Journal Entry 25.00 Of Boons and Bores

The party learns of Majalacturis's progress. They discuss boons granted as payment for helping Si'Nassa. The party helps the Coterie retrieve a Child of Majalacturis.

Upon returning home, the party caught up on events since they had last been in Chrailis.
First and foremost was the status of Majalacturis. In the three months since he had been freed, he had expanded out from the village of Canton right up to the border of Si’Nassasperion’s influence. Once he had reached the border, he halted his advance and began consolidating his forces. If he was expanding in other directions was unknown to anyone the party queried.
Of the elves in the territories he controlled, many had fled their homelands having had enough warning from their neighbors. Those that could escaped toward Chrailis and the safety provided. When Morvion inquired about villages near Canton with which he was familiar, he was told that little was known. Those villages were too far away and for the most part did not come toward Chrailis. They were likely consumed into Majalacturis’s dark plans or had gone different directions.
Along this new border, several skirmishes had ended with the Coterie members being more than a match for anything that Majalacturis was able to throw at them unless the dark moon god showed up himself. According to reports and descriptions, even Nerish’t, the new leader of Canton, had barely escaped one such disastrous encounter with the Coterie. After several losses, Majalacturis began showing up at several of the battles, and when he did, it was the Coterie who died. Majalacturis’s forces were now only attacking at night when his strength was waxing.
During one such raid, Cri’Tinnious , one of Si’Nassa’s daughters, along with twenty Coterie warriors were deep in his lands trying to free several hundred elves in a larger concentration camp which also held several tengus and a herd of centaurs. When Majalacturis showed up, the battle was fierce. All twenty Coterie warriors were killed, even Cri’Tinnuous was hurt, barely escaping. In that battle, she managed to wound Majalacturis. He went into a rage and killed everyone in the concentration camp and then set out after Cri’Tinnuous, daring to venture into Si’Nassa’s zone.
If there ever was a question as to if her domain had a hard boundary, this answered it. He didn’t get fifty feet past the boundary when she attacked him. The attack came in the form of darkening skies and sudden thunder. He fled immediately, nearly killed from the brief encounter. In the process, four of his First Children were also killed, burned to ashes from an attack with no visible source. Si’Nassa did not appear, it was as if the attacks materialized from the sudden storm which had come upon Majalacturis and his small invasion force. That was two months ago.
During that time, the Coteries had been regularly entering his lands, trying to free any they could. The lands were now barren of sentient life. Anyone not following Majalacturis was likely dead. As far as Majalacturis, he was spotted a few weeks back missing an arm, scared, and still recovering. Wounds likely from his disastrous battle with Si’Nassa.
Besides the larger events of the war, the party was saddened to find that Dame Imokan had left Chrailis, selling her city estate and winery to a holding company which in turn was charged with selling the estate off. Aja inquired further into this and was told that the estate would go on the market in two months and the sale price would be starting 300,000 gold. Several of the staff would remain behind with the winery and their employment would transfer with the ownership.
Zurrelevants was still at the city estate finishing the final packing. When the party inquired, he said they could stay there for a few nights but that was it. Dame Imokan’s country estate had been given to him and several of her closest followers. He was in the process of moving everything out which wasn’t to go with the sale of the in-city estate. Per terms of the agreement, if Dame Imokan were to return within the next ten years, the country estate would revert to her ownership. If not, then Zurrelevant would be the chief benefactor along with her other loyal followers.
As far as a timeline, the party figured that shortly after they had destroyed Perlachio’s tower, Dame Imokan had left within a less than a day. It was obvious that all of these negotiations were previously planned out. As to where she went, Zurrelevants could only say that with the tower destroyed, the barriers were down between worlds and she could now go looking for her sister. Dame Imokan and an entourage of eight followers had left out heading toward the Quirk Woods. From the sounds of things, the party had missed her by a few hours.
“She couldn’t wait for us?” Urik Grumbled.
Aja, also hurt, wisely suggested in an effort more to soothe her feelings, “She might not have known we would return this soon.”
“If at all,” Morvion added. He wasn’t at all bothered by it, fully understanding. Should he have the chance to recover his family, he wouldn’t wait either – especially if he thought they were still alive and in danger.
As they settled in for their first evening back, walking around the now half-empty estate, Morvion asked, “What do you think they meant by that statement, you have Si’Nassa’s blessing for your deeds? Do you think that can translate into anything?”
Aja perked up, “Looking for some extra loot? I like that.”
“No, I mean, I was thinking. Some things are beyond us, but not beyond the power of her and her Coterie. Specifically, I am thinking, what if I could find the remains of my family.”
“To bury them?” Aja asked. Then catching on, “Oh, you mean for me to raise them? Do you think they will want to come back after all this time? Not an expert, but my understanding is that the dead only return if something is unresolved. You are not the you, you were back then. They won’t be coming back to their life or their village. Everything will be different should they return.”
Morvion’s demeanor darkened. He didn’t even acknowledge her argument. “It’s night and I don’t wish to spend it in the city. I’ll be back on the morrow.” With that, he departed.
Graykar smiled, “I agree, it’s night and I wish to spend it in the city. I’ll be back tomorrow.” Pulling out his drinking mug, he also exited for the night.
The next morning Morvion returned. He found Urik in prayer and Aja idly drawing spell forms on a dirt floor where she sat crosslegged. “Where’s Graykar?”
“He’s already left out. Not sure when he got in last night. He said he was looking for a bar that he had been dreaming about,” Aja answered.
“Why?” Urik asked while standing up and pulling out his ax from its leather carrying straps. He began to go through basic combat forms, swinging the ax slow and steady with exaggerated fluid arcs. Part of his daily devotions was going through his various combat techniques while meditating on the teachings of Josca.
Morvion replied, “I was thinking all night about that boon thing. I want to go to the Coterie and ask. I wonder if that can translate into some repayment for our so-called deeds.”
Wiping her hand across her lastest dirt drawing, Aja cheerfully said, “Yeah, I’m up for that. Let’s go. Uirk – how about now?”
“Sure.” Urik brought his form to a close, swooping the ax in a large overhead swing, slamming it into the ground.
Not really knowing where to go, they walked in the direction toward the city center, figuring the would ask the first Coterie member they find. As they approached the 2nd tier, three individuals approach wearing gold-threaded robes with patches of the all-seeing right eye of Si’Nassa on their left breast. They are definitely Coterie members of the Mirror House, House Zaytaltarn being the proper name.
The three stop before the party and bowed and then in their characteristic way, they spoke mentally. Morvion, you have been thinking all night of Si’Nassa and what she owes you. This focused intention on her has not gone unnoticed. We have come to answer, granting what information we can. If you seek a boon, make your request and we shall aid as we can.
Before Morvion can even speak, Urik blurted out with great bravado, “That easy? Hell, can you make me stronger? Make me stronger so I can better lead my brethren to victory.”
You’ve already started on this quest, Master Orc. Return to your school as you can and help train those orcs, especially the ones who have difficulty assimilating to Chrailis. Do this, and your strength, both physical and spiritual shall grow. You are on a good path. However, for now, we believe we can slightly augment even your prodigious strength today. The center brother waved his hand in Urik’s direction.
With a quizzical look as he flexed his muscles, Urik replied, “I guess I feel a little stronger.”
Morvion then spoke up, “Um, ok. So I want to retrieve the remains of my wife and children. Can you get them for me?”
This is beyond our range, we must test the futures and see what happens. Return here tomorrow for a better answer.
Still uncertain what to ask, Aja said, “I don’t really have a request, I will think about it more.”
Very well, so be it.
Then before the three Coterie started to depart, catching them as they were turning, Aja impulsively blurted out, “Wait, I know. I would like to have Dame Imokan’s estate. Can you help with this? I am short of the funds necessary.”
The middle Coteried member cracked a smile. Absolutely. We would be pleased for you to have this property as you would be a good steward of the Winery and its attendant properties. A basic task for this to come about. You have until the end of next month. Retrieve the burial Urn of the dwarven warlord, Rosckspit, within the month. Do this, and the estate you seek will be available to you.
As they walked back, Urik mumbled as he flexed his arm, feeling his bicep, “I fear I spoke rashly. Maybe I should have asked for a little more.”
Aja looked up at him with a smile, “You think?”
The next day, Morvion returned by himself and was met by the same three Coterie members. Testing the future winds, Mother Si’Nassapherion herself has declared that you can find what you seek. To do so, you must do the following. Aid a male lizardfolk in slaying an elven priestess. When you do this, you will be able to achieve your task.
Not sure he was getting a true answer, Morvion headed back to the others reflecting on the words of the Coterie. While he might be prone to wrath, he was not prone to angry outbursts. There might have been some truth in their directive. Si’Nassa was powerful enough and if such a bargain led to his family returning, he could do this. If it turned out to be a false lead, well then, he could always refocus his wrath on her once Majalacturis is dealt with.
The next day, the party began making preparation for moving on from the Chrailis estate early in the morning. Graykar had not returned as of yet. Urik says he will be staying at his school, focusing on its set up and structure now that it has a few students. He hadn’t had much time to work with Sir Caladanis since he had secured his parole from charges and commissioned the ex noble to take over daily operations.
Morvion stated he would spend the day in the woods near Chrailis looking for a suitable home for an elf.
About this time, Graykar returned and explained his absence, “I’ve been having this reoccurring dream. It’s of a particular Chrailis landmark and I have been wandering around looking for it.”
Once he is caught up with everyone else's details, “I’ll just be around. I got enough funds and I am perfectly content to live from one tavern to the next.” Then looking to Morvion, “When you are ready to go after Majalacturis, I’ll be there.”
Morvion nodded in appreciation. “And you?” Morvion asked of Aja.
“I’ll be staying out with Zurrelevants, he’s agreed to let me stay as long as I help organize Dame Imokan’s library for when or if she returns. In the meantime, I am going to try and secure these premises here. I’ve been given a task.”
And then to Graykar, “You ever hear of a dwarf by the name of Rockspit?”
“Sounds familiar, let me think on it a few hours. Not remembering anything right now. Sometimes these memories surface over time when I go looking for them.”
With their agendas shared, they parted and went there own ways for the next week, pursuing their own activities. On the morning of their sixth day back, they awoke to a shared mental message, You are summoned. Si’Nassapherion requires your immediate service. Please make haste to the Gossamer Plaza of the Second Tier for further instructions.
Each in their own way made it to the Second Tier. The large circular plaza was surrounded by thirty Doric pillars, each about twenty-feet tall and supporting nothing, the lintels missing. The pillars themselves, while made of marble, had been carved out with thousands of cavities, giving each pillar the appearance of having been made of white cobwebs. As the suns shone down through each of the pillars, they would flare up with a bright white refracting all the filtered light through each of them, causing a haunting glow even on the brightest day. At night, the diffused moonlight lit the plaza up sufficiently where no other light source would be needed. 
Graykar arrived first, having been the closest and a short run away. Aja was next, having teleported in from Zurrelevants/Imokan’s country estate. Morvion summoned a steed and rode in. Urik was last. While a six-mile run wasn’t taxing to him, it still took him a good half hour to make the run through the city.
All gathered, they could see that they weren’t alone. Other heroes from around Chrailis had answered the summons. Some were sent home, others given other tasks. The Coterie chose the party for what they declared to be a most urgent mission.
Brother Freyan and Brother Tran bow and greet meet the party. They were wearing the colors of Coterie Drosha te Lan, the Elf House. Their robes were dark green with blue trees and sunburst stitched in them. Their house's association with the elves of the land underscored the relevance of the mission. Majalacturis has a new weapon. The ability of his children to resist our magics has manifested. Added to this defense, his attacks have increased. Mother is concerned that he has found a weakness that he can exploit. If so, all of Chrailis could be in trouble. At great cost, we have captured one of his first children about twenty miles beyond Mother’s range. It is believed that studying the child will reveal much about his new tactical advantage. Two attempts have been made to retrieve this capture child so far today, and both have failed. We will teleport you to the edge of our power. From there you need to cross the rest of the distance, retrieve the child and bring it quickly behind our lines. It will be dangerous. Majalacturis has marshaled enough forces to hold us at bay and has our people pinned down keeping us from moving the child. His goal is obvious, hold us till nightfall when his power is greatest. If nightfall is reached, we will lose our chance to retrieve the child.
They then motion for three dwarves to approach. You won’t be able to teleport the child to Chrailis, its inherent magic will protect it. Only Mother can do that once within her range. As such, you will need to transport the child physically. To this end, these three dwarves will aid you. They are Master Caslin along with her brother Rodis and sister Bettina. Escort them safely to the child then protect them on the way back.
The three dwarves were dressed in thick leather garments more designed for a forge than combat. Each one had a large backpack on their back with several metal rods and small pieces of machinery sticking out.
The party took only a few minutes to greet the dwarves. Caslin answered all questions, “We have the means of transporting the Child of Majalatruris, trust us in this .”
Taking stock, the party realized the would be ready to go within the hour. Caslin replied she is good with an hour and her family would be ready.
Once ready, the Coterie teleported the entire group to the edge of Si’Nassa’s range. From there, the party was given a mental beacon of a direction to go – twenty miles to the northwest. Follow the feeling of the beacon, it will lead you in the right direction.
Running ahead to scout, Graykar quickly located the guarded camp where the captured Child was holed up in a deep cave guarded by a small contingent of elves and four Coterie. Circling the cave entrance were several griffons and chimera.
Deciding on a straight forward approach, the party decided the best way to attack the griffons and chimera was to teleport in and make a surprise attack. As Aja had not yet seen the landing zone to teleport in, the first task was to get her there. After debating options, they came up with a clever solution.
Aja would crawl into Graykar’s backpack. She was the only one small enough to do so without additional magic. From there Graykar would run to where the griffons were circling and let Aja out. She would then survey her surroundings before returning to the group in a similar fashion.
It was at this time that Graykar let the party know his backpack had been acting up over the past few days, ever since they had returned. “Some of the fruits come out partially eaten, or not magical. Sometimes when I call forth an item, it doesn’t come or the wrong item comes forth. Eventually, I get what I am looking for, but sometimes it requires I try back again after an hour.” What he didn’t tell them was that other aspects of his backpack had been misbehaving, like his clothes were not coming back out always clean, sometimes they would just return in the same manner in which he had stowed them.
Deciding to take the risk, Aja crawled into the pack. Inside she was amazed. She appeared in a large open palace wing lined with large arches open to surrounding gardens. In the middle of the hall she could see all the accumulated items which Graykar had been storing, include yards of rope, piles of coins, even a small ladder. In her softest voice, she muttered to Gigi, “There is no protection to this treasure. If someone wanted to and knew where to look, they could walk right up.” She said this as she looked out the arches to the gardens and how the gardens had no boundary, they just melted into the existing woods surrounding the castle. “No protection whatsoever.”
Gigi squeaked agreement as he suspiciously eyed a robin in a nearby tree staring back at him.
The castle was situated on the top of a hill in the middle of a range of rolling hills. All the hills were picturesque with large pastures and small groves of trees scattered over them.
Waiting for what seemed forever, nearly a whole day, she finally felt the pull of being summoned. While she waited, patiently knowing the time differential between her and Graykar’s world meant it could be a good day before he arrived at the cave, she felt a sudden draw. Having never been summoned before, she had only read about it. It was a unique experience. Then everything went white before going black. And then she felt a hand pulling her hand. Feeling the need to crawl out, she was able to crawl out of Graykar’s pack. Going in had felt awkward, knowing everyone was watching her crawl into the large backpack. For some reason, crawling out felt even more awkward, possibly because of the persistent coercion to come out gnawing in the back of her mind from the summoning.
Once out, she asked about the time.
“It is close to noon, we still got plenty of time, “ Morvion said.
Aja nodded, gathered everyone around and cast the teleport spell. Once they were near the cave entrance, they immediately attacked the griffons. To their surprise, they found the griffons were undead and a much more powerful version of what they would normally expect to encounter. Not only did the griffons attack as a normal griffon would, but they also breathed out an attack of dark red ash which decayed and destroyed all living matter it came in contact with.
The chimera’s were also of a more powerful variety, having been enhanced by Majalacturis’s magics.
The party managed to defeat most of the guardians to the cave mouth and then enter the cave. Inside they found only a few elves still alive along with four wounded Coterie warriors who had been fighting off the griffon's attacks.
The Coterie members greeted the party. One of them then said aloud, “We will hold the way as you escape. We will make them believe we are still trapped and holed up as long as we can. Fear not, if we need to retreat, we will teleport out along with the elves.”
Deeper in the cave, they see the thirty-foot long mantis shaped body of one of the Children of Majalacturis laid out and bound. The Child was laying on a large cart made of dinosaur bones. At the front of the cart, where horses might normally be harnessed were instead the skeletons of four large giant humanoids. In life, each of these monstrosities would have been around twenty feet tall. Rather than being harnessed, each of the giant skeletons had a push bar in front of them teeing off a central skeletal backbone leading back into the long cart.
The dwarves immediately began unloading their backpacks and assembling the parts into what looked like a miniature double screw machine with tractor treads on the side. Once assembled, they initialized its magic by chanting and drawing glowing glyphs on the metal surfaces. The contraption began growing in size to where the treads were nearly twenty feet apart and each of the screws was almost thirty feet long. Just looking at it, the party could see its purpose was to bore a tunnel through the ground.
Once this was done, the dwarves set about assembling the second piece of equipment which looked more like a double fenced wall. When it expanded, it expanded to a similar size as the boring machine across. Bettina answered the curious look in Aja’s eyes, “It’s for closing up the tunnel behind us.”
Caslin then flipped a switch and the screws start to turn, white steam pouring out of the turbine suspended between the two tractor treads. “We are ready to go, it will move at a good pace, should take us about the rest of the day to make the 20 miles to safety. If all goes well, we will arrive a few hours before nightfall.”
As the machine began moving forward, chewing into the rock at a slight downward angle. The undead giant skeletons begin pushing the bone cart forward and the rest of the group began moving in pace with the boring machine. The machine had no difficulty with gnawing through both rock and dirt. As the tunnel bored deeper into the earth, Aja and Morvion were able to sense the rock being transported back to the second assembly via translocation magic. With the tunnel crawling in one direction, it began closing up several hundred feet behind them as the rock and dirt were redeposited beyond the second apparatus.
Urik looked closer at the second device and felt a great heat emanating from it. Looking closer, he believed that it not only was depositing the torn-up earth from the beginning of the tunnel, but it was also heating it to a melting point and creating a solid barrier behind them.
Roughly two hours into the journey, the bored tunnel intersected another tunnel. Out of it poured several scores of goblinoid creatures. The party engaged them quickly, making a point to defend the dwarves. Urik takes the lead and charges into one of the tunnels heading all of the goblins off before they can pour out. Striking out furiously with Sanguine Flourish, he connects with an explosive the goblin was carrying. As it detonates in the close confines of the side tunnel, the explosives some of the other goblins are carrying chain detonate. In less than a second, the entire column of one side of the tunnel is eradicated of goblins in a fiery death.
Aja arced her lightning among the other side of the tunnel for a similar result. Thinking the attack is over, Morvion remained wary. This was too easy.
And he was not disappointed. Stepping out from behind a shield of invisibility, a naga looking creature rears up and attacks him. She has a snake body with a female human torso and head. The creature had at least six arms, maybe eight. Each arm wielded a deadly weapon like a serrated sword or whip. Morvion engaged the first one and quickly determined that this creature was a formidable foe.
As the first such created appeared, others appeared also, becoming visible as soon as they attacked. Urik attempted to corral some of them by placing a blade barrier on one. She sidestepped the attack and then revealed telekinetic powers by pulling Urik into his own barrier. Another one also proved capable of creating a similar barrier further separating the party from one another.
Overall, five creatures attacked. As the party engaged, the creatures focused on the party and none ever attacked the dwarves. The party fought them to a standstill for several rounds before one of the creatures dropped. Once one went down and they could double team another one of the creatures, it went down and soon all five were killed.
“What are these horrid creatures,” Urik demanded as he began casting cure spells.
“The worst,” Aja replied. “They are what you would call demons. They are not from this world or realm but conjured from nightmares. If Majalacturis can summon creatures like this, the battle and war may be long indeed, for while these are powerful creatures, far more powerful exist.”
The rest of the journey was uneventful. As soon as they entered Si’Nassa’s territory, everyone in the bored out tunnel felt the connection with Si’Nassa and Chrailis take hold. The Child of Majalacturis vanished, teleported back to Chrailis.
The dwarves surfaced their machine, moving the tunnel up gradually. As soon as that was accomplished, they began packing it up. While they did this, several Coterie agents teleported in and took everyone home to Chrailis.
Once home, the party began splitting up and went their separate ways, it had been a long day. Graykar and Morvion talked as they made their way to the edge of the city.
“I’ve been thinking, that dungeon we went to, the one that you keep referring to as the Death Temple, why do you call it that,” Graykar asked.
“It’s where Nerish’t, a former shaman of my tribe, was hiding out I believe. I tracked the lizard priest down who had slain my village to that place and Nerish’t mentioned it later when I went back to Canton with him. That lizard was somehow tied to Nerish’t. On the walls were several runes to a dark god of death. I think they both served the same master, both served Majalacturis. I think that the temple was somehow devoted to him.”
“Interesting,” Graykar replied, seemingly lost in thought.
“You are thinking something, aren’t you?” Morvion prodded.
“Yep. Tell me, how does a Moon God not from this world have a temple in this world?”
“Well, that’s what I was saying. I think Nerish’t found the temple and that is where he fell under Maja’s influence.”
Graykar stopped and looked at Morvion, “But how does the temple get to this world?”
“I don’t follow.”
“Did Majalacturis find followers in this world who then built it.”
“I don’t think so. It was built by some dark necromancer who served Majalacturis. The temple was ancient, older than anything I have ever seen. It probably came across from Majalacturis’s world,” Morvion answered.
“Yes, and that is what I have been thinking. It came from Majalacturis’s world.”
Suddenly Morvion caught on, “And if we want to find more about Majalacturis and how to fight him, why not look there?”
“Yep,” Graykar responded.
“Let’s table this for in two days when we have all agreed to meet for lunch. Any other clever ideas, friend Graykar?”
“Always. It’s my nature to be scheming. Always scheming. Hell, I’ve even solved your dilemma about the boon task you were given.”
Morvion, already thinking he knew were Graykar was going still decided to humor his friend. “Do tell.”
“Simple, find a lizard who will be up for killing a priestess of Majalacturis and help said lizard succeed. That way you get to help eliminate one of the bad guys . . . or bad gals, so to speak, while accomplishing your given task.”
Even knowing what Graykar was going to say, Morvion still chuckled with his slow menacing grunt that sounded just like his scowls. “Already thought of it. And it won’t work. Majalacturis is one of those gods who only has priests of the same gender. There are no female priestess in his following.”
“Oh. Worth a thought. You know, I would never serve a god that didn’t have damsels I could corrupt. Just saying.” This earned a dark stare from Morvion. Graykar wasn’t sure if the stare was approval or disapproval.
They arrived near the edge of the city and parted ways for the evening.
Graykar turned and went to find a local tavern. One of the coolest aspects of his backpack was his limited need for sleep. He could enjoy the night’s mandated proclivities, at least as he viewed them, and still be good to go for the next day.
As he wandered further down a street, zeroing in on the noise of a rambunctious crowd, he laughed out loud. “Yep, always thinking.” He had just remembered where he had heard the name Rockspit before. Aja was not going to be happy.