Campaign1/session-5
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Waiting for Selmoc
Session Date: October 19,1999
Assynt 19, 1022 - Continued
"We are in the Ring of Fire." Selmoc's words echoed off the cold walls dimly lit by his solitary light. A brief moment passed until the silence was broken with a cacophony of questions, ranging from how they got here to how they would survive and return to Kalen. Max asks why Selmoc cannot simply transport them back to Kalen... after all, he's a mage isn't he? Selmoc shakes his head and tries to explain that there are numerous reasons why it wouldn't work, most stemming from the incredible distance that must be traversed (estimated to be around 700 miles). Max does not seem to grasp the concept, and is interrupted by Mazériyan, who is keen to discuss with Selmoc how they were transported from Kalen, and how Selmoc was able to redirect them from Dahlia's intended target: Neist.
Charlis, fancying himself the most natural leader of this rag-tag group, halts this dialog, and asserts that their immediate concern should be assessing the current situation, with discussion of how they got there for another time. Charlis suggests that an inventory of useful materials that were transported with them should be started, focusing on immediate needs such as food and warmth (since it feels below freezing inside the building).
A quick search of the dead and the environs yields several useful items, including some cloaks. One of the cloaks is given to Melosia, whose small frame and lack of warm clothing have quickly rendered her quite cold. Selmoc indicates that a small room attached to the temple contains a fireplace, but that they must leave the central chamber and go outside to reach it.
The group, which consists of Charlis, Mazériyan, Max, Rheanon, Telovien, Selmoc, Melosia and her assistant, gather some wood for the fire by breaking many of the fine sturdy chairs which formerly graced the King's Banquet hall. Those who are unable to break the strong chairs carry them intact as Selmoc leads the way to set of heavy double doors at the end of one of the extensions.
"This door has already been checked for traps and disarmed, so it is safe to use. You should not make the same assumption about other doors in this facility." Drawn shadows caused by the ball of light above his head give his warning ominous overtones, "While some of the traps here are quite obvious, some are also quite subtle. We lost our expert on such devices during the last expedition, to a trap which he did not find, so clearly they are the work of masters."
Selmoc opens the door, and a blast of cold air braces the group. He leads them on a covered walkway around to the entrance of room attached to the central sanctuary. The walkway encircles a small courtyard with a statue in its center. Telovien asks why they did not simply cut across the courtyard to reach the door, and Selmoc shrugs. "The is no harm in crossing the courtyard per se, but in the Ring of Fire I choose a covered path whenever possible."
"Is there some danger from the sky?" Telovien looks into the sky over the courtyard, and finds only a murky overcast night.
"In this place, there are occasional showers of rocks from the sky. I do not think they will kill you, but the bruises and welts that you get from the pummeling make it worthwhile to take precautions." Selmoc opens the door and everyone huddles into the shelter of an empty square room roughly forty feet across, with the quadrant diagonal to the door entrance walled off and featuring a large fireplace with a stone-hewn mantlepiece.
With the door closed, the Charlis, Max and Mazeriyan set about building a fire, while Rheanon and Telovien converse with Melosia. With the fire settled, and the blood soaked cloaks of the fallen drying nearby, the group's discussion again turns to methods of returning to Kalen.
Selmoc indicates that he is willing to make one trip back to Kalen to get supplies and inform the authorities what happened, and if possible, to summon help. Due to the difficulty in magical teleportation over long distances, Selmoc is quick to douse any hopes that someone from the Royal Mage corps will be able to simply come back and rescue them. Even the elven lands are sufficiently distant that the chances of success are no better. His belief is that the only realistic way back is to walk the path that his expedition did a few weeks ago.
Resigned to the likelihood that they will have to walk back to Kalen, everyone begins to work out a list of supplies that they will require (limited by Selmoc's ability to carry the supplies), along with personal requests for people to be informed of the situation. "I will not be able to return before morning, perhaps noon." When queried why it will take so long, Selmoc explains that it may take some time to gather supplies and speak to the people that they requested.
He also indicates that it may take some time to actually reach Kalen, if his spell fails to deliver him. "In addition, with each failure, I have equal chances of ending further from Kalen rather than closer. It may take many attempts, and each one requires that I rest before I can try again."
Mazeriyan asks if it is possible to assist in casting the spell, perhaps improving the chance for success.
"An interesting idea, though clearly we are taught from very different schools of Magic... it may cause some interesting complications." Selmoc strokes his chin, looking deep in thought. Mazeriyan nods, "Yes, I can see where that might present some difficulty. An experiment for later perhaps?"
Selmoc grins, "Perhaps..."
Before Selmoc departs, Melosia approaches Selmoc and clasps his head in her hands. For a moment, Selmoc winces, and then Melosia withdraws. Selmoc, his graven face the color of ash, slowly nods. "I understand."
Selmoc bids the others goodbye, and begins a graceful, but elaborate dance. His hands trace sigils in the air, their presence persisting a short time as a glowing red trail following his fingertips. Several minutes elapse, and at the end of the ritual, Selmoc brings his fingertips to touch spots on his arms which glow faintly beneath his shirt. In a flash of light, he is gone.
With Selmoc gone, the others close in around the fire, the room slowly warming from its glowing cast. Max suggests that it would be wise to know a little more about one another, given that some of them have just met. Though broached as an invitation for introductions, his eyes look intently at Melosia and her assistant.
Melosia looks ill-at-ease, and glances at her assistant. "Why do you look at me?" the assistant asks.
"I wasn't looking at you," Max addresses the assistant, "but that reminds me, why do you always speak for her? Who are you?"
Placing his hand on his chest. "I am her translator. My name is Sitric."
Turning back to Melosia, Max presses further, "And why were you in Kalen, with that army of elves?"
"I cannot speak of military matters." Sitric stiffens slightly, obviously offended by the question. "I was sent to act as Seeress for the King during these turbulent times."
"How do you know what she wants you to say? She never says anything to you!"
As Melosia leans forward to embrace Max's head, Sitric says "Let me show you." Max jerks backwards, clearly uneasy, his hand hovering towards a kitchen knife he retrieved from the banquet hall table.
Melosia turns toward Charlis, who allows her to clasp his head between her hands. His mind is filled with the sound of the most hauntingly beautiful music he has ever heard, its character rich with harmonies but with an undercurrent of great sadness, its fabric weaves the words "Now do you understand?".
Melosia returns to sit beside Sitric, and pulls her cloak tighter. Max looks warily at Charlis, "Are you ok?"
"Yes." Charlis answers Max, then turns to Melosia "Yes, to both your questions."
Max grumbles something under his breath about being surrounded by 'frickin mages', and asks if anyone else is interested in exploring the rest of the temple while they wait for Selmoc. Telovien and Mazeriyan are keen to explore, while Charlis and Rheanon stay with Melosia and Sitric. The three of them explore the exterior of the the temple, as well as the interior hall where they were teleported. Finally, the biting cold wind forced them to return to the warming room.
With the long night ahead of them, everyone settles down to catch some sleep. There is some debate over the need for someone to stay awake and keep watch, and finally Telovien and Rheanon accept that since they're the only ones who feel it is necessary, they will have to keep watch.
While the others sleep, Rheanon keeps the first watch. Melosia's fitful sleep is broken, and in a half-daze settles by the fire, her cloak wrapped tightly about her. She produces a leather pouch, and empties its contents of various rune-etched bones before her. Clasping the bones in her hand, and closing her eyes for a moment, she casts the bones against the floor. For a long time, she is motionless, intently staring at the bones, as if in a deep meditation on their meaning. Abruptly, she gathers the bones from the floor and with a fluid motion, ushers them back into the pouch. The weight of sleep now upon her eyes, she returns to her prior sleeping spot and returns to sound slumber.
A while later, Rheanon hears a faint sound at the door. She realizes that someone is trying to open the door, and she wakes Telovien and explains what she has heard. Telovien wakes Max, but his outcry when he is roused pierces the silence, and the sounds stop. Max quietly approaches the door, and listens intently for further sound, and not finding any, he attempts to throw open the door, only to discover that it is locked!
After a false start with a splinter of wood, Max managed to get the door unlocked with Rheanon's short sword, which seems to be an ideal size for such endeavors. An examination of the area outside the warming room gave no hints as to the source of the noises, and a chair was used to block the door.
With the morning's light, the group arose, and compared notes from the prior night's experience. Charlis revealed that he locked the door prior to going to sleep, using a bit of wood from a chair, much to everyone's relief.
Leftover food from the banquet hall tables was gathered, and brought to be warmed by the fire. Telovien used his exceptional culinary skills to make the food very tasty, on par with the previous evening's meal. With food the last of the food consumed, Telovien and Rheanon decide to hunt for wild game as a supplement to any food which might arrive with Selmoc.
Despite Charlis's desire to be part of the hunting party, he is convinced to stay behind and 'guard the seeress'. To pass the time, Charlis practices lines from several dramatic works, while Mazeriyan works on some magical undertaking while Max looks on. Melosia spends the morning meditating, occasionally casting the bone-runes when she is drawn out of her reverie.
As late morning rolls around, Sitric (speaking on Melosia's behalf) announces that Selmoc will return soon. Charlis, now bored with reciting lines from his recent repertoire, becomes involved in several 'games of chance' with Max, which draws Melosia's rapt attention. Rheanon and Telovien return a short time later with 3 modest rabbits as the result of the mornings hunt.
The discussion of the hunt gently rounds to the topic of how to get home, and curiosity over what has become of Selmoc. As if on cue, Sitric announces that Selmoc has returned. Telovien, Mazeriyan, Charlis, Rheanon and Max leave the warming room, and meet Selmoc as he is exiting the main hall of the temple. He is heavily laden with furs and packs, which the others are most happy to liberate from his custody.
Back inside the warming room, Selmoc explains that it was a difficult journey back to Kalen, which required many attempts before he could finally succeed.
"Once I reached Kalen, I was fortunate to speak with those you requested before returning to the Castle. Once I reached the castle, it was made very clear to me that nothing of this affair must be spoken beyond the castle walls. Indeed, all of the castle has been locked down, with no one allowed to leave until the situation is stabilized and the important facts are known." Wrestling the backpack from his shoulders, Selmoc shrugged off several cloaks and furs. "I did my best to explain our situation, and what happened in the banquet hall, which is still standing despite the internal damage. All of Kalen's mage corps is currently at the castle, either helping with the investigation or magically reinforcing the banquet hall against collapse. I spoke with acting-Regent Mairghread Brackley, but there is little that anyone can do for us at the present time."
"Did you say 'acting Regent'?" The look of confusion on Charlis' face was shared by many.
"Yes." nodding solemnly, Selmoc drew a deep breath, "The King, his escort and the Regent have not been seen since they disappeared from the banquet hall. It is believed that the spell which brought us here may have also interfered with his teleport pendant." Pausing for a moment, Selmoc continued, "We have been asked to look for him out here, since this is where we ended up as a result of the same spell."
"How are we supposed to find him out here? The Ring of Fire is huge!" Max cries out, exasperated by the situation.
Looking toward Melosia, Selmoc says evenly "I'm hoping for a little inspiration."
Previously: Lines of Convergence
Followed by: Affairs of the Living and the Dead
Campaign 1 Index
