DFE 4 Notes (Zane)

**SCENE 4.1**

The party begins on the morning of the 20th at 0600, in Eberron’s Rest. A few of the party members go to dismantle and bury the ancient sacrificial site, which takes seven hours total, having taken a squad of the wagon train guards. A fair number of NPCs are taught the basics of water survival (treading water) during the course of the day. Loic and Thomas join them.

The group going to the well arrive, and find that the path is once again overgrown. They’re busy tearing things down, tossing around rubble, and burying pieces of the ruins at locations a fair ways from the central part of the site.

Leonus checks up on Rachel, who still looks fairly unwell. She’s most interested in seeing the Rabbi. Esther, who has the pistol strapped across her chest for quick access, is as usual clinging to Rachel. Leonus then goes to begin negotiating passage on the Xen, taking two guards with him. Completing the bargain, the boats are kept as units with the wagons on them, stored on the davits of the boat.

The captain of Xen River Local *Chaihum*’s name is Urol Wenamine. He is about 5’ 1”, darker, leathery skin. He takes Leonus to the cabin, right below the wheelhouse, at which is a desk with a few chairs. He welcomes Leonus to the ship. Leonus states the intent of the passage. The destination is listed as Targon’s Talon. The captain says that it’s a *segmentum  thamaniya 'ashar* boat, so he’ll only go to the border of the segment. He is a local boat, not express. The purser will visit the caravan to assess the price. 24 boats + 25 wagons, as well as people, will be 5gp/wagon + 2GP / Boat plus 1gp/head. It will be paid in advance. Eberron’s Rest has apparently only recently become a stop along the Xen river.

Deucalion goes to interrogate the two orcs. One is fairly healthy, the other is very damaged. The orcs are staring at Deucalion with sort of hazy eyes, they are in jail cells below-ground. There is someone from the garrison with him. Deucalion introduces himself, and orders food for the orcs. One of the orcs, the lively one, is Jack, and the weaker one is Nad. They are “of the orcs” in the Xen’drik, and don’t have a tribe name. There are cargo fliers, fighting fliers, and Deucalion finds out that the orcs from the Xen don’t use Blackspeech. Jack considers it a “road tax” that they attacked the wagons. Deucalion enters Jac’s mind, gets a few powerful images, leaves in disgust. Deucalion leaves his mind as Jack requests while he eats.

Jac just suggested to go take stuff, and a few orcs did. The fliers are raised by the orcs, they’re good at finding them food, so they stay around. The orcs take care of them, so they help. Deucalion asks Jac about a few of their cultural bits, and they seem to have no leader, and abhor orders. Deucalion shows Jac the basics of the Aulos, and then goes and gets some medicinal supplies for Nad. Deucalion has Nad taken out of the jail cell and treated. Two guys come in with a stretcher to take care of Nad. Deucalion offers to take a walk with Jac, who is let out of the cell, and the two are accompanied by a town guard.

Deucalion treats Jac to Rat on a Stick, apologizes about the misunderstanding and conflict, then begins to arrange some sort of system where the orcs may not attack the wagons - Jack says “just give some stuff to everybody,” depending on what the wagons are carrying. There’s a place on the road with a wrecked wagon where they can meet (the wagon that got demolished in the raid). Jac and Deucalion talk about the vessel and the river, as Jac says that he doesn’t do water, and much prefers flying (you can drop a rock from higher than an arrow can go up) and then Deucalion leaves him with Nad in the infirmary before leaving.

He informs the Commander in Eberron’s Rest that a potentially hostile has been wandering around, which may or may not indicate a more knowledgeable opponent for any future raids. Leon Hamash is the Commander in Eberron’s Rest, who was a civilian who took over the position after the attack on ER. Leonus inquires as to how the gate was constructed so quickly. He says that Esther built the gate.   The gate basically appeared overnight, according to Kakra, who “woke up, and it was there.”

Wakinyan speaks to the Rabbi, and inquires about his advice for some rituals and Rachel’s health. He is somewhat concerned about Rachel having more or less taken Esther as an adoptee without the proper spiritual paperwork. He asks for a ritual account from Rachel.

Deucalion makes his report to Leonus, then goes and plays for Nad to aid his healing (2x). It would have been the pilot who went along with the snatching - if it were the flier who wanted to snatch the wagoneer, they might have been eaten instead. It turns out the pilot was Nad, who is currently unconscious, and unavailable for questioning.

Yaela and Leeaka are the two females from Mac’s RoaS who will be serving as the party’s guides. Wakinyan goes to investigate the stone gate/tower, which is apparently polished stone.

Loic goes out into the area around the fort with the Ghost Centaurs to ask about edible foods for people and horses - there is a sixth kind of cereal, which grows in the shallow waters of the river, which is a river grass.

Deucalion goes slightly up-river with Scylla for an hour.

Merkha converses with the Ghost Centaurs about their culture, etc.

Wakinyan uses his Identify Spirit ritual on the group of swimming peoples in the river. He is able to identify/contact LTC Ayalon.  His ritual takes three hours.

The party departs the next day in the morning, before which a pigeon messenger delivers a letter to Jacinteleq and one to Leonus.

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**ON TO THE XEN RIVER**

**SCENE 4.2**

The party isn’t entirely sure how the boat is propelled, but there is some sort of turbulence and wake behind it. There are oar locks, but they are sealed and unused. There are sails as well, but they are currently unrigged. There is a fairly cold headwind. There are a lot of lights on the river. The ship is made of a heavy, dense dark wood, and is about 380ft. long.

BREAK FOR LUNCH

The party sees ruins off to the starboard side, four pillars of some design with lights in each - three orange, one a “bright black.” As the party approaches, they stop near the third light, which appears to have a dock coming from it. Behind the third light appears to be a large building with some pillars in front of it. It looks particularly new, but there are plenty of stone ruins around it, aside from a glass clearing around the building. There are people moving around the area, or, more specifically, giants. There seem to be two main kinds of giants, some very extraordinarily tall, others a more “typical” giant size.

The giant guarding the dock is wearing what appears to be a skirt, has a very sharp nose, and is very muscled, carrying a four-spiked morning star, where each spike is a crystal, aside from the one on top, which is metal. He is wearing a shield on his belt, a dull silverish metal, perhaps pewter or mithril, and the belt itself appears to be woven gold.

Once the party pulls up to the dock, Wakinyan says hello, to which the guy shrugs. The giant leans on his morningstar as Wakinyan cycles through languages, none of which he responds to. Yaela happens to know this form of giantish, and the two begin to converse. At that point, one of them flying things zips along the river coast, heading towards the party. The flier lands, and it’s Jac, who runs over and says “Need an aerial scout?” Merkha tries to pass him along to Deucalion after he asks for his dagger as payment, but fails.

At this time Yaela says that the giant is wondering why the group is there, and what Jacinthe’s title means (protector of the Xen’drik, etc.). The party conveys the situation with the Ghost Centaurs. The large giant yells to a smaller one named Cal. The party moves off of the dock. Jack moves to near Deucalion, pestering him about needing an aerial scout. Deucalion says yes, but this convo will be resolved later. Wakinyan is conversing now through Yaela about the situation with the Ghost Centaurs and Targon’s Talon. He then inquires about the “lighthouses.”

The giant offers to walk the party to the black light. The towers are there to illuminate “us, not our surroundings.” They supposedly guide the giants as individuals, and he offers to show the party how (says it cannot be explained). Kal leads the party to the black light, which also has a large giant with a big club guarding it. Jac got back on his mount, and flies, trailing behind. Kal then stops and says “Behold, the Light of Illumination.”

Everybody with a red tab makes another roll after being exposed to the light. Wakinyan can’t keep his eyes from the black light, which draws him in. He begins to amble forward towards the light. Loic grabs him and tries to stop. Wakinyan tries to break free using martial arts, he sees Loic as very hostile and preventing him from reaching the light. Kal says something, and the other guard walks over, asking him if he’s preventing him from going into the tower. Leonus orders the party to stop him from entering the tower, even after the guard points his weapon at Merkha, and tells him that he is free to choose. The party begins taking physical measures to stop Wakinyan from entering the tower. The giant steps between Merkha and Wakinyan. Loic is trapped between the giants legs before he reaches Wakinyan, who then enters the tower. The black light starts as a thin beam inside the tower, around which are various cushions.

Yaela inquires for the party about what goes on inside the tower, to which the giant says he’s not sure about the ritual, but he’s going inside the tower to “contemplate.” He seems shocked that the party thinks he might be harmed, but mentions that contemplars occasionally kill themselves.

Meanwhile, inside the tower, Wakinyan sits down at one of the cushions. Wakinyan tokes up in front of the thin beam of light, and puts Esther and the Lieutenant Colonel to the front of his mind, trying to receive a vision. It appeared that Wakinyan had simply walked through the translucent crystal wall.

Deucalion asks about the cultural significance, and if anyone may see the light. Alan plays a card, and Jac runs forward, slams into the wall, and has a bloody nose afterwards. He grumbles and crawls back to his mount.

Wakinyan is pacing about in the tower, and a giant comes in a joins him. Leonus enters the tower, takes his quill and parchment, and tries to take magical/technical notes about what he sees. Wakinyan tells Leonus to think about his vision.

Deucalion’s eyes are attracted to the ship, and a crewmember is arguing with Esther and Rachel. Jac remounts his critter, leaps into the air, and flies, grabs Esther, makes a circle, grabs Rachel, and comes back to the river bank. Jacinteleq notices that Rachel is crying, and says that she’s got to get in there. Esther tags along. Loic intervenes, but Esther draws the gun, and Rachel pushes  them through.

Deucalion attempts to enter, but rolls a critical failure, and ripples spread across the crystal as he’s rebuffed. Well, that’s no fun.

Rachel requests that Wakinyan focuses on Dan.

Deucalion joins Jac in moping about being rejected by the tower. Merkha gives Jac the dagger, which he very fondly strokes. Jain the Herald begins to talk to Kal in giantish. Jain asks why Kal tried to initiate outsiders - they seem to have a bit of an argument about stopping or not stopping the party from entering the tower.

Wakinyan sees a very clear scene - he is no longer in the tower, in a nondescript place with his feet in a place with lots of mist. There is a wind, and the mist or smoke is blowing fairly strongly in his face. Ahead of him, he sees Dan Ayalon trying to walk in a certain direction, unable to do so. There appear to be large hands or wings holding him back. There is a loud report to his left. Rachel had pulled out her rifle, and he can see the bullet move, and it passes through the shadow. There is a wave through the mist, and the bullet has no effect, but when the shockwave hits it, the image shatters, and the image resumes its normal flow, and Ayalon falls to the ground. Wakinyan fights forward to Dan, but Rachel stands looking around with her rifle. Right behind her is Esther, and it’s obvious that Esther has been trained in covering her back.

Kal, on the outside, whispers something to Jain, and Kal walks into the tower. Jain turns and faces the party, standing outside the tower. Merkha tries to approach the remaining large giant, and tries to apologize in Anglic. Yaela tries to keep up, and eventually the giant says one word, which Yaela roughly translates to “no sweat.” The four crystal points on the giants morningstar are all glowing very brightly now.

Wakinyan, still in that odd place,  feeds Dan a potion of Mend Spirit. Rachel asks what he’s doing, and when told, says “oh my God.” Wakinyan’s scene vanishes, and he is back in the tower as well as Rachel and Esther, as well as the body of Dan Ayalon, which had previously been buried. He is alive, somehow.

Jacinteleq asks Jain how and why all these strange things are happening - Kal wanted him to keep an eye on the outside of the tower. “The initiation” is a process of knowledge, learning what the black light has to teach.

Leonus has a relatively similar experience. His vision is of a white building that is obviously marble or similar, that is very tall - there is a Frost Giant standing next to the front, the columns at least four times its height. The building is solid, and behind the giant is an arch of exactly half the height of the building. There is a steady stream of people going in with things, coming out with nothing. The inside of the building appears to be pitch black. Everything is white, including some of the ground around it. Above the building you can see the peak of a mountain. The vision fades.

There is a second vision, which he had already seen before. After the visions, Leonus feels euphoric.

At this point, the tower is mostly crystal clear, as it looks very insubstantial. The black thread of light remains. The source of the light is a dull silverish sphere in a pit, at the top of which is a hole from which comes the light. There are some number of smaller mechanical mechanisms that are doing something. It goes into some round bowl mechanism at the top of the tower, but he can’t tell what it does.

Loic calls out to Leonus, and asks what is happening. Leonus then walks back out. Rachel is trying to help Dan up. Leonus has Yaela help him ask the guarding giant where the vision came from - he says that it’s all from the life of  he who is bathing in the light. Esther says she knows what happened - that God took the potion and made it restore Dan’s life, and she knows because the “new voice” told her. Loic insists that the tower is a Beacon of Fate, that allows it to change fate. The party, namely Loic and Esther, begin arguing about religion and fate.

The party is told that  giants usually start at the farthest orange tower, then make their way to the black one as they grow older. Deucalion strolls on into the tower. Loic always bounces off the tower, and Esther says she will take Loic in. Esther says to take her hand, close his eyes, and listen. Loic starts to hear a voice, which says “I am that which is, enter with me.” Loic enters his eyes once inside, pulls out his amulet, and sits down to focus on it.

Jacinteleq begins to question the giants about trade and giantish culture. The giants are mostly self-sustaining and farm, and sometimes trade with the dwarves of the volcano for iron. The dwarves, in return, find interesting things in the ruins that they may keep as part of the trade. The giants don’t know much about the ruins at all. Kal says Merkha can tell the party one thing about the ruins at face value - that they are of a style which relates to old scrapper villages.

Inside the tower, Loic focuses on the voice inside his head - and he wants to know who it is. Loic walks over to Rachel, who turns to him and offers her hand, which he takes. Loic takes his hand. Ademar inquires, and Loic says he's trying to find out “who the goddamn voice is.”

The party hears Deucalion’s aulos from inside the tower. Loic suddenly angrily yanks his hand from Rachel, and Rachel walks after him, asking what’s wrong. Loic says that her god is another fraud. Loic and Rachel have another religious discussion/debate.