Day after final battle, all called to Council chamber. Council consists of numerous worthies, including Delmeron, who is severely injured from protecteing Lave from a dragon.
Telryn given access to libraries of Lyceum, Hornswythe Vigil HQ, etc.
Delmeron: We need to talk, soon.
T: Good. I would like to. Today, or perhaps tomorrow.
D: Excellent. Come by this evening.
Telryn postpones decision on what gift to accept from Vigil until after he meets with Delmeron.
Telryn to Tropheon: I'm actually looking for a house or someplace I can set up shop and have as my place. I'm willing to buy it - I don't want a gift, however if you are able to point me in that direction Tro: I'd be glad to help, however, numerous homeless after war
Del's tower: teleport to lab, big wall of books, some clearly magical. Large book on a pedestal with a number of chains binding it. Lots of lab equipment, very dark, candles throwing multiple shadows, things moving just outside of your peripheral vision, big pentagons on floor, strange symbols. Del sitting in shadow chair as before.
T: Hello Delmeron
D: Thanks for coming
T: I don't know if you could tell from before, my receptoin to you - your reputation preceeded you. However, when I saw you battling and protecting Lave, my opinion shifted. I am more receptive and open to learning from you, exchanging knowledge
D: In fact that is why I asked you here. Some people think I am evil. Perhaps in a paroachial way I am, however, it was my knowledge and power over darkness, shadow, and death that protected this city from destruction.
T: That may not be a path that I can choose or would choose, I understand that power has paths which are common. I could work with that.
D: I know much that I can teach. Things it would take you years to learn on your own.
My offer of mentorship still stands. You need not be my apprentice: you are too powerful for that. However, I'm no longer in any shape to be out adventuring.
T: I'm not willing to take shortcuts to power or sacrifice any part of me for that power, however I am willing to trade knowledge for knowledge.
D: I've noticed you recovered a powerful artifcat.
T: Its power is beyond me at the moment.
D: You better believe it. Its power is beyond imagination. It is a lost artifact of the Slarcians. I know how to protect myself from it, you do not.
T: If I turned it over to you, would you plan on using it?
D: I know what it is used, and I could use it. It is a spell focus. For those who are untrained, it makes them more open to the influence of other's spells. I am willing to trade for it: I would trade you a scroll or a magic item. However, I would like to make a permanent trade. I will also be protecting the rest of the city from its power as well.
T: My only problem with that is that that object is not solely mine. I do not have the authority to make a trade without discussing it with them. However, they do not know what we have, so they may not have an objection.
D: I mentioned it to them in the Council meeting: it is beyond their power.
T: I also have a number of notes about the Slarcian Citadel, including its location, traps contained within, writings. I am not willing to disclose its location
D: I have a collection of rare grimoires and other magical books.
T: The other thing I would like to trade with you is this: I have no place to perform magical works. If I could work here, under your supervision of course, it would significantly reduce the time it takes me to complete a number of items I would like.
D: You want to work in my lab? (surprised) No, I'm more than happy to have you work in my lab.
T: ?
D: Sure.
T (Must remember to ward myself...)
D: The other thing I wanted to mention to you is, there were three organizations watching you in your recent pursuit of the Amphora. (lists) (describes) Powerful druidic magic was involved, and I cannot identify the source but it is very powerful.
T: Gives back the scryting device.
D: Are you sure you do not wish to keep it, that others may not spy on you?
T:
D: The crystal will make it easier for others to scry on you.
T: Depending on our arrangement, I may want to leave it hear with you.
T: I will speak with you tomorrow.
D: Okay then.
T returns to inn. The following day, he brings the crystal and leaves it with Delmeron, placing it under the mage's protection. He spends a good 4 days scribing spells, etc, from the Shadow citadel. Scribes off the tablet, is amazed to discover that that does not destroy it - apparently the tablets are the equivalent of a spell-book. Sells off spell books to raise cash - Trades FRACTURE and BLOOD STORM to Delmeron for Gives two tablets to Delmeron in exchange for time at the lab. Gives the stone tablet with DISMISALL on it to Miriel. She leaves it with the Cathedral's library.
On fifth day, T goes to Lyceum. Spends several days researching - particular attention to planar knowledge.
Early evening, as T walking back to Inn from the Lyceum. Vaguely familiar beautiful half-elf is calling, waving to him.
S: Don't you know me? I'm Saraya, the bard from the Laughing Ogre!
T: Oh! Yes!
S: I've been studying at the Bardic College next to the Lyceum.
T: I didn't know there was a Bardic College!
S: Its the largest in Eastern Ghelspad! I'm on the way to a performance at the Undecipherable Scroll. Want to join me?
T: The name intrugiues me - I'd be glad to.
Tavern is small, dark, in a basement. Lots of young bards from the college.
Proprieter: Morgrave, female, beautiful elf in lustrous silks, dark eyes seem very strange. Her pupils appear fractured. Telryn is transfixed, keeps staring at her. He's a little taken aback
M: Saraya, please introduce friend, tell him not nice to stare T:(sputters)
M: Yes, I am a Forsaken elf. It is not polite to stare.
T: I'm so sorry. I was taken by surprise
S: They have very good tea here.
M: Yes, here's the tea list. Tea list is about 100 long. Picking at random from a place where he wants to go. Shelzari green tea. Next table, man smoking from fragrant water-pipe. Weird poetry, no real rhymes or rhythm. Very avant-garde.
S: This is the new poetry style coming out of Lave this days. She quizzes him on the adventures of the group He tries to deflect the questions, giving some of the stories about our trip to the SkyKeep, but avoids the deepest details, heading off into history about teh SkyKeep and the journal he found,
Finally...
S: Tomorrow, I'm going to pay my last respects to Kelemis Durn. Would you like to accompany me?
T: Absolutely.
S: Where are you staying? And are your companions around?
T: Yes, we're staying at the SLeeping Dragon.
Next day, S takes him to Tanil's Preserve. KD lying in state, stasis, large wake all week. Very solemn, people shuffling past his body. Flowers, citizens from all walks of life paying their respects. T sees next to open coffin is an older man wearing dress uniform of the Vigilants, bawling his eyes out.
T: Who's that?
S: That's Dern's life companion, Gergio. He was out on a mission when KD fell, and feels responsible for failing to protect him.
T: Oh! (surprised)
S: Word is he has vowed revenge against the Dar-Al-Annot
T offers prayer to Madriel as he shuffles past, Saraya offers song of mourning.
T offers condolences to G
G: You were there with him, at the end, weren't you?
T: Yes I was. He was betrayed. It was awful
G: Thank you for finding out the truth, and slaying his slayer. Let me know if you learn anything else.
T: We'll be sharing anything we learn with the Vigil
G: Thank you.
Reward from vigil: cash
Crafts a wand of magic missile over final four days under Del's tuteledge. First of many scolarly debates about the power of shadow vs power of elements.
Goldpetal's totem: GANGES FALCON - inherits tattoo on his cheek, stylized claw.
G takes Telryn aside in conversation for T alone explains the existence of
the ring of Titan detection, and declares that he can no longer use it
because he radiates Titan magic himself. They experiment to determine the
radius between them necessary for T to detect other Titan magic - T learns
to differentiate G's 'signature'
START
"Belsaday, 15 of Taner, 150AV"
"You've found yourselves right back in the swamp you swore you never return to. The new Provisional Home Commander, Thorn, has asked you to re-supply a Vigilant base deep in the Mourning Marshes, and also check up on the sanity of the commander whose methods have been described as 'unsound'."
"Yesterday you picked up a new companion, an annoying ratman named Scree who is a devoted follower of Madriel. Chuck secured him in his Manacles of Apathy because he didn't trust him, but frankly, you're also happy not to hear Scree's whining."
"Last night, Goldpetal with Chuck's consent, tried to murder the Ratman and was stopped by Stone, Paks, and Miriel."
"This morning, you drove off some Swamp Gobblers, only to attract a fearsome Myr Worm. After a fierce melee, the Worm was slain, but now you find yourself deep in the deadliest swamp in the known world, 3 days up-river away from any sort of help, looking for a possbily insane Vigilant."
"So who's idea was this anyway?"
Open with Paks and Goldpetal discussing
P: I'm sorry my anger got the better of me and it would have been a tradegy for things to have gotten carried away. It is important to me to see if Ratman can actually convert to worship of the Gods. I'm not sure if the wounds that created the ratmen need to be healed. I think that the existence of the titan touched races is something that we need to learn to live with. I may be right, I may be wrong. I believe that this ratman can provide me the answer to this question, and if you kill him we may never know.
G: Have you seen human populations that have been killed plague? Do you agree that the plague should be destroyed.
Scree begs to be let out of manicals to Miriel. Every five minutes Scree asks to be freed. Stone tries to convince it that it needs to be quiet.
There are four rowers. Telryn casts mage armor on himself.
The stream ends at a reed filled lake. Jonah says that the keep is just across the lake. The group spends an hour winding it's way through the reeds. They make they're way to a clearing, where five men armed with bows. Chuck hails them and introduces himself by showing his medalion. "Are you here with the supplies?" Chuck (suddenly remembering that the boat is filled with provisions for the Vigiliants) says "Why yes, we are".
On a clearing next to the lake on the top of the lake is an old fortress. There are wooden buildings inside with defenses, but they look in disrepair. We see that there is a motley collection of different races and crossbreads. The are dirty and dishevelled and look like they've been in the swamp a long time.
Curtis Strongbow, lanky athletic man that is leader like. Behind him stands a man, 5' 11" man in leather armor. He's carrying a sitar and a few daggers are visible on his person and a purple stone worn around his neck.
Curtis welcomes chuck and expresses is happiness to see them. "I see you brought a prisoner, excellent, I look forward to interigating him". Scree is seriously afraid. Stone stops him from putting a hand on scree. Curtis backs down a bit.
"You've come at a good time. We are planning on a raid of a ratmen warren tonight. A priestess of madriel would be very helpfull. We are expecting to see undead. "
"We just found this guy named Darmin wandering around in the swamp and can't spare anyone to show him out".
Goldpetal asks how he got captured, Darmin says he was drunk on a boat. Goldpetal interigates him about where he was when was captured. Darmin says that he was near the docks in Hedrad drinking and became unconscious. He awoke in the hands of the ratmen. He managed to escape with the help of Strongbows men. He will help out with the raid.
Chuck: can we use the facilities? Strongbow takes everyone to some small shelter. stone takes scree and his stuff. chuck turns over the supplies to strongbow and darmin and some of the men from the compound help unload it.
pax begs for healing. We help unload the supplies. Paks lets Chuck know that Strongbow detects evil. Darmin pulls paks aside and tells Paks that he thinks Strongbow is "f*cking crazy". He wants Paks to put in a good word with the group for him, in case it's needed in the future.
Goldpetal searches around for someone listening in on our conversation. Darmin starts playing his sitar, and it's absolutely awful. They are weird haunting sounds. Jonah takes it from him, tunes it, and plays it better.
Miriel seeks out the kitchen, it's crude and dirty. Stone talks to Strongbow about interegating Scree and tells him that we will be doing it in our way. Strongbow aquesces (sp).
Chuck talks with Strongbow. "The home command is interested in how things are going here."
Strongbow starts lecturing Chuck:
"Look Chuck, your not the first Vigilant Durn has sent down here. None of those paper pushers in Lave know what is going on out here. Conrad was also sent out here, he's seen it my way. Now he's staying here and helping me. Those paper pushers don't know what is going on here, you don't know how implacable these ratmen are here. They are organizing, the tribes are working together. Undead also, all of this bodes ill."
"Yes, our methods are extreme. Sometimes you have to fight fire with fire. You have to become your enemy to kill your enemy. Contrary to Dern, or Thorn's suspicions, I'm not mad. This is an extreme situation. The Vigilants morals and methods are useless here in the swamp. They judge me from the safety of their homes and farms in Vesh, but I'm the one who provides the safety that allows them to judge. They think me mad, immoral. They say I've gone to far. But they need people like me. They need me to patrol the swamp and harry our enemies."
"This is a war. A dirty guerilla war against a foe that is mean and distainful of our civilization. The Ratmen are creating a nascent nation down here. And this must not happen."
"Yes, my methods are unusal. You will see things tonight that might scare or disgust you. But don't judge me or my methods till you see what we are facing."
As evening aproaches, the men build a huge bonfire in the middle of camp. They all gather around it. Strongbow addresses troops:
"You know the plan. The group led by Conrad will feint a frontal assault. As soon as the enemy has commited their forces and is distracted, they are to fall back, leading the ratmen force out of their lair. While they are distracted, Jani and I will each lead the real strike forces into the secret entrances that our spies have located. Chuck, you and your companions should stay with me. We're going to attack the area where we believe the undead are located. Miriel and Paks should be very useful."The full moon crests the hill. They all start chanting and some drums start pounding."Remember, kill as many ratmen as possible. Do not spare the females or their young. Any mercy you show now will breed a hundred more enemies. Rescue the slaves and bring them back here, but if it comes down to resucing a slave or killing a ratmen, don't hesitate to slay the ratman."
"Now let us join together in asking Tanil and Madriel and the rest of the 8 for a ritual blessing."
Telryn backs away and casts Comprehend Languages.
Some guy steps out and starts a ritual. "Darkness hide, Moonlight guides." A cup gets passed around. Chuck tries to pretend to drink. Miriel passes it on without drinking. Darmin bluffs drinking from it and is seen drinking from it, Stone passes it on. Goldpetal, Telryn and Paks are outside the circle. When it comes around. "Bless us Mistress, guide our blades. Belsameth we slay for you!"
Darmin offers Chuck a cloth to wipe the drink off his shoulder.
Stone gives scree an out in case things happen. But talks him out of switching to Hedrad.
We prepare for the upcoming battle (prep spells, etc).
Strongbow leads us through the swamp, him and his men have no problem moving through it, they are able to find they're way and able to avoid all dangers. After 6 hours of traveling, Strong bow stops us. We are on a small rise with a view of a lake next to a small ruined keep. As we watch some of Strongbows men rush up the entrance and start attacking. Ratmen start pouring out of the keep. Diseased Ratmen with Maulers. The rangers start pulling back and leading them away. We are half a mile away. Strongbow leads us around the lake, we enter a clearing at the same time a patrol of Ratmen do. We are all surprised. The battle is joined.
Telryn casts bulls strength on Paks from the ring. Darmin moves off to the side. Strongbow fires two arrows at the mauler and hits him with both. Stone charges a mauler and hits him. Miriel blesses everyone. Goldpetal casts entagle, unfortunately there isn't enough foilage to entangle anything in the clearing, way too much mud, but a side area of vines becomes animated. The rangers shoot and injure 4 of the center ratmen. The ratmen fire arrows. A vigilant is hit and Paks is hit by an arrow, the poison has no effect. Stone evades the four trying to hit him. Chuck hits a ratman with an arrow. The mauler in front of stone does a bite, claw, claw on him and rips pieces of flesh from him. A mauler attacks chuck and hits him. Paks casts divine favor on herself.
Telryn pulls out a wand and three spear shaped missiles shoot out and hit the mauler attacking stone. Darmin chucks two daggers at the mauler attacking chuck. Strongbow rushes the mauler and attacks him. Strongbow is missed by the aoo, and he hits the mauler while flanking him. Stone smacks his mauler. Miriel casts searing light on stones mauler after moving towards him, killing it with Madriels light. Stone turns and smiles at the two ratmen near him. Goldpetal casts a flaming sphere at mauler, it avoids it. The vigilants hit five ratmen with arrows. The ratmen charge forward and strike. Three attack miriel, hitting twice, she resists the poison. Chuck is attacked once and it hit him, he resists the poison. Strongbow is attacked 5 times, getting hit twice. 4 of the ratmen fire bows at the vigilants, hitting a couple of them. The last man hits himself with his bow when he lets go of the wrong side, stunning him and tossing the bow behind him. Chuck draws his two swords, activates hoarfrost and hits his ratman. Chuck gets raked by a claw of the mauler. Strongbow gets raked and bit by it. Paks moves forward and gets hit by the mauler really hard (41 points damage), she gets her attack and kills the mauler.
Telryn moves in front of the archers ahead of him and fires a lighting bolt down the line killing three ratmen. Darmin throws two daggers into melee and accidentally hits Strongbow. Strongbow mutates into a rat like monster (his wounds heal) and goes apeshit on the ratmen next to him, kills all three of them. Stone gives Telryn the thumbs up, then charges the ratmen in from of Miriel. Hitting one of them. Miriel spears the ratmen in front of it killing it. Goldpetal kills one with his flaming sphere. The wounded vigilants become wererats also. They fire bows hitting the ratmen. The non wererat vigilants charge the ratmen. Two of them strike Strongbow, but his wounds close as fast as they appear. The other ratmen miss. Chuck eats some of Miriels bread, healing himself and also drinking a potion. Paks also eats her bread and lays on hand. Ratman zero turns and runs.
Telryn steps back and casts mirror image, creating for images of him. Darmin kills a ratmen with his daggers. Strongbow kills the rest of the ratmen around him. Stone takes out his bread, hits the ratmen in front of him, and eats his bread. Goldpetal kills the mauler that was knocked uncounscious. Chuck yells to Strongbow "You've gone too far" and strikes, hitting him with his short sword. Strongbow says "Chuck? what are you doing?" Paks swings at him with his shadow sword and misses.
Telryn magic missiles Strongbow. Darmin attacks a vigilant next time, missing with his daggers. Strongbow steps back towards Paks and asks us all to join with him to fight the ratmen. Stone grapples with another vigilant, he shrugs him off. Stone trys again, grappling him. He draws a silver piece out and menaces him with it. Miriel steps next to stone and heals him. Goldpetal casts a spell, but it fails. The ratmen being held by stone tries to break out, but doesn't. The other vigilants/wererats regroup and say that they don't want to attack. Chuck converses with Strongbow asking him "what have you done!" Paks swings at Strongbow again, flanking him and missing him with both swings. Strongbow disappears into the swamp.
Telryn fireballs a group of vigilants/wererats. Darmin hits a wererat with his dagger damaging him. Strongbow signals a retreat and gets hit by Paks while he goes by. Stone punches the ratman with the silver piece, damaging it. Miriel stabs it with her spear.
Stone says if you value your life tell me what you know. The wererat says that he didn't want to fight them and asks them if they are ratmen lovers. Miriel asks Paks if the wererat is evil. She says yes, so Miriel coup de grace the wererat.
Telryn argues that they should apologize to Strongbow and try to rejoin them because they are way out in the swamp, surrounded by wererats on one side and ratmen on the other. We are in a no win situation.
Darmin says "Can I join you guys? I think I've outstayed my welcome with my previous hosts."