Session 86 - I Pray the Gods My Soul Hath Blest

General Summary

23rd Planting - contd.

The party took a moment in the central chamber to assess. They had managed to obtain two of the pieces needed to complete the statue but they had also spent two hours in doing so. More worrying was that Jilken, Ell, and Tear had begun to whistle or hum along with the haunting music that filled the echoing crystal halls.
With nothing to do but go on, they headed down the right-hand hall. Checking out the doors to the south, they read For The Blessed and For The Damned. Ell chuckled and pushed open the door for the damned. Similar to the earlier sections, there was a medium-sized rectangular room filled with shades. Doorways beyond led into more halls of glass, all etched with puffy clouds.
It took a bit of time, but the team eventually found the central chamber in which rose a large pink pyramid. "And what the hell is this?" asked Janora, stalking around to take in the whole room.
Rununkle walked up to examine the pyramid and after a moment licked his finger and rubbed it on the stone. Tasting it, he announced, "It's salt, large blocks of a pink salt. Why would anyone built a pyramid of salt?"
Having walked around the pyramid, Janora said, "Probably to make us go inside, there is a entrance over here, but most of us will have to crawl."
"Are there instructions?" asked Ell, "the first two rooms had someone there to tell us what we needed to do."
"Maybe it's in here," suggested Tear from the arched entrance to the pyramid, "I can see some light, but I can't see where it comes from. I can go in and take a look."
"Hold on a moment," said Janora, eyeing one of the walls with disdain. It was a scene of a rocky landscape with devilish figures that seemed to be ripping apart humans, dwarves, and halflings. Spinning, the witch took in the opposite wall which depicted a number of figures walking through large parks while winged beings watched over them. "So," she said, pointing first at one and then the other, "the good place and the bad place." Looking at the third mural across from the pyramid entrance, she added, "Does that make this the material world?"
"I think so," agreed Denye, looking at the large mural of a forest and a lake. The wizard turned to look at the pyramid, "So that would likely make this the Chamber of the Soul."
"Makes sense," said Jilken nodding, "the Bur'an once built such structures as burial places. The body would generally be in the center, preserved as a place for the soul to return when it tired of journeying through the Dreamlands." Chuckling, she added in a proud voice, "the Aiel are much more practical. After the body's water has been reclaimed, the remains are used in the seitch gardens."
"So there is a dead body in there?" asked Ell.
"I haven't felt any sense of dead," said Janroa, shaking her head, "just this damn music that is trying to charm us. I guess you might as well look inside, Tear."
The young goblin nodded and vanished inside as Denye's Alarm spell rang through their ears. Ell cursed as Janora glowered. A moment later, Tear's voice came over the earrings, "No traps, tunnel is short and opens up into a room with a pillows and a pit of glowing coals."
"A sauna?" suggested Denye.
Jilken nodded, "We would use a small cave or a tent on the sands for such things. It was a good way to trance and send oneself on a visit to the Dreamlands."
"As long as they aren't trying to almost kill us so we see our souls," growled Janora as she got down on hands and knees to follow Tear inside. The tunnel was only about 5 ft long with a smooth floor and opening into a domed room with a ringed wall of the same pink blocks in the center and a number of large flat pillows. Within the inner wall was indeed a pit of glowing stones that radiated a steady heat. On the edge of the inner wall there was a gold statue of a smiling bald man sitting cross-legged.
As Janora circled the pit, the others followed, but she and Tear were in the best position to see the glittering gems in the eyes light up and project an image of the same old man. "Welcome to the Chamber of the Soul," the illusion said, "glimpse what lies beyond the Final Door and know that no matter what happens here, this world is not the end. Please, take a seat and calm your mind. Unite breath with heartbeat and find your core."
Tear and Ell sat down almost immediately, the others took a bit more time, hesitating. Janora took off her hat and wiped her forehead before asking, "Is it getting warmer in here?"
"The coals are glowing a bit more," replied Jilken settling down onto one of the cushions with her spear across her lap.
"Wonderful," sighed the witch, "I suppose I won't melt. But I suppose it should be safe enough, this all seems to be illusions."
"We'll see," grumbled Denye, "I have a lot of complex feeling about the afterlife right now. I'll...I'll get into later. Now I have to meditate...this will go great, I'm sure."
"You've got problems with the afterlife," muttered Ell, sounding bitter.
Eventually everyone settled and attempted to regulate their breathing, if not settle their minds as the temperature rose. After a minute or two the statue spit out a stream of water onto the hot stones and heavy clouds of steam billowed out engulfing the party. It smelled of cloves, musk and something sweet. Whatever it was seemed to relax the party and they soon found themselves elsewhere.

---

Jilken found herself on a tall outcropping of rock, but as the clouds separated, she found herself looking over the Fields of Aenorune.In one direction loomed a transformed Seitch Fernis that seemed to glow and expand into other directions over which floated a giant sand fox. The sound of voices raised in song came from behind the Aiel and something about it drew the fighter in that direction.
With a thought she lifted off the ground and began to fly in that direction. As she flew she recognized the song as one of joyous celebration and thanksgiving. Settling down in a field of purple grasses, Jilken recognized the scene before her as the same circle of elders who had named her Ham’a Sorei. As she took her former space between two standing stones, she saw more circles of singing elders expanded outward into a vast plane.
As the song came to an end, the figure across the fire lowered her head and arms. Locking eyes with Jilken, she asked if the Nexus point had been passed. Jilken replied that it was still on the horizon, but she was doing all she could to prepare and asked if there was anything more she could be told to recognize the moment and what must be done. The elder chuckled and said that the Wall falling would be hard to miss, but also told Jilken to seek out the Betrayer, the Titan who ran.

---

Denye found herself standing atop a marble platform in a small circular garden at the tip of an enormous mountain. Marble statues of the seven Birdfolk Amaranthines stood around with the Dawnmother directly in front of the wizard, filled with a bright light that should have hurt Denye’s eyes but didn’t. A little unnerved, Denye slipped out of the grove and got her first good look at the Aerie of Souls, the mountain dropped away below her until it vanished below the cloud deck.
There were a few other, smaller mountain tops visible as well and the air was filled with flying birdfolk. The wizard started to panic a bit before her analytical mind kicked in and she began to think deeper about what she saw. Recognizing the silver thread coming out of her chest as a connection back to her body, she relaxed a bit and decided to enjoy the simulation. Feeling an extra lightness, she spread her wings and launched herself into the air.
This may not have been the first time Denye had flown, but it WAS the first time under her own power and not because of magic. The way the wind moved through her feathers was soothing and for a time the wizard just soared, eventually even finding a stillness of the mind in flight. That quiet was broken sometime later when Denye spotted a break in the clouds and her curiosity drew her in that direction. It was dark below the clouds and so Denye had to get closer.
As she neared, she heard a sound, but other than that it came from the shadowed area she couldn’t make it out. Circling just above the break, the sound came again and this time the wizard recognized it as the howl of a hunting wolf. At the same moment Denye became heavy and no longer supported by her wings began to fall. There was a moment or two of panic, but the wizard cast Feather Fall on herself. As she drifted down into the darkness and shadows, the howls began to increase and multiply, coming from different directions.

---

The witch was no longer wearing a pointed hat or her own clothes, instead she was now dressed in black robes, including a hood and a veil. She recognized it from her earlier visit, but she couldn’t identify the memory, the doors to the Throne Room swung open and Janora automatically began walking forward.
As she approached the throne, the Matron of Ravens acknowledged the witch with an outstretched hand. "You have done well in life, but death is only a transition and there is still work to be done. I will be pleased to welcome you to the ranks of my Handmaidens, but it is not yet your time." With that, the goddess touched Janora on the forehead and she blinked out

---

Ell found himself standing alone on familiar silver sand under a bruise-colored sky, the Desert of Despair. Looking around he saw no sign of rock outcropping and without a direction to go he decided to wait and see what would happen. For a while nothing did, but eventually the wind began to pick up, stirring the sand and occasionally making little dust devils.
As the wind increased and began to pelt the young man, he went to stand, but discovered that his feet and his lower legs had turned to a silvery stone. That was distressing and the young man started to panic a bit as the dust storm continued to whip around him, cutting through his clothes and flesh leaving stinging welts and abrasions. As the petrification moved up his legs and up to his chest he looked around wildly before yelling into the wind, “What do you want?” There was no reply, but as the stone moved up over his chest, Ell began to hear mad laughter in the howling of the winds. He also realized that he could still feel the sand striking the stone of his body.
As the stone traveled up his neck, the laughter changed to a crooning voice that echoed in Ell’s ears. “Mine, mine forever and ever and ever," the Voice whispered as his transformation into stone completed, locking him into a statue. The sand storm around him continued to strike and grind as he realized he would be locked in this form as his form was ground down into new sand.

---

Opening their eyes all of the party found themselves back in their bodies within the salt pyramid. The projection of the man welcomed them back, saying, "May your soul find peace, please enjoy your time within the Hall of Respite." With that, the illusion vanished and several moments later, the statue and stone beneath began to rise.
Denye got unsteadily to her feet and approached the statue carefully. There was a cavity in the stone beneath and the wizard pulled out a small bronze disc. Two lengths of chain were attached at two different points and Denye held it up, "That's the third piece. Are we ready to move on? Is everyone alright?"
Ell barked a bitter laugh, "Not really, but as good as I can I suppose."
"Do we need to take a moment and talk?" asked Denye, concern in her voice.
Ell shook his head as he pushed himself to his feet, "Not right now, let's get this over with. One more room of bullshit to put up with and we then we can be done with this." Tear came over and squeezed Ell's hand comfortingly. The young man squeezed back and offered the goblin a weak smile before gesturing at the exit and saying, "Let's get out of here."
It was a quiet walk back, everyone lost in their own thoughts, but they had gotten well versed in these strange glass halls and quickly made it back to the main hall. Examining the final two doors, one was labeled For the Joyful while the other was labeled For the Downtrodden.
Sighing, Denye pushed open the door for the joyful as it was the closer of the two. The space beyond was like the other sections, but here the walls were carved with swirling waves. When they eventually found the Chamber of the Heart, they found a large set of scales at one end of the room and a large foot wide ruby embedded in the floor on the other side.
Having some idea of what to expect, everyone stepped inside and no one was really surprised when the entrances fused close and the red gem began to glow. An orc in plate mail, holding a shining adamantium shield appeared and looked from side to side before speaking, "Welcome to the Chamber of the Heart, behold the Scales of Burden. Lay down those ties that bind you and seek freedom."
Ell was staring at the shield, recognizing from his research that the golden symbol upon the center, it was the holy symbol of Milani. Janora was not so tongue-tied and asked sharply, "And how exactly would you like us to do that?"
The orc furrowed his brows and turned to look at the witch and said, "You must bring balance to the scale. Place your sacrifice/token within the pan, but be warned the weight of all connections are not the same."
Turning to examine the scale, it was beautiful, made from a blue-green metal and trimmed with moonsilver and rubies. One of the pans was near the floor and held a large metal egg covered in etchings of waves that mirrored the walls. The other pan was just about head-height for the taller members of the party. Across the center point there is a gauge with an arrow on the balance arm, currently pointing at 7.
Denye stared at the scale and bounced her head back and forth a couple of times in thought before saying, "I think we need to give up some sort of token that represents a connection and the strength of that relationship determines the weight."
"He said lay down your burdens," added Janora, "and seek freedom, that sounds like there is an element of severing to this. The question is do we all have to contribute something?"
"I don't think so," replied Denye, somewhat distractedly, "I think we need to get to seven units of whatever, the real question is what the value curve is like." Pulling a much creased letter from one of her pockets, she muttered, "Only one way to find out." Walking up, she leapt and dropped the letter into the waiting dish. Flaring her wings in landing, she turned to stand before the orc paladin. Clasping her hands she said, "My Uncle Lewin was right, I wasn't ready when I left, I wasn't ready for the Avium. I've been like a chick with a flame. I've, I've learned way too much, too quickly. I think I understand why he was upset and scared. I don't want to remove him from my life, but I can't hold on to my anger any longer. It's not doing me any good and I've got to get the bell from him without burning down my home. Now isn't the time to be mad, there are more important things to get done."
As she spoke, the others could see the letter begin to sparkle with red and gold light before vanishing. With audible clicks, the arm of the scale began to move and Denye turned around just as the arrow settled on 4. "That was a close person, even if the hurt is more recent so I'd call that appropriate." She got a thinking face for a moment or two before saying, "You know, I don't feel bitter or angry at him any more, maybe this is actually worth it."
Janora nodded and reached into one of the pockets of her ragged cloak, pulling out a letter of her own. Stepping forward she laid the letter she had just received in Bricollar Falls." Turning to the paladin she said, archly, "I am expected." When nothing happened she sighed and pulled out the first letter she had received from Helena Crowcaller, passed along by a dryad in the Feywild. Opening it, she took a moment to reread it and take in the sharp, angular handwriting of her ancestor. Laying it in the tray, Janora stepped back and folded her arms, turned her head to glare at the paladin over her shoulder.
Once more the letters began to sparkle and vanish into motes of sparkling light. This time however, rather than disappear, the lights hit the witch square in the heart. Janora immediately felt a tugging in her chest and she instantly knew that it was a connection to that same ancestor and it led beyond the door in the central chamber.
She stepped back, arms still crossed as Jilken let out a murmur of excitement. While the others had been doing their thing, the Aiel had been digging through her pack. It seemed that whatever she was searching for was at the very bottom of her pack. What she had pulled out was a bundle of a mottled cream cloth. Shaking it out, it was a set of robes trimmed with bands of copper, bronze, and silver. It was in a cut unlike anything the others have seen, but was clearly Aiel. It had also been clearly ripped down one side.
Jilken looked over to Ell and asked, "Do you mind?"
Ell still was looking shaken and holding hands with Tear. He chuckled and said, "Feel free, maybe it will be enough to finish this off and we can get out of here."
Almost as if his words conjured it, the Alarm spell rang once more through everyone's ears, marking the end of the fourth hour within the Glass Castle. Cursing, Jilken folded the robes and stepping forward placed them on the scale. Turning to the orc, she said, "My mother has always alternated between having no time for me and trying to control my life. She ripped those robes from me when I refused to lay down my arms, when I said I would follow both the path of the Wise and that of the Far Dareis Mai. I have hated her, even cursed her name to the Great Maker, but I no longer need that anger."
Holding up her arms, Jilken looked at the twin tattoos covering the back of both hands. "More than that, I must let it go. She believes in following tradition and that has been important for our people...if she didn't she wouldn't be Grand Matriarch. But if I am to be the Ham'a Sorei I must be the Chooser for all my people. If I was destined to lead the seitches into a new way, of course I would question the way things have always been. If she had not stripped me, I would not have traveled beyond the Three-Fold Lands to this water-fat wonderland."
Again the robes sparkled with arcane light and vanished as the Aiel warrior spoke. When she finished the balance bar began to move once more, finally equalizing with both pans at the same height. When the movement completed the egg cracked along four hidden seams and fell open to reveal a statue of a dwarf, holding the handle to a hammer.
Jilken moved forward and picked up the statue and held it out to the others. They were all a little startled when the orc paladin said, "May your heart be ever light and whole, please enjoy your time within the Halls of Respite." With that the illusion vanished and the doorways appeared once more.
"We need to move," said Janora, heading down the hall, "we're halfway through the night and we haven't found either the Bell or my ancestor."
"Hold on a second," called Jilken, "I need to shove all of this back into my pack." The Aiel just laid the bag on its side and began sweeping everything in. It didn't take more than a few moments and navigating the halls once more returned to the main hall and from there the central chamber.
The party quickly reassembled the gong and the frame and the hammer head onto the statue. Placing first the frame and then the statue into the holes in the plinth. There was a soft glow and the dwarf swung his hammer and a loud ringing came from the gong. The large face in the doors smiled and said, "Welcome to the Halls of Respite, may you find peace within these walls, body and soul."
With that the face melted back into the doors and they swung open, revealing...another hallway with a set of stairs leading up to another set of open double doors. Jilken led the way up the stairs but held out an arm to stop anyone from stepping through. Squinting her eyes and tilting her head she asked, "Hey Denye, can you take a look at this? It looks like there is a shimmer of some sort across the doorway and I don't trust anything in this place."
"Certainly," replied the Corva wizard as she moved up to stand in front of the door. "You are right," said Denye, "there is a spell of some sort over the entrance. Now, let's see what kind of spell." Pulling a pearl out of component pouch she held it to her forehead and cast Detect Magic. The entire castle rang with powerful magic and it took the wizard a moment or two to push that song to the back of her mind. Focusing on the door in front of her, there was a spellweave that glowed with yellow light and rang with the tones of a conjuration spell.
Janora had moved up beside her as well and looked over the spell as well, "I'm not sensing any bad juju from it. And the hall beyond looks empty, I didn't bring Dispel Magic today, did you, Denye?"
The wizard shook her head, "Not today, I studied assuming we would have a fight. This is some sort of conjuration spell. I...I think it's a gate of some kind. We should be alright if we all go together quickly, maybe we should hold hands as well." That seemed like a good idea and linking up with the others, Denye held her breath and closed her eyes, before stepping through, the others following behind.
Denye took several steps forward before she opened her eyes. Looking around, she was in what looked like the same hall, it stretched into the distance and there seemed to be doors on either side every 100 ft or so. Looking behind her, the wizard found that she was standing alone. Over the earrings, she heard Ell's slightly panicked voice, "Where is everyone? Do these things still work?"
"I'm here," replied Denye, "standing in the hall of doors, but I'm alone."
Jilken added, "I'm seeing the same thing. Could we all be in the same place but just invisible to each other?"
"I don't think so," said Denye thoughtfully, "It would more likely think that we each were sent to our own version, but it's all within the larger demi-plane of the castle so the earrings still work."
The feeling in her chest had been drawing her forward, down the hall and Janora had already started moving and so was the first to see that each door bore a name. "There is an easy way to tell," said Janora, speaking for the first time, "each of the doors have a name on them. What is the name on the first door on the left? Mine says Zeva Twobow."
Tear called, "Mine says Ringur Bouldershield."
"This door says Starseed k’Chona," shared Ell.
"Mine says Sardan Shehral," added Denye, "so I think that answers the question. Do you suppose they all meet up again somewhere?"
"Only thing to do is move forward," said Jilken, "if they don't we'll figure something else out. We still haven't faced anything that was a real threat."
"Both the Bell and my ancestor are down the hall," said Janora, already walking in that direction, "at least for me. I don't have a way to get back out so the only way is forward."
"The doors are locked," said Tear, "at least the few I've tried. I could try my lockpicks."
"That's probably not a good idea," replied Denye.
"I agree," said Ell, "you might release something and you wouldn't have anybody to help you."
"I gots my pistols," protested the goblin, "but you got a point, Boss."
As the party walked, they noted the various names on the doors such as Lurth Fireforge, Tiffan Ruggler, or Tazzo Bronzescale. It was hard to tell from just names, but it seemed as if there was a wide variety of races represented and stretched over a long time period.
The halls stretched on and on, after about 10 minutes of walking, Janora came to a sharp halt as the energy in her chest swung to the right. Turning her head, Janora had to do a double-take when she saw that the door was marked Helena Crowcaller. The witch was suddenly glad that she was alone and gulped once or twice before brushing herself down and checking her hair before reaching for the handle.
It turned beneath her hand and Janora pushed it open. She paused as her breath caught in her throat. The room beyond was 10x10 and contained a single chair with a woman, wearing a purple pointed hat, seated in it. The family resemblance was strong and for a moment, Janora thought it was her mother, Teresa, if she had not been taken so soon. But no, Mama didn't have pointed ears and neither did her grandmother. The woman was staring at the wall with a blank look and a vacant smile on her face, but she does appear to be breathing. Janora took a moment to wedge something under the door to keep it open.

---

Singing to herself and trying to ignore the music that continued to tease at the mind, Jilken spotted a door with her own name written upon it. Shrugging to herself, the Aiel tried the handle and found it turned easily under her hand. Pushing it open she saw an impossible sight, the door opened into the sun-brightened sight of Token'eska, the view as if she was stepping out of the library, the sound of the nearby waterfall quite loud.
But it was a Token'eska reborn. The city had been cleared and rebuilt, more than that it had grown. As Jilken watched at the threshold, she saw many of her own people on the streets, but there were almost as many Bur'an and even dwarves, humans, and orcs. Still hesitant, Jilken lingered at the door watching and was slightly startled when another Jilken stepped into view. This duplicate was the same age, but she was dressed in beautiful leathers, with perfect hair and makeup, and carried herself with a comfortable sense of power and authority.
Smiling, she bowed to the real Jilken and said, "Welcome home Chief of Chiefs, your people will be glad that you are here to rule them. I'm sure that your harem will be most pleased as well, but come we shall have a feast of celebration."
"I suppose I could," said Jilken, "but only for a moment, I need to get on with my job."
As Jilken put one foot across the threshold, the other Janora smiled wider and nodded, "You will stay."
"No," corrected the Aiel archer, "I said I will step in for a moment, but I have work to do and no wish to be trapped in the castle of illusions." As she spoke, she brought the second foot across the threshold and moved fully past the doorway. The doppelganger lunged forward to grab Jilken by the arm as if to drag her in and out of the way as the door started to swing closed.
Jilken was already wary and at the motion, leapt back across the threshold and seemingly out of reach as the door slammed shut. Over the link she warned, "I just found a door with my name on it so of course I opened it. It was an offering of a dream, a chance to achieve my potential status without doing the work necessary to earn it. When I refused to stay, it tried to pull me and lock the door behind me." After a moment she added, "I think that's the trap of these halls, all these doors must belong to people lost in the dreaming."
As Jilken was saying this, Ell, walking down his hallway spotted a door with his name on it. He stared at it for a long moment or two, but shook his head and kept walking down the hall. As he walked on he began to sing one of the hymns for Mama Weeper that Tear had taught him and prayed he would once more find his friends.

---

Janora also heard this warning, but her mind was occupied with other thoughts. Reaching into her cloak she removed a waterskin, filled with pure water from the elemental portal in Token'eska. Dipping a hand into another pocket, she pulled out a small cup and poured in some of the blessed water. Recapping the waterskin, it vanished into a pocket as the witch bowed her head and offered a prayer to both the Raven Queen and Huntokar, asking that this water wash away clouded vision and return this ancestor to the here and now, at least for a time.
Stepping closer to the elder witch, Janora reached down and placed the cup in Helena's hands. She helped Helena lift her hands to bring the cup to her lips. The witch noticed as she did, her ancestor was wearing a large ring carved with an Oroborous. There was also a large silver string around both finger and ring and tied with a very complicated knot. As Janora watched, that string burst into a purple flame and by the time Helena had finished the water, sense had returned to her eyes.
"Thank you," whispered the elder witch, taking in Janora. Her voice growing stronger as she spoke, Helena went on, "Good, you've come. And my spell worked...or perhaps it was yours. That doesn't matter, you are here and bearing the mantle of the Raven Queen, good, good." Slipping the ring off her finger, Helena held it up, "This is what you have come for, my mother's ring."
Janora knelt down and placed her hands around Helena's without taking the ring quite yet. Looking at Helena she asked, "Your ending was one of the greatest mysteries of our family. How can I know this is real?"
"This is perhaps one of the only real moments in this place." said the elder witch, "I am Helena Crowcaller and my daughters were Asha and Maura Crowcaller. My mother was Nora Crowcaller, the witch who helped the loup-garou find peace and control before founding the town of Baymoon. That is why you are here after all, her spell is starting to fail, yes?"
Janora nodded, "We are in fact having the worst trouble right now. Did you help your mother, can you tell me more about the spell she cast? I've got things under a sort of control but it's not sustainable."
"I was not there, I was born a year or so after the village was founded, but I know it was complicated and pulled from all the disciplines my mother knew. But that is why you must take the ring. Huntokar gave me a vision that it would have been lost in time and offered a solution. She showed me that the spell would fade with the Weave and break when put to the strain. But another witch was coming, one strong enough to recast the spell or find a way to grant the loup-garou actual freedom. That witch would be coming here in search of one of the Shiners Bells and if I came to the Citadel you would find me, and here you are. You look like her, you know."
The non sequitur made Janora start to blush but she controlled it and asked, "Why do I need the ring? Is this what helped our founder cast the spell
Helena explained, "If you take it to the cottage and wear it, the mirror slave will respond to you. You know the mirror I'm talking about?" At Janora's nod she went on, "Stand in front of it and say, 'Mirror, mirror who holds a djinn, Return to me that which lies within.' There is a hidden cache where you will find my mother's notes. The ring will also open the box under the front steps...I assume you've found that. It holds the physical artifact of the spell."
Janora nodded again and finally took the ring. Looking at it she said, "I've seen the box and the face in the mirror. Why don't you come with me?"
Helena shook her head, "If I step outside, I will die. I have been here too long and too much time has passed in the real world. It's alright. I knew my fate when my companions and I came here and I have made my peace. It is so peaceful and happy, the Moonlit King keeps us all entertained."
"I could," began Janora, but she was interrupted as the ringing of the Alarm spell marked the end of the fifth hour within the castle. Before the witch could continue, in a voice already becoming dreamy, Helena said, "Look to the throne, there you will find the bell. The king might let you take it for the right..."
Janora had looked back out at the hall, but said, "That's very good to know as well, thank you. I could send you on as well. Wouldn't you rather spend eternity with Huntokar and your sisters and descendents." But it was already clearly too late, Helena's clarity had passed and she was once more staring vacantly at the wall.
Janora nods sadly and reaches into a third pocket. This time she pulls out a square of shale. Breaking it in half, the witch placed one half in Helena's lap saying, "If you ever need anything, you can find your way to me through that." Turning to go, Janora removed the wedge and almost got a concussion as the door slammed closed angrily, pushing her back out into the hall. Dusting herself off she headed down the hall again in search of an end to this place.
Denye had found her door shortly after the Alarm spell rang, but she just kept walking, saying, "Nope this place is too full of illusions and trickery. We've got shit to do and I'm tired of the mind games." Tear, likewise ignored his door, not even looking at it again as he walked past.
Janora too eventually found a door with her name on it. Feeling curious, the witch opened it slightly and peered inside. What she saw was a sunny field of rolling grass surrounded by trees. She was assaulted by the sounds of joyous barking as a pack of dogs, easily 100 in number, bounded out of the trees chasing several dozen squirrels. Grinning broadly Janora watched for several moments but eventually closed the door and turned away. "Dog paradise," she muttered, "yeah that checks out."
Eventually all of them found the other end of the hall and a final door. Opening it and stepping through, the party found themselves reunited, everyone stepping from a different door but all within seconds of each other. The room they had stepped into was large, doors lined three of the walls, apparently leading to a multitude of halls but the fourth wall only contained a single set of ornate double doors. As the party watched those double doors opened and a voice called, "Please, do come in."
Over the link, Janora scoffed, "Finally, someone with some brains in their head."
"Just let me do the talking," replied Ell, "with luck we can get out of here without a fight."
Stepping through the large doors, the party themselves in what could only be described as a throne room. The walls were covered in abstract designs of both gold and moonsilver. There was also a grassy hill in the center of the room surrounded by arbors of deep-purple/black grapes and at the top of the hill was a throne made of twisting vines with blue stems and silver and pale yellow leaves. Standing in front of the throne was a tall, thin elf with alabaster skin and blue hair. He was wearing a tricorn hat with a long, trailing ribbon and an elegant overcoat, silver and blue with black embroidery, showing phases of the moon .
As they entered, the elf had begun a polite clap and offered the party a wide smile. "My my, what a very nice surprise," he said, reclaiming his seat, "yes, quite a surprise, you are all quite strong willed to have made it this far." Snapping his fingers, he added, "Ah yes, I should introduce myself since we are going to be such good friends. I am the Moonlit King, welcome to my domain."
Before Ell could say anything, Janora held up a hand, "You can stop right there, why do you think we're going to be good friends?"
"Well my dear," began the King, but he was cut off by Denye, "Look, we just want the bell hanging behind you. If you hand it over, we won't kill you. I don't have time for this, my head hurts and it's too noisy in here. I just want to get the bell and leave."
For some reason this sent the Moonlit King into a fit of mad laughter for 30 seconds before he instantly switched it off, "Oh yes, you all will be fun. But if it's too noisy, that I can do something about, I would not wish you to be uncomfortable." He picked up his diamond and moonsilver walking stick and tapped it on the ground. The music vanished and everyone in the party suddenly felt clear headed again.
"I hope that is better," said the Moonlit King, leaning back into the throne, "Perhaps shadow waltzes are an acquired taste, but I do want everyone in my collection to feel happy and at ease." As he said those final words, waves of pleasure and bliss washed over the party.
That only seemed to deepen Janora's scowl and with careful pronunciation and scornful clarity asked, "What exactly do you mean by collection? We are here for the bell and then we will leave."
"Oh my dear, you are so persistent," replied the King, with a wink for Janora, "well I see that you are collecting the bells, I suppose I can let you carry it for a while...at least until you forget all about them. But leaving, no, no, no, that simply will not do, you all are my new friends. Now, come, come, we must," and here his voice dropped into something dark and fathomless, "get to know one another better."
"All right, I think that's enough," said Denye over the mental link, "Who's starting this? Am I starting this?"
Apparently the answer was Jilken because she leapt up the small hill and struck the archfey twice with her sparking spear blade before whipping around and attempting a strike to the head. The Moonlit King had started to go translucent as soon as Jilken leapt and while the first attack cut into his coat and struck him in the side, the other two simply passed through his spectral form.
Janora also responded to Denye's question by touching her holy symbol and whispering a prayer to the Raven Queen, casting Bless on the entire party. Denye clicked her beak in excitement and muttered, "Time for something a little stronger than moonlight." Throwing her talons into the air the wizard cast Dawn, sculpting it to exclude Jilken and Tear, she centered it on the Moonlit King. Janora muttered again and a short obsidian blade flew from her hand to slam into the archfey's shoulder. Hissing, the King lifted his walking stick and tried to hit Jilken with it, but she easily blocked it with her spear.
Tear ran to one side and pulled out his elemental pistol. Spinning the wheel he set it to Radiant damage and fired off two shots at the Moonlit King with one hitting him in the shin. Ell backed toward the doorway, throwing a trio of Eldritch Blasts at the King. The archfey knocked the first away with his cane, but the other two struck him in the chest. Hissing angrily, he used his stick once more to hit Jilken in the thigh, and the Aiel wasn't fast enough to evade.
Snarling, Jilken returned the favor, slamming her spear into his shoulder before pulling it out and slashing it down his arm. "You could just surrender you know," she said mockingly, "I can't imagine you've been hurt this badly in quite a while, give us the bell and let us go or...you can die, it's your choice really."
The Moonlit King stood with a laugh, "You've never met my wife." He took a moment to adjust his hat, before looking around, "Now you have broken hospitality, if this is what thou wilt, on your own heads be it." Standing at the center of the Dawn spell, the Moonlit King whistled a string of notes, somehow managing to harmonize with himself. The light cast long shadows behind each of the party members and in response to the archfey's music they rose up and tried to grab onto each of the adventurers.
Only Denye and Jilken were quick enough to escape the dark shapes grapple, although they still touched them and where the shadow fell, there was a chill that seemed to sap vitality. Those who were drawn into an embrace felt that chill go to their heart and it seemed to steal strength making them physically weaker. With Jilken occupied, the Moonlit King leapt away, over the arbors and out of the Dawn spell.
With a flick of her talons, Denye moved the Dawn spell onto the Moonlit King once more callng, "You can run, but you can't esacpe the light." Pulling a vial out of a pocket she moved slightly and poured some liquid onto the ground. Replacing it, she pulled out a small box and sprinkled a white powder over the oily substance. With a sharp vinegary smell it began to foam up quickly. Denye looked up and in a stern voice said, "I think you need to sit down, get in the corner."
With a blast, the foam exploded and sent a wall of force to pick up the archfey and throw him against the wall. The Moonlit King pushed him up and snarled, "You should have taken my offer." Pointing a finger at Denye the fey lord sent a bolt of moonlight at her, but the wizard casually Counterspelled it.
Leaving Denye and others to focus on the King, Janora focused on the throne. Over the link she said, "Jilken, I'm going to wither that throne. Can you catch the bell...and catch it so the bell doesn't ring? It would be bad if that happened." Jilken nodded and turned her attention to watch the bell ready to catch it by the clapper. Lifting her hands, the witch muttered a curse and cast Blight on the throne causing the vines to blacken and crumble releasing the artifact. The Aiel fighter leapt forward and caught the bell without the slightest sound.
Tear gulped a healing potion and swayed from the shadow attack. Steeling himself he fired two shots at the Moonlit King, but both missed. Annoyed, he backed up over towards Janora. The Moonlit King was staring daggers at Denye but suddenly broke into mad laughter again, before pointing a finger at Ell.
This time the wizard couldn't Counterspell it and it hit Ell squarely in the chest, knocking him to the floor, unconscious. Swearing, Jilken leapt down from the ruined throne and handed the bell off to Janora distractedly. Pulling around her heavy crossbow, she filled the bolt with arcane energy before firing it at the archfey, but it hit the wall above his head and exploded. Annoyed, the Aiel warrior switched bows and fired off a second bolt, but it too missed.
The Moonlit King broke eye contact long enough to take in Ell falling to the ground. Now he turned back to Denye and mouthed the words, "Your turn." Pointing his finger at the wizard, he sent another Moonbolt and hit Denye in the face. She managed to hold onto her Dawn spell and shook it off, although there was still a ringing in her ears.
Glaring at the archfey, Denye yelled, "You'll have to do better than that."
The Moonlit King clicked his tongue and said, "As you wish." Lifting his walking stick, he waved it in a circle. As he did so a large black hole opened above Janora, Denye, and others. A bitter cold wind came from the hole as did the smell of ozone and something acidic. Before anything else appeared in it, Janora used her Counterspell to dispel the portal. Cursing, the Moonlit King vanished and reappeared on the other side of the room.
Denye just shook her head and sent the Dawn light chasing him. Shocking this time it seemed to be enough and his form started to crumple. As he did, the Moonlit King's voice echoed through the space, "You may have defeated that form, but you cannot kill me and you have only an hour or so until dawn. Good luck getting out of my halls." The voice broke up into mad laughter before falling silent.
Janora immediately moved over and cast Cure Wounds on the unconscious warlock, rousing him and giving him enough strength to run. Looking around she said, "Let's get out of here."
"Hold on a second," said Jilken, who had just seen something sparkling in what remained of the throne. Climbing the hill, she reached into the mass of withered vines and pulled out a number of rings and a thin leather scroll case. Tucking them into a pocket, she rejoined the others, "We can look at them later, when we don't have a time limit."
As if on cue, the Alarm spell rang once more, marking the end of hour seven. Cursing Janora led the way quickly out of the throne room. Something had changed in the antechamber. Where before there were a dozen or so doors leading out of the room, now there was only one.
"Let's not look a gift horse in the mouth," muttered Ell before opening the door and ushering people through. They stayed together this time and it was a straight shot from there, through the lower floor and out to the entrance hall. As the party stepped out onto the balcony they saw that there were five figures standing in front of the doors...which were visibly closing, if ever so slowly. The five figures were the party, but the perfect, poised, and polished image of what each of the adventurers compared themselves too.

Character(s) interacted with

Moonlit King - Archfey, a strange, mad figure

Report Date

29 Dec 2023