Editing Solace: Ascension (section)

= Date: June 22nd, 2006 =
Players Present: Dan Evan Nick Chris
Characters Present: Karlth (dan) Gabriel [Tokrin] (nick) Vaenin (evan) Connor (chris)
The group while in the stables finds out that a caravan is leaving shortly for Prirebwyn, which is a mere 25 miles (or so) away from the rune they are looking for. They request to go with them in exchange for gold and services on the way, and the man agrees to 300 gold for all of them, as long as they help with camp set up and the likes. They share tales and teach each other a few things on their way to Aina; the first major stop. Gabriel tackles Vaenin just about everytime they finish setting up camp, Vaenin gives him an electric shock to remember, the usual happenings. Karlth sets up the beginnings of a business partnership for his Moonshine, here on the other side of the world in the island chain that makes up this land.
In Aina they find a massive port city that resembles Solace on one single level next to the ocean. The group explores, first visiting an old friend, the one who wields the sword known as Patriot, and who gave Askarius the axe that can think for itself. "Ahoy! Well i haven't seen you in a while!" Says the merchant/blacksmith as Karlth enters the store. The store itself is practically littered with magical weaponry and other trinkets. Every weapon looks as if it was custom made for a king. Connor's jaw drops as he simply gapes at each and every one of them. Gabriel begins to decide which one he's going to beg Karlth for, and Vaenin decides this weaponry is below him and leaves. "Aye, My friend here needs a master quality greatsword" (+2) Karlth replies "For you? I think i can handle that, is that all?" "Use this.....somehow...." Karlth hands the blacksmith a vial filled with Orichalchum he acquired many years ago. "I think I can have this done in about a week...maybe two" "How much?" Karlth inquired. "For you? 20,000, and you got a deal." the merchant stated proudly. With that, the group departs from the tradesman's place. Vaenin is not quite so lucky in the magic shops, all of the shopkeepers show him great difficulty and only discourage him from wanting to ask anything more, and he ends up leaving all of them unfulfilled and very unsatisfied. They all eventually meet up at a tavern, and then move to an Inn for the night and depart the next morning.
After a few more stops they reach prirebwyn, unharmed and on time. Karlth leaves a few scraps of the moonshine material with the tradesman who brought him to prirebwyn, and they depart south west to find the rune. Before they leave, he agrees to meet with the tradesman in about a month in the port city of Aina to discuss further the matters of bringing moonshine to this land.
Connor spots it first, the rune standing quite tall. They see a fist holding a massive hilt of a sword. The blade extends for about 6 more feet and then gets off. The entire structure stood  about 45 feet tall, dominating over the landscape nearby. Connor also spots something else first, it looks as if on the other side of the structure someone was sitting cross legged, facing away and one of their knees stuck out from behind the statue. He whispers notification to Karlth, but he doesn't seem to be worried. As they approach closer, and everyone else too sees this mysterious knee, that belongs to a mysterious person that have not been able to see. Covered in a black cloth, it adjusts a tiny bit when the get about 30 feet away. Before anybody does anything, Karlth attempts to detect what kind of person is on the other side. An outline, he manages to see, but the entire body itself is a swirling mist of chaos and neutrality at the same time. The good and evil within this person mix together, what is this thing? Knowing that only few in this world are such master of the magicka to be able to not only mask, but confuse, and even scare other Magi, and even fewer that would be waiting here, presumably for Karlth. "Ahoy!" Connor yells out. "Horrig, what brings you here?" Karlth calls out. "Aha! You've found another companion!" the man behind the statue replies. "Yes, /he/ has!" Connor says stoutly. "I've been waiting for you to arrive for nine days." the voice proclaims. As the man's knee disappears, a moment later it reappears, this time with the rest of his body as Horrig steps out and leans against the side of the statue, giving a sideways look to the party. "Come now, Karlth. You know those parlour tricks won't work on me" Horrig muses with a wink. "It's good to see you again, but why have you come here?" "I have bad news unfortunately, I have sensed something off with you." "Like what?" "An alliance has been broken, something..someone is going to meet you here, I've seen it. I don't know who, but perhaps you do. I feel that you are going to need help in whatever fight this is." "I think i have an idea....." "Who?" "Rheyin, I know Rheyin doesn't like me" "What's a Rheyin?" Gabriel interrupts, but ignoring him they both continue "I don't think so....but what about Felwithe?" "Felwithe still owes me a lot of favors..." "Favors or not, he would much sooner defend his brother than his friend. If we are to expect Felwithe, we are in a lot more trouble than i had first thought." "What's a felwithe?" Gabriel interrupts again, this time however he is acknowledged by Horrig. "Felwithe is a very very powerful being, and if you are to survive this fight you should rest," and then turning to the group as a whole, "and so should everyone else...I must study a spell, I haven't read it in a long time, and i need to refresh my memory. It will take me awhile, so rest up. Hopefully Felwithe will have the decency not to ambush us..." "...not that he needs to." Karlth finished Horrig's sentence grimly, turned, sat, and began to meditate. "I have gifts for everyone after i finish my studies." says Horrig before he returns to his original position reading a massive spell book he had held n his hand before. Gabriel tries to inquire what the gifts are, but after no response is given by either Karlth or Horrig, he gives up. Vaenin is already asleep by the time Gabriel lies down.
Karlth and Horrig finish simultaneously and awaken the other three. "Here, i have these for you." Horrig reaches into his knapsack and retrieves three large gold emblazoned medallions attached to a thick silver chain each. He hands them out, giving the  first one to Vaenin. "The majestic unicorn," (+4 int -2 str) he hands the second to Gabriel, "The slithering snake," (+4 str/agi/end) he hands the last to Connor, "The ferocious lion," (+6 str +2 spd +2 end). As they all take it and put it on, they immediately feel the effects. "Beware however, these are illusory effects. Your mind thinks you are stronger, in truth you are not any stronger than you were before. It isn't as if Vaenin's mind grew larger, or Connor's muscles grew bulkier. Just as it is only part of your mind, it will also drain your mind if you use it for too long at a time. Be sparing with these." He reaches into his knapsack and grabs a glistening white cloth and hands it to Karlth. As he unrolls it, Karlth sees it's a glove. "Where this on your casting hand, underneath your armor. It's similar to their items, but a tad more well suited for you," (+1 dice roll to all spellcasting rolls). "Ah, interesting..." As Karlth too slips his newly acquired item on. Almost as if timed just right a sudden light breeze is felt by the entire party, as clouds begin to move in from the coast. "Right on time, I suppose you were right Karlth. It is indeed Felwithe." "What the fuck is a felwithe!?" Gabriel persists, but alas to no avail. Although if he wasn't so busy asking what it was, he might notice what he was doing, and that's a pretty good idea of how powerful he is. Not too many people can cause thunderstorms wherever they walk without trying.
The lightning begins to pick up and the wind as well. Through the howling wind, and the thunderous roars the party prepares itself for an attack from the south, the origin of the wind. Horrig sits once more cross legged in meditation, ready to cast anything at any moment.
Then in one final bright flash of lightning, everyone is forced to blink, and when the reopen their eyes.... "Felwithe...." Karlth grimaced. Ordinarily, Karlth was pleased with his visits, but from Horrig's ill-fated tone, he knew this was no ordinary visit. And there was someone else, some shadow behind Felwithe's that wasn't his. Felwithe was concealing his friend "And you too, Rheyin? did you both really need to come? Are you that afraid?" And at this Felwithe smiled. "I'm sorry i have to do this, but i serve a much higher power than yourself" Felwithe said, with a true glimmer of regret. "I just have one question....do you know where my pet is? Are you holding him?" Karlth asked, genuinely wanting to know. "I know where he is..But i'm not going to tell." Felwithe seemed to relish in the fact that he was causing Karlth, his own friend, a pain that few others could.
As he stepped aside. Behind him to Karlth's surprise was not Rheyin and in fact, to everyone's surprise, it was not even human! This..human-like shape seemed to be made of a black ink, liquid and viscous, and yet solid enough to retain a shape, and facial features. the hands stretched very low and flat, and the fingers were webbed. There were no feet, rather the legs seem to just grow out of the ground. The most distinguishing features were the eyes, Slits almost, angled inwards and glowing a golden yellow brilliance that could only be described as threatening. The long face was interrupted only by two barely visible holes for the nose, and the smile. The smile was one they would not soon forget. The teeth were few and far between, but they were all perfectly placed, almost as if it was meant to be that way...but more noticeable were the two--calling them canines wouldn't do them justice--fangs. Fangs that stretched to below the unusually long chin and dripped a slightly opaque, half milky substance into the ground, sizzling as it did so. What was this? some sort of weapon? Before they could find out, it melted into the ground like water in a vat that suddenly burst. The extroardinarily tall elf of about 6 and a half feet tall stood wearing what looked like full plate mail, but only over his chest. A small metal waist hanging was a smooth transition to the brown robes underneath, and the lack of a helm allowed his magnificently long white hair blow graciously. His silvery eyes peered into the men before him and his wry smile was the most sickening part of all. In his left hand he held nothing, but in his right...It was the greatsword that everyone's heard about. standing over 9 feet in length, the triple bladed super sharp, super light and absolutely glorious sword swayed almost tauntingly to the group.
Felwithe lifted his sword, Myelin, in front of him and held it straight up, firmly gripped with the hands. "Because of who you are...friends of Karlth, that is...I'll even allow you the first hit." As he waited, everyone was apprehensive on attacking. "..Well?" Finally fed-up with waiting Gabriel charged and struck him with his sword, being repelled fully from his armor, bouncing off as if his sword was made of a metal block. the reverberating noise triggered the next move. Quickly Vaenin followed up with an electric bolt shooting between the party members headed straight for Felwithe's head. Much to everyone's surprise that too seemed to simply glide over his head and into the ground, having no effect. Connor now advanced, attacking the same place Gabriel did, and having the same luck. Karlth raises his hand and sends five large whips of dark energy his way, and Felwithe simply reaches up and 'catches it,' as if it were a tangible object to be captured, and simply closes his fist and watches the energy vanish. "Come now, those things won't work me. Are you gonna hit me or what?" Karlth slowly began to step forward, but rethought it, and instead stayed for a moment. Frustrated Gabriel and Connor both swing at the same time at the back of Felwithe's legs and they both made contact. Astounding! but at the same time discouraging, because now they knew that his flesh was almost as hard as his armor covering. Both of their swords bounced off simultaneously but not before they saw the tiniest trickle of blood. At this action Karlth took flight, and seeing the clear shot now, Vaenin sends arcs another shot. It clears just underneath Karlth's feet as he flies upwards and curves around felwithe's leg, binding around it momentarily then shrinking and exploding sparks everywhere. For a moment there is a flash, and Vaenin knows he finally did some damage. "And this was a gift given to me by you..." Karlth says just before releasing another 5 whips of dark energy from his fingertips. This time however, moments after leaving his hand, they swirl over one another and the abnormal darkness changes from a deep purple color to bright yellow, light. this reverse polarization of unholy to holy is a gift granted to Karlth, and he is one of the few who possess such powerful items. quickly accelerating the beams slam into Felwithe, picking up mass and velocity at the same time, hitting with a real, physical effect. Immediately Felwithe is startled, taken off his balance. When the light completely consumes him, Karlth knows that his spell is feeding off of the evil, and it's working. In a brilliant show of magic, the light widens and dissipates instantly as Felwithe is left, a light sizzle atop his forehead, which is now wrinkled and angered. "Enough play." With a quick step back, everyone's happiness over the momentary victory soon subsides as a snake head, at least 6 feet in diameter shoots out of the ground, in the middle of the fight. Ah, so that's it. The inky slimy black skin was recognizable this time, as the snake shot hundreds of feet into the air and hurtling back to the ground at breakneck speed, it crashes back to the ground, and lashing around a bit manages to coil itself up quickly. Felwithe uses his sword and makes a large swing around him, throwing Connor and Gabriel far back. "This is the age of the Serpent Riders." Ducking his head underneath his master, the serpent moves its head right behind Felwithe, as he steps onto the neck and is lifted far beyond harm's reach. Vaenin sends one last electric bolt using everything his mind has left to offer him, sending a large arc of lightning into Felwithe's achilles tendon, having a massive recoiling effect. Gabriel and Connor stand up, and a light dust of white sparkle and a feeling of rejuvination tells them that Horrig is still here. Connor charges the snake with all his might, and Gabriel and Felwithe's eyes meet for just a moment. The moment was long enough, the stall provided Felwithe with enough time to allow his snake to snap it's neck forward and grip the floating Karlth in its mouth Karlth completely immobilized and thrashing around tries to break free, but cannot. Felwithe swipes his sword through the air so fast, he sends a shockwave down to the ground. Both Vaenin and Gabriel are thrown backwards and Connor stumbles almost missing his attack. With the slight wince of the snake Karlth saw his moment of opportunity and slipped loose of the death grip. Felwithe turned to Gabriel first aiming the sword down like a cannon, as the tip began to glow. Gabriel was entranced, and couldn't move. Meanwhile the snake wrapped it's tail around Connor and Vaenin and began to tighten. Karlth had almost died from the grip, but another save from Horrig allowed him to stand, only to see... Gabriel knew he shouldn't be staring, but he couldn't help it, it was so bright, so beautiful...The suddenly the light began to grow rapidly and envelop all of his surroundings. As he looked down he saw his skin beginning to melt, so fast he could not yet feel it, he saw his eyes begin to fade, and his armor begin to disintegrate. He awoke in the shadowy realm of the Ethereal plane standing in front of Horrig. "You must stay alive to pass this on to Karlth. I'm afraid i won't be seeing you again." "what...? what just....okay.....i understand" And in another glimpse he was alive again! Barely, but he was, almost completely paralyzed. Gabriel saw his body had been thrown to the ground and push with so much force he had left a large engraving in the ground at least a foot deep. He could only stare at what was happening. Horrig now stood up. Horrig stood up and he moved right in front of Felwithe. He dropped his spellbook to the ground, open. He outstretched his arms and began chanting loudly with his eyes still closed. Connor and Vaenin tried fidgeting out of the deathgrip, but to no avail. Luckily Connor still has his sword in hand, and managed to use his wrist and maneuver it straight through. Shriekly loudly, the serpent was cut in two near the tail. The black ink had already begun to seep into their skin however, as they were all put under a harm effect, leaving them with almost no life left. They crumpled to the ground, and the black ooze coming from the now split open serpent began to slowly creep up to them. Felwithe had to first calm his serpent down before he could turn his attention to Horrig, who has already proceeded to the next stage. Horrig's face suddenly shot towards the sky as light beamed down on him. His eyes were no longer closed, but even more fearful was the blood that flowed from them. His mouth wide open now, the incantation had finished, but the spell was still not complete. The light grew stronger. Karlth seeing his companions nearing death swooped down and grabbed Vaenin and Connor and moved them away. Vaenin could finally stand up as he saw what was happening. Felwithe now swung with all his might at Horrig, slicing through the air so fast that the air couldn't keep up and it left a visible pure white trail. Before he hit Horrig though, the sword bounced. Warded by a mystical wall, or shield. He swung again, and again, and again until he realized nothing was happening, and then he heard the hymn. Coming from everywhere, and nowhere at the same time, he heard a chorus chanting. "What is this trickery?!" Furious now he turned to the rest of the party. Horrig screamed out to him, calling his name, calling every name of every soul he's ever taken. screaming the hymn, howling like every animal ever conceived. The screams of a thousand men and a thousand women, as everybody had to cover their ears. Soon the white light engulfed both Horrig and Felwithe until nothing was visible, and the sound diminished. The in one magnificient display the light immersed itself with blood, with pure crimson coloring and then like lightning it was gone. The armors of both bodies held momentarily in place soon fell and crumpled to the ground. "Do not anger a cleric...." Karlth thought. The group swarmed over Felwithe's belongings, Karlth took the sword and then moved to Horrig's remains. Connor snatched up the Armor, and Vaenin grabbed the robe. Gabriel was still having difficulty moving. Gabriel began moving for Horrig's things, but Karlth cut him off. "You won't touch them." As he scooped everything up and put them into a bag. Gabriel reached into his pocket and handed Karlth a note. "Horrig sent this" The letter read:
Dear Karlth,     I'm sorry I had to do this. I had no choice. One man's death to save several's lives. Take my belongings to my house, you will find another note for me there, i left it in case i would not return, and it seems that it is the case. Please, do this one last favor for me. Lay my belongings to rest. The yin to your yang, Horrig
Karlth folded the letter and placed it in his pocket. He gave Connor the Myelin Greatsword and 21 thousand gold. "This is for Gabriel's sword, and whatever other purchases needed. Try not to show off the blade. I'll meet you in Aina in two weeks." Karlth concluded his statement with a monologue... "Now where the hell are you Anar....when i need you most." Trying out of desperation, he whistled for his red dragon, and lo and behold. a pleasantly surprising gust of wind breaks the cloudline as a red blur slowly forms into a dragon as it grows larger and larger. Anar lands next to Karlth and they share a wordless bond. Karlth shoots everyone a quick glance and departs North.
The rest of the party a little dumbfounded at the events that just happened simply go straight to Aina and decide to wait for Karlth there. Immediately upon arriving, Gabriel brings it to Connor's attention that his sword should be ready and that Connor has the money. "My sword's ready, gimme the money i wanna go get it!!!" Gabriel anxiously held his hands out "I'll come with you, and I'll pay for it." Connor replied firmly. "Alright well let's go!!!!" Still anxious, now guiding him out the door. As they reach the store, the shopkeeper recognizes him as Karlth's friend "Ah, it's you fellas." He reaches under his counter expecting their arrival soon and pulls out a large black leather case and opens it, facing away from the group. He pulls out from the soft silky fabric a beautiful looking greatsword, a liquid shine so bright it's almost hard to see where the edges are. The entire sword reflects a blue shimmer, and appears as if it were glowing. He holds it in his hands, flat. "The money?" and Connor replies simply by dropping the bag with 20000 gold still left in it as he hands the sword over to Gabriel he looks at Connor and notes his newly acquired sword as well. "That's quite a work of art...You shouldn't walk around flaunting it." Connor, a little embarrassed acknowledges "Yeah...I know, that's the next stop. Gabriel just couldn't wait to get /his/ new sword." "That's fine, hopefully too many people didn't see you.....Just don't turn around in my store, I'll help you back out if i have to." And, smiling, he helps Connor safely make it outside. Connor heads straight to an upper-class-looking general store and buys a bag of holding for a cheap 800 hold. Meanwhile Gabriel has gone to a blacksmith whom the man behind The Patriot recommended, to buy a sheath. He gives the man his sword and is told to come back in around dinner time, and he leaves to go catch up with Connor and Vaenin. They all meet at the tavern, drink their day away until about dinnertime. Vaenin and Connor head back to the Inn for some food and eventually sleep, Gabriel goes to the smithy. "Is it ready?" "Yes, it is. Due to it's awkward shape, well...you'll understand when you see it." The Greatsword itself was shaped almost like a falchion, slightly curved in an S shape almost, and the tip was a substantial amount wider than the base of the sword. it had a concavely curved top edge, giving it two points, one straight out from the sword, and one off to the side a bit. Imagine a stretched falchion. The scabbard could not therefore be an ordinary one. It looked like a perfect outline of the sword, only an inch or so wider and there were 9 straps over the top. The one just under the hilt was a few inches wide or so, but all the other ones were a bit thinner. It seems in walking while having it prepared, only the top strap was needed, but for traveling, it would feel more comfortable to have them all strapped down. Quite practical, and just as easy to use as an ordinary scabbard. Because the scabbard had a metal reinforcing under the leather, even unbuttoned it would retain shape and hold the sword as long as the wearer remained more or less steady. Quite excited, Gabriel returned to the Inn and they awaited Karlth's return for another week or so.
Karlth takes flight towards the metal disc at the top of the island chain where he knew Horrig's secret door to his realm lie. He flew and flew, it took him a week's travel until he finally reached the trap door. Almost as if the door knew it was about to be opened, as Karlth held out the key about to look for the keyhole, the door swung open and landed with a loud "thud." Karlth climbed down the ladder as he pocketed the key and entered into Horrig's home plane. He saw the familiar house and entered. This time, he called out for Dymitel to greet his son, now that he had some time alone. He didn't want Dymitel to wonder why there were a bunch of men with swords following his dad, he was a bit too young to hear about all these "naughty-boy" tales just yet. From what Horrig's told Karlth about his son however, he's been quite a naughty boy himself. "Dad!" as Dymitel opened the door, he ran and embraced his father. "Ah, Dymitel...It's good to see you again" "I miss you, where've you been?" "Daddy's been busy--" "Hey, where's Uncle Horrig?" and with a solemn sigh, he decided that Dymitel might not be so eager to hear the truth just yet... "He had to go away for a bit, do some cleric stuff..you know." "Oh okay..." "Unfortunately, Dymitel i too have to go away for a bit...I have a lot of work to do. Would you like to come with me?" "Work? No way, that's boring...I'll stay here, there's plenty of stuff to keep me busy..." "Alright then, just don't get into any trouble...I've caught word of what you've been doing with your free time in the inns." Blushing, Dymitel didn't know how to respond...this was the first confrontation he had of this sort, Horrig never saw it as his place to react in any way other than kind-hearted to a friend's son. "Before i go, i have gifts for you." "WHATCHA GET ME?!" He unsheathed his massive flaming burst longsword and placed it down on the floor. "When i come back, i want you to be able to use this" Dymitel was still oogling to notice Karlth was taking something else out of his pack. He pulled out the dream-catcher kit "You can make 16 dreamcatchers with this kit, it comes with enough string for 16 but only 8 rings, and it teaches you how to make more...you'll get to read it, i won't take away the fun of explanation." He picked up the kit and put it on the table and hugged his father again, and perhaps it was the gifts or perhaps not seeing him in so long, but Karlth was glad....but he knew he had very little time. "I have to go do something, and then i have to leave, I'm sorry i have to be so quick, but you know that I'm a busy man." "...yeah i know....alright dad. I'll see you when you come next time." Karlth slowly walked away and picked up the note left for him on the table. He scanned it quickly.
Dear Karlth     If you're reading this letter, it means I didn't get to go home to throw it away. That also means that what happened had to happen, for your sake. I hope my death was not in vain, but I'm afraid that it might be. I would like you to put all my belongings back in the chest at the base of my bed, my room will be the first room you enter, no matter which door you take. After you leave, it will be sealed off forever, and only two people in this world will know how to get to it again. My realm though slowly disintigrating will soon level off and remain at a permanent level of non-growth forever, hopefully i can hire some maidens in the afterlife to tend to my gardens, or perhaps you can for me...banshee's aren't so good with a spade and pitchfork. The only thing i can say about the two items i'm leaving you, Myelin and my spellbook is this. Myelin belonged to a great angel...of whom birthed thousands of years ago a child of distant relation to the one you call Vaenin. Isthithia, the great necromancing mage of darkness wrote this spell book i hold. It provides....ennumerable qualities of great aid and great demise, this will eventually belond to Gabriel. Before they can learn about themselves however, they must learn about eachother. I think you can understand this. Do not allow them to drink the drink of power until they have built up a tolerance to resist its temptations. I wish you good luck on your travels, on your adventures, and hope that one day you can truly get the person you're looking for, you deserve it. Your brother in battle, Horrig P.S. Dymitel is quite a chip off the old block.
After an emotional moment, Karlth proceeds through the door and finds himself in Horrig's private quarters. Quite humble indeed, a nondescript candelabra to a god that Karlth never cared to learn about, a quaint single bed, and a small chest for belongings. He opens the chest and finds a key inside. Karlth puts all of Horrig's belongings except for the spellbook inside the chest and removes the key, locks the chest and leaves the key atop the bed. He approaches the candelabra and recites a short resting prayer, and then leaves. Without delay he leaves both the house and the realm, and heads straight back to the first island...back to teh port city of Aina, where many things await him now.