Chapter 13: A Ghostly Glow

[Darren]

"That is the truth," Kal says to Larest. "No one is going anywhere today. We are too far spent. In the morning, we will examine these new leads." Kal yawns. "In the meantime, I must get word to Greigur. Do you have a courier in this city that you trust, Larest?"

____________________
Sem might be my most favoritest character that you've ever written, Jeff. I really love him.

[Dave W.]

"Yes, well, if we are heading to the Tents of Rushemé in the morning, I will return Greshnazza sword to her 'brood-sister' there. Her name is Greshtuza." Adamant looks to Larest, "I suppose the 'brood-sister' of a medusa would also be a medusa?"

"And after that I must return the remains of Rendithas to the ir'Thuranni in the Citadel of the Twelve. I don't suppose anyone knows where that might be in the city?"

"I'm not sure I have much to add to the stories, I was broken through a good bit of it. I could take a bit of a rest and deal with the ir'Thuranni yet today if that sounds reasonable." Adamant looks to Belarin and Kal.

[Ken]

Belarin yawns in agreement with Kalarian and Adamant. "Yes, rest, drink, food, and more drink today," he says. "More mayhem tomorrow."

He guides Histra to one side of the room to answer her question. "This cap... yes, it is from the fey. One of my redcap mentors, in fact. I received it after his death. But I'd never considered that its power could be used by a human... until today." His eyes dance with excitement. "I felt a need to use it on Demise's blood, Histra! I saw images, people, acts.... things that she did! I even absorbed some of her intelligence, though just for a short time. It was amazing."

His voice then drops to a whisper. "I also ... talked to a dead person. Not an undead. Greshnaza's released spirit, after we defeated the things she'd become. I suddenly knew that I could do it. That ability, though... I don't think it came from the fey."

____________________________________

For the sake of anyone who wants to eavesdrop, Belarin is trying to keep the second part of the conversation (the speaking with dead thing) just between him and Histra, though obviously all the party members are now aware of Belarin's concerns about it.

[Jeff]

Jul 26, 2017 13:06:52 GMT -4 Dave W. said:

Adamant looks to Larest, "I suppose the 'brood-sister' of a medusa would also be a medusa?"

"I suppose it would," Larest says, pondering. "How do you know about a sister?"

Jul 26, 2017 11:33:28 GMT -4 Darren said:

"That is the truth," Kal says to Larest. "No one is going anywhere today. We are too far spent. In the morning, we will examine these new leads." Kal yawns. "In the meantime, I must get word to Greigur. Do you have a courier in this city that you trust, Larest?"

Larest says, "Garzek, the owner here, could arrange for a courier. But have a care, Lord Kalarian. This may be a poor time to send out anything that can be traced back here. My ward"—he gestures to the still-glowing glyph drawn on the floor of the room—"has limitations. It should shield out most attempts to scry the location of anyone near it, but it will do nothing against word of mouth. If Lord Wylkes knows of your House Deneith connection... well, I do not think it safe. I suspect you have placed the Lord Marshal in a precarious position. The oft-unspoken rule in this city is: do not cross the Coin Lords. You have done so, and now you will have cast the shadow of collusion on Lord Greigur."

"House Orien's Courier Guild has three locations," Sem joins in. "One's in Marketplace. Safer to send messages from there than from here...but...you really want to go out again today?" The gnome makes a sour face.

Jul 26, 2017 13:06:52 GMT -4 Dave W. said:

"And after that I must return the remains of Rendithas to the ir'Thuranni in the Citadel of the Twelve. I don't suppose anyone knows where that might be in the city?"

"One thing at a time, Adamant," Sem adds. "The Citadel of the Twelves is all the way over in Coasthold, in Silverwall. That's a farther walk than the Harbor. Good exercise on a nice sunny day, but it is not a nice sunny day. And hey, no more splitting up! Unless you've really got a sphinx as a personal steed." He fixes Adamant with a wide-eyed stare. "Have you got a sphinx as a personal steed? Is that a paladin thing?"

Jul 26, 2017 13:19:33 GMT -4 Ken said:

He guides Histra to one side of the room to answer her question. "This cap... yes, it is from the fey. One of my redcap mentors, in fact. I received it after his death. But I'd never considered that its power could be used by a human... until today." His eyes dance with excitement. "I felt a need to use it on Demise's blood, Histra! I saw images, people, acts.... things that she did! I even absorbed some of her intelligence, though just for a short time. It was amazing."

His voice then drops to a whisper. "I also ... talked to a dead person. Not an undead. Greshnaza's released spirit, after we defeated the things she'd become. I suddenly knew that I could do it. That ability, though... I don't think it came from the fey."

"Do not trust everything you see and hear," Histra says. "Spirits come in many forms, and many can deceive. Did this one appear to you, or did you...go elsewhere? What did it say to you?"

She turns and looks at Adamant, then raises her voice to include him. "Answer ir'Zathryan's question, Adamant. You spoke to Greshnaza as well, presumably while she was not attacking you as a wight? How?" She looks back to Belarin, and it's clear she thinks this is related to what he's talking about.

[Darren]

"I did, too," Kal says, answering Histra. "I saw her while I was....while I was incapacitated. She tried to speak to me, but before I could answer I was back in the fight." Kal nods his thanks to Streko.

[Ken]

Belarin raises an eyebrow at Kal's comments. He says to Histra, "No, I asked questions of her corpse after we defeated her. I didn't see her spirit, but she answered me through her dead body."

[Jeff]

Histra cocks her head. "Not the fey? I am glad, then, that they alone do not hold your heart and mind. Try it again, when a new corpse lies before you. We need to master this ability, though I do wonder where it came from." She then gets academic about it. "We must learn how repeatable this is. Most likely you spoke not to the medusa's spirit at all, only her remains, a resonance of what she'd been in life. Such voices are drawn from...an echo, a shadow, of what once was."

[Brian]

Jul 26, 2017 10:55:01 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Jul 26, 2017 10:10:27 GMT -4 Darren said:

Kal nods. "As Melethos...that's his name, now, by the way....

Sem and Larest look to the tiefling at this, puzzled.

"Wait, whoa," the gnome says, marching up to Melethos. "You just upped and changed your name? Can you do that? Is it because you're a tiefling? WAIT." He whirls around and points at the minotaur. "Starg has horns, too. Can we change his name? I'm voting for Lord Bovinor. Or maybe Baron Bullock." Sem looks at Shorak. "Wait, what's Drow for 'man-cow'?"

"I did not change my name," Melethos says, dropping into a chair. His sore hand throbs with the beat of his heart. "You knew me as Condign, which is not my name. It is what I was called--a virtue name, if you may, one I agreed to accept until such time that I learned something about myself. Something critical. I found that something during our attempt to free the sphinx. I now have my true name back." He looks around the room. "Does anyone have any wine?"

_________________________________________________

Melethos is ready to call it an evening, even if it is mid-afternoon, whenever everyone else is ready.

[Jeff]

Larest fetches some bottles of wine while Sem just stares up at the tiefling. "I have so many questions," the gnome says, smiling. "Maybe this is a sphinx thing? They are engimatic, mystical beings. If I fought on behalf of a sphinx, would I learn something critical about myself?" He looks around at the rest of you. "Did anyone else have a deep and personal revelation?"

Larest pours a glass of white wine—from who knows where, everything's imported in this city—and hands it to him without comment.

[Dave W.]

"I am not a story-teller, so with your patience... "

"During our battle I made some poor decisions, one left me broken beyond my ability to remain in this world... I went somewhere… else. It was an in-between place, not here and not Dolurrh. It was dark and I could not move. There were other spirits were there as well, also immobile... I sang to them for a time... though it's possible 'time' is not a thing they have in-between." Adamant pauses to re-orient.

"When you released Greshnaza, she could speak to me. She was back to the spirit she was forged to be... she was kind and grateful. She could see you and what you were doing but I could not. She told me you were opening a door that should not have been opened… that you were in great danger."

"I begged her to get a message to you. She, herself, could not but she found the shade of an elf, Rendithas ir'Thuranni... I am not sure what he was like in life, but I did not care for him in death. Still we struck a deal. He would deliver a message to you and I would find his remains... at the very least his skull... and return them to his kin, which I will do tomorrow."

"When all that could be done was done with Rendithas, I asked Greshnaza if there was a service I could do for her in thanks for all she did... in truth I would have offered if there were nothing she could have done... I was quite moved by her..."

There is something very soft in Adamant's bass voice for just a moment. He sees his audience again and clumsily resumes, "...and some Justice was needed to bandage over the vile thing that the Blood of Vol had done to her..."

"So I shall take her sword to her brood-sister and tell Greshtuza that her sister was tortured but has been released; that Greshnaza has found peace now…... That I watched her fade from the place her soul was trapped... that I will pray for her."

"No doubt I will fumble over those words as well..."

[Ken]

"You speak better than you realize, Adamant," says Belarin.

He addresses Larest and the others. "What sort of scrape did YOU get into?" He points to Larest's bloody shoulder.

[Jeff]

"It is the mood of this city," Larest says grimly, but tries to be dismissive about his injury. "Anyone moving around the streets is apparently a target. A suspect."

"A suspected of being a rival for the Eye," Sem says, "Which, of course, we are."

"Stormreach is a violent place, and always has been." Larest sighs. "But it's worse now, I think. When every faction sets out on its expedition, perhaps it will go back to normal. The Eye, I confess, has brought out the greed and competition in everyone."

"I punished a few who thought to trifle with us," Histra adds quietly, rubbing at the bruise on her jaw. "It is finished over now." She levels her gaze at Belarin and her voice becomes authoritative. "Too many have tried to slay you in the last few days. I think ir'Zathyran has learned all he can with my help, so tomorrow morning I will go with you to these Tents. I know very little about the giants..."

[Darren]

Jul 26, 2017 15:45:19 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Larest fetches some bottles of wine while Sem just stares up at the tiefling. "I have so many questions," the gnome says, smiling. "Maybe this is a sphinx thing? They are engimatic, mystical beings. If I fought on behalf of a sphinx, would I learn something critical about myself?" He looks around at the rest of you. "Did anyone else have a deep and personal revelation?"

Larest pours a glass of white wine—from who knows where, everything's imported in this city—and hands it to him without comment.

"I don't know about a revelation," Kal says, then holds up his hand and points at his naked finger, "but I did have to give up my ring. Damn shame, too. I had grown rather fond of it, and dragonshards aren't easy to replace...."

Kal sighs. "Adamant, we won't have much time tomorrow to devote to your task, but I will not have you wandering the streets alone, so we will go together before we go to the tents. We must be swift about it, and we should set out early. Now, unless there is other business, I need a meal and a bath, and then I must find an Orien courier and get a message to Greigur before he finds out what has happened by....other....means."

[Jeff]

Sem Darlesh holds up a finger. "The only surety of discretion lies with Orien, Kal, but then you'd better go in person to the Courier Guild outpost—a tiny building at the edge of Marketplace. If you're not prepared to go yourself there today, then just leave it to tomorrow. Don't send anyone else, not even some errand boy of Garzek's downstairs. This is not a time to trust strangers, believe me."

He points at Larest's bandaged shoulder as evidence.

[Darren]

"Understood," Kal says, "but best not left until tomorrow. Things are moving fast here and I don't think Wylkes will wait until the morning to do anything he is planning. I will move quickly and be...discreet," he says, tapping the hood of his cloak and grinning.

[Joe]

Jul 26, 2017 16:40:22 GMT -4 Darren said:

Jul 26, 2017 15:45:19 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Larest fetches some bottles of wine while Sem just stares up at the tiefling. "I have so many questions," the gnome says, smiling. "Maybe this is a sphinx thing? They are engimatic, mystical beings. If I fought on behalf of a sphinx, would I learn something critical about myself?" He looks around at the rest of you. "Did anyone else have a deep and personal revelation?"

Larest pours a glass of white wine—from who knows where, everything's imported in this city—and hands it to him without comment.

"I don't know about a revelation," Kal says, then holds up his hand and points at his naked finger, "but I did have to give up my ring. Damn shame, too. I had grown rather fond of it, and dragonshards aren't easy to replace...."

Kal sighs. "Adamant, we won't have much time tomorrow to devote to your task, but I will not have you wandering the streets alone, so we will go together before we go to the tents. We must be swift about it, and we should set out early. Now, unless there is other business, I need a meal and a bath, and then I must find an Orien courier and get a message to Greigur before he finds out what has happened by....other....means."

"Understood," Kal says, "but best not left until tomorrow. Things are moving fast here and I don't think Wylkes will wait until the morning to do anything he is planning. I will move quickly and be...discreet," he says, tapping the hood of his cloak and grinning.

"A deep and personal revelation? I hate seeing my friends die, or come as close as is comfortable for us, with little understanding of why. I despise the suffering we are all being forced to endure due to the greed and darkness of a few powerful individuals. Most of all, I hate choosing which friend may live and which may die. That is my deep and personal revelation. Kal," he says, turning to his friend, "perhaps Shorak could go with you, if he doesn't mind. I'd feel better if you had the best scout in Xen'drik alongside you while you travel in this place. Noting against your scouting abilities, mind, but you are more for show than stealth. And take these." He hands Kal his last two healing potions. "Just in case. Better to have and not need than need and not have, as father is always so proudly telling mother after she allows him to go shopping on his own."
___________________________________

Streko gives Kal his last two healing potions.

[Ken]

"My deep and personal revelation, Sem," says Belarin as he walks over to the table and pours himself a glass of red wine, "is that I stink of sweat and blood. Some of it may even be mine!" He takes a second glass and walks back toward Histra. He offers her the glass, but if she declines, he passes it to Shorak. "I need a bath, some rest, and a lengthy discussion of the arcane." He looks at Histra, and he gently touches the bruise on her face. "Join me?"

He sips the wine and then quickly points a finger at Kalarian. "YOU. Be careful. Yes?" Then he moves toward his room.

________________________________

Belarin is ready to take a long rest. But I wouldn't mind a few comments with Histra on the private thread if she agrees to join him. He definitely wants to talk to her.

[Dave B.]

Shorak looks around at everyone, listening to the different snippets of conversation. All the time he absentmindedly continues to touch the box, as if to confirm that he still has it. He grabs any food off the table, if there is any and pops it in his mouth. Hopefully, some bread and cheese.

At Sem's words Shorak turns to Starg, "How do you put up with him?" He asks with a smile. He turns back to Sem. "I have something to look at later on. You might be interested in joining me when I do."

Seeing Belarin and Histra move to talk privately, Shorak purposely affords them their privacy and does not eavesdrop on their conversation.

Hearing Streko's comment, Shorak walks over to Kal. If you wish me to accompany you, it probably would be faster.

[Darren]

Kal studies the half-drow in front of him. The newest member of their group. Always a bit aloof. He grins. Kal likes him. "I would be grateful for your company," Kal says. "I might even learn something from you." Kal pushes down on his knees and rises to his feet. "But first," he says with a sniff, "we must clean ourselves up. I, for one, am not fit to be seen in public."

______________________
Kal will take the opportunity to clean himself and put on fresh, unripped clothes. Would the inn have a tailor/seamstress in-house who Kal could give his shirt to for mending? I'm sure it's a bit slashed up at this point.

Once clean, Kal is ready to go to the Orien outpost with Shorak.

I promise I'll make it quick. I'm really not trying to split the group again, but both Kal and I think it's important to get word to Greigur before Wylkes gets to him.

[Dave B.]

Shorak nods to Kal and smiles looking down at the mess that is him. "That is an excellent idea. I'll meet you back here in 15 minutes." Shorak goes to grab some clean clothes and clean himself up and his weapons. He joins Kal after they have gotten themselves more presentable.

[Dave W.]

"I would go with you if you like Kal," Adamant offers, "though a quick rest... perhaps an hour... would be better."

[Darren]

Jul 26, 2017 22:57:59 GMT -4 Dave W. said:

"I would go with you if you like Kal," Adamant offers, "though a quick rest... perhaps an hour... would be better."

Kal considers the offer. "Thank you, Adamant, but I think Shorak and I will move more quickly...and quietly...on our own. We will be fine." Kal winks. "Trust me."

[Jeff]

"Splitting up is working well for you, then?" Sem mutters under his breath, seeming genuinely annoyed with Kal's decision to head out again.

Jul 26, 2017 19:14:42 GMT -4 Joe said:

"A deep and personal revelation? I hate seeing my friends die, or come as close as is comfortable for us, with little understanding of why. I despise the suffering we are all being forced to endure due to the greed and darkness of a few powerful individuals. Most of all, I hate choosing which friend may live and which may die. That is my deep and personal revelation."

"I have said before," Larest says quietly, "That I do nothing to stop you returning to your home. But difficulties clearly lie ahead for us all. I hope you have guessed the stakes of failure, however. If the artifact falls into hands greedier and darker than those you'd prefer."

Jul 26, 2017 22:29:05 GMT -4 Dave B. said:

Shorak looks around at everyone, listening to the different snippets of conversation. All the time he absentmindedly continues to touch the box, as if to confirm that he still has it. He grabs any food off the table, if there is any and pops it in his mouth. Hopefully, some bread and cheese.

At Sem's words Shorak turns to Starg, "How do you put up with him?" He asks with a smile. He turns back to Sem. "I have something to look at later on. You might be interested in joining me when I do."

Although no meal is loud out, bread, water, and wine are on hand.

At Shorak's remark about Sem, Starg makes no comment. The longsuffering minotaur generally seems to rise above the gnome's humor.

When Shorak volunteers to go with Kal, Sem shrugs. "Well, at least the human won't get lost now."

Histra follows Belarin into one of the rooms and shuts the door behind them.

[Brian]

"Be careful," Melethos says to Kal and Shorak. "Do not assume anything, even your skills at stealth. Even the best sneak can get caught."

Grabbing another cupful of wine, he heads into his room and some well deserved rest.

[Jeff]

Take all the time you want to prepare, but I'll await words of action before proceeding with Kal and Shorak's errand.

[Dave W.]

Jul 26, 2017 23:23:01 GMT -4 Darren said:

Kal considers the offer. "Thank you, Adamant, but I think Shorak and I will move more quickly...and quietly...on our own. We will be fine." Kal winks. "Trust me."

"I'm quite sure that's true. Be careful then," Adamant looks to Larest."Perhaps we could once again impose on you, Professor, for the loan of your ring so Kal could send word if he falls into trouble?"

"Streko, Aven, perhaps we should pray together for a moment… to thank the Host for our success and continued functioning and pray for our friends going forward? Then I will idle for a short time… it was a difficult adventure."

Adamant prays with his friends, reminds Aven that Dire's Folly is his now. And then finds a quiet corner to stand in for an hour.

---

Adamant should do a short rest to recover a bit. I'm actually ready to go into the long rest after that unless something happens. Since we get half the HD back after the long rest, I'll use 4 on a short rest to get something back just in case.

dlw32:1D10 → 8(8)
dlw32:1D10 → 8(8)
dlw32:1D10 → 7(7)
dlw32:1D10 → 8(8)

So that's +31 hp after the hour. I'm feeling a little better about that...

For the long rest, I don't have to do anything to let Aven attune to Dire's Folly right? He just does it.

[Jeff]

Avens says to Adamant, "I will bond with this weapon, if I am able. But I still consider it on loan. I did not purchase it, nor was it issued to me by an agency. Not a temple, nor the army, any army. It is...difficult for me to understand simply being given such a valuable object. You could sell this to a Cannith smithy and probably purchase a great deal of food for those who require it."

Nevertheless, Aven takes the hammer and begins to fidget with it—for warriors, attunement with a weapon comes natural to anyone inclined to form a bond.

Starg retires back to one of the rooms of the suite, and sets to work on some project of his.

Sem and Larest turn back to the desk, consulting maps.

---

Actually, voluntarily relinquishing attunement with a magic item requires another short rest (or some special means, in the case of items being cursed. But we can assume Adamant does so here before giving it over to Aven to attune.

Adamant's hit dice and hit points adjusted.

Belarin has long since ceased to benefit from that brief invulnerability shielding.

[Darren]

Kal holds up a hand and waggles his fingers at Larest. "What do you say, Larest? Will you give me your ring?" He grins, his mood improving after his bath and the small bit of food he's consumed.

____________________
Wasn't sure if you caught that part, Jeff. Adamant asked Larest about borrowing his ring for communication purposes....

[Jeff]

Larest looks up, seeming distracted—perhaps more from simply his shoulder—and says, "Oh. Yes. Of course." He fishes out the matching ring to one he already wears and hands it over to Kal.

[Joe]

Streko prays to Olladra, in thanks for their return from the lighthouse, for the safety of their missing friend Syrdan, wherever he may be, and for all the assistance She provided him and his friends in their most recent adventure.

"Aven, it is a gift, given freely in order that you may benefit from it and, in turn, we may benefit from the choices you make. It is not just to your benefit that it is given, but it benefits the whole as well. Also, when we put our minds to it, we are nearly as formidable as an army. Just ask Kalarian or Condign, generals in their own right. I am glad we met and that you chose to join us. I would be honored to continue our collaboration as you explore what it means to worship one of the Sovereign Host and exercise individual choice."

"Larest, as much time as I have spent lamenting the poor fortune of meeting you, I am resigned to the fact that your fears are warranted. I just wish you had asked before stripping me from my family, whom I was just re-establish an acquaintance with after some time apart. I have moved past wanting your imminent death. I see that you were correct in wanting the Eye to remain out of the hands of evil beings, all of whom seem quite eager and intent on obtaining it for themselves. Khyber be damned who gets in their way. I am simply weary of having to chose between who I can save and who will die because I cannot help them. Seeing so much death and so many bodies has an effect on the soul. Please understand that...and take nothing personal from my rants. If it becomes personal, I shall inform you in the most direct terms. I don't suspect, however, that will occur, unless you betray us at some point. I stand with my friends until I can stand no more. That is my oath and therein lies my loyalty. Now, I must eat, bathe and rest...in that order. Come tomorrow, I fear, the nightmare begins again and, like it or not, I shall face it as bravely as I can. Now...I need meat...and wine...and a buttery biscuit or three."
_____________________________________

Streko will eat, bathe, relax and dabble in some writing. He will do everything in his power to stay awake until Kal and Shorak return safely. Then he will take a long rest.