Chapter 20: Coming Dawn

[Jeff]

Feb 7, 2021 23:17:54 GMT -4 Ken said:

"What do you know of Zartarxis, the dragon to whom you were tasked to deliver the chest?"

The skeleton sits partially up, a necromantic effect that most of you tense just seeing. The skull twists to look toward Belarin, and the jaw opens. It speaks with a whispered, emotionless feminine voice. "Zartarxis is the current Green Watcher, whose domain lies between the eastern head of the Hydra and the ruins of Bazek Mohl. He is reluctant and slothful, yet his post is vital: to keep eyes on the giant rabble should the Du'rashka Tul curse falter, and guard against the incursions of those who would claim giant artifacts of fell power." 

Question #2 next.

[Ken]

"Ohhhhhh," says Belarin, turning briefly to look at his friends - which, with his black eyes, is a bit disconcerting. "He's not going to like us."

Looking back at the skeleton, he says, "What do you know of the Du'rashka Tul curse?"

[Jeff]

Histra opens her mouth as if to speak, then falls silent, more interested in the answer to Belarin's question.

The skeleton speaks: "Du'rashka Tul is the ward placed upon Xen'drik by dragons at the end of the Age of Giants, after the great war with Argonnessen. It is meant to ensure that giants never rise to prominence again."

When the jaw stops moving, Histra says, quieter, "It means 'madness of crowds' in Draconic. I would say more, but Sem Darlesh would be cross with me if I talked about it instead of he." She gives a genuine smile.

---

Question #2 down.

[Ken]

"Well, we don't want that," says Belarin with a smile of his own.

"I'm accepting suggestions for questions," he says to everyone.

_____________________

I'm giving everyone a couple of hours to weigh in before Belarin poses the third question.

[Darren]

"Perhaps we should ask what is in the chest? Or why she was tasked with delivering it? Or what she hoped to gain from the task?"

[Brian]

Melethos steps forward, his face serious. "I have a question: besides the magical lock you spoke of, and the trap we know about, what other defenses have been placed on the chest to safeguard it in case it falls into the wrong hands?"

[Dave W.]

"Or ask what she knows of the Eye? It's a long shot but maybe we can get a leg up on the larger quest?" Adamant calls from where he sits.

[Ken]

"All good suggestions," says Belarin. He looks back at the skeleton, "What do you know of the Eye of Azalar?"

[Jeff]

"I do not know anything by that name," the skeleton of Relwalyn whispers.

---

Question #3 down.

[Ken]

"Worth a shot, Adamant," says Belarin without turning. He asks the skeleton, "What would have been the benefit to you for delivering the chest?"

[Jeff]

There is a curious silence following Belarin's question, as though the dead resists it or is at least confused by it. But eventually the skeleton answers, "It will please Rhashaak, and I hope to sooth the agony of his labors. He has business with Zartarxis, and it is not my place to question it."

Question #4 down.

[Ken]

"Well, that's interesting, and oddly disturbing," says Belarin. "All right, I'll use Melethos' suggestion for the last question: What arcane safeguards have been placed upon the chest to hinder anyone trying to open it who isn't Zartarxis?"

[Jeff]

"There is," says the skeleton quietly, "an arcane lock upon the chest, and I suspect a spell of enchantment woven by Rhashaak that affects anyone who attempts to force it open by any means."

The skeleton falls lifeless again.

[Darren]

"Well," Kal says, standing back up straight, "what do you make of that?" he asks Belarin and Histra, his two magical practitioners.

[Jeff]

Histra looks at Belarin. "Attempting to dispel the wards imparted him with knowledge. Maybe that is all the enchantment did. Or else Belarin resisted a greater effect." She turns her attention back to the skeleton. "If no one else has any need of her remains, I will disperse them and let her be."

[Brian]

Feb 8, 2021 18:53:02 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Histra looks at Belarin. "Attempting to dispel the wards imparted him with knowledge. Maybe that is all the enchantment did. Or else Belarin resisted a greater effect."

Melethos grunts. "Or maybe he didn't." He looks at Kal. "Think strategically. You're a powerful dragon. You're sending something valuable on a ship through the jungle to another powerful dragon. You ward it with a magical lock, which will stop your everyday brigand. You set an elaborate trap in case someone a little more sophisticated runs across it. But that's not enough. You want the chest to make it to its destination, so you layer a third level of protection." Now his eyes dart to Belarin. "An enchantment, one that compels the finder to deliver it to the Green Watcher, in case Relwalyn failed."

He finally turns to face Histra. "You say he resisted the effect. I say he didn't."

[Ken]

"I thought *I* was the paranoid one in the party," says Belarin. "No, I am not 'compelled' to bring the chest to our future enemy, the Green Watcher. I simply think it's a good idea, whether it's to curry favor or gauge weaknesses!"

Belarin doesn’t seem irritated by Melethos' comments, just bemused. "Histra, you can help put Relwalyn to rest. It's LONG past time her spirit found rest."

[Jeff]

Feb 8, 2021 19:43:53 GMT -4 Brian said:

"You say he resisted the effect. I say he didn't."

There is a brief flare of anger in Histra's eyes as she looks up at Melethos, but it cools immediately. She is either too tired or simply less irked by some of you than she used to be. "Would you have?" she says with a sigh, but it's clearly rhetorical.

"What is your counsel, Melethos?" she says, not even looking at him as she begins to nonchalantly separate the bones of the skeleton (which seems to be falling apart anyway). "Should we leave the chest behind? Bury it? Or would you like to open it yourself, and perhaps disregard Belarin's suggestion?" A faint smile reaches her lips.

[Brian]

Melethos only shakes his head. "I only counsel one thing--we do not take the chest to the Green Watcher. Open it. Bury it. Burn it. I don't care. But we will not complete Relwalyn's mission.

"Kal?" Melethos says questioningly.

[Dave B.]

Shorak turns on his side and props his head up with one hand to watch Belarin ask his questions. He has some curiosity about he whole talking with the dead thing, but mostly he's curious about what information is to be gleaned from the magic being used. "I'm fine with trying to open the chest. If only to see what's inside. We may decide there is nothing of value to us. We can take it with us and if we happen upon the dragon, we can hand the chest over. However, I see no reason to actively seek out this creature." Shorak says. "But, as always, I'll go along with the majority."

[Joe]

"I say the more allies we have when we go after the Eye, the better. Conversely, the more enemies, the worse off we are. Obvious. The risks are simple: we open the chest and deal with the ramifications of that choice and, hopefully, find something of value to us. Or, we bury the chest in the hopes no one finds it and does what we are contemplating doing. Or, we bring the chest with us and do nothing to it until such time as it seems necessary to do so. In any event, such choices should be made upon those who understand the risks involved more keenly. Anyone with greater arcane knowledge, or lore about this dragon, or the names invoked, could be helpful."
______________________________________________________

Arcana Check - Streko don't know nuthin' about this → 8

[Dave W.]

“I have little advice to give on the box. If we can gain an advantage on our current quest by returning it, I suppose that’s the thing to do.” Adamant says still seated.

“But if you intend to burry the remains of Relwalyn,” Adamant stands, “I would like to assist. Shall I dig a grave? Perhaps over there by that tree? I don’t have a shovel so it might take some time.”

[Jeff]

Histra rises, finished with the discussion of the chest. She nods at Adamant. "Yes, you may help." She gathers bones and begins to set them down them just inside the tree line. "We needn't dig deep. This is not a proper grave; this is peace and dissemination."

Adamant will leave Calirataia for a while?

[Ken]

"Thank you, Adamant," says Belarin. "Yes, there might be an advantage to delivering it, but I'm not going to press the issue and risk being declared 'mind controlled.'" He exhales. "We're exhausted. Can we just find a place to rest out of sight of flying carnivores?"

[Darren]

"One way or another," Kal says, "we're opening that chest. The question is, do we do it now, or do we wait for Sem Darlesh? This isn't my area of expertise, so I leave that to Belarin and Shorak to decide."

[Ken]

"I've cleared the enchantments," says Belarin. "It's fine."

[Brian]

Feb 9, 2021 12:02:01 GMT -4 Darren said:

"One way or another," Kal says, "we're opening that chest. The question is, do we do it now, or do we wait for Sem Darlesh? This isn't my area of expertise, so I leave that to Belarin and Shorak to decide."

"I've no issue with opening the chest," Melethos says to Kal. "We risked our lives to get it. But Shorak needs to be extra careful of that trap."

He looks around, then approaches Streko. "A word in private?"

[Dave W.]

Adamant glances down at the Calirataia sleeping. He gently picks her up, "We're going to get you in the shade. Right next to a tree over there." he says softly.

He takes her over to the treeline and sets her to rest. He kneels down and starts to dig with his hands.

---

so imagine three squares on the map right under the trees: Calirataia is in the first one, Adamant in the second, the hole in the third. Makes sense?

[Darren]

"Alright," Kal responds, arching an eyebrow as Melethos goes off privately with Streko. Trouble?

"Shorak, if you would do the honors?"

_________________
It's up to Dave to move it forward, but Kal would like Shorak to open the chest.

[Ken]

Feb 9, 2021 13:02:32 GMT -4 Brian said:

He looks around, then approaches Streko. "A word in private?"

Belarin takes a seat on the sand. "Bonescrape's bloody jest," he says, shaking his head.