perhaps a bucket full.”  Balian offered.Helena looked at Balian, perplexed.  Changing the subject, she asked, “So what were you doing at Brightstone Keep anyway?”Talon responded.  “The Duke charged us with routing the humanoids that had overtaken it.  And Allustan, an Arcanist from Diamond Lake, asked us to look for a lost Tomb to a Wind Duke for some artifacts.  Apparently the tomb is near Brightstone Keep.”“Ah, Allustan.” Helena chuckled.  “He’s so obsessed with those Wind Dukes.”“You know Allustan?” I asked Helena.“Of course she does, Apprentice.  Like you, he was at one time my apprentice.  He didn’t stay long, however, finding my brand of arcanism too….complex.”  Balian interrupted.  "He decided to study with Manzorian at Mage Point in the Neutral Territory."“Oh.” I replied.Hu Li screamed from the other room.“What are you doing to him?” Gabriel yelled out.“He is being disciplined, Priest of Canaan.  He is learning the delicate art of concentration.”  Balian replied acidly in a voice that could shatter glass.  “And I will not have you interfering with his studies.”  He added.Gabriel’s face turned red and he stormed out of the room and out of the tower.I sighed.  Some things never change.“We would like to take Hu Li with us to assist us in our charge.  Will you allow him to come?”  Lilian asked.Balian looked at the champion considering her words.“Hu Li may have a reprieve from his studies to aid you provided you all agree to come back to me at this tower at a time of my choosing to aid me in a very important task.”  Balian replied.“I will, of course.” Lilian responded.  “You have my word.”“You must all swear it.”  Balian continued, looking at all assembled.  When he got to Helena, he added, “Except you, of course, my dear.”Helena smiled and nodded.  * * * * We all swore to do Balian’s bidding and left the next morning with Hu Li and a severely bruised Gabriel in tow.  “What happened to you?” Hu Li asked the bruised Gabriel as the wizard limped along.“I was accosted by angry ducks all night.” Gabriel responded.  “What’s a matter with you?  Why are you limping?”“You wouldn’t understand.” Hu Li responded.Fearing a repeat of the argument we endured last time we were at Balian’s tower, I quickly changed the subject.  “Hu Li, I have something for you.” I said, withdrawing a long ebony wand from my pack.  I obtained it from the werewolves’ den in the Wiltangle Forest.“Oh, that’s so pretty!” Hu Li nearly giggled.  “What does it do?” He asked.“I don’t know.  You’ll have to figure that out.”  I replied.“Hmm, perhaps tomorrow.”  Hu Li said.  “I suppose you’re not all bad, priest.” He added after a moment.* * * *On the morning of the day we were to reach Brightstone Keep, I awoke early for my usual prayers. When I asked of Canaan to bless me with my usual access to His Domain of Mysticism, I felt a warmth at my chest that jarred me from my meditations. My holy symbol was glowing white. When I touched it, it was warm, and growing warmer by the moment. A cloud broke overhead and a thin ray of sun rained down on me. The divine spell spiritual weapon was at that moment replaced with the normally druidic power to heat metal. I accepted the gift with all humility and thanked Canaan for His continued blessings.* By the time we arrived back at Brightstone Keep, it had been a full week since our last visit.  We noticed with some trepidation that the portcullis had been returned to its original position as though Shallahai’s spell had never been cast.  Clearly, there was a spell caster among them.Luckily the portcullis was up this time.  We decided that Talon would sneak in first and immobilize the Orc guards in the towers while the rest of us battled the trolls.  None of the Orcs seemed to be manning the battlements.  Perhaps we killed enough of them last time that they had too few to watch during the day and since the trolls scared us off, they probably assumed nobody would be back.  I was the first one into the courtyard, followed quickly by Lilian on Damien.  Shallahai and Hu Li remained outside the keep, standing on the rubble at one of the huge gaping holes in the keep’s walls.  Gabriel followed close behind Lilian and me.  Aside from two large wooden buildings with doors like barns, an empty stable area and a well with a chain wrapped around it, nothing was in the courtyard, except the dry, packed earth.Then we heard some sounds of fighting from one of the towers.  Talon had begun.  I heard a chain rattling ahead, as though it was being dragged along the ground.  Then a horn blew.  The Orcs sounded the alarm!The doors to one of the barn-like structures slammed open and back against the side of the building.  Out lumbered one of the trolls, roaring.Lilian cried out, “Look!  Over by the well!”I looked to the well and saw the source of the rattling chain.  From around the side of one of the buildings near the well, the largest white wolf I had ever seen padded out, growling.  It was as big as Damien and was leashed by a thick metal spiked collar connected to a long chain wrapped around the well.“Canaan, grant me your divine shield!” Lilian called out.  A moment later, she was wreathed in His righteousness.“Canaan, bless these, your loyal servants, as they battle in your name.” I prayed to Canaan to bless us.Shallahai gasped. “Winter wolf!  Get out of there!”But it was too late.  The wolf breathed on us.  It was as cold as a blizzard on a dark winter night.  I felt as though my joints had frozen.  Frost covered my hair and eyebrows.  I could barely stand.  I stood there, shivering.Lilian and Damien fared a bit better, and Gabriel was luckily out of range of the blast.Lilian spurred Damien forward and drew her blade.  As Damien reached the wolf, Lilian sliced down on the wolf’s back, injuring it.  The angered wolf bit Lilian in return and drew blood.Shallahai chanted to produce flame as he did in the previous battle with the trolls.  But this time, he hurled a small ball of flame at the winter wolf.  The wolf yelped in pain as the flame hit its hide, singeing it.Shivering, I called out to Canaan to send me his holy spiritual weapon, but in that moment I had forgotten that I had not received it from Him. The sword did not take shape and for a long moment I was flummoxed, until it hit me. I was granted heat metal. I looked to the iron collar winter wolf’s neck.I thanked Canaan for His foresight and began to chant through blue lips. Hu Li pointed the ebony wand I had given him the other day at a point in the courtyard between him and us and spoke a word I didn’t understand.  A bright light lit the end of his wand and jetted to the point in space he indicated, but divided into three glowing balls, each of which grew into a celestial dog.  The summoned monsters appeared and began barking and running toward the lumbering troll.Meanwhile the doors to the other structure burst open and out lumbered the second troll.Lilian and the wolf traded wounds.  Gabriel ran up behind his sister and whispered a prayer to Canaan to heal his sister.  He touched her side as she rode past to once again engage the massive winter wolf.  White light flared from his hand and Lilian was rejuvenated.The first troll was effectively preoccupied by Hu Li’s celestial dogs.  The troll’s blows were so potent that the poor creatures could only take one hit before they died.  But being summoned creatures, they merely popped out of existence as they died.  So the troll batted at them and they “popped.”  The first three lasted a mere second.  At first the troll was confused, putting his hand to his mouth after “popping” the summoned monsters.  He seemed hungry and didn’t seem to understand why his food kept popping like a bubble, depriving him of meat.  Then the troll locked eyes with Hu Li, seeming to decide that Hu Li was responsible for the disappearance of his food.  The angry troll lumbered after the wizard.My prayer ended and I felt the fires of the sun bolt like a wave from my hand, warming me and bolstering my courage.  The warmth spread from me, massaging the air forming undulating ripples between my fingers and the metal collar about the wolf’s neck. Seconds later, the creature’s neck began to smolder. Hu Li had to keep expending charges from his wand to keep the troll occupied.  Eventually, it was like a game to the troll.  I think the creature even giggled as he batted at the dogs and clapped his hands, skipping along toward Hu Li.  But the troll keep advancing on Hu Li and when Hu Li realized it, he got scared and ran away from the giant creature, until he was outside the keep.  Still summoning the dogs, Hu Li kept moving away from the troll.  But the troll kept coming, “popping” the celestial dogs.Two more times, Shallahai hurled a small ball of flame at the winter wolf and scored hits.  Between our combined elemental assault and Lilian’s blade, the winter wolf was cut down, allowing Lilian to turn her attention to the second troll, which had just started beating Gabriel to a pulp.Lilian called on Canaan to grant a blessing on her weapon.  Her sword glowed white for a moment, girded by Canaan’s grace.  Gabriel took a moment to heal himself, then attacked the troll with his fists with renewed vigor.Meanwhile, Shallahai intoned another spell to produce flame.  This time, when he hurled his small balls of flame at the troll, they seemed to damage him.  I couldn’t tell the trolls apart physically, but I noticed from the stylization of this troll’s ring, that this was not the troll Shallahai had been pummeling with fire last time.  That got me thinking about the rings.Lighting a stick of frankincense, I prayed. “Let the scent of Canaan’s holy smoke reveal that which is enchanted.” Focusing my concentration for several seconds and breathing in the thick aroma of the incense, I allowed the holy vapor to alter my consciousness such that when I opened my eyes, I would see the world from a higher perspective, differentiating between the mundane and the magical, allowing me to detect magic.  There it was.  The ring was magical.  Later, I would learn that both rings were enchanted and that the ring on the other troll protected the creature from fire, while the ring on this troll had a much more insidious nature.With me healing Lilian and Gabriel, our combined efforts managed to defeat the troll.  Shallahai blasted two more balls of flame into it for good measure.  Its wounds seemed to stop knitting.Hu Li screamed from far away, outside the keep.  We exchanged worried glances at each other and went to find him.  Lilian and Damien sped out through one of the large gaping holes in the keep’s walls.  Gabriel was next, followed by Shallahai and me.  Hu Li was teetering with his back at the edge of the precipice.  One celestial dog stood between him and the giant troll.  He had no where left to run.  Lilian and Damien slammed into the troll from the side, sending the troll off the edge of the precipice to land at its bottom a hundred feet below.Hu Li dropped to his knees and sobbed.Gabriel turned around, disgusted.Lilian dismounted and approached Hu Li, as did Shallahai and I.“You were very brave.” Lilian said, placing her hand on his shoulder.“The troll will regenerate if we don’t do something about it.” Shallahai reminded us.Hu Li wiped the tears away and collected himself.  “Yes.  Quite.”  He replied, rising and turning toward the edge of the precipice.“Sagitta Acidus” He intoned and pointed as a green glowing acid arrow shot from his index finger into the head of the troll at the bottom of the precipice, melting its face into some unrecognizable goo.  “That should do it.” Hu Li said as he brushed his hands together.“Where’s Talon?” Gabriel asked, listening for the sounds of fighting.We all stopped to listen.  We were met with only silence.Fearing the worst, we all ran back inside the keep toward the guard tower Talon had disappeared into.***********Unbeknownst to Evora's player at this point, Canaan, through Tanner, the Exalted Child, had turned Evora's holy symbol--a Canaanite Cross--into an artifact of sorts.  This was the first indication that it was more than it seemed.  The holy symbol gave Evora access to the Sun Domain (one of Canaan's many domains) and increased his caster level +2 for all healing spells.  As Evora gains levels, the holy symbol exhibits new powers.</blockquote>

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