| Logs |
2002 January 26
| Inizii |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
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| Realms: Inizii Logs |
Allies and Information
The trio makes their way to the Lliaran church. As they pass Ilmater's Cathedral, it seems quiet, the lights out... but the more perceptive note the presence of a few hidden and heavily armed guards near the doors of the Crier's church. When they arrive at the Fortune Lady's temple, they head toward the armory. As the three move through the halls, the sound of a heated argument catches their ears. It seems to be coming from the high Priestess's office. Kyrel twitches an eyebrow, and gestures in that direction.
Derleth sighs and agrees, but there's a little more stealth in his step now. What else can go wrong...
"...about the prophecy! Lady, you must give us some of your guards, and priests!" The voice is a deep, baritone male, someone used to command rather than requests. The high priestess's more gentle voice is strained with both exhaustion and exasperation. "Sir Knight, we are doing all we can. Our own order is stretched thin, right now..." A third voice, another man, interrupts. "The child needs guarding. With the city's defenders and even most of the available adventurers sick or missing, there are few to muster to search out the water supply beneath the city. If we give those of our order to the search, then we would not have enough to protect the child..."
Derleth blinks and looks at Kyrel. "What the hell?" he mouths silently...
Kyrel shakes his head wearily. Prophecies. I hate prophecies.... He shrugs and whispers back, "Offer to help?"
Derleth grimaces. "Ky, we're nae exactly the safest bunch t' be guarding a child...we already hav th' Talonites after us fer other reasons."
Kyrel snorts. "Not to guard the kid. To check the water supply. We were thinking of that anyway, remember?"
"Sirs," The priestess interjects, "I feel deeply for your concern. But Lliara's own home needs protection, itself; there was even an intrusion, an attempt on one of our priests, today. Our staff is nearly depleted; helping the sick, or sick themselves, handing out the rations the city has been forced to purchase and distribute, protecting our holy home here."
"And children of the Martyr are not suffering, lady? Two more left their suffering shrouds to join him tonight, one even stripped of her robes." The gruffer male growls, impassioned. The less ferverish voice puts in, "It's growing worse; not only is the seven star there, but the center is growing dark red. With each death, the center gets redder, and is, I'm told, nearly full. It's nearing its end."
Kyrel nods to Derleth. "I think we'd better offer, and see if they can tell us anything. They might be able to make sense of my dream, too."
Derleth frowns. "Ye have a point...though ah do worry that if there was an official effort t' protect the water supply that th' Talonites already know 'bout it..."he sighs then. "Aye, ye have the right o' it, ah suppose. The water supply be too important."
"There's no doubt," says the deep voice, "that the Talonites will target the child. He is to bring about a change for Ilmater, the scriptures say he is important to this. We must keep him safe!"
The priestess gives a resigned sigh. "Sir paladin, I know not what to tell you."
A heavy blow thunks against wood somewhere in the office. The deep voice almost shouts, "Give us assistance! Do you wish Talona's bastard children to sicken the entire city?" The other man's voice cuts across this demand. "Brother Danos, enough."
Silniya winces. "Paladins..."
Kyrel straightens up and knocks on the High Priestess's office door. He grins at Silniya's comment. "Aye, but they have their uses."
"Sir Danos, if you persi-" It seems as if the three can hear everyone in the office turning toward the door. The Fortuneseeker's voice calls out, unsure but welcoming the distraction, "Yes?"
Kyrel opens the door and bows. "High Sister... Gentlemen.. we could not help but overhear your discussion as we came up the hallway. We are already involved in this situation, fairly deeply. Might we be of some assistance to your efforts?"
Inside, lamplight shines over the occupants. Lady Jiss, her features looking far more worn than a week earlier with age, exhaustion, and utter annoyance with the situation, is seated behind her desk. She's in her robes, but the dice beads that usually adorn her hair are absent, a hint that she's been roused from sleep. To her right, next to her desk, a hand on the silver hilt of a sheathed sword, stands an armored man, his tabard in the colors of Ilmater. Near the corner another of the Crying Lord's followers, an aged priest, peers at them. "Why yes," the aged cleric nods, "Likely so."
"Come in, please ... Kyrel." The priestess pauses a moment to recall the name.
Kyrel steps into the office, followed closely by his companions. Derleth makes a half bow to his ecclesiastic superior upon entry. "We've just come from a nearly successful ambush. Talona's people seem to be upset with us for some reason..." He briefly describes the dream he had about the plague demon, and then tells them about Grim and the army of undead.
The paladin and the aged priest in the corner both seem concerned, now, if not fearful, glancing back at one another, at the description of the dream, and both look even more alarmed at the half-elf's description of the plague demon creature at the conclusion. Then the armored fellow, Sir Danos, nods to Kyrel. "So you're the brave ones who've aided in the cause already. Good unto you."
"This is indeed helpful," The Ilmaterian cleric puts in, pulling at his greying whiskers. "But you mentioned further assistance?"
Kyrel nods, seriously. "You were saying something about wanting to check the city's water supply? We are not committed to anything in particular at the moment, and if you need someone to do that....." His gesture includes Silniya and Derleth.
Danos perks up. "Yes. A second team, in fact; so far, we had only found five persons, myself included, to spare to send down into the city's bowels." Lady Jiss glares at the back of the paladin's head at that admission, as he had apparently not elected to mention there were others already delving. "But, considering the size of the complex, and perils involved, we hoped to send eight persons, four coming from either direction in a pincer movement, in hopes of catching most, if not all, of our opponents."
Kyrel nods. "We weren't sure how to get in... we'd been considering getting the help of one of the former members of the Thieves and going in through their passageways. Which reminds me... we've gotten indications that there may be a rakshasa involved. Make sure your guards can handle one of them."
Derleth is paying attention, but he seems to be taking this moment to rest, leaning against the wall behind him. Kyrel makes a better party spokesman than I anyway.
Danos gives the three a very critical eye at the mention of leaguing themselves with a thief, but both Ilmaterians and the priestess look concerned at the mention of the Rakshasa. "Martyr's Tears," The cleric intones, shaking his head.
"We know the ways in." Danos picks up the thread of the discussion again. He peers at the adventurers sternly. "You are offering your services, to attack into the caverns, then?"
Kyrel nods. "Aye. More accurately, we intended to go in anyway - so why not join forces?" He notices the paladin's distaste for the idea of working with a thief, and ignores it. Paladins. I'm not going to lose a possible ally because I don't like his hobbies, you twit. Anyone who's against Talona is welcome right now.
The paladin nods, then. "Good." He gives the trio another critical look. "You say you took down the necromancer himself, and those involved with him? We searched the mansion, today. Good show." He actually does seem impressed. "I'll be here an hour before dawn. Be rested up; I imagine it will be a tough bout."
Kyrel nods. "I think we can manage that."
Derleth nods. "An it please ye, Sir Paladin." he murmurs.
"Aye. Good sleeping, then, sirs." With that, he strides out of the room, after giving the regular pleasantries to the priestess. The aged cleric rubs his forehead. "My apologies for Sir Danos' manner. He is a Bitter Tear of Ilmater."
Derleth snorts. "Fergive me fer my words, Father, but t' me he just seems bitter."
The father spreads his hands helplessly. "He is charged with guarding the Child. In these times, we need all the skill we can, in purging this city of it's pestilence. In doing so, he cannot guard the child, so that he can help us."
Derleth steeples his fingers together. "Far be it from me t' intrude on matters o' another's faith...but be this Child matter sommat we need t' know about?"
The old priest shakes his head. "A prophecy, uncovered a decade ago. It foretold of this time, and of a child bearing a paticular mark; said child would bring Ilmater with a hand to a greater height, and a humbling, to help us suffer for all, for Ilmater, as he decides."
Kyrel says, "You have found this child, then?"
He nods. "He was born unto us."
Kyrel says, "Guard him, then. We will help with protecting the city. Though... it is my understanding that prophecies rarely turn out the way one expects."
Derleth looks relieved, as he had briefly worried that the child might be Christof. He wonders after the young boy's well-being for a moment, then speaks once more. "Iff'n we c'd see to getting some blessed bolts an' arrows, then, we'll be on our way t' rest."
The priest smiles. "Another paladin has returned to our fold, after a long absence, and is charged with protecting the child. He is not as skilled as Danos, and has been healing the sick in the city, so his reserves have run low. But, Danos has approved him to look after the child."
Lady Jiss looks up. "Sir Derleth, I'll personally take you down to the armory as soon as we're done here."
The Ilmaterian Father looks up. "It is late, and I have taken enough of your time, lady. Forgive me, and the actions of Brother Danos."
Derleth looks abashed. "D'nae call me sir, High Sister. Ah be a simple Fortune seeker, nay a paladin 'er a man o' rank."
She smiles wryly. "But you are respected, Derleth. It is a proper term for you." She nods to the Ilmaterian. "Fortune find you, Father Simnon."
"Hands hold your shoulders, lady," he offers in return, departing.
Derleth doesn't know how to respond to that statement, so he doesn't. Kyrel chuckles at his friend's discomfiture. "You're becoming quite favored by your Lady, Derleth. Don't expect to have the country bumpkin act fool your superiors." He bows to Jiss, then. "We have one more errand to run, and then we should rest."
The woman rises from her chair, looking a little haggard and the worse for wear. "Follow me..." She glances up to Kyrel with a grin, the crows-feet along the corners of her lips showing her age. "Could you wait? Or do you need his assistance?"
Kyrel glances at the were-ranger. "We could probably handle it without Derleth, I think. Silniya, what's your opinion?"
Derleth looks quite stunned for a moment at Kyrel's non-sequitor. He clears his throat, and then says, "Ye can go on wi'out me, Ky. Ye don't need me t' talk to....our contact," he finishes, not wanting to reveal too much to the high priestess.
Lady Jiss just smiles knowingly - or, perhaps simply approvingly. Silniya shrugs her shoulders. "Unless we're jumped again, I imagine that we don't need him to come along." The high priestess interjects, "Your rooms have been cleared, by the way."
Kyrel says, "Good. I can use a nice nap."
Derleth blinks. "Quicker than Ah expected. Send me thanks along t' the folk what braved the nasties."
The priestess slips into the hall, glancing back to Derleth, before making her way around the corner. Derleth waves a hand goodbye at his companions before hurrying off after Jiss on his short legs.
Lady Jiss is quiet, for several moments, before glancing over at the cleric once more. "At the moment," she begins, "Besides me, I believe you're the most skilled of our faithful under this roof tonight. My second is, at the moment, tending to the worst of the sick, even if that is usually the Ilmaterians' job." Her tone is a little disdainful. "You're setting out on a dangerous expedition, with hard company, to boot." She removes a key from her gown and unlocks a heavy iron-bound door. "I wish to give you more than a few blessed missiles."
Derleth starts to talk, and then stops. What would be the point? "Your words are kind, High sister." he murmurs in flawless Common. "And I will serve faithfully with whatever tools you wish to impart."
She simply nods, and opens the door. With a muttered prayer to Lliara and a touch on the coin medallion suspended from her neck, the torches light themselves, light gleaming off the weapons housed in the small storeroom. She gestures to a locked cabinet in the corner. "Our supply of weaker enchanted items; blessed missiles, minor healing potions, and so forth." She spares the cabinet not a glance, but instead seems intent on a large, golden disk set into the far wall. Its surface is decorated with the symbols of Lliara, and four dice frame a square in the center. Derleth only watches, afraid to disturb her actions lest he distract her from something important.
She removes a small, bronze orb from her robes and waves it before the disk, before brushing a finger over each die. She taps a particular dot on each face, and when she finishes the flawless, unseamed face of the disk begins to waver. A hole opens in the center, and the metal flows back into the rim, revealing a hole with shelves behind it. She turns to Derleth. "Approach, Derleth Quickfoot."
Derleth looks stunned for the second time that night. How in the hells did she know my surname?! I never... He pushes the thought aside for the moment, stepping forward.
First, she removes a heavy flail, though she has no trouble lifting its weight in spite of her age. The striking head is cast in the shape of a die, its faces painted in contrasting colors. She offers it to the quiet cleric. "I imagine Lliara's blessing has served you well, but this should be of even more use. It is not an artifact, or of immense power, but there are things about it that should help you out, good priest."
Derleth seems entranced by the exquisitely crafted flail. "It's beautiful..." he murmurs. "Was it crafted by Selegaunt's faithful, or does it come from an earlier time?"
She does smile, much wider this time. "It was wielded by the founder of this church, good Derleth." She offers him the haft.
Derleth takes it, testing the weight in his hand. "What are its capacities, then?"
She gives him a teasing grin. "If the Lady is pleased, you will know." With that, she turns and removes a golden medallion from the small storage space, a holy symbol of Lliara rimmed in precious stones. The cord holding it gleams in the light of the torches. "Guard this, Derleth, with your life. It is indeed a holy symbol; your spells will work with it, but its enchantment is far greater than that of the flail." She offers it to him, the chain draped over her fingertips. "Return this, when you finish your ventures against the Talonites. If... by chance you fall, we can claim them back, rest assured. But these have powers that are not offered to any young acolyte, be aware."
Derleth swallows, wondering for a moment if the evils aimed at Selegaunt are even worse than he is aware of, for him to be given these things. "I will, High Sister," he murmurs, bowing his head to accept the pendant.
She slips it over his head. "Although I am loath to admit it, the Ilmaterians are right," she goes on, as if hearing his thoughts, "This city is in peril. I know not the plots set in motion to endanger Selegaunt, but I fear that if the poison worshippers continue, there will be nothing left of her but a dead husk."
Derleth straightens. "We know this to be their end, High Sister...they appear to desire to use Selegaunt as a staging ground for more acts of evil...with its dead citizenry as an army to staff their armies. I and my comrades will stop the Talonites, or die in the attempt," he says resolutely.
She simply nods grimly. Turning, she runs the small sphere along the golden rim of the portal and it begins to melt again, closing, hiding the other treasures behind the symbol as it returns to its original form. With her first key, she unlocks the cabinet, disclosing shelves of quarrels and arrows, a small sack, and vials of glowing liquid. "Your bolts, arrows, and sling bullets, good sir."
Derleth nods and takes a half dozen quarrels and a dozen arrows for Sil and Ky. "With Her luck, we might not need these...but I expect that we'll face the tiger-spirit sooner, rather than later." He also picks out a sturdy crossbow from a nearby rack to replace the one he dropped.
She nods, relocking the cabinet. "Any that you do not use, please return. I feel that in the coming days, we may need all of the weaponry we can have."
Derleth nods. "I would hope that, once the Talonites are routed, we might have a time of respite coming to us." He pauses. "High Sister...I would ask a favor."
A brow arches. "...Yes?"
Derleth clears his throat. "You apparently know my family, in name, if not personally. I would ask that you not reveal to them where I am, should I survive this calamity."
Lady Jiss gives a simple nod. "Agreed." She doesn't ask questions, or peer at the priest expectantly. "Now, rest. I expect that the lady's own coins shall fall with hard luck facing up. Be ready."
Derleth nods. "By your leave, High Sister." he says in farewell, and hurries back up to the dormitory, to grab his things before getting back to the Halfway Inn.
Silniya watches the cleric depart, before turning toward Kyrel. "Off we are, then?"
Kyrel nods. "Let's just get our gear now that they've got the spiders out of it."
She perks up. "Speaking of which, don't you still have those items from Grim?"
Kyrel nods. "Aye. Haven't had the chance to check out what they do. And unfortunately, we don't have time now..."
She shrugs. "Nothing says we can't dump them off with someone willing, and pick them up later, hm? I have this feeling we're not going to have much time, in the near future..."
Kyrel says, "Good point. The Halfway Inn has a mage on staff... maybe we can leave the things there."
A nod. "Then, we're off."
After leaving a note with the tailor - and some coins for the trapmaster kobold, who was a bit annoyed at the change in plans - the two make their way to the Halfway Inn. They enter discreetly and are making their way toward the desk when a booming voice fills the still-busy room. "Kyrel!"
Kyrel turns, suppressing a wince. So much for keeping our location from becoming public knowledge... He turns to look at the person, trying to put a name on the familiar voice.
Pushing through the crowd is a burly human, broad and powerful, but instead of looking amused, the customary grin behind the amber beard is more welcoming. Captain Dieter grins broadly at the half elf. "I havn't seen you since you stepped off my ship, boy! You've grown! And how's the ex-ship mage doing these days, hmm?" He glances at Silniya, who's still on guard. "And, I see you've found yourself a woman. A fine taste in wine and company, it seems, eh?"
Kyrel grins. "Captain! A pleasant surprise." He coughs at that description of Silniya. "She's a professional colleague, Captain, not a romantic companion. How fares your ship, then?"
Silniya gives the man a once over. "So, Kyrel, you ran with sea dogs? I imagine you picked up fleas." The captain's booming laugh is appreciative of the jest, and draws several glances. The halfling minstrels even pause a moment before continuing. "Oh, I'm well! Sadly, the Azure Lady sank. She lasted a good ten years, before pirates took her to the deeps. But, she took the other boat with her, a vengeful girl to the last! Most of the crew left moved on with me, and we've been working along this coast, now."
Kyrel sighs. "I'm sorry to hear that. She was a good ship... but where are my manners? Captain Dieter, my companion in arms, Silniya. Silniya, the good captain was one of my first employers... I shipped with him on the Inland Sea for several years when I was younger."
The two shake hands in common warrior fashion. The good captain glances back to Kyrel. "Tis good to see you again, my boy. How has life been treating you? Me and the crew plan to be leaving port here soon, and head south to Waterdeep for the time being; a few are afraid they'll get sick." He rolls his eyes. "But, wisest course, methinks."
Kyrel nods, and lowers his voice. "Between you, me and the bulkheads, Captain, I'd advise doing just that. And don't take on water or food here; there are some serious problems with tainted goods. Stop down the coast to revictual if you need to."
He nods, simply. "Aye. Worrisome, that; never wise to leave port without fresh barrels of water. Thankfully, I always do that first thing, so I was finished before things started to happen." He eyes the wizard curiously. "As it turns out, our current ship mage is turning sick - age, it is. We'll be returning in a month or so... If the old man doesn't last, the spot will be open." His hands spread in invitation. "If nothing else, lad, I'd be willing to give you a lift."
Kyrel says, "Hmm... I'll keep it in mind. If we're still here in a month - and if there still is a Selegaunt in a month - we might be interested in a trip. What's your new vessel's name?"
He grins. "Call me a romantic at heart. Azure Daughter."
Kyrel chuckles. "I'll keep her in mind, then. I'd love to stay up and chat with you, Captain, but we've got an early appointment. Maybe tomorrow evening, if you're still in port?"
A nod. "Sure, m'boy! Now, up stairs with you. I'm sure your itching to be behind closed doors." He shoots a wink at Silniya, who seems to take no offense, even snapping her teeth playfully at Kyrel, before heading up the stairs herself.
Kyrel shakes his head, but doesn't even try to correct Dieter this time. He heads upstairs himself, chuckling at Silniya. "He means well, but you know how sailors are."
Derleth comes into the tavern, lugging his pack, just as the others go upstairs. He seems slightly caught up in thought. The halfling barmaid who'd showed them their rooms earlier wiggles her fingers in greeting to the cleric, but is currently taking orders from, and flirting with, the seated customers, and thus can't bound over to tease him. He offers her a distracted smile, but seems too lost in his own mind to even be disconcerted by the forward wench. Climbing up the stairs, he idly fingers the amulet he was given. Strangely enough, despite her willingness to give the items to him, Lady Jiss said nothing of what they actually did. I wonder if this is meant to be some sort of test.
An hour before dawn, the three rise and head back to the Lliaran church. Sir Danos is waiting there, and leads them to the Ilmaterian Cathedrel, turning left past the main hall and eventually bringing them to a small meeting room. A map of the underground complex is spread out on a desk, weighted down at the corners. "We will be entering here." he begins, pointing to a cave along the docks. After a moment, his finger shifts to a point outside the city. "The other four will come through here. We will be meeting, hopefully, here, and then following this route, hopefully having cleansed anything we find." His fingers pick out the sources of the city's main water supply.
Derleth shifts uncomfortably in his seat. His sleep was not completely peaceful. "By we, Ah assume ye are t' be our fourth, Sir Paladin?"
Danos nods, once. "I am."
Derleth purses his lips, but says nothing. He supposes the Bitter Tear is essentially a good man, but he'd have preferred Azler, or even Bodan. No matter. We have a job to do and we'll do it. "By what means will we be testing an' cleansin' th' springs, Sir Danos?"
The paladin's equipment has had a few additions since the last evening's meeting; a shining shield with an eye emblazened on the front, a swirling cape of red and gold, and a large satchel. He pats the bag. "In here are curative potions. To remove disease from the water, there are scrolls of purification, and a vial of healing elixir."
Kyrel nods. "Divine magic, I assume?"
Danos nods once more. "Aye. But Derleth of Lliara can help out in that reguard, no worries, sir mage."
Derleth nods, idly running his fingers across his new flail in its belt-holster, having left the other in his room. He notes Danos' shield. One would think he was of Helm's clergy.
Kyrel shrugs. "It means we have to get either you or Derleth through to the end. Silniya and I are expendable for this mission."
Silniya casts a sidelong glance at Kyrel and gives a hurt sniff. "You act as if we're cannon fodder."
Derleth's brows knit. "Nae one is expendable, Kyrel. Under any circumstances."
Kyrel just twitches an eyebrow. "We're not disposable, I'll agree. This is more important than any one of us, though. My point is that we will fail if we don't get at least one person who can work divine spells through to the end of the mission."
Derleth's expression looks hard. "Let's hope it don' come to that."
Danos nods grimly. "Agreed. Hopefully, it will not come to that." He glances amid the tree. "Are we ready to set forth?"
Kyrel nods. "I do, too. But if it comes down to that... don't argue if we take shots so you can make it." He looks grim, then forces himself to smile. "With luck, we'll take them by surprise. Let's move out."
Derleth shrugs. "I be as ready as Ah ken."
Fifteen minutes later, after moving through the dock area and skirting along the beach to a slight cliff face, the four find a four foot high opening hiddin beneath an overhang. The paladin glances at the others. "Do we need to use torches, or are there any other lights available?"
Kyrel says, "We have some more permanent light sources. Kiri usually scouts, since he doesn't need light at all."
"Kiri?"
Kyrel says, "My familiar." The bat peers out from the half-elf's cloak and chirrips at the paladin. "Quite a clever little fellow."
The paladin nods, then glances into the cave. "Ah.... Suitable, yes, but might it alert anyone of our approach?"
Kyrel shrugs. "Unless you have an interest in stumbling around in the dark, I suspect we'll just have to make the best of it."
Derleth chuckles. "Asides, ah'm sure there be plenty o' bats in this cave already."
Another nod. "But, certainly, we'll need a light source as well." Danos glances from cleric to wizard. "Such as magical illumination, or torch mayhap?"
Kyrel grins. "Or maybe a magical torch?" He reaches into his bag and pulls out the enspelled torch. "Okay, Kiri, it's time. Scout ahead for us."
The paladin grins in approval. "Agreed. And water won't put that one out." He draws his sword, and puts his helm on with a little help from Silniya, "Now, let us be inside, and cleanse the filth the Talonites have made by staining this place with their presence." He lets the bat fly in first, before crouching low enough to enter.
Derleth keeps his flail in his belt, but pulls out his crossbow and loads a regular bolt. Kyrel and Silniya prepare their bows and follow.
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