Something Wicked this way Comes...

[Mr. X]

As quickly as Karazi knocks back the shot, his body convulses, as if to bring the drink right back up again... But as his head jerks up, his eyes are open, and rolled back so far that only the whites can be seen, and the reaction begins...

Energy surges through the crystalline matrix, arcing from shard to shard like lightning, to converge blasting into his chest and head, and face...

OOOOOOO EEEEEEEEEH IIIIIIIIIIIIII OOOOOOOOH

... The rumbling voices of the giants can be heard singing without...

All the while the energy courses through Karazi's body... Cracking, spitting, sizzling, and burning, convulsing horribly like a marionette on strings, dancing to the Giant's saranade...

... As quickly as it began, the event ends... Dropping the Stone-Shaper to the ground like so much gravel.


Karazi, congratulations. You have successfully attuned to a second Font.

[Barthac]

Taalkar stands gaping as his brother's body lurches and twists to finally be slammed into the ground.

Brother! running to the unconscious form of his brother. Breath quivers uneasily from Karazi. Alive.

Glancing around he sees the broken bottle of rum that was so carelessly tossed from his brothers hand. It seeps into the ground, What a waste Taalkar whispers. He scratches his head, thinking. Unsure of what to do next he paces for a moment before deciding on a course of action.

He stands completely still and draws in his focus. Unlike the last time, the image is summoned very quickly. This time the mote dances in a violent storm, darting and shifting almost at random. The steps may be different but the dance seems the same.

Ending after only a few moments, Taalkar shivers in the cold air as sweat pours over his body. Reaching down he grabs a thumb-sized piece of gypsum.

DOWN THE HATCH he yells to no one in particular as he swallows the hunk of stone.

[Mr. X]

For Taalkar:

Swallowing the chunk of rock-crystal tough, and feels not unlike what you might expect swallowing a chunk of rock-crystal to feel like.

The dizzying sensation that follows, and the sudden visual experience of being suddenly able to see the energies arcing lightning-like through the massive crystal shards is, in itself, awe inspiring...

Acutely being able to feel that power amplify, before jumping the distance between the closest shard and yourself, and blasting you to the ground, is nothing short of paralyzing.

You have successfully attuned to a second Font.



For Karazi:
You feel the air charge with power once more, and your eyes flutter open just in time to watch a bolt of energy careen from one of the massive crystal shards into your brother's chest, and send him tumbling across the floor...

... In the distance, you can hear the giant's crooning voices fading into silence...
[/SPOILER]

For Both:
As you come to, you are suddenly aware of the powerful lines of energy that connect each Source to each other, and are aware of an additional location... An island in the Lake of Clearwater.

[LordDice]

Clutching his head in pain, light so very bright to his eyes he spies his brother waking alongside him...realizing his brother probably went through the same as him...without even waiting to see if it'd work. heh, so like him.

A wave of his hand opens a small portal showing their Home font...still wincing in pain he herds Taalkar through and they quickly end up back at the Falgen font.

More actions to come, Spontanous Casting of Node Door using the memorized Control Tempature Spell

[LordDice]

Collapsing in a heap on one of the stone benches in the large chamber he finally relaxes before speaking up."Well brother, that went nowhere near how I expected it to go... But we made it, in one piece !"

"We can rest up in here for a day or so...Might go scavenge a bit from our former town here, I'm sure some Noraten wouldn't mind donating supplies to help our cause ..heh, What do ya think ?"

[Mr. X]

Back in the Stoneshaper home, amidst the ruins of what was the Falgen stronghold, you find yourselves safe, and at peace.

The tunnels Taalkar had previously formed have long since settled themselves, leaving you sealed off from outside interference.

[Barthac]

Taalkar leans back against the stone wall and heaves a great sigh of relief. Taking a cup and watching it magically fill he asks, So..., taking a large gulp of the weak ale, now what?

[LordDice]

"Get resupplied I guess, maybe head down south. I'm sure you felt that font well to the south as well....I wonder if I should try stopping that storm, barely any chance I suspect but it does weigh on me a bit"

"First off I'm gonna sleep for a good while, Then I'm thinking we can relieve our old "friends" of some of their gold and food. Afterwards perhaps try to Shift near Clearwater's Font and I believe you mentioned the Boy King had wanted you head just south of there in the great forest for some elves or some such.... Might be worth it just to gain his favor a bit more, at least one nation might not have us arrested on sight."

[Barthac]

Aye, I still owe that boy a horse. Taalkar settles deeper against the wall, willing another cup of ale.

How is it that the only person in the world that might support us is a human child? How did it end up this way?

Taalkar sighs and leans his head back, not waiting for a reply, as a rumbling snore begins to emanate.

[LordDice]

Seeing his brother nod off to sleep he ponders his last comment a bit before shoving his pack beneath his head.

After a good nights sleep he sees his brother waiting patiently for him to wake up "Let me sleep in did ya ? 'ppreciate it, been a long few days after all"

"I guess we'll be on our way to Clearwater or thereabouts now. I'll get the spell ready"


Awhile later he coughs lightly, getting his Taalkar's attention from the Wall of Ancestors he was reading in the meantime. "Ready ?, lets head out"

Still carrying around his nice Staff he walks to a nearby section of unengraved wall, as he comes near it a light tap of his staff causes the stone to ripple like water. "After you"

[Mr. X]

Passing your hand over the wall, the stone ripples...

Granite. Igneous rock, but not volcanic... This wall was brought here by a magma flow, gods only know how long ago, and was slow cooled into the place it now sits.

Clear Water sits in the caldera of an ancient volcano... The stones there are no doubt likewise igneous, but being volcanic, are more likely to consist primarily of basalt, pumice, and obsidian... So you are fairly certain that you are in no danger of dropping directly into another nest of giants. (A ring of wizards would actually be more likely in this case, but the thought is not really any more attractive.)

The surrounding planes, Taalkar can vouch, are rolling hills, and are probably mostly sedimentary stone, though out cropping granite shelves are not wholly uncommon.

...

From the wall in Mythril Keep, you both step easily out onto the grass some five hundred miles south. The land rises gently towards the coastal rocks eastward, towards Star Spire, while the edge of the caldera surrounding Clearwater rises more sharply from the flat(er) lands to the west.

You are some distance from the city, but within easy traveling distance.

[Mr. X]

It is but a short time before you are standing atop the crest of the caldera, looking down over the city and the lake...

... They say that at the dawn of time there was a terrible war between the heavens and the hells, and that it was that war that created and shaped this earth.

At that time, the very ground you now stand upon was an immense volcanic vent... A gate into the very pit of the Hells, choking the heavens with noxious gasses, scorching the lands with floods of burning magma, and vomiting forth legions upon legions of demonic horrors to do battle with the celestial forces above...

At the whim of the hellish barons the mountain grew ever more violent, and during a great battle over its peak, it erupted with devestating force... Spewing billions of tons molten stone and ash into the heavens, strangling the skies, and scouring clean the earth... But so terrible was the explosion that the very mountain itself was undone, collapsing in upon itself into a flaming sea of fire and molten stone that yet continued to boil as the mountain attempted to rise again...

But the heavens saw their chance and took it... The floodgates of the skies were opened, pouring down their cooling waters upon fires so hot that even the ice and snows burned...

... The event marked the end of the war... So spent were either side that neither could directly effect the earthly plane any longer...

When the smoke and ash finally cleared, a great lake sat where the mountain once stood... It's pure, crystalline waters a touch of heaven upon the earth... In its middle, a jagged volcanic spire, reaching up to the sky, testament to where the hells had fought to the very last, that, yet to this day, continues to burn...

... As you stand gazing over the downward slope, the blanketed in thick white snow, over the crystalline waters, so peaceful and colored so deep blue, the barest hint of sulfur reaches your nostrils... Far below, a thin wisp of smoke curls from the peak of the island in the Lake...

The city of Clearwater huddles within the the protective embrace of the caldera, and is a busy merchant port... Or would be, outside of winter's icy grasp. Now the city sits fairly sedate. The lake has not yet frozen completely over, but no doubt the river has, thus stymying trade by sea...

... It is the island that holds your interest, however. The seat of the Wizard's Colligate, a vent into the living earth, and, if you believe the stories, a portal unto the hellish planes... A place of immense power, no matter how you look at it.

There is no question as to why the Wizards chose it to be their stronghold... The College is a secluded sanctuary, and difficult to approach at the best of times.

The common folk of the city may know more of it.

[Mr. X]

The furthest inland point reachable from the sea, the merchant wealth of Clear Water is astounding. Many a clever pauper has made his fortune here, and just as many have lost theirs. The city surrounds the lake on all sides, and is an odd mishmash of the fabulously wealthy, and the destitute. Often, you see crude lean-to's built agains the walls of exquisite manor houses who's very roofs are plated in gold leaf.

It is the Mage's Colligate, however, that is the jewel of the city.

It is well shown that a bit of magic here and there can dramatically improve one's situations, and the merchant lords of Clear Water, not overlooking this fact, have poured out funding to the wizards and sorcerers who would live, teach, and conduct their research here, and expect only modest favors in return.

As with any trade city, there is a great deal of organized crime and political corruption... Though as near all the players are themselves corrupt, this almost has a more balancing effect on the system than might otherwise be expected. Nowadays, the Magi and the City Watch possess enough power to ensure that everyone plays nice.

[LordDice]

Turning to his brother after admiring the incredible sight of the caldera "We should make our way to the city, It'll be nice to sleep in an actual bed for a change I suspect."

"Maybe we'll be able to get a message to the Wizards College about Storm headed this way, Maybe they can stop it. For all I know they'd want to study something like that...don't really know what Wizards get up to in their time here."

Walking down the small goat path towards the town he takes the time whilst traveling to knock some of the dust and dirt off of his stony hide, as they take a break for a minute he shifts his shapestone into a washing basin and with a small magical nudge a tiny fracture opens, breaching into the worlds beyond...letting pure water fill the basin.

Cleaned up without the grime his stone plated form, interlocked with his old stone armor slightly gleams of polish once more. He glances over at Sid for a second and almost asks when Sid pulses with a sharp spike of Earthen energy, as it dissipates he looks like newly polished stone.

Glancing back over afterwards the massive elemental seems to be shifting around a bit, almost as if chuckling.

Letting his brother finish cleaning up he repacks his bag a bit, the Axe he's carried along for years finds itself packed away. Shield snugly attached to his backpack, yet still within reach he grabs onto his newly formed Stone staff...admiring it's form once more and reminding himself to re-enchant it soon.

[Barthac]

Taalkar waits patiently for his brother to clean up as he stared out across the placid surface of the lake. His focus pulled by the massive tower at the center of the caldera.

You say the font is in there? Just the place I was thinking of going, a school for finger wagglers. Do you think they offer classes in dancing around fires and reading the entrails of chickens? Thinking about the question for second, he gulps, They probably do, don't they. A school of magic. This was clearly not somewhere he would choose to go on vacation.

Shouldering his pack, he diligently follow his brother, trying hard to keep his head low.

[Mr. X]

Working your way down the inner slope of the caldera, it is not long before you are trudging through the streets of the city's outskirts.

The people you encounter are not welcoming.

At the sight of you many look sharply away, and hurry past on their way, or duck into houses and shut the doors. Others are content to gawk openly at you, and mutter slurred insults or even shout at you incoherently...

... The degree of poverty in this area is crushing... And by their vacant gazes and indirect ramblings, you would wager that a good number of the population are already well into their cups (and handling themselves poorly), or else under the effects of some drug of substance... Even the stock houses of Black Harbour offered finer living and a cleaner populace than this squalor...

...

...

Further on you make your way into a somewhat finer area of town, though you are not welcomed any more warmly... Everywhere you go, conversations stop, and people stare. Even by those obviously trying not to be impolite about it.

Periodically, you'll see a Watch patrolman catch sight of you, and all but turn tail and run...

... The reasoning for this becomes quickly apparent, as you round a corner, and are suddenly met by a column of no less than twenty fully armed and armored Watchmen...

The street quickly clears, as their captain strides forward.

"Greetings sirs." he hesitates for a moment, clearly not as certain of himself as he would like to be.

"Would you please present to me your Letters of Introduction from the College?"

[Mr. X]

For Taalkar:

The Watchmen before you are standing in formation, and not [yet] openly hostile.

Still, as you glance around, you notice a number of crossbowmen surreptitiously taking up positions on the rooftops on either side of the street, while a somewhat conspicuous cart sits near the mouth of the street.

They're hemming you in.

Poor fools have no idea what they're up against.

You've battled Giants and survived, brought down the Worm, and slaughtered the Blighted Goblins, the undead, and the soldiers of Great Gate by the dozens.

If they try something, they won't even know what hit them.

You almost hope they do.


For Karazi:

While the Watchmen are holding their formation, it is clear that tensions are high. In a city like this, you have little doubt that they have been called upon to deal with an out of control wizard or two, and are aware of what can happen if such people decide they do not wish to cooperate.

So it is, that you note the crossbowmen quietly moving into positions on the rooftops around you, and the presence of a cart that could easily block the path of your retreat.

As to the letter the captain requests, you can only guess. Perhaps the laws here require wizards to be sanctioned by the College?

[LordDice]

"Oh Letter Right Right" Glancing over at his brother for a second he sends a quick thought over their connection "I probably should have known about that huh"

Shrugging his shoulders a bit he looks back at the Captain "We do not actually have an introduction, My brother and I were up in the northern reaches but a day ago. A massively overcharged Storm seems to be headed this way, possibly still drawing power. We thought perhaps we could get some assistance in stopping it before it reaches this place."

"Would it be better if we waited outside town for a representative ?"


I took ranks in Diplomacy for things like this ! [roll0]

[Barthac]

Taalkar tries his best to look mean. (Not really that hard for a battle hardened, one-eyed dwarf carrying an 8 foot axe.)

Purposefully and obviously glancing up at the crossbowman taking up positions on the roof, letting everyone know he knows they are there.

That done he leans back on his heels, trying to exude a calm confidence that nothing here is a threat.

No diplomacy here... I took intimidate! :smallsmile:

[Mr. X]

The man blinks, muttering to himself, as he all but gawks at the statuesque stone features of your face, and the chiseled stones sliding over each other as you speak.

"Only a day... Only the Planesmage can..."

He catches himself, and clears his throat.

"Ahm, excuse me. Leaving the city shall not be necessary. Rather, I would ask that allow us to escort you to the Watchhouse, where we can get your situation sorted."

[LordDice]

"That would be perfectly acceptable, I realize dropping by uninvited like this can cause some confusion"

Glancing over at Taalkar looking about as mean as can be he says in a somewhat hushed voice "Let's not go scarin folks for no good reason, there's always enough troubles to be had without new ones"

Turning back to the Guard he comments "Sorry bout that, it's just...well, nobody likes being surrounded like that. Surely you understand it'll set some on edge"

[Mr. X]

The captain frowns, but nods, and turns back down the street, gesturing for you to follow him.

The column parts as you pass through it, the guards all watching you closely, and they fall into a protective formation around you, as you proceed through the city.

From the corner of your eye, you catch a shock of red hair disappearing down an alleyway.

-----

The walk to the Watch House is not far, and once you arrive, you are led into a receiving area.

"We'll need to take your names and statements for the record."

His eyes slide over Taalkar's axe.

"We must also require that you check your weapons into the armory."

[LordDice]

"Paperwork...always with the paperwork. I'm Karazi, He's Taalkar...the big guy in the back is Sid in a hushed voice try not to say anything about his size, he's gained a few recently...havn't the heart to tell him"

Clearing his through a bit he continues "As for some report..I'm not sure I know what you mean. There's a Big ol' Storm up north, from what I've been able to gather it's headed this way.. I mean ye no disrespect Guardsman, but I doubt paperwork'll be protecting you and yours from the coming storm"

Glancing at his staff "I JUST made this, are you kidding ? Sure you could take it....but I can literally make another one afterwards. Do you have any idea how tricky this kind of inlay is ? Frankly I'm not even sure you'll be able to touch my Brother's axe there, that thing is always sparking, I swear one night it woke me up when I rolled too close...gave me quite the shock !"

"But to be honest, I'd really rather not disarm. We're not here for trouble, but frankly it's got a way of finding us...Especially him. "

[Mr. X]

The captain frowns darkly at you.

"I am afraid I must insist. Such are the strictures of the City... So please, allow me to make one thing perfectly clear. You are not going to enter this Watch House, nor will you be allowed to move freely about my city while you are armed for war."

He gives a disgusted look at Karazi's stony exterior.

"Your personal afflictions, and supernatural talents, I cannot relieve you of... But if you wish to be viewed as law abiding visitors to this city, and not common criminals, I suggest you acquiesce to the lawfully made requests placed upon you."

[LordDice]

Turning to Taalkar before commenting under his breath "Bah, why don't we just come back after the storm...might kill off enough of these surface dwellers the rest'll be more reasonable"


Turning back to the captain he tries a diffrent tack "Bah, now you've soured my mood. I've no desire to be breakin your laws, but less to be leavin our armaments in your hands. Is it just the disarming part we're in violation of ?...Why don't we just come back in a day or so. Leave the weapons at home so to speak, Clearly under your watch we'll not be needing such here."

"Aye, just escort us from the city I suppose. Would you prefer us to come back in the way we did, or just come directly to this Watch House of yours."

[Barthac]

Taalkar rolls his eyes.

Sparky will be just fine here, laying his very large axe on the table he looks up at the man with a smile, I could take them all with my cup, if I had to, anyway. He smiles and laughs. Pulling out his cup, mostly for effect, he wills it full of ale and throws it back in one large gulp.

Or did ya want me cup, too?

[LordDice]

"Bah, whatever. You pick the oddest times to be reasonable Brother."


Tossing his staff over to a nearby guardsman "Try not to lose it"

[Barthac]

Taalkar shrugs... I still got me cup!

[Mr. X]

The Captain seems about to respond, but stops himself, and re-establishes his composure.

"Thank you. If you would follow me please."

He leads you into a back room, windowless, and bare but for a table and four chairs, and offers you a seat.

"A messenger shall be sent on your behalf, and no doubt a representative from the College shall arrive in due course."

He gives a disapproving look at Taalkar's tankard.

"I would offer you something to drink, but it appears that you have brought your own. Now, if you would excuse me, I have other work that needs doing."

So saying, he turns to leave.


You are free to act.

If you would like a bit more information on the Watchhouse you just moved through, and the room you are in, you may make a Spot Check.

[LordDice]

Glancing around the room a bit he slumps down into one of the chairs. "Bah, waiting....I don't see why we can't just go up there and talk to someone"

Pulling a couple Rations out of his pack he tosses one to his brother, looking around the room while as he gnaws on it.


Spot [roll0]
Sid's Spot [roll1]

[Barthac]

Spot Check:

[roll0]

[Mr. X]

The Watch House is fairly large, and apparently, fairly well organized, from what you could see. Moving from the front to the rear, you passed rows of offices and desk workspaces, and coming in, you noted that the building was three stories tall, implying more working space above, and no doubt, the presence of dungeons below.

Sitting in the interview room, the floor, walls, and ceiling, are all done in hardwood slates, somewhat cheaply thrown together... Numerous gaps and spaces can be seen between the slates, and lacking anything better to do, you peer into the spaces to see what lies beyond...

... You raise an eyebrow, as you discover that the wooden slates serve only to mask the actual walls of the room, that are constructed of solid sheet metal, and are etched with strings of arcane formulae...

...

... You have time only to catch your breath, as the runes activate, and the air in the room is suddenly transmuted into water.


(From the SRD)
Drowning
Any character can hold her breath for a number of rounds equal to twice her Constitution score. After this period of time, the character must make a DC 10 Constitution check every round in order to continue holding her breath. Each round, the DC increases by 1. See also: Swim skill description.

When the character finally fails her Constitution check, she begins to drown. In the first round, she falls unconscious (0 hp). In the following round, she drops to -1 hit points and is dying. In the third round, she drowns.

You are both free to act. Please note your Armor Check Penalties with regards to attempt to swim or move about.

[LordDice]

Startled at the instant of water around him, it takes a second to really process. As the table immediately starts to float up to the top of the room, he glances at his brother...who seemed to realize what happened and is already looking about ready to kill something.

A smirk of satsifaction at the luck involved is all he manages before realizing he's gonna have to do something. A slow unwieldy looking shrug and a thought over the Bond to his brother "Well doesn't that just figure...damned lowland surface dwellers. Let's play this out a bit, they'll come check on us soon I'd imagine, till then...how bout we play some Stones

Seeing his brother perk up a bit at the notion he pulls the shapestone out of his pack and a quick thought to Sid has him dragging the table back town...a quick thought later and the Shapestone turns into a seemingly random assortment of rocks.

As a afterthought before the start playing he reaches into his pack and pulls out the Axe he'd only just put away this morning. Passing it over to his brother without a word.

For the next while most lowlanders wouldn't be able to make heads or tails of what actually happens in the game, just the occasional look of triumph or dispair. After awhile he sits out a few hands...with a few dark looks towards Sid as he and his brother finish up. The stones quickly return back to the pile, all of the sudden Sid reaches in and grabs one more...adding it to his pile leaving Taalkar sitting there, staring at the middle...wondering just how Sid managed that.

Continuing to play for awhile afterwards, they just decide to wait these lowlanders out a bit.
Waiting up to an hour...Surely they'd come check before then.

[Mr. X]

Your game continues undisturbed for a fair bit, no doubt to the great confusion of those outside.

You are just getting ready to pack it up, when your muscles suddenly seize, and your nerves ignite with pain...


All take damage:
[roll0] Lighting, and are Paralyzed for 1 round.

A successful Fortitude Save, DC 19, shall Halve(1/2) the damage, and Negate the Paralysis.

[LordDice]

With a gesture from Karazi, Sid turns to the door the came in and swinging his massive fists at it in one mighty blow.



I am woefully unsure how combat vs objects goes, so bear with me if the numbers need fixing

Sid'll take 10 bonus for his Power Attack.
So Attack roll [roll0]
Damage [roll1] 2d8+10 for base, +15 for power attack

[Mr. X]

Boooom

The sound is muffled under the water, and you almost feel the resounding shockwave of the Elemental's blow, more than you hear it.

Beneath his fist, the whole room vibrates, and the door is visibly dented.

You can hear a smattering of indistinct chatter outside, and another surge of voltage courses through your systems...


Again, all take damage: [roll0], and are Paralyzed for 1 round.

Fortitude, DC 19, halves damage, and negates Paralysis.

[Barthac]

Taalkar grimaces in pain as the second jolt courses through him. He figures its time to leave. Pulling out the waraxe his brother gave him, he sizes up the door and gives a mighty swing.

It may be overkill but I will be using Ancient Mountain Hammer on the door with a full 13 PA shifted from AC. The whole leap attack thing seems improbable in water and probably unnecessary on a door"This attack deals an extra 12d6 points of damage and automatically overcomes damage reduction and hardness."

ToHit:[roll0]
Damage:[roll1]
Manuever Damage:[roll2]

[Mr. X]

The door caves beneath Taalkar's blow, buckling badly, and releasing streams of bubbles around the edges where the seal has been broken... Even so, the door manages to hold for a moment longer, at least.

Without the muffled chattering voices raise into shouts, and the jolt comes again...


Damage: [roll0]
Save vs damage and paralysis, Fort, DC 19

[LordDice]

Seeing the heavily damaged door start to bubble around he edges Karazi triggers one of the contingency spells and grabs hold of Sid as he winds up for another smash, moving much easier than he was before.



Finally remembering to activate Freedom of Movement as Sid hits the door again.
If I'd just done that first we'd have been through already >_<. probably.

Sid's attacks...Full Round. Same power attack
Atk 1[roll0]
Damage [roll1]
Atk 2[roll2]
Damage [roll3]

[Mr. X]

Under Sid's blow the door bursts off its hinges, slamming against the wall opposite, as the water floods out of the room...

... Your enchantments prevent you from being carried with the flow, though beyond the door, you see at least a dozen armed guardsmen foundering under the flood, while the water surges onward into the front offices, and chaos ensues.


It is your move.

[Barthac]

Taalkar peaks out the door. Seeing the guardsman, he points a thumb over his should into the room, I don't know if ye knew it, but ya got one hell of a leak in there!

[LordDice]

"Indeed...quite a leak." reforming his shapestone and storing it away.

Turning back to the guardsmen as they try to find their feet "So do you suppose now we can handle this like adults ? or must this go on"

[Mr. X]

The guards are in no condition to carry on any sort of conversation, adult or otherwise, at the moment.

Those caught in the initial flood are fleeing, and as the waters rise, it appears as though soon the whole building will be evacuated.

If you wish to make good an escape, now would be the time.

[LordDice]

"Well brother, they seem a bit distracted at the moment....maybe we should look for our things" He comments, looking around the room for a moment. A second later with a low spoken word his eyes take on an eerie gleam as he looks about.


Detect Magic, lets find Sparky !

[Mr. X]

Moving from the room, the waters now mostly drained, you find the halls littered with the bodies of the guards who were to greet your escape.

The offices are a mess, and now vacant, and it is easy for you to find and reclaim your gear.

Heading towards the front, the square outside is in chaos. As water still runs down the front steps, people are running chaotically about, while the guards try to rally themselves amidst it all, and are too busy to even notice you leaving.

A fresh scream erupts from a commoner as Karazi and Sid are sighted, sending the suroundings into a further panic, when a voice to your side hisses out.

"Psssst! Hey!"

You turn to see a halfling with a shock of bright red hair, crouching in an allyway, and waiving you to him.

"Come on! This way!"

[Barthac]

Taalkar looks at his brother and shrugs, Why not? It's not like it could be any worse

[LordDice]

Shrugging and finding himself agreeing with his Brother's assessment of the situation "Aye...might as well. I don't think we're quite welcome here at the moment"

Turning to follow the halfling he spends a moment while walking to stow his old axe away in his pack...don't want to be losing that.

[Mr. X]

Hurrying down the allyway, the halfling throws a heavy cloak over Karazi, and hands him a scarf, hissing as he goes.

"Hide yer face, ye bloody fool, an' get yer critter te sit down an be a rock, or somethin'. You lot stand out worse than the goblin circus!"

[LordDice]

With a look to Sid he comments in Terran "Go below, but stay close friend..."

"You've a point small one... he says before trying to cover up somewhat with the scarf handed to him.

[Barthac]

While I'm glad to have Sparky back... She's a bit big to hide. Taalkar hunches over as he runs, trying his best to change his profile, to little avail.

[LordDice]

As they walk further, trying not to be noticed a feeling of unease sets in... Glancing up at the Halfling they follow he finally decides upon an action. Ducking into a darkened corner of a side alley he thinks to his brother over their link "Something doesn't feel right...might just be me being paranoid...but I don't feel inclined to chance it. Tell the Halfling I'll catch up later. I'll be right beneath you with Sid

At the last second he tosses the scarf at his brother and sinks into the earth to follow them from below.

[Mr. X]

The halfling shoots you a dirty look at your use of the words 'small one', but keeps his mouth shut as he presses onwards.

He leads you down a twisting path through alleys and narrow streets, keeping well away from heavily trafficked areas.

It is not long before you are completely lost, and Karazi's paranoia seems somewhat less that totally unreasonable.

The Halfling doesn't make great efforts to keep an eye on you as he goes, and so it is some little time before he realizes that Karazi is gone.

"W-ha, where's 'e gone?" he says to Taalkar.

[Barthac]

He's got a pretty... let's say... unusual method of hiding. As sue as elves to wine, he's close by. Let's keep moving.

[Mr. X]

The halfling blinks, but then shrugs, and hurries on.

At length you arrive in a seedy area of town, before a seedier looking tavern.

The shingle in front reads "The Witch's Brew".

The halfling pulls up in an alley a short distance away, and points at the tavern.

"That's where we're goin', but it'd be better if we didn't all go in together.

If'n ye got some magic te talk te yet friend with, tell 'im te ditch the critter somewhere, an' wait a few minutes te come in."

He scowls.

"An' be sure 'e keeps 'is damn face covered."

He bites his lip before continuing.

"When ye get in, ask the bartender for his brownest ale, an' a room. That'll let 'im know yer with me, an' 'e'll set you up in the safehouse."

He glances upwards, where a gutter pipe runs to the roof of the neighboring building.

"I'll be takin the back way. I hope you two can make it twenny feet Whitout gettin' the watch called on ye.

If'n ye can't, I guess we won't have much to talk about anyway. Hah.

So saying, he skitters up the pipe, and disappears over the rooftop.

[Barthac]

Taalkar takes a deep gulp and realizes that might be a little too suspicious, so he stops mid-gulp. This causes him to choke. Spluttering and clearing his throat in front of the tavern he finally decides its best to just go in. Now, red in the face and still choking on his own gulp, he pushes open the door trying his hardest to not look suspicious.

[Mr. X]

The Witch's Brew is clearly a grungy sort of dive, and within, it is more or less the squalorous pit you might expect.

A dirty, fairly wide, common area, with a bar against one wall, and a smattering of tables about the middle, and booths against the sides and back, with a dart board or two against the back wall.

There are perhaps half a dozen patrons sitting in quietly, their noses buried in their drinks, or chatting with one another softly.

More than one looks up as you enter, but just as casually returns to whatever the were doing once they got a look at you.

The bartender had his back to you, as he polishes a glass.

[Barthac]

Taalkar gulps again, still trying to look innocent.

He walks over to the bar trying hard to look natural. He clambers up onto an empty bar stool.

Barkeep, he asks meekly with his hand raised, I'll 'ave a pint of yer brownest ale and a room fer the night.

[Mr. X]

The bartender glances back at you only for a moment, before grabbing a stein, shoving it beneath a keg, and yanking on the tap.

Once it is filled to brimming, you uses a flat rule to scrape the froth from the top, and sets it in front of you.

"'At'll be a silver fer the ale an' the room."


Taalkar, you may make a Sense Motive check, if you like.

[Barthac]

Taalkar digs around in his pouch. Worry seizes him for a moment but his fingers finally find a coin. Without looking he places the coin on the bar.

Taking a deep swig of the ale, he glances down and realizes that he placed a gold coin bearing the mark of Deep Mote. He gulps again nervously but tries his hardest to look natural as he watches for the bartenders reaction.

[roll0]

[Mr. X]

The bartender's eyes bulge at the gold, and he snatches it up and tucks it away quickly, before fumbling around for change.

At length, he plops a pile of silvers before you, along with a bit of parchment with a number on it, and an iron key, smiling giddily.

"Ye'll be in room 4, upstairs at the end o' tha hall. An' be sure te let me know if'n there's anythin' else I kin do fer ye."


The barkeep doesn't bother to note the stamp on the gold coin, nor does he make any reaction at receiving a password... Either the halfling lied, or he's pretty good at these sorts of deals.

The parchment beneath the key reads "Room 4" in bold print across the front.

The back is clearly intended to have been left blank, but in a scrawled hand, reads "knock three times".

[Barthac]

Finishing off the ale, he wipes foam from his mouth with the back of his hand. Yup, that tasted brown he thinks.

He scoops up all but a couple of the silvers without counting and tucks them in a convenient pouch. Grabbing the key he heads upstairs with a casual Thank ye over his shoulder in the direction of the barkeep.

[Mr. X]

The stairs lead up into a hallway, from which a small number of rooms branch off.

They are numbered 1 through 6.

The hall dead ends at the outer wall of the building, where there is a window overlooking an alley, and a small end table set beneath it.

[Barthac]

Taalkar walks to door 4 as quietly as a dwarf can. laying a hand gently on the door, he pricks his ear, listening for movement on the other side.

Listen check, if needed:[roll0]

[Mr. X]

On the other side of the door, you can hear the halfling speaking softly to someone.

"... One o' 'em buggered off, but the other should be here in just a minute. I dunno who they are, an they sure as hell ain't from 'round here, but they busted out o' the drunk tank while it was full. Oy, 'at was a sight te see, hah!

Brain dead or no, they're serious meat. If'n we can work a deal, who know's what we can get done! Hells, mayhap their magics can find us the Prince. Gods know he's the one we need."

[Barthac]

Taalkar grins eagerly.

With a thought, the door (and some of the wall) disappears in a neat circle. Taalkar strides through and crosses his arms across his chest, Someone was talking about meh bein' brain dead?

Using passwall on the door. Going for the, "I'm so badass I don't think you even understand how much." stance

[Mr. X]

Within the room, you see the halfling sitting on a bunk, speaking to two much larger others... A big human, and an Ork?

The bruisers both have their backs to you as you step in, but the halfling sees you, and gives you a blank, uncomprehending look as you appear...

"... Bloody hells..." he mutters as you speak, and the other two turn to gape at you for a moment.

It is almost in slow motion as you see move to act... The man grabbing a wine bottle off the table, while the Ork's hand finds a crowbar on the floor, before the halfling's voice rings out.

"Woah woah woah!! Relax!"

He slips forward, and puts himself between you and the two bruisers.

"We're all friends here, alright?!"

He gestures peaceably you and the other two, saying,

"Come in, come in, don't worry about the door, I've paid for the whole floor.

Here, sit."

He gestures somewhat nervously to a chair, before pointing at the human, and then the Ork.

"That's Slim, an' that's Pinkie. Ye kin call me Fink. We're here ta help, if'n we can... I wager you an' yer other had somethin' te do here before the watch got ye, eh? Mayhap we can help."

[Barthac]

Taalkar looks at the two large men, daring them to come at him.

Once the Halfling has control of the room, Taalkar dismisses the spell, and the door simply reappears. He strides across the floor gracefully and plops in the chair.

What a fine bunch of thieves and rogues, brother he thinks to Karazi.

It all be dependin' on what ya need from me. Hurry up an' tell me, too. It's mighty hard to pay attention long when I am so close to ale.

Taalkar sits back in the chair, getting comfy to listen to what comes next. Grabbing his cup he wills it full of ale and takes a drink.

[Mr. X]

The halfling sits too, leaning forward on the table, and chewing his lip.

"Well that's the thing... I don't know you, or any o' what ye can do, so I can't rightly ask ye for anythin' specific..."

He fiddles his fingers before continuing.

"So here's the deal: You play straight with us, an' we'll play straight with you. My name's Kurt Fink. Information's the blood an' butter o' this town, and if'n ye need to know somethin' about someone, I'm the one who kin find it out... Yerselves excluded, obviously, as at the moment I'm not content to wait around an' wait fer ye te show me what yer all about. Figure I'll just ask.

So who are ye, an' what're ye here for?"

[Barthac]

Taalkar sits back in the chair taking a slug of ale.

Well brother? Not exactly trustworthy but maybe they can get us in that tower.

[LordDice]

"Aye, but we need to do more than get inside..we've gotta be there awhile and for once I'd like not to be attacked in the meantime"

[Barthac]

Taalkar take another swig from his cup. Me an' me brother need access to that tower in the center of the lake. Tell me what you need from us and if'n you and yours can get us in... he shrugs Well, maybe we can come to some agreement.

[Mr. X]

The halfling sucks his teeth.

"The College, huh? Bit out o' the loop, ain't ye?"

He scratches his head.

"Typically ye magiky types could jes make an appointment... Now though, the wizards are in deliberation, an have closed the isle. There ain't no gettin' in wit'out their say so... Though while yer waitin', ye can think on this: Last time they went into council, when they came out, they locked down the whole damn city, an' rooted out every major underworld player there was."

He shrugs.

"It was dark times back then, an things've been lookin' up since... Till Great Gate turned on Deep Mote, an' got everyone up in a tizzy.

With Timaril all but out o' the picture, most figure Clear Water's next on the 'Gate's ta-do list... So they're talkin' 'bout gettin' inta bed wit Black Harbour, as them an' Great Gate is already quite close, an' allies generally don't immediately bite their other allies allies in the arse, so te speak."

He chews his lip.

"Now I won't say I never dealt in slaves, as a part o' opportune business, but I gotta say I get a li'l itchy at tha thought o' havin' ta meet quotas..."

He uncorks a bottle of wine, and takes a swig.

"That's where muscle like you an' yer brother come in, I hope... We need ta find a guy... Called 'imself 'The Prince'"

[Barthac]

Taalkar bristles at the casual mention of slave trading bit manages to hold back his anger for the moment.

What business have ye with this Prince fellow?

[Mr. X]

The halfling sits forward.

"He had a brain on 'im. The wheels o' this city are turnin', an I don't much like what they look to be turnin' to, but I ain't got the mind to stem tha tide.

The Prince, when I first heard 'is name, it was behind some new little drug they was pushin' in the downs. It weren't much more'n a year later that 'e was a top kingpin in the business. An' 'e was dramatic too...

At the time, the watch an' merchant council were so bloody corrupt that ye could knife a man in the middle o' the street, or drag someone off inta a box, an they wouldn't even bat an eyelash, so long as ye were paid up in the right places, an didn't screw wit the wrong people, an the wizards, safe up on their isle, didn't know an didn't care.

But when The Prince showed up on the picture, all that went ta hell.

With him around, people who was paid up wit everyone still got their daughters kidnapped, or their sons hooked on drugs, an bein' a boss didn't help ye none neither. Pretty soon, corruption stopped payin' so well, an jus' like that, all the gangs were suddenly at war with each other... Half o' the Brightmoor District is still bein' rebuilt after the fires that started there...

That's when tha wizards finally took notice, went inta deliberation, an then came down an put a stop to it all.

Nowadays, drugs stay way down in the downs, an slave trafficking has all but completely ceased. All but three o' the major kingpins were either caught or killed, an what's left o' organized crime is strictly small time."

He swigs the wine,

"Thing is, I'm pretty sure the Prince planned it that way. I'm pretty sure he started a all the ruckus ta get the city cleaned up... An' it worked.

An' they ne're found him. Which is why I'm hopin' you two can.

I'm hopin' he can figure a way to keep us outa bed with Black Harbour, an maybe keep us from gettin' stomped on my Great Gate too.

Doin' that'll ultimately take us up ta the College too, I'm sure, so ye can do whate're it is ye need.

[Barthac]

If the wizards college didn't find 'em, what makes ya think we can find 'em?

[Mr. X]

The halfling shrugs.

"Desperation maybe... That an ye don't even see any o' the wizards walkin' 'round town with a bound elemental in tow, so I was hopin' maybe you got a trick or two they didn't.

Also, I'll put good gold bettin' that the wizards didnae bother too hard... More 'an one person skipped town, an didn't get hunted down, so I wager that 'e just up an got away.

Also, I'm given ta understand that divinin's pretty tricky if'n ye don't have the person's right name, or know what they look like, or have any bit o' them."

He reaches into his pocket, an withdraws a small whittled stick, and unwinds from it a single brown hair.

"Which, as it happens, I do."

[LordDice]

"It might be enough to go on brother...Hopefully it's actually his hair and not a maid's or some such"

[Barthac]

OK Brother.

Well ya have that bit right it seems. Taalkar leans back, taking down the last of the ale.

You seem awful sure that this Prince fella is gonna wanna help you. Why are you so sure? If he cared so much for this place, wouldn't he already be helpin out?

[Mr. X]

Fink shrugs.

"Honestly, I ain't. I don't know where 'e's got to, nor what 'e's doin', nor why. But I ain't willin' ta sit on me thumbs neither."

He takes another swig of the wine.

"So, presumin' yer gonna help us, whaddaya need?"

[Barthac]

I reckon we need that hair and we need to know where we can find ye later.

[Mr. X]

Fink winds the hair back into the twig, saying,

"Now ta be sure, that hair don't belong ta the Prince, as I ne're had the pleasure o' layin' eyes on 'im... I doubt anyone ever did.

It belongs to the alchemist as concocted the drug 'e built 'imself up on... Guy named Fredric Chemoson. He used ta work for the College, but skipped town just before the wizards came down and cleaned up.

I do know that they never caught 'im, an dinnae much care, as 'e was figured to be pretty small time... But 'e was there from tha beginnin'... If anyone has seen the Prince, or knows where 'e is, this is the guy."

He twiddles the twig before handing it to you.

"As fer me, ye kin find me here. If'n I ain't hangin' downstairs, just come on up an wait. I'll be here."

[Barthac]

If you aint never seen this prince, how are we supposed to know when we find 'em?

[Mr. X]

Fink looks exasperated for a moment, but contains himself, pointing solidly at the hair.

"Ye start by findin' Fredric, an mayhap gettin' 'im a message... We'll have to see what 'e knows before we can plan more."

[LordDice]

"Get the hair I guess and ask Fink for access to the basement, I'll meet you there and we can shift home...work on tracking him from there"

[Barthac]

Taalkar stands up and takes the hair. Hang on. this Frederick doesn't happen to have a bone for a foot does he?

[Mr. X]

Fink tilts his head to the side, frowning.

"Like the 'godsent' as was wipin' out all them demons at the Battle o' Beluvah? Heh, naw, he didnae have anythin' like that when I knew 'im... Though it's been a couple years since I seen 'im, so who knows.

I doubt it, though... The Fredric I know was more like to break under a stiff breeze, than 'e was to waltz out onta a battlefield. Hah!"

[Barthac]

Fine fine... Is there a basement to this place?

[Mr. X]

Fink nods.

"Yeah, there is. Follow me."

-------

The halfling takes you down two flights of stairs, to the ale cellar.

Beneath the taverns foundations, the cramped room is of raw earthen floors and stone walls, and packed with kegs of ale, and bottles of wine.

"Will this do fer ye?"

[LordDice]

Flowing out from the floor along with Sid he comments wryly to the halfing he's only 'met' through his brothers description "It'll do just fine...It's good to finally meet you Mr. Fink."

"I believe we shall start trying to find this Fredric immediately...unless you had any other information to impart"

Placing his hand upon the stone wall he reshapes it into a sort of filled in stone archway...moments later the interior of the "door" turns into a completely different type of stone.

Using up Bite of the Werewolf and Dispel Magic to spontaneously cast Stone shape, then Stone Metamorphosis, to shape a doorway and then turn it into a type of stone matching the Falgen font. if you've a suggestion on said stone type lemme know...otherwise i'll think of an actual stone soon.

[Mr. X]

Fink gawks at your appearance, and your suddenl sculpting of the room.

"Damn wizards..." he mutters, before continuing, "Naw, naw, I don't think so... Juss... If'n ye find Fredric, tell 'im I sent ye, an go easy on 'im... He bit off more 'an I figure 'e could chew when 'e got in on all this, an' 'e's a decent enough bloke."


Mythril Keep's Font chamber is primarily granite... It is the quicksilver pool that is where the power actually is, though.

Forming a granite door will get you there just fine.

[LordDice]

"We'll keep that in mind"

With a quiet slam of his staff upon the floor...a shock of energy hits the doorway, turning the now granite interior into a more liquid form. He steps through followed by Sid....back to home.
or as near as they've got one these days.


Turning to Taalkar after they arrive back at the Font "What say we rest the night, come morning I can try and scry for this Fredric fellow."


Using AntiLife Shell to cast Travel via Stone back to the Font

[Mr. X]

The sealed chamber of the Font, is a welcome sight after your recent encounter with civilization.

The cold stone is a comfort of what has become home, these last weeks, and with the collapsed tunnels guarding your backs, you spend the next several hours undisturbed, and awake refreshed.

[LordDice]

Stretching a bit after his daily communion and glancing around the font, enjoying it's underground beauty for a moment before turning to the task at hand.
"Well I've a few ideas brother...but I want to try an experiment first. This might not work..if not we can fall back on more tried and true methods eh ?"

Turning to the Font at the center of the chamber he gazes at the quicksilver pool nearby...heavily imbued with the pure earthen magic. Thinking to himself.. "Well it is a pool of sorts"

Walking over he kneels next to the Quicksilver pool, the hair lightly grasped as he starts to meditate...directing energies towards the pool of quicksilver. Channeling a circle of energies flowing between him, the pool and the hair in his hand.

Okay, I completely understand if you don't want that to work...cause it does say a natural pool of water as the focus for a druid. But comeon...thematically you can't beat a pool of quicksilver !

Anyhow I did memorize an extra scrying in case this doesn't work though..so if you think I'm being too lazy here or something just nix it, I don't mind at all :D just thought it'd be cool to try.
If it does work somehow, it's a CL 19 Scrying.

[Mr. X]

The mystic energies swirl in the pool before you as a scene begins to take shape, and you are struck by such a sight such that it takes you several moment to grasp what it is you are looking at...

It's a fountain...

Massive, it's peak nearly lost in the cavernous heights of the vaulted room, delicately carved of a beautiful green stone, magical fire licking out and through the viscous yellow fluid it spouts.

You suddenly realize that it is gold... Thousands upon thousands of gallons of molten gold flow through the fountain, filling the many tiers, spouting in arcs and sprays, and pouring in torrential falls from great heights, only to be circulated once more through verdent stone system, kept fluid by the intense heat of the magical blast furnace.

Hundreds of figures surround the fountain prostrated before it, priests perhaps, mummified in gold, as though they'd been dipped in the very fountain they faced.

A single man stands before the fountain. His hair blowing in the blasting heat, he stands naked, but for the heavy gauntlets on his wrists, and, most recognizably, the skeletal leg grafted to his knee...

As you watch, it is clear that he is working some powerful magic... At his gesture, streams and rivulets of the molten gold spring forth from the fountain's lowest pool, and seer streaks across his skin, forming into long strings of densely scribed arcane sigils and formulae...

In many places, his flesh is scorched through, and sloughs off in horrid lumps and flakes, but he makes no sign of feeling discomfort...

Your view pans around the man, as you watch the rivulets of gold cool across his body in their twisting written lines, and you come round to see his face...

... Your gut knots at the sight...

... The visage of Fredric the Bonefoot is unmistakable. His face and cheeks have become sunken and hollow, but worse, his eyes have melted, and fallen out... And in those empty sockets burn two points of hideous red light.

[Barthac]

Peering over his brother's shoulder, Taalkar takes another sip from his cup as the image forms.

Watching the image, his jaw drops.

These guys just get uglier and uglier.

[LordDice]

"Well I was thinking we'd just shift over to wherever he was honestly...but he looks a little uh, busy at the moment"

"What do you think Brother ? I could shift us over and then onwards but I'm not sure it's a good idea to bother him right this second...you think we ought to check back later tonight or just go now?

As he speaks with his brother he moves the sensor around the room a bit looking further... maybe something to identify the location.

[Barthac]

Yeah sure... Let's pop over for a nice bit o' grog and some conversation. He don't look busy at all. Maybe we can bring some of ma's honey cakes.

[Mr. X]

Peering into the quicksilver pool, you will the vision to pan about...

The chamber is vast, with chiseled smooth granite walls, and a dizzyingly high vaulted ceiling, on which nearly every inch is etched in intricate arcane sigils and formulae. There are no windows, and the absence of cut blocks implies that the cavernous chamber is subterranean.

Amidst the rows of prostrate golden figures, great chests can be seen, etched in similar sigils, that connect into conduit lines of formulae chiseled into the floor, and running towards the fountain...

Behind Frederic, you see now, is a great vault door, leading out if the chamber. It's workings are hidden and invisible from this side, but strewn on the floor before it are four oddly shaped and jagged implements of varying sizes... Keys? Looking back, they bear sharp similarity to the immense polearm that the Dragonborn Kulkov wielded, though his had clearly been altered and fashioned for more effective use in combat.

Before the door, another figure stands... Straight and tall, and still as a statue, it's gauntleted hands resting on the hilt of an ancient greatsword of forged Adamantine.

Armored in similarly ancient apparel of tattered black cloths, gauntlets and breastplate, it's face is covered by a headman's cowl...

But as your vision pans around, you must again take note of the Fountain...

Fashioned wholly of carved jade, the spurts of blazing magical fire through the viscous fluid gold, cannot help but cause stirrings of every dwarf's basest desires... The unfathomable riches of the earth, and the power thereby derived...

[LordDice]

Turning to his brother he shrugs a bit. "I can see in your eyes you'd rather not wait..so we might as well try our luck here"

"I'll open the way brother...and follow your lead"


With a slam of his staff he turns a wall into Granite nearby, forming the portal shortly afterwards.

Just jumping right into it, totally Barthac's idea. gonna die horribly... my char sheet is up to date regarding spells cast and memmed btw.

[Barthac]

Taalkar wills his cup full again... Was that the last one today? I lost count

Glancing over at his brother and noticing his nervousness he says, C'mon... we're just goin' to visit an ol' friend.

He takes a sip and passes through the portal, Yo Frederic, How ya been?

[Mr. X]

Stepping into the portal you choke on your words, as you are shunted violently sideways, and topple out of a granite wall into pitch blackness...

... It takes but a moment for your eyes to adjust, and you find yourself in a sort of antechamber, facing an immense vault door...

... It is in the next moment that you hear the inhuman shrieks and screams echoing down the corridors behind you... And they are getting louder...

A quick glance around reveals the door into the antechamber to be normal sized, Heavy, and made of stone. It is fantastically carved, depicting a great fountain, and in many places the stone is leafed in gold, and spotted with rubies, sapphires, and even a diamond sparkle from their settings in the door.

It hangs open, and from where you stand, appears to open into a perpendicular corridor.

Within the room, a pile of mismatched bones lies strewn before the vault door, along with another of the key-like implements, mounted on a long haft.

Off to the side, two great chests, akin to those you witnessed before the fountain, sit hanging open. Both appear to be filled with a variety of books and scrolls.

... And yet the shrieking grows... Whatever it is, it will be here soon...


It is apparent that you have been shunted to the opposite side of the Vault door as Fredric.

If either of you actually took points in Knowledge(Dungeoneering), go ahead and give me a check. Otherwise, give me a flat Intelligence roll.

Actually, give me a flat Intelligence roll ALSO.

[Barthac]

Brother, I got a bad feeling about this.

Int Roll: [roll0]

[LordDice]

"Now....NOW you have a bad feeling about this ?"


Int [roll0]
No dungeoneering of course :P

[Mr. X]

The sound reverberates strangely down the passages and corridors, so it is difficult to determine just how far away the howlers are... They could be here in mere moments, or perhaps not for minute or more... It's impossible to say...

Also, there is something vaguely familiar about the shrieks, as though you've heard something similar before... You can't quite put your finger on it, though.

[LordDice]

Gesturing at the door quietly Sid flows over to the heavy door, shoving it closed.

In a quiet voice he remarks to his brother "Think I ought to seal it ?"

[Barthac]

This aint exactly what you scried! Taalkar downs his ale in one gulp and pulls out his axe.

Whatever we do, it better be quick, he whispers trying to be ready for anything.

[LordDice]

Moving to the closed door he puts his hand upon the stone, a slight glow flows through his hand into the heavy door, melting it slightly as he tries to fill in the gaps to turn it into a solid wall.

Spontanous Stone shape, from my memmed SpiritJaws

[LordDice]

Breathing a bit of a sigh of relief he turns to his brother "Well...if there is something out there, that'll inconvenience them mightily.

"Seems like I couldn't manage to transit right into the room...so now we've gotta get in there somehow. Let's go have a look at that key-ish thing" Gesturing for his brother to come with as he goes to look at the Vault door and the key-on-a-shaft.

[Mr. X]

A word and a gesture, and the door melds and becomes one with the walls.

Turning away, Sid sinks into the floor, and moves sideways, to get a feel for what you're up against... Without eyes, the elemental doesn't see, per se, but his sensitivity to minor tremors is more than sufficient to paint a clear picture...

... Through your link, you both become suddenly aware of the slipping, slapping, squirming of hundreds of tendrils and tentacles... The scrape of flesh, and bark-like fungal protrusions... The rolling blinking of eyes great and small... And the gnashing of crystalline blade-like teeth...

It is the horrors of the Blighted that descend upon you...

... You are aware of a searing flash streaking past your companion, as he re-melds through the wall, and back into the [current] safety of the antechamber.

Behind you, looming over everything, the massive vault door stands as strong as the day it was built. Plated in stone and iron, numerous gears and mechanical workings are visible through small gaps in the outer structure...

Golden sigils, similar, you now see, to those etched into the scattered and mismatched bones, are etched into all along it's surface, and the tingle of dormant magical energy is evident to all.

Before the door, a circle is carved into the floor... And an inscription coils around it, written in some form of draconic.

It's lock consists of a series of four concentric rotating rings, each apparently requiring precise positioning, as well as a specific key, to activate each concentric section.

The key-implement that is available, is similarly etched in golden runes and sigils. And, while somewhat unbalanced and awkward, the mechanical cuttings of the head are jagged, and razor keen... Wielded as a spear or halberd, it would no doubt be devastatingly effective.

It is the only key that appears available... Your vision descried four similar keys within the vault.

It is then that the first concussive impact hits the door you sealed behind you... The blighted are here.


The razor jagged edges of the key are decidedly vicious in melee combat.

The key deals 2d8 damage, and has a 10ft reach, when employed as such.

It is not balanced for that use, however, and is somewhat heavy and awkward... Suffering a -1 penalty to attack rolls.

[LordDice]

"I've no idea what to make of this door brother...See if you can do your new trick and make us a tunnel around it ?"

"Brace the door, it must hold !" he shouts, almost sounding as a small rockslide of sound...prompting Sid to brace himself upon the door/wall with his massive bulk

Quickly making his way over to the chest of books and scrolls, he tries to take a quick inventory to see if anything could help the immediate situation.

[Mr. X]

Sid braces himself against the wall, as you sift through the chests... At a glance, the bone dry tomes are ancient records, and historical documents... Of priceless value to the right historian, but of no use against the coming horde.

A desperate gravely rumble comes from Sid, and you look up to see a portion of the stone wall whiten and weaken... Becoming porous and flimsy as you watch...

Sid moves to cover the spot with a hand, but just as he does a blazing beam of putrid green light pierces through the stone, sloughing away the finely powdered remains, and slams across into the vault door...

Wards on the door flair, impervious to the horrid beam, but even so, it begins to move... Slowly cutting a line through the stone wall.

It will be only a short while before they are through.


You've seen this effect before, on the field of Beluvah... No doubt one of the great eyes sits beyond.

[LordDice]

"Ack...Away !" he hollars to Sid...seeing the beam nearly take his arm off

[Barthac]

Let's try this Taalkar looks confident in his newfound abilities. Pressing his hand against the vault door, he wills open a passage.

Using paswall on the vault door... what could possibly go wrong.

[Mr. X]

Your power releases before your outstretched hand, but is battered back by the wards on the door in a searing crackle of white light...

... Great efforts and powers were expended in the securing of this vault... Powers that, no doubt, continue to be fed and fueled by the Fountain within...

... No mere casual effort on your part is going to get through there, and you might rightly doubt that even the combined fury of the Blighted will produce any better a result.

Without the Keys, the Vault will not be opening.


From what you saw of the interior of the Vault, and the spells and wards covering near every inch of the room, you expect that the whole of the vault is doubtless similarly impenetrable... Tunneling under the door probably won't do you any good either.

... Perhaps, once he's finished doing whatever he is doing, Fredric will just come out? He'll have to come out sometime...


Behind, the putrid green ray cuts through the stone wall like a saw through a heavy trunk... Edging up vertically in a jagged and unsteady line, before cutting horizontally across...


Please roll initiative.

[LordDice]

Turning to the quickly opening "door" with a quick shout the dust kicks up between him and the opening being formed, whirling into a dervish before exploding in the hallway beyond, dust billowing all around and back into the room a bit through the openings created by the beam.

Just like last time vs a giant Eye...Haboob, CL 14 now [roll0] Damage
Creatures in it can Reflex for half now, but anything coming into it, or staying in gets no save.

[Mr. X]

At Karazi's command the winds pick up, pulling centuries of dust, grit, gravel, and soon rubble into the air.

With a great heave the section of wall tips down and shatters upon the floor, the ancient and beautiful carvings and reliefs broken to so much dust... As the winds kick up, you catch a brief glimpse of the horrid eye flinching away from the blowing grit, before the cloud obscures your vision of the hall...

... But the next moment, writhing lengths of leprous invertibrate flesh, bulging with cancerous growths and wicked crystalline spines, slither out through the howling winds. One snaps up, arching over you, and you are horrified to realize that the serpantine thing ends in a gibbering goblinoid face...

... Numerous other horrid serpant things pour from the gaping hole, several ending in those awful faces, but many more splitting into five tendril appendages... What must once have been fingers or toes...

Faster than you would believe, the things drag themselves into the chamber, dripping sweaty brine like some sort of obscene starfish, their bodies bloated masses of cancerous flesh and strange mutated organs...

Over the roaring winds, you can just make out the sharp, insectoid buzzing of jellies swarming down the passage... The powerful winds, and tearing grains are too much for them though, and behind the tentacled horror, you see many flung off to be spattered upon the walls, While many others are merely ripped apart by the winds...


You both are free to act.

Karazi, you may roll damage for your winds against the tentacle creatures, if you like. There are currently two of them that have squeezed into the room.

They are Large creatures. Each sort of pseudopod limb has a reach of 30 feet. Each creature has 5 such limbs.

[Barthac]

Taalkar stands agape, momentarily shocked to see this new thing, as Karazi lets loose with a spell.

I guess we'll take a rain check, Freddy Taalkar yells at the sealed door.

Taking a small step to a chest, he picks it up under one arm. Turning back to the advancing creatures, he mutters Aziz. A flash of light erupts from his eyepatch. He quickly gathers a bit of energy and raises himself and his brother on two pillars of granite, almost touching the ceiling.

5 foot step to a chest, if needed. Picking up a chest. (200 lbs really isn't that heavy when you have a 26 strength) Using my Eyepatch of wounding (60 Foot cone, Fire Damage:[roll0] and blinds. Save: Reflex 20 - Half damage and dazzled). Then activating Mountain Fortress Stance (Swift Action) to get as high as I can using The Brothers Strongstone to apply the effect to Karazi, as well.

[LordDice]

Rocking under the heaving earth as his brother raises them on pillars he very nearly tumbles off, steadying himself with the oversized key halberd ...thing. Seeing his brother heave the chest up he hollars at Sid "CHEST !!" gesturing at the remaining chest at the same time.

Even as Sid begins to move he starts casting, A glow flowing into the stone pillar....a moment later matching glows from Sid and Taalkar show they've been linked into it right as Sid heaves the chest up. "We'll have to catch him elsewhere, I ain't becoming like Malthos for anything or anyone"

Snapping the final bit of energy into the spell with a mumbled gravely tone as if speaking to the very earth itself the stone liquefies under the feet..letting them slip right into it.

[Mr. X]

The creatures squirm and roil, their squamous tendrils whipping through the air, and reaching for you...

... When Karazi's spell takes effect.

The grasping feelers close on empty air, as you tumble downwards, and out onto the floor of the Falgan Font.

Taking a moment to catch your breath, you find yourselves all present and accounted for, along with the great chests you managed to recover.

[LordDice]

Dropping the Key-Halberd unceremoniously to the ground he looks over at Taalkar and Sid for a second...reflecting on just how close that got.

"I'm sure he'll survive brother...for now lets see what the hell we can find out from these"

Closing his eyes for a moment he reopens them with a shimmering glow radiating from them, turning his gaze upon the Key-Halberd he looks at it again for a few moments before looking over at the Chests...studying them, checking for any magic before moving to study the contents carefully

Detect Magic. maybe something will "pop" out, or at least I'll notice the half dozen explosive runes you've mixed in -_-

[Mr. X]

For Karazi:

The chest itself is heavily enchanted. The strings of arcane formulae etched into its surface, now dormant, appear to be part of a larger enchantment, and are no doubt intended to link into the layered enchantments within the Vault...


Please make a Spellcraft check, DC 12, to further understand the formulae.


The books, tomes, and scrolls are written in a variety of languages, and will take some time to sort through. None are intrinsically magical, however.


For All:

What languages do you speak?

[LordDice]

Holding up a hand as he peers intently at the chests "Hold a moment on digging through, Chests themselves are heavily enchanted...Maybe I can figure this out"

oh my god...I thought I had spellcraft. I was so wrong. why am I a moronic druid >_< nooo, lets put skill points into CONCENTRATION...surely that'll help for all those Conc checks....


Spellcraft check [roll]1d20[roll]


Casting Read Magic after that to check out the scrolls, presuming I don't gather information that says "oh god, evil chest...why would you ever look into its contents" or something from the spellcraft check.

[Mr. X]

The spell constructs are far beyond your rudimentary understanding of arcane sciences to comprehend, but the simple spell is more than sufficient do divine their purpose; It appears that the chests were to draw upon the essential 'Value' of the artifacts contained within, as a sort of power source, to further empower the worth of the Fountain...

... It is a fairly interesting theory... That, in a way, gold is not valued because of it's essential power, but rather that it possesses essential power because it is valued.

By that measure, the contents of the chests might supply nearly limitless power, owing to their truly priceless nature.

Contained within is a once well ordered collection of books and scrolls. Histories, poems, songs, and star charts... A true wealth of cultural knowledge, all dating back well beyond antiquity.

Most are scribed in Draconic, but several among them are penned in Elven.

Of most particular note is a bound set of vellum covered books, with dry, curling edges, that appear to be the journal of an Elven woman... They span just under a millennia of time, and a glance through notes the arrival of Men upon the continent, the first 'Victory' over the Blight, the rise of Gunter the Fist, and the subsequent collapse of his empire after his death...

... It will bear further study...

[LordDice]

"Seems to me Brother, the chests are benign for the most part. See if ya recognize anything in the mess of tomes, I found a few interesting bits. "

"I guess we should check on Frederic as well, hopefully they're not able to breech that vault doorway"

Slipping out the tome dealing with the defeat of the Blight he starts flipping through it, trying to learn more about these blasted things. After only a glance though he sets it aside to read later...best check on Frederic now.

Moving over to the pool of quicksilver he concentrates once more.

[Mr. X]

Fredric's Will Save:
[roll0]


The pool of quicksilver swirls at your touch, and the scene again slowly begins to take shape...

... Suddenly the focus is pulled, and for a moment, all you see are the blazing red pits of Fredric's eyes staring back at you.

The sight shakes you to your core, causing you to fumble the threads of the spell, and a moment later, the magic falls apart... Leaving the pool as smooth and serene as ever.


You won't be able to scry upon Fredric for 24hrs.

[LordDice]

"Welp, that didn't help much....Lad's still alive though. Mebe he'll try and find us now. He comments lightly as he picks up the Blight volume he'd put down for a minute.

"Gonna start with the defeat of the Blight...maybe there's something in this that'll help versus the blasted things"

[Mr. X]

The Journal of Elyne Sunrider

This vellum bound series of notebooks is tied together by an ancient and crumbling leather belt. Amidst the curling sheefs of paper, Elyne writes in wandering and flighty notes and tones... As if she had difficulty speaking about one subject without drawing links from it to seven or eight others, and her margins are filled with drawings and notes wholly unrelated to the subject of a give page. Atop all that her flowing, cursive draconic is almost a joy to look at, if somewhat difficult to actually read.

For Taalkar:


... We left the Lake with the intent to return after witnessing the storm. Ahthosar planted his flower there, and hopes that the buzzing bees of the Lake will not neglect it they way those of the Forest did...

... These plains are thick with orks, but with Keledrath and Rhastanna to guide us, we are avoiding the worst of their colonies. The way is dangerous, but the Skies!! Their view is worth nearly any risk. In the forest the canopy was so thick as to hardly allow for even a glimpse of starlight from the ground, but here... Here you may simply lie back and watch the skies spin... It is wonderous...

... The Elder told me that the coming storm was foretold by the stars... Such must surly have been true, for the violence of natures fury we witnessed was like nothing seen in an age...

... The winds were already blustering by the time we reached the point of the North-West Pinensula (which was tricky to get to, it being dragon territory and all), and we sat upon a high hill, looking out over the monsterous rocks the Elders called 'The Great Gate'...

... He must have known, or he never would have called it that, and most like, would never have sent me to see...

... It was at the hight of the storm when they appeared. Amidst the blasting winds and crashing waves, the seas before us were empty. But then there was a brilliant flash of lightning, and a deafening crack of thunder, and they were there... Ships... Thousands upon thousands of them. Grotesque and terrific, wrought of slain trees shaved straight and smooth, like the blade of a spear, with tall split trunks that carried great swaths of cloth, rather than arrays of leaves, to catch the wind... All suddenly there between the stones of the Great Gate...

... And they were many... Struggling against the tearing winds and crushing waves, many ships were lost, and it was clear that their intent was to land upon these shores...

... Uncertain, we withdrew for a time...


For Karazi:


... We have found a way...

... At what cost...

... The South lies a burned wasteland, those evergreen forests put to the flame by our own hand...

... The blood of the thousands... Of Men, and Ork, and Dwarf, and Elf, and Gnoll, and Goblin, and Giant... Spilled to try to stem the tide of the Blight... A tide that cannot be stopped...

... The King, The Uniter... The Banner beneath which all souls rally... Kristofan... Claimed his fathers fathers had fled one plague only so that he could find another... And that he would not flee again...

... The fool...

... And yet... We have found a way...

... Here, in these walls and protected by the Lake, by the tenacity of these Men, these wizards, and even the very gods with whom they came, we have created a Ward...

... We have created The Ward...

... With this, the blight shall be scoured from the land, and driven before our armies...

... But... The sacrifices we have made are yet not enough... More shall be required of us...

The Eight gods have hollowed the earth. Into that void must the last vestiges of the Blight be driven, and by our ward, be sealed there... And that shall require more power than we presently possess...

...

... It is times like this that I think back to Ahthosar and his flower...

... If only we had known... Trusted...

... That Nature might shun the Unnatural, and that such need not, nay, should not be saved...

... No doubt the Blight would have found a way regardless...

... But it's time is now ended...

[LordDice]

Still thinking about the blight in the back of his mind he reaches for another volume, truely an amazing font of knowledge they've found...sitting in a chest.

His mind quickly wanders to thoughts of the chests inside the chamber...how they could ever pierce that lock.

[Mr. X]

For Taalkar:

... It was with some trepidation that we watched the first of the strange ships beach upon the shore, spilling forth their crews and passengers in droves... They must have numbered nearly as many as the orks, but were much smaller and frailer of stature (though many wore heavy plated Armors, which gave the false impression of greater size)... Almost elf-like, they were...

... But it was not their numbers which so worried us, so much as it was the clearing of the skies... The storm sank and badly damaged many of the ships of these people, but it was to have been their guardian...

... For the dragons would not fly in such powerful winds...

... Orks do not come to these lands, because they know better, but it was here that these people had come, and they had nowhere else to go...

... The first beast that fell upon them burnt and ate its fill before soaring off, all but impervious to the peoples' arrows and magics... And more were to come...

... I could not stand by...

... Keledrath and Rhastanna were more reticent, but were swayed to lend aid... Our magics, and our weapons were, by degrees, greater than what they appeared to possess... Even so, we could not hope to hold against the onslaught forever... We might merely buy them some time...

... And it proved to be enough.

... As our bows sang, and our magics crackled, the people's archers lined up with us, shouting in their strange language, and releasing hail after lethal hail upon the circling beasts... To limited, but reasonable effect... Several of the beasts were driven off, and a smaller one was even slain, when behind, salvation came...

... Brought to shore on wagons from the ships, great bows were brought... So large that a giant could easily wield one, and stronger than any might hope to draw... So the people employed teams of men at cranks and wheels, and and loaded great arrows upon them... Each as long and large as a young sapling, and hooked to a winding spool of rope or chain...

... Propped upward in their carts, the crews scurried to and fro, clumsily attempting to get their great weapons to track the sky, not wanting to waste what might be a singular opportunity...

... But the effort seemed for naught... Two or three of the weapons fired, but failed to hit... When one of their sorcerers appeared, and took hold of the guiding handle... Forgoing a direct magical assault, he muttered what must have been a divination, for his eyes rolled back, and his head swayed sideways...

... But in the next moment, he jerked. Wrenching around the weapon, and releasing the shaft in a single motion... The arrow soared true, trailing its chain tail, and spearing one of the great creatures, and wrenching it from the sky... Where upon the it was fallen upon with sword and spear, until it lay still.

... The cue was taken up by weapons and sorcerers down the ranks, and before long, having seen several of their number brought down, the dragons turned away... No doubt they would return, but for the moment, the people were safe...

...

... And yet, the inflow of people was unstemmed...

...

... We were brought before their chief (or warlord, perhaps)... A great, powerfully built man, with curious rounded ears, a dwarf's lengthy beard, and upon his brow, a black iron crown...

... He spoke words, and gifted us with gold and steel... We accepted the gifts, but his words were lost to us... Their language was curious and strange, without immediately obvious meaning...

... We returned gifts of our own, and said words unto him as well... Warned him of the peril of these lands, and to be wary of Orkish lands as well... But like his, I felt that our words were lost unto him as well...

...

... I have chosen to remain among these people, as the others return to the forest, to bring news of these events to Loc'Nethal... I intend to learn what there is to be known of these 'Men' by the time Ahthosar and the rest return...


For Karazi:

... All for not...

... The Blight rose within the jungles far to the south... And by the power of the Matriarch, all there was burnt root and stem... Nothing again shall live in that once vibrant land...

... But the Blight is rampant... Clearwater was overrun... It's people turned mutant and cannibal...

... Kristofan ordered the city razed... And yet the Blight spreads... Every outlying village is at risk, every tribal camp... It is a miracle that Timaril has not fallen to it...

... And all this while, the gargoyles refuse to allow a soul upon the island...

... Where that Font of power is so immense, I can taste it from the shore... But you cannot talk to a statue... Cannot make it listen to reason or need...

... 'The mountain must be protected', it is said, are the last words most who have journeyed to the island heard... Before the bloodletting began...

... It's been a long time since anyone tried, but we are desperate now... We need the power of whatever font lies upon that mount...

... I need that power... It can be tapped, I can feel it.

... And even if a statue cannot be killed, perhaps they can yet face misery...

...

... Imprisonment or enslavement. Neither suits my fancy... But I have the means, and I must have the Font... Hopefully this threat shall prove sufficient to make the gargoyles listen to reason...

...

...

... Hah! Reason it is then. A ceremony, and a drop of blood, and prey you cease to be.

To work then. Word is sent to Kristofan, along with my request. With luck, he shall send the Dwarves my way. I'll need their help in constructing this first tower...

[Mr. X]

For Taalkar:


... In the time since their arrival, these 'Men' have accomplished a great deal. Though great in number, they work together, operating much as a single mind, more than the fractious tribes of Orks and Gnolls... To that end, thrived, and propagated far more than we anticipated, and have spread to nearly every corner of the Continent.

... It is their King who's will guides them, and under his hand, they have steeled themselves against the aggressions of the tribes, and hunted the dragons nearly to extinction... Further, they have driven out the harpies and troglodytes of Timaril, and claimed the Titan's city for their own, settled the lands around The Lake, and even pushed away the goliaths and giants of the Star Spire, and built there a city...

... Their villages and outposts spring up across the land as mushrooms after a rain, and those more fractious than they can't not but give way before them...

... It would be cause for concern, but for the qualities of their King...

... It was curious to meet him... Having left the city of Great Gate some time before, I was surprised to find that the ruler I knew had passed away... As had his son... And his grandson...

... These Men are near as short lived as the Orks, but they write and teach their knowledge, such that each generation begins further along than the last...

... Many among us cannot fathom skipping our early years of learning to learn... Of having basic skills simply handed to us, rather than discovering them for ourselves... But such is a wise way to progress, when your life expires with such haste...

... And so it must be that this King has accomplished so much...

... They call him Kristofan the 'Peace Bringer', for where his sires and grandsires had sought to take barbarian lands by the sword, he has accomplished what they could not through generosity and friendship... Sending forth his priests and teachers to educate and civilize the barbarian hordes... And where tribes were too warlike to be placated by such peaceful means, he did the unthinkable for a ruler, and offered them tribute to 'stay their wrath'... (But only the blind could fail to see that even this only provided him with further sway over the lands.)

...

...

...

... So it was that when the Blight came, and Kristofan called forth his Banners, all that remained of the continent fell in beneath him...


For Karazi:

... But the Blight was insidious...

... A dying flower... A bite from and insect... A rash...

... Ahthosar's flower...

We brought it to the Lake, for the fauna of the Forest would not touch it, and it was to die... For they knew what we did not...

... The flower thrived on the shores of the lake, and became a symbol of the city Clearwater that the Men settled there...

... And all the while, the Blight grew...

...

... We believe it was first spread among the insects that pollenated the flowers, and from their to the grains and gardens of the men... And then unto the men themselves...

... And even then, it was not noted upon...

... The outbreak of the odd rash was not a significant event, and indeed, those afflicted by it were said to become even more hale and hearty than they had been previously... Even the strange compulsion the effected possessed, of gnawing and biting their fingers and arms, and those of those around them, was not significantly noted upon until things were well out of control...

...

... Now... It is in the trees... In the soil... In the people... In the very air they breathe...

... The mutant monstrosities that they have become are only a shadow of those that pour up from the jungles to the south, which is wholly lost...

... Kristofan had risen his banner, and all those still clean flock to it... But strength of arms, and even blazing fires, cannot stop the wind... And that is all the Blight ultimately requires...

[LordDice]

Setting the book lightly down as he ponders what he's read, with a somewhat awestruck look upon his face "Brother, the knowledge in these is truly priceless...It is a wonder we grabbed them when we did."

"And makes me all the more thirsty for those other chests in the font, for if this knowledge is just left outside...can you imagine what is actually INSIDE that Font Vault ?"

"I guess for now we've still a need to track down Frederic, Perhaps I'll try scrying him once again...although he definitely felt the intrusion last time. I think I'll try from another location...the Man is an uncanny wizard, if any could backtrack such a thing with the proper preparation he could perhaps turn the scrying around on us an I don't think we need to be sharing with anyone the location of our Font"


Getting up a bit, bones cracking and rocky skin grinding a bit as he regains his feet. "Need to find a nearby natural pool...shouldn't be too hard to find a flooded cavern. Heh, I remember when we were just lads that was about the most excitement we ever saw. Watching the elder Shapers trying to close off passages and channel the water into giant cisterns just to keep from flooding the entire city, amazing that something so minor int he scheme of things seemed so enormous at the time"

Turning to Sid he voices a small landslide of gravel and shale, sending him off to find the needed cavern.

[Mr. X]

Your father had busily been expanding the lower levels of the halls, intending to construct livestock paddocks, and fungus farms in the opened areas, when the miners struck weeping damp stone...

... At first, it was a godsend... The Falgan halls didn't possess their own water supply, and had to rely upon Mythril Keep's communal well to serve their water needs, so the area behind the damp wall was expanded to serve as a reservoir.

Unfortunately, the pressure of the water flowing behind the wall proved far greater than initially anticipated... Once the wall was cracked, it fractured completely under the contained force... The reservoir and the whole of the lower levels were flooded in moments, and the waters quickly rose through the next levels up... Many miners were swept away in the surge, and even in the levels above, some were trapped and drowned...

Once the stoneshapers managed to get the lower levels sealed off, the bottom three levels of the hall had been lost... In some areas, it was possible to pump the water out, and reclaim the depths... In others, it proved impossible.

The intended reservoir was one such area, though it could never be effectively tapped, owing to the continued pressure of the flow behind it.

It is easily found by Sid moving through the living stone.

[LordDice]

"I think you'd better wait here for a bit while I go Scry...we darned sure don't want a repeat of that breech... I'll shouldn't be longer than an hour, any longer and you'll know something's gone wrong"

With a bit of a nod he slips into the stone without a whisper of sound...the perfect merging of dwarf and stone. Flowing and drifting through the strata he seeks towards the water, hopefully a suitable spot to Scry.

[Mr. X]

Slipping through the layers of granite produces almost a calming sensation... Until you begin to sense the vibrations of the raging waters below, that is...

Breaching the surface of the stone with only the barest part of your face, you are forced to wonder that your nose and brow are not ripped away by the strength of the churning waters... Even here in the reaches of the reservoir, the fury of the subterranean river is only moderately diminished, and it leaves one to wonder from where this tumult flows, and to where it goes...

... None the less, the pool is usable, and after a small gesture, and a twist of your mind, the churning froths of the water begin to form into a picture...

...

... Fredric sits crosslegged before the fountain, within the vault.

He is clothed again, in heavy brown robes, as you might have remembered him, whatever cerimony or transformation he was previously engaged in appears to be complete. He now sits, eyes closed, as though in meditation... With one hand pointed to the floor at his side... Where a chaulk inscription is written upon the floor.

It reads:

"I shall journey to Stone Watch upon the morrow."

[LordDice]

Nodding lightly to himself, at least that's a pretty clear answer. he flows back to his brother to tell him the news.

Sliding up into the Font he spies his brother still rather engrossed with the journals. "Seems Frederic noticed the scrying and had a bit more of an idea how to proceed. He'd writtin on the floor next to him he'd be heading to Stone Watch come tomorrow. So it seems we know where to head at least."

Sitting himself down again and getting comfy, he opens up another journal...what a treasure of knowledge they'd found.

[Mr. X]

For Taalkar:

Your brother's return only momentarily disturbs your reverie... But as you lift your tankard to your lips, your vision suddenly swims, and your feel your self plummeting into the murky depths of the glass...

... Down...

... Down...

... Down...

... To the darkest deeps of the ocean, a submerged mountain swells up before you... A great tide surges out to send you tumbling this way and that, as the mountain heaves and swells... The surface of a great bulging hill peals back, revealing an almost human eye... Vast as a city, and rolling madly like a man in a fit, as it swivels around to crush you in its gaze...

... You black out...

...

... You come to, choking on your ale, and shaken to your core...

... But of one thing, you are certain: The god-thing of the Blight is stirring, and has begun to awaken... And it's influence can be felt the world over...


For Karazi:

Returning to the Font chamber, your stoop over the chest to choose a new volume, only to find yourself again peering over the precipice of the cliffs over Beluvah...

... Something is very very wrong...

... It is out there... That god-thing of the Blight...

... You can feel it... Stirring in its slumber... Beginning to awaken...

... Already it's influence is unmistakable...

... Calling to you... Urging you to merge with the whole that it shall ultimately consume...

... It is too much... You pitch forward off the cliff, falling nearly a thousand feet to the churning waters below...

...

... And startle awake, tripping over the chest...

... Beside you, Taalker chokes badly on his ale, clearly recovering from some similar event...

[Mr. X]

As you both come to, the barest whisper of words form in the back of your minds... Those of some forgotten prophecy...

"When the weight of Justice falls from the hand of the Righteous, the Unlidded Eye shall beckon the End of the Kingdoms of Man"

[LordDice]

"By the look on your face I'm guessing your experienced that too...we're gonna have to pick things up... have to get these fonts, have to understand how to stop this completely"

"Probably in the best interest to still speak with Frederic at least, he likely has some knowledge of the fonts also"

[LordDice]

"Gah, fine...you just keep pretending nothing just happened then. We'll Transition towards Stone Watch in the morning...lets try for a little less visible this time maybe. You sheathe Sparky and I'll try and stay my handsome dwarven self"

Settling down for the night, he only manages a restless sleep filled with images of the blight and the horrors seemingly to come.

[Mr. X]

Your rest is short and fitful... Still, in the sealed deeps of your ancestral home, you awaken undisturbed, and safe... And curiously, not hungry...

... Come to think of it, since you first returned to the Falgen Font, you haven't felt the pangs of hunger no matter how much time you spent in the chamber... Away, certainly you ate regularly, but here...? You haven't felt the need...

... Strange.

Regardless, if you are to meet the Bonefoot, you must soon be off.

With a waive of Karazi's hand, the granite wall waivers and liquifies, and stepping through, you emerge from a granite outcropping some two hundred miles southwest, in the forested foothills overlooking the city if Stonewatch.

A thick snow blankets the ground, and peering through the trees, you can just make out the city far below...

... The hordes of Beluvian refugees no longer swarm about its walls... But the broken gates, and thick plumes of smoke rising across the city, leave little doubt as to what must have occurred since last you laid eyes here.

They must have stormed the walls... Even sick, wounded, cold, and hungry, the refugees would have outnumbered the city guard by several thousand. And driven to desperation, walls and steel apparently proved insufficient to stem the tide.

...

You wonder where Great Gate sits now... They claimed to be sending a force to aid the city right before they stabbed you in the back... Was this then a loose end left untied? They might have made friends of both the city and the refugees had they intervened... Was the fall of the city allowed, so to be taken advantage of? If so, where are they now? Certainly there is no sign of an army on the horizon (from where you sit, at least)...

... Strange.

[LordDice]

Looking out over the Broken city with weary eyes as he appraises it quietly. Standing, a little cold to be frank, not used to his natural skin showing...unused to the elements. Without the Stony plating covering his skin. It's turned much paler, thinner...more so than the deepest dwarves tend to end up.

Still eyein the smouldering city he murmers to his brother "I guess we'll be needing to go in there, best be on watch though. City like that'll only have problems within. I've got Sid scouting ahead of us at least, maybe we can avoid the worst of the problems. We can try to find a place near the city center to hole up and keep an eye out for the Bonefoot"

[Mr. X]

It takes you a little time to get down the hill, and out of the forest, and some time further to get to the outskirts of what was the refugee camp...

The remains of the recent battle are readily apparent, as are a number of more disturbing details...

Where one might expect the corpses of those killed to lay still where they fell, or perhaps be dragged together for arrangements and pyres, you find only piles of bare bones... Cleaned and gnawed, as though by ravenous dogs...

Was the situation so bad that the refugees turned cannibal?

Moving through the outskirts, there are still a number of scavengers picking through the remains of the camp, and the bones of the fallen.

One sees you from afar, and leaps up to run toward you... Badly stooped, with an awful, bloating hump on his back, he hurries forward with an awkward and uneven gait, waiving his arms in greeting.

"MY LORDS! MY LORDS!! AT LAST, SOMEONE'S COME!!"

... But as he approaches, you see the barky fungal growths that grow in patches crawling all across his face and arms...

... He is Blighted.

[LordDice]

"Hold there and no closer if you please, Have you been completely lost to the Blight ? If you approach us I'll burn you where you stand Creature. But if you've some measure of your humanity I beg you stay there."


With a murmur and a small sign of the hand, a minor magic takes hold with a slight gleam to his eye of cerulean blue. Under his breath to Taalkar "Not sure I like this, but if they're not completely gone...maybe we can get some information about ongoings. I'm checking for more of their kind, no Jellies for me thanks"



That's right...not immediately nuking the Blighted guy. Got a feeling that would be a mistake for some reason, Casting Detect Abberation ...give us an idea if more blighted are trying to flank or anything sneaky like.

[Mr. X]

For Karazi:

As the magic reaches out through your senses, you feel a sudden sinking feeling in your gut...

Other scavengers have looked up at the hunchback's shouting, and many are meandering in your direction... All of their auras are streaked with the brackish miasma of the Blight...

Worse still, the dull glow billows almost cloud like beyond the walls of the city... Good money says that there is not a soul here that remains untouched by the Fungus.


The hunchback stops, stumbling to his knees with his hands still raised.

Panting, the exertion of running the short distance to you clearly having taken its toll on the man, he speaks.

"Humanity? Aye! My Lords, of course we do!"

He gestures widely over the field and the city, before looking down at the rough and capped skin of his hands, and them displaying them before you.

"We were wrong before, afraid, when the goblins erupted from beneath the holy city... The Blight is a blessing! A link to the gods like none that has come before!"

He looks around at the scattered bones,

"It is life eternal! Even these fallen live on within us, and those lost before might yet be saved..."

He clutches his chest, a tear rolling down his face,

"... Even those lost before..."

He looks up again,

"It is the god's embrace, a furnace that warms you through the cold of winter, and heals the hurts of the world..."

His eyes turn skyward,

"... And if you listen close, you can hear him... Feel him... Like in a dream... Know your purpose in this world..."

[Barthac]

Taalkar glances around trying to spot all the blighted around him. He pulls his large axe free and turns so his back is to Karazi.

Brother, he hisses quietly through clenched teeth, You better get what you need from this guy quickly, we have company.

[LordDice]

"Truely you have embraced the Blight... I can't say that's the path for me. Why are you here waiting though, shouldn't you be joining the rest of your glorious blighted brotherhood at Beluvah ?"

[Mr. X]

The hunchback climbs unsteadily to his feat, and takes a step towards you.
"Nay, to return to Beluvah would serve us no purpose... The Word and the Blessing must be spread.

He takes another uncertain step.

"Missionairies are already underway to the surrounding villages and greater cities... Ork Watch, Citadel and beyond, Market, Sandy Shoal, Timaril... Star Spire..."

His eyes take on a fervent fire as he approaches...

"We wait here for the armies that may yet approach. Not to fight, but to welcome..."

He falls to his knees again mere feet from you.

"... That all might share in the warmth and the glory..."

In that moment, though, the mans eyes suddenly change, and he speaks again in a quite, broken, and entirely different voice...

"... I'm Sorry... I--"

But he is cut off, as he suddenly shudders violently, the hump on his back swells sickeningly, and bursts... Showering the area in noxious pus, and millions of crystalline shards...


All take damage:
[roll0] Piercing + [roll1] Acid

A Reflex Save, DC 13, will Halve(1/2) the damage.

You may also roll initiative, if you like.

[Barthac]

Reflex: [roll0]
initiative:[roll1]

[LordDice]

Just managing to turn a bit he takes the blast on his left side, shards sticking into his arm, searing at the nerves as they drip with foulness. As he turns back to the creature he winces, but calming himself he reaches inward, twisting that little bit of him so tightly attuned to his earthen brethren. Stones around liquefy nearby flowing rapidly to him, flowing up his body...hardening back into the form of Stone his has become so accustomed to.

Turning to his brother, he shrugs "So...we should have just killed him I guess"



Reflex [roll0] (+2 vs spells and spell likes, and +2 vs the same vs Abberations. not sure if either are applicable)
Fort save 1 [roll1]
Fort save 2 [roll2]

Init [roll3]

[Mr. X]

OOC for Karazi:

Vs Aberrations works. (Not that you needed it.) :-P


Diving for cover, you both manage to avoid the worst of the putrid explosion, and you can hear the shrieks and screams of those blighted scavengers who were near enough, but not so lucky.

Regaining your feet, you see that the hunchback was obliterated by his blast, but the respite is short lived, as the event got the urgent attention of all those even remotely nearby...

From all directions they come... Ten, no twenty or more of them... Their shouts echoing over the camp remains as they rush towards you.


Blighted Init:
[roll0]

Would you both please make Listen Checks? DC 10.

[Barthac]

Listen:[roll0]

[LordDice]

Swinging his staff around he slams the end into the ground, echoing the sound with a choice word in Terran. Cracks form underneath the impact...before it shatters a thin layer of earth which explodes into a cloud of dust, quickly gathering itself around him and his brother.

As Sid emerges from underground a segment quickly branches off to swirl about him as he pulls himself up to his full height, readying for whatever comes.



Spontaneously Casting Halo of Sand, swapped from Foundation of Stone. +4 deflect AC.

Listen check for Sid and Myself
Sid [roll0]
Karazi [roll1]

[Mr. X]

The hunchback is a wet smear on the earth before you, obliterated by the force of the burst, while the blighted rush towards you from all directions.

Scrambling to your feet, Sparky leaps into your hand, thirsty for the coming onslaught. Beside you, your brother pulls himself up, Sid appearing beside him, as the ground splits with magic and dust...

But over it all, you manage to make out a few of the Blighted's cries and shouts...

"BLOODY HELLS!! ARE YOU ALRIGHT?!"

"GODS!! I AIN'T NEVER SEEN ONE O' THEM GO OFF!! MIRACLE THEY'RE STILL ALIVE!"

"SOMEBODY FIND A HEALER!! THE BLESSING ALONE MIGHT NOT BE ENOUGH!"

Immediately as the dusts kick up, those nearest pull to a halt, coughing and sputtering, before desperately trying to push through...

... Without question, they are trying to help.


If you guys would like to press the attack, you'll have a surprise round to do it.

[Barthac]

Brother?, Taalkar sounds genuinely worried now, Are they men or are they blight?

His shifts his axe nervously from side to side as they continue to press in. Not sensing an answer from Karazi, Taalkar looks around for somewhere to run. They were well and truly surrounded.

He glances up at a clear sky, a hawk reeling overhead. He finally makes up his mind. Planting his feet firmly in the dust he feels that now familiar power coursing through him, waiting, pulsing with a life its own, ready to respond to his will. It wasn't an anxious power, it filled without burning and waiting without anticipation. To describe the power as friendly wouldn't be wholly accurate either, it simply was and right now what it was was ready.

Taalkar willed the very dust under his feet to harden and clump. Microscopic motes of nearly invisible earth clumped and congealed into larger clumps. Than the clumps started attracting each other and eventually even tore at the earth creating a hardened pillar of stone that quickly pushed Taalkar and his brohter almost 60 feet into the sky. Taalkar gasped as he saw that he now stood rather precariously on the edge of a tall cliff.

Satisfied, Taalkar grins and relaxes,That should hold them for a wee bit.

[Mr. X]

The tower of stone, driving up into the sky, is met by shouts of awe and wonder.

As the scavengers mull about below, you have a moment to survey the scene...

At this hight the wind is biting cold, but you have an excellent view of the surroundings.

Over the city wall, it appears that much of the city was damaged in the assumed battle, but much still is left fairly intact. The streets are busy with people going about their business, rebuilding damaged areas, turning out stockholds, and apparently managing their day to day...

...

... The wind shifts slightly, and the cold feels suddenly colder...

... Off to the southeast, you can make out a lone rider approaching... A black spot against the drifting snows.

[Barthac]

Taalkar stretches out a crooked finger at the rider...

Ya think thats ol' Freddy?

[LordDice]

"Could very well be, It'd be about the right direction I reckon." Looking over the edge of the giant pillar he's standing upon "Are these things safe ?...Feel like I'm gonna fall here"

"I guess we could just try waiting a minute to see, I'm sure Frederic can figure out how to get up here...though he might want to avoid the Blighted"

[Barthac]

Taalkar looks a little worried when Karazi asks about the safety of the stone columns. He looks down at the column and its steeply sloping sides. It was typical dwarven handiwork but he guess it would hold. He shrugs, if it falls it falls.

He picks up one foot and starts to take a step. A new pillar rises to meet his foot. Thats impressive he thinks. Stepping fully onto the newly formed he sees the other quickly fall away, not leaving a trace of its existence on the ground below.

Let's see if we can meet Freddy haf way

[Mr. X]

The earthen pillars arising and falling as quickly as you step, the the voices of the Blighted people below quickly shift from awed gasps to shouts of worry and fear.

Far below they back away, and soon flee back towards the city.

It is not long before you close the distance to the rider, and can recognize Fredric easily.

Pulling his horse to a halt a short distance away, he raises a hand in greeting... Though even at this distance, a deep unease stirs in your guts at the sight of him.

When he speaks, his voice booms, powerful and malevolent...

"HAIL FRIENDS!! WOULD THAT GLADDER DAYS SURROUND OUR MEETING!"

[LordDice]

"Aye...Blight seems to have taken a turn for the worse. I wouldn't bother heading the rest of the way to Stone Watch, they're all Blight-Brained now, one of em exploded on me...poor fella didn't even realize it was going to happen"


"Have you come across any good news regarding the Blight ?...And sorry about interrupting whatever spellcasting you were doing, just trying to get ahold of you, I'm not that great at this scrying thing."

[Mr. X]

Fredric's demeanor darkens, if such is possible, at the mention of the blight here in Stonewatch.

"BAD AND WORSE, I'M AFRAID!"

The crimson dots within his empty eye sockets eye you, atop your tower, from below.

"MIGHT WE SPEAK MORE DIRECTLY?! THERE IS MUCH TO BE TOLD THAT OUGHT NOT BE HEARD BY ALL!!"

[Barthac]

Taalkar and his brother settle gentle on the ground as Taalkar releases the pillars. Glancing at Fredric and his eyes, Taalkar snaps, Yer startin' to look more and more like Gunther. Are ya still in for defeatin' the blight?

[Mr. X]

Fredric chews his lip,

"Resisting and stalling the Blight, yes, I most certainly am... I fear that actually defeating it may now be out of the question."

Slowly, and without threat, he draws a greatsword from its sheath behind his saddle...

It is instantly recognized as forged of Adamantine, and lines if ancient arcane scripts wind up the length of its blade, and surround a strange, organic growth near its cross-guard.

"This, I believe, was the last stanchion of the Seal that withheld the Blight, and by my own folly, I fear I have broken it... The God of the Blighted awakens, and I cannot fathom how it might be stopped."

The red lights in his eye sockets course over you, as he continues.

"But perhaps you know something which I do not? I must presume that you sought me for a reason... To that end, I place myself at your service."

[Barthac]

Taalkar's eyes boggle slightly at the sword. Entire dwarven keeps have been founded to wrench even the smallest bit of adamantine out of the ground. Even the value of the raw metal didn't compare to the apparent craftsmanship of the blade, a dwarven craftsman could forge ten thousand blades over a hundred lifetimes and never reach the quality of the blade Frederic now possessed.

First things first, I guess... he trails off, staring at the blade. He quickly works to regain his composure, What do you know about a man named prince?

[Mr. X]

"The Prince...?"

Fredric raises and eyebrow, and, if he could, you think that he would blink.

... The Prince is a ghost, something I went to great efforts to ensure. Truth be told, he is a figment of my imagination... If anyone is The Prince, I am he."

[Barthac]

Let's just say... a Fink set us on your trail

[Mr. X]

Fredric smiles.

"Kurt Fink was the single most valuable asset I ever acquired in Clear Water. What does he want?"

[Barthac]

Seems he's a bit startstruck by this prince. He only expects him to save Clearwater.

Glancing around at the villagers, he asks, Maybe we should find somewhere a bit more comfortable? Maybe have a chat and catch up on old times? Somewhere a yokel won't explode egg soup of us?

[Mr. X]

Fredric nods.

"I agree, though I am afraid I do not possess such a safe location... Short of riding a few miles out into the plains.

Do you?"

[LordDice]

Looking askew at the City he comments to Fredric "We can walk and talk for a bit, once we get away from this blasted City some I'll see about making up a little something for us to relax"


"On our search for a way to stop the Blight we were triyng to gain access to the Font at Clearwater....we may have been a tad hasty trying to get access. It appears they are sequestered at the moment as it is....but the Trail has lead us you yourself. Access to that Font and those like it seems to be the most viable path towards the destruction of the Blight"

[Mr. X]

Fredric raises an eyebrow.

"'... The Font and those like it'?"

He chews his lip.

"I had been given to understand that the Font of Power in the volcanic vent of the College island was a unique anomaly... Though to be honest, I was never of sufficient standing in the College to deal with it directly. However, I do understand that it was not easily tapped... Whole sections of the College complex are themselves devoted to the siphoning and directing of its power... And that power, to my understanding, is not so far reaching..."

He rubs his chin,

"... Though, it is quite apparent that my understanding is far from complete... What have you learned? And what is it that you propose to stop the Blight?"

[Barthac]

Hardly unique, Taalkar snorts. I aint one for magicky things and finger waggling but there are at least a few of these fonts spread across the world. Our Stone Shapers have been using the font for generations. I recently felt the power of these nodes... it's... incredible. We've visited two now. Clearwater was to be our third.

[LordDice]

"Aye, There are definitely other Fonts...although haven't never seen the one at Clearwater ...perhaps they are more minor fonts ? surely seem powerful though. We came upon some books regarding using the fonts to Seal up the blight at one point. If we could understand them better perhaps it could be done again. Now that we've experienced two of these Fonts now and channeled their energies, more understanding comes with each I believe. The very world itself wants to be rid of the Blight and you can feel that through the Fonts"

[Mr. X]

Fredric raises an eyebrow.

"I would very much like a chance to read those books, with your permission, of course... It is perhaps a great benefit that the existence of these other Fonts was generally unknown... Wars have been started over less...

But still, even augmented by tapping the the great power allotted by the Fonts, I cannot fathom a spell or power that would alone be enough to withhold the Blight, much less their God...

Have you some such direct method?"

[LordDice]

"Perhaps it's best to describe it as a Blight contingency plan than anything else...Still looking for options to Seal it away though, the books though. Kind of surprised you hadn't read them. "

The other day when we scryed upon you, we ended up Shifting to just outside that Locked chamber. That's where we found chests with said books and we grabbed em before shifting out....Man there were a lot of Blighted there"

[Mr. X]

Fredric nods.

"That chamber lies among a series of chambers above the abyss where the Blighted were sealed..."

He taps his bone foot.

"It was there that I crafted this... Sadly, at that time, we were facing grievous injury and starvation. We pillaged what power we could, to stay alive and hope to escape, and moved on."

He chews his lip.

"If you encountered large numbers of Blighted in that chamber, Malthos must have both survived our encounter with the guardian, and called for help... The chamber was empty when I left... No doubt the God's stirrings must have effected them powerfully, and called them elsewhere... I had some little hope that his connection to the Blight might be played to our advantage, but now, I suspect he shall no longer be as reasonable as he once was."

His gaze changes for a moment, and he looks back at you.

"... You were able to transport directly into that chamber? How? You cannot be on amiable terms with the Planesmage, or else Fink wouldn't have needed you to find me..."

His visage darkens.

"... You've not stolen from him also, have you?"

[LordDice]

"Nay I've not stolen from him, but in my own quest for True understanding of the very Earth itself, new pathways open to me. I am starting to get a sense of another place, beyond this one...of endless stone and earth. With a small twist of my magic it seems able to skirt this ...whatever it is and lets me travel vast distances"


"We couldn't actually get into the chamber though, it was heavily warded after all. we ended up in an antichamber with the Doorway, some complicated lucking mechanism we couldn't heads of tails out of. We got the books from those chests outside, but there may be more chests INSIDE with similar knowledge....let alone the fact that was a Font of sorts and we are seeking them. Tapping into these Fonts, even somewhat constructed ones may be the only path versus the Blight"

"I take it that chamber was beneath Beluvah ? Sadly my Transportation method does not lend itself to precise knowledge of where I am, especially considering I was just trying to get nearby you"

[Mr. X]

Fredric looks taken aback, duly impressed by the powers you profess to possess, before looking down at the gauntlets covering his own hands.

"... I suppose that by now, we should not be surprised to see such impossible powers achieved by those that would seem to matter..."

The toes of his bone foot rap absently on the ground, as though possessed somewhat of a mind of their own.


"The chamber was not precisely beneath Beluvah... In fact, it is more likely somewhere closer to the crossroads between Clearwater and Timaril, though I too couldn't say for certain... Kulkov, Malthos, and I spent the better part of a year lost in those tunnels, to ultimately emerge in Beluvah ahead of the Blight... We found that chamber closer to the start of our journey than to the end of it... Its power, so far as I could perceive, is merely the result of such a vast concentration of gold... And I possess the key to the vault, should we require it. "

His gaze darkens.

"... You know for a time, I actually believed that we were the 'Godsent'... Given the power and the means to drive back the Blight... Even that the Gods were calling forth their champions to drive them back... Kulkov and the Lady Sascha, both Dragonborn of their respective deities... Gunter the Fist, prize of Nerul, risen again... Even yourselves...

But with Kulkov's death, Malthos' fall, the defeat of the dragon, Gunter's betrayal, and the unreliability of Elias and Vlorah... I must admit, my faith was shaken..."

He pauses for a moment, withdrawing a narrow scroll-case from his pack, and opening it... Within is a Letter of Marque, issued by the throne of Great Gate.

"In a moment of desperation, I pledged myself to the Black King. Believing that, despite his betrayal and murder of my friends, his might was the only one which might stand against the Blight... But I soon learned that it will not..."

He looks towards the city.

"It was not long after that I found Malthos again... And as we can see happening here, might of arms alone shall not suffice... The Blight does provide its hosts with a far greater decree of strength and power than they might otherwise possess... And Gunter's rule shall be, without question, an oppressive one...

... The Blight no longer needs to fight a war... The people are seeking it out, and passing it among themselves... Malthos claimed the goblins had begun sending forth missionaries to carry forth their 'blessings' to the hopeless and downtrodden only shortly after the fall of Beluvah... It is of no surprise that the refugees trapped here accepted it with open arms... And what of those in Timaril? Or Clearwater? Or Starspire? Or even Deepmote?"

He shakes his head hopelessly.

"... If the nations had stood united at Beluvah... Had Timaril not been overwhelmed by the barbarian horde, and Great Gate stayed true, we might now be in a different place... As things are, I fear our efforts against the Blight have already failed.

... Whatever your contingency plan is, it had better be good, because it may be our only hope."

[Barthac]

Taalkar sighs, Times are dark, indeed.

Taalkar rubs his chin thoughtfully, suddenly lost in his own thoughts. He wasn't one typically given to depression or malaise but it had been a pretty rotten year so far. It all started at the route with the citadel and the bad luck hadn't stopped since then.

Karazi and he had lost everything. Their family and clan was wiped out, their ancestral home destroyed by their own hands. The reputation they worked for in Deepmote was undone and their only supporter killed by an assassin. Once generals of the largest dwarven army assembled, they now ran from hideout to hideout as their former army starved far from home. Frederic, their would be companion, was now clearly gripped by evil. The two great armies of men were divided against each other, one barely surviving, the other commanded by one of the most oppressive men in history. Hells, even the dragons hadn't been able to so much as stall the blight.

Dark clouds of doubt began to cloud his vision and darken his spirits. Could it really be that the blight was unstoppable? Was complete and utter destruction the only way? Maybe Frederic was right and maybe this was the end of days. What was the point in continuing the struggle? What did they hope to accomplish? Saving the world? Who put him on that particular quest anyway?

But this sort of self-pity wasn't the dwarven way. Dwarf didn't get swept up in the emotional tide of the moment. Dwarves stood strong like boulders against the riptide, forcing the currents to the side even if they could never move forward. Taalkar made his decision in that moment. Hope didn't matter. Hope was pointless. He would stand in the face of the blight and stare it down. The darkness would have to beat him to death because he wasn't going to lay down and die.

Taalkars hand dropped from his chin. He looked up with a trickster's grin a rekindled fire burning in his eyes. They will have to get a bit darker before we consider that. He clasps Frederic on the shoulder roughly and congenially, Why don't we go visit the mage's at Clearwater while we wait for the blight to take us. Karazi can go get those books and then take us all back to the lake. You can catch up on your reading and then we can stop Clearwater from throwing in with the Harbor. After that, we can decide what to do about this blight nonsense.

[Mr. X]

The red lights burn in the pits of Fredric's eyes, as he raises an uncertain eyebrow... Followed by the barest hint of a smile.

"... Very well, perhaps an unforeseen opportunity shall arise..."

[Barthac]

See Freddy, Taalkar pats Frederics shoulder, It's comin' up jaspers already!

With that Taalkar turns and starts to walk away whistling an old tune. He quickly remembers his surroundings and turns back around sheepishly... Maybe we should get going right away?

[LordDice]

"I cannot exactly just pop on over and get the books that casually Brother. Perhaps you and Frederic and head to Fink's in Clearwater and I can meet you there in a day or two with the books ? and we can go from there"

[Mr. X]

Fredric nods.

"I can get Taalkar and I back to Clearwater easily enough... However, I should warn you, I am a wanted man there. I would not expect a warm welcome from either the city watch or the College..."

He frowns.

"The first may be an insignificant issue at this late stage, but the second... I have an offering or two which may grant me clemency, but I would hesitate to offer you both any guarantee on that matter."

[LordDice]

"Well, Considering they're nature as scholars...maybe some of the books could be parted with to get us access. Or perhaps just the sharing of some knowledge of the Fonts. They might like access to the Font we found up far in the North...I'm sure they wont have too much trouble with the excessively large giants that live there." trailing off at the last with a chuckle to himself.

[Mr. X]

Fredric nods.

"Historical knowledge of any significant sort would be of great value to the College... Knowledge of other Fonts, even more so."

He steps next to Taalkar.

"I trust we shall see you again shortly, then."

So saying, he claps Taalkar on the shoulder, and the two vanish.

For Taalkar:

Fredric's touch is a cold that has never known warmth, and is as like to freeze your soul as it is your body...


Take damage [roll0] Negative Energy, and you are permanently paralyzed.

A Fortitude Save, DC 18, will halve(1/2) the damage, and negate the paralysis.

Good luck.

[Barthac]

Fort: [roll0] add +2 to that if it's a "spell" for the dwarven racial.

[LordDice]

As the two Vanish he shrugs a bit, not really understanding much how those other magics work out. Sensing it's time to leave Sid flows up from below as a Stone doorway forms in front of Karazi.

A moment later and it begins rippling a bit, he quickly walks into the doorway followed by Sid.


The ripples subside and in the remarkably quiet countryside a lone stone doorway stands.

[Mr. X]

For Karazi:


The miles slip away as you take one step from the plains of Stone Watch to the depths of Mythril Keep.

The Font, the chest, and a variety of your other implements lie familiarly about the chamber.



For Taalkar:


The sickening tug behind your navel, sucking you inside out and across the strange planes, is matched only by the seizing pain and rigor mortis streaking through your body...

A moment later, reality re-asserts itself, and you find yourself balanced precariously in an alley in some city... Presumably Clear water.

The pain subsides somewhat, but the seizure remains, and no matter how you rage, you cannot move... Nor speak... Not even blink...

... For a moment, you wonder how long it will take for your remaining eye to dry out, and what will happen when it does...

Beside you Fredric peers down the alley.

"I trust Fink still hangs out at the the 'Witches Brew'?"

It takes him a moment longer to turn around when you don't respond.

"Taalkar?"

He turns, and surveys you with a raised eyebrow.

"... Taalkar?"

He waives a hand in front of your eyes, but, infuriatingly, you can do nothing to respond.

He passes a steel and leather gauntleted hand over you in some arcane somatic, and you passingly note the ancient sigils representing Moridin etched upon the worn gloves.

Nothing appears to happen, and Fredric purses his lips. Withdrawing a crusty old tome from his pack, he leafs through the pages...

A few moments later, he comes up, and presses a finger to your forehead...

Pain rips through your mind again, as through the flesh on your face were dying and sloughing off...

Fredric snatches his hand back, peering curiously at you, and then down at his hand...

"... Well... That's interesting..."

He makes another gesture, and the red lights in the pits of his eyes flash white.

"Ahh, I see..."

He stoops down, attempting to look you straight in the eye.

"Taalkar, if you can hear me, it appears that you have been cursed... My own doing, I am afraid, for which you have my humblest apologies... My condition comes with a number of side effects, none of which I am particularly familiar with.

I may be able to counter the effect, but I shall have to do a little research on the subject... I am afraid that the affliction shall not pass without direct intervention."

He glances down the alley.

"We are just around the corner from the 'Witches Brew'. I'll need to move you, and procure a room. I fear that in doing so, I shall doubtless injure your further... As needs must, however, I hope you shall ultimately forgive me.

Again, for this, I apologize."

So saying, he takes you around the waist, and pain rips through your mind as he lifts you, and moves easily down the alley toward the tavern entrance... It is only in the back of your mind that you note how disturbingly strong he is, despite his slight and frail looking frame.


Take damage:
[roll0] Negative energy, when Fredric touches your forehead, and [roll1] Negative Energy, for the four rounds to takes him to get you into the tavern.

A fortitude save, DC 18, will halve(1/2) the damage. (You may make a single check for all, or a check for each d8.)

[Barthac]

One roll for all... [roll0]

[LordDice]

Fiddling around the chamber for a little while, collecting up a small collection of the more pertinent books. Eventually sitting down, spending a moment wondering just how his Brother is getting along with Frederic...

Waiting for evening he picks up one of the books at random and reads for a bit, just to pass the rest of the day.

[Mr. X]

For Karazi:


Sifting through the contents of the chest, your eye comes to rest on the arcane etchings covering it...

... The transmutative power is there, and the groundwork for channeling it already laid out... You need merely tap it... But how?

Nearby the the surface of the Font pool is as smooth and still as ever, but attuned, you can feel the pulsing energy coursing through your bones, body, and soul...

... You have the power...

... You need only come up with a way to apply it.

[LordDice]

Setting aside the book for a moment he turns to the chest again...wondering at it's arcane markings. Definitely power there to be had, the readings seemed to indicate they'd managed to use a font...perhaps a much larger one to power the ward that held the Blight back for an Age and more.


Getting up he decides to try and carefully experiment for a bit....heh, Brother's not even here to keep him from doing something dumb !


Reaching up he feels his disfigured ear...can barely hear out of that anymore. Moving up to the Pool in the middle of the room, power surging all throughout...at least now that he can actually sense it. He Kneels down at the edge, looking at a near perfect reflection of his scarred visage. Slowing his breathing he begins a light meditation, wouldn't do to get lost in the power now.

Focusing he starts casting an old spell, for knowledge of the clans enemies long past. But this time he focuses on where that knowledge came from. With this spell he will listen to the spirits Directly...and forever.

The spell starts to take shape inside the pool itself...but that is only half of it. Next, with all the skill he has as a Stoneshaper molding the liquid stone, he wills the flowing metal into shape. Surrounding the spell's core.

Taking the form of a dwarven ear, just slightly raised off the surface. That done...only the stupid remains.

Forcing a last bit of magic to attract his ear to the right bit of his head, he cups his hands and carefully keeps the shape of the pool holding his "ear" together. Raising it above his head for a split second...he pours it slowly over his head.

[Mr. X]

For Taalkar:

First you panic, then you scream... To no avail.

Through the roaring in your head, you can hear Fredric say something about having cursed you... Surprise, bloody surprise...

The wizard takes you, and pain rips through your soul once more, corrupting your flesh, and driving you mad...

After everything that has happened, this is how you are to meet your end? Helpless and broken? After all the battles you have fought, and all the sacrifices that you've made, this is it??

No.

NO!!

NO!!!

Power wells in the depths of your soul.

You are Taalkar Strongstone, and you will not be stopped. Not by a curse, or the Blight, or by any other force on earth.

...

... You can feel it now... The lacerations in your soul... Severing through the chains shackling you to your body...

... And now seeing them, you can fix them... A swell in your heart forges new bonds... Curling up, and twisting together like scarring over an old wound...

... And with a sudden convulsion, you are free...

Surprised, Fredric drops you, and for a moment, you curl huddled on the ground... Whole once more...

... But something is very different...

The world you see around you is broken... Like looking into a shattered mirror... It's pieces floating in a black void, and fitting together like a puzzle to form the complete picture surrounding you... But are insecure, and freely moveable...


The Brothers Strongstone

Stage Three: Fractured Reality
Having passed beyond and returned, you can now see reality for the gossamer that it is... Bits and pieces arranged in ways we can accept, but hardly set in stone...

To you, these shards of views may freely be shifted about, stacked, moved through, and effected as one, as you see fit.

System:
-As a Standard action, you may stack the pieces of what you can see, and effect them as one; you may make a single attack, and have it effect every square within your reach.

-As a move action, you may bring two separate pieces close to each other, and step between them. This allows you to shift from where you are, to any other point you can see.

-During a full attack, you may step and move between nearby shards freely, causing your attacks to land from all directions and angles... It is possible to flank an enemy with yourself in this manner.

-You may additionally achieve nearly any similar such effect with this ability.

[Mr. X]

For Karazi:

Through the ear, at first you hear only a dull roar... The rumblings of the Earth... And Nature as a whole...

... The cacophony loudens, until it must drive you mad, when comprehension dawns upon you...


The Brothers Strongstone

Stage Three: Power is Power

Be it martial technique, arcane formulae, divine miracles, or fundamental forces if nature, you understand now that they are ultimately all one and the same... Parts of nature, all ruled by the same laws... And accessible in the same manner.

System: You may now learn, prepare, and cast any spell from any class list. You will still need to find the formulas, prayers, or incantations in order to learn the spell.

For the purposes of learning and/or casting a spell, Knowledge(Nature) shall replace all relevant Spellcraft and Knowledge(Religion) checks.

A Read Magic spell shall suffice to decode the natural workings of arcane formulae.

Additionally, you shall receive a number of bonus spell slots equal to your Brothers Strongstone rank. (Current 3)

These bonus spell slots may be applied to any spell level.

[LordDice]

Stumbling back, barely stopping himself on a bench...it's nearly an hour before he snaps out of it. Shouldn't take so lightly these primordial forces of nature maybe.


As the sheer understanding dawns upon him he reaches into his pack, scrambling a bit...trying to find those old scrolls. Settling on a basic spell he pulls the scroll out and starts reading. It all makes sense now..

After reading the scroll he looks back at the chest containing the books...there has to be some way. But it's been a long day, best to get some sleep and back to his Brother.


After resting the night he gathers up a handful of volumes. so much information. Need to learn more about the Ward....how they tied it into that Font.

With the Books ready and those thoughts heavy on his mind, he Transits to Fink's Basement.

Still haven't had time to fix my spells, I should have that up and good by this evening...but for now, time to work :(

[Barthac]

Taalkar lies on the cold stone of the back alley for a moment, staring out with his good eye at Frederic. It takes him some time to sort out what he is seeing. Its like looking through a faceted gem, pieces of the picture resolve like a puzzle into a myriad of shards.

Focusing for a second, he can put the pieces together in a logical fashion, Frederic resolves and the world looks whole. Taalkar sighs in relief, relaxing his vision... the world shatters into countless pieces. Focusing again.. the world comes back into focus.

Curious, Taalkar begins to tinker with how the world fits together... he can put this piece here and that bit there... interesting... looking at Frederic the begins to rearrange te unlikely looking wizard into a myriad of even more unlikely configurations... one such iteration involves Frederics bone foot appearing to sprout from a rather uncomfortable body part. A smile cracks across his face and he tries to laugh but quickly discovers he hasn't taken a breath in several seconds.

To Frederic, the dwarf lays prone for several seconds face down on the stones of the alley. A moment later the dwarf smiles and heaves a great breath before rolling over and sitting up.

Taalkar's head spins and the world dissolves into a snowstorm of tiny vignettes of reality. He spots pieces of Frederic and manages to assemble most of him.

What in the nine halls of the damned just happened? he manages to croak out, his head still spinning.

It's going to take Taalkar a bit to figure out all the implications of his new "gift"

[Mr. X]

Fredric backs a step away from you, careful not to touch you, and peers oddly at you.

"... You were cursed, your soul partially rent from your body... How you overcame the condition, and what is happening to you now, I honestly cannot say... Can you move?"

[Barthac]

Taalkar barks out a sharp laugh, They haven't yet thought of a magic that can keep a Strongstone down. He coughs and the world shatters into dust sized facets. Taalkar pulls it all back together and realizes it happened a little faster that time. It was a little like summoning the dancing mote, the more you did the easier it got.

With a bracing hand on a nearby wall, Taalkar slowly rises to stand. We better get to Fink's hideout. he takes an unsteady step and falters slightly but manages it well enough. He looks down the alley and the length of it looms into infinity. This might take awhile he thinks. Another step, better than the last shuffle, but his whole body aches. It was like his body was a new boot, comfortable in some respects but it didn't quite yet fit just right.

Looking down the alley again, he mutters Wish this alley wasn't so long. Reality shifts at his unconscious demand and the end of the alley is now a step away. He takes another step and stops. Looking back he sees Frederic watching him, but now the wizard is at the other end of a long alley.

What is he doing way back there? Taalkar wonders. Sudden realization spreads on him, he just walked the entire alley in one step.

Yelling back at Frederic Quit yer gawkin' and get moving, you bonefooted son of a gnome herder.

[Mr. X]

Fredric frowns, and moves down the alley at a measured pace.

When he reaches you, he says,

"You'd best pull up your hood, and cover your face... The... Ahm... Cracks, are less apparent in the loose cloth..."

He chews his lip.

"... I wonder if we should, perhaps, merely await the arrival of your brother..."

[Barthac]

Taalkar scuffles along behind Frederic while pulling up his hood, moving slowly as a result of his recent affliction (of death).

Cracks, he scratches his head then raises his voice, What cracks?

[Mr. X]

Fredric pauses for a moment, and makes a small, twisting gesture... Conjuring a crude hand mirror from nothing, and hands it to you.

Looking through the fractured view is tricky, but taking. A moment to focus, you find your reflection... And find it to be fractured even further still...

Shards of yourself coalesce together in order to constitute your form, but, like your own sight, it is a loose form at best. Cracked, broken, and re-fit together.


Fredric casts Prestidigitation.

[Barthac]

He stares at the image in mirror...

He pulls the hood up and wraps his cloak around him. I think your right. Let's get to the inn and wait.

[Mr. X]

Fredric nods, and steps quickly around the corner, and into the tavern.

... Within, you are greeted by a palpable swelling of fear... From wherever they are seated, every patron's eyes are locked on the pair of you in a frozen glaze of utter terror... Like that of rabbits cornered by a wolf...

... A terrible quiet falls over the tavern, punctuated only by the breaking of glass, as waitress emerging from the kitchen drops her tray.

Fredric frowns, but strides steadily forward through the cowering patrons to the bar. The red lights in the pits of his eyes lock the gaze of the quivering barkeep, and he places a silver piece gently onto the counter.

"I shall require the brownest of your ales, and a room for the evening."

The barkeep trembles violently before the wizard, but hearing the password brings him somewhat around, as he fumbles for the key and a glass.

Fredric swipes up the key immediately, and turns toward the stairs, not waiting for the ale to be served.

Once into the hallway, you can here the fearful clamoring of the patrons quickly vacating the tavern behind you.

Fredric pauses for a moment, and turns to you.

"That was rather less subtle than I might have hoped..."

He hands you the room key.

"Perhaps you should go to Fink first, and brace him."


You are fairly confident that Fredric was the one everyone was terrified of, rather than you.

[Barthac]

Taalkar looks at Frederic and nods. Maybe you should have worn a hood, too

Taking the key, Taalkar hobbles to the stairs. One step (and some minor rearranging of reality), brings him to the top of the steps. One more tired step to the door. Remembering the last time he was here, he knocks gently on the door. Fink... open up

[Mr. X]

There's a rustling behind the door, and it creaks open a crack.

"Oy, aye. Did'ja find 'im?"

He starts for a moment, as he sees you fully, before opening the door further.

"Bloody hells, what happened te you? Come on, get in an' out o' tha hall, an ye can tell me all."

[Barthac]

Taalkar plops in a chair.

Ya think I look bad? Wait till you see ol' Fred

Taalkar leans forward with a conspiratorial whisper, Just don't shake 'is hand

[Mr. X]

Fink raises an eyebrow at you.

"I'll keep that in mind, I guess, fer when 'e gets 'ere."

He hope up into the seat across from you.

"There's been some developments while ye were out: The Wizards' Council has gone on recess for a few days. Apparently Vark told 'em te take a break after 'e spent the night in Black Harbour... Word is 'e appeared distressed when 'e popped back."

He leans forward.

"It'll give us an openin', if'n yer brother an' Fredric get 'ere in time, as we'll be able te get ye up to the college wit'out raisin' to many alarms."

He glances expectantly back at the door.

"Where are they, anyway? Why'd ye come back alone?"

[Barthac]

Huh?, Taalkar looks back to the door, just noticing Frederic's absence that daft, bone-footed, moss-herder... he must be waiting in the hall for the all-clear Glancing back at Fink. Fred really doesn't look the same as you remember. Don't be startled.

Taalkar gets up and peeks out of the door. Seeing Frederic, he waves him in.

[Mr. X]

Peering back into the hallway, you see Fredric standing still as a statue, cowled in his cloak. Even so, being again so near to him, you feel a chill settle over your soul, and your teeth are placed on edge.

At your beckoning, he moves forward and into the room.

Even before he enters, you hear Fink cry out,

"What in the nine hells--?!"

He staggers back as Fredric's horrid visage approaches.

"Hello, Fink."

Fredric stops, barely a foot through the door, clearly cognoscente of the effect his presence is having.

"Things have certainly changed, since last we met, but whatever else I may be, I am here to help."

He turns to Taalkar.

"I shall retire to the room next door, and await Karazi's arrival. Get what you can from Fink, and we'll see where we stand on the morrow."

So saying, he retreats back into the hallway, and shuts the door.

With his departure, so too leaves the chill over your soul.

[Mr. X]

It is a moment or two after Fredric leaves, before Fink regains his senses.

"What, in the bleeding hells, was that?!"

He stammers, pointing furiously at the door.

"What the hells happened to him?! It??! Can it be trusted?! Can it be killed?! Can it be allowed to live?!! Wha--"

His eyes roll as he tries to comprehend the thing you've become, the thing Fredric has become, and how far out of his depth he suddenly is...

... You'll need to calm him down, or this train of thought may well spiral out of control.

[Barthac]

Whoa Fink... settle down and listen. Whatever else he may be, he is the same Frederic that you knew before. As soon as I mentioned your name and clearwater, he came here.

For the last several months, we have all focused on fighting this blight. We have sacrificed so much, seen so many of our friends killed, or worse. We've all given so much and worked so hard to fight. My brother and I fought at the citadel and walked with the refugees. We went to Beluvah and fought with the dwarven army there. We watched as men and dwarves alike, MY VERY OWN KINSMAN, were slain and twisted.

It was there that we met Frederic, this man who worked so hard to unite the lands of this world, to bring the full force of civilization to bear on the blight. It was at Belavuh that dwarves and men were betrayed, and Fred watched one of his closest friends be consumed by the blight. Like all of us, he has sought to become stronger. We have all gone far to get that strength, he touches his face thoughtfully, Perhaps too far sometimes.

Somehow we have to draw a line. Somewhere we have to push back. Just once, I want to triumph. I want to see the results of our work. I want to push the blight back a step and let it know that we will NOT give ourselves over so easily. Clearwater is that line. This place might be all we have left. Here is where I place my standard and say ENOUGH. We will push back the blight or die trying because I am too tired to run anymore.

Now ol' Freddy can help with that and I think he might have already decided the same thing about Clearwater. We have the mages here and my brother is coming. So, suck down your fear of what ol' Fred has become and we will deal with that later. If there is a later for any of us.

[Mr. X]

Fink blinks, taken aback by the fervor of your words.

"Well... Damn... I dinnae think... Tha war still seemed pretty far from here, I guess... An' I ain't had ta think 'bout crossin' hard lines yet."

He sits back down, and takes a long pull on his wine.

"If'n yer brother's commin', we'd best settle in an' wait... Room next door is open, an you can stay there...

I think... I think I need some time te think..."

So saying, he settles in, and stares intently into his glass.

---------

For Karazi:

Time is a little hard to tell in the depths of the Keep.

You arrive in the cellar of the Witch's Brew sometime in the middle of the night."

[LordDice]

Sliding from the stone wall, he immediately tries to feel for Taalkar's presence. Sensing his brother upstairs he attempts to makes his way up unnoticed.

[Mr. X]

Moving through the raw earth, you easily sense your brothers presence above, but something is wrong... He feels somehow different... Broken... Or fractured.

Making your way through the silent tavern, you slip through the upstairs door, and are met by a chill washing over your soul as you enter the room...

... The two red points of Fredric's eyes greet you in the near total darkness, from where he stands motionless against the wall... In the bed, your brother sleeps motionless.

"Greetings and welcomes to you."Fredric whispers, careful not to wake Taalkar.

"I trust your travels were fruitful? I am afraid that there have been some complications on our end."

[LordDice]

Taking a single step forward, focused like never before on the Wizard in front of him. He can feel his brother....Broken somehow, on the bed.


His rocky hide shifts in agitation, with a grinding sound starting to fill the air. Eyes bright in the dim candlelight, shining gemstones peering at Frederic.

"What. Have. You. DONE ?!" he grinds out between his teeth, although still at a hushed volume.

[Mr. X]

Fredric drops his chin, and absently rattles his bone foot.

"While I do admit that I carry much of the blame, your brother's current condition is one that I believe that he has brought upon himself...

When I brought us here, my touch carried an unforeseen side effect... The negative energy produced by my own condition flowed through him, and damaged the connection betwixt his soul and his corporeal body...

... I had intended to repair the damage myself, but by some means I do not fully understand, your brother managed to accomplish the feat himself... With the results as you see them."

He purses his lips, and shrugs.

"He is quite coherent, if you would care to wake him to discuss the matter."

[LordDice]

Narrowing his eyes a bit at the explaination, he doesn't take his eyes off the Wizard...but throws a an empty mug at his sleeping brother.

"Wakeup ya runt, What'd you go and do to yourself now ?"

[Barthac]

He was alone in the small boat, drifting across a perfectly smooth lake. Looking back he could see the sun in the sky and it's perfect twin in the lake below. They were moving away from each other, as one traveled across the sky, the other sank into a cloudy abyss.

Turning, Taalkar looked ahead over the small prow of the tiny boat. In the distance, the sky churned like a foaming stream falling from the mountains. Angry bolts of lightning tore through the sky, momentarily throwing the gathering clouds in sharp relief. Looking down he saw his own reflection. His eye was whole, the deep scars of battle were gone.This was the face of a gentledwarf bred for peaceful times.

An unexpected pain exploded in his head, blood ran down the gentledwarf's face. The mirror-like lake cracked and shattered into a million crystal fragments.

Taalkar jumped out of bed in surprise, his head coming within inches of the low ceiling. Instinctively the ceiling beams shifted places with the middle of the room. His upward momentum was now sideways. He hit high on the wall and bounced backwards, about to land on the floor with his back. This time the floor switched places with the bed and Taalkar landed safely back in bed. The cup, after bouncing off the dwarf's skull, took a strange twist and looked to shatter on the hearth of the small fireplace. The world shifted again, and the cup fell neatly into Taalkar's hand.

Sitting up with the cup in one hand, he rubbed the place on his forehead where the cup first hit. Willing the cup full of ale he takes the contents down in one gulp. What'd you go an do that fer?

[LordDice]

"You were asleep, If I'd been a snake you'd been bit. Must be more vigilant Brother. Now...what the hell have you done to yourself ?, you're Broken...somehow."

[Barthac]

Taalkar stares at his brother for a moment.

Aye, Broken is probably the right word fer it. I was... gone... dead... I came back... I really cannot explain it. But everything is... shattered... and I can change it somehow. It's better if I show you...

The world shifts... Karazis back is now directly in front of Taalkar. He kicks his brother square in his butt.

See what I mean.

[LordDice]

Ack. Jumping in place a bit at the kick "What in the blazes, how did you even....huh. Weird. Also, Don't die anymore."

"Now where's Fink. we gotta get this ball rolling eh ? I got to thinking while going over some books last night...if we could tap into the power of the Font and use it to power that Ward Fred here managed to discover, and appears to actually be related to the Seal that held back the Blight for quite some time. We might not be able to reseal it, but maybe if we were to Power then with a Font...we could perhaps create huge tracts of land that actively repel the Blighted."

"What do you think Frederic ? There's a absoute ton of pure Power in those Fonts, do you think that ward scheme could handle it ? "

[Mr. X]

Fredric bobs his head non-commitally.

"It is difficult to say... I cannot say that I understand precisely how the Font functions, but I know that its power is not 'magic' in the conventional sense; which is to say that it is not a fountain of spells, nor does it even produce power in precisely the same fashion that a spell does. I am given to understand that its energies are not easily tapped, by any stretch, though you two apparently have found a solution for that."

With a gesture, he invites you both to take seats at the table. Light flares suddenly as he strikes a tinder-twig, and lights the candles there.

Rummaging for a moment in his pack, he withdraws a crude iron brand, and one of his spellbooks, which he leafs through until arriving at a formula you recognize as the Cerulean Seal.

"This formula, in all its humble demeanor, is the Seal. The spell itself, while not child's play, is not so complicated that any professional wizard worth his salt couldn't manage it... The trouble is that in this, its simplest form, it is not particularly potent, and, being an Evocation, lasts for but a moment."

He turns his attention to the iron brand, and with a gesture of his gauntleted hand, strings of light curl off the artifact, drifting through the air to his fingertips... And within them, if you look closely, much of the same formula displayed in his book.

As you can see, it is from this artifact which I derived the former formula... The Seal produced by this brand comes at the high cost of a portion of a person's vital essence, but is significantly more powerful... At the Battle of Beluvah, the Blighted fell before it like flies, and even Malthos, at the end, could not stand before it.

Even so, it is limited by the aspects of the base spell formula. It's area of effect is quite limited... Even the application of metamagical processes can only marginally improve upon the spell's basic shortcomings."

He sits back.

"Part of my hope, when I handed you those scrolls at Beluvah so long ago, was that the basic version of the spell could be mass produced, to be used by our armies against the Blight in the field...

Now that that goal is no longer truly viable, the simple nature of the spell, which would have been a great asset, is now a stone wall...

To put it bluntly, simply pumping more power into the Seal will not suffice to wipe the Blight from the land, as it cannot extend the spell's maximum reaches... To accomplish that, we'll need a whole new spell."

[LordDice]

"Bah, Maybe I should spend more time actually understanding how these spells work.... Maybe develop a new spell, designed with more area in mind, just to be empowered by a Font. When we were in the Far North, I cast a spell to create a Blizzard...the Giants there channeled the power of the Font into that spell somehow, it took on a life of it's own. If we could somehow tack on the power to burn these unnatural beasts onto a storm system. A storm to cleanse the earth of the filth that plagues it wherever it roams"


"Perhaps I'll look into that if we ever get into the College... Also what is that Brand you derived the seal from, Some artifact from the first War of the Blighted ?"

[Mr. X]

Fredric nods, releasing the magical threads back into the brand.

"I believe so. I acquired it from an archivist named Arian Demonsbane, though only after his death. According to notes in his journal, he found it buried on an island off Rogue Point, near Beluvah, under a stone marked with the constellation of the Serpent Slayer... It was not until the battle at Beluvah that I discovered how it worked."

He pauses a moment, rummaging again in his pack, and coming up with a heavy tome bound in a soft, silvery skin.

"This too, he apparently found in a secret hole in the Great Library of Beluvah."

He chews his lip.

"I believe the binding to be celestial's skin, and the writings within are... Profane, to say the least. Even so, the formulae it contains are very potent... Though many of the spells, I believe, may draw power from the very forces we are attempting to stand against.

He frowns.

"But tell me more of this storm you conjured... You say that it took on a life of its own? Could you describe precisely what occurred?"

[LordDice]

"Aye, was but a few days ago. we were in the far north...beyond the Great Way. In a massive valley of Gypsum inhabited by the biggest Giants you've ever seen...giants to Giants even, enhanced by living near to the Font likely."

"As I cast the Blizzard, which took some hours, they seemingly empowered the spell, Now I'm not sure if they were truly tapping into the Font for it...or if they just empowered it with sheer numbers and long imbued magical powers"

"Come to think of it, that's still headed this way actually..I'll admit, I kind of forgot about it. Actually headed towards Clearwater near as we could tell"

[Mr. X]

Fredric raises his eyebrows, and the red points in the pits of his eyes sparkle hopefully for a moment.

"Do you think you could get them to repeat the process? If their work alone can expand a magic beyond its typical boundaries, there may be hope for this plan yet!"

He frowns again for a moment...

"If your storm is approaching, I am uncertain as to what we can do about it, unless you can manage to dispel it... Even so, there are a lot of souls between it and us... If it is indeed headed towards Clearwater, it will have to pass over Timaril..."

His frown deepens.

"We cannot very well leave them to face it blindly..."

[LordDice]

"That blasted Storm is what leads us here a couple days back, came here to get in and get some help from the famous college...all it got us was a trap in the freakin Watchhouse. I've no idea how to get something of that size dissapated. Might be able to throw a counter storm or two at it maybe. But with my luck, It'd just end up strengething it."


"I don't think those Giants even realized what the spell did, they just wanted to join in on the spellcasting. Might bear some testing, but they certainly seem like they'd assist in a spellcasting....even without quite knowing what's going on"

[Barthac]

As long as they don't see you... then they try to eat you.

[Mr. X]

Fredric hmmms at Taalkar's statement, before replying.

"One way or another, I suppose these may be problems for another time... For now, we must merely visit the College. Fink's purpose in bringing me here may have abated for the moment, but with the island open again, we can at least approach at out leisure.

A number of scholars have spent many years studying the Font. No doubt they may be able to aid us in rewriting the Seal formulae... Or, at least, be able to point us to the right section of the library."

He sits back, and allows himself a brief smile.

"No point in being eaten by giants without a spell to feed them, eh?"

[Mr. X]

With nothing further to argue about or discuss, the group settles in for the remainder of the evening...

..........

Shortly after dawn Fink taps lightly on your door.

"Oy! Rise an shine!" he hisses through the wood, "Hurry it! I got news that's not gonna want te wait."

[Barthac]

Taalkar felt like he fell down a mountain. When the knock came at the door, he groaned and opened his one eye slit. The door was pretty far away and he was just preparing his aching body to move when the door suddenly seemed closer. Reaching out a single finger to touch the door frame, he willed the door away.

Come right in.. although I can't imagine anything important happening this early

"Reaching" to touch the door and using passwall. A little overkill, but dang it, Taalkar is sleepy.

[Mr. X]

Fink starts back at the disappearance of the door, and cowers further still under the unsleeping glow of Fredric's eyes, but speaks quick none the less:

"There's a ferry ye can catch te the College Island in an hour... Word is Vark was in a frightful state last night. Something went down in Black Harbour I guess 'e dinnae foresee, an is liable te affect negotiations.

I figure, if'n yer jus gonna march on up an' have a talk, now's the time te do it."

[Barthac]

Thanks Fink

Taalkar glances over at Frederic.

Ferry sounds good. I don't want to get to the island bad enough to die again.

[LordDice]

Looking up from a small carving he'd been working at, a small piece of onyx "I should think so...I'm thinking surprising these Wizards doesn't go so well anyhow. Better to be predictable."

[Mr. X]

Fredric nods.

Agreed. Far better to make our presence easily known, lest we be perceived as a threat."

----------

The boatman shudders in Fredric's presence, but holds himself together, and steadily oars you from the docks to the island.

The day is clear and cold, and out upon the water, Fredric gazes back over the retreating city...

"It is curious... I spent the better part of five years sewing drugs, murder, and slavery upon this city to such a degree that it was forced to reform itself, and drive those trades from its shores... Given the means I had available to me, it was a marvelous success. I was able to sleep at night by telling myself that, whatever the costs incurred, the resulting peace was worth the price."

He rattles his bone foot.

"... That 'peace' resulted not quite two years ago... Five years of trauma upon this city, for two years of peace."

He chews his lip.

"The exchange feels less favorable now, than it did at the time... To say nothing of the fact that the Blight that now threatens us all, I played a part in unleashing."

He goes silent, shifting his gaze over to the approaching island... A volcanic peak jutting up from the depths of the lake. its fires quiet for all of known history, but a thin curl of smoke reaching from the peak into the sky lets you know that they burn still.

Far above, you can see the various towers and buildings of the College climbing up the steep and jagged slopes like moss up a stone... It isn't so much a castle as it is a collection of structures haphazardly jumbled and joined together, built wherever sure foundation could be found upon the mountainside... Nor need it be...

The rocky slopes are all but completely impassible, and even the dock you are to land upon is an artificial structure, built out onto the water, so easy landing might be had.

[Barthac]

Taalkar looks at Frederic thoughtfully, reconsidering the wizard. I have largely taken what life has given me. I used to think that nobility was like a mountain, standing up to the winds of time, persisting even though the world itself is pitted agin ye. Look where that's gotten us.

He touches his eyepatch, runs his fingers along his scarred face.

What you've done or should have done, kinna be changed now. The only choice we get is the one we can make right now.

I reckon we need to convince these wizards that the only choice to make is to figure out how ta stop dis blight. If they're like the nobles of dwarves, they'll be more inclined to argue trying to figure out the right choice. They'll be so afraid of the wrong choice that they would rather make no choice. If that happens were all slimes in a month.

And here we are, with the means of stopping the blight and destroying everything with it. What do ye think they would feel about that? A bit threatened would be my guess. I don't think they need to know about that.

The real question is, can ye do it? Could ye cast that spell and end it all if it meant ending the blight? I aint so sure me brother could do it. But you, well... you've made hard choices. I wonder if you could make this one?

Taalkar stares out over the serene lake, the wake of the small boat the only ripple. It reminded him of his dream. The boat came to a soft stop as it docked.

Let's get off this thing and go meet these wizards, he gives Frederic a hearty slap on the back and heads to the dock.

[Mr. X]

Fredric pauses for a long moment...

"That is your contingency then, is it? To scorch the earth?"

He sags slightly.

"If it comes to that, no doubt the choice shall be made for us."

Turning, he starts down the dock, and toward the path...

The path up is a narrow, uneven staircase carved from the living stone, barely wide enough to walk single file along, and is perilous even then. Iron bars have been mounted into the rocks to aid the ascent, but you can imagine that any conventional assault up the path would be utterly hopeless.

Gesturing to the path, he says,
"This is called 'The Warrior's Way'. Every new initiate must climb it in order to gain access to the College. It represents the will to contend with and overcome the apparently insurmountable."

He pauses for a moment, withdrawing a vial of mercury from one of his component pouches. Uncorking the vial, he tips it, spilling a single drop... Before it can touch the ground, however, he makes a swirling gesture with his other hand, and whispers out a long string of soft syllables...

... The silver drop halts its descent perhaps a foot from the ground, and begins spinning on a wobbling axis, widening and flattening, untill it settles into a wide, wafer thin disk, floating serenely over the dock.

Fredric steps lightly up onto it, where it easily bears his weight.

"This is the 'Wizard's Way.' If you would care to join me, we can be on our way in appropriate fashion."


Fredric casts 'Floating Disk'

[LordDice]

Eyeing the floating Disc the Wizard stands upon he motions at Sid...who flows into the rocky landscape, finding his own way up.

"Heh, Wizard Magics...you think of the weirdest things. I think I'll join you ...on this floating bit o' metal"

[Barthac]

The "Wizard's Way" or the "Warriors Way" Taalkar eyed both with apprehension. The rocky path looked dangerous for sure. Looking over at Frederic's outstretched hand brought an eerie revulsion. Taalkar had always been good at finding his own way, though. Maybe there was another way that only the son of stoneshaper could manage.

Without much thought Taalkar rises and a swiftly growing pillar of stone. He eyes the top of a building, bending his perception of reality and easy steps on the flat part of the roof, the pillar neatly falling without leaving so much as a pebble out of place.

Looking down at his brother and the mage on the floating disc, he cackles with glee, I'll race ye both!

Stepping easily to a rocky outcrop on the other side, he again rises on a pillar.

[Mr. X]

Fredric smirks, and with a gesture, the disk begins floating easily up the path... At a considerably slower rate than Taalkar is able to attain.

For Taalkar:

As you bound ahead, would you make a Spot check please?

[Barthac]

Spot:[roll0]

[Mr. X]

Gliding along the path, you never would have seen them... Rising up upon your great pillars of stone, however, you cannot fail to see the grotesque statues perched as though peering down upon your passage... Each different from each other, one is carved scrawny and twisted, another as though sitting on skittering insect's legs... others are larger and apish, with long arms and rounded faces... Other's still are winged, and sit as though they might, at any moment take flight to soar through the boundless reaches of the sky...

And they are many...

Rising higher to get a better look, you can now see that the mountainside is littered with the strange statues... There must be hundreds or thousands of them on the isle.

[Mr. X]

The silver disk glides ever onward, while Taalkar's pillars jut forth and recede with regular monotony...

The day is gray and cold, but the higher you climb, the more you are moved by the magnificent view over Clearwater Lake. The jagged hights of the island hold a striking, rugged, beauty, and the mirror smooth water below is such an impossibly deep hue of blue, that no ocean, or dye, or jewel could possibly be compared with it...

... And the higher you climb, the more palpable the power that emanates from the upper slopes becomes... Even by this mere distant proximity to the Font... You can only imagine what it must be like to stand within it...

It takes nearly three hours of gradual ascent before you reach the Gatehall of the College, where snow is piled in heavy drifts about the single, foreboding, tower. The path you would have followed is, by this point, completely obscured by the treacherous snow, and the freezing wind howles in your ears like some shrieking beast.

The Gate is a great single door of blackened ancient wood, bound in iron bands and studs.

In its center hangs a large, lion-faced knocker.

[LordDice]

"So hmm...You've been here before. Do we just knock or something ?" "

You'd think they'd have some kinda forewarning that folks were headed up and come meet them at the gate"

[Mr. X]

Fredric chews his lip.

"Yes... In this case. Typically we wouldn't even be here without both a written invitation and an escort, but times are such (and we are sufficiently formidable) that I imagine the usual formalities may be overlooked... I hope."

He gazes up at the tower before you.

"This tower is one of seven channelling points of the Font, to which the guardian shall be heavily attuned... I would recommend, should the need to start a ruckus arise, that you wait until we are well away from this particular tower."

He glances back down the slope.

"The Gargoyles, too, are protectors of this place, but are somewhat inconsistent in when they choose to intervene. When we came here before, it was not until a theft had taken place that they stirred... We may make of that whatever we will... In the time that I was a student here, I had never witnessed them actually move, and so am not well positioned to hazard much more than guesses."

He turns back to you.

"Finally, while Fink was saying that Master Vark has been the one throwing his weight about lately, I'd recommend asking to see Gray Greggor... He is the headmaster of the school, and has a leveler head about him. Unfortunately, he was with Star Spire's army at the battle at Beluvah, and I don't know if he has returned... If he is unavailable, then we'll need to try our luck with Master Vark directly."

[LordDice]

"Seems we'll just have to hope for the best then...Brother, try not to scare the nice wizards into thinking us enemies"


With a raised eyebrow and a look to Sid, the Large elemental glides over to the Gate. Raising his massive stone hands he pounds upon the door three times, Afterwards slipping silently into the earth beneath them.

[Mr. X]

You hear the scraping of metal against wood, as behind the door the bar is raised, and the latched released.

With a loud creaking, the door swings open.

The entry chamber within is small and dim, but markedly warmer than the outside.

A small fire crackles in a hearth off to the right, and a windowed office sits behind the far wall. Behind the window, an elderly scribe sits at his desk, tooling away with quill and ink at a large pile of parchments.

He barely spares a glance as the party enters, but it's enough to warrant a second.

Arching an eyebrow, he sits up and puts aside his quill. He mutters a quiet spell as he looks over the group with an uncertain eye...

He speaks with quiet firmness, but also with a slightly shaking tembre,

"My Lords, forgive me, you are unexpected. Would you please state your business?"


A Spellcraft check, DC 12, may determine what spell the scribe is casting.

[LordDice]

"Apologies for the lack of forewarning Sir, but these ill times seem to sap at my manners somewhat"

"We'd like to request an audience with Gray Greggor if at all possible. Regarding a very large magically enhanced storm headed this way, the Blight and other matters"


With a 14 in Knowledge Nature that should be a auto-success. Considering you can't crit fail a skill check I don't think

[Mr. X]

For Karazi:

The spell the guardian cast was Detect Magic. He does a pretty good job of keeping his composure placid, but you can tell that he is likely severely impressed by the picture of power that you all present.


The old scribe's gaze darkens at your request.

"... I am afraid I must then provide you with some bad news... Master Greggor never returned from Beluvah."

He heaves a heavy sigh.

"We only recently received the letter informing us ourselves, signed by the Boy King himself, no less... Claims that Master Greggor was slain some time after the battle, as his army returned to Star Spire."

He pauses a moment to sip from a cup at his elbow.

"It is a troubled time indeed... Though Master Vark has assumed the responsibilities of governing the school, so at least we remain in competent hands."

[LordDice]

"Sorry to hear of your loss, We lost many good dwarves at Beluvah indeed. The Treachery of the Gate still demands a reckoning..."

"I suppose we will ask to see Master Vark then, I'd heard some that he might be somewhat more difficult to deal with."


"And my apologies Master Scribe, as I forgot to make introductions. I suspect you already know Frederic there, On my left is my brother Taalkar Falgen and I am Karazi Falgen.