Campaign1/session-6
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Affairs of the living and the dead
Session Date: November 9,1999
Assynt 20, 1022 - Continued
Melosia casts an uncertain and wary eye on Selmoc and the others. "I may be able to divine the King's location, but it is by no means certain. It may be more successful if each of you were to participate in the seeing."
"Let me guess, this involves magic right?" Max's voice tinged with thinly veiled disgust. "I don't want anything to do with it."
Melosia nods, "It is best if you leave when we are ready. Everyone who stays must be willing, and have a desire to find the King."
A skeptical look shades Max's face as he snorts "Why does that make a difference?"
"Our perception and will can impact the magical essence. What we perceive and what truly is are linked, a cooperative relationship." Melosia clasps her hands together, intertwining her fingers. "There is no objective reality, only what is shaped with our minds."
Max's eyes glaze over, but he snaps out of it just in time to cut Mazériyan off from continuing the lecture. "So you're telling me that I can interfere with magic?"
"Some types of magic are more susceptible to interference than others." Melosia shifts her gaze to Selmoc, "The spell which the Dargai used to transport us would have been very difficult to manipulate unless you knew something of how the spell worked."
Selmoc nodded, "Even then, it was very difficult, and I was only able to influence where we were sent."
Turning back to Max, Melosia continues "Calling for the sight, whether to see the past, present or future, is very sensitive to the state of those present, and their knowledge and experiences. It is delicate, like the steady stream of smoke rising from the glowing ember of a snuffed candle, greatly affected by the smallest air current."
Seemingly pleased that he may hold some sway in the affairs of magic after all, Max indicates that the explanation is sufficient.
While Melosia meditates to prepare for the divination, the others explain to Selmoc what happened during his absence, including questions regarding any possible nearby settlements from which an unseen visitor may have come. Selmoc shakes his head, "We saw no one while we were here, and there is no indication of habitation anywhere in the Ring of Fire. It is a very inhospitable place."
Both Mazeriyan and Telovien express an interest in seeing the lower level of temple, where some of the artifacts were found in Selmoc's expedition. They decide to investigate after Melosia's ceremony, since she indicates that she is ready to begin.
As Max makes his exit, the rest are instructed to sit in a circle, with eyes closed, and think about what happened before the King disappeared. Many minutes pass, and then (as if dreaming) the scene of the banquet hall becomes visible, from a vantage point above and behind the King. The scene unfolds just as they remember it, and as the King, his escort and the Regent disappear, the bright flash of their teleportation expands to fill the whole view, then fades to darkness.
For a moment, all is dark. Then, as if dark-adaption has finally set in, some narrow slits of flickering light can be seen in the distance. As the view expands, the light resolves into a small campfire obscured by trees. The viewpoint approaches the fire, its dusky, dull light casts a pale yellow light upon the face of the Regent and the King's escort, huddled close to the flame to gather what meager heat it yields. The unconscious King lies with his head in her lap, the Regent's cloak covering him.
The Regent looks up, and at first his face is overjoyed, with the relief that comes from being found after losing one's way. His face turns cold with concern, as a voice speaks "I think you will come with us." The scene shifts and distorts, like a mirage swept away, and the light changes, becoming brighter until it appears like an eagle's view high above a forest, with a rock outcropping below. The rocks emerge from the ground like stony digits poking through the flesh of earth, rising to a hill at the center, with an opening which is guarded by two figures holding pikes.
The scene darkens again, and a dim view of an underground passageway emerges, and two shadowy figures loom out of the darkness and into the lantern light of a third figure whose face is turned from view. The two approaching resolve into Dahlia Exton and Faegan Islay. Dahlia is carrying a staff resembling one of the artifacts retrieved from the Ring of Fire. The scene fades as she gives the staff to the third figure, who appears to be a Dargai.
A blurry light and the sounds of a siege replace the darkness, and a much younger Mazeriyan is seen tending to some sort of engine, along with the Baron of Durness (as Mazeriyan later indicates). Many other figures are seen working nearby, with a few of them loading something into the engine. The vision is shattered by an explosion, and everyone is jolted awake.
Max returns to join in the discussion of the vision, and what it might mean. Selmoc indicates that he knows where that rock outcropping is located, since it is a very distinct landmark within the forest on the way back to the Kyelsoran from the temple. He finds it curious that anyone would be there, since he saw no indication of native habitation when his expedition passed near it several weeks ago. After much discussion, it is decided that the group should travel to the rock outcropping and investigate, noting that its only a slight detour from their direct route out of the Ring of Fire.
Before departing, the group decides to have a look around the temple. At first, Melosia and Sitric elect to remain behind, but after Melosia is shown the statue in the courtyard (which appears to be an elf with 6 digits), she is keen to join the others in their exploration.
Selmoc leads the way to the lower level of the structure, using a set of stairs accessed through a hidden door in the central dome area of the sanctuary. The lower level is dominated by a central circular area containing an altar, with four extensions leading away from the area, running underneath the corresponding corridors on the first floor. The floor of the central circular area is polished black stone, bordered by a ring of bright red stone. The stone ring features 4 inset grey marble blocks with a small shallow hole, each block aligned with the 4 extensions.
Though an intriguing diversion, the pressing matter of finding the King and returning home finally pulls the group from their examination of the temple. Charlis, Telovien, Rheanon and Selmoc make a detour to check a door on one of the exterior rooms that was unlocked when the last expedition departed, but now appears to be locked. With Max's reluctant assistance, the door is unlocked, and a small room with many wooden bunks is revealed. With the exception of the locked door, everything appears as it was when Selmoc last saw it. Puzzled and uncertain regarding the mystery of the locked door, they return to the warming room to prepare to depart.
With the food and gear packed, the group begins its journey out of the Ring of Fire. As the leave the temple, they can see that it is situated at the center of a large stone circle roughly 400 - 500 yards across. Several smaller stone pairs are found within the circle, perhaps serving as alignment stones.
Before leaving the circle, they remember the dead still within the temple and the need for a proper burial (at least for the respected deceased). All agree that it would look poorly on them if they simply left the bodies as they lay. Max, Selmoc, Telovien and Mazeriyan carried the bodies from the temple, and placed them beside the grave of the previous expedition's trap expert. To minimize the amount of digging, and eliminate the possibility that the Demarians could animate the dead, Mazeriyan and Selmoc cremate the bodies, and inter the ashes.
With the gruesome task finished, the party finally beings their descent off the large plateau upon which the temple rests. While the day is still cold, it is far warmer than the previous night, and with the added warmth of physical activity, the group is comfortable enough to travel until just after sunset.
At night, Selmoc creates a circle of warmth for the group to sleep in, and after night-watches are reluctantly set, everyone but the first sentry succumbs to sleep.
Assynt 21, 1022
Stiff from a nights rest on hard ground, the group gathers itself and continues their trek toward the forest. By mid-afternoon, they reach the edge of a vast forest which features prominently in the terrain of the Ring of Fire's southeastern quadrant. In this season, the trees are devoid of all leaves, and their clacking black branches contrast starkly with the stormy grey sky. The shape of the trees reflects the harsh environment that they grow in, the dark brown squat trunks spreading their gnarled roots to cover almost every inch of ground. Above, the bare branches intertwine and mingle, fighting for sky.
Undaunted by the desolate and foreboding appearance of the forest, the group follows Selmoc into the wood, stepping carefully to keep from twisting an ankle. Both Mazeriyan and Selmoc choose to magically hover over the twisted roots, while the rest of the group fights on.
By nightfall, the party locates a clearing and sets up camp, with Selmoc again providing warmth for a circular area roughly 5 yards across. Again, the necessity of keeping watch is questioned by Charlis and Max, with each finally accepting a section of the night's watch.
Assynt 22, 1022
In the early hours of the morning, Rheanon wakes everyone as a shower of small rocks begins to fall through the trees. Though sometimes measuring as large as a walnut, the rocks are found to be light and do no serious damage to those pelted by them, though the occasional welt is left behind. The rocks have an unusual shape as they seem to be riddled with holes and bubbles, making them much lighter than a normal stone of comparable size.
Coming in waves, the falling rocks continue until daybreak, and the group decides to break camp and begin their day's journey. Mazeriyan makes several wide-brimmed hats to ward off the falling stones, a strategy which works very well for those who decide to accept the hats. The storm of rocks finally ceased at mid-day, the floor of the forest now littered with stones on top of the roots, in some places making the passage much easier by filling the gaps between the roots.
By mid-afternoon, the group came within first view of the rock outcropping seen in the vision. Carefully, they approached the edge of the clearing where the ground started to rise to the crown of rocks a few hundred yards away. Along the hill, large exposed boulders protrude from the ground, with enough of them dotting the slope to block a clear view of the top. Rheanon flew up above the group to get a better view, and was treated to an instant of deja-vu when she spotted the two figures standing watch in front of a passageway leading underground.
Returning to the others, several ideas of how to proceed were discussed. In the end, Charlis volunteered to play the part of a lost traveler in distress in order to gain more information. While the others waited in the relative safety of the wood's embrace, Charlis (with Rheanon flying behind to watch what happens) made his way up the dusty slopes, working his way amongst the rocks. As he approached the hill's crest, he began his "distressed traveler" act, assuming a slight limp and haggard appearance.
When he reached the top of the hill, he managed to stay in-character when all that appeared before him was a giant boulder where the two guards should be. Staggering over to the boulder as if to rest upon it, when he reached to lean on it, the boulder vanished! In its place, two surprised guards and a large passageway leading underground. Feigning shock, Charlis implores the guards for help, but it is apparent that they do not understand his language.
Looking uncertainly at each other, the guards motion for Charlis to follow them, gesturing that they have food and water for him. While Rheanon looks on, Charlis is escorted underground.
Previously: Waiting for Selmoc
Followed by: Charades
Campaign 1 Index
