Chapter 14: A Cloud of Fear

[Darren]

Kal smiles. "It's good to see you again, too, Cael. You look well." Listening to the description of the vampire's message, Kal chuckles. "That doesn't seem entirely fair, does it? I mean, I HAVE blood, and they have none. Would they trade me with someone else's? What kind of bargain is that? No, I think any trader would tell you that you should never trade with a vampire when it comes to blood. A fool's bargain, as they say." Kal winks at Cael.

"Adamant, by all means, our resources are yours. How much of this dust do you need?"

Finally, a thought occurs to Kal and he pulls Shorak and Streko a bit aside, catching Melethos' attention as well. "My friends, returning to this temple has sparked my memory. Streko, do you recall our encounter with the dragon below this very building? The glass rod and the note I received?" Kal produces the note on which is written "For answers that none can abide and a path of which you wish to be certain, bring this key to the Onyx Fountain". "Before the gala, we thought this might give us some answers or clues as to the whereabouts of the Eye. Might we not follow up on this lead, as well? Shorak, is the Fountain not far from here?"

________________________
I had to search way back for this. It was in Chapter 10, before the gala, back in 2012. I can't believe we've been in Stormreach for 5 years.

[Joe]

Streko pulls out a list of items he jotted down prior to falling asleep last night. "I'll need to fill a couple vials of holy water, ashes from a burned leaf of mistletoe and a sprig of spruce, a caterpillar cocoon, and, yes 300 Galifars worth of diamond dust, please. Also, just in case, if I may have a pinch of sulfur as well. Thank you! And it is good to see you again as well. Thank you for removing some more of Krez's trash from existence."

He listens to Kal speak and nods. "Yes, perhaps we should look into that, but I would prefer we get our business at the tents completed first. Just to be sure the one we are to meet is still there. Unless the fountain is on our way or close enough to not matter, in which case..."

[Jeff]

Tania nods at Streko. "We have plenty of holy water, hallowed in the shrines of every dragon of the Host."

---

Slight discount on holy water. 20 gp per flask.

[Darren]

My mistake, Jeff. I did miss the part where Cael left. I guess Kal is just flirting with the new acolyte, then.

"Here," Kal says to Streko, handing him a flask out of his pack. "I still have this from before. You are welcome to it, if you need more."

_____________________________
We definitely bought some holy water before. Did we use it? Kal's got one. Looks like Belarin has 2. Shorak apparently has 8!

[Dave W.]

Aug 8, 2017 20:55:58 GMT -4 Joe said:

Streko pulls out a list of items he jotted down prior to falling asleep last night. "I'll need to fill a couple vials of holy water, ashes from a burned leaf of mistletoe and a sprig of spruce, a caterpillar cocoon, and, yes 300 Galifars worth of diamond dust, please. Also, just in case, if I may have a pinch of sulfur as well. Thank you! And it is good to see you again as well. Thank you for removing some more of Krez's trash from existence."

"oh, I think we'll want a bit more than that, my friend. Let's say 600 galifars of crushed diamonds for you and another 300 for me."

---

i believe the dust gets consumed with the spell... you don't get to reuse it. So 900 gp for 3 castings... less the 500 gp from Larest, were spending 400 of our 1200. I might wish for more but we will have to make due. Are we buying holy water? Sounds like we have quite a bit? Anything else?"

[Ken]

Belarin chimes in, "Is there a divine spell that banishes a creature to its native plane, say, an undead to Dolurrh? From my studies, I believe there is. It might come in handy, either against Krez or, oh, any winged demon with a grudge."

______________

Belarin is asking about the 5th-level cleric spell Dispel Evil, although he wouldn't refer to it as such.

[Dave B.]

"Streko, I still have a number of vials of holy water. I do not believe it necessary to purchase more." Shorak comments.

[Brian]

Melethos hangs back. The voices of his friends echo in the vast chamber as they negotiate with the acolyte. When they are done, he approaches Tania.

"My lady," he says, holding out the mace. "An evil spell has been placed on this weapon, and I would see it destroyed before it can affect anyone else. Do you have someone in the temple who can accomplish that?" He pauses. "Also, do you have stores of bat fur and, perhaps, a small piece of coal?"

[Jeff]

Tania listens to you all discuss gold and spell components. "Coal, certainly. Bat fur, I would imagine I could find some. I will check."

"There is..." the acolyte begins, to answer Melethos's other question as she looks at the mace in his hand. "...a vault, and a resident of that vault knowledgeable and powerful. Destroying powerful items would not be his preference, though he may have the strength to unmake them. Do you wish to entrust it to him? What is the spell?" Melethos doesn't think she's referring to the high priest, but to someone else, and she seems to have no interest in naming him.

[Brian]

Aug 9, 2017 5:56:08 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Tania listens to you all discuss gold and spell components. "Coal, certainly. Bat fur, I would imagine I could find some. I will check."

"There is..." the acolyte begins, to answer Melethos's other question as she looks at the mace in his hand. "...a vault, and a resident of that vault knowledgeable and powerful. Destroying powerful items would not be his preference, though he may have the strength to unmake them. Do you wish to entrust it to him? What is the spell?" Melethos doesn't think she's referring to the high priest, but to someone else, and she seems to have no interest in naming him.

Melethos hesitates. His distrust of nameless, faceless authority rises in him like an incoming tide. The Ghaash'kala rely on a known chain of command, a verifiable hierarchy of soldiers responsible for each necessary function of the tribe. He looks the face of the acolyte, her garb. But this is not a military company. He has no understanding of its history or functioning. Now is not the time to argue.

He holds out the mace. "It robs a person of logical thought. When affected, he attacks anyone nearby, ally or foe. It his horrible. Unmade or destroyed, I care not. Have him take care of it."

[Jeff]

Tania listens to Melethos then enacts a spell of magical detection as she examines the mace even while still in the tiefling's hand. Then she takes a gold cloth and wraps the mace in it, ensuring she doesn't touch it.

"Very good," she says at length. "Trust in the faith of your friends, master tiefling, and the trust they have placed in the gods. Here this object will not be misused, you may be assured, only valued for its potential and purpose. Many cursed things were not so intended. Unraveling their origins is a...hobby of our guardian. It may well lie for centuries unused, harming none. Can I ask from whose lair you took this weapon?"

She gives Melethos a flash of her white teeth in a friendly smile. "Still, knowing nothing more of this object at this time, we will grant you diamond dust to the worth of one hundred gold pieces."


The temple is giving you "store credit" of 100 gp.

[Jeff]

Aug 8, 2017 23:37:27 GMT -4 Ken said:

Belarin chimes in, "Is there a divine spell that banishes a creature to its native plane, say, an undead to Dolurrh? From my studies, I believe there is. It might come in handy, either against Krez or, oh, any winged demon with a grudge."

Belarin is asking about the 5th-level cleric spell Dispel Evil, although he wouldn't refer to it as such.

Not sure who Belarin is asking this of.

In an effort to remain clear on things, I'm not going to process any diamond dust purchases until someone states they are giving Tania gold for it specifically. So far it's just being talked about in dialogue or out of character.

[Ken]

Belarin is directly asking Tania, but certainly those in the party with better knowledge of divine spells can chime in.

[Jeff]

Aug 8, 2017 23:37:27 GMT -4 Ken said:

Belarin chimes in, "Is there a divine spell that banishes a creature to its native plane, say, an undead to Dolurrh? From my studies, I believe there is. It might come in handy, either against Krez or, oh, any winged demon with a grudge."

______________

Belarin is asking about the 5th-level cleric spell Dispel Evil, although he wouldn't refer to it as such.

"You speak of the yugoloth again, yes? Maru Sakhesh can enact such spells of banishment," the acolyte says, "He may even have crafted scrolls that do the same, though they would be costly. One thousand or more gold pieces. If this is something you would invest in, I can inquire with him in an hour or so."

[Brian]

Aug 9, 2017 7:56:23 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Tania listens to Melethos then enacts a spell of magical detection as she examines the mace even while still in the tiefling's hand. Then she takes a gold cloth and wraps the mace in it, ensuring she doesn't touch it.

"Very good," she says at length. "Trust in the faith of your friends, master tiefling, and the trust they have placed in the gods. Here this object will not be misused, you may be assured, only valued for its potential and purpose. Many cursed things were not so intended. Unraveling their origins is a...hobby of our guardian. It may well lie for centuries unused, harming none. Can I ask from whose lair you took this weapon?"

"We recovered in from a dark place," Melethos says. "A realm of the dead. It is an affront to this world. Please see that it is safeguarded."

[Dave W.]

Aug 9, 2017 7:56:23 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Tania listens to Melethos then enacts a spell of magical detection as she examines the mace even while still in the tiefling's hand. Then she takes a gold cloth and wraps the mace in it, ensuring she doesn't touch it.

"Very good," she says at length. "Trust in the faith of your friends, master tiefling, and the trust they have placed in the gods. Here this object will not be misused, you may be assured, only valued for its potential and purpose. Many cursed things were not so intended. Unraveling their origins is a...hobby of our guardian. It may well lie for centuries unused, harming none. Can I ask from whose lair you took this weapon?"

Adamant sees the struggle his friend is having, and at it's resolution gives a simple nod to Melethos. Once more the warforged admires the way fleshy creatures can communicate with their facesplates. When the tiefling mentions where the mace was found, Adamant adds, "It was in Dolurrh. We found a passage and sought knowledge there and have now returned. I'm afraid there was a cache left by some other adventurous person but I do not know who they were. We were in the shadow version of the Lighthouse if that helps. Actually I acquired this warhammer at the same time. It has a fire spirit trapped within." Adamant will allow Tania to examine his hammer if she wishes.

She gives Melethos a flash of her white teeth in a friendly smile. "Still, knowing nothing more of this object at this time, we will grant you diamond dust to the worth of one hundred gold pieces."

"Very generous, Acolyte Tania. I'm not sure what else is needed but here, this should compensate the Temple for the diamond dust." Adamant hands over Larest's 500 galifars of platinum* and adds another 300 withdrawn from the bank.

"I would like to spend just a moment at my Lady's shrine before we go."

---

* what are Ebberon platinum called? I got galifars, sovereigns, and crowns... plums?

[Jeff]

It's noticeable that Tania doesn't use the terms "galifar" for gold pieces. This is not Khorvaire, though many residents of Stormreach—who have roots to the Five Nations—definitely still use the term.

Tania retrieves the diamond dust for Adamant. It is kept in small glass vials, which sparkle and gleam no matter what angle you hold it up. They are easily crushed or opened for quick application. Each vial contains 100 gold pieces worth of the fine dust, so she hands Adamant eight of these. Adamant knows how his spells work, and knows he could crush three in a single casting of the spell he has in mind.

"When you are finished, Adamant, can we speak?" Aven ventures over to the shrine of Dol Dorn.

---

Platinum dragons.

Inventory coinage and bank amount adjusted. 800 gp worth of diamond dust is now in Adamant's possession. I won't add weight to it for encumberance, since it's a consumable.

[Brian]

"Did you not find a weapon in Dolurrh?" Melethos asks Adamant. "I would be wary of it. Nothing from that place has worked out well in the end. If you are not going to use it--I know I will not--perhaps you could sell it. We know not whether it really is cursed or not."

[Dave W.]

"Streko, for your use." Adamant hands over 6 of the vials to the halfling. And stores the rest.

"I will be with you momentarily, Aven." he replies to his warforged friend.

Aug 9, 2017 10:55:35 GMT -4 Brian said:

"Did you not find a weapon in Dolurrh?" Melethos asks Adamant. "I would be wary of it. Nothing from that place has worked out well in the end. If you are not going to use it--I know I will not--perhaps you could sell it. We know not whether it really is cursed or not."

"Yes, Melethos, this hammer is from that cache." He nods to Syndra as he displays it for Tania to inspect. "There is a fire spirit bound to it, but we have come to an understanding."

[Jeff]

Tania takes an interest in the hammer Adamant displays, but seems more intrigued by the spirit of fire than the weapon itself. "Elemental bound?" she says. "Is it sentient? Fire elements of any size are not very intelligent. Does it try to break free from the hammer it is bound to?"

---

Okay, Adamant's now got 300gp of dust, and Streko's got 600. Is that all?

[Joe]

Aug 8, 2017 23:37:27 GMT -4 Ken said:

Belarin chimes in, "Is there a divine spell that banishes a creature to its native plane, say, an undead to Dolurrh? From my studies, I believe there is. It might come in handy, either against Krez or, oh, any winged demon with a grudge."

"I have not prepared such a spell, but Olladra has granted me the ability to banish a creature to another plane. It is a short-lived spell, I am sad to say, not permanent, so I felt it more important to ask Olladra for healing and protection."

He gives Adamant a deep bow. "Thank you, my friend. Between the two of us, I believe we have done our best to keep each other and all of our friends a safe as we can. I will keep these in a very safe space." He slides them into his haversack.

"Tania, I, too, would like to spend a brief moment at Olladra's shrine, if I may." He looks to Kal. "I'll only be a brief moment."

At Olladra's shrine, Streko will offer up one of his remaining Galifars tht he keeps on-hand. Then, he will speak a short prayer to She who gives him all, after which he returns to the group.

"To the fountain, or to the tents?"
_____________________________________________

Streko is ready to leave when everyone else is.

[Dave B.]

With Adamant and Streko moving to the shrines, Shorak moves towards the doors to the outside, waiting to guide everyone to the their next destination.

[Jeff]

Shorak approaches the others by the door, the two Blademarks and Starg. The door has been kept open, and the gate itself—a portcullis—also hangs overhead, and you haven't seen it closed yet. The rain drums outside.

"There is some activity at the airship tower," Starg says to Shorak, and points.

When he moves to the threshhold and looks up, he can see what the minotaur is referring to. Facing south, the entrance of the temple looks toward the wall between Forgelight and Marketplace. And not far behind that, Falconer's Spire rises overhead. The Lyrandar airship tower is so tall you can see it from most places in the city. Shorak sees but can't quite hear explosions of light and fire up by the outward-thrust platforms of the Spire. Presently only four airships can be seen docked there, suspended in the air by the magic of their hulls—their elemental rings glowing only thinly.

[Dave W.]

Aug 9, 2017 15:51:09 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Tania takes an interest in the hammer Adamant displays, but seems more intrigued by the spirit of fire than the weapon itself. "Elemental bound?" she says. "Is it sentient? Fire elements of any size are not very intelligent. Does it try to break free from the hammer it is bound to?"

"It does speak to me, Syndra seems fairly intelligent though it's needs are basic. I do not believe it can break completely free; though I can call it to ignite the hammer's head."

"I'm afraid we are pressed for time today but perhaps I will be able to stop by in the future and have you examine it more closely."

Adamant bows to Tania. He walks over to the shine for Dol Arrah and takes a few minutes to pray. Then he will seek out Aven.

---

Almost ready to move on. Just need to talk to Aven... though not sure what's happening with airships... I'm sure Addy thinks whatever that is, it's unnatural...

[Jeff]

Adamant finds Dol Arrah's shrine to be exactly the same when he goes in. Aven is kneeling before the silver dragon statue that represents the good, looming over the altar. Aven then rises but keeps looking at the brother of Dol Arrah as he speaks to Adamant.

"I am undecided where to go next. I do not think my path leads to the Eye relic you and your friends are searching for. It doesn't...feel right for me. The events on the lighthouse island, and those human guards...it feels too much like what began my troubles of conscience. If I am to serve the god of battle, I want that battle to be for...something. Definitive. Purer? I need a clearer path before me, Adamant. Do you understand this?"

"I wish to find another temple, anywhere else, and see how the gods are worshipped there. I need to see the variance for myself. So if you leave the city and travel into the jungles, I will not be going with you. Though, if you need my service before then, I offer it to you a little while longer. Until you must leave." Then he turns his body and holds out the halberd somewhat. "If it would aid your quest, I will give Dire's Folly back to you. Perhaps you can sell it to the temple and acquire more supplies."

[Jeff]

Tania brings over a belt pouch to Melethos. He can tell she glances at Kal from time to time, meanwhile. "We do not normally supply materials for arcanists, but as it happens, coal is easy to come by...and so are bats. No charge. As is the world, so are the gods."

---

Spell pouch has been added to Melethos's inventory. So long as he's got the pouch, it can be assumed he replenishes it from time to time, and this serves as his material components for the relevant spells.

[Brian]

"Thank you, my lady," Melethos says with a slight bow. "This may help keep us alive."

His goals accomplished, Melethos approaches Shorak at the temple's door. "Anything new happening?"

[Darren]

Kal moves to the door where Shorak is standing and follows his gaze up the Lyrander tower. "Is that what people see when we are engaged, I wonder?" Kal muses on this for a while. "Must be quite a battle. None of our concern right now, though. We must stay focused on our tasks." Kal holds up the crystal rod he was given. "Which again begs my question...we are not far from the Onyx Fountain if I'm not mistaken. Do we pursue this lead? Llash-Tava did not imply that there was some time limit to find her contact, so he must live around there. This may be worth investigating."

[Dave B.]

Shorak watches the sky for a moment. "It looks like the different factions are trying to make it harder for the other factions to fly into the jungle. I don't trust the airships myself. Too much can go wrong."

He looks back at Kal and considers his question. "We will be passing close to the fountain. I can't see that it would delay us very much. Is that where you'd like me to guide you to next?"

[Brian]

Melethos nods. "A stop at the fountain should not prove too much of a delay." He looks at Belarin. "Are you ready to leave?"

____________________________________________

Belarin is the only one who hasn't stated he is ready to leave. When/if Ken responds to the positive, I say we head out for the fountain.