Allabrahni was in front of Felghanis’ eyes when he awoke. Her visage at once gave him hope and sorrow.
“You have earned a reward, Felghanis. What would you have that is suitable in the eyes of Araytor?”
“I would know what the Church want with the books,” Fel answered as the sleep seemed to wash from his mind and body as if born away by Allabrahni’s aura.
“That is unclear. It is certainly possible that the collection of the books are for their use, as you well suspect. What else would you know?”
“Where is Jonas headed?”
“To Dwarf Town. They plan to use the altar there.” The angel seemed to be expecting more questions.
“Where is the Titan’s Tear?”
“In the final tomb of the Hrimpursar elders.”
“And where is that?”
“At the feet of the Iron Teeth Mountains, in the silver forest. The trail is marked with stacks of carved stones.”
“How does Hydraxus fit into this?”
“Unclear, although Hydraxus claimed to be beyond the reach of cold when he claimed the throne of water on this plane.”
Felghanis was troubled. Hydraxus was a god, and on this plane? Does that mean the elemental lord of water walks Kiltayre? He shuddered.
“Will Araytor accept my worship?”
“Araytor accepts all worship,” Allabrahni smiled and gently caressed Felghanis’ brow as a mother might. “Be at peace and have Aid for this day.”
Felghanis was suddenly looking at the ceiling for Allabrahni was gone.
In Kalista’s room the young animist-wizard awoke.
“Ah, my girl. Araytor is proud of you,” Allabrahni beamed and took Kalista into an embrace.
“Now, what reward do you think is suitable from Araytor?”
“
I have given this much thought, and to answer the question: something to help me Defend the People and Reveal the Truth? |
The answer is myself. |
So all I ask is this: |
To have the Strength to Defend those that do not. |
To be quick of body and mind so as to act when action is needed. |
To have the endurance to persevere through the thickest of storms. |
To recognise truth from lies, good from evil, and for the wisdom to judge accordingly |
and lastly, the patience and pressence to lead the people to the truth and encourage others to do the same.”
“Of course my child,” Allabrahni touched Kalista on the forehead. A silver glow swelled and Kalista felt an energy surge through her. It was like her mind removed blocks and needles complexes – her soul grew.
When Kalista opened her eyes it was to a murky room without the safe warming glow of Allabrahni.
Don’ was already downstairs in the common room eating with the Dwarves. They all seemed distant and quiet, yet happy and content. Allabrahni had left a mark on their hearts and the enjoyed its lasting warmth.
“I had some questions answered,” Felghanis said as he joined them. He shared his impromptu interview with the angel to nods and smiles of approval.
“What should we do next?” It was Aenir who asked it once they were all fed.
“I’m not sure but my components are thin so I at least have to visit the markets,” Kalista said.
“The library likely holds answers for me. I want to know where the Iron Teeth Mountains is exactly and find out more about the Hrimpursar elders. Goran’s body needs to be buried. I can’t leave it there.”
“Goran’s body can wait, or someone else can take care of it, Felghanis.” Donhallan’s distaste for this was clear.
“What about the Scours?” Kellor aksed. “We might be able to catch them.”
“They’re too far gone,” Don’ said. “They have nearly a day’s head start on us and in the high plains it’ll be almost impossible to catch their trail.”
“You’re a bundle of joy,” Aenir mumbled into his beard.
Don’ scowled, “What we ought to be doing is finding out if Lady Sipran intends to go back to Vrim and then inform Lord Tovran.”
“Yes. Then let’s go see her,” Felghanis said.
“All of this is in one direction and we can stick together,” Kalista put forward, pleased that there was no need to separate.
The did so and at the Beaming Censer found the pompador they met last time.
“Ah, hello again. How may I help you?”
“We would like to speak to Lady Murelle, or Varnia, Sipran.”
The pompadour sat them in the lounge and returned shortly.
“Did you see an angel by the library last night, by chance"?”
“We saw a woman in a cloak,” Don said quickly, as Kalista covered her mouth in surprise.
“Oh. There are people looking for her and they’ll pay well to find her. If you see her do let me know.”
They were all distracted by the heavy footsteps of the shield guardian that shadowed Murelle Sipran to the lounge. Pompador left with a hurried bow.
“My young friends,” Lady Murelle said warmly but there was no smile.
The conversation was brief. Lady Sipran would be returning tomorrow.
The door of the Beaming Censer closed behind the last of them.
“She really had no idea what a treasure was passed down to her in the books,” Felghanis mused.
“It’s her dreams that bother me. She has so many that she can’t interpret them all. It’s sad,” Kalista added.
“Whatever the case she has been gracious and helpful. We will tell Lord Tovran.”
In the library they approached the keeper of books: the Blakh who was in four places at once. It smiled briefly.
“Is there a book on the Hrimpurar’s last tomb?”
“Hmm, this one may aid you.”
History of the Hrimpursar, Meyendir Aravalon – archmage & scholar.
The book was well-written and led them through many facts about the Hrimpursar, their society, and how they were exterminated by Kentos and his army. What stood out most to them was the Wunder Trial and how it was a requirement to enter the moot where debate for leadership of the clan could take place.
To Felghanis it was something else that stood out. Some of the elders who went to sleep, from which some would rise as Frost Titans, died or never came out of the last tomb. What if Hrimpursar had a ritual like a Baelnorn; undead guardian of a people? It caused tumultuous excitement but he contained it.
Brannighan was there for farewells and they left through the ‘private rooms’ of the Sipran family. Felghanis collected Goran’s corpse, two day old entrails fell all over him, and only Aenir would help.
Lord Tovran was pleased with their report and sent two servants with Felghanis to make the burial. He was surprised when Felghanis said he would bury Goran in the chapel’s graveyard.
The ground was hard and icy. With the rest of his party away Felghanis took a few spells on the shovel. It had been almost a lifetime since he’d unearthed a grave, or even dug one, and all that strength was lost. The servants were well used to labour and they kept at it far longer.
When Goran was interred Felghanis said a few words and instead of the normal closing line he replaced it with, “May Davinus watch over your soul.”
Something flew out of the grave. But it was so fast Felghanis thought he was seeing things.
One of the servants laughed, “That’ll teach him.”
The other answered, “Worshipping the wrong figure head. Everyone knows Davinus is the true head of the church.”
Felghanis was shocked. Not only did these peasants assume everyone knew that he felt something inside him. It was calling.
“Avenge me and I will aid you with the power of death.”
“What are you?”
“I am Goran.”
Related Posts:
June 9, 2012 3:03 pm
The players have encountered the “diversion”: a sword demon. A feararkh blade from the Pale of War. It has been giving them a serious smack down. All the foreshadowing of its power was ignored by one player and the rest stuck with them anyway to try and keep Felghanis alive.
Fate Points were burned! No-one has more than two left after starting with four each.
I think they can salvage it without spending more and technically they can’t spend more since the Fate Point wasn’t intended to ignore a blow and stay in the fight. It was intended to keep the PC alive after the blow and use the narrative to explain why they didn’t die. Good example is Kellor after being struck by Thiridea’s poleaxe. It certainly looked like the dwarf had his head smashed in but when they checked him Kellor was alive, unconscious and missing his ear along with a swath of skin off the side of his head – making the mess they thought was his skull’s contents.
Unfortunately I was caught up in the excitement and fear of the confrontation with the Feararkh and allowed, if not encouraged, the use of the Fate Points in that way. And to top off the bad GM’ing brought in Fenris as a TPK preventer (god mode Sue?). I reneged on that and ret-con’d it after the session ended. It was fairly pointed out to my face that was what I had done and although it cut a bit it felt good to “undo” it.
Given the party are in a bad tactical situation I have to think of some narratives to save the day.
1) The fate points already spent will still do what they were meant to. OOC explanation will be made up front to clarify how FP are intended to work and what the IC ramifications are going to be. That is PC’s will be “saved” by the FP already spent but still go down and look dead. In future that is all that FP will be able to do.
2) Intervention: there is a caster within the keep, Lady Murelle, who could intervene and possibly save the party.
3) Aftermath: FP based survival has the characters “wake up” to the aftermath.
I don’t know what’ll happen, and I have a few more ideas that I won’t list, but I’m hoping to get it back in the good zone after my GM stuff-ups.
Related Posts:
tags: adventure, campaign, Fiction, gamer, GM, ideas, Kiltayre, play, plots, reports, rpg, stories
June 2, 2012 12:47 pm
The trial should be fun. There’s a bit of a twist in that for the players that will put them off balance and realise that the NPCs are actually thinking & strategising. Also one of the PCs will gain a visit in an uncomfortable way. I’m hoping to arrange a one-on-one time before the main game so this can take place. It’s possible that they party will try to intercept a creature they can’t handle so it will be likely that Fate Points are required.
But this is conjecture. The main thing is that a reveal is coming up which should really make it a bit more confusing about the main plot element, yet brings the realisation that much more is at stake than they realise.
Probably too much information but I have to put it up anyway.
Related Posts:
|