Game 61

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Adendum to bas relief on the way into Thultanthar. It should show a single serpent, showing up multiple times.

The more we continue, the more weary Aeidun becomes. Otto also notices that Cirrine seems to be suffering from some sort of migraine, also affected by this place. As we attempt to get up to the upper level, Cirrine’s nose starts to bleed and she falls back down. Aiden stays below to keep her company as the rest of us continue.

…

After we get into the room behind the right upper door, we se

rea has caved in. David spots that there is a white robed skeleton with a jade band on its finger. As Ereb rolls over the skeleton, we see an amulet with the symbol of the sun fall out. It is different from the sun symbols that Otto is familiar with. This is more a sun with a complicated geometric pattern. It reminds Aziola notes that with the Detect Magic that she cast, there is a magical aura. Damian as he scrape some of the rubble aside, sees that there is glass all over the floor. Stained glass. It appears that there were stained glass windows shattered in the explosion.

Examining the jade ring, it is an interesting design. It’s essentially a single braided band, but within those braids are smaller lines. (It is a puzzle, according to Riley. Wink.)

We make our way to a large stone door. There are two levers. Ereb pulls the one on the left, which opens leading to stairs leading down. We see that it opens into the throne room. The door had been concealed by one of the tapestries. Damian and Rowan pull the second lever. There is the sound of crunching metal straining against stone. Moving back upstairs, we see that there is a flower shaped mechanism straining to open up the roof. But more rubble is caving in. Looking closer, Aziola sees that the upper mechanism itself appears to have been melted under some kind of intense heat.

Once we return to Aiden and Cirrine, she says that we should probably move because of the commotion. Otto goes over to the edge and sees that there are a number of dark figures headed towards the tower.

We all pile into a room. Damian casts an illusion to make it appear as if the door is part of the solid wall. As we wait, we hear footsteps. A voice calls out

“Quickly, they must have come this way. Check the other door. Do you see anyone? Any sign.”

A couple more steps. “No. Quickly. Let’s get going.” Only two voices could be heard, but there were clearly more people based on the sounds of footsteps. Damian changes the nature of his illusion to resemble one of the Sisters of the Moon and sends it running up the stairs to provide us cover as we make our escape downstairs.

“Ahhhhhhh.” As the illusion runs.

We make our way to the boat and start making our way through the water in the general direction of the clock tower. We find a place to rest for the night in a roost. We notice that Cirrine seems visibly improved since we have left the tower. Grumpy. But her headache seems to have subsided.

Once we are safe within the hut, Damian casts identify on the dagger found in the chest. Everything becomes darkness. There is the sound of heavy breathing and feet running. He hears someone shouting

...

**Damian's Vision of the Dagger**

“Stop! Thief! Thief!” As he sees a boy running terrified through a city, the dagger in his hand. Curving and winding between alley ways. He turns around and looks over his shoulder, now fully inhabiting the boys experience. The adrenaline is more than this 12 year old body can handle, parkouring over market stalls. There is a gleam of golden armor behind him. There is a simple of a hawk and snake intertwined. You know this as the old Orajim guard. You’ve given them the slip several times, having passed them wine.

“I’ll kill you if I get you you little cur!”

You twist and pull through the varying scaffolding. You look over your shoulder, You see an impossible drop You plummet down, sliding into silk overhead banners. Slipping out the side as cussing fades behind you. There is red wine and old fish as the guard wretches behind you.

You smile. You worked very hard for this dagger. This dagger could make a good offering to the underbelly. Pulling the dagger out you see a golden sheath. There is a black stone sharpened to almost a pure point. You run your finger along it and draw blood. (It is a +1 dagger.)

“Tyrade! I brought you, this!”

“It looks pretty good. Lets say you part with it for 4 gold.”

“It’s worth at least 20 gold! I know you can do better than that.”

The merchant leans in with a pencil mustache. Dark amber skin and a hawk like nose.

“Very well. I’ll give it to you for 9 gold.”

The boy sighs.

“Forget it. Ill keep the damn blade myself.”

“”9 gold and five silver. 12 gold!”

But the boy smiles and keeps walking.

At about that point, a stranger walks up to the boy. An old woman. Her skin, white. She appears Rashimi. Her face is obscured. Bits of metal and gold hanging from the edge of her chuffa.

“I see you have a bit of magic in you, boy. Do you even know what it is you have?”

“It is a blade and it is sharp. What else do I need to know?”

“Perhaps a trade. Let me hold it for you, just for a moment.”

The boy stands up straighter.

“Rashimi witches do not scare me.”

“Of course they don’t. Not someone like you. We could be friends. For a very long time. Would you like to know how you die?”

The boy looks intrigued. “You can do this?” He leans in.

“Of course I can child. I can see many things. You have an incredible destiny ahead of you.”

He comes closer. “Only for a moment.” As he offers the dagger.

“Strange that such an interesting blade should find its way to you. Careful, if you draw blood in anger, this victim will suck a portion of its life force. And it can sustain you.” There is a youthful coyness. Like a cat playing with a mouse.

“I see the power of flame in your future. Fire to make a golden ring. And in that ring, the power to set you free.”

“I do not understand.”

The woman removes her veil. There is a young face behind it. Olive dark skin. There is a nose ring that leads further back into her shoulda.

*“No. You don’t. But you will. Seek these fires out. And for this, a great destiny awaits you. Mold the broken crown.”*

*“The broken crown?”*

*“Yes. and in order to do this, you can surely save us all. And that is how you die. You must offer your life in exchange. You can be king of everything. Or you can be king of nothing. That my young friend, is entirely left to you. But beware the dark sun. For its day is coming.”*

And the vision fades. He then turns to the amulet and casts identify on that. As he takes the amulet in his hand, he reaches through the serpentine breakers once again.

...

What he sees is a wholly different scene. He hears the sound of a striking match. There is small light from the faintest candle flame. Immediately the light ignites. And as it does, he sees a priest walking in white robes wearing a golden mask that observes his face. The chain dangling back and forth. Another priest leans forward.

“Have you heard what kind of man he is?” Another says behind him.

They make their way down an incredibly immaculate hallway. Torches leading the way. It is night within the city, of Fardenfell. There is the flicker of flame everywhere. There are legions all lined up, and they all seems to be wearing this gleaming armor.

Every single member of this army is holding torches.

*“I’ve only heard stories. I don’t want to go alone. Will you go with me? I don’t want to present it with him alone.”*

*“Be silent. Regain your composure.”*

Then there is a massive growl echoing across the courtyard. Ahead is the tower of the bastille. As the tower casts an unearthly shadow on him. The man takes off his mask as two doors begin to swing open. (It is an amulet of constitution.)

The vision begins to flicker and fade, but Damian strains to remain in the vision. The doors open, and he can’t see anything. But there is a man as smoke swirls about his silhouetted form. The priest is visibly trembling

*“I… I… Ive brought you this.”* He holds his hands out. A shape moves, massively large. There is a clanging metal sound as he drops what was in his hands.

*“What is it that you have brought me?”* The figure steps forward. Damian sees a long wicked spear that he leaning on as he’s ;ongoing back.

*“We were told to bring you this as a gift.”* It is a helmet encrusted on the side, with twin serpents, like a hoplite helmet. Out the back are two fins carved out that look like Selunerite.

“The emperor wishes to grace you with his helm on the next battle.

*“A most gracious gift indeed. Bring it to me.”*

The young priest steps forward, the chain shaking back and forth. Two eyes suddenly shoot aflame, dark ebony skin, a slash across his right eye. There is a massive black dragon behind him.

*“Do not be afraid. A **beast** knows its **alpha**.”*

The mouth of the dragon opens slightly. Liquid fire drops out the side of this mouth.

(here, the vision fades. There is a slot of Detect Magic once per day. Requires attunement.)

...

**Damian Identifies the Amulet**

Before the vision fades, Damian pushes once more. Karsis is leaning against a wall. You think he might be crying as he has his hand on the door. The room is immaculate with white tile. Constellations all around. A dome of azure with golden arches. You start to reach out instinctively, but you know they wouldn’t like it. You only recently were allowed in the inner circle. The pain of conflict and loyalty. But this was not part of the plan. Maybe you let too much in. As you think, this is a person in pain. You should say something. You just don’t know what to say when someone has lost this much. Finally, the words come, but your mouth is dry.

*“My lord. I’m sorry, I didn’t… i was just told.”*

*“Be silent.”* Immediately you hear two doors open and the other priests come in, masked.

*“My Lord Karsis. What an auspicious day. You’ve been to the other side, I was hoping that perhaps in light of this victory you would join me in toast?“*

K: *“I have no need for drink right now.”*

P: *Well perhaps a story then.*

K: *Very well.*

**Tale Two Brothers**

P: *"Two brothers set out to aid their dying mother. Across a great desert. They were told that perhaps there was a way that she could live if she could be bought the waters of a certain pool at the edge of the world. The two brothers. one lazy, but clever. The other diligent and strong. As they came upon a long and arduous journey it came to an eventual head and the fist brother said come, let us take our rest at this oasis. The 2nd brother said no, we must push on. And se set out and found the pool. HE drew deep from its waters. Very deep. Too deep. As he set out, he came back tot he oasis, the other brother had told him their mother had died while he was on his way. That now they should drink the water themselves. The first brother refused, saying it was not his place but that his brother should drink instead, because he worked so hard to get it. Uncertain at first, as he quickly drew the skin out a group of townsfolk had gathered. They wised to see the boy that had pulled the waters. Quickly, murmurs grew. Why does he not share amongst us? For the younger brother had circulated the rumor amongst them prior… The villagers became restless. Should they not also receive the git of heaven?"* *The younger brother turned to the crowd and said. “He wants to keep it all for himself. Let us rise up against him and take it.” The people set upon him like a set of wolves. They hung the man from a tree in front of the village. The lazy brother took the water while the crowd was killing his brother, gaining the gift of immortality.*

*“...so I ask you Karsis, who was the wise man in this story? And who was the fool?*

*We know what you have done. Honor the compact. Give...**IT**...to...us...”*

Karsus turns away burring his face in his hands, looking as is the weight of the world rests on his shoulders. He appears to begin trembling

The head priest signals discreetly as the other masked robbed figures slip into place behind him, drawing curved golden knives with jeweled pommels.

Karsis clenches his teeth repeating the word disgusted, “***IT***!?”

- as he turns it reveals not sadness but *rage*. Fists balled, he bellows,

The head priest recoils in fear instinctively and rapidly gives signal to the others...

*“I DID NOT BECOME A KING BECAUSE I WAS WEAK!”* -The glow stones of the chamber begin to swell in intensity becoming too bright to look at.

They rush him.

“I BECAME LORD OF THE KNOWN WORLD BECAUSE...

powerful arcs of arcane energy coalesce into his hands wreathing him in celestial light of iridescent flame, much like the Knight of Black Flames.

I...WAS...STRONG!” -Karsus rears back as ,

-and four pillars of great flames of the Beast Lords surge forth. The priests are incinerated instantly as gouts of multicolored flames silhoutte their forms. Even within the vision, Damian shies away instinctively from the maelstrum of flames ripping apart the dome of the inner observatory.

In this moment, time seems to slow down.

Karsis’ face is a twist of anger and rage.

The priests (wearing the amulet) in the far corners of the room hold their hands up, screaming as a boulder is falling.

Karsus, between the priests, has is back on the far side of the room, towards the door half cracked open, and you see a small figure in a cloak. Small blue green eyes peering out from under a red hood. Maybe two or three years old looking terrified. As you take a tentative step forward time moving at a stand still you see her eyes suddenly flicker to you, reptilian.

The vision immediately ends and Merius instinctively ceases concentration with it gasping from shock.

(The amulet gives resistance to fire.)

Amulet of Constitution

\*Gives proficiency bonus to Constitution saving throws.

\*Detect Magic once per day.

\*Resistance to fire.

Damian then identifies Ereb’s grappling hook which turns out to be a modified immovable rod.

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