Session 140 - The Halls of Light

General Summary

20^th Ilvin (First Month of Winter) to 1^st of Morgat (Third Month of Winter) 721TR

The story so far

Jolanta and her trusty bodyguard Blaine are agents of the mysterious Order of the White Hand, hunting down unscrupulous mages and covering up magical mishaps.

Continuation of the Session 138 - Burnt Offerings.

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Location - City of Cherafir in the Kingdom of Melderyn.

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Part 1 - Mission 6 - Learn to Master the Lore of the Ancients

Ceredig Yerwold, art by Artbreeder

Jolanta's next assignment is to learn more about the mysterious Earthmaster and how to transport herself through their Godstones. Viran Ceredig Yerwold has arranged for Jolanta to study with the illustrious master illusionist Viran illustrious Ueld at the mysterious Earthmaster building of Telumar, the site famous for creating spectacular light shows. Jolanta will accompany one of Viran Lepridis's apprentices, who is visiting to collect supplies, through the Godstone to meet with Viran Lepridis.

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Location - Earthmaster Site of Telumar near the Kingdom of Melderyn.

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Part 2 - Meet the Illusionists

Lepridis, Art by Donatoarts

Viran Lepridis Ueld is an elderly but spry wizard with five enthusiastic apprentices. They show Jolanta though explored parts of the Earthmaster site, including the main chamber with the reflecting pool and the pylons that generate light when the Godstone is activated or during a thunderstorm. Jolanta spends weeks studying with Viran Lepridis's apprentices and learns much of Earthmaster's magical theory as well as some illusionary tricks. She also takes part in several magical experiments investigating the mysterious room filled with lethal floating colorful bubbles.

In her free time, Jolanta, accompanied by Blaine, decides to explore the ruins by themselves. Out of a passageway damaged by the recent earthquake, two strange creatures emerge. The Cromulloch, a rare form of Ivashu, that are also known as the Umber Lurkers. These six-foot-long, multi-legged, insect-like monsters equipped with hard chitin armor and large mandibles are hungry and immediately attack. Fortunately, they prove little match for Jolanta's disintegration magic.

Part 3 - The Experiment

Early next month, the researchers note that a storm is brewing, and Viran Lepridis expects a spectacular light show from the building's strange pylons. Jolanta and another apprentice are assigned duty at one of these. As the storm starts, the pylon burst into light. Jolanta activates her psionic ability of Negation and enters the luminescence. Her power holds back the worst of the radiant energy, and she can now observe the magical processes and interactions.

Soon she notices a structure starting to form. A hive-like shape starts to grow from apparently nothing. Within small specks of movement can be seen. Jolanta acts fast blasting the hive, but too late a Swarm of Fireflies emerge. They attempt to overwhelm Jolanta by flying through her magical barrier. She fights back, just maintaining her concentration, turning the Fireflies and their hives to dust with her disintegration magic. She has confirmed the theory that radiant energy from the pylons creates these annoying pests. An interesting discovery.

Part 4 - A More Epic Discovery

Jolanta continues her studies with Viran Lepridis and shows interest in the reflection pool in the main chamber. She intensely studies it and performs a series of experiments. After weeks of investigation, she develops a hypothesis as to how it operates.

Jolanta's hypothesis

• The reflecting pool acts as an uncontrolled teleportation device similar to a Godstone.
• An object fully immersed in the pool has an approximate 30% probability of being transported to another location at dawn and dusk; however, strangely, this will not happen if it is directly viewed by a sentient creature.
• An "after image" of the object will appear in the crystal archway above the Earthmaster building. These impressions appear to fade after an undermined period of time.

The Apprentice, Art by Artbreeder

Viran Lepridis is impressed with Jolanta's analytical mind, and she receives much praise and his recommendation. However, Jolanta can't help but notice that Lepridis's favorite apprentice and attractive young woman, and likely lover, has turned abruptly cold and unfriendly. Jealousy or something else? Jolanta successfully utilizes the Telumar's Godstone and returns to the City of Cherafir.

Events at Telumar continue seperately in Session 074 - Brains and Bubbles.

NPC Interactions

Viran Ceredig Yerwold.

Lepridis - Master Illusionist and his 5 apprentices.

Challenges Overcome

Destroyed 2 Cromulloch.

Destroyed 2 Fireflies Swarms.

Made 2 Arcane Discoveries.

Rewards

Jolanta gains the Boon of Telumar and adds several Illusion Spells to her spellbook.

Related Reports

The Earthmasters.

Earthmaster Sites.

Godstones.

Swarm of Fireflies.

Player Character Status

Jolanta - Human - Level 5 Evoker.

Campaign

Agents of the White Hand - Campaign Complete

Protagonists

Jolanta

Report Date

08 Apr 2021

Secondary Location

City of Cherafir

NPC Companion

Blaine

Jolanta's loyal and often drunk bodyguard.

Blaine, art by Artur Sadlos

Boon of Telumar

One of the chambers in Telumar contains a silver maze-like pattern embedded in the amber stone floor. By walking this pattern, a minor magical/psionic boon may be imprinted on a character.

Activation

The character must make a DC 15 Intelligent Check. If successful, they will be imprinted with the Boon of Telumar. If they roll a natural 1, their minds will be susceptible to some magics. They will suffer Disadvantage on saving throw against any illusion or light-based spells and effects for d20 days.

Benefit

The character can add d4 to the DC of any illusion or light spell they cast. They can use this 3 three times before the imprint is lost; however, the boon will automatically be regained by walking the maze.