Session 60 - Wide Open Spaces

General Summary

43th Harvest - Contd.

Over dinner, Denye brought Secret of the Bluff up to date on everything she had learned about the comet Vehacarro, the Great Conjunction that was coming, as well as the warning Janora had received from Erky Timbers. All of this was quite alarming and the gathered wizards quickly began to discuss how the actions and placements of bodies within the Material Plane would effect the more esoteric realms. Dew of the Grass was shocked and asked, "But what does it mean about 'spaces once excised may return'?"
"We don't know exactly," said Denye, with a sigh, "I have some theories, but it seems most likely to refer to the Lost Kingdom."
Usunaar Zinroris, the Bur'an wizard, leaned forward excitedly, "The Lost Kingdom you say, I have made something of a study on the Wall and the Writ, a most unique form of magic that seems to be entirely sigil based." His face fell as a thought clearly crossed his mind and he fell back in his seat. "It's about Ollamaas, isn't it? Someone is trying to use this great conjunction to release the Dark Titan?"
"That does seem to be the case," agreed Janora. "We received a cryptic message last Planting from Eskarina Price regarding the Bells. Do you know anything about the Bells used in the Binding?
At the name Eskarina, Secret of the Bluff let out a hoot of laughter and asked, "Found you interesting, did she? That girl ain't got nothing but cryptic messages."
"Indeed," growled Janora, "In this case a poem that she supposedly got from me in another 20-30 years."
"I do not believe I have met this Eskarina Price," Usunaar said shaking his head before nodding to Janora, "but you were asking of the Bells. I know a little, the eight bells of the Bright Shiners were all that remained after the confrontation where they banished the Dark One. Where lthe bells went after that is hard to say, but I believe the last rumors of a sighting would have been in the 400's S.A. right around the rise of that Mad Mage. There are two other sets of bells, copies if you will, wielded by the Custos Mortis, a family line of white necromancers who protect the living and hunt the dead. I met one once on my only visit to the Lost Kingdom, a fellow by the name of Gelarax. He gave me a demonstration one night when our camp was invaded by shades and ghouls."
"Wait, people still live on the other side of the Wall?" asked Ranunkel, sounding shocked.
Usunaar nodded, "This visit was almost 120 years ago, those Sunpriests aren't the most welcoming lately, but as far as I am aware there is still a thriving civilization in the Lost Kingdom. That is why the Wall was enchanted, the Shiners felt that those living deserved a chance to live and perhaps someday cleanse the land of Death. So rather than seal the peninsula into a pocket dimension and setting it adrift in the Astral Sea, the Wall anchors it to our reality, but also blocks all undead from crossing over and becoming a threat. Oh, but we were talking about the bells, so yes Gelarax gave me a chance to examine his bells after everything was over and answered some of my questions. Some I say, not all, because he would never tell me who made the bells...he just kept repeating that they were a blessing from the Writ. He did mention that while the bells of the Custos only affect the dead, the original bells of the Shiners were rumored to work on the living as well."
"That they do," replied Janora looking smug. At the elven wizard's look of confusion, they explained, "We have already recovered two of the bells and are on the trail at least one somewhere in Umberfell." This got all of the wizard's attentions and the witch smiled before sharing, "One of the stanzas reads, 'The Reasoner dreams beneath the sand / In a temple of the Sphinx sans nose / To find this bell, you must stand / Where once a mighty empire rose'."
Flicking a glance at Jilken, Usunaar mused, "That does sound like it would be somewhere in the Muspait Desert. Sphinxes were once seen as holy protectors and guardians by the Bur'aiel empire and that translated itself into both the Bur'an and the Aiel cultures to varying degrees."
Jilken nodded, "I knew that the sphinxes were a part of the Jenn Aiel's cult, but that's all ancient history."
Ell chuckled, "And how many times have we run into ancient history?"
"True enough," admitted the Aiel warrior, "so we just need to find a sphinx statue without a nose."
"You would know best of any Bur'aiel ruins that survived," said Usunaar with a bit of a sneer, "and the Aiel as well. I cannot think of any within Tou'Krux or outside of the necropolis for that matter."
Jilken nodded, "It's probably buried under the sand somewhere. The poem says the Reasoner dreams beneath the sand / where once a mighty empire rose, so maybe we need to find the ancient capitol."
"Maybe," mused Ell, "but it also says in a temple of the Sphinx sans nose, so maybe we aren't actually looking for a sphinx statue, but rather a temple dedicated to a particular sphinx...do sphinxes have a god?"
"Sans nose...that might be metaphorical," added Denye, "There might be a statue or something with a broken-off nose somewhere or it could mean something else?"
Ranunkel looked confused, "So we're looking for a temple of a sphinx who can't smell."
Denye shook her head and explained, "I think we are most likely looking for a temple shaped like a sphinx with the nose broken off...but I don't have any clue where that is."
Janora shrugged, "Between Denye, Vellikar, and I, we can easily scout from the sky...at least the northern portion of the desert."
Jilken shook her head, "Not if it's buried...anything that ancient will be buried deep and not even the usual sand tides would be likely to uncover it. No for this we are likely going to have to do it the traditional way."
The witch grimaced, "There has to be a way to narrow down our search, does anyone have any divination spells that could tell us more about this temple."
"I could try reaching out with Contact Other Plane," suggested Ell, "I'm not sure who would be the best to ask?"
Denye hissed in alarm, "That might not be the best idea, you've told me about that spell, it has some bad side effects if it's not done perfectly." She bounced her head back and forth in thought and added, "Actually I've heard of a spell that would be perfect, but I've never met anyone who actually knew it."
"Oh, what spell is this?" asked Janora leaning forward in interest.
"It's called Legend Lore," shared Denye, "It only works on items or knowledge of legendary importance, but these Bells are certainly that. If we asked about the Reasoner and it's current location maybe we could get some sort of directions to the tmple."
"Perhaps I may be of assistance," purred Dew of the High Grass, "I know the spell, I was going to use it before bed to learn more about these fanes of creation you had mentioned. That can wait until tomorrow, if you would like me to look into this bell for you."
Ell grinned broadly and nodded, "If you could help us in this way it would be greatly appreciated. Even if we don't get direct directions to the temple, more information is always valuable."
The Tabaxi cleric nodded, "Of course, I even can cast the spell in such a way as you can all see the results. Come, let us go outside and sit under the wheel of heaven and see what can be seen." Standing, the Tabaxi let the party out of the tent and down past a few others. She ducked into her tent and and grabbed a bag of gear before leading them out of the camp. Once the sound of the camp died away and the darkness had closed around them, Dew found a small hill and once at the crest, settled down into a kneeling position and invited the others to take seats while she prepared.
Opening her bag, Dew of the High Grass began setting up. First were three ivory tusks, each a foot and a half long and covered in swirling scrimshaw, these she stuck into the ground point first in a triangle. Next was a large glass jar filled with water as well as something leathery. Opening the jar she pulled the object out, it proved to be a triangle shaped piece of leather with loops at each corner, which she slipped onto each tusk. Nodding to herself, Dew pulled out a small wooden box as well as a small pouch and set them next to her. Picking up the jar, she poured the rest of the water into the leather pocket.
Setting back on her haunches, the Tabaxi cleric examined her setup and then around at the group, "Okay, I think we are ready now. Once I cast the spell we should all be able to see any answering visions in the water. So, you wish to know about the Reasoner and where it is hidden, yes?"
Janora asked, "Is that a cauldron you've set up?"
Dew of the Hight Grass nodded, "Much more useful for the nomadic lifestyle than some big metal pot. It's perfectly safe as long as you don't let the leather dry out."
Denye, who had been hastily drawing diagrams of the setup using Helenwye's eyes, looked up and said, "This is fascinating, I've never see anything like it. But yes, we want to ask for the history of the bell and it's current location."
The cleric nodded, "Very well, let us ask and hope that Ba'met smiles upon us tonight." With a flick of her claw, the bundles burst into flame and Dew of the High Grass began to pray, singing in her native tongue. She took a bundle of herbs out of the box and nicking a wrist with one claw, she smearing some blood on the bundle and cast it into the water, which was now beginning to bubble. As her prayer concluded, she took a pinch of orangish powder and threw it on the flames, producing billows of smoke that smelt of of a musky and bitter cinnamon.
As the clouds of smoke cleared, the water boiled before swirling in an image of an 8ft tall dwarf in glowing golden armor and a flowing white beard, wielding the bell in one hand and a large hammer in the other. "Phosro, son of Tak," whispered Dew. The dwarf was engaged in a tremendous battle, thousands of dead scattered on the field and his fellow Bright Shiners at his side as they surrounded Ollamaas...a 15 ft giant of a man with blacked skin and fire leaking from his wounds.
The water swirled and the scene changed to a high mountain pass in the middle of a snow storm and a human looking figure traveling. Wrapped up as he was it was hard to make out any details, except for a holy symbol of some kind that had slipped out of his cloak. The symbol, an upside down palm with an olive branch in the center, wasn't one that any of the party were familiar with, but Denye made a quick sketch.
Now it was a dark forest clearing and an elven woman wearing a mantle of raven feathers wields the bell against a dozen large and oozing undead creatures. The scene shifts once more, to the same elven woman in the midst of a burned out village performing last rites over a dozen corpses, human and halflings.
The next scene is a shifting sand dune and five figures. Four are darker skinner Aiel in white robes, each wearing a stole of a different color; sky blue, red, deep blue, and green. Across from them stood a tall looking bald woman with alabaster white skin and a dress of flowing copper. They appeared to be engaged in a conversation and after a moment or two the woman in the dress reached behind her back and produced the bell which she then presented to the party. The scene changes once more to a switchback trail in what Jilken recognizes as The Teeth. A column of white-clad Aiel climbed the trail and into a cave mouth.
The scene dissolved and was replaced by a settlement in a small pocket valley, most of the buildings are made of stone and several large gardens were laid out. On one side of the valley stood an enormous statue of a winged woman holding a horn, out of which falls a torrent of water, that winds it's way around the settlement through a series of canals. Across from the statue is a large open temple with obelisks at the four points and a giant sphinx statue, crouched with wings folded back.
Once more the water swirled only to come back to that same pocket valley, only now the buildings lay in ruins and thick plant growth covers most of the waterways and large swaths of the buildings as well. Water still flows from the statue's horn, but most of her body was now covered by creeping flower vines. On the other side of the valley, the temple of the sphinx still stood, but now the nose had been shorn off.
The water cleared once more and when no new images presented themselves, Dew of the High Grass reached out and unhooked one corner of the leather cauldron and dropped the remaining water into the small fire below, dowsing it all. Looking around at the party she purred, "I hope that was of help to you, I did not recognize most of what I saw, but those near the end looked like Aiel, so heading into the desert sounds like the right track. Two things I would share, the first is that all of those visions save the last had a feeling of age to them and the second was a phrase given to me by the Whisperer, 'Token'eska'."
"Token'eska," repeated Jilken with awe, "then those were Jenn Aiel! And it's in the mountains...no wonder no one has been able to find it for all these years. A whole settlement, and so much water, it's like a paradise."
"Well," began Ell, "if it's in a pocket valley in the mountains, then it shouldn't be too hard to find for someone flying overhead."
"Maybe, it could also be tucked in somewhere," mused Ranunkel.
"Or be covered by a giant illusion spell," suggested Denye, "If I were an ancient city that didn't want to be bothered, that's what I would do."
Jilken nodded, "I don't know if they could do such a thing, but did you see it, a whole settlement with endless water just waiting to be rebuilt. Finding such a place will bring me much honor and may even be enough for me to be named clan chief and permission to start a new seitch. Assuming of course that no one is living there."
Denye trilled a laugh, "Let's not assume it's deserted until we've had a chance to get there and look around. Even if these Jenn Aiel are gone, something else could have moved in."
That seemed like good advice and Dew of the High Grass had finished putting away her ritual gear. Standing up, she dusted her legs off and said, "I do hope that was helpful and that you are successful in your quest. But now I believe, I am off to bed, good night." The Tabaxi gave the party a half bow and then turned and headed back into camp. This also seemed like good advice and the party sought their own beds as their minds buzzed with all that had been learned. Most of the party slept soundly, except for Ranunkel who's dreams are haunted by an enormous malachite dragon. Something about it triggered a memory, but he couldn't put a finger on what.

44 Harvest

The next morning over breakfast the party picked up the discussion as Ell mused, "At least with the mountains, there will be less overall area to search."
Ranunkel snorted, "Only if you are thinking in two dimensions, mountains have a lot of up and down as well. How are we getting to these mountains anyway?"
Denye pulled out the map and consulted it, "Well we could go east from here, through the pass and across the desert or we could head back to Arborlisle and try to get a ship to take us around."
Jilken shook her head, "Sailing would take longer and that would only get us to Djedbura, Embervale, or White Gryphon and none of them are particularly close. Getting through the desert won't be a problem as long as you all are with me, although I am going to have to teach you all how to walk again, without pattern or rhythm. It can be difficult to learn, but it's important. If we are lucky, I should be able to find us some very speedy transport, but we'll probably have to walk out into the desert aways to see if it's available. "
"Do we need to go to Arborlisle Harbor to stock up on anything?" asked Janora. "This heat is already too much and if it's hotter in this desert of yours I'm going to melt, I need to get new clothes."
"We'll want to make sure to take lots of water with us," said Jilken, "It will be hard to come by once we get onto the sands, but there is a small town near the pass, we'll be able to stock up there."
Janora nodded, "Running out of water shouldn't be a problem, I can Create Food and Water so we won't go hungry or thirsty."
"I can do that spell too," announced Vellikar proudly.
Jilken flashed them both a grin, "I would keep that a secret if you meet any of my people. You may find yourself drafted and used to exhaustion. It's a hard land, and my people have had to do whatever they could to survive."
"Good to know," said Janora, giving the Aiel a dark look.
Ell tired to diffuse the situation and asked, "How are we getting there? That's about what 8-10 days walking, just to the pass."
Jilken nodded, "About that I would say, faster if we had horses or a wagon."
Denye looked down the table to Secret of the Bluff and asked, "Master Secret, could we buy one of your wagons, or maybe borrow them and leave it with someone in that town Jilken mentioned."
The elderly tabaxi looked up from the papers he was reading and adjusted his glasses, "You are headed for the Niaton Pass? That's fine then, when you get to Jaxal you can leave the wagon and dunners with Hurrl th’Jaxal at the Full Livery."
That seemed to settle things and the party gathered their things and loaded them into the wagon. Vellikar offered to drive, but the dunners proved to be stubborn beasts who didn't want to go anywhere, thank you very much. In desperation, the druid cast Speak with Animals and pleaded for them to go. This surprised the dunners into moving. Quite satisfied, Vellikar continued the conversation with the beasts as the wagon pulled out onto the road and by the time the spell wore off, they were much more responsive.
Janora opted to call up their giant raven and take to the skies, keeping an eye on the party from above. As they rose into the higher air, the witch unbuttoned another two buttons.

2 Sov'van

The first two days of travel were quiet, but early in the afternoon of the third day, Jilken spotted a large bird heading in the direction of the traveling party. Helenwye saw it a moment or two later and the now alerted party came to a stop when they realized the bird was even bigger than they had thought…and moving far faster than expected.
Vellikar recognized it as a roc, an enormous predatory and aggressive carnivore who were known for living in the sharp and wild peaks of the Spine. They are known for dropping out of the sky, grabbing anything smaller than themselves, and taking it back to it's nest. While aggressive, they can be frightened away with loud noises and bright lights. Sharing all of this, Vellikar ended with, "Don't kill it, we can just scare it off."
"What?" asked Ell incredulously at the same time as Ranunkel asked, "Why don't you try to talk to it?"
Vellikar shook his head, "I didn't memorize that spell this morning. We just need to make a lot of noise."
"Maybe," said Jilken, "but it that thing attacks us...I'm going to shoot it." That seemed like a good idea to Tear of Midnight and he jumped off the wagon, took aim, and fired the force pistol at the oncoming bird. The bolt struck the beast square in the chest and it let out a loud squawk, but it wasn't enough to scare it off and the large roc closed on Janora flying above the party. Grabbing the witch with it's talons, it delivered a nasty blow to the raven with its beak, before starting to pull up and escape with it's prize.
Vellikar, not wanting to hurt the roc, threw up a hand and cast Polymorph in an attempt to turn the gigantic bird into a sparrow. Unfortunately, the mind of the roc and it's control over it's own morphic field proved to be too much and cursing, the druid turned invisible. Over the earrings, Denye called, "Janora, do you need rescue?"
Growling, the witch replied, "I fear for this bird's life now, but yes, if you have a good way of getting me away from this thing, I would appreciate it."
In response, the wizard cast Resolute Sphere and a glowing ball of golden light surrounded the witch. The expanding ball forced open the talons of the roc and Janora dropped the 50-60 ft, landing unharmed thanks to the imperviousness of the sphere. Over the link, Denye said proudly, "That worked well, nothing can hurt you while in there, but you can't cast magic through it either, so just let me know when you want me to drop it." Pulling out the ring of homesteading, Denye threw it on the bed of the wagon and climbed inside, to hide.
Ell hopped down out of the wagon and looked around wildly before firing off two Eldritch Blasts at the bird. The first strike went high, but the second struck the roc in the chest, throwing it back ten feet as Ell ran off the road and tucked himself behind a stand of tall grass. Ranunkel hopped down as well and pointing his staff at the roc, sent a Lightning Bolt coursing up into the monstrous foe, scorching many of the chest feathers.
Jilken, who had been riding at the front next to Vellikar whipped up her heavy crossbow to fire at the beast, but when she pulled the trigger, the damn thing jammed! Swearing, the Aiel warrior, dropped it, other hand already bringing up the repeating crossbow. Taking aim once more she fired, and this time the bolt went flying to sink into the roc's wing, but the crazed creature hardly noticed. Janora, still in the bubble, laid their hands over the wound in their leg, where the talons had bit deep and cast False Life and the wound sealed over in a ghostly, purplish light. Looking over at Denye, Janora thought, "I'm ready." Nodding sharply, the wizard dropped the spell and the sphere of golden light popped like a soap bubble.
Tear fired the force pistol once more at the great bird, this time striking the roc in the head. The bird let out another ear-splitting shriek and folding it's wings, talons extended, dove at Ranunkel. With lightning speed, the roc threw open it's wings at the last moment, and snapping up the dwarf used momentum to begin to climb once more.
Still hoping that they could scare it off, but not wanting it to take any of the party members, Vellikar called up a Flaming Sphere and slamming it into the roc's back, crisping more feathers. Reappearing, the firbolg druid handed the reins to Jilken and jumped off the wagon as Denye dropped down out of her pocket dimension and called up a Storm Sphere around the roc. As the beast struggled in the heavy winds, Denye struck out with another lightning bold, burning multiple tail feathers and causing the roc's talons to twitch and spasm.
Ell popped up from behind the brush and fired two more Eldritch Blasts into the storm at the beast. Both shots hit and the roc was thrown up and out of the storm. Ranunkel was disoriented as the bird was thrown up into the air, but WildShaped into his elemental form, causing the monster to drop him. The stone druid fell about 50 ft. but came done in a three-point landing, causing a minor, localized earthquake. Cursing herself, Jilken tossed the reins to Denye and jumped down out of the wagon. Running around the storm sphere to where she could see the roc, the elven marksman took two shots with her bows, both striking home.
Janora, now in the storm sphere, but untouched thanks to Denye's skill, looked up at the giant bird and muttered, "You picked the wrong people to try and eat. I wonder what roc tastes like?" Lifting their Cerberus Cudgel the witch called forth the barghast spirit and sending it up to sink into the roc. Using their connection to the spirit Janora cast Chill Touch and the roc let out another shriek, this one full of pain rather than rage, as the necrotic magic ate at it from within.
Tear ran around to get line-of-sight and fired the force pistol again, hitting the roc once more. Letting out another cry, the roc began ascending and flying away as fast as it could. Janora was of a mind to chase after it, but given that the giant raven could only fly half as fast, there was no way to catch it. Jilken and Tear also wanted to bring it down, with Tear professing, "Dat lotta meat...we eat real good if we kill it."
Denye tracked the monstrous bird flying north-northeast and was concerned on leaving it to prey on other people, but Vellikar convinced them all that it was better to just let the roc go and continue on their journey. The firbolg druid approached the dunners, who hadn't moved during the entire fight, petrified with fright as they were. Speaking softly, Vellikar began to brush, first one and then other and the beasts slowly responded and began to relax. While the druid was engaged, Jilken went around and gathered up several of the roc's feathers while Janora discovered several leaves sticky with the roc's blood that they collected in a glass vial.
With the dunners calm, but eager to get away in case the roc came back, the party piled once more into the wagon and resumed heading eastward toward Niaton Pass and the Muspati beyond.

Report Date

18 Nov 2022

Primary Location

Scattered Savannah