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12.04.22

Act as you know, and you will never shame me

by Steel Claw

Over good drinks and simple food, we all got caught up with one another's escapades. First to talk? Murg, Milo, and the formidable Gobba-Ghul:
 

The Hunter of the Gobba-Ghul


Murg and attendants of Gobmeister Frumpin, the monarch of New Goblonia, first met in Fumpin's court to discuss the threat. Lt. Ripper accompanied Murg as they went deep into Goblonia's caverns, finding death and despair in the Gobba-Ghul's wake.
 
The fight was epic, and "I cleft it in twain, Abadar as my witness," Murg grinned.
 
And on his return: "For you, my queen!" The cleric of Abadar was welcomed back to his new home as a hero, and the two made as the married do.
 
 

A stolen wish


Back in Bezia, Dannerick turned the conversation back to the missing sword. I had been away for this mishap: the vault of Ibrithil had been broken into, and someone had teleported into the vault to steal Kreethi's sword -- the one that had ordered the giants into their ordnung. That luckblade has some power of the forgotten wish spell.
 
Alexia Ducatti had an investigation underway, and would get back to us within the week. So far, all she know is that some teleports had occurred with incorrect magical tracking attached. They think ledgers have been altered, but any more information than that will take some time.
 
 

Abadar's chosen


 
Back in Bezia, there were some pieces to follow up on:
 
Murg began plans to call a diet of Abadar, in order to vet his ranks for Asmodeus' agents. As his plans were made, Yrna came to him about M'Crush -- the tortle had not improved since his departure from the iron city of Dis. She believed that curses lingered from M'Crush's last fight: a shadowy Dannerick explained that the terrasque Keverria had been this last foe.
 
Ynra erupted, shouting curses in elvish and balling her hands into tight fists. Between her and Murg, we put together notes:
 
Because of M'Crush's status with Eros and Stygia, he has enough of their essence within him to still be tied to those gods of death. They have apparently abandoned the tortle, and that is why he is dying so rapidly. We fear too that if he dies in this way, his soul will be wiped away from any and all worlds.
 
Yrna knows of a ritual, call the Gift of the Father. It comes at a great cost -- the destruction of acres and acres of the living, natural world -- that will trade the lives of the casters for the target's (M'Crush).
 
This is a divine gift that Murg can beseech Abadar for. At time of writing, Abadar was quiet to Murg's prayers.
 

Questions


Dannerick and Theo spoke on his contacts: after discussing, next steps, Dannerick found that he could not speak to any of his theives' fingers -- the sending spell would fail.
 
And, out of the blue, he was summoned to Chult by the end of the week.
 
They discussed the keeper of ledgers of Excellion, someone by the name of Vanaya Neael. They could help Theo with some of M'Crush's writings, and some of the obscure spellbooks he had found on our travels. So far, they had found out the the enchantments laid on the writing were multi-layered and complex; they could be deciphered, with time.
 
The two sought out Vanaya. As they looked for him in the middle quarter, a crossbow bolt whizzed from the upper levels of the complex and assassinated their contact. Dannerick and Theo sprang into action, flying into the apartment to find more traps to spring. The walls of the apartment were covered in gruesome, infernal writings that fit all we had discovered thus far. With some quick feet and a web spell, they caught a crazed and possibly possessed Vanaya.
 

Answers


I sought out Nord, to help me commune with Vrianna. He obliged, and after praying for a time, Vrianna answered.
 
I was shocked, less so than their adherent, but grateful the same. Vrianna confirmed that I had given Dispater some of Vrianna's power, further tying us together. "I ask only that the difficult choices ahead of you, as difficult as they will be, have been set in motion long ago. Know this, and that you must do what you know. Not what is idealized, but do what you can with the knowledge you have. Act in this way, and you will never shame me."
 


 
Similarly, with time, Abadar himself reached out to Murg. He offered his wisdom freely, recommending to his high auditor to offer prayers to Vrianna -- the high god wished his will done on the plane material, but with less visibility.
 
When we all reconvened, we decided one last time to try and commune with the gods. All prayed with their patrons: Murg to Abadar, Nord to Vrianna, Theo to Selune, Dannerick to; even Milo besought the Elemental Primes.
 
All at once Murg and Nord became full of a golden light. Erupting from them, the very visage of Abadar and Vrianna made themselves known on the material plane. We took in the very gods themselves, having chosen these two as their heralds.
 
Eros and Stygia appeared, to converse with Abadar and Vrianna (through Murg and Nord). On our behalf, Abadar argued for M'Crush's life, with Vrianna as witness and testimony. He spoke plainly, and the twin gods of death could do little to argue. "We agree," came the finality.
 
And we all watched, back to reality, as a slow M'Crush began to open his eyes.

Continue reading...

  1. To Bezia: Dangerous & Familiar
    10.22.19
  2. To Waylay Arcadia
    10.29.19
  3. As the Gods Watch
    11.12.19
  4. Recap: Riding the River to Bezia
    12.03.19
  5. Honor Returns to the Redtails
    12.03.19
  6. Honor and Innocence
    12.10.19
  7. What Ends & What Begins
    01.07.20
  8. Night Before the Report
    01.14.20
  9. Adrenaline
    01.28.20
  10. Fairytale's End
    02.11.20
  11. CSI: Abominable Charges
    02.25.20
  12. Stones in the Basement
    03.03.20
  13. Saviors
    03.17.20
  14. A Night To Remember
    03.24.20
  15. The End Draws Near
    03.31.20
  16. Black Reckoning
    04.07.20
  17. Argyle's End
    04.10.20
  18. Two and Two
    04.14.20
  19. Concentration
    04.21.20
  20. The Magic in Winter
    04.28.20
  21. Real, Under, Dark: Indrada
    05.12.20
  22. Puzzling the Way Forward
    05.19.20
  23. The Cold Cases
    05.26.20
  24. Band through the Woods
    06.02.20
  25. Cold Claws of Death
    06.09.20
  26. Another Shot in the Dark
    06.16.20
  27. More To Learn
    06.30.20
  28. The Heart of Varunmund
    07.10.20
  29. Arcane Mishap
    07.14.20
  30. The Treasure of Weave-Steel
    07.21.20
  31. Rolling Bones
    07.28.20
  32. A New Land
    08.04.20
  33. Ice and Storm
    08.11.20
  34. Up Rocks
    08.18.20
  35. At the Top of the World
    09.01.20
  36. Beware the Depths
    09.08.20
  37. Granting Repose
    09.15.20
  38. Trial by Crystal
    09.22.20
  39. Cries of the Pained
    09.29.20
  40. Old Friends
    10.06.20
  41. Watch and Tower
    10.13.20
  42. The Death of a Gate and an Alhoon
    10.20.20
  43. Joy in Many a Reunion
    10.27.20
  44. A New Line of Questioning
    01.05.20
  45. Renewing the Offense
    6th of February, 2022
  46. The Last Vanguard
    02.13.22
  47. Portals
    02.20.22
  48. Heed the Changing Winds
    03.13.22
  49. Champions of the Winds
    03.27.22
  50. The Epicenter of Truth
    04.03.22
  51. It Begins Again
    04.10.22
  52. Stratagem to the Winds
    04.24.22
  53. Wet Cat
    05.01.22
  54. Another Hot Time
    05.15.22
  55. The Aegon Assault
    07.31.22
  56. Unfavorably Familiar
    08.07.22
  57. Cloaked in Red
    09.11.22
  58. Forged After War
    09.18.22
  59. Truthseeking
    10.02.22
  60. Two-Parters
    11.12.22
  61. Blade & Bow, Hammer & Axe
    11.20.22
  62. Faith, Truth, and Peace
    11.27.22
  63. Act as you know, and you will never shame me
    12.04.22
  64. The Stringing of the Bow
    01.08.23
  65. A Clashing of Fangs
    01.15.23
  66. Nleyke [v. To Wish]
    01.29.23

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by 3 Armored Kittens · Prodromos v.1.1 - World Anvil 0.9.15.042 © 2017-2024 [en] | Anvil Time: 14:47, Nov 8 2024