Chapter 18: Where the Mighty Rivers Roam

[Darren]

Kal reaches up a hand and grasps Melethos' forearm. "Of course, brother. Thank you."

Kal takes several deep breaths, his hands laying loosely upon his knees. With a last exhalation, Kal reaches out and places Skyfang in his right hand, lightly resting the blade in his left. His head bows, his chin resting against his chest, and anyone watching couldn't be blamed for thinking the sorcerer had fallen asleep. "Keeper of Secrets," he whispers.

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Okay, I'm assuming the next step is to roll the Intelligence save, but I wasn't sure of the modifiers. I know he's got the ring which gives him +1. I think you said he gets +1 from Adamant. Did anyone cast Bless? That gives him....what? An extra 1d4?

[Ken]

• Anyone within 10 feet of Adamant gets +3 to saving throws.
• Yes, the ring provides +1 to Intelligence saving throws.
• A bless spell would give you an extra 1d4 to the roll ... but no one has cast it yet.

[Darren]

Aug 20, 2020 9:53:25 GMT -4 Ken said:

• Anyone within 10 feet of Adamant gets +3 to saving throws.
• Yes, the ring provides +1 to Intelligence saving throws.
• A bless spell would give you an extra 1d4 to the roll ... but no one has cast it yet.

Gonna wait for Joe and Dave to chime in before doing anything else. The Bless spell would be useful.

Also, Jeff, is this correct? Ken says +3 from Adamant. You said +1.

[Brian]

Depends on whether it's a save or a check. On a save, Kal gets a +3 bonus from Adamant. But wouldn't it be an Intelligence check rather than a save?

[Joe]

Aug 19, 2020 16:57:16 GMT -4 Dave W. said:

"I think one of us might add a Bless as well; just in case."

"I am not clever with these things but I will say that I would start with asking if he is alive, yes. Maybe something like 'Is he willingly working against us' could follow?"

---

Joe, do you want to cast Bless on Kal before he does his thing? And extra d4 on saves vs "Make Catatonic" won't hurt.

"I did not know we would be communicating with deities this date, or I might have prepared myself more adequately to the task. I can only remove afflictions that might occur due to the communication, but I fear I cannot help with the actual act itself. That will be up to you, brother. I can only act as moral support...although...wait...yes...perhaps this will help!"

Streko touches Kal's shoulder and feels Olladra's magic move through him and into Kal. "I pray it can help you!"
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Streko has neither Bless nor Aid prepared. Nor scrying. This was not what he was expecting this day, apparently.

He can, however, cast Guidance, which gives a +1d4 on an ability check. Kal may choose to roll the die before or after rolling the ability check.

[Dave W.]

"Not a worry, I have it."

---

Adamant will stand right next Kal. No further than arm's reach.

He will cast Bless on Kal, and two others (you always get three)… himself and Melethos for the next minute.

In addition to +3 on saves, (and +1d4 on saves and attacks), as long as Kal is within 10' he can't be charmed or frightened.

Aug 19, 2020 21:04:15 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Brack* summons the Hammer of Syndra and rests it upon his shoulder, then fishes out his pipe to observe from nearby.

*Thul.

[Jeff]

Aug 20, 2020 10:36:01 GMT -4 Darren said:

Aug 20, 2020 9:53:25 GMT -4 Ken said:

Also, Jeff, is this correct? Ken says +3 from Adamant. You said +1.

Nope, I didn't. I said +3 from Adamant, +1 from his Int, and +1 from his ring. And then only anything else from a spell that provides a bonus to saving throws.

I'm back now; I'll post in a bit, either later tonight or in the morning. Different information will be posted here and in Kal's thread.

[Jeff]

The sky remains clear, but the first traces of dusk are upon the land. To Adamant, it feels...a little too early. The light of Dol Arrah should linger a few more minutes at this hour. Perhaps it is the proximity of Mabar and the influence of that dark and fearful plane. Perhaps it is what Kal is about to do. He isn't sure.

The ship is quiet. The creak of ropes and the rustle of the sail is all you hear. Even the water seems quieter.

Adamant stands in front of Kal, very close. At the human's back is the mast, but Melethos stands to the side, likewise ready. Tangat lies on the ground beside Kal and rests his head on Kal's leg. Belarin and Histra and Streko are all close enough to speak with their friend when he is ready.

Kal looks limp and inert for a moment; his head droops as though he is asleep. And after speaking "Keeper of Secrets" in Common, he begins to speak words of arcane power that none have you have ever heard before. He even drops Skyfang, letting it clatter to the floorboards beneath him, as if making it clear that focus object isn't necessary for this. Kal himself doesn't seem to notice. It's disturbing. To Belarin and Melethos, this somehow looks and feels like pact magic, but even that isn't right. Kal's sorcery has always been innate, not . . . provided, and yet he speaks the words easily as though he's been mentored.

When a full minute has passed, his body spasms, and he looks for a moment like a marionette jerking suddenly to life even as he sits.

His cloak stirs around him in a contrarian wind, and vivid purple light flows from his now-empty hands like mist curling out of the ground.

Tangat whines and stands up, backing away.

Kal looks up, and his eyes open . . . but they don't look like his eyes right now. There is no color, and no pupils, except that same violet light. It consumes, and emits from, his eyes. A faint smile is upon his face and it looks like he's staring into another place.

[Ken]

Belarin shares a look of concern and amazement with Histra.

"No one touch him," he says to everyone.

He lowers his voice and leans forward slightly. "Kal?" he asks. "We're still here, on the ship. Where are you?"

[Dave B.]

Shorak settles down next to Kurra, enjoying the aroma of the smoking ribs. He takes a look around and then watches Kal, fascinated by the subtle transformation. While he watches he continues to listen to his surroundings, just in case. It wouldn't do for someone or something sneaking up on the ship.

[Darren]

If Kalarian can hear Belarin, he gives no indication of it. His eyes simply stare out past Eberron. When he speaks, his voice is clear and full. "What is the location of Larest ir'Zathryn?"

[Jeff]

Darren, see private thread, obviously.

[Darren]

Kal looks directly at Belarin, but his stare is still through the warlock. "She says he has no location. That means he either is dead, or he's not on this plane of existence. Should I ask if he's alive, or do you want to drop this line of questioning?"

[Jeff]

Sem inches over to Belarin, aware that he is the one Kal is speaking to, and there isn't much time for this magic.

"If Larest had any remains, then I think there would still be some kind of answer," he says quietly to the warlock.

Histra says, "Even disintegrated, Larest's spirit would be in Dolurrh—that is somewhere—but the difference between spirit and body were not factored into the question. Yet souls may be beyond the ken of this Keeper of Secrets. I would not know."

Kal knows he has some forty-five seconds remaining, and four questions to go.

[Ken]

Belarin says to Kal, "Drop it. There are better questions to ask."

[Dave W.]

Adamant though unaware if Kal can hear any of this, agrees, "Yes, focus on the Eye. Larest will either be one of many obstacles we will face or he won't and the reply is too strange to even guess what it means."

[Brian]

Quietly, Melethos says, "Ask if your brother has been taken by Krez. Ask if Marin is a vampire."

[Dave W.]

“or is the expedition with Krez closer to the Eye than we are?”

“or how many expeditions seeking the Eye are closer than we?”

“Do we know if Kal can hear us? No, No. Wait. that’s not a question for you to ask Kal!”

[Jeff]

Sem frowns as he looks between each person throwing out ideas. "Questions should be clearer, not so open-ended and up for interpretation!"

Attachments:

[Darren]

Kal continues to look directly at Belarin, but not look at him at all. The effect is unnerving. "Is Larest ir'Zathryn alive?" he asks, no longer speaking to those around him.

[Jeff]

A moment after asking his next question, those gathered around Kal see his expression waver. His lips twitch, then frown. He looks troubled. Violet light flows like mist up from between the floorboards just beneath him.

[Darren]

Kal seems clearly agitated by whatever response he heard to his question. He frowns, but continues. "Is the Eye of Azalar in Gehrest?"

[Joe]

Aug 22, 2020 11:33:59 GMT -4 Jeff said:

A moment after asking his next question, those gathered around Kal see his expression waver. His lips twitch, then frown. He looks troubled. Violet light flows like mist up from between the floorboards just beneath him.

"I don't like the looks of this. Hurry, Kalarian. Ask the questions you wish to ask now. If we don't get them answered today, we can always try again another day, when we are better prepared."

[Darren]

"Hmmm," Kalarian says, though it's not clear who he is talking to. "Will the next appearance of Gehrest be near Mel-Aqat?"

[Jeff]

"Why would he ask that?" Sem says quietly to Belarin. "It was never supposed to..."

[Ken]

Belarin nods. "I know that our planned path will take us in that direction..." His voice trails off. He seems more interested in what Kal has learned about Larest.

[Dave B.]

Shorak remains quiet and watchful, listening and waiting for Kal to finish his ritual so that Kal can share with them the responses that only Kal can hear.

[Brian]

Melethos looks around, sees the expressions on his friends faces. He himself feels an unease. That Kal is communing with this Keeper of Secrets for so long...

"Finish this, Kalarian." The tiefling's voice is low but hard. "The seconds are piling up, and the weight of them could bury you. End it now!"

[Darren]

Kalarian frowns, seeming frustrated. "Are my companions and I being followed?" he finally asks.

[Jeff]

A few moments pass, and then all the purple light increasingly emitting from Kal suddenly ceases. He blinks, and his eyes are his own again.