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<blockquote data-quote="the Jester" data-source="post: 1568271" data-attributes="member: 1210"><p><strong>Lester Meets a Lady</strong></p><p></p><p><em><strong>Twenty-two years ago...</strong></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Lester, Sunsi, Thimbleton, Hobbes, Stone and Rinardo were leading a group of Malford’s men across the ruins of the town of Morval. It wasn’t the first ruin they’ve been to, but it will be the last before they reach the broken remains of the city of Var, where Fuligin drove them forth in abject defeat a century ago.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Now they were at last ready to face him, and they needed to reclaim territory as they went. Rinardo had not yet gained the Mantle of Gaea, and the devastation was obvious everywhere. Burnt trees; a few scraggly plants here and there; bones on the road, unburied bodies left to dry and become buried by the blowing grit of a continent raped and scourged bare of life.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em></em>Man, woman or child- bird or beast or plant- if it’s not evil, kill it.<em> That was the order that Fuligin had given to the hordes of evil outsiders he had somehow conjured. And they had obeyed. The destruction was complete; even the emperor of Wotan could not stand before the fiendish armies. Those Dorhausians that survived did so by fleeing- or by becoming evil themselves. An entire continent had to be abandoned before the savagery of Fuligin and his forces.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>But now heroes had returned- the same heroes Fuligin had defeated to take Dorhaus in the first place. A hundred years after they were supposedly slain by the forces of evil, they had come back to destroy their enemy at last. He would be weakened by the Master of Darkhold’s actions, they knew- or hoped. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>But for the moment, they were clearing ruins on the way to Var. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Several soldiers led the way into the ruined town center, and the group moved to explore the area. There were no signs of fiends or undead; but a sudden scream from within one of the buildings caught the attention of the heroes and their henchmen.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Sunsi of the Black Turtle Clan moved faster than anyone else, springing through the open doorway into the ruined building’s remnants, but Hobbes was fast behind him. The tabaxi’s blood sword was naked in his hand already. Lester’s bat wings flapped with remarkable strength, carrying him after them. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Before the heroes was a nightmare of giant spiders and a terrified man-at-arms, caught in a web and already swelling from a toxic bite. He screamed again as the spiders skittered close to him.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Sunsi leapt forward, his bare foot smashing into the lead spider with amazing force. The creature’s head collapsed. Hobbes charged forward yowling, swinging his scarlet blade, and the battle was on. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Lester moved up to the injured man, swiftly uncorking a </em>potion of sweet water.<em> “Here,” he said, pouring it on the man’s wounds. “This should save you!”</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>By the time the L could turn his attention to the battle, it was over. Shrugging, he sliced the trapped man-at-arms free of the web. The main babbled his gratitude, and Lester just nodded and smiled dismissively. The man left, and Lester forgot his name within a week.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Now.</strong></em></p><p> </p><p>With a sigh, the L tips back his stein of beer. Good gnomish beer; the Three Rubies always has a nice brew available. Smacking his lips, Lester leans back in his chair and contemplates the lack of castle breakfast that he’s facing.</p><p></p><p>Lester is one of those people who seems to go through periods of extreme fortune. It’s never a little good or a little bad; it’s always <em>a lot</em> good or bad. Fortunately for him, he’s in a good period. That night his luck carries him a good long way.</p><p></p><p>“Hi,” she says when she walks up to him. “You’re Lester, right?”</p><p></p><p>The L knows that his afro, his bat wings, his shades reveal his identity to anyone who has lived in Var for more than a week or two, so there’s no point denying it. Besides, she’s beautiful- probably no older than twenty, human, with skin like dusk and dark wavy hair. </p><p></p><p>“That’s me,” he replies cautiously. “Why? Whatever it is, I didn’t do it!”</p><p></p><p>She gives out a low chuckle. “Yes you did. Years ago you saved my father’s life. I’ve always heard so much about you- I’ve wanted to meet you forever.”</p><p></p><p>“Oh! Well, I guess I did do <em>that...</em>”</p><p></p><p>Reina is her name, and it soon develops that not only does she practically worship Lester, she’s <em>rich.</em> Truly, the dice have fallen in his favor tonight. When she offers to show him and his friends her house, they cannot refuse; and the mansion, as it turns out to be, is quite impressive. Not as nice as Malford’s palace, but nearly so. Ulla is especially pleased by the extensive orchards and gardens.</p><p></p><p>That night, Lester is easily seduced. Why fight such a gorgeous opportunity? Although, truth to tell, he doesn’t even remember the incident she’s speaking of. But hey, he’s saved a lot of people in his time- he can’t be expected to remember every one!</p><p></p><p>While Lester is dallying with Reina, Orbius’ ever-seeking eye is wide open. The divine oracle casts <em>commune</em>.</p><p></p><p><em>Am I speaking with Boccob?</em> <strong>Yes.</strong></p><p><em>I open my mind for you to take all knowledge I have accumulated.</em></p><p><em>Will an epic show of strength free Sybele?</em> <strong>Not strength.</strong></p><p><em>Do I possess the right magic to free her?</em> <strong>No.</strong></p><p><em>Does Horbin?</em> <strong>No.</strong></p><p><em>Is it possible that someone extremely dexterous could free her?</em> <strong>No.</strong></p><p><em>Can she will herself off the hook?</em> <strong>No.</strong></p><p><em>Would a </em>stone shape<em> around the hook work?</em> <strong>No.</strong></p><p><em>So </em>Mordenkainen’s disjunction<em> won’t work?</em> <strong>No.</strong></p><p></p><p>The Eye curses inwardly.</p><p></p><p><em>Not even if I bestow an </em>antimagic shell<em> on Sybele?</em> <strong>Unlikely.</strong></p><p><em>Can Acererak hold Felenga more than a week without any intervention on our part?</em> <strong>Uncertain.</strong></p><p><em>Given sufficient time is Felenga likely to escape?</em> <strong>Yes.</strong></p><p><em>Is Felenga’s phylactery within 100’ of Acererak’s phylactery?</em> <strong>Yes.</strong></p><p><em>Is Acererak trying to lure us towards his phylactery?</em> <strong>If you are worthy.</strong></p><p><em>Am I speaking with Acererak?</em> <strong>No.</strong></p><p><em>Just making sure. Do we possess the proper magic to eliminate the fog we saw in the Fortress of Conclusion?</em> <strong>Yes.</strong></p><p><em>Will a </em>greater dispel magic<em> work?</em> <strong>Possibly.</strong></p><p><em>Do I possess magic of a lower valence than </em>Mordenkainen’s disjunction<em> that will get rid of it?</em> <strong>Perhaps.</strong></p><p><em>Will Malford easily triumph over the giants he’s facing?</em> <strong>Yes.</strong></p><p><em>Are the giants likely to find Lester’s temple’s encampment in the next five days?</em> <strong>No.</strong></p><p></p><p>For a few long moments the Eye frowns and mulls what he’s learned. Then he casts a <em>vision,</em> and it hits him like a blow.</p><p></p><p><em>He can see it, a huge gemstone suspended over a pit to the Void; gleaming from trapped soul-stuff within; in some sort of tripod-like device. It blazes before him, and Orbius memorizes every contour of the chamber.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>That’s what I want,</em> he thinks grimly.</p><p></p><p><em>In the morning, I’ll do a few more divinations. But then it’s time to </em>end<em> this thing.</em></p><p></p><p></p><p><em><strong>Next Time:</strong></em> A few more divinations, and then... it’s on!!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="the Jester, post: 1568271, member: 1210"] [b]Lester Meets a Lady[/b] [i][b]Twenty-two years ago...[/b] Lester, Sunsi, Thimbleton, Hobbes, Stone and Rinardo were leading a group of Malford’s men across the ruins of the town of Morval. It wasn’t the first ruin they’ve been to, but it will be the last before they reach the broken remains of the city of Var, where Fuligin drove them forth in abject defeat a century ago. Now they were at last ready to face him, and they needed to reclaim territory as they went. Rinardo had not yet gained the Mantle of Gaea, and the devastation was obvious everywhere. Burnt trees; a few scraggly plants here and there; bones on the road, unburied bodies left to dry and become buried by the blowing grit of a continent raped and scourged bare of life. [/i]Man, woman or child- bird or beast or plant- if it’s not evil, kill it.[i] That was the order that Fuligin had given to the hordes of evil outsiders he had somehow conjured. And they had obeyed. The destruction was complete; even the emperor of Wotan could not stand before the fiendish armies. Those Dorhausians that survived did so by fleeing- or by becoming evil themselves. An entire continent had to be abandoned before the savagery of Fuligin and his forces. But now heroes had returned- the same heroes Fuligin had defeated to take Dorhaus in the first place. A hundred years after they were supposedly slain by the forces of evil, they had come back to destroy their enemy at last. He would be weakened by the Master of Darkhold’s actions, they knew- or hoped. But for the moment, they were clearing ruins on the way to Var. Several soldiers led the way into the ruined town center, and the group moved to explore the area. There were no signs of fiends or undead; but a sudden scream from within one of the buildings caught the attention of the heroes and their henchmen. Sunsi of the Black Turtle Clan moved faster than anyone else, springing through the open doorway into the ruined building’s remnants, but Hobbes was fast behind him. The tabaxi’s blood sword was naked in his hand already. Lester’s bat wings flapped with remarkable strength, carrying him after them. Before the heroes was a nightmare of giant spiders and a terrified man-at-arms, caught in a web and already swelling from a toxic bite. He screamed again as the spiders skittered close to him. Sunsi leapt forward, his bare foot smashing into the lead spider with amazing force. The creature’s head collapsed. Hobbes charged forward yowling, swinging his scarlet blade, and the battle was on. Lester moved up to the injured man, swiftly uncorking a [/i]potion of sweet water.[i] “Here,” he said, pouring it on the man’s wounds. “This should save you!” By the time the L could turn his attention to the battle, it was over. Shrugging, he sliced the trapped man-at-arms free of the web. The main babbled his gratitude, and Lester just nodded and smiled dismissively. The man left, and Lester forgot his name within a week. [b]Now.[/b][/i] With a sigh, the L tips back his stein of beer. Good gnomish beer; the Three Rubies always has a nice brew available. Smacking his lips, Lester leans back in his chair and contemplates the lack of castle breakfast that he’s facing. Lester is one of those people who seems to go through periods of extreme fortune. It’s never a little good or a little bad; it’s always [i]a lot[/i] good or bad. Fortunately for him, he’s in a good period. That night his luck carries him a good long way. “Hi,” she says when she walks up to him. “You’re Lester, right?” The L knows that his afro, his bat wings, his shades reveal his identity to anyone who has lived in Var for more than a week or two, so there’s no point denying it. Besides, she’s beautiful- probably no older than twenty, human, with skin like dusk and dark wavy hair. “That’s me,” he replies cautiously. “Why? Whatever it is, I didn’t do it!” She gives out a low chuckle. “Yes you did. Years ago you saved my father’s life. I’ve always heard so much about you- I’ve wanted to meet you forever.” “Oh! Well, I guess I did do [i]that...[/i]” Reina is her name, and it soon develops that not only does she practically worship Lester, she’s [i]rich.[/i] Truly, the dice have fallen in his favor tonight. When she offers to show him and his friends her house, they cannot refuse; and the mansion, as it turns out to be, is quite impressive. Not as nice as Malford’s palace, but nearly so. Ulla is especially pleased by the extensive orchards and gardens. That night, Lester is easily seduced. Why fight such a gorgeous opportunity? Although, truth to tell, he doesn’t even remember the incident she’s speaking of. But hey, he’s saved a lot of people in his time- he can’t be expected to remember every one! While Lester is dallying with Reina, Orbius’ ever-seeking eye is wide open. The divine oracle casts [i]commune[/i]. [i]Am I speaking with Boccob?[/i] [b]Yes.[/b] [i]I open my mind for you to take all knowledge I have accumulated. Will an epic show of strength free Sybele?[/i] [b]Not strength.[/b] [i]Do I possess the right magic to free her?[/i] [b]No.[/b] [i]Does Horbin?[/i] [b]No.[/b] [i]Is it possible that someone extremely dexterous could free her?[/i] [b]No.[/b] [i]Can she will herself off the hook?[/i] [b]No.[/b] [i]Would a [/i]stone shape[i] around the hook work?[/i] [b]No.[/b] [i]So [/i]Mordenkainen’s disjunction[i] won’t work?[/i] [b]No.[/b] The Eye curses inwardly. [i]Not even if I bestow an [/i]antimagic shell[i] on Sybele?[/i] [b]Unlikely.[/b] [i]Can Acererak hold Felenga more than a week without any intervention on our part?[/i] [b]Uncertain.[/b] [i]Given sufficient time is Felenga likely to escape?[/i] [b]Yes.[/b] [i]Is Felenga’s phylactery within 100’ of Acererak’s phylactery?[/i] [b]Yes.[/b] [i]Is Acererak trying to lure us towards his phylactery?[/i] [b]If you are worthy.[/b] [i]Am I speaking with Acererak?[/i] [b]No.[/b] [i]Just making sure. Do we possess the proper magic to eliminate the fog we saw in the Fortress of Conclusion?[/i] [b]Yes.[/b] [i]Will a [/i]greater dispel magic[i] work?[/i] [b]Possibly.[/b] [i]Do I possess magic of a lower valence than [/i]Mordenkainen’s disjunction[i] that will get rid of it?[/i] [b]Perhaps.[/b] [i]Will Malford easily triumph over the giants he’s facing?[/i] [b]Yes.[/b] [i]Are the giants likely to find Lester’s temple’s encampment in the next five days?[/i] [b]No.[/b] For a few long moments the Eye frowns and mulls what he’s learned. Then he casts a [i]vision,[/i] and it hits him like a blow. [i]He can see it, a huge gemstone suspended over a pit to the Void; gleaming from trapped soul-stuff within; in some sort of tripod-like device. It blazes before him, and Orbius memorizes every contour of the chamber. That’s what I want,[/i] he thinks grimly. [i]In the morning, I’ll do a few more divinations. But then it’s time to [/i]end[i] this thing.[/i] [i][b]Next Time:[/b][/i][b][/b] A few more divinations, and then... it’s on!! [/QUOTE]
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