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NOW LIVE! Into the Woods--new character species, eerie monsters, and haunting villains to populate the woodlands of your D&D games.
Wizardru's Story Hour (updated 11/21)
- Thread starter Zad
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Argent Silvermage
First Post
I have committed the worst kind of blasphemy. I am no longer worthy of walking the path of the Green. Ehlonna forgive me. I had only thought to offer an option.... not a sentence.
thatdarncat
Overlord of Chat
Dang now I wish Dravot had stuck around the chatroom longer for more updates 
Argent Silvermage
First Post
Sleep? What is this thing you call sleep?WizarDru said:
Actually after the accident I was having trouble sleeping and then had to be up at 5:00 to get ready for Santa Saturday.
I got a grand total of 2 hours sleep. (really just a nap)
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Argent Silvermage
First Post
Dravot and Bolo an aside.
[These events take place between the last two game updates.]
Bolo approached Dravot during one of the few times he is seen outside of the Mage's Library.
"Dravot? Can I have a word with you? I have a few questions that only you can answer." Bolo said hopefully.
"I would be more than glad to assist you in anything, as long as it's right, and just and within my powers. How can I help you?" said the Living Saint of Pelor
"It's more how I think I can help you. This whole business with your Grandpa and the godhood issue... Did you ever for a moment think he might be on to something?
There seems to be a lack of a Guardian of lost souls. I see Pelor as the light to show them the way but what about spirits like Little Shade and the other Shadows in Valenthe's charge? Spirits of Negative energy yet they still are good people. Or your cleric friend who is dead yet still looks after the church. Bellamy was his name I think. I never had the chance to meet him. I say look into what you can become with Pelor's guidance not just how to stop it from happening.
Your love and caring for all others makes you very qualified for this in my opinion." replied the Druid. Bolo was trying to be cautious about this. He and Dravot are kindred spirits in many ways but he wasn’t sure how to really approach him about this subject yet Bolo knew he needed to bring this up.
The look on Dravot’s face was one of concern and interest. Bolo tended to not speak to Dravot about matters of his faith unless he had concerns. "I will not deny that I have been contemplating apotheosis as an option, for it most certainly has been on my mind of late. I am currently wrestling with various aspects of such a decision. Would Pelor approve or disapprove?
I have not asked Him, via spell or prayer, for I do not believe that this is the way to discern such an action; instead, I must read his will through his providence, and I do not believe that I have seen it. Secondly, I have not yet come to understand what Chavram's motivations are in this. Perhaps his motives are pure, and he sees my Ascension as something good for the Prime, but perhaps there is a sinister by-product that I have yet to ascertain.
And if there is an ulterior motive, how would that weigh against the greater good should I submit to apotheosis? These are not easy matters, and they must be decided before I make my decision."
Bolo smiled, "Ah good. So you have given it some thought. As for Pelor, He loves you in a way few other beings have had his love. I personally think he would want you more at his side. Besides if he didn't want it to happen don't you think he would have stopped it by now? It's not as if you are, or ever would be, a threat to his sovereignty.
I wanted to plant this seed in you for two reasons. First is that I feel this is a way for you to do the greatest good for all people. I also think with the souls that Fraz is steeling they will need someone to help 'bring them home' I see you as that person. You see Dravot; faith can be in many forms. I have faith in YOU, and I'm not the only one."
"That is a very different concept, and one I wouldn't have considered on my own. Unfortunately, it gives me more to think about, but that is a burden I'll bare most gladly." Dravot said with a smile, Bolo wondered if Dravot ever realized how his smile lit up a room. But the Janni was sure Zira had told him at least once.
Bolo’s smile got bigger and he hugged Dravot. "I'm glad I could make your decision more complicated my friend." The druid laughed. "It was my intention to shed some light into your day for a change." With that said and his heart feeling lighter Bolo changed into a griffon and went off to play with his son. Dravot returned to the Library and continued his research.
[These events take place between the last two game updates.]
Bolo approached Dravot during one of the few times he is seen outside of the Mage's Library.
"Dravot? Can I have a word with you? I have a few questions that only you can answer." Bolo said hopefully.
"I would be more than glad to assist you in anything, as long as it's right, and just and within my powers. How can I help you?" said the Living Saint of Pelor
"It's more how I think I can help you. This whole business with your Grandpa and the godhood issue... Did you ever for a moment think he might be on to something?
There seems to be a lack of a Guardian of lost souls. I see Pelor as the light to show them the way but what about spirits like Little Shade and the other Shadows in Valenthe's charge? Spirits of Negative energy yet they still are good people. Or your cleric friend who is dead yet still looks after the church. Bellamy was his name I think. I never had the chance to meet him. I say look into what you can become with Pelor's guidance not just how to stop it from happening.
Your love and caring for all others makes you very qualified for this in my opinion." replied the Druid. Bolo was trying to be cautious about this. He and Dravot are kindred spirits in many ways but he wasn’t sure how to really approach him about this subject yet Bolo knew he needed to bring this up.
The look on Dravot’s face was one of concern and interest. Bolo tended to not speak to Dravot about matters of his faith unless he had concerns. "I will not deny that I have been contemplating apotheosis as an option, for it most certainly has been on my mind of late. I am currently wrestling with various aspects of such a decision. Would Pelor approve or disapprove?
I have not asked Him, via spell or prayer, for I do not believe that this is the way to discern such an action; instead, I must read his will through his providence, and I do not believe that I have seen it. Secondly, I have not yet come to understand what Chavram's motivations are in this. Perhaps his motives are pure, and he sees my Ascension as something good for the Prime, but perhaps there is a sinister by-product that I have yet to ascertain.
And if there is an ulterior motive, how would that weigh against the greater good should I submit to apotheosis? These are not easy matters, and they must be decided before I make my decision."
Bolo smiled, "Ah good. So you have given it some thought. As for Pelor, He loves you in a way few other beings have had his love. I personally think he would want you more at his side. Besides if he didn't want it to happen don't you think he would have stopped it by now? It's not as if you are, or ever would be, a threat to his sovereignty.
I wanted to plant this seed in you for two reasons. First is that I feel this is a way for you to do the greatest good for all people. I also think with the souls that Fraz is steeling they will need someone to help 'bring them home' I see you as that person. You see Dravot; faith can be in many forms. I have faith in YOU, and I'm not the only one."
"That is a very different concept, and one I wouldn't have considered on my own. Unfortunately, it gives me more to think about, but that is a burden I'll bare most gladly." Dravot said with a smile, Bolo wondered if Dravot ever realized how his smile lit up a room. But the Janni was sure Zira had told him at least once.
Bolo’s smile got bigger and he hugged Dravot. "I'm glad I could make your decision more complicated my friend." The druid laughed. "It was my intention to shed some light into your day for a change." With that said and his heart feeling lighter Bolo changed into a griffon and went off to play with his son. Dravot returned to the Library and continued his research.
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Zad
First Post
Fire in the Blood - Chapter 2
Fire in the Blood - Chapter 2
OOC Notes:
Exp from last session: 2500 flat for all levels.
Exp from this session: For 22nd: 13,200. For 23rd: 9,200. For 24th: 7,200.
Loot:
Cloak of protection +4
Brooch of shielding
Gloves of passwall
Brontal’s ring (protection from blightfire somehow)
Ring of teleport 3x/day, 11th level
Prophyon’s staff (it casts Light. Woo.)
Boots of striding
5000gp
This Week’s Adventure:
Rather than stand out in the square, we invited the Thezziz into the Mage Academy, which the sprawl of Kobold Country left relatively untouched. I selected a bottle of wine from the rack and poured several glasses while people settled at a large table.
With glass firmly in hand, I was ready. “So by way of giving us some context, could you please explain who you are? What is a “Thezziz”? I assume that is a title?”
He sneered at the wine. “I am a member of an elite corps within my society. Or I was. I am lead to believe that you are one of such a corps of your people. I… see things. When I have seen too much, then my Queen would devour my soul, as is my duty. Or at least she would have…”
“I see. And at one point you said you ‘saw’ us?”
“I had a premonition of you, yes. Of you destroying everything I hold dear, breaking my race down.”
His self-righteousness was getting a bit wearing. “And why did we do that?”
“I did not question the why-s. I merely saw there was an opportunity to stop you. Twice I tried and twice I failed. The first time was at Ru’un Khazai though I doubt you even noticed I was killed among the invaders. The second time you killed me was on the Prime. This last, the slaadi would not leave me dead and I was unwillingly returned to the land of the living.”
Dravot asked “And why is your skin now red? I think we would have noticed that.”
“The Queen left a parting gift for us in the birthing cells. My race is tainted. All the eggs have been tampered with. There are perhaps only a small faction that remain that will breed true.”
Bolo was interested. “So this is a new body for you?”
The Thezziz nodded. “Many were not prepared to exist without the Queen. They were unprepared for the burden of freedom and the knowledge that their souls are forever lost. The City of Regret is now a mausoleum. Tu’narath has become a mobile fortress as the General consolidates his firm hold over those that remain. Those that have not fled or committed suicide at least.”
Scorch asked “So they are looking for a god?”
The contempt on the face of the Thezziz grew, defying all odds. “Not a diety, no. But a strong central figure? Yes. Some have found one. The black gith now reside on the prime. They look as I do, but black. They lurk in the underdark serving the Imposer of Wills. The Imposer appears to be a githyanki but I am not convinced he is truly of our race.”
I was fairly sure one of us would try to dissuade the Thezziz from dying at our hands. But to my surprise it was Scorch who made the first attempt. He tried to convince him to make something of his life rather than his death. Aethramyr however was having none of this. He was one of many beings who had declared war on the prime and on elves in particular, and Aethramyr saw no reason to waste time with him and simply left the table. I, for my part, agreed with him. But before Aethramyr left the room, the Thezziz said “I had hoped the paladin would strike me down. If you leave this place, you may not survive to come back. The Queen had agreements with creatures of the lower planes for the trading of souls. One of these creatures has released the Hr’dad – assassins of the lower planes. They hunt you even now. They have not been brought onto the Prime in centuries that I know of. The Queen feared them – this I know. And I had a vision of them – they come for you.”
It was fairly clear that we would not strike the Thezziz down in cold blood. (In truth, some of us might have but as a whole it would be problematic.) So Scorch proposed an alternative. “If they’re coming to kill us, why don’t you guard me and then you can meet your end.”
This idea surely qualified as one of the five most bizarre proposals that we have encountered. But not nearly as strange as when the Thezziz said yes. He was not a happy man at all.
Scorch had a meeting shortly with Prophyon. He was taking several precautions but why Scorch would even want to deal with him at all was a mystery to me. Out of an abundance of caution, I lingered at Ru’un Khazai until the meeting ended. And with good reason it turned out.
Scorch met with Prophyon in one of the guild meeting halls. Dravot was with him for both protection and effect. And of course, Valanthe lurked in the shadows. And Scorch’s new guard, the Thezziz of the Waking Dream. Prophyon swept in sporting a long cape and a staff with a golden lion’s head with a large crystal in the maw.
Stranger though was his auras. All manner of divinations had been cast on our people, and they revealed some highly unusual necromantic auras, but they defied identification.
The conversation itself was bland enough. Dravot recalled few of the details – Prophyon was being the sycophant, and Scorch was alternating between enjoying it and debating ways he could make use of him. But the necromantic aura was disturbing. It seemed to be coming from a ring that Prophyon was wearing. So Valanthe slipped carefully behind him and in one swift gesture, removed the ring.
And all hell broke loose.
Prophyon collapsed to the floor. Standing in his place was a foul creature of black flame. Its only feature was piercing blue eyes, points of light in the black fire.
Scorch called out over the link “Um… help.”
Aethramyr and I exchanged a look that said “We told him so” and flew off towards the guild hall but it would be some time before we could get there. Dravot erected a prismatic sphere around himself and Scorch. Unfortunately this left the Void Shadow with one thing to consume: The Thezziz. Blightfire tore at the Thezziz’ body and would consume him quickly. If it consumed him, it would turn him into a winter wight, which we did not need. Rather than see that happen, Valanthe brought her blades across the Thezziz and ended his life.
At least he got his wish.
It wasn’t clear if the creature was an infiltrator that was discovered, or an assassin who would have attacked anyway. Dravot dropped the sphere and released a burst of positive energy, and while it did work, it had little overall effect. Valanthe tried to engage but the creature had no physical presence and her weapons passed through with no effect. The Void Shadow however had no such problems with Valanthe and she was quickly beset with blightfire crawling up her arm, freezing her skin.
The creature had a palpable aura of cold about it so Scorch countered with the obvious: fire. The fireball landed with good effect and that gave us a weapon.
Bolo arrived as an air elemental just before Aethramyr and I did and followed Scorch’s example with a fire storm. And I was close enough to release my first volley of arrows. Some time ago I had learned the enchantments that would let my arrows pierce the creature. Secrets I learned just to deal with creatures like this. The arrows hit and stung. I did not know why it was here, but this thing had very little time left with which to figure out how to save its life.
In fact it had none. Bolo unleashed another fire storm, and Scorch another fire ball, and the combined fires overwhelmed the void shadow. It fizzled and faded out, leaving only flickering traces of blightfire on the ground where it stood and the burnt and frozen remains of the Thezziz.
Prophyon suddenly sat up and then started laughing. But the laugh wasn’t Prophyon’s, nor was the voice.
Scorch was unamused. “Who speaks through Prophyon?”
“My name is unimportant. I am unknown to you, though you are well known to us. You have overstepped your bounds, Guild Minister.” He used the title as mockery. “You had the opportunity to take up the ShadowTaker’s mantle, but you sided with them. Your pain will never end.”
Scorch shrugged. “Yeah well. Get in line with the rest of them.”
The possessor seemed slightly surprised by the lack of fear generated. “My master will take a special interest in you. You will see things the way Venn was made to. You will see…”
“There is a gate in the library if you search for it. The old man didn’t tell you about that. It will show you the way if you have the courage.”
The voice laughed some more and faded out. And Prophyon collapsed again. It occurred to me at that moment that he didn’t hit his head on the floor nearly hard enough.
Someone asked “So someone remind me again: why aren’t we killing him?”
A fine question.
Scorch was determined to turn him over to the guild for punishment. I wasn’t thrilled with that idea but eventually let it go. Even the notion of “punishment” was difficult – Prophyon’s mind was empty now. He was much like Venn was when we found him. What had he seen? Was it the same light?
[Note for the readers: You will recall that the Shadow King is in fact the shadow of Therizdun who remains imprisoned by the gods. But the shadow acts on its own. But if that is a shadow, what is casting the light that creates it? The usual answer to this question is “Do you have any levels of Alienist? Because asking questions like that is how you get them.” But in this case, Venn and likely Prophyon have seen that light, and it made them mad.]
Valanthe had stopped to examine the ring she removed from Prophyon that started all this. Inside the band was the maker’s mark. It was the mark of Brontal.
To add to the confusion, a whirlwind suddenly kicked up. It quickly solidified and took the shape of a man. We did not recognize him, but he had the Mark of Air on his brow.
“I am the East Wind. I am not here to harm you.”
Scorch, reaching the end of his patience, said “Then what do you want?”
“I do not ‘want’ anything.” He smiled. “We never did actually get the chance to meet, Scorch. I was one of the true leaders of the Grey Guild. In time we would have met had unfortunate events not occurred.”
“As for what I want, I want to give you some information. The man you call Brontal has been dead for some time, and his soul captured. The one you truly seek is one of the ShadowTaker’s minions. We have no name for him – we just call him The Jumper. He can possess different bodies and he is the one who has been pretending to be Brontal.”
“If he used to be a minion of the ShadowTaker, who is he working for now?” asked Valanthe.
“He now serves the King. I should also tell you that we are trying to find the three hunters before they find you. They have been retained by Fraz. His rage at the foiling of his plans has reached new heights and he seeks to unleash his ire on you. The Prince of Deception is not one you wish to have as an enemy.”
As if we were given a choice or could change it. I doubt he’d accept a simple “I’m sorry.”
The East Wind took Scorch aside. “In case you cared, we approve of what you have done here with the new guild.”
Scorch made no answer. If the approval meant something, he could not show it, and I’m sure there was some mix of contempt for the old guard in him regardless.
“I shall return when I know more.” And with that he dissolved back into wind and dispersed.
It was about this time that I noticed something was missing. “Where’s the Thezziz’ body?”
Dravot looked around too. “And where’s Bolo?”
Oh no…
He wasn’t far. But by the time we got there, he had already reincarnated the Thezziz. He now appeared as a black humanoid – there was a trace of his githyanki features but only barely. Now he was a shadowswyft – a native of the plane of shadow.
The man wanted to die and be left alone but apparently that wasn’t good enough for Bolo.
The Thezziz was screaming. “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME?!??!?”
I was thinking the same thing.
Bolo was smug. “I gave you a choice to come back if you wanted to.”
“YOU IDIOT. I HAVE NO CHOICE! YOU COMPELLED MY RETURN. Do you think I would have come back the last time if I had a CHOICE?!? You so-called heroes did not destroy the soul receptacles so my soul sat there until YOU ripped it out and brought me here.”
Bolo went from smug to horrified. As well he should. “You couldn’t leave well enough alone could you,” I said. “He had already made his choice – he wanted to die. Why did you have to ignore his wishes?”
Bolo searched for an answer, aghast at what he had done. “But… but… I just wanted to give him a choice. The spell gives him a choice. I chose... life.”
I looked at him in disbelief. “That wasn’t your choice to make. It was his.”
I just stood there, dumbfounded. I was completely overwhelmed at this and didn’t know what else to say. And I wasn’t alone. Dravot, Aethramyr, everyone really was struck speechless at what Bolo had done.
And then it got worse. He is now a native to the plane of shadow. So of course, right on time, the Judges arrived. I take it as some small token of respect that the first two simply waited and watched until Meltorrannan arrived.
Upon taking in the scene Meltorrannan said with a sigh “He cannot stay.”
I have no love of the Thezziz. He made his choices and his people pay the price for attacking the elves. I have no sympathy for that. But the indignities he is now forced to endure are becoming a bit much even for me.
Valanthe stepped in. “I will take him to the plane of Shadow for now.”
Meltorrannan nodded, that solution acceptable.
Valanthe faded away with the Thezziz. And the rest of us just turned and walked away, leaving Bolo standing alone. His mouth hung open, grasping for words.
“… no choice…”
Fire in the Blood - Chapter 2
OOC Notes:
Exp from last session: 2500 flat for all levels.
Exp from this session: For 22nd: 13,200. For 23rd: 9,200. For 24th: 7,200.
Loot:
Cloak of protection +4
Brooch of shielding
Gloves of passwall
Brontal’s ring (protection from blightfire somehow)
Ring of teleport 3x/day, 11th level
Prophyon’s staff (it casts Light. Woo.)
Boots of striding
5000gp
This Week’s Adventure:
Rather than stand out in the square, we invited the Thezziz into the Mage Academy, which the sprawl of Kobold Country left relatively untouched. I selected a bottle of wine from the rack and poured several glasses while people settled at a large table.
With glass firmly in hand, I was ready. “So by way of giving us some context, could you please explain who you are? What is a “Thezziz”? I assume that is a title?”
He sneered at the wine. “I am a member of an elite corps within my society. Or I was. I am lead to believe that you are one of such a corps of your people. I… see things. When I have seen too much, then my Queen would devour my soul, as is my duty. Or at least she would have…”
“I see. And at one point you said you ‘saw’ us?”
“I had a premonition of you, yes. Of you destroying everything I hold dear, breaking my race down.”
His self-righteousness was getting a bit wearing. “And why did we do that?”
“I did not question the why-s. I merely saw there was an opportunity to stop you. Twice I tried and twice I failed. The first time was at Ru’un Khazai though I doubt you even noticed I was killed among the invaders. The second time you killed me was on the Prime. This last, the slaadi would not leave me dead and I was unwillingly returned to the land of the living.”
Dravot asked “And why is your skin now red? I think we would have noticed that.”
“The Queen left a parting gift for us in the birthing cells. My race is tainted. All the eggs have been tampered with. There are perhaps only a small faction that remain that will breed true.”
Bolo was interested. “So this is a new body for you?”
The Thezziz nodded. “Many were not prepared to exist without the Queen. They were unprepared for the burden of freedom and the knowledge that their souls are forever lost. The City of Regret is now a mausoleum. Tu’narath has become a mobile fortress as the General consolidates his firm hold over those that remain. Those that have not fled or committed suicide at least.”
Scorch asked “So they are looking for a god?”
The contempt on the face of the Thezziz grew, defying all odds. “Not a diety, no. But a strong central figure? Yes. Some have found one. The black gith now reside on the prime. They look as I do, but black. They lurk in the underdark serving the Imposer of Wills. The Imposer appears to be a githyanki but I am not convinced he is truly of our race.”
I was fairly sure one of us would try to dissuade the Thezziz from dying at our hands. But to my surprise it was Scorch who made the first attempt. He tried to convince him to make something of his life rather than his death. Aethramyr however was having none of this. He was one of many beings who had declared war on the prime and on elves in particular, and Aethramyr saw no reason to waste time with him and simply left the table. I, for my part, agreed with him. But before Aethramyr left the room, the Thezziz said “I had hoped the paladin would strike me down. If you leave this place, you may not survive to come back. The Queen had agreements with creatures of the lower planes for the trading of souls. One of these creatures has released the Hr’dad – assassins of the lower planes. They hunt you even now. They have not been brought onto the Prime in centuries that I know of. The Queen feared them – this I know. And I had a vision of them – they come for you.”
It was fairly clear that we would not strike the Thezziz down in cold blood. (In truth, some of us might have but as a whole it would be problematic.) So Scorch proposed an alternative. “If they’re coming to kill us, why don’t you guard me and then you can meet your end.”
This idea surely qualified as one of the five most bizarre proposals that we have encountered. But not nearly as strange as when the Thezziz said yes. He was not a happy man at all.
Scorch had a meeting shortly with Prophyon. He was taking several precautions but why Scorch would even want to deal with him at all was a mystery to me. Out of an abundance of caution, I lingered at Ru’un Khazai until the meeting ended. And with good reason it turned out.
Scorch met with Prophyon in one of the guild meeting halls. Dravot was with him for both protection and effect. And of course, Valanthe lurked in the shadows. And Scorch’s new guard, the Thezziz of the Waking Dream. Prophyon swept in sporting a long cape and a staff with a golden lion’s head with a large crystal in the maw.
Stranger though was his auras. All manner of divinations had been cast on our people, and they revealed some highly unusual necromantic auras, but they defied identification.
The conversation itself was bland enough. Dravot recalled few of the details – Prophyon was being the sycophant, and Scorch was alternating between enjoying it and debating ways he could make use of him. But the necromantic aura was disturbing. It seemed to be coming from a ring that Prophyon was wearing. So Valanthe slipped carefully behind him and in one swift gesture, removed the ring.
And all hell broke loose.
Prophyon collapsed to the floor. Standing in his place was a foul creature of black flame. Its only feature was piercing blue eyes, points of light in the black fire.
Scorch called out over the link “Um… help.”
Aethramyr and I exchanged a look that said “We told him so” and flew off towards the guild hall but it would be some time before we could get there. Dravot erected a prismatic sphere around himself and Scorch. Unfortunately this left the Void Shadow with one thing to consume: The Thezziz. Blightfire tore at the Thezziz’ body and would consume him quickly. If it consumed him, it would turn him into a winter wight, which we did not need. Rather than see that happen, Valanthe brought her blades across the Thezziz and ended his life.
At least he got his wish.
It wasn’t clear if the creature was an infiltrator that was discovered, or an assassin who would have attacked anyway. Dravot dropped the sphere and released a burst of positive energy, and while it did work, it had little overall effect. Valanthe tried to engage but the creature had no physical presence and her weapons passed through with no effect. The Void Shadow however had no such problems with Valanthe and she was quickly beset with blightfire crawling up her arm, freezing her skin.
The creature had a palpable aura of cold about it so Scorch countered with the obvious: fire. The fireball landed with good effect and that gave us a weapon.
Bolo arrived as an air elemental just before Aethramyr and I did and followed Scorch’s example with a fire storm. And I was close enough to release my first volley of arrows. Some time ago I had learned the enchantments that would let my arrows pierce the creature. Secrets I learned just to deal with creatures like this. The arrows hit and stung. I did not know why it was here, but this thing had very little time left with which to figure out how to save its life.
In fact it had none. Bolo unleashed another fire storm, and Scorch another fire ball, and the combined fires overwhelmed the void shadow. It fizzled and faded out, leaving only flickering traces of blightfire on the ground where it stood and the burnt and frozen remains of the Thezziz.
Prophyon suddenly sat up and then started laughing. But the laugh wasn’t Prophyon’s, nor was the voice.
Scorch was unamused. “Who speaks through Prophyon?”
“My name is unimportant. I am unknown to you, though you are well known to us. You have overstepped your bounds, Guild Minister.” He used the title as mockery. “You had the opportunity to take up the ShadowTaker’s mantle, but you sided with them. Your pain will never end.”
Scorch shrugged. “Yeah well. Get in line with the rest of them.”
The possessor seemed slightly surprised by the lack of fear generated. “My master will take a special interest in you. You will see things the way Venn was made to. You will see…”
“There is a gate in the library if you search for it. The old man didn’t tell you about that. It will show you the way if you have the courage.”
The voice laughed some more and faded out. And Prophyon collapsed again. It occurred to me at that moment that he didn’t hit his head on the floor nearly hard enough.
Someone asked “So someone remind me again: why aren’t we killing him?”
A fine question.
Scorch was determined to turn him over to the guild for punishment. I wasn’t thrilled with that idea but eventually let it go. Even the notion of “punishment” was difficult – Prophyon’s mind was empty now. He was much like Venn was when we found him. What had he seen? Was it the same light?
[Note for the readers: You will recall that the Shadow King is in fact the shadow of Therizdun who remains imprisoned by the gods. But the shadow acts on its own. But if that is a shadow, what is casting the light that creates it? The usual answer to this question is “Do you have any levels of Alienist? Because asking questions like that is how you get them.” But in this case, Venn and likely Prophyon have seen that light, and it made them mad.]
Valanthe had stopped to examine the ring she removed from Prophyon that started all this. Inside the band was the maker’s mark. It was the mark of Brontal.
To add to the confusion, a whirlwind suddenly kicked up. It quickly solidified and took the shape of a man. We did not recognize him, but he had the Mark of Air on his brow.
“I am the East Wind. I am not here to harm you.”
Scorch, reaching the end of his patience, said “Then what do you want?”
“I do not ‘want’ anything.” He smiled. “We never did actually get the chance to meet, Scorch. I was one of the true leaders of the Grey Guild. In time we would have met had unfortunate events not occurred.”
“As for what I want, I want to give you some information. The man you call Brontal has been dead for some time, and his soul captured. The one you truly seek is one of the ShadowTaker’s minions. We have no name for him – we just call him The Jumper. He can possess different bodies and he is the one who has been pretending to be Brontal.”
“If he used to be a minion of the ShadowTaker, who is he working for now?” asked Valanthe.
“He now serves the King. I should also tell you that we are trying to find the three hunters before they find you. They have been retained by Fraz. His rage at the foiling of his plans has reached new heights and he seeks to unleash his ire on you. The Prince of Deception is not one you wish to have as an enemy.”
As if we were given a choice or could change it. I doubt he’d accept a simple “I’m sorry.”
The East Wind took Scorch aside. “In case you cared, we approve of what you have done here with the new guild.”
Scorch made no answer. If the approval meant something, he could not show it, and I’m sure there was some mix of contempt for the old guard in him regardless.
“I shall return when I know more.” And with that he dissolved back into wind and dispersed.
It was about this time that I noticed something was missing. “Where’s the Thezziz’ body?”
Dravot looked around too. “And where’s Bolo?”
Oh no…
He wasn’t far. But by the time we got there, he had already reincarnated the Thezziz. He now appeared as a black humanoid – there was a trace of his githyanki features but only barely. Now he was a shadowswyft – a native of the plane of shadow.
The man wanted to die and be left alone but apparently that wasn’t good enough for Bolo.
The Thezziz was screaming. “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME?!??!?”
I was thinking the same thing.
Bolo was smug. “I gave you a choice to come back if you wanted to.”
“YOU IDIOT. I HAVE NO CHOICE! YOU COMPELLED MY RETURN. Do you think I would have come back the last time if I had a CHOICE?!? You so-called heroes did not destroy the soul receptacles so my soul sat there until YOU ripped it out and brought me here.”
Bolo went from smug to horrified. As well he should. “You couldn’t leave well enough alone could you,” I said. “He had already made his choice – he wanted to die. Why did you have to ignore his wishes?”
Bolo searched for an answer, aghast at what he had done. “But… but… I just wanted to give him a choice. The spell gives him a choice. I chose... life.”
I looked at him in disbelief. “That wasn’t your choice to make. It was his.”
I just stood there, dumbfounded. I was completely overwhelmed at this and didn’t know what else to say. And I wasn’t alone. Dravot, Aethramyr, everyone really was struck speechless at what Bolo had done.
And then it got worse. He is now a native to the plane of shadow. So of course, right on time, the Judges arrived. I take it as some small token of respect that the first two simply waited and watched until Meltorrannan arrived.
Upon taking in the scene Meltorrannan said with a sigh “He cannot stay.”
I have no love of the Thezziz. He made his choices and his people pay the price for attacking the elves. I have no sympathy for that. But the indignities he is now forced to endure are becoming a bit much even for me.
Valanthe stepped in. “I will take him to the plane of Shadow for now.”
Meltorrannan nodded, that solution acceptable.
Valanthe faded away with the Thezziz. And the rest of us just turned and walked away, leaving Bolo standing alone. His mouth hung open, grasping for words.
“… no choice…”
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WizarDru
Adventurer
Some metagame notes for the reader:
- When Scorch first joined the Guild, he wondered at it's structure. There were four (but really five) colleges within the guild. Each was represented by a gemstone (diamond, onyx, bloodstone and jade, iirc) and a concept that drove them (experimenters, planar travelers, inventers and enchanters, roughly). Scorch, through the Shadowtaker's manipulations, found himself as guild representative for the onyx college. At that time, he saw that the other guildmasters were insane, impolitic or ineffectual, essentially [Scorch included] and concluded that someone else was really runnning the guild. He was right, and his search determined that the true guildmasters never revealed themselves, but that they bore the mark of Air. The East Wind is the first of them to actually make themselves known. Whether they can be trusted or not is another story.
- The Githyanki 'soul cells' are something that the players thought they'd destroyed, when the Gith Queen fell. In point of fact, what they actually destroyed was the transit device the queen had been given, that was funnelling souls into the Far Realms. They've now discovered that they aren't the same.
- Longtime readers may recall the Thezziz of the Waking Dream appeared a long time ago, in the prelude before the original assualt on Rhuun Kazaai. He is a bitter fellow on a good day. It's somewhat ironic that the character with the most restrictive personal code, Aethramyr, was the first to (without words) tell the Thezziz to take his personal honor and go to hell. Completely appropriate, but amusing.
- Fraz has, supposedly, appeared to Aethramyr in the dreaming. In a previous session, the paragon traced the Silvering in the dreaming, to find him trapped in the Far Realms. While the paragon decided how to handle the problem, a bemused Fraz appeared and engaged in pointless conversation which Aethramyr pointededly ignored.
- Valanthe is known to the natives of Sceadutine as the "Shadow Princess" (or sometimes "Shadow Queen") and it Drives. Her. Nuts.
- The Void Shadow was an epic monster, the Shadow of the Void, from the ELH...advanced to an EL29 creature.
- The big rules question of the night was the Prismatic Sphere, teleportation in and out of same, and how it would affect different powers/creatures/stuff. The five minute rule was invoked, as normally happens when this stuff comes up.
- The Apotheosis Question has led down many interesting paths of internal conflict. Believe it or not, we've been building up to it for over three years now. Man, was that a hard one to keep a secret.
- Profion is...well, Jeremy Irons overacting, really. I've only seen the first four minutes of the movie, but that was enough to create this parody character. His grand entrance was amusing, with the door sweeping wide. Scorch's first reaction to me: "He's got a CAPE?!?"
- The Void Shadow had a spot of 72. 72. Yes, he could spot Valanthe, and he told her so. Val, for her part, unleashed Shadowcut on the creature, hitting with a nasty boom on top of the damage. Sooner or later, our rogue-who-wasn't-there will be taking the 'does crits to undead' feat, and then it's on.
- Val's second weapon is a ghost-touch, undead-bane dagger. Girl got tired of fighting spooks with nuthin'.
- Bolo arrived in Round 4 or so, with Kayleigh and Aethramyr floating on in a round later.
- Status
