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--- v2session23 [2008/01/11 21:14] – jims
+++ v2session23 [2017/05/27 18:57] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 ^ Player ^ Character ^ Race ^ Class ^
 | Dave | [[Freyrik]] | Human(Feytouched) | Warlock/7 |
-| Ken | [[Ash]] | Human(Aasimar) | Paladin/6 |
+| Ken | [[Ash]] | Aasimar | Paladin/6 |
 | VW | [[Heilli]] | Human | Illumine Soul/1, Soulknife/5, Psion/1 |
 | Kurt | [[Ketamine]] | [[Crag Gnome]] | Barbarian/1, [[Witch]]/6 |
 | Chris | [[Yosi]] | Wood Elf | Barbarian/7 |
-| Val | [[Allie]] | Human(Aasimar) | Favored Soul/6, Ranger/1 |
+| Val | [[Allie]] | [[Lesser Aasimar]] | Favored Soul/6, Ranger/1 |
 //Note: This adventure comes from
@@ Line 108: / Line 108: @@
 This room holds a variety of skulls -- apparently cleaned out by the Mind
 Flayer.  One of the skulls wears a
-**//[[http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/wondrousItems.htm#circletofPersuasion
+**//[[http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/wondrousItems.htm#circletofPersuasion|
-|circlet of persuasion]]//** (which [[Ketamine]] puts on).
+circlet of persuasion]]//** (which [[Ketamine]] puts on).
 //Area D5)// The Laboratory
@@ Line 136: / Line 136: @@
 Note: The **//the king's crown//** is magic and functions as
-**//[[http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/wondrousItems.htm#headbandofIntellect
+**//[[http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/wondrousItems.htm#headbandofIntellect|
-| headband of intellect +2]]//**.
+headband of intellect +2]]//**.
 //Area D7)// The Library
@@ Line 143: / Line 143: @@
 After a short time keeping watch over [[Yosi]], [[Ketamine]] notices a massive
 Yuan-ti Abomination on a balcony overlooking this library.  To her surprise,
-though, he merely says, "I have wondered if you would show up here. Once your
+though, he merely says, //"I have wondered if you would show up here. Once your
-friends arrive, I believe we should talk."
+friends arrive, I believe we should talk.//
 She quickly flies up, switches back to Gnome form, and reports on her encounter.
@@ Line 157: / Line 157: @@
 movements.
-**Yuan-ti**: //"I am Zoldathra, Master of the Word. I have been a member of the
+**Zoldathra**: //I am Zoldathra, Master of the Word. I have been a member of
-Vanguard of Sertrous for decades.//
+the Vanguard of Sertrous for decades.//
-//"As we have what amounts to a //religious// difference, I understand if you
+//As we have what amounts to a //religious// difference, I understand if you
 are unwilling to accept this proposal.  However, I offer it in complete
 sincerity.//
-//"Until recently, I thought that I was privy to the greatest secrets of my
+//Until recently, I thought that I was privy to the greatest secrets of my
 organization.  I was wrong.//
-//"One day, Sertrous will rise and the Vanguard will rule in his name. You
+//One day, Sertrous will rise and the Vanguard will rule in his name. You
 cannot stop that. But perhaps we can work together in the interim, to prevent
 the travesty envisioned by the Vanguard's current leaders.//
-//"Only recently have I learned that the creature they intend to bring forth
+//Only recently have I learned that the creature they intend to bring forth
 with the Sacrament of the Risen Abyss is intended not to rule the world, but to
 help destroy it. I dare not move against my leaders directly, but perhaps with
@@ Line 196: / Line 196: @@
 bad?
-**Zoldathra**: //"Yes, Elf!  Use your rage.  Your hatred.  It will make you
+**Zoldathra**: //Yes, Elf!  Use your rage.  Your hatred.  It will make you
 powerful!//
-//"But be wary that it is targeted at the proper enemy.//
+//But be wary that it is targeted at the proper enemy.//
-//"The one you must stop is Sulvaugren.  His madness devised the Sacrament of
+//The one you must stop is Sulvaugren.  His madness devised the Sacrament of
 the Risen Abyss.  He lied to our people and squandered our considerable
 resources to gather the pieces to his dangerous puzzle.  He, even now, has
 reduced the might of Castle Serastis to that of a human village.//
-//"As for the reality of his danger, have you forgotten your history, Elf?
+//As for the reality of his danger, have you forgotten your history, Elf?
 [[end_of_the_world|The end of Immenri]] was brought about by ONE being.  And
 when Sertrous rises, his power will be even greater than the orc-father.//
-//"I offer the following deal.  I will provide information to assist you in
+//I offer the following deal.  I will provide information to assist you in
 stopping the Sacrament.  I will delay and divert the returning patrols so that
 they will not continue to bother you.  I will instruct you on the use of the
 portals in the Tower of the Way.//
-//"With my information, you will intercept the Vanguard patrols that are, as we
+//With my information, you will intercept the Vanguard patrols that are, as we
 speak, retrieving the remaining items that Sulvaugren needs for his ritual. You
 will then proceed to the Tower of the Worlds and stop Sulvaugren.  If you
@@ Line 295: / Line 295: @@
 to be slave to its word. We need its knowledge, and if it leads us to an ill
 end, the dirge will be Zoldathra's.
+**[[Freyrik]]**: So Zoldathra, How do we activate the portals? For what purpose
+do they need the Kings bones? Can they succeed without the Kings items and/or
+his bones?
+**Zoldathra**: //Does this mean you accept my terms?//
+**[[Heilli]]**: I agree to your terms.  Anyone who does not may leave, now.
+**[[Ketamine]]**: What an unfortunate turn! Heilli, Ash, I wish you well.
+Perhaps, if you return to Stillsquall, we can renew our previous comradery. For
+know, however, I have had my fill of the presumption of our companionship. As
+for the rest, it has been a pleasure. You company will always be welcome and
+appreciated, in the future as it has been in the past //(Gives a minor nod/bow
+to Yosi, turns, and leaves the room.)//
+**[[Ash]]**: Ketamine, we have had our differences, but never to this degree.  I
+fear that the circlet you wear bears a curse like the one I suffered from the
+armor.  I beg you, remove the circlet so that we may all know that you speak of
+your own mind.
+**[[Ketamine]]**: //(pauses, removes circlet without turning, and drops it to
+the ground)//  My mind is as clear is my words.  //(exits down an unexplored
+stairway)//
+**[[Allie]]**: We should make a deal with Zoldathra because retrieving the
+king's bones is the greater quest.  Now I am going to see what Ketamine
+is up to.  //(she heads downstairs after [[Ketamine]])//
+**[[Freyrik]]**: Heilli, your presumption that you have more authority than you
+command is astounding.  I will decide if I agree or not agree to his terms!  I
+will decide whether I leave or not leave!  I will decide as to whether I destroy
+evil or not!
+//(Freyrik turns to face Zoldathra with his back to Heilli. Takes a deep breath.
+The glow from his hands disappears and the glow from his eyes fade but lingers
+ever so slightly.)//
+Zoldathra, Master of the Word, //(Nods in respect for his title)//  **//I//**
+agree to your terms.
+//(Turns to face Ash.  Takes off the Helm.)//  Do you have any questions of me?
+//(Puts the Helm back on.)//
+**[[Yosi]]**: Wait, Ketamine!  //(Turns toward the group)//  Did you have to
+piss her off?  I'll try to talk to her.
+//(Yosi runs off after Ketamine)// Wait up Ketamine, let's talk about this!
+**[[Heilli]]**: Freyrik, there was never an assumption.  We had reached an
+impasse, and I was solving it in the most expedient way possible.  I would be
+happy for you to be by my side, or Ash's side, or Allie's side.  Please don't
+think that I have ever spoken for you;  I respect whatever decision you make, or
+Ketamine makes...or anyone makes.  Even if it only I and Likami (who appears to
+agree with me) I will listen, and accept these terms.  I apologize if you ever
+though I tried to speak for you.  Free will is the foremost of my Beliefs.  Stay
+or go...it is, and has always, been up to you.
+This is not "Leadership"...this is Momentum.  I welcome you at my side.  I
+always have, despite our occasional differences.
+**[[Freyrik]]**: Apology accepted.  Ash what is your will.  Do you accept or not
+accept?
+**[[Heilli]]**: Hardly an apolgy, but an acceptance of your Free Will, which I
+have always accepted and appreciated.  Never an assumption to speak for you.
+Hell, barely an assumption to speak for Likami, who is, fundamentally, my other
+Half.
+We welcome you in our quest, and hope that all of our friends return unharmed.
+But I wish to hear out this creature, should it be to our advantage.
+Thank you for both your rationality, and your concern for our friends.  I wholly
+and deeply appreciate both, for we need both to succeed.
+And thank you for not raising this to the level of conflict, although I see that
+you could have.
+Again, I ask for your help, not your obedience.
+**Zoldathra**: //Nice team you have, child.  You think you can keep them
+together long enough to face Sulvaugren?//
+**[[Heilli]]**: Don't make our discussion look like weakness;  marching lockstep
+makes you predictable, which makes you unable to change and learn, which makes
+you defeatable.  I have no doubts of the abilities or the creativity of my team.
+When faced by a creature such as you, with an offer given this way...well, I
+imagine were the roles reversed, you would hesitate to take my word as well.
+We fragment, discuss, unify and defeat.  That is what we do, and what we will
+always do.  Against Sulvaugren or any other threat.
+**[[Líkami]]**: Dude, if you ever try to mess with the minds of anyone in our
+little  family here again, I will turn you into a pair of boots.
+//(downstairs)// **[[Ketamine]]**: ...stupid snake... sniff... can't trust
+'em....everybody knows that... stupid meanies... probably get swallowed...
+sniff... stupid lock...
+=== Zoldathra's Deal ===
+**Zoldathra**: //While it amazes me that you have made it as far into Serastis
+as you have, you humans seem to be my only chance to stop Sulvaugren's
+insanity.//
+//But first, an explanation...  The Sacrament of the Risen Abyss is the central
+element to Sulvaugren's plan. Through a combination of blood sacrifice and dark
+rites, the sacrament forges a bond between the Abyss and the mortal world.
+Creating that bond requires the remains of a mortal creature with great mystical
+power. Steeped in prophecy, the bones of the forgotten king best served the
+Vanguard's plan. When complete, the sacrament will allow the Vanguard to channel
+a fragment of Sertrous's dream-self into a creature risen from the remains: a
+corrupt amalgamation of fiendish and undead essence.//
+//This plan was championed by Sulvaugren, with help from Gazaron and others.  It
+was sold to us as a way to stir Sertrous from his deep slumber and place a spark
+of his essence into the body of the risen king.  With Sertrous able to grant our
+priests divine power once again and with the risen king's unholy power at our
+disposal, we would have first converted our own people to the worship of
+Sertrous, and then marched at the head of an army of the living and the undead,
+converting other nations by the sword.  In the end, an empire of Sertrous would
+stretch across the continents and the Slumbering Serpent would be elevated to a
+true god.//
+//However, the sacrament is a lie.  It hides a darker truth.  The "spark"
+implanted in the risen king will not be just an avatar of the slumbering
+serpent.  It will be Sertrous himself!  And once our lord is able to directly
+experience and influence the world again, his sole purpose will be to seek
+additional hosts so that he can repeat the Sacrament of the Risen Abyss.
+Eventually, enough of Sertrous's dream self will become active for the demon
+lord to truly awaken from his millennial slumber.//
+//And here's the key point.  I worship Sertrous.  I have devoted myself to him
+and believe he will guide my life and afterlife to great heights of power.//
+//**But He must NOT be allowed to awaken!**//
+//Since Sertrous fell to the material realm before the gods created The
+Concordant, he would not be bound by its limits.  With his strength returned, he
+would rise **in this world** as an unstoppable being of pure nihilistic hate and
+godlike power.//
+//The ritual began a week ago, but the Vanguard continues to gather components
+for its use.  Even now, patrols have been sent through the portals to distant
+lands to collect four remaining items://
+  * //The phylactery of a lich who was one of the forgotten king's greatest enemies//
+  * //The king's scepter//
+  * //The blood of a fey whose family once blessed the king's line//
+  * //An object touched by Sertrous himself//
+//To weaken the sacrament, you must either find these components before the
+Vanguard operatives or take them by force.  There are five active portals in the
+Tower of the Way.  Four of them will take you to these four items.  But be
+warned.  The portals have permanent "alarm" spells on them.  The Vanguard will
+be alerted to your movements so you must make your trips as quickly and
+efficiently as possible.//
+//I will use my influence to keep the Vanguard away from you as best as I can,
+but I can make no promises.//
+//The fifth portal in the Tower of the Way (the one at the highest point on the
+stairs) will take you to the Tower of the Worlds.  While the three main towers
+(Worship, Way, and Word) are visible from the outside, the Tower of the Worlds
+is built atop the cliff -- but is out of phase with the rest of our world.  The
+sacrament takes place there even as we speak.  Be warned, though -- enough of
+the sacrament's components are already assembled that it can no longer be
+stopped. Your only hope lies in thwarting the collection of the last relics
+necessary for the rites, and in harrying the so-called leaders of the Vanguard
+as they seek to complete their plans.//
+//Finally, there are two other portals that will take you to the Tower of the
+Worlds.  They are the lowest ones in this tower and in the Tower of the Worship.
+I have written the combinations for all of these portals on this scroll.//
+(he drops down a scroll tube)
+//Now that I have given you the information you need, you must uphold your end
+of the bargain -- if you are capable.//
 **//to be continued...//**