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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Eridanis" data-source="post: 728867" data-attributes="member: 275">Session 40 - Artifact HuntingSorry about the hiatus; tempus fugit, and all that...From the Collected Letters of Sir Kellan Evershar:Returning to the jungle valley, we quickly found Nahktibastet, and,amazingly, Greymantle. My wonderful companion had dove down to the lakebed after the dragon’s departure, and retrieved his body; his self-created coma-like state had saved him from certain death, though he would not have been able to make it out of the lake without her help.We discussed our next move. While confident that we could best her with improved tactics, we tried to think of a non-lethal way to get the sword away from her, since we were convinved she had been dominated by the sword and did not control her actions. After deciding a protection from evil spell would be ineffective against an artifact’s domination, and having no way to contact the Celestial Bureaucracy she undoubtedly was a part of for advice, we decided to go forth and either disarm, subdue, or kill her, as necessary.Prepared ourselves with freedom of movement and water breathing potions, we moved to the island in the lake, hoping to catch her attention. Of course, she did not respond; so underwater we went, Graymantle and I in the lead. The dragon quickly appeared at a distance, and prepared to cast spells; the ghostwalker and I advnaced, while Jorie summoned a half-dozen sharks to aid us (some of which were dominated by the dragon, but those were quickly disposed of by their comrades). After quickly coming very close to killing her, she shifted to the ethereal plane and escaped; Graymantle shifted over, too, but thought better of confronting her alone, and so returned. Grimtooth and Garrett moved to find her treasure hoard, thinking that perhaps she might return if her haord were threatened; Rodrigo took a different tack, flying up above the surface of the lake to catch her there if possible.Unfortunately, his plan worked. The dragon could not resist such a tempting target, apparently; we found Rod’s cloak floating on the water mingled with but a few pieces of his body. This being the first time he has died, I wondered if the journey over and back would give him some wisdom or insight – or at least would shake the terrible magic taint from him; neither happened when Drake and I returned to the temple to have him resurrected. Instead, he sputtered, mumbled something about “almost getting her”, and told us that she was very badly injured.The next day, the 32nd since the bad magical effects began, found us teleporting back to our friends and plotting how to find and finish the dragon. Drake was able to scry her location – flying over the jungle treetops – and casting mass fly from a scroll, we then telported to her location. She imemdiately went ethereal, but we were ready this time – I had obtained two scrolls of plane shift from the temple, and cast the spell to allow us to follow. Upon arriving, Drake immediately cast a dimensional anchor spell to keep her near us, and the final fight began in earnest. Grimtooth was slowly dying in her coils, while Graymantle received the full effect of her crushing jaws; my sword cut broad, telling swaths in her armor, and she was nearly dead before Rodrigo enfeebled her mind (possibly doing the same to himself, as he then insanely began to attack Gizmo). My last slash bringing her to unconsiousness, I turned to help calm Rodrigo – who unfortuantly discarded our plan to try to keep her alive by fireballing her to death. [“The Celestial Bureaucracy can kiss my left nut.”]Rodrigo’s Journal:The madness has finally taken me!!!!  I find myself floating in an endless sea of grey mist then am suddenly snapped back into reality as I lie in the Temple of Hieroneous.  I know that I was not killed by the vile beast but somehow she has duped my friends into thinking just that.  She will not fool me though.............. Well the damn thing is dead and we have this cursed sword in our posession.  Luckily I had the stones to do what had to be done to her.  We had been warned that even though she might be separated from the sword she still might be controlled by it.  I figured that a few bumps and bruises was not not going to break the bond either but a good dose of cleansing fire most likely would.  Unfortunately her "hoard" was not much more than a handful of beggars and an apprentice mage could have accumulated.  We found nothing of use and the paltry sum of gold that we uncovered will barely cover the costs that we incurred getting this thing back.  Obviously this was the pawn shop manager of the gods.  Just a bunch of low rent crap and a few coppers.  Thank Fate I sold it in the first place or we would be in the hole on this adventure.  Poverty and exploding whores was not why I signed up to be an adventurer.  At this point I think that our best maneuver would be to have the dragon broought back to help us negotiate a safe passage through the giants and destroy the sword.  Of course I do think we need to spend the rest of the cash before she wakes up.Jorie’s Journal:Well, the dragon was defeated and the sword is back in our hands where we can destroy it.  I'm not sure the death of the Lady of the Lake is the best thing for all involved.  Somehow we're going to have to find a new guardian for the mongrelmen, as I'm fairly certain they cannot survive on their own.Hopefully destroying the sword will take care of the problems with the fabric of magic.  Rod is getting a little strange at times, and Drake has gone right off the deep end, trying to kill Gizmo even.  With luck I can get a couple additional druids to come to the valley.  It's too important with the gate to leave to the predations of the Scarlet Brotherhood.  I'd prefer the red brothers get a surprise they don't want when they stumble upon my new home.Drake's Journal:Two parts:--at the Temple of Heironeous-- We were all wary, but determined, the first time we engaged the lady of the lake.  Nobody had guessed that her true form was that of a celestial dragon--still, we had no choice but to do our best to recover the dark blade.  We paid dearly for our amateurish efforts--both Kellan and Greymantle fell in the battle.  We managed to recover Kellan's body, and Rodrigo says he saw Jorie carrying Greymantle away from the lake, though they did not return with us to the temple. The priests here have returned Kellan to us in one piece, and yet they do not seem to appreciate our efforts. Once I use my powers to locate the lady, we shall pay her another visit.   Kellan seems even more determined than before to defeat the lady, while I feel I can be ineffective at best.  The lady resisted everything I had thrown at it!  We will have to see what comes about tomorrow.  It is with sincere hope that this shall not be my final entry. --Victory at the lake!-- We are victorious!  Rejoined with Greymantle and Jorie, we regrouped at the Valley of Stirling Dale.  It didn't take us long to find the dragon lady!  Kellan and Grimtooth fearlessly locked themselves in combat with the dragon lady, and bought us the valuable time we needed to perform our necessary spells.  A dimensional anchor provided the power to bind her and prevent her from escaping our blows as she had done the first time.  Though both Rodrigo and I suffered from ill effects--and I admit to losing control of myself only briefly--we managed to outlast the battle. The lady could sense the tide of battle turning against her.  Our confidence was high.  Then the lady disappeared.  But Rodrigo acted quickly, and with his gifted sight, eyed the dragon lady and let loose all his powers upon her.  And at last the dragon lady fell! But our rest shall be shortlived.  We have all been warned against touching the evil sword, lest it control the mind of it's user.  We need to decide how best to destroy it.  The priests at the temple have mentioned using the volcano at the fire giant fortress.  Whatever our choices, I shall think more of it tomorrow, after I've had time to rest myself.  This has truly been a trying day.</blockquote>

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