14. Into Avelis (Part 5)

==Intro==
Kaitlin was on tumblr and is forced to pull an intro from their nethersphere.
==The Top Half of SkullGreymon==
As the draco-lich crawls towards them, the Guardian’s see that it doesn’t have a bottom half. Almost immediately it hits the group with a lighting attack. Corbin immediately casts Protection from Energy on himself. With the dragon rapidly gaining on the sled, Fran creates an illusion of a second sled in an effort to misdirect the draco-lich’s attacks. Unfortunately the slyviers balk and stop moving. As the draco-lich continues to catch up on them, the Guardians are unable to deal all that much damage, until Laika casts Moonbeam. The illusory sled finally tricks the draco-lich and gives Nodona enough time to get the slyviers running again.
Laika continues to use Moonbeam to damage the draco-lich, but it is not tricked by the illusory-sled a second time and hits the party with another strong lighting attack. In response, Corbin also casts Moonbeam. Fran, done with this dragon, hits it with a massive fire-ball. Although Maeri was badly hurt from the previous lightning damage, she refuses to heal herself and continues to heal the party.
The Guardian’s notice that in the distance there is a sheer cliff, and that Nodona is heading straight for an opening in it’s wall just big enough for the sled to get through. Laika heals Maeri, just as the draco-lich gets close enough to bite Corbin. Although Corbin is hit, as he pulls his arm away, the skull’s teeth crumble away. Instead of attempting to deal physical damage, Corbin moves his Moonbeam over it’s head. Nodona makes it through the entrance of the cliff and as the draco-lich slams into the cliff it’s bones crumble to dust.
==Reluctant Communication==
===Nodona Does Not Like Talking To Wolves===
As they go through the pass, Maeri notices shadowy figures watching them from above. Behind the cliff is yet more desert, but the ground is now hard-packed dirt and shrubs are growing up the sides of the cliffs. As they stop to rest for the day, Fran has an idea.
She gives her amulet which allows her to communicate with the animals to Nodona, and although the wolves cannot understand her, they manage to communicate a bit more easily. Although it is only late afternoon, it is growing very hot, so the party lays down to sleep.
===Fran and Maeri===
Half way through Fran’s watch, Maeri wakes up from a fitful sleep. At Fran’s questioning, Maeri admits to having nightmares about a monstrous beast with black feathers wearing a crown of bone fighting a golden man with a flaming sword. When Maeri asks, Fran admits to not trusting her. Maeri isn’t particularly surprised or upset about this and they find common ground on not knowing what they should believe.
==Danmar==
===Road trip===
After everyone wakes up, they continue on their way to Danmar, singing road songs as they go. As Maeri continues to sign to them, both Laika and Nodona begin to understand more and more of what she is communicating. It is the next day when they get in sight of Danmar and the ocean beyond it. Fran is very excited.
===Arrival===
As they reach Danmar, Nodona doesn’t join the line going into the city, rather she pulls the sled up beside the outer walls. Gingie asks Nodona why they stopped and in rudimentary sign language, which she calls ‘prayer’, she replies that she is not allowed in the city. Nodona gives the Guardian’s a map with a large ‘X’ and they head into the city in search of Sha’s colleagues.
===Distracted===
The Guardians stop briefly at the market to buy sweets and as they walk around the city, Fran feels a sea breeze against her skin. She immediately beelines towards the ocean. The road ends at a cliff connected to a bay. Without regards for her companions, Fran climbs down the cliff and disappears into the water.In the ocean, Fran finds a lot of shipwrecks, craggy rocks, and nifty fish.
Laika, Corbin and Maeri, left alone, are soon beckoned over by a man with a little moustache. He offers to play the shell game with Maeri and she agrees. Maeri wins, but things continue to escalate until the party gives the majority of their funds to the man, only for him to cheat and win. Corbin pick-pockets him and takes his entire purse in response. Maeri disapproves
Meanwhile, underwater, Fran finds barrels of rotten food marked with the symbols of Torva. She hurriedly exits the water and tells the rest of the group. Reluctantly the group leaves their new lives of crime and ocean-dwelling to locate the professors.
==X Marks the Spot==
They follow the map to an intricate building rendered less impressive by the beauty of the buildings surrounding it. Inside, they find an unenthused receptionist. They are able to communicate with him through Maeri’s sign language and a group consisting of a female high-elf, a human woman, a human man and a female gnome is brought into the room. In Old Common, the high-elf asks them: ‘Did Sha send you?’
==A Message to Chantel==
Kat: Chantel. The code word is: ‘Alex dumb.’ The sleeper agent is active, go!
Noel: Brn-ner-ner.
==Featured Characters==
===PCs===
*Fran
*Corbin
*Laika
===NPCs===
*Nodona
*Gingie
*Zarun
*Unnamed Moustache Hustler	
*Unnamed Receptionist
*Unnamed High-Elf Woman
==Featured Locations==
*Desert at the Southern end of Rok
*Danmar
Category:Arc 2: Into Avelis
Category:Episodes
Category:Danmar