20061209 Aishapra04

<H1> Aishapra's Talisman: Hall of Wonders </H1>
<H2> Role Call </H2>
<TABLE>
<TR>
 <TD> Thorfinn </TD>
 <TD> 16th Human Bard </TD>
 <TD> Jim Yonemura </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Kill'Dar </TD>
 <TD> 19th/3rd Elf Wizard/Fighter </TD>
 <TD> Rick DiRicco </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Paxus </TD>
 <TD> 11th Human Cleric </TD>
 <TD> Ray Chiang </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Grackle </TD>
 <TD> 10/6/4/3 Half-Elf/Half-Invevitable Fighter/Thief/Divine Seeker/Planar Champion (ECL 28) </TD>
 <TD> Mark Whisler </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Kha'Narek </TD>
 <TD> 13th Githzerai (ECL15) Monk </TD>
 <TD> Matt Miller </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Auric </TD>
 <TD> 15th (ECL 22) Wemic Druid </TD>
 <TD> Keith Farrar </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Travian </TD>
 <TD> 22nd Human Paladin </TD>
 <TD> Robert Giedt </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Deluwen Seradrake </TD>
 <TD> 3rd/3rd/5th Grey Elf Wizard/Psionicist/Cerebremancer </TD>
 <TD> John Speck (Full Risk, Full Reward) </TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<H2> Session Summary </H2>
<H3> Combat </H3>
<B>Round 1:</B> Kha'Narek and Travian rush up. Kill'Dar and Paxus delay. The Anaxim rushes up 110 feet (flying via spinning blades) and shouts (sonic cone) hitting everyone for 54 points. Both Grackle's move up. Both Auric's move up and cast Protection from Energy (Sonic) on self. Kill'Dar's clone moves up and casts Time Stop (casting several spells). Kill'Dar casts Disintegrate on the Anaxim, hitting for 125. Paxus and his clone move up and casts Mass Resist Energy (Sonic, Electricity).
<B>Round 2:</B> As Thorfinn continues to sing, the "wall of lead" melts away. Travian clone moves up to "lay on hands" to Travian. Travian then steps up and attacks, but misses. The Anaxim does a whirlwind attack, hitting Travian, his clone (beheading it with Overwhelming Critical), and hitting Kha'Narek. Auric casts Flame Strike, but fails to penetrate it's SR (Roll 29). Kill'Dar clone casts Disintegrate (21 Ranged Touch, 41 Spell Penetration) on the Anaxim, doing 123. Kill'Dar casts Bibgy's Clenched Fist. Paxus clone moves up and casts Revenance on the slain Travian clone. Paxus moves back and casts Cure Critical Wounds on himself.
<B>Round 3:</B> Kha'Narek swings many times, but misses. Thorfinn continues singing--he steps forward as the "wall of lead" continues to melt. Travian clone stands up and casts Draconic Might. Travian swings on a full Power Attack, but misses. The Anaxim does a Whirlwind attack again, hitting Grackle Clone (77), missing the Travian Clone (1's happen), hitting Travian (82), hitting Auric (77), hitting Kha Clone for (80, taking him to -47), hitting for Grackle (68), and hitting Paxus clone (79). Grackle swings and hits twice for (14+13). Grackle clone misses. Auric clone swings and hits for 22. Auric swings and hits for 21. Kill'Dar clone casts Wish for an Empowered Disintegrate (43 Spell Penetration, 32 Ranged Touch Attack) doing 183 points. Kill'Dar casts Chain Lightning, but fails spell penetration (37).
<B>Round 4:</B> Kha'Narek circles around the Anaxim. Both Travians cast Divine Retribution. Travian does Lay on Hands on himself. Travian clone swings 5 times, but misses. The Anaxim swings hitting Grackle (80), criticalling and killing Travian, missing Travian clone, hitting Grackle clone (82, taking him to -14) and killing it, missing Auric clone, criting and killing Auric (31 Fort save fails), criting and killing Kill'Dar. Grackle delays. Kill'Dar clone casts Limited Wish to give him the ability to do Sneak Attack on constructs. Grackle swings and hits (40, Paxus moves up and casts Revenance on Kill'Dar, but the spell fails to work (he may be alive somewhere else).
<B>Round 5:</B> Kha'Narek does a Spring Attack, but misses. Travian clone drops his shield and swings two-handed, rolling (20, 20, hitting for 13 and 16). The Anaxim falls to pieces.
<H3> Hall of Wonders </H3>
Upon closer inspection, the Anaxim does not appear to be regenerating after being taken down. The party makes their way to Thorfinn/Maximeliano, where his singing appears to have dissolved a 5-foot wide tunnel about 20 feet in the "wall of lead" The song continues for another ten rounds, with more and more of the wall melting away.
Those party members killed gather up the items from their bodies and they spread around some healing.
The group follows Thorfinn/Maximeliano, all the while captivated (in the nonmagical sense) by the beautiful music. Eventually, they make their way inside a large chamber. At the center of the chamber is the heart of some great beast (even larger than the gem of Heartspire). The heart is covered with some black obsidian coating. With the sound of the singing, the obsidian begins to chip away and the room begins to feel warmer. As the last bits of obsidian fall away, the party hears a giant sighing sound in their minds.
Every member of the party hears a voice in their head: "I'm so sorry. I can't say how sorry I am."
Thorfinn/Maximeliano's song concludes with lyrics describing "The Hall of Wonders that could be. How the wonders of the multiverse can come to one place and everyone will revel in and take great joy in. And it would be the most revered wonder of the universe." The dark stone of the heart chamber changes into gold. At that point, Maximeliano leaves Thorfinn's body and steps into the Heart. And now instead of whispering, it is now singing. It is singing about wonder and mystery. "The Hall of Wonders"
As the party makes their way back outside the heart chamber, they see the great dark stone turn into gold and great wood. Great artwork forms along the walls and chandeliers grow from the ceiling. As they progress, corridors showing beautiful architecture and materials show up everywhere. In some locations, there are dancing elves. And most notably, throughout the hall, the song "The Ballad of the Hall of Wonders" can be heard.
Paxus makes a request: "Many have died in the Whispering Labyrinth. Is it possible to show us their remains so that we may properly bury their bodies and return any possessions left behind?" In response, another corridor opens up. The party walks down the corridor and finds themselves
at one end of an immense mausoleum. By any estimate, there appear to be the bodies of adventurers and other unfortunate souls that had died within the Whispering Labyrinth over the past few centuries. The same voice the party heard earlier responds: "Send their families here and I will give them the remains and items."
Kha'Narek asks: "Are you going to be travelling throughout the multiverse?", but does not hear a response.
Kill'Dar: (Comments about whether the Hall of Wonders is welcome in Arborea)
Paxus is guided to the body of Guy Esselte. As he thinks: "I'll just take the notes that his clone requested that we take", he hears a response from the Hall of Wonders "What you do is honorable." He appears startled, since it appears that the Hall of Wonders can read his thoughts. Paxus takes the notes of the mapper.
In the meantime, there is a question whether the Clone bodies of Auric, Kill'Dar and Travian can leave.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Hall:</B> You should be able to leave. My children have left before. 
<B>Auric:</B> Your children?
<B>Hall:</B> Yes, you are my children now.
<B>Auric:</B> How long can your children be gone?
<B>Hall:</B> None that have ever left for more than a month have ever returned.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
The party makes it outside. After some discussion, they are certain of the following:
<OL>
<LI> That those who died are now Outsiders.
<LI> Pretty sure that those who died can travel safely for about a month. (Game Effect: Characters must stay in the Hall of Wonders 1 rest period per month. Failure to do so will result in 1 negative level per week past 4 weeks.)
<LI> Constant telepathic link to the Hall of Wonders. (Game Effect: Free extra roll of Knowledge(Arcana) +25 or Knowledge(The Planes) +25)
</OL>
The party gathers up the pieces of the Talisman of Aishapra.
<OL>
<LI> Used as an ingredient of control, but has a risk of failure.
<LI> If she doesn't have a Talisman at the moment she is killed (or if it is destroyed soon after she is killed), she cannot come back.
</OL>
The party goes back to the elven city. There, they relay to the elves what has happened and offers to take back any negotiations needed with the Hall of Wonders. After some relatively quick deliberation, the Elven Council decides that the group has done a tremendous service. They faced the greatest danger Arborea has ever seen and turned it into a tremendous asset. As a result, those who participated are welcome anytime in Arborea. The party takes care of a few things in Arborea and Sigil before returning to Aquitaine.
<H3> News on the Home Front </H3>
In Aquitaine, there is a group of Mercaine that ask for the Donner and his party. They have come to negotiate extraplanar merchants for the Kingdom of the West.
<B>Seledan:</B> Yes as long as they promise not to sell to the Imperium.
<B>Mercaine:</B> Agree for the next 10 years. Unless the Imperium comes to the Kingdom
of the West to sell.
Seledan negotiates to the Prime Material Plane. And in exchange, the Kingdom of the West agrees not to let any other extraplanar merchants there. Within a week, there are Mercaine in every city in the Kingdom of the West. The game effect is now that the players can buy and sell out of the DMG.
Other updates: 
<UL>
<LI> The horde of beast creatures in the Teeth have moved in an occupied it.
<LI> The Imperial forces at Regis Vale were disrupted by the Dulax Moir operation. They have pulled back and fortified. It's not a fortress town and butts up against the base of the mountains.
<LI> All indications are that there's a power struggle within the Imperium. The change in Emperor. Also, the loss of the Myrmidon appears to have affected things.
<LI> Estus hears from the Consul that the new Emperor is not interested in the conquest of the Westmarch. In the Imperium, each governor dictates their own policy. So, the Occident may still be interested in the conquest of the Westmarch, there will be no Imperial backing.
<LI> Apparently the Myrmidon has conducted some raids on Dulax Moir.
<LI> There have been some desertions from Dulax Moir. At the same time, the Myrmidon's forces have grown.
</UL>
Overall, the big push has stalled. Knowing House Marvad, the full pressure
has backed off. There were definitely no Imperial invasion this season.
The group from Hensen have started fortifying closer to Regis Vale.
The wemic have started patrolling.
<UL>
<LI> The City of Brass has fallen completely under the control of Fire Giants. All other giants have been driven out of the city.
<LI> As a result, there are a bunch of new giants wandering the Plateau. This is a big factor of the new security problem. Mostly Hill Giants and Ettins.
<LI> Travel on the Plateau is safer. Now there are a couple of bold outlying villages in Kennetar. One is under the protection of Borse.
<LI> The followers of St Pelio have been patrolling between Kennetar and Dulax Moir upgrading the old Kingdom road (marking it). Also patrolling between Kennetar and the lift.
<LI> The weather has gotten a little bit warmer. It's actually been a bit sunny this year.
<LI> Patrols from Hensen to Kennetar via the people of Hensen.
</UL>
Colin talks to Estus wants to solve the problem of the ghost. 
March 1, 944 is the day the group returns from the Hall of Wonders.
Some of the giants have told tales. Something very bad happening out by
the Grey Vales. Apparently there was a tribe of giants that wandered into
the Grey Vales. And a couple of them got away. Some of the scariest tales
describe vampire giants.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Norc:</B> They have already occupied the Teeth. I'm already quite certain that the
minions of Baphomet have strengthened there defenses on the Abyssal side.
Something is up and they see it coming.
<B>Norc:</B> Yeenoghu has already begun his initial attack against teh Citadel of
Baphomet. I don't know of the time schedule, but the wheels are already
turning. The beastmen are almost certainly gnolls under the command of
Aishapra. I cannot tell if she si at the teeth, but those are definitely
her forces occupying. We need to have some eyes in there so that we know.
<B>Norc:</B> Now, I have been to the other side of the gate, so I can by travelling to
the Abyss. Once I'm there, I can scry with relative ease on teh Abyssal
side of the gate and see whether there is any conflict taking place there.
So I can tell whether the time is immediately at hand. I cannot tell when
that time will come.
<B>Norc:</B> Yeenoghu has greater strength than Baphomet at this time. He has been
strengthened by petitioners sent to him by Aishapra. It seems that one of
her most important roles on this plane has been to send souls to her master.
They become low level demons who get promoted in serving her master.
<B>Norc:</B> That's all I can say at this time. I cannot say where Aishapra is at this
time, 
<B>Norc:</B> I am monitoring this on a daily basis. So I can give us 24 hours warning
before we have missed our chance. I cannot give 24 hours before optimal
chance. I suspect that assault on teh gate plus holding it will take a
couple of days.
<B>Grackle:</B> Think we have any chance of taking the gate ahead of her?
<B>Norc:</B> That means holding both sides. The problem is that there are Abyssal forces on the other side.
<B>Grackle:</B>
<B>Norc:</B> It is possible that we could take him out.
<B>Norc:</B> They are playing with fire. I do not believe the Covenant will withstand this level of abuse. It could reignite the Godswar. If Yeenoghu presses his advantage, this world could be destroyed in the new Godswar.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
The elvenands are converting back to their typical reclusive ways. Lady Mienna is strongly defending the forest borders. Only two towns where outsiders are permitted.
Lord Cerethan is focusing more on the rebuilding efforts in the elven lands.
One side effect of the orc war are remaining remnants. A lot of adventurers
have been turned loose from their military duties, due to the lowered payroll
The Black Lions are about half their wartime strength. Several loose
adventurers have been entering the Underdark. For a fee, the gnomes and
dwarves are allowing passage into the Underdark.
In the books about Parthenian Friars, the former monastery in the Capital.
In the Ivory Halls had an extensive catacomb system. In addition, they had
the underground road (or Underroad). It was an alternative means of getting
to and from the capitol. It might be an approach route into the Grey Vales.
The Underroad was protected by the order of Parthenian Friars.
Who are you?
The Ethereal Plane holds no terror for me. 
Well, this is a prison. If you don't belong here, get the hell out!
We don't give out the name. It could be used by prisoners.
This is the only door in or out.
There was a blight a few weeks ago. The trees seems to have gotten better
since then.
Kill'Dar talks to Cerethan.
Lady Mianna and her crew are busy laying snares at the edge of the forest.
Lady Mianna: Decided to come home. That's nice.
Lady Mianna: No need to sit on our heels. (Glares at Cerethan). Let our guard down.
I'll tell you what though, you need to keep an eye on those dwarves.
They're not going through boats. They found some paths through the Underdark
under the sea. It comes up in the hills near hear. Not far from the temple
actually.
And if they dig up something horrible, it's going to come straight through
that underground freeway of theirs.
And worse, if they find any of the strengthened remnants and they're captured
by them, they're given a straightline path to Gorath.
Who have you talked to?
Everyone!
They don't seem concerned. I think it's because the dwarves pay them. I think you should do something about it.
Frankly, now that everyone has lost their will to fight or do anything, you and I are the only ones to do anything.
It won't be easy, if the dwarves are paying them...
If it were easy, 
You need to tell that Donner person to shut down that underground deathtrap
Well, we may not be able to...
What do you mean you won't be able to!?!
Now you sound like Cerethan!
Well, you go have your negotiations about your budgets and economy and ...
I'll go do that.
Whatever that is...
Good seeing you Lord Cerethan (sarcastically)
<H2> Foes Fought </H2>
1 Anaxim<BR />1 Whispering Labyrinth
<P>
<B>Base Experience:</B> 16k
</P>