Re: Book Two: Chapter Seven: "Restless Remains"

[Swifthand]

"Sounds good, Straegis."

The Book of Stone now in the Saga's hands and the message sent to Ferrell, Davin will go check Babs body and then excuse himself to go check on the ATW and tend to the Team. After Hanibell and the girls are safe and fed, the Ranger rejoins the others.

"So, are we staying at the Cave Temple until the troops arrive?"

If so, Davin will ready his "room" and then take some time to further study his books describing the Questing Beast.

-Swift

[Malazek]

While Straegis begins to cast, Verity and Davin lean down to check Babette's body. By now, he rbody has begun to liquify, turning into a thick pudding-like sludge. Her clothes and other gear, however, remain intact. Going through her pockets and bags, they find a number of unusual ... things: a vial of some dark caustic fluid, another vile filled with thick blood-like liquid, a paper sack filled with short lengths of thorny vines, a leather pouch filled with dust, a small wooden box filled with black clovers, and another tiny box filled with shards of colored glass. In addition, they find a heavy ball wrapped in black cloth; it feels hard and heavy, like glass.

Davin leaves the find in Verity's hands, and heads out to get the wagon team.

[Halcyon]

On his way back Verity looks for Baba's quarters.
Perception: 21

Verity takes the vials back for Tully to inspect. If Tully can't determine what they are he asks Straegis to inspect the vials, along with the other items when he is done with the Sending.

[macksgarageusa]

O.o.C.: I'll just go ahead and give a couple arcana rolls for the items. You can decide whether they are assists for Tully or on my own. If you need more, my arcana mod is +23.

Arcana: 1d20=9+23=32,
1d20=12+23=35,
1d20=11+23=34

[Malazek]

Most of the occupying army was in this room. Verity does find a sleeping bag which may have been the hag's, because there is a hair brush and a veil. Aside from the length of the bedroll, however, nothing sets this one aside from the bedding of the female Dwarves. He moves on ... but Tully isn't sure what the unusual items are used for. Finally, Verity carries them over to the Eladrin Erudite, and asks his opinion.

Straegis looks at the items, and determines they are special "haggy" Reagents.

One Vial of Black Dragon Bile
Distilled from the gullet of a black dragon, this caustic substance makes your foes more vulnerable to acid.
(Lvl 19 - 4,200 gp)
Reagent
Power (Consumable): Free Action. Expend this reagent when you use a power with the acid keyword of up to 15th level. One target hit by the attack (chosen by you) gains vulnerable 10 acid until the end of your next turn.

One Vial of Terror Ichor
With this vial of bewitching pixie blood, you can terrorize your foes with greater efficacy.
(Lvl 19 - 4,200 gp)
Reagent
Power (Consumable): Free Action. Expend this reagent when you use a power with the fear keyword of up to 15th level. Each target takes a –2 penalty to saving throws to end any effect of the power that a save can end.

Sack of (11x) Creeping Gatevines
This red-flowering vine grows on the stones of magical gates and menhirs.
(Lvl 20 - 5,000 gp Each)
Reagent
Power (Consumable ✦ Teleportation): Free Action.
Expend this reagent when you use a power with the teleport keyword of up to 20th level. Increase the distance teleported by 5 squares.

Pouch of (39x Pinches) Vision Sand
Blessed by Ioun’s clergy, this sparkling crystalline sand enhances divinations.
Other Consumable (75 gp per pinch)
Property: When added to the normal components for casting a divination ritual, vision sand grants a +2 power bonus to any one skill check required by the ritual.

Box of (30x) Dark Clovers
These clovers are identical in shape to the garden variety, but their connection to the Shadowfell aids necrotic powers.
(Lvl 18 - 3,400 gp each)
Reagent
Power (Consumable): Free Action. Expend this reagent when you use a power with the necrotic keyword of up to 15th level. One target hit by the attack (chosen by you) gains vulnerable 10 necrotic until the end of your next turn.

Box of (13x) Glassteel Shard
Strong as steel, this tempered glass shard enhances the force with which a power strikes.
(Lvl 17 - 2,600 gp each)
Reagent
Power (Consumable): Free Action. Expend this reagent when you use a power with the force keyword of up to 17th level. Slide each target 3 square.

(The heavy ball wrapped in black cloth remains an "uncovered" mystery).

[Malazek]

In the meantime, the Saga consults his advisors, asking them to examine the book of STONE.

OOC: Will get response to Sending message sometime today. (The message is: "Brackwater heroes have parlay with Dwarf king at cave temple, upon disclosure of recent facts he wishes to discuss treaty with Emperor Ferell." Correct?)

[Malazek]

Ferell's Response: "Will transport to Jaru very soon. Will join you from there. Keep watch; directions are vague."

OOC: What's happening for the next few hours then? Should I skip to his arrival?

[Halcyon]

Verity reviews the Hag's loot with Straegis and Davin.
"I'll hang onto the orb for now if no one objects.
"As for the rest, can you use it?

When Ferrel responds he comments, "He'll port to Jaru? Isn't Jaru completely overrun with undead? The Emperor should be warned. Can we arrange for him to portal here, or is there another better portal nearby?"
Once that's sorted he arranges watch with the others, assuming it's not possible to create a portal right to the Temple.

DM EDIT: Does Straegis relay the Emperor's response to the others, then? Because he's the only one who hears it.

OCC: Or skip to his arrival, no problem there.

[macksgarageusa]

O.o.C.: Straegis would absolutely relay the reply to his allies. I looked to see and it doesn't appear that we are in possession of the sigil sequence for the cave temple (unless Vangg has it). I will ready another Sending ritual and subtract components, just let me know what the message should say. I do not have the Reverse Portal ritual we would need to bring Ferell directly here. We could ask the Dwarf King to march his army with us toward Jaru?

EDIT O.o.C.#2: Straegis would like to keep the Creeping Gatevines. He will gladly carry any or all of the rest of the 'loot'.

[Malazek]

O.o.C.: We could ask the Dwarf King to march his army with us toward Jaru?

OOC: You could. Whether the Emperor fights his way here, or whether the Saga fights his way there ... either way, someone is gonna have to fight thru all the undead there and in the wildneress along the way. Alternately, you could transport the Saga to the Imperial City; OR you could have them both transport to a neutral location. Someone make a decision.

[macksgarageusa]

O.o.C.: my 2 cents for here- we either portal to Jaru or neutral location. Straegis can keep a Linked portal open for 3-5 rounds, the Dwarf King would be able to get as many of his own team through as time would allow. If we go to Jaru, we could find a safe area to hold down until Ferell's arrival. The portal ritual only takes 10 minutes to cast and we have all the necessary components. Let me know.

[Halcyon]

"We can advise the King and the Emperor, it will be to them to finally decide where to meet. Send something like:
'Rottwings, Skullmages, and worse massed in Jaru and roaming countryside. Clerical escort from RavenQueen’s Temple could speed travel. Please advise.'"
Verity will update the Saga that the Emperor will portal to Jaru and that the city is overrun with undead.

OCC: I would not object to skipping ahead to the leaders meeting, I didn't see where Mal first suggested that until after I posted. All for moving things along.

Gonna go gaze lovingly at my new floor now.

[Malazek]

OOC: Well, a lot's been said since I said I could skip forward. So, it's too late for that, IMO. At any rate, no further message has been sent, so ...

Straegis and Verity discuss other possible locations for the peace talks, until they realize that the Emperor has had plenty of time to transport to Jaru already. In fact, he's probably already there. Hopefully, he brought some friends!.

Verity will update the Saga that the Emperor will portal to Jaru and that the city is overrun with undead.

Hearing this news, the Saga decides ready a few troops for a quick march to Jaru. "Can you Send another message? Let him know we will meet him in Jaru."

[macksgarageusa]

O.o.C.: After a frustrating week of intermittent (at best) internet service, the cable company came out today and replaced the line under the street to my house. Let's hope this solves the problem. Anyway here goes:

Straegis prepares another sending ritual and awaits the reply.

O.o.C.2: Which of the messages (Verity/Saga) am I sending, or should I just combine them into one? I will subtract the components, just let me know which message I'm using.

[Swifthand]

Davin and Hound (and the ATW) will accompany the Dwarven liege to Jaru to meet with the Emperor.

"All aboard!"

-Swift

[Malazek]

OOC: Okay, the game seems to be grinding to a halt here, as we are belaboring the minutia. I talked to Swift on the phone, and he voted for a message that contains the essence of Verity's warning plus the Saga's declaration; something along the lines of "Undead are massed in Jaru and roaming countryside. Saga will meet you in Jaru." Hopefully, it reaches Ferrell before his troops get into too much trouble. At any rate, take off the components, and the NPC's will take it from here.

The Saga's personal guards and a handful of other trusted Dwarves prepare for the march (the bulk of his troops will remain here, on the Undermountain Highway, as planned). As soon as the sending is complete, they head out. Straegis, Davin, Verity, Zephyr and Hound go with (The Brother's Rinh and the Monster Squad stay behind).

Along the way, the Dwarves marches are assualted on all sides by raving undead monstrosities; but the Saga's crack troops easily dispatch them. Of course, the heroes participate in the re-slayings, but with so many elite soldiers their efforts are mostly superflous. Within a matter of hours, the small force reaches sight of Jaru where a disturbing fact is noticed; for the last few miles, the undead have notonly been stitched together atrocities, but also zombified imperial soldiers.

Fearing the worst, they pick up the pace and reach the ruined city as soon as possible. Several seagoing vessels are spotted on the horizon. Working qucikly, the heroes and the Dwarves clear Jaru of the remaining monsters and locate the Emperor and several other recongizable figures (including Mordax, Agatha, and Aodhan). When the fight is finished, Ferrell and the Saga retreat to one of the Merchant stalls to discuss the treaty. Alex is invited to attend, as a representative of the City of Jaru.

End Chapter

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