Chapter 7: Unconscious Revelations

[Ken]

Belarin says, "True. I can't be bought, either, although I can be exceptionally well rewarded." He helps himself to the red wine and swirls it in his glass for a moment.

"I'm interested... Larest," he says. "The idea of new sights, new knowledge is wonderful. However, Syrdan hits the mark with the issue of trust. For instance, who else would be on this voyage? You? The necromantic vixen from the depths? A score of murderous mercenaries? No offense, Kal.

"If I were a powerful man who casually used pain and necromancy as stepping-stones to a 'higher goal,' I wouldn't have any problem in casting aside anyone I hired if I thought that person would hinder my higher purpose. I'm speaking hypothetically, of course.

"To your health." He sips the wine. "Very nice. So if you'll allow me... I propose that the artifact we recover remains in our possession until we return to the starting point. Certainly, you may examine it, you and we will jointly discuss its use, but we hold on to it until we're back home, pending the outcome of our discussions." He takes another sip and shrugs. "Blame the combination of my unfortunate legal encounters and my upbringing by scholarly fuddy-duddies."

[Jeff]

"Truly, my lord?" says Condign. "We? But we are simply "hired heroes." I believe you mean you will decide who gets this precious artifact."

"And who says you should have the right to choose who has this artifact, Z? And who would YOU give it to? Would you keep it for yourself? Perhaps set yourself up as the new king of the Five Nations?"

"A natural assumption," the professor says with a disarming expression. 'I deserve it. But I have no such dreams of grandeur. I don't wish to rule anything. But having a say in what happens next...I am guilty of dreaming it."

"I will hear more, and you have my word not to discuss what you say here this morning even if we do not join this expedition."

"I appreciate that, Adamant, and I will extend to you the trust that you do not grant me. And well said."

"But you'll have to show more trust in me - in us - before I agree to head off somewhere far away and very dangerous, for a man I barely know....I don't fight for coin, or glory. You can't buy me."

"I understand that. I cannot buy you, but maybe I can still appeal to you, Syrdan. What is it you wish the most? Or, perhaps another way, is there something, or someone, you wish to find? The artifact I seek can find it for you, unerringly."

"To your health." He sips the wine. "Very nice. So if you'll allow me... I propose that the artifact we recover remains in our possession until we return to the starting point. Certainly, you may examine it, you and we will jointly discuss its use, but we hold on to it until we're back home, pending the outcome of our discussions." He takes another sip and shrugs. "Blame the combination of my unfortunate legal encounters and my upbringing by scholarly fuddy-duddies."

"It may not be quite that easy, Belarin. What the artifact looks like isn't even known. It may be a talisman small enough to place in your pocket, your safekeeping, or it may be a large basin not easily transported."

The professor gives Belarin a nobleman's smile. "You'll have to forgive me for my choice of wines." He looks at the bottle of red before Belarin. "I fall back on what I know, the older vintages of Breland." He looks at his own glass. "Though I'm rather disappointed in this one."

Belarin indeed finds the wine to be exceptional.

The professor looks at Adamant, then chuckles. "It is a shame you cannot taste of these, but I suppose it's a strength to never have to lose your head to the stuff."

He turns and indicates the bottle of white, then looks to Syrdan. "This one is imported from Aerenal. I can't say I have a fondness for elvish wine, but there are some who refuse to drink less."

To Condign, he asks, "Do tieflings brew their own?"

[Darren]

Kalarian grows increasingly irritated with the banter, his eyebrows drawing down. "Get to the point, Z. We still haven't heard your offer."

[Jeff]

Professor ir'Zathyran looks at Streko. "Kal likes to be the leader, doesn't he? Isn't happy when someone else has a plan, or something worthwhile to fight for, and he certainly doesn't seem to like any of his friends to do the talking. To discuss things rationally."

Without looking at Kal, he adds, "I'd at least have hoped he'd like the food and drink."

[Brian]

Larest:

To Condign, he asks, "Do tieflings brew their own?"

Condign shakes his head. "It is next to impossible to ferment rock and dirt. And the Demon Wastes are mostly that." He pours a little of Belarin's red wine in his glass, sniffs, then sets it down. "I believe all of our party has expressed some interest in hearing your offer. I assume it is an all-or-nothing deal? We have to vow to accompany you on this adventure or we will hear nothing more? On the chance that you are being honest, I am willing to go along. If this artifact is as powerful as you say, then making sure it does not fall into the wrong hands may be more vital that having it in the right ones."

[Jeff]

The professor sighs. "The artifact is known as the Eye of Azalar. It is a relic from the Age of Giants, predating even the Empire of Dhakaan. And it is hidden in a ruin that only appears once every ten years."

He pauses, and looks around, as if to make sure no one outside this patio can hear. But it's obviously they can't. "The tenth year is upon us, and in a very short time from now my expedition will be racing against others—others with lore of their own—to find it first. You may not think me fit to gain access to the Eye, but I promise you it is better than the alternative: I know that the Order of the Emerald Claw will seek it, as well as agents of Karrnath, Thrane, and Aundair. Likely others."

"If you accept my offer, you will join me on this quest. If you do not, then you must keep quiet and pray the Order does not find it first."

[Mike]

Professor ir'Zathyran: "I understand that. I cannot buy you, but maybe I can still appeal to you, Syrdan. What is it you wish the most? Or, perhaps another way, is there something, or someone, you wish to find? The artifact I seek can find it for you, unerringly."

Syrdan laughs at that ... it's an unsettling sound, devoid of humor.

"There's an elvish tale, I learned as a child, about a monkey's paw," says the elf. "Perhaps you've heard of it, Professor. If you haven't, I'll just tell you the moral of the story ... be careful what you wish for."

He listens as ir'Zathyran reveals more, then says:

"We can debate whether or not those present in this room are fit to wield such an artifact ... or whether it even possesses the power that's claimed. But if it does have that power, and the likes of the Emerald Claw seek it ..."

The elf shakes his head grimly. "Well, then I'm all for finding it first, if only to make sure that it stays out of the hands of those vile scoundrels."

[Joe]

Jan 20, 2011 14:59:13 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Professor ir'Zathyran looks at Streko. "Kal likes to be the leader, doesn't he? Isn't happy when someone else has a plan, or something worthwhile to fight for, and he certainly doesn't seem to like any of his friends to do the talking. To discuss things rationally."

Without looking at Kal, he adds, "I'd at least have hoped he'd like the food and drink."

"Larest, Kalarian IS the most accomplished tactician and strategist in our ensemble. If you wish us to take on your cause, I suspect you would be better served satisfying his curiosity.

"Also, he isn't one for banter with a man who has readily admit to putting a child's life in danger merely to learn whether the individuals he was attempting to learn more about had the ability to save him. Nor am I. While I am the more diplomatic of the two of us, Larest, I assure you, House Jorasco and House Deneith stand united here.

"Further, I believe he would enjoy the food and wine more if you answered his question directly."

The professor sighs. "The artifact is known as the Eye of Azalar. It is a relic from the Age of Giants, predating even the Empire of Dhakaan. And it is hidden in a ruin that only appears once every ten years."

He pauses, and looks around, as if to make sure no one outside this patio can hear. But it's obviously they can't. "The tenth year is upon us, and in a very short time from now my expedition will be racing against others—others with lore of their own—to find it first. You may not think me fit to gain access to the Eye, but I promise you it is better than the alternative: I know that the Order of the Emerald Claw will seek it, as well as agents of Karrnath, Thrane, and Aundair. Likely others."

"If you accept my offer, you will join me on this quest. If you do not, then you must keep quiet and pray the Order does not find it first."

"We have had dealings with the Emerald Claw, as I'm sure you have read. All things being equal, I would wish us to immediately dispose of them altogether, agree to your request without hesitation and prepare for a journey into the unknown with only the clothes on my back. Alas, all things are not equal.

"This is not a decision to be made lightly, nor..." Streko glances at Kal, "...nor on an empty stomach. Tell us, Larest, where, generally speaking, would you send us? Further, why wait until the last minute to initiate an expedition you've been waiting ten years for? Finally, what, aside from this bountiful meal, is our reward for agreeing to this? The Gnomes have a saying, one which seems fitting here...Khyber's blood is written in the details. Oh...and one other minor matter..."

He takes a bite of the cockatrice and grimaces. "What is the point of this? I cannot feel my tongue at all to savor the meat! Bah!"

He looks up at Larest, a quizzical expression on his face. "Where, exactly, does the Eye of Azalar currently reside?"

[Jeff]

"A lot of questions," ir'Zathyran answers, rising from his seat and walking over to the buffet table. He frowns over it. "I will try and answer them as directly as I can. But they will not all be satisfactory."

Plucking another piece of fruit from a tray, he says, "Where, generally, would I send you? Where I will send all of us: Across Kracken Bay to the jungles of Q'Barra. The lightning rail to eastern Khorvaire was broken by the Mourning, so it would need to be an sea voyage."

Streko isn't sure he entirely believes this destination, but he also senses some of the professor's own lack of certainty. Perhaps he is guessing?

"Why wait until the last minute? A long story, that one, Lord Streko. But as I said earlier, the discovery of the existence of the Eye of Azalar is relatively new to me. It was perhaps a year ago that I learned of it. Others, maybe, have known for much longer.

"What would be your reward? Whatever I can offer you. It will be in gold, if that will start things off. I am independently wealthy, but my coffers are not infinite. Much has been spent in preparation of this expedition, and more will yet be spent. However, the treasure that surround this artifact are legendary. Each of you would be guaranteed an even cut." He looks to Adamant. "Enough, I am certain, to give more to your people than they have now."

Looking back to Streko, he goes on, "As for where the Eye resides...that is more complicated. I do not know...yet. But neither do the others. Right now, we can only generalize. But there are ways to learn; I have accounted for that."

He sets down his plate and takes up a cup of citrus juice, having rejected the yellow wine. He looks to Condign, and raises his cup, "Drink with me, please, any of you? I will earn your trust, if you give me time. I promise you."

[Darren]

Kal smiles at Streko, then turns his gaze to Larest. The smile stays on his face, but it becomes almost a predatory grin. He fingers the longsword at his side, the Rekkenmark blade that he confiscated from an Emerald Claw agent. He says nothing, and coming from Kalarian, that carries a dangerous tone.

[Joe]

Streko sighs. "I will drink to your hospitality here, Larest. If I may continue to speak for my friends just one last time..."

Streko looks around the table, waiting to hear an objection, should any come. If allowed to continue, Streko readily does so.

"I would ask that give us 24 hours to discuss this amongst ourselves. I doubt that such a time period will slow your preparations. Also, it will give all of us time to discuss, in private, how we feel in regards to your offer.

"May I suggest meeting someplace else? The City of the Dead, perhaps? A fitting place, as that was where we were first lured into your trap. And, good sir, to call it anything else would do both you and my friends a disservice.

"I will make this promise to you, however. I shall be open in my judgement. I shall weight the pros and cons of your request in a most business-like fashion. I shall not allow my emotions to sway my decision, either for or against.

"You are asking me to leave my family, one of whom I have spent more than two-thirds of my life searching for, on a mission that may very well take my life and/or the lives of my friends. I will NOT make this decision over a delicious meal, nor will I make it alone.

"If you will agree to these terms, and the final location of our next meeting is just a suggestion, then we can enjoy the rest of this meal in peace. Questions may be delivered back and forth, of course, and the more information you can provide us, the more informed a decision we can make. After all, we won't be in a position to change our minds once we've left land. Will we?"

Streko "accidentally" drops his uneaten piece of cockatrice on the ground in front of Tangat. "Best to be swallowed whole, my friend, with a limited amount of time on the tongue."

[Dave W.]

Adamant, who has been sitting statue still for the last few moments, now turns to Steko, "one correction Streko, this quest can take no more than one year, provided the information provided is correct. The resting place of the relic only appears once every 10 years. If we do not find it within a year we would have to stop for the next nine."

"Have I got that correct Professor?"

"I think Streko's thought is a good one. Can you give us a day to discuss?"

"it might be helpful also to know a bit more of the artifact. What does it do that would improve the peace?"

--------------
does Adamant know the Emerald Claw?

[Brian]

Larest:

He looks to Condign, and raises his cup, "Drink with me, please, any of you? I will earn your trust, if you give me time. I promise you."

After he refills the water glass, Condign finishes his food. Then he wanders over to the buffet, intent on sampling some of the same pastries he saw on Belarin's plate.

When Larest is finished speaking, Condign raises a glass of water and drinks. "My eloquent friend"--he nods to Streko--"has requested a day for us to consider your proposal. Tell me, when had you planned on leaving?"

[Jeff]

Adamant knows of the Emerald Claw, but not a great deal. They were once an order of knights that served Karrnath...and therefore fought against Cyre many times. But something went wrong, and it was revealed that the Order had its own agendas which only coincided with Karrnath's interests some of the time.

Karrnath's king disbanded the Order, outlawing those who tried to reform it, and it has steadily grown into a widely known terrorist organization of militant, even fanatical soldiers. Cells operate in many cities throughout Khorvaire, scheming against even Karrnath as every other nation. What unifies them, and who leads them, no one knows.

[Jeff]

Tangat lurks beneath the table, scarfing up Streko's offering of cockatrice meat.

Professor ir'Zathyran sighs heavily. He reaches into a pocket and produces a small glass flask of clear liquid, resembling a drunkard's concealed stash. He sets his plate down and holds the flask up to his cup of juice, evidently with the intent to spike it.

"Twenty-four hours, Lord Streko?" he repeats, disappointed. "How I wish that were sufficient...but if, at the end of that time, you chose to decline my offer, I have placed myself and my goal at terrible risk...and a regrettable delay."

Larest continues speaking as he works his way around the table behind Adamant instead of wedging past Condign at the buffet table. "Only water, Condign?" A nervous edge creeps into the professor's voice. "I really wish you tried the wine. You would have been pleased with it. And you will be sick of water all too soon."

As if on cue, Belarin slumps in his seat. His head takes a gentle face plant into his plate, but there's a lackadaisical expression on the human's face. He seems oblivious to everything around him. His eyes roll back, Streko is the first to see.

And with that, the professor steps through the archway of the private patio, but not before dropping the glass flask in his hand. He speaks a word of command. It hits the patio floor less than a foot from Kal's chair, shattering its contents about. Now Larest is standing by the table with the two young women, just outside the archway. The woman keep chattering away at their table, unaware.

Tangat starts to growl.

Larest spins around and looks at all of you. "I do apologize. You will rail against and despise me, but in the end you will one day thank me. I have been truthful about almost everything I've said." There is a wistfulness in his voice. Despite the implications of the moment, you can't help but think the professor is genuine...at least in what he believes is his intent.

Vapors begin to rise from the shattered contents of the flask.

[Brian]

Condign's eyes follow the professor as he talks about delays and disappointments. When the man produces the small flask, a puzzled look crosses the tielfing's face.

Larest:

"Only water, Condign?" A nervous edge creeps into the professor's voice. "I really wish you tried the wine. You would have been pleased with it. And you will be sick of water all too soon."

Then Condign watches in surprise as Larest exits the room, drops the flask, and vapors start rising into the chill air. The man's parting words are ominous.

Fearing some kind of poison or drug, Condign drops low to the ground and covers his mouth and nose with the cloth from his cloak. Holding his breath, he races as quickly as he can toward the exit, trying desperately to get out of the room before Larest's mysterious vapor can take effect.

[Dave W.]

When the glass breaks, Adamant pauses a moment trying to assess the threat and Condign's strange reaction.

"Oh! Breathing, yes." Adamant stands and moves in pursuit of the professor. "What I this treachery? No! You will not be leaving Professor!"

Adamant rushes toward the archway, intending to grab Z and pull him back into the vapor-filled room.

-----------
So is this rounds? I'm hoping Adamant's inability to breathe will protect him from vapors, but maybe he collapses on the way to man-handling the Professor?

[Joe]

"Twenty-four hours, Lord Streko?" he repeats, disappointed. "How I wish that were sufficient...but if, at the end of that time, you chose to decline my offer, I have placed myself and my goal at terrible risk...and a regrettable delay."

Larest continues speaking as he works his way around the table behind Adamant instead of wedging past Condign at the buffet table. "Only water, Condign?" A nervous edge creeps into the professor's voice. "I really wish you tried the wine. You would have been pleased with it. And you will be sick of water all too soon."

As if on cue, Belarin slumps in his seat. His head takes a gentle face plant into his plate, but there's a lackadaisical expression on the human's face. He seems oblivious to everything around him. His eyes roll back, Streko is the first to see.

And with that, the professor steps through the archway of the private patio, but not before dropping the glass flask in his hand. He speaks a word of command. It hits the patio floor less than a foot from Kal's chair, shattering its contents about. Now Larest is standing by the table with the two young women, just outside the archway. The woman keep chattering away at their table, unaware.

Tangat starts to growl.

Larest spins around and looks at all of you. "I do apologize. You will rail against and despise me, but in the end you will one day thank me. I have been truthful about almost everything I've said." There is a wistfulness in his voice. Despite the implications of the moment, you can't help but think the professor is genuine...at least in what he believes is his intent.

Vapors begin to rise from the shattered contents of the flask.

Streko reaches behind him and pulls out Condign's sword. He slides it across the table with enough force to ensure that it will make it to the Tiefling.

"Condign, your blade!"

He then turns to Larest.

"Bastard! "Tangat, to Kal! Protect!"

He points at the wizard. "Olladra, may your light reach its goal and bring pain to the enemy's soul!"
____________________________________________________

STREKO CASTS LANCE OF FAITH AT LAREST.

TO HIT: 1d20+6=13

Bleh

DAMAGE: 1d8+5=7

[Darren]

Kal grunts, a sound like he almost expected this to happen. He quickly jumps up from his seat, unsheathing Skyfang in the same motion. He dashes towards the doorway, throwing himself between Larest and the rest of the restaurant. Kal gestures towards the man and growls, "Get back in there. We weren't done talking." A boom of thunder follows his words.

_________________
Kal's intention is to move around to the other side of Larest and then cast Thunder Slam, pushing him three squares back into the room he just came out of.

I'm not going to make any rolls because I'm not sure how Jeff will want to handle this.

Also, for what it's worth, if everyone else decides to attack...I am NOT trying to kill Larest. I am only using a combat power on him because it has the ability to push him back into the room. I'm hoping that we can then subdue him or at least get him to keep talking.

[Dave W.]

yeah, Adamant is planning on just dragging Z back into the room... Of course if he gets a little dented on the way, our favorite warforged is sanguine about that.

[Mike]

Surprised, Syrdan watches as Belarin slumps in his chair, and as the vapors start filling the room ... and he glares at ir'Zathyran.

"You aren't going anywhere," the elf snaps. "I wasn't done speaking to you."

He gets up from his chair and races towards the professor, leaping at him as he tries to escape.
_________________

In case this is a combat situation ...

Minor Action: Oath of Enmity
Move Action: Whatever gets him closest to ir'Zathyran
Standard Action: GRAPPLE

[Jeff]

Fearing some kind of poison or drug, Condign drops low to the ground and covers his mouth and nose with the cloth from his cloak. Holding his breath, he races as quickly as he can toward the exit, trying desperately to get out of the room before Larest's mysterious vapor can take effect.

[Streko] points at the wizard. "Olladra, may your light reach its goal and bring pain to the enemy's soul!"

[Kal] He dashes towards the doorway, throwing himself between Larest and the rest of the restaurant.

[Syrdan] gets up from his chair and races towards the professor, leaping at him as he tries to escape.

Adamant rushes toward the archway, intending to grab Z and pull him back into the vapor-filled room.

Everyone except Belarin and Streko hasten towards the archway! Ir'Zathyran stands just beyond it, and as they rush toward him, he winces, some fear in his eyes....

But all four stop short: some sort of barrier at the archway denies them from passing. It's not like an invisible wall to rebound off of, it's more like space simply ends there, like there's nowhere to pass to. Their bodies stop short without great force.

Streko throws a bolt of radiance, which vanishes altogether when it reaches the archway. Nevertheless, the professor winces.

Ir'Zathyran shakes his head sadly. "Please, don't exert yourself. Save your threats. It will be over soon, and we will talk again." He pauses. "The gas will not kill you."

And the vapors are turning a sickly yellow as they expand. Condign, despite clutching a cloth to his noise, can smell it: it's caustic and weakening. Kal and Syrdan try to hold their breaths, but under their exertion, they can't last. It tingles more than it burns in their throat. Adamant, while not immune to poison (warforged do have delicate chemicals and interworkings), has no need to breath, so the gas remains outside his body.

Behind the professor, Condign, Kal, Syrdan, and Admant can see the two women at the nearby table glance at him as if he's crazy, like someone just talking to himself.

Tangat jumps up with his paws on Belarin's lap. He bites gently at the human's shoulder, snags his clothes, then jumps back down, dragging Belarin's dead weight with him. Slumping to the ground, Belarin is dragged into the far corner, opposite the gas.

Streko, still in his seat, is the first to notice that the world seems to be growing dimmer. When he looks at his friends, and the table, and the patio, everything seems clear and bright, still, as if still under the morning light. But outside the patio, beyond the balcony itself, it's getting unnaturally dark.

___________________________

Condign takes 10 poison damage.
Kal takes 10 poison damage.
Syrdan takes 10 poison damage.

[Dave W.]

Adamant hits the barrier and steps back. "What is your plan now Professor? How will you trust us with weapons and spells after this poisoning? And if you must keep us in chains, for even without weapons my hands can seal the wind from your bellows, of what use are we to you?"

[Joe]

Streko looks directly at the professor and bares his teeth.

"May Khyber take your mortal soul!" He points at Laster and unleashes another lance of blinding white energy. Then turns to the patio, its darkening features growing blurry.

"My friends, to the patio! How far is the jump? Can we make it? CAN WE JUMP TO SAFETY?"
____________________________________________________

LANCE OF FAITH

TO HIT: 1d20+6=19

DAMAGE: 1d8+5=9

[Brian]

Frustrated--and very, very angry--Condign goes back for his sword and grabs it before the gas completely knocks him out.

As the world dims, he looks at the professor. "This will not end well for you." Then Condign collapses to the floor.

[Darren]

"God's damned bastard son of an otyugh!" Kal glares through the mist at the man.

[Mike]

Jan 23, 2011 23:02:01 GMT -4 Joe said:

Streko: "My friends, to the patio! How far is the jump? Can we make it? CAN WE JUMP TO SAFETY?"

"To safetly, no," Syrdan replies. "But we can still jump."

Struggling for breath, the elf moves to the balcony, and vaults over it.

____________________________________________________

In case Syrdan can actually jump from the balcony, and the Invisible Wall of Doom doesn't block that as well: Acrobatics check (1d20+11=26) to help reduce damage from falling. If he can't, he hits the Invisible Wall of Doom and waits for more of the professor's monologuing.

[Jeff]

Bracing himself, Syrdan begins to vault the low patio wall...but nothingness seems to push him right back, denying him any more than lifting his leg up onto the wall—but not past it. He briefly gets outside the yellow gas that's starting to spread. It fails to dissipate or drift through the archway at all.

Now Streko starts to breath it in, and feels a numbness creeping through his lungs.

Tangat barks in frustration. No one around in the restaurants seems to take any notice.

Once again, Streko's attack fades to nothingness when it reaches the archway. Ir'Zathryan merely stands there, shaking his head with a longsuffering sigh. He isn't even looking in anymore, and he says nothing.

The two women behind him at their table look up at him. One of them says, "You're friends...where did they go?"

___________________________

Condign takes 10 points of poison damage.
Kal takes 10 points of poison damage.
Streko takes 10 points of poison damage.

[Mike]

Cursing, Syrdan heads over to Belarin's slumped body. He kneels beside the warlock, trying to shake his companion into some semblance of consciousness.

"Wake up, my friend," Syrdan says grimly. "If ever we had a need of your clever disappearing act, now would be the time for it ..."

___________________________

Heal check on Belarin, if it makes a difference.

[Darren]

Anger flooding through him, Kal moves away from the spreading cloud of gas. He focuses his energy, looking for a way to dispel whatever the treacherous Larest has done.

_________________
Kal will move to the far side of the room (out of the poison).

Can I make an Arcana check to see if the barrier can be dispelled?