Zoom 2023-01-17 21:00

We decide to climb out of the gorge on the Western side - accomplished in 20 minutes using ropes for those who can't get up under their own steam.
It give us a chance to debrief Laeromir, and to brief him on our current position. He agrees to join with us until we get to somewhere safe. When asked about the 'Eye/Aye/I' mountain, he says he knows of a mountain about 10 miles to the north that has a pillar on top that could be described as looking like the letter 'I'. Regarding his sword, he says he (or any ally of his) can't use it now that it has resurrected him. It has the following stats: Windsword (Longsword): -2/-2 when wielded by non-Ariel. +4/+4 when wielded by an Ariel. Use Dex bonus for to-hit/damage. Other info to follow". When Twoo takes the sword, the gem becomes whole again and Twoo is suddenly a very competent swordsman.
We also check the writing on the daggers. It has changed to: "A circle broken - A box sealed - Revenge fulfilled - Our doom" 
We proceed northwards towards the "I" mountain. After a while we become aware that we are being shadowed by what turns out to be Wild Displacer Beasts. However, they are not hostile and appear to be herding us northwards. This becomes clear when we try deviating westwards, and a beast blocks that path while another leads us back northwards. By this time we are aware of a large pack of Blink Dogs on our tail - so we decide that going to where the Displacer Beasts are herding us is the best option.
We eventually come to a clearing in which a tall humanoid wearing a porcelain mask is waiting for us - flanked by two Displacer Beasts. The DB's dissappear - they appear to be going off with the rest of the pack (at least 10 of them) to engage the Blink Dogs.
While Umar opens the box for us to check the figure out with a goblet, Francis inquires "Mr Dark Seer, I presume?" - to which he gets the reply '"Not Exactly. I see you have the Box. Do you have the Daggers and the Scrying Circle?". When we state that we do, the figure takes off the mask and reveals himself to be Rasten. ("I knew I recognized that voice" says almost everyone!)
Info from Rasten:
*He is aware of who gave us the	box/daggers/scrying circle, and knows what Elsiurs intends to do	with them.
*The Stormhaven Palace still holds	- it has significant defenses (not up to Riverside standard though).
*Our 'Allies' (the Displacer	Beasts) will see off our pursuers. Rasten obviously doesn't trust	them, but says that they offered their help and he accepted. They	are a branch of the Wild that are pursuing their own interests - as	opposed to those that have gone over to GARM, or back to Wyldwood.
*His Druids and Wild associates are	maintaining cloud cover for us.
*Thirson's vengeance is against T'Garth - the High Priest of	GARM.
We head off with Rasten to meet Eliezure - by evening we reach a cave set into the side of the mountain. Rasten regards Eliesure as a nutcase, but he is working for the Empire so Rasten will support him - despite wanting to put a dagger into his back. Rasten explains that Eliezure is planing to set up a ritual that will significantly set back the Lizardmen, and that we need to assist - but that we will need to 'bug out' ASAP once the ritual is complete. To help us get away, he provides us with 4 scrolls of Teleport and 4 scrolls of Minor Globe of Invulnerability (31st level) for the mages. He suggests we should cast the Minor Globes of Invulnerability before using 2 scrolls for an initial teleport - they will take us to the Stormhaven Teleport sink. This is a room in the Imperial Palace, which will be protected with stinking clouds and similar spells - hence the need for the Minor Globes of Invulnerability. From the sink room, anyone can teleport freely - so we should then quickly use the 2 other teleport scrolls to go wherever we want to - the party decides on Northlake. He urges us to "Keep your mages alive!"
Rasten tells us about the ritual, but warns us that E will be less than diplomatic - but we should bear with him. The ritual will take about 2 hours total - about 1.5 hours prep, followed by half an hour of combat when we will need to run 'interference' and protect E while he does his stuff.
Eliezure will use the scrying circle to scry GARM (ie the Golem)- who is up and moving, but currently missing a leg. The missing part is on its way from Stormhaven, and E hopes to disrupt the attachment ritual. E can use the scrying circle to cast spells through it - but also some spells (eg monster summoning) can be cast back - hence the need for us to run interference for him.
Eliezure has a prophecy that states that when E does this, GARM will reach through the circle towards E - whereupon E will use the daggers to cut the circle and so sever whatever limb GARM puts through. We will then put the limb into the Box (which E knows how to increase in size) and so the GARM limb will be contained. We will have 4 storm-giant strength potions to give us the strength to manhandle the limb into the Box, which can then be shrunk to its small carrying size/weight. We should then bug out as Rasten has advised.
Now here's the kicker: Once we have GARM-In-A-Box it will be our responsibility to look after it!
Note: Next session on Tuesday 31st Jan. We should remember that our hasted characters will need to get restorations.