Chapter 10: Eye of the Storm

[Jeff]

Team K

"Whatever force or intelligence provided you with your 'vision' seems to want you to make such a determination. But sacrifice, that is clear: you must give something up, something important that you will not wish to. This may be your life, or another's. But it might also be valuable possessions, or perhaps time itself. I am studied in the rhythms of prophecy, buy I am not a seer. If you would truly shy from providing your own answers, then I will send you to a true prophet. But that is a deadly choice to make. She will demand more than this." The dragon's foot stirs the coins beneath him.

"What do you hope to achieve in finding your place in the Prophecy, human? Must you have foreknowledge of what will pass? Some are prophecied to die."

[Jeff]

Team B

The woman's smile broadens. Her lashes are long, and her eyes slide away then back at him, just so. Shorak can sense intentional flirtation. And despite her bookish appearance, it's also clear that she pays meticulous attention to her appearance. 

"Do you believe in the Traveler's Curse?" she asks him.

[Darren]

Team K

"It's a valid question," Kal says, folding his arms and placing one hand on his chin. He begins to pace again. It is an odd gesture in the presence of a dragon. It's almost like Kal has forgotten who he is talking to. "I am willing to make the determination of what to sacrifice, but so far I haven't been asked to give anything up. It's an odd conundrum. I've been set on this path, told that until I understand what I am willing to sacrifice I cannot truly understand. Well, how can anyone know what their limits are until those limits are tested? So what I ask is not, perhaps, what it is I must sacrifice but rather how do I go about finding out? My life? Certainly. I have proven many times already that I am willing to sacrifice my life for the sake of others or for the sake of what is right. The lives of others? Well, there I must admit that I would perhaps rather live in ignorance than willingly give up the life of another. Possessions? I have learned that they are temporary, anyway, and would willingly strip all that away. But Lord Dragon, how am I to be tested?"

[Dave B.]

Team B

Shorak's smile grows wider when he sees the effect he's having on the wizard. But, he doesn't miss the fact that she didn't offer her name.

"The Traveler's Curse? Yes, I do believe in it. I've met adventurers who have said they experienced it."

[Jeff]

Team B

"Are you...from here? From Storm...from Xen'drik?" She reddens slightly, either a very good actress or a little embarrassed at what might be a foolish question, given Shorak's race.

She goes on, hurriedly. "I asking because...well, I'm quite new here, myself and my companions." She gestures to the empty table and her absent friends. "We may be in need of a guide soon, out in the wilds..."

She lets her words hang for a moment, watching for his initial reaction.

[Jeff]

Team K

"I am willing to make the determination of what to sacrifice, but so far I haven't been asked to give anything up."

"What makes you think the asking will be a straightforward question? You make too many assumptions, human, and that is why you are mired in uncertainty."

"But Lord Dragon, how am I to be tested?"

The dragon snakes his head down lower, until it's only a couple of feet from Kal's. The creature's head alone is almost the size of Kal's body. His voice is deeper now, quieter, more pointed. Golden eyes bore into him.

"First you must decide what you believe about the Prophecy, as that will determine how you act in concert, or opposed, to it. Either it is mutable, and the only events that will occur are those whose requirements are fulfilled—a sort of cause and effect. Alternatively, perhaps the Prophecy states things that will be, no matter what you do. If you believe the latter, then you have nothing to do at all. Merely wait. You will live, die, or ascend according to what the Sovereigns have written. It cannot be changed."

This is not unlike what Matheu told Kal weeks back in Sharn.

"So decide this, human..."

The dragon rears up suddenly and fans his wings out. With his foreclaws he slashes at the ground and clears away a large amount of coins, exposing the stony floor about a foot beneath it. Then his chin lifts up, an elegant and imperious pose for such a form. With a gesture from one claw, a coruscating ball of fire springs into being right in front of Kal and Streko. They can feel the heat radiating away from it—it's no illusion—and sweat almost immediately slicks their skin. It's uncomfortably hot. You feel like you're standing only inches away from, and staring into, a baker's brick oven...or a blacksmith's furnace.

"Decide whether it was foretold that you would die today. Decide whether you were able to do anything to avert this doom."

The sphere of flame starts to spin, and then, hissing, it starts to "roll" in the air slowly toward both human and halfling. In five feet, it will begin to set alight cloth and skin.

[Darren]

Team K

Kal's blood begins to boil, a reaction to both the heat and the dragon's words. "No one decides my destiny but me!" he roars as flames spring up about his body in response to those moving towards him. Kal grabs Streko, throwing him out of the path of the sphere and then jumping to the side himself.

___________
The flames around Kal are just a dramatic touch. It would, in effect, but Dragonflame Mantle.

[Dave B.]

Apr 28, 2012 9:32:16 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Team B

"Are you...from here? From Storm...from Xen'drik?" She reddens slightly, either a very good actress or a little embarrassed at what might be a foolish question, given Shorak's race.

She goes on, hurriedly. "I asking because...well, I'm quite new here, myself and my companions." She gestures to the empty table and her absent friends. "We may be in need of a guide soon, out in the wilds..."

She lets her words hang for a moment, watching for his initial reaction.

Team B

He nods. "Yes, as a matter of fact, I was born in wilds of Xen'drik."

His smile shows a tinge of disappointment at the direction she's taking the conversation. "Alas, I am already employed at this time, but I may be able to offer some advice. Let me think on it a bit. Besides, I do need to return to my Lord Nerrin. Perhaps we can speak later." He bows to her and then heads back to his companions with the sewing kit.

[Ken]

Team B

Apr 21, 2012 9:44:31 GMT -4 Dave W. said:

Adamant once again tilts his head, pondering Belarin's remarks. He nods, no longer whispering, "Yes, well, I thank you for cooperating, I don't mean to restrict you but if you could try moving towards me from time to time."

Belarin chuckles. "I'll do my best," he says softly, "but no promises. I tend to feel and act better when I'm in motion, both physically and philosophically." He pauses then, as serious thoughts interrupt his playful banter.

"Ad-- Redoubt," he continues after a moment, "I... for one thing, I don't know how long you've been, well, alive. But I sense you've seen a wide variety of things. Let me tell you a story. Long ago, when I was a boy living in a small settlement in the Graywall Mountains, we were visited by a performing troupe. A VERY rare occurrence, especially in that area, with the horrific mysteries of Drooam just a few miles away.

"They called themselves Vistani... perhaps you've heard of them. Seemed harmless enough. They sang songs, told pretty wild tales -- including some of the first stories of the fey that I'd ever heard -- and featured some rather, um, stimulating dancing by the most beautiful, exotic women. As a boy, I was fascinated by the whole experience. Of course, paranoia and fun never go together, and the Vistani were forced to leave after a day because of suspicions that they were Drooam agents.

"But before they did, an eladrin storyteller, Venjar -- funny how that name has stuck with me -- took me aside after one performance and told me he sensed that I didn't belong there. And I believe, if not for my youth, he might have told me to join up with the troupe right then and there. He said that the Vistani survived by never staying in one place too long and that I was Vistani in spirit if not in blood. He encouraged me -- pretty strongly, actually -- to grab new opportunities when they arose. He predicted that I would leave behind my gray life of despair, toil, and sadness for a new life of color, majesty, blood, and shadow.

"Well, it didn't happen for quite a while afterward, but it did happen. Frankly, though, at the time, what Venjar said terrified me! My 'gray' life was dreary and hopeless, but it was safe and predictable. Did I dare try something different? Obviously, we know which path I followed.

"The reason I bring this up is... is it possible that I'm following the safe, predictable path now? Yes, I know it seems absurd to even ask that, especially after today, but I'm talking about the bigger picture. With my longtime companions and even newer friends I've made--" he gestures toward Adamant, "--I feel comfortable. Secure. Yet am I sacrificing the qualities that have made me who and what I am? Do you believe that it's possible to be TOO comfortable in life?"

[Joe]

Streko immediately calls out to Olladra, chanting her name and willing a gleaming shield of divine energy to to surround both himself and Kalarian.

"Our destiny is not to die by your will, My Lord. That much I hope. However, I see the wisdom in your words. We could stand here and allow your flames to consume us. Our inaction would, in fact, be a type of action, no? But, My Lord, that is not who we are. Despite the enormity of the task before us, we shall do everything possible to surmount that task, or perhaps avoid it. But we shall never let it paralyze us."

Streko feels Therendor in his hand and the weight of Olladra's holy symbol flaring with Godlike energy from his chest.

He remains in a defensive stance however, and awaits Kalarian's cue on their next move.
____________________________________________________

Streko casts Shield of Faith, granting both he and Kalarian +2 bonuses to AC until the end of the encounter.

As a free action, Streko will take a quick glance at the mound of coins that was just disturbed by the dragon and see if, perhaps, a certain object appearing much like a Gryphon from his dreams might be seen.

[Dave W.]

Team B

[Belarin:]"The reason I bring this up is... is it possible that I'm following the safe, predictable path now? Yes, I know it seems absurd to even ask that, especially after today, but I'm talking about the bigger picture. With my longtime companions and even newer friends I've made--" he gestures toward Adamant, "--I feel comfortable. Secure. Yet am I sacrificing the qualities that have made me who and what I am? Do you believe that it's possible to be TOO comfortable in life?"

"No. Not if your definition of comfortable includes literally walking through fire for your friends. It is not possible to be too comfortable."

"I have heard 'comfort' used as though it were an inferior state to be in. But a good dove-tailed joint fits comfortably and serves a greater purpose at the same time. No, comfortable is a fine place to be. It can mean that you have found a place you belong... A good fit."

"Now, 'uselessness' is a terrible state; sometimes it seems people confuse the two. And it is possible to be comfortable and useless. But utility is important. So long as you are of some service to someone, comfortable or not, how can that be a bad state?"

"As for 'sacrificing qualities' and 'changing who or what you are', my Master found have profound words for you," Adamant's voice becomes gruff and crackly, "'The sea refuses no river.'"
Returning back to his familiar bass, "Or some such. Ah, I think you would have liked him. He would have enjoyed trading words with you. But you know, words and I are not always on speaking terms."

"Here." Adamant raps his fist on a table. "this table. Twenty years from now it will have the same qualities it has now. Why? Because there is no Life here."

"I have seen small humans and the taller ones that made them. There are two truths about them. One is that the little ones and their makers are completely alike. The other truth is that they are radically dissimilar."

"The same is true of you. The old you, the now you, and the future you; they are all the same and yet completely different. Life moves, I don't know why."

"Ah, but what do I know? I am as simple as stone. Better to ask that chair about comfort," Adamant's eye-gems twinkle, "it might have an interesting perspective."

[Jeff]

Condign

Condign:

"We did talk, though. She spoke of someone, a seer. Does the name 'Orvak' mean anything to you?"

Rinti shakes her head. "Is he a tiefling, too? I haven't seen too many, certainly not any that gives his name."

[Brian]

Condign

Rinti:

Rinti shakes her head. "Is he a tiefling, too? I haven't seen too many, certainly not any that gives his name."

"I suspect he is," he says to Rinti as he continues to pet Tanget. "And I believe he is nearby, since "Fire Eyes" wanted me to meet him. I suppose I could have found out more, but to proceed alone seemed recklessly foolish. So, I came back." His eyes strayed to the temple's entrance. "I will give Kal and Streko a little more time. If they have not returned, I will have see what is keeping them. We do have other places to be today."

[Ken]

Team B

Belarin listens quietly as Adamant speaks, reacting only to save his ale from spilling when the paladin raps on the table with perhaps more force than intended.

He chuckles when Adamant finishes speaking. "'Simple,' you are definitely not, my friend," he says, "yet you're very good to distilling blather into simple truths. Thank you." His voice takes on a more Nerrin-like, admonishing quality as he turns to the door and says a little more loudly, "Now where is Shorak? My clothes need mending! I have appointments to keep!"

[Jeff]

Team K

Kal and Streko are left sprawling in the coins, as the human's mantle of flame fades and the halfling's glimmering, spectral shield hangs over them both in mid-air. The dragon's swirling sphere of fire roars a moment longer, then glides up ward and dissipates completely.

"I might have ceased the flames myself," the dragon's velvet-deep voice intones. "But it was my decision to create it. It might have killed you. It was your decision to avert death today."

In the vacuum of coins, Streko doesn't see a griffon statuette. He's seeing more of them, though—and they seem to represent a collection of beasts associated with the twelve dragonmarked houses. A blink dog, a displacer beast, a kraken, a gorgon, a manticores. And more. In fact, given the variety dragonmark-associated figurines there are, there's a marked absence of a griffon.

"If I persist," the dragon says, eyeing both human and halfling, "And attempt to devour you, what then? What would that say about the Prophecy and your place in it? Would you run? Would you fight back? Would you call my bluff?"

[Jeff]

Team B

The mage inclines her head politely, clearly a bit disappointed. "Good luck with your travelers," she says to Shorak as he walks away.

Just as he's returning to the door to the boarding room, he sees a party of seven men enter the inn—and Brick heads over to greet them. Given their raiment and armor, they seem to belong to a knightly order, or perhaps at least a more chivalric league of mercenaries. Their armor of scale mail, chain, and even plate mail gleams. Shorak notes that they all bear the similar livery: varying styles of the symbol of the Silver Flame.

They head over to the mage's table.

[Darren]

Team K

Kal raises himself to his feet, brushing off a few errant coins that nestle into the folds of his clothing. He reaches down absently to offer Streko a hand, but he does not notice the halfling eyeing the statues around the room. His eyes are focused on the dragon alone.

Kalarian takes several steps towards the dragon, the butt of his sharrash echoing loudly in the chamber as it strikes the bare floor in front of him. He grins. "Lord Dragon, should you choose to attack, then today would be the day I would die. But I would not die without a fight. Should destiny decree that this is how my life should end, then so be it, but I will not idly accept it. And should destiny decree that I play no part in Draconic Prophecy, then so be that, too. But I do not accept that, and I will spend my life searching for what I know my place to be. Perhaps there are things we cannot change, and perhaps we are just given the illusion of free-will. But it is possible that our actions find a place in the pattern."

Kal's grin turns into a genuine smile. "For instance, what if I had chosen to let the fire burn me? Was it my destiny to die, or did I choose to die? Perhaps my destiny was to jump out of the way of the fire, and by choosing not to, I altered my destiny and died instead. Or maybe my destiny is to die today, and all I have done is postpone it or alter the method by which it will happen." Kal leans forward, one hand clenched into a fist. "Either way, my actions had an effect on the outcome of this day. THAT is what I choose to believe."

[Joe]

Team K

Streko looks around, puzzled. He hears Kal lecturing the dragon somewhere in the back of his mind, the words "free will" and "destiny" bandied about several times, but the context ignored.

"My Lord," he hears himself say, "you have a magnificent collection of coins concerning the dragon-marked houses and those of us who bare their marks. However, and I must confess to some great deal of confusion, I don't see a coin designated with the animal symbol of the Mark of Healing. You don't have a Griffon in this glorious collection. Have none of my house paid homage to you? Or come to you for counsel?"

"How short-sighted of them," he mutters, more to himself than his host.

He doesn't look up as he speaks either, but rather continues to scan the scattered piles of coins. He makes no move to inspect them closely or, Host above, TOUCH them. He is just looking, frowning and trying to understand why he doesn't see what he should.

[Dave B.]

Team B

Shorak returns to Belarin and Adamant with the sewing kit. "Here you are Master Nerrin. This should be quit helpful in repairing our clothing."

He also relates his short conversation with the wizard and the group of mercenaries with silver flame symbols that joined her at her table.

"What do you make of that?"

[Ken]

Team B

Belarin looks up quickly at Shorak's description. "The Silver Flame?!" he says with some alarm. He calms down after a moment and says, "Well, I shouldn't be surprised to see that they've joined the party, too."

Seeing a lack of comprehension in Shorak's face, he continues, "I guess they haven't made too many in-roads down here. The Church of the Silver Flame is a relative rarity in Khorvaire -- a religion that doesn't worship the Sovereign Host. Many people back home would call them zealots. While that might be leftover propaganda from the War, they do have a reputation for, ah, extreme purification of the body and spirit. Ask a shifter what he thinks of the Silver Flame, then be prepared to run.

"They not ALL like that, of course. Kal, Streko, and I became good friends with a believer in the religion, but ah, the lovely Charis was FAR from the religious type! The fact that these people are wearing the symbol openly, though, is a different story..."

_______________________
I, the player, may know that this isn't 100% accurate, but it's how Belarin would describe the Church.

[Jeff]

Team K

The gold dragon gives Kal another look. "You have added to this hoard and have earned my council. What do you wish for now? You are not yet satisfied. You seek for absolutions in a mire of abstract ideas. If I were to give you a task...an errand...would you accept it without question? Would you see that as perhaps part of the path you are meant to walk? Or do you choose a different path?"

Streko:

"My Lord," he hears himself say, "you have a magnificent collection of coins concerning the dragon-marked houses and those of us who bare their marks. However, and I must confess to some great deal of confusion, I don't see a coin designated with the animal symbol of the Mark of Healing. You don't have a Griffon in this glorious collection. Have none of my house paid homage to you? Or come to you for counsel?"

"You are observant," the dragon says, and it's hard to tell if the tone is sarcastic or genuine. "I am seeking a griffon to complete the collection. Once completed, it will be a gift for my mate."

[Ken]

Team B

After speaking, Belarin accepts the sewing kit from Shorak with a thankful smile. He then sits down and gets to work, first mending his own newly purchased garments -- "Should we have visitors," he explains apologetically, "they'd expect Nerrin's clothes to be mended first" -- and then he moves on to Adamant's tabard and finally whatever clothes Shorak wishes to have repaired.

Perhaps to distract his friends -- or himself -- Belarin begins softly singing ribald songs and reciting risque rhymes as he sews. That they're spoken in Nerrin's odd voice makes them somewhat disconcerting. It's safe to say that neither Shorak nor Adamant have heard many of them before.

"There once was a warforged named Casque
Who had genitals constructed of brass
In really bad weather
They jangled together
And lightning shot out of his ass!"

[Joe]

Team K

"You are observant," the dragon says, and it's hard to tell if the tone is sarcastic or genuine. "I am seeking a griffon to complete the collection. Once completed, it will be a gift for my mate."

Absent-mindedly, Streko reaches back into his haversack and withdraws...

A jade Griffon figurine. "This called to me, My Lord, for various reasons."

He glances up at Kalarian, a questioning look, but moves forward.

"If this pleases you, I would offer it to you. Kalarian's destiny means a great deal to him and I am his friend. My destiny, while still my own, is inexoribly intertwined with his. Any wisdom you have to offer him in his quest would be greatly appreciated and I would see both you and your mate pleased, if it is permitted."

Streko offers the dragon the figurine.

[Dave B.]

Team B

Shorak lies down on one of the beds waiting his turn to sew up his damaged clothes. He can't help but laugh uproariously at Belarin/Nerrin's impromptu recital.

[Darren]

Team K

Kal opens byt us stopped short by Streko's words. Instead of saying anything, he simply rests his sharrash in the crook of his elbow and waits to hear what the dragon will say.

[Dave W.]

Team B
when Belarin describes Silver Flame zealotry Adamant adds, "Well, perhaps they take things too far, but I have some sympathy for their core mission. Protecting the common people from forces and beings that are beyond them is a worthy goal. That some are too strident, well, they will face Judgement same as us all."

Adamant relaxes  considerably when Belarin/Nerrin starts sewing. The domestic scene is comforting after the hellish battle just an hour or so ago. He moves to the closed door and leans casually against it.

At the limerick the warforged cocks his head. "I can see the comedy of shooting lightening out of one's ass, but you've chosen the wrong race. Warforged have neither genitalia nor rectums. We do not work that way. What would be the purpose of putting genitalia on a warforged. It doesn't make sense, what would he do with it?" Adamant asks innocently.

-------------
Sorry, meant to post last night ... Avengers was amazing btw.

it was a great limerick Ken.  

[Ken]

Team B

"Perhaps an enterprising young member of House Cannith will be sufficiently drunk one night to seek an answer to that question," says Belarin/Nerrin in an academic reply to Adamant. He doesn't look up from his sewing, but there is a smile on his face.

______________
Jeff, is the sewing something that I need to roll for? Or shall we advance to the end of the crowd-pleasing sewing sequence?

[Jeff]

Team K

Streko:

A jade Griffon figurine. "This called to me, My Lord, for various reasons."

"If this pleases you, I would offer it to you. Kalarian's destiny means a great deal to him and I am his friend. My destiny, while still my own, is inexoribly intertwined with his. Any wisdom you have to offer him in his quest would be greatly appreciated and I would see both you and your mate pleased, if it is permitted."

"Indeed?" the dragon says. The moment Streko holds it out, an unseen force lifts it from his hands and into the air. The dragon's claw descends and scoops it out of the air and he examines it closely.

"Someone well-informed has sent a human and a halfling to me this day. If it is the work of some scrawling of the Prophecy that I have not glimpsed, then I am inclined to aid you by whatever means I am given. You, Talentan, may also ask me a question. I will answer, if it is in my power to give it to you. You are marked, too, are you not? Your outcome may be bound to the Mark of Sentinel as well, or this human's may be bound to yours."

[Dave W.]

Team B

May 6, 2012 22:23:34 GMT -4 Ken said:

"Perhaps an enterprising young member of House Cannith will be sufficiently drunk one night to seek an answer to that question," says Belarin/Nerrin in an academic reply to Adamant. He doesn't look up from his sewing, but there is a smile on his face.

"Perhaps I will do that," Adamant replies to Belarin's retort, "or perhaps I should ask a certain member of House Deneith, he always seems to have an opinion where genitalia are involved."

[Dave B.]

Team B

"I wonder. Do you think someone got it in their head to create Warforged with genitalia? Instead of warriors they could be sex machines." Shorak looks thoughtful, not completely successful in keeping a straight face. "Doubtful, but it is possible."

I mean what wizard wouldn't want their own personal sexbot?