The Lost Sanctuary

[harknail]

Vadaniar asked, "There were only three demons? I've seen serveral sites that I though housed demons. The first was being held in a holy water barrier, it was released when the town of Clearwater long used the water of the barrier for dtrinking water, not knowing what it was. Then there was an old graveyard where it seemed somethign was released. Then there was the temple of the silver flame, where we captured a demon, though like her it may have been only a fragment. There was a buried citty in the desert, but perhaps that was just the key to this place."

She thinks more, and asks, "We do have one of the ancient books, but it's just pictures and we can only guess at their meaning. Can you help explain these to us? And how can we reseal the actual demons? They are now far from their old prisons, there are just a few of us fighting them."

OOC: Not expecting the book to be translated. I can understand the reasons it's left vague :-)

[at]

"Three once princes of hell. The others their servants exiled with them or drawn into service by their conquests such as those you have fought, but only the three stand above the natural order. They like all who were cast to this realm by Io were made mortal but have used their knowledge to stand upon the precipice of divinity, always a step back that they not be returned to their realms and made vulnerable to their enemies once more."

"As servant of the heavens it is forbidden for me to meddle in the affairs of mortals beyond the strictures of divine law. So long as the brothers hold their tenuous link to mortality they escape judgement, but that which is mortal can be killed and the brothers powers and armies have diminished in their captivity, though it will not remain so."

The quesar turned its gaze towards the book, "the book shows the cities and armies that fought on both sides of the old war, heroes and rulers both. The story yet untold when I was sealed here shows the seat of the demons power on the material plane, a convergence of the elemental forces. The city states of Khepeshef to the east beyond the seas."



What little was taught of the eastern lands to you in youth was that the beyond the great sea was nothing but scattered barbarism and wild creatures unlike anything found in the steadlands. But it was clear some trade was made with civilizations across the sea even here in Alamut.

[crazydave]

"Was worth asking. Still, this is most helpful information. You have our sincere thanks," nods Archibald.

"It appears we have our next destination. Fascinating that these demons have effectively forced mortality upon themselves. Did they really not want to go home that badly?" muses Brenner.

[at]

"Nine hells, one ruler" replies Moriana, "even those who rise to lord over a circle of hell are subject to the whims of Asmodeus. Perhaps they saw this as a chance to circumvent his rule, or to escape his wrath. But whatever their intent it cannot be good for anyone on this plane."

[harknail]

Vadania asks, "Is there anything else you can tell us to help us fight the demons? Any idea how we can seal these powerful demons when there are so few of us fighting?"

[at]

"It is beyond my mandate to travel beyond this prison, but I can restore the power of the staff of Emmara. You will require it to seal this prison once more and its light is anathema to the Despoiler and its minions."

"I sense that you carry with you another relic that may guide you, one created after my entombment here. But balance your gathering of strength against the need for haste as each day the demons regain the power they have lost in imprisonment . Raise your armies and summon your heroes, but do so quickly if you wish to prevail."

[crazydave]

"Armies? Do we have any of those?" Archibald mumbles mostly to himself. (I as a player am largely unaware of any armies the party could rally, and am ignorant of any other relics the party carries)

[at]

Archibalds' own order, long past, was one such army formed to fight the demons. Over the generations it would seem that such guardian forces have faded and he does not know of others connected to his cause, though the sisters of the silver flame that Vadania encountered were another remnant.

So far however the demons have not moved openly on any of the larger empires and though Vadania has been hunting them for many months word of their return has been slow to spread - several of her allies have sought aid on other fronts however.

[crazydave]

Hmm... So, would it be prudent to go on a sort of propaganda campaign, then? Or should we continue as is, pursuing them with our merry little band? Harknail, what do you think?

[at]

(This particular chapter is over save for the wrap-up and journey onward, be that across the sea in pursuit of the demons or another direction in search of allies. While there are still a few things you can do here feel free to level up your characters, there are no more battles to be fought in this area)

[harknail]

Vadania will ask, "Do you know if there is anyone else left alive in the maze? If so, we'll need to recue them or deal with them on our way out."

My inclination is to chase after the demons and keep trying to thwart their plans to slow them down. We can notifify the king of all the issues, but leave raising an army to the NPCS. Neither I nor Vadania are good with intregue stuff like gathering forces.

[at]

A fresh light flares out as the Quesar holds a hand towards the staff, its length glows silver and gold as it did briefly in the buried city but this time it holds its luster.

"The light of the staff will guide you through the maze and protect you from harm, but once sealed from beyond only the staff can open this prison once more."


Archibald knows that many warriors entered the maze, though it has been some time since he has seen another living soul here. Perhaps they were hunted down and thrown from the path by the naga or slain by the traps within, or perhaps like Archibald some still survive here.

[crazydave]

Archibald will make that known. "There may be survivors in the maze, though none are personally known to me. Though sealing their fate would be unfortunate, I see no alternative save scouring the maze ourselves for them."

[harknail]

Vadania nods in agreement, "I agree, I would not want to trap someone in here!"

OOC: Does Neera have the ability to track by scent in full tiger form?

[at]

Oct 30, 2024 0:44:20 GMT -5 harknail said:

OOC: Does Neera have the ability to track by scent in full tiger form?

She gains the scent quality, but lacks the track feat and has a relatively low survival skill so success may be limited. Of course you have just hit level 9 so you have options open to you.

[harknail]

Vadania thanks for a bit, then say, "I can turn into a wolf, which will give me the ability to track by scent. More importantly, it will give me the ability to talk to Ylva, who is more experienced with the scents of various creatures. Unfortunately, while I'm a wolf, I will not be able to speak common. I will still be able to understand you, but I will only be able to respond with barks or gestures."

Unless someone has another idea of how to do the search, Vadania will make use of her rarely used wild shape ability to become a wolf. She will then direct Ylva (and the wolf summons if they are still around) to search for both humans and Yaun-ti by scent. Trying to make sure no one is left behind.

OOC: Actually she frequently uses this ability when standing watch with Ylva, so that they can talk while standing watch. Other than that, I only remember once when she used it to retrieve something from underwater.

[crazydave]

"That will work. Thank you, Vadania!" Brenner chimes in.

[at]

With little more to say and the worst of their injuries healed the group make their way back into the arcane maze, leaving the immortal quesar behind to contain the demon.

No naga wait for them as they emerge nor do any of the maze wraith and as Brenner holds out the newly rejuvenated staff its light seems to pull the twisted paths of the maze into more rigid shape as it pushes the mist back. From this elevated platform the paths no longer seem to turn back upon themselves though the walkways further beyond are still shrouded in darkness.

Perhaps the light will draw survivors here, or perhaps they must be tracked down as the warped maze still turns them away.

[harknail]

Vadania will change into a wolf, then she and Ylva (and the summoned wolves if they are still around) will start sniffing around to find signs of humans. Though it will just be wandering randomly until they pick up a scent trail. And she expects most of those will end with finding bodies.

[at]

Vadania and Ylva set about the search, perhaps destined to be fruitless within the magic of the maze but the party could not leave without at least trying. An hour passes without success but the group is able to navigate with greater confidence beneath the glow of the staff as the paths remain straight and clear before them and the magical wards of the maze remain dormant.

It is Brenner who first spots a gleaming light in the distance and then silhouettes in the distant mist. It seems that they too can see the light but they walk back and forth in the distance still turned about by the power of the maze.