After we had spoken with Irabeth and she set to planning a memorial vigil in honor of our fallen companion, she comforted Runa, who felt most distressed by having control of her body taken from her by a creature of evil. Then we exited from Irabeth's tent to rest and prepare for the vigil. A strange occurrence befell me as we walked back to our tents, which I shall describe for you though it pains me to write of it. One of the most faithful and talented paladins who serve in Irabeth's honor guard stared hard at me, exclaiming that there was something amiss, and drew his sword.
In response some of the other paladins who were present also turned their gaze upon me, while still others looked askance of the man who had bared his blade. Jiro interposed himself between me and the man with the drawn sword, unsheathing his own blade, and when Runa saw Irabeth also turn a frowning expression on me she stepped between me and the leader of the Crusader army. Irabeth looked at me and said, "There is something wrong."
Everyone had been on edge due to the recent assassinations in the camp, and my own possession by the spirit of Eldrazi Portheim was still fresh in their minds. Spurred by this concern, Runa took hold of me. Kirara began to snarl at her, summoning the burst of extra strength her celestial nature grants her to slash at Runa with her claws. Despite Runa's grip on me I found that I could not refrain from beginning the casting of a spell. Jiro reacted by dispelling it before I could complete it. Irabeth took out an object I could not clearly see and spoke a word of command, and I felt myself cut off from the flow of arcane energy that ever surrounds me.
Zosta offered to take Runa's place in holding me pinned as she is so skilled at such maneuvers. To further control me she fastened a pair of manacles about my wrists. I found all of this quite bewildering and repeatedly attempted to reassure them that nothing was wrong with me, but they would not be persuaded. Jiro examined me for a moment and announced that he thought something had affected my mind.
With that I was unceremoniously escorted to see one of the healers, while Runa gripped an angry Kirara by the scruff so she could not harm anyone else. She was so distressed by this that she seemed to forget that she could transform herself into a mist. The healer examined me after Irabeth used her enchanted item again to block my access to magic. He first asked what I had experienced during the past days, and while I sat in a state of confusion Jiro narrated the events that had occurred within the dungeon of Citadel Drezen. When he finished giving these details, the healer stated that he believed I had a psychosis, which could be relieved by a powerful healing spell.
Much of what happened above I describe not from my own recollection but from what my friends told me afterward. My own thoughts were disordered and it seemed to me that my friends had become enemies. Kirara's thoughts were as troubled as mine. After the healer cast his spell my thoughts became more clear and Kirara also recovered, but I still felt troubled. I made my way to the garden Jiro had created to meditate while my friends took care of other business.
On my way to the garden I overheard two paladins discussing how much the garden had grown. Upon my arrival there I found that it was two-thirds larger than it had been previously, and a small treant had appeared and set itself as a sentinel over the space. I sat down against the tree and let my thoughts dwell on the pleasures of nature and the comforts of the tree trunk's solid bulk against my back and Kirara's warm fur in my lap.
While I meditated, Jiro arranged for a stonemason to make a memorial stone for Shim to be placed in the garden, and visited a priest who was familiar with fighting the undead to learn better how to channel positive energy to harm such creatures. Runa sought out the quartermasters to ask if they had acquired any magical items capable of increasing a person's wisdom, so that she might avoid being robbed of volition by the demon a second time.
That afternoon the vigil for Shim's spirit was held. Before it began, Irabeth mentioned to all of us that afterward she wished to introduce us to a new arrival in the camp who had come a very long way in search of our group.
The vigil was an inspiring one, for though Shim had told us he had once lost the respect of many warriors through an error he made, he had gained much respect and admiration from the Crusaders for his devotion to defeating the demonic invaders. His talents will be sorely missed.
Shim
When the vigil concluded, we followed Irabeth to a tent where we found a pale, white-haired young elf awaiting us. I observed that some of his garments were made in the style of clothing known in Tian Xia. After introducing himself as Zero Geass, he explained that as a child he had become separated from his family and had been rescued by a cloaked woman whose face he had never seen, who wore the holy emblem of the goddess Desna. Later in life Desna had visited him in dreams, showing him scenes of battle and advising him to seek the woman who had rescued him. Jiro questioned him further, prompting Zero to tell us that his family were traveling performers, and also that he was an archer of some skill. He further stated that he had brought gifts, items he had stumbled across on his long journey to Drezen.
Zero Geass
These gifts proved to be an eclectic assortment of objects, which Zero told us he had primarily found on the bodies of those who were already dead when he came upon them. These things included a bottle that when opened would cover the opener with the thick warm fur of a yeti, a pocket that would produce an endless supply of cigars - which curiously went missing very shortly afterward - an oil of light, an archon's torch, and a wand that would allow a person to read magical texts. But most interesting of all to Jiro and I was a tree token that was identical to those the tree-woman had left for us after we freed her. This Zero said he had found not long after the mysterious woman saved him.
After learning of Zero's archery skill, I recalled that in my quiver I had been carrying five arrows enchanted with holy power which I had found when we were in the subterranean caverns beneath Kenabres. It seemed to me that if Zero meant to aid us as he said he intended, he could make much better use of those arrows than I. I presented them to him.
Zero also revealed that he had found a headband which could improve the wearer's intellect, and in addition would grant the wearer greater knowledge of the faiths of the world. Zosta had only just given a similar headband to one of the magecrafters so that its innate skill could be reworked into religious knowledge, as she had recently developed a burning desire to know more about religions. Instead she accepted the headband Zero had brought, while Jiro let the crafters know that they did not need to alter the other headband and I asked if I could use it myself.
After learning of Zero's archery skill, I recalled that in my quiver I had been carrying five arrows enchanted with holy power which I had found when we were in the subterranean caverns beneath Kenabres. It seemed to me that if Zero meant to aid us as he said he intended, he could make much better use of those arrows than I. I presented them to him.
Zero also revealed that he had found a headband which could improve the wearer's intellect, and in addition would grant the wearer greater knowledge of the faiths of the world. Zosta had only just given a similar headband to one of the magecrafters so that its innate skill could be reworked into religious knowledge, as she had recently developed a burning desire to know more about religions. Instead she accepted the headband Zero had brought, while Jiro let the crafters know that they did not need to alter the other headband and I asked if I could use it myself.
Headband of Vast Intelligence
Though I would be unable to fully attune myself to my new headband for another day and night, we decided that we should return to the dungeon the following morning, before the shadow demon could summon more reinforcements or make other defensive preparations.
The next day when we prepared to re-enter the Citadel, Jiro explained to us that he had decided to summon a different spirit to aid him than the spirit of life he usually allies himself with. Instead he chose a more martial spirit that could grant boons to all of us if we remained close together with Jiro and one another. This meant that Jiro would not be able to use his link to our lifeforces to absorb part of any wounds we suffered, for that is a talent he gains only from the spirits of life.
Runa had also made a change in preparation for this battle: she had attached the pennon she had acquired some time ago to the back of her armor. The pennon's enchantment would grant her greater abilities once each day at her command.
We climbed down the now-familiar stairs once again to reach the ritual chamber with its polluted pool where we had battled Chorussina. Beyond it we made our way through what had been a hidden entrance, until we came to a large circular room where a statue of a marilith rose from a dark pit. Two walkways on different levels ringed this pit. We realized that the statue likely represented Aponavicius, the marilith we had heard of who commanded the forces holding Drezen.
The next day when we prepared to re-enter the Citadel, Jiro explained to us that he had decided to summon a different spirit to aid him than the spirit of life he usually allies himself with. Instead he chose a more martial spirit that could grant boons to all of us if we remained close together with Jiro and one another. This meant that Jiro would not be able to use his link to our lifeforces to absorb part of any wounds we suffered, for that is a talent he gains only from the spirits of life.
Runa had also made a change in preparation for this battle: she had attached the pennon she had acquired some time ago to the back of her armor. The pennon's enchantment would grant her greater abilities once each day at her command.
We climbed down the now-familiar stairs once again to reach the ritual chamber with its polluted pool where we had battled Chorussina. Beyond it we made our way through what had been a hidden entrance, until we came to a large circular room where a statue of a marilith rose from a dark pit. Two walkways on different levels ringed this pit. We realized that the statue likely represented Aponavicius, the marilith we had heard of who commanded the forces holding Drezen.
Aponavicius
As our group warily entered this chamber, myself and Zero bringing up the rear, we had a closer view of the statue of Aponavicius. She bore a different weapon in each of her six hands, many of them weapons that would be exotic here in the West. We realized that the base of the statue rested some ten feet lower than the bottom ledge, although we could not see the surface on which it sat. Jiro scanned the statue for any magical aura but found none.
As Runa made her way to the set of double doors on the opposite side of the circular chamber behind the statue, a pulse of purple energy emanated from the statue. Runa abruptly fell over the edge of the ledge and dropped into the pit out of sight. Zosta recognized by Runa's reaction before falling she must have been pushed by something. Just as this realization came to her another pulse of energy came from the statue and Zosta felt some force push against her from behind, though it didn't succeed in pushing her off the ledge.
Runa shouted from below that something shapeless was attacking her, but still none of us could actually see her or what was in the pit wit her. Jiro flew down toward her. I called out to her to ask her if she was well, and she responded that the floor of the pit, which we could not see, was covered with a green slimy substance. It was too slippery for her to climb up out of the pit.
As Runa made her way to the set of double doors on the opposite side of the circular chamber behind the statue, a pulse of purple energy emanated from the statue. Runa abruptly fell over the edge of the ledge and dropped into the pit out of sight. Zosta recognized by Runa's reaction before falling she must have been pushed by something. Just as this realization came to her another pulse of energy came from the statue and Zosta felt some force push against her from behind, though it didn't succeed in pushing her off the ledge.
Runa shouted from below that something shapeless was attacking her, but still none of us could actually see her or what was in the pit wit her. Jiro flew down toward her. I called out to her to ask her if she was well, and she responded that the floor of the pit, which we could not see, was covered with a green slimy substance. It was too slippery for her to climb up out of the pit.
Green slime
Zero began to sing, heartening us all with his tune as Nurah had done when we first left Kenabres. But just as he began his song, he too was knocked into the pit. He vanished through what appeared to be the floor. Zosta responded by tying a rope around her waist and dropping it into the pit. The end of the rope disappeared beyond the "floor." Realizing it must be an illusion, I attempted unsuccessfully to dispel it.
Jiro called out that fire would destroy the slime. He apologized profusely to Runa and Zero and summoned a column of fire that descended from the level of the lower ledge down beyond the illusory floor to scour away some of the slime. This unfortunately destroyed part of Zosta's rope, but with the slime gone Runa and Zero were able to clamber up out of the pit and rejoin the rest of us on the upper ledge before the double doors.
As we were sadly without Shim's skills at handling locks and recognizing traps, Zosta took on the role of examining the doors for traps. She found nothing, and Runa then pushed open both doors. The chamber beyond was completely dark, a darkness that the light of lamps and torches could not penetrate. Only Zosta was able to see through this blackness. She told the rest of us that she saw not one but three shadow demons at the far end of the chamber, standing in front of a marble plinth on which lay a crumpled piece of fabric. Between the demons and the doors stood several shadows.
As we were sadly without Shim's skills at handling locks and recognizing traps, Zosta took on the role of examining the doors for traps. She found nothing, and Runa then pushed open both doors. The chamber beyond was completely dark, a darkness that the light of lamps and torches could not penetrate. Only Zosta was able to see through this blackness. She told the rest of us that she saw not one but three shadow demons at the far end of the chamber, standing in front of a marble plinth on which lay a crumpled piece of fabric. Between the demons and the doors stood several shadows.
Shadow demon
Shadow
At that moment Zosta felt another push similar to what she had experienced on the ledge. The shadows began to approach us. A second push sent Runa tumbling back into the pit. Zero began to sing again as Zosta raised her fists to bludgeon the shadows with her enchanted knuckles, which she had prepared so they would be able to strike creatures that have no solid flesh. I called a circle of protection into being around us that would prevent any shadows summoned by the demons from approaching within arm's reach. following that with a bubble to protect us from some magic. Jiro also cast a spell, extended a brilliant glow that defeated much of the darkness, though it could not reach quite to the far end of the chamber. He also activated a special ability he had learned from his spirit, which would grant us all certain advantages so long as we remained in close proximity with one another.
Three shadows flew up toward the ceiling and passed over my magical wards to descend into the pit and attack Runa. I could not see what happened due to the illusion of a floor hiding the actual floor of the pit, but Runa described through her bone ring that a burst of holy energy had destroyed all three shadows. Three more shadows appeared before Zosta, and the demons vanished. Zero slew one shadow and Zosta eliminated another. The demons reappeared behind us. I sent an anchor of force at one of them, but it failed to penetrate.
Jiro flew down into the pit and cast a spell of flight on Runa to allow her to ascend from the pit. The three demons charged at us, clawing and biting Runa just after she landed on the ledge again. I reached out to the celestial realm to bring a lantern archon to give us aid, instructing it to help Runa first. Runa expended a bit of her special power to allow all of us to step forward while remaining within my wards. The archon moved to Zosta, while Runa took another step forward to attack and slay another shadow. The demons again turned on us, then vanished.
Lantern archon
Zero eliminated another shadow, and Jiro decided to move into the center of the chamber while the demons were gone and take a closer look at the fabric on the plinth. He cast his light spell again to illuminate it. Then he reached out telekinetically to lift the cloth and bring it to him. It appeared to be a large banner that had been crumpled heedlessly on the marble slab.
A pulse of energy filled the chamber, this time clearly positive. From behind me I heard a voice cry out, "No!" Runa strode across the room to meet Jiro. The three demons appeared behind me, unfazed by my wards, but one of them for unknown reasons disappeared into the nearby wall, leaving only two of them to attack me.
A pulse of energy filled the chamber, this time clearly positive. From behind me I heard a voice cry out, "No!" Runa strode across the room to meet Jiro. The three demons appeared behind me, unfazed by my wards, but one of them for unknown reasons disappeared into the nearby wall, leaving only two of them to attack me.
No comments:
Post a Comment