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Message: <blockquote data-quote="the Jester" data-source="post: 1485567" data-attributes="member: 1210">Diamond HuntA shortage of diamonds- it seems our heroes have bought most of the ones of significant value lately, emptying the jewelers of Var of the precious commodity required for so many powerful spells.  Orbius determines to teleport to Kseethee, the strange flying city of great magical power.  Almost anything can be found there; surely diamonds will be no problem.  He casts discern location, and ascertains that it is above the Lantern Forest in the nation of Wulcasta above the continent of Belwur far to the east.With a frown, Orbius has to admit that Kseethee may prove tricky to reach.Our heroes discuss questions for a contact other plane or commune spell from the Eye.  Horbin says, “Ask where Till is.”“He’s with Marius on the Plane of Time,” Orbius answers.  “He needs to give him back to me.”  Horbin has a dangerous look on his face.Orbius opines that Marius will give Till back to Horbin about the same time that Horbin services Marius orally.“Marius needs to realize who he’s dealing with,” Horbin says hotly.Orbius asks Sybele when Jezebel will be returning, and is told “a few days.”  Nodding reluctantly- he wants to see her badly, in a way he’s not fully comfortable with- the Eye sets about composing his mind and disciplining his thoughts before sending his vast intellect deep into the upper planes, searching for a mind of singular power.  And he finds it.Will a miracle or wish followed by a resurrection bring back Lester?  True resurrection (yes).Who am I talking with?  GALADOR.Gulp.What tower do we need to go to next in Moil?  The Tower of Morning.What tower has webs of emerald?  The Tower of Webs.What did the Vestige guard?  Souls.How is Till keeping up with Marius?  He despairs of rescue.What will the webs of glowing emerald do to us if we touch them?  Freeze and entangle.Is my simulacrum still loyal to me?  Yes.What will we need the brine dragon’s key for?  To release the phantom flyer.Give me the name of a successful Peshan master trader we can find in Pesh City to get the diamonds we need?  Logthian.Sweet sleep is next for our heroes- it feels like a million years since they last had a good night’s sleep in a bed, with pillows and clean linens and a bath and all those things civilized folk so take for granted.  Not many baths in Moil.  No clean linen in the Tomb of Horrors.The next day sees our heroes, via greater teleport, in Pesh City.  Sadly, Pesh City appears occupied by the Forinthian navy.  Our heroes exchange a glance and take a variety of measures to appear unobtrusive (including Sybele turning into a stone and Thrush getting polymorphed into a normal human), and then Orbius casts mass fly.  Almost as soon as he takes to the sky, however, he sees invisible machine-like inevitables patrolling the skies.  Cursing, he warns the group to land, and they keep to the streets and move carefully, avoiding Forinthian patrols.  As they move through the seaward side of Pesh City, they can see a large flotilla of Forinthian warships in the harbor, their gold and white flags snapping in the wind.  They find their man, but they find they have to wait in a considerable line of rich Peshans.  All their bluster and flashes of gold do out heroes no good.  So in the line they wait.  It’s a fairly unremarkable wait; at least, until the ethros appears invisibly in the room.  Only Orbius notes his arrival (due to his permanent see invisibility) and, much to his consternation, the ethros is looking directly at him.Orbius knows little about the ethros; he knows that they are a blue-skinned humanoid race of long fingers and tall form; and that they are seemingly immortal.  He knows of Zsadly the Sadist, an infamous ethros wizard; he knows that they are traditionally very powerful.  He doesn’t know much else- for instance, why one is walking towards him invisibly across a room full of rich Peshans.  Orbius’ heart races as he debates opening fire with his magic, but before he can even acknowledge that that’s the Lester in him talking, the ethros is speaking in his mind.You seek Kseethee.  I am willing to take you there.Unsettled, not certain what exactly is going on here, Orbius thinks back, And what would you want in return?Ten percent of all transactions you make.“Ten percent!” Orbius exclaims aloud.”What?” asks Thrush blankly.The Eye casts a Rary’s telepathic bond and the group converses freely among themselves.  Orbius tells them about the ethros’ offer and they all suspiciously agree to decline.  The ethros departs peacefully enough, but it puts the group on edge.  How did he know they were looking for it?The party’s turn in line finally comes, and they purchase some stones.  They learn that diamonds, among other things, are being watched as a commodity due to the war. “This is ridiculous!” Orbius protests.“It’s war,” Horbin and Sybele say together.Next Time: In a few short moments, an update written by Lester’s player!!</blockquote>

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