Summary 24: Pelor's Gift

A nights rest had done us some good, but our next dilemma was upon us. What are we to do with the Tlaloc's Tear? It would indeed be an effective weapon against the Lords of Dread, but to remove the weapon from this location would be unwise. To fill this entire complex with water would disrupt the existing Shadow Pearls down below, not to mention what it would do to the Island itself. We approached "The Intersection" in hopes that a solution would magically present itself, but that only led to a new problem. You see, the levels below were littered with mindless skeletons, go figure. The Admiral suggested this was Anzak's doing and that the enemy has caught up with us. Unlikely though, Death Knight or not, that bag of wind wouldn't even be able to lead a band of thirsty sailors to a local tavern on Ale Street. Anyhow, it did give us a reason press forward at a much quicker pace. We decided upon facing the Lords of Dread without the Tear and t'was only a matter of getting past those Dispelling Glyphs. Cindel did her part by transforming into a bird and erecting a small staircase by manipulating the stone ceiling, I've seen stranger things… The plan was simple, grant Garland flight so that he can fly us up to the steps, a short climb pass the glyphs, grant everyone with flight and the ability to breath underwater. But, as usual, everyone was reluctant to proceed and looked to yours truly to witness yet again another act of bravery. Garland flew me up and retreated to a safe distance. As predicted, the climb was of no concern and the Glyphs were indeed harmless. Crimson was the next to follow; naturally, another opportunity to see my fine derriere. She looked a little uneasy with the climb but refused my aid, always trying to impress me, Gustave you sexy beast. She began her climb and slipped instantly. I failed to grab her before she plummeted nearly 80' feet into the lake of vile juice down below. When engaging in a climb, one must be one with the rock, t’was quite clear that she was more interested in picturing me in my birthday suit. Some things, are just out of my control… No harm done though, but my beloved got a good chuckle out of it. Garland flew down to fetch our little drama queen, both covered in black ooze. If only I had a bag of feathers… Anyhow, some good came out of all this; the Admiral had noticed that the Skeletons were in the process of relocation the Shadow Pearls. The living dead had no interest in us, but, yet again, a new dilemma presented itself, bloody hell. Worse than that was a pitiful attempt to engage in the act of democracy. "Let's fight them" shouted Cidel, please. "Retreat to a random plane", replied Admiral Gansworth, typical. "Why don't we set the Pearls off", Lavinia, sweetheart, well… at least you have your looks. Glaive just stood there smoking in my face while poking into his empty eye socket; what ever toots your horn I suppose. I suggested that we simply go on, the weapons of mass destruction are out and we must learn of a way to disable them. Crimson agreed with me as she rubbed her self. I replied with the suggestion that Crimson stop playing with herself and to find a pool of water so that she can be rid of that vile filth. In response, like any 10 year old would do, she showered us all, charming. Anyhow, while they were preparing a voting session, I decided to engage in flight in order to investigate the convoy of skeletons. In doing so, 2 new portals were discovered, a source and a destination. We've had a fair share of experience with portals as of late, so I thought it to be a good idea to see where it led. You probably wouldn't believe me if I told you but, on the other side, the Skeletons magically turned into angels and flew to the heavens above. Blue skies, puffy clouds, birds chirping in the background, t'was like a dream just before a hangover. Their destination, an Island in the sky, I just had to see more. Upon my arrival, a man by the name of Pelor was sitting upon his mighty thrown, flanked by 2 piles of Shadow Pearls. He spoke out to me.

Pelor : Gustave, my son, you and your friends have done this universe a great deed. Please allow me aid you in you quest by keeping these Shadow Pearls at bay from those who wish to mishandle them. I assure, you they will be safe here and will be dealt with accordingly. A blessing upon you and your comrades, and safe journey. Farewell my child.

Sounded good to me, and off I went. Oddly enough, the story sounded perfectly good to the others as well. Moments later the Skeletons were no more and the complex was completely vacant. One last search to seek out any lingering trinkets was performed only to discover one last disturbance. A rogue Shadow Pearl was left upon a column within the Olman village. Probably a contingency plan. Crimson volunteered to take the Shadow Pearl, to Pelor on the Plane of Celestia, a logical course of action. She also recommended that we go to a neutral Plane in case something were to go wrong while moving the Pearl. A rare act of compassion on her part, perhaps I was drunk. While she risked her life for us, we were sampling the natural produce on the plane of Arcadia, home of St-Cuthbert. I for one had a plantain, the best-damned plantain I've ever had. I began to vanish upon consumption, but that shouldn't be anything to worry about. Garland on the other hand grew to the size of a Troll, he was giddy like a schoolgirl. Sadly Lavinia, Glaive & Cindel felt nothing, pity. Crimson was successful and came to fetch us shortly thereafter. Mind you, now I'll never know what she actually did with the damned thing. Oh well, not my problem, to the Lords of Dread. Again, I was the first to enter the portal to the unknown. Once there, as predicted, I was surrounded by water. Off in the distance several Kopru began their charge. I looked straight at them, portraying a sinister grin. Crimson was the last one to enter, triggering our master plan. The Tear's power was great indeed, never have I seen such destruction. The complex around us shattered into countless pieces, much like the Gansworth ship, and the Kopru plummeted to their deaths. Among them was another Kopru with 2 heads, the second Aspect of Demogorgon I presume. A large creature with many tentacles and another brain-like creature were found dead as well. Their souls, and their belongings, were now property of the Thralls of Vasharan. Off in the distance, the Spirit Naga from Fogmyre attempted to elude us, but failed; there was no escaping us. But, she did inform us that we were on the elemental plane of water and the portal back home had been destroyed. She knew of a way to get back but demanded that she go free in return for safe passage. Under the circumstances, with no way home and limited flight and water breathing, we graciously accepted. She was also kind enough to Plane Shift us at exactly the right spot, the Red Dragon's lair. Upon our arrival, we were deafened by yet another mighty cry, but Demogorgon's whining failed to spoil our resolve. In my near invisible state, I took the opportunity to fly to the skies in hopes to learn of the pirate's progress. What I saw was encouraging indeed. The 3 Brotherhood vessels had arrived and were giving them a run for their coin. So, Guildenstern, how do you like my little appetizer? But try not to indulge yourself; I hear the main course is to DIE for. Please understand, I've learned that psyching ones self is much more rewarding than soiling ones loins. Our next destination, into the fog, at the very heart of this island. But first, a trip to Sasserine was in order.

To be continued…

Summary 23: A Death Sentence for All

“Thank you priestess for checking up on me. I assure you I am completely recovered from the backlash of the spell that brought us all here to safety. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I wish to get back to my writings.”

(Jenya leaves the chamber, leaving the arch mage, Verodemocrium Moraztardia alone to continue to scribe in his journal)

If I did not see it, I never would have believed it. I have brought Cauldron to Occipitus, where here I was promised safety. This was the land I liberated. This was the land that was to be returned to the Celestial Planes above. Now I look upon a desolate landscape. And at its heart is the enormous smoking skull of some whelp whose identity I now know to be a man named Glaive. How can this be? What does this mean? My head pains me these days over the thought that it has been barely two years since I stopped Adimarcus and the plane of Carceri from taking over my city. A year later, came the near death of the world when Kyuss was resurrected, in no small part thanks to the group called the Harbingers of Faith. Luckily, it was those same Harbingers who destroyed the Worm God. Now yet again I feel as though something threatens everything again. It seems I have limited control over what is to come, at least for the moment. And so I have truly and utterly given my faith to Vecna, for he is the only one I can trust. He helped to make me who I am. He guides me when I need his words. He will protect me, if he feels I am worthy. Looking back to past great events, Vecna has always seemed to be a player within the folding of time. And in every situation, he has come out more powerful than before, while the world too becomes equally stronger. But now is not the time for such quiet reflection. Today I write down my analysis and conclusions on the most recent information that my pupil Soulerio has sent me. After hearing of this Glaive person’s possible importance, I had sent Soulerio to quietly and discreetly observe this strange fellow in order to determine the treat that he and his companions might pose to everyone.

It seemed that the Thrall’s of Vasharan, as they called themselves, had stumbled upon an ancient Aboleth city below the Isle of Dread. They decided to scout its surroundings, while their friend Cindel studied her pointless druidic spells. The first item of observation was a portal. Garland had noted that it was well used, while Crimson seemingly identified the planar marks that could be selected to determine the portals destination.

Leaving it for later, they then approached a strange pillar. Both Garland and Gustav apparently recoiled from some sort of necromantic energy that surged from it. Given that Garland tracked foot paths away from it, the pillar seemed to be an obvious trap. Footnote: I must remember to ask Soulerio to investigate this pillar as it might prove a useful weapon to use against the Pelorians.

Their next stop was the entrance chamber to the planar doorway where the master constructor of the shadow pearls dwelled. To my amazement, they encountered a foe they could not best; a set of simple magical wards. Even in my earlier days, I could have easily passed by them unharmed. But this band seems to be quite ill-equipped to handle something so commonly encountered. It makes me wonder whether they are so arrogant in their power that they think nothing can stop them? Or is it, as I suspect, that some entity has allowed them to get as far as that have? Perhaps giving the illusion that it was the Thrall’s own skill that has so far beaten all the odds?

The group spoke to a trapped Aboleth in a dark pool of water, in order to gain further information on the rest of the city. This is how they were able to communicate safely with an interesting creature: Shaboath, a demonic elemental. It was in a separate pool, and in a very weakened state. Upon calling its name out, they received a heated response. Once they convinced it that they were here to help, and not harm, the demon became more diplomatic. He said that if they freed him to his ancestral plane, then he would be in their debt. In order to do so, they would need buckets to bail out the demon piece by piece. And so they moved onto another chamber to acquire such items.

The chamber I speak of was one filled with Olman slaves. The tribe was not as dominated as originally surmised. The Olmans took great offense to having their buckets pilfered. Yet the woman called Crimson gave a teary-eyed speech to them in their own language, saying she needed the buckets to bring fresh water to her dying family. Her words were so convincing, the entire town offered whatever they could spare and more. How a woman can speak with such conviction, without any magical aid, is a mystery.

As the band went back to the portal pool, Shaboath in their buckets, they came across a very strange entity. It was something I would have enjoyed seeing my friend Eadfrid confront one on one. The beast was called a Braincollector. It sent a magical compulsion to Crimson to set the buckets near the necrotic pillar, the same that had nearly killed Garland and Gustav earlier. By all appearances, Crimson obeyed, yet she started taking a wide berth. She said she was simply taking a short cut to the pillar that she knew of. Only then did Soulerio recognize that she was playing the ruse of being charmed. He also saw the telltale signs that she was communicating telepathic instructions to her comrades. Still speaking to Crimson, the Braincollector asked her to come towards him, that he might feast upon her brain. The sneaky woman though, convinced the monster to advance on her friend Gustav, as twas he the most intelligent. And so it did, hitting the duelist, but failing to grab hold in order to feed. By now the ruse was over, and everyone attacked. Their initla strikes seemed inconsequential however.

That is until Glaive brought forth is true power.

With practiced ease, two wands sprung from his hands to fire ten magic missiles. He then twitched his index finger to send five more missiles. The sudden barrage left the Braincollector in a sorry state. It tried to bargain with the Thralls of Vasharan, granting some information. All the while it was preparing to cast invisibility on itself. When it did though, the one called Garland saw right through the enchantment. He bloodied the beast with his spear to negate the spell, paving the way for Glaive to send another ten missiles flying forth. This sent the Braincollector hurling through the air in a broken heap right near the pillar. There it burned to ashes as, even in death, the pillars magical fires consumed it.

From what little information Soulerio overheard, the creature had said that a circle of beings calling themselves the Lords of Dread, were behind the shadow pear distribution. Among their number was a “demon lord in the making.” Within several nearby dark pools were fifty shadow pears already constructed, while another like number had already been sent to cities everywhere. Once Shaboath was returned to the Stygian river plane, the Thralls decided on a very brash course of action. They hatched a half-hazard plan to kill the fifteen Kopru below, whom had all the slaves in the complex dominated.

Kopru...

Myself and my Outsider allies once faced off against a such single foe. It was one of only two enemies who ever escaped us alive. The other was of coarse Orbius Valantru. There was a third, now that I think of it, but we honestly never cared much for the former high priestess of Wee Jas to destroy her.

Soulerio describes the fight between the Kopru and the Thralls of Vasharan as something quite fascinating. Paper is expensive though, so I shall skip over much of the details, and mostly concentrate on the one who concerns me the most. Yes, this was a most revealing fight for Glaive, as it has allowed me to see the kind of spell hurler he is; a war mage. I find it quite strange that all the inquiries I’ve made across the world, has yet to yield any results as to where he learned all his powers. But I digress.

The kopru were spread wide over the mushroom stalk. Crimson used a ring that Cindel gave her, to send a small fireball into their midst, while an Improved Invisibilitied Glaive, launched a much larger one at the same spot. With the surprise out of the way, the only three visible combatants flew to meet their deaths. Kopru you see, have the nasty ability to dominate, as I wrote earlier. I suppose the trio thought their wills stronger than what they truly were. No sooner did the battle begin when Lavinia was mind-controlled into attacking Crimson. Garland and Gustav were at that point unaffected, and they did their best to drop a Kopru each. These creatures are nearly as tough as an under hulk to drop. The shock on each of their faces was quite evident to my protégé as their weapons only slightly slowed two of the creatures down. Another tremendous fireball engulfed several Kopru. Glaive seemed to posses a degree of malice for he had centered that spell on Gustav. The duelist luckily jumped out of harms way though. Soon another wave of dominating spells came. This time it was Garland who became enthralled. By his fortune, Crimson cast a spell on him that allowed him to shake off the enchantment. Glaive meanwhile seemed to delight in changing spell tactics. He sent orbs of sonic and acid into the melee to down single enemies, then threw fireballs around to hurt groups of Kopru. Every so often he would draw both magic missile wands to simultaneously send orbs of force every which way. Like I preach to my own students, magic will always win the day. In the case against the Kopru, that was clearly evidenced. In the end, the Thralls of Vasharan stood minimally unscathed, while fifteen dead Kopru lay smoldering around. Somehow they knew where to find some sort of strange magical gem, as afterwards they tunneled into the mushroom stalk to retrieve it. Once it was in their hands, they decided to dispatch some hook horrors they had earlier passed by. Soulerio did not follow them there, as he chose that moment to send his report to me.

Given the developments I heard from his thoughts, I decided to meet with my one and only master; Lord Vecna. With his help, I determined that my own town of Cauldron had a shadow pearl hidden in the abandoned temple of Pelor. With no thoughts to my own safety, I retrieved the pearl and then disintegrated the temple to dust. I then gave the pearl to Vecna to keep safe and to study. I also instructed Soulerio to retrieve the fifty shadow pearls near his location, and to bring them directly to Vecna immediately. Powerful magic artifacts such as the these pearls should only be handled by the master of the Shadoweave. And besides, it would not be wise to allow possible enemies like the Vasharan group, to get their hands on them. It took only several moments for Soulerio’s undead minions to appear, each with a shadow pearl in their skeletal hands.

There is a resonance in the air, (by that I mean a divination cast by Jenya,) that the Thralls of Vasharan are to be our saviors. Even through a single day of observations, I can not help but doubt this. Their ranks are unified by but a single thread. This fiber could be so much strengthened if one of two elements was not holding onto it: Lavinia and Crimson. Should one of them die, the rest would be made much stronger. Why none of the other members in the group has done so is a mystery. I may ask Soulerio to do so, just to see the results, before I have him bring the woman back to life through a raise dead spell.

Going back to my initial thought. The goal of the Thralls of Vasharan was to seemingly save the lizard-like things and the Olmans. Once the Kopru’s were destroyed, their magical hold on all of them was severed. The Thralls led first the lizard-beings to the portal. They said they would send them to the plane of Celestia where there they would be safe. However, Crimson touched the glyph that sent them all instead to Mechanus. The Olmans meanwhile were told that they would be sent to the Gardens of Yondalla. Yet Crimson instead triggered the glyph that sent them to the prison plane of Carceri! This continues the doubts I have upon this band of adventurers. To do such a ruthless act as this, shows me the true unpredictability of the Thralls of Vasharan. In but an instant, they had sent hundreds of innocents to their deaths. And by their own words, this was their way of saving them. To that end, I shall continue to analyze the threat of these five individuals. Thank the Even-Handed they will not have the shadow pearls to use for their own whims. I will have Soulerio continue to observe and report. I will likely replace him on a few occasions as I know he has his own studies to look after. In the meantime I think perhaps I shall contact a few other powerful individuals such as Prince Zeech and Manzorian to warn them of a possible black pearl in their midst. And to warn them as well of a possible threat on the horizon: the Thralls of Vasharan.

(Elsewhere in the Universe)

What strange creatures you are. Where ever did you come from? Can you speak?

(guttural reply)

No, there are no angels here I’m afraid. What do you think of everything else you see? Isn’t it efficiently run? And to think, at the heart of it all is a single gear. Although I do not see any rivets upon your outer shell. I am not sure if you are beings who can survive here for very long.

(Their reply is of one of rage, their voices drown out the many strange sounds around)

I am not with those who sent you here. However I do know of a way to a place where I have seen creatures with similar exoskeletons like yourselves. It is a doorway that allows me secret passage between that plane and this one. Follow me. Watch where you walk though, there are many natural elements that can grind your flesh to gelatinous instability. I do not think your grey wrappings can protect you from such a fate.

(Many hours go by. Many of their number stumble into the machine. Still they follow the strange one. His word of safety is their last hope of survival, so says the leader among them. Soon they come to a mysterious gate. Through there, the stranger leads them. Through there they are met with no warmth of sandy soil. Instead, it is a bitter cold wind that strikes at their skin. Blankets of snow cover stone floor. )

You are safe now. This is a world where I have seen fleshlings like you originate. It is called Eberron. Perhaps here you will find the angels that Vasharan promised you.

(It is too cold. Almost immediately, a dozen of their number succumbs to the elements, their faces twisted in a frozen state. Rage. Betrayal. Vengeance. The emotions wash over the entire tribe at a single moment. There is no need for a command from their chief as they collectively overrun their strange golden ally who has led them to this new doom. They rip at him with their claws until he lies broken in the snow. From his wounds, a sickly ooze pools around the chamber, turning the ice to the color of midnight. Shaking, unused to such cold, the lizard-creatures ascend a nearby stairway in search of warmth.

While Osakari the Nimblewright is left to die in the snow.