Game 96

Previous Game | Episode List | Next Game

Statue under black lake inscription: “Ask not the sun, “silence falls the guilty dawn, as to day to dark does darkly turn…” “the guilty, bring down their lying…” “Blood so silver, black by…”

From elsewhere, not sure where:

“"Ask not the sun why she sets

Why she shrouds her light away

Or why she hides her glowing gaze

When night turns crimson gold to grey

For silent falls the guilty sun

As day to dark does turn

One simple truth she dare not speak:

Her light can only blind and burn

No mercy for the guilty

Bring down their lying sun

Blood so silver black by night

Upon their faces pale white

Cruel moon, bring the end

The dawn will never rise again"

(Secret song written by a famous composer for Ciric Carsus. We learned of this from the girl that was with Freedrick.)

At the base of the statue we discover a rotted out wooden door. After pulling it apart, we enter what appears to be a similar to the one at the last location. Going down a hallway in the direction of the green location

At the Flood and Flagon, we run into Parcivel. He whisks us to a private location where the air is cold and frigid. He lights us a bonfire, and he and Merius begin to speak.

P “I was waiting for you. What have you learned about the land and the magical connection.”

M “Are you referring to NW and the Neverdeath graveyard, or the world at large? We’ve been scrambling from one near death experience to the next. I’ve been thinking, I hope its not too presumptuous for me to ask a question of you, but… I’ve been thinking back to when we first met. What was it that he promised you? There must have been some kind of price.”

P “Merius. I’ve lived a long time. Died many times. I’ve seen many things. Ive gone distant places. It is not often that I see one with such potential. Let alone several with potential. I just want to see where this goes. I watch. Always playing close, but never too far. Never directly involved, but always present. But to answer your question, Im afraid I do need help with something.”

He gestures to a table where there is something under a sheet.

M “Are you saying ERemon paid you in flesh? It would be rather like my father.”

P “Cheap, Merius. Flesh is cheap.” He gestures to the table. Merius pulls it back. Half the face is gone, but it’s Trelor. Suddenly, the halfling disappears and the figure on the table speaks. “I know your busy, but if you could indulge an old man I am having a hard time keeping together this time. My last encounter didnt go quite as well as I was hoping. I’m afraid I’ve stretched a little too far this time, my boy. I need you to take a part of me to its source.” Trelor regurgitates what appears to be a stone made of pure light, which he offers to Merius.

P “When riches no longer have meaning, a trade, Merius. Your father paid me a trade. There are many things a being such as myself would like, But you, Merius. I wanted you.”

M “I’m sure Eremon didn’t know that. He considered me worthless.”

P “Eremon had many pieces in play. You were one of many. I always wondered what reason he held on to you myself. Many thought the same. Some answers reveal themselves in time. And when you’re ready to return home, youll find those answers. But it is not my place to tell you. It is my role to watch. To see what the world will do to you, and what you in turn will do to it.”

M “And where would you have me take this?”

P “Just like a name can reveal the truth of an individual, so too can places. THere are pieces of me in each of them. Look for places of the purest fire of sunlight, and place the stone there. Read the land.”

Addendum: (Inserted after) Trelor: “He gave me you.”

M: “Well, if it was me you were after, I can certainly see that he gave you that. But I dont think he would have known that. And he would have assumed he wanted some kind of recompense for teaching me?”

T: “I told you I’m a curious sort. There is a lot of promise that you have, Merius. And I offered my help with the outcome of the war. It seemed a fair trade.”

M: “So if you offered him assistance with the war, does that mean that his alliance was with Cormir?”

T: “Im afraid things are always a but more complicated than sides. But we all have pieces in play. And my interests have always been with you.” His eyes look wild and fascinated in a way that is i

M: “What is it about me in particular that you find so intriguing? I wasnt particularly powerful. And while Ive grown, Im no match for many of the mages that traverse the land.”

T: “M, you come from a powerful line. Think of your predecessors. The magic of land. I’ve asked you before about the nature of incarnum. Some you are ready for. Others, will need more time. Such is the nature of truth and illusion.”

M” Then tell me. Is it true that the ability to use incarnum is not something that everyone possesses?”

T: “M, all magic is incarnum?”

M: “Wow. That actually makes a lot more sense.”

T: “Some of us just have the capacity to burn hotter than others.”

M: “You were interested in me? And offered my father assistance in the war, so that you could take me on?”

T: “In many ways its the pupil that prefects the master, as much as its the master that perfects the pupil. Time is growing late, M. This meeting itself has drained me. If you have questions. Ask them now. I don't know the next time we will meet.”

M: “If I must confer with you again. I wasn't able to do it on the prime material plane before. Do i have to be somewhere else to get in touch with you?”

T: “I dont know.”

M: “All right. Is there anyone I should get in touch with for you?”

T: “No. I’ve set some things in motion that have not yet come to pass. I will aid you in your journey, but not always in the ways you expect.”

M: “Well, it looks like I will need to bolster my faith as well. I will have to try to bear in mind all the things you’ve taught me.”

T: “Trust in your friends. I think this group will see you through for the path that I’ve laid out. But just in case, take this.” He passes Merius four crushable disks. Two have a blue center. One black and one green. He holds the black one up to him.

T: “M, when magic betrays you and you have no other options.”

M: “Well thats ominous.”

T: “Reach deep within the well of magic. And make it snappy.”

Parcivel then snaps his fingers and we’re back in the tavern. Merius knows that there is a story that has the general phrase “purest fire of sunlight”. There is a lot of speculation about where the lost kings come from, and wether the gods directly interacted with them. They were taught by the gods in a very special place. Magic was forged from the fires of the purest sunlight. When one of the brothers came back, they came back changed. Supposedly, he came back to a city and he taught others the secrets of magic and immortality. The city of Helden.

That night, Otto continues to work on deciphering the journal:

Entry 1

I begin this journal at the behest of  Sybol. She insists writing my thoughts down might help me to reclaim some of the time I lost, though I must admit, it’s hard to imagine anything as good as the last 5 years, but perhaps I’ll want to look back to remember our time fondly. I’d be lost without her light. I love her with all my heart and am grateful .  I’ve collected my notes to draw indirect correlations for reflection. I feel comfortable in the shade of the giant statue. overlooking the hill. What secrets have there’s time washed faces seen? I wonder if part of my proclivity for digging into the past is to reclaim some part of my own past. I can't help feel a sort of familiar kinship to some of them.

Entry 8

DR 6th day of Tarsakh. The rains are incessant bringing our research to a grinding halt. Every time we start to make progress on the dig-site, the mud slicks back in, or there’s a cave in halting research, as if the will of Kozah himself keeps us from making progress. A couple of workers we’re lost in the subterranean layers of the city. Our guide tells me they report seeing shifting lights and dark figures within the caverns. Several have refused to go in again. they’ll be court marshalled and whipped if not executed upon returning to the state.. .We’ve suffered a major cave-in releasing into a vault. A few of the workers died in the fall. All of our efforts though were rewarded; we’ve found it. A large monolithic tablet The 5 Tablets I’ve been told we only have the capabilities to take out 1. I’ve chosen the Tablet of Crown; That ought to justify the Council’s rhetoric of a “right to rule -I’ll keep copies of the others on hand in a separate journal ”  I’ve booked a passage to return to the Floating Isle of Aszram. It will be nice to return to civilization, but I hate leaving my work when we’re so close. I believe the origins of the Order exist somewhere within the ruinous expanse of this god-forsaken forest. I think I might be being followed. An agent of the of the Empire perhaps?

**party to-do:**

* stop impending Drow invasion; warn leaders?
* Find the Tablets of Helden
* deliver vial of "cure" and "blight to apothecary in Arabel
* meet Tolfore by the Docks [Neverwinter]; [ride secured via Adriel]
* Understand the difference/connection between the Cult of the Dragon, The Foresaken, Red Wizards the Zhentarim and what they want

**Brohain---**

* deal with his demons"

**Aziola----**

* white tree in Prespur
* figure out why she can't transform
* unravel Bjorn's plots

**Merius----**

* Orren in The Wastes
* solve the aqueducts
* Bob Fang
* where Trelor is/what he wants
* Learn about Incarnum
* what the Witch of Ireleth is doing

**Ereb----**

* Kill Erek-Hus
* Kill those that betrayed Mallar (The Foresaken)
* Find the Crown of Tief - - find his brother
* Learn about Erek Hus

**Otto----**

* find out what happened to Martine
* Gileus missing
* decipher Martine's Odenthyiel's journal
* Understand what's happening to Cirrine
* Understand his pull west; his connection to Kozah
* revenge on Waldrow? [Runa?]

**Rowan---**

connection to Pepper

Previous Game | Episode List | Next Game