Matha is impressed at the entire scene, and rushes forward, stooped-back and wild-haired, to meet Darratheir.

'Sir Darratheir, what an honour to meet you. I had heard Baelamohn had been vanquished, and had rejoiced, but I never expected to get a chance to kiss the hand that dealt that blow. You must tell me of the battle some time'. She somewhat awkwardly tries to kiss his hand, but she's so excited her lips are too dry so she just sort of brrhes it against her cheek.

'These red dragons your men are fighting', she points up. 'Are they sent by Tiamat? Do you know how they got here? Can we help you defeat them in any way?' Though it seems Darratheir's angelic host have the matter fully under control.

To Zog, Matha ignores Xog's hand and leans in for an affectionate cuddle instead. 'There is nothing to forgive. You have accepted me in your group and allowed me to help you, and gave me the chace to earn your respect. I cannot explain to you how special this is to an old woman who thought she would die alone in the back of nowhere. I will always have your back, even when we don't see exactly eye to eye.' As she speaks, she looks around to the rest of the group, including everyone in her words.

For the first time in years, Martha feel likes a person with a future – with a meaning. With a destiny.

But she keeps one wary eye on those red dragons, omens of darkness to come.

Sonliin surveyed the battle, happy to see that the horde of angelic beings appear to deal with the trio of dragons as the Dragonborn joined the group

"Pleased to meet you Darratheir" he said "I am Sonliin from the Temple of Ioun. It appears that the defenders have well enough in hand. If we go up to join them, they might mistake us as coming to the dragons aid, although, I am also curious as to why they showed here."

"However, I also fear that Tiamat is on to us and time is of the essence. We had better save the tales of glory until after we we meet my Mistress." he said, flicking an eye to the battle in the sky.

When Harald greeted him, Darratheir simply nodded the head as Martha was soon keeping all his attention. By mere reflex, he quickly removed his hand when she took it and did something that felt weird to him. He also took a step backward to keep more distance with the group.

"My lady, I will be more than happy to narrate you the hunt that lead to the destruction of this evil that tried to corrupt the world." When she mentioned the dragons, he looked over his shoulder to see the raging battle that was taking place in the sky. "You are right, these dragons have been sent by Tiamat. Elminster is afraid that they plan to invade this plane, this was just a warning. As for the angels, they are not with me. They might be the guards of this place."

All the time he was speaking, he was taking the best cautions to avoid showing himself, hiding behind his burned bear skin. You could only distinguish his facial features and his eyes that were sometimes reflecting enough light to be visible.

He then turned to Sonliin when he started to speak. "I'm please to meet you as well, Sonllin of the Temple of Ioun. I would be honored to meet your Mistress. As you said, time is a luxury we can't afford at the moment. Please, be our guide."

'Sonliin, we should hurry to meet Ioun and see how we can assist in repelling Tiamat's agents. I fear Tiamat knows that your mistress holds the key to her defeat. Your mistress may be in great danger.'


13:16, Today: Martha rolled 36 using 1d20+25 with rolls of 11.  Insight check: are the angels winning? Or do they require our help to defeat the dragons before we move on?
This message was last edited by the player at 13:17, Tue 09 Feb 2016.

Agon nodded in satisfaction as the angels did in the dragons. Good was still fighting back, but there would be more attacks to come.

"Well met, Darrathier. I am Agon the Archmage. It's good that Ioun and the last servants of Bahamut are working together now.  This is no time to let dissension or fear slow a response against evil. We will all do what is necessary." Agon was grim, looking for vengeance.

"The sooner we get a move on, the sooner we can pit an end tae yon Tiamat."

Harald waved his arms to gather the group up.  "And maybe there'll be a wee jar or two besides."

Zog flinches a bit as Martha cuddles him. He smiles politely, though, and bows when she releases him. "Thank you."



Zog nods. "Agreed. Lead on, Darratheir." He walks up to Harald and asks quietly, "Jar of what, exactly?"

A troop of seven angels fly up to the party. They bow as one and draw their swords in salute of Darratheir.

"Hail, servant of Ioun," they say in one voice. "Your arrival has been expected. Come with us."

They lead the party forward off the beach into Hestavar. White sand gives way to sculpted marble and manicured cobblestone as the heroes make their way into the city proper. The vast majority of the city lies above them on the many earthmotes that rise to the heavens. Even at ground level, the bustle of an active, thriving metropolis envelops the characters. The open, airy streets, lined with beautiful homes and businesses of all descriptions, are thronged with exalted going about their business and troops of angels going about their gods’ business. Despite all the activity, there remains a sense of peace and contentment that no mortal city could duplicate.

etting anywhere in a massive, bustling city built on hundreds of independent and sometimes mobile floating chunks of rock is a daunting task for outsiders. Fortunately for the heroes, the natives of Hestavar take great pride in their ability to navigate the confusing three-dimensional maze and especially as they have eager and commissioned guides like their angel guides, the party is able to lead them on.

Kerith-Ald occupies the entirety of its own earthmote. The majority of the many structures on the earthmote are given over to the magic academy, university, and vast library that make the tiny island of rock perhaps the greatest center of knowledge that exists. The Swan Tower for which the complex is named rises above all the others and is the private resting place and retreat of the goddess Ioun. The fabulous library of the Swan Tower is far too large to be contained within any single structure on the earthmote; it is spread among several adjoining buildings. The storied halls are overflowing with every manner of tome, scroll, and loose paper imag- inable, all meticulously cataloged and filed on one of the countless shelves or in some other receptacle by a veritable army of scribes and librarians. The knowledge contained within the library is freely available to all who seek it, but those that abuse this hospitality quickly find themselves expelled and barred from reentry by the hosts of Ioun.

Here, standing and waiting for the party, is an amazing being. Resplendant in a whilte robe with a long, flowing white beard, this is clearly Athearsauriv, exarch of Ioun, who has taken a deva form for purposes of speaking with you.

"I send you greetings on behalf of our lady, Darratheir, and greeting to your allies. Erathis, Ioun, and Pelor have withdrawn from Hestavar to attend a meeting of gods to discuss Tiamat's actions. They wished that I would convey to you her desire that you use whatever resources you find here to aid you in your task. You will find that each of you will be able to find knowledge here, each in your own way."

And what he speaks is true--this place contains wonderful inventions to let even the illiterate learn things that they seek to learn!

Skill challenge! You are researching more information about this flesh-covered arrow here. You can use the obvious skills--Arcana, History, Religion. You can also use CHA skills to find someone to get help. And, if you describe it cleverly, you can use physical skills to aid the others as well. A well-thought-out or well-written description of what you are doing will lower the DC for your check.

What do you do?

"Anyone care to join me in the library?" Sonliin asked the group. "We can each conduct our research and later meet to pool everything together. This library is vast so do not be afraid to asked one of the researchers for assistance." he said

Sonliin headed to the library, searching the tomes to see if if there is a mention of the flesh-covered arrow

History 40, Religion 31, Arcana 28, Nature 33 (Just to make sure all bases are covered)
21:16, Tue 09 Feb: Secret Roll: Sonliin rolled 33 using 1d20+23 with rolls of 10.  Nature research +23 for good measure.
21:16, Tue 09 Feb: Secret Roll: Sonliin rolled 28 using 1d20+24 with rolls of 4.  Arcana Research +24.
21:15, Tue 09 Feb: Secret Roll: Sonliin rolled 31 using 1d20+24 with rolls of 7.  Religion research +24.
21:15, Tue 09 Feb: Secret Roll: Sonliin rolled 40 using 1d20+24 with rolls of 16.  History research +24.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:52, Thu 11 Feb 2016.

Martha follows Sonnlin into the library, relieved to get out of the serene grandeur of the city. She has learned to distrust ordered and obedient societies; they make her skin crawl.

'I have two ideas', she declares to the team and Athearsauriv. 'If Tiamat suspects Ioun is the key to her undoing, it would be just like her to send spies into the library to conduct her own research on the topic. She likes to be prepared, and she has an extensive network of servants on every plane.' Martha speaks from experience. 'I'd like to look through your records of all the book requests and topics perused that may relate to Tiamat or ancient artefacts over the last two years, if that is possible'.

In such an ordered place, surely a clerk keeps a list of things like that.

'Secondly, there is a possibility that the mention of this artefact is in a religious text - I'm thinking specifically of the 'Hierographology of Greyhawk', and the 'Whisperings of the Mystic Ondko Oboekiya of Vorel', both of which contain amongs the earliest references to Tiamat. If I could locate an early edition of those in this library I could read through them and see if I find anything useful.'

15:54, Today: Martha rolled 23,36 using d20+21,d20+21 with rolls of 2,15.  Religion check; History check.

EDIT: Spend BENNIE rerolling my Religion check;
08:56, Today: Martha rolled 41 using 1d20+21 with rolls of 20.  Spending a bennie (history roll). GOT A CRIT!!!!
This message was last edited by the player at 08:56, Thu 11 Feb 2016.

Agon enjoyed the respect given to him by the citizens of Kerith-Ald. This was his kind of place, devoted entirely to the single purpose of knowledge.

"Those appear to be sound plans, Martha and Sonlin." He patted the package of papers he had taken from Irfelujhar's lab. "I have something undoubtedly not in the Great Library. A plan for killing a god, produced over a 1000 years by one of the most skilled and wicked arcanists in existence.  I will study these papers, to learn how we may turn Tiamat's weapons against her."

Speaking with the library staff, Agon arranged for access to the most secure and warded study carrel in the whole library.  He added his own magical protections of a double runed circle in silver dust to keep strangers out and the danger in, and then squared his shoulders and opened the lich's notes.

OOC: Spent a benny, Arcana +43
This message was last edited by the player at 16:31, Wed 10 Feb 2016.

As the angels were approaching the group, Darratheir turned to face them. In return to their greetings, he bowed at them and he followed them when they invited the group to take the direction of the city. It was the first time the Dragonborn came to this plane and he was impressed by what he could see. Despite the existence of constructions, the nature seemed to be well preserved by the inhabitants and it helped him feel more comfortable, even when being inside the city walls.

When he recognize Athearsauriv, Darratheir knelt before her, his head lowered. "It's a honor to meet you, Athearsauriv. Your hospitality is incommensurate with what I have been used to. May you pardon the offense my simple presence do to this grand place."

This said, he stood up and in a sweeping move, he opened his arms wide, removing the bear skin he used to hide himself since the beginning. Standing 7-feet tall, he looked even more impressive now that his muscle structure was visible. It was also now clear why he was hiding under this skin. His body, from the head to his feet, was covered with multiple large scalds, testimonies of one of the worst night of his childhood. He was repellent and looked out of place in this library.

The vision could have been worse if he wasn't wearing clothes to hide most of his body. Covering his chest and his legs down to the knee was a Stalkerhide Armor giving you an oppressive feeling. A closer look could let you put your finger on the origin of this feeling: an unsettling screaming face was etched on the leather.
Hanging to his belt, you could perceive a bone mask just as much disturbing as it was carved in bone and representing a grieving, tearing figure. You didn't noticed the mask at first as it was partially covered by the somber mantle that the Dragonborn was wearing on his shoulders, adding to the heavy atmosphere the Barbarian was drawing.
These troubling piece of gear where completed with more mundane parts as Darratheir was also wearing large Iron Armbands coming with a pair of armored gloves and a pair of boots that seemed to help him walk faster than usual.

His head still lowered, he put his mantle's hood to hide the most of his it, letting appear only his face as he raised it and he turned toward the rest of the group. "Elminster told me you were looking for information about an artifact. What is it and how can I help you in your quest ?" he then asked with a monotonic voice.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:48, Thu 11 Feb 2016.

'Agon that sounds fascinating!' Martha looks up from the library records, thrilled at the prospect. 'If you don't mind, I would love to study those papers also. I've learned a thing or two about gods over the years, and might be able to assist'.

Gromley is only half listening to the others, as he zips around on his floating disk. Instead of looking through the books, he heads right for anyone who looks like they work here. If they are female and attractive would be a bonus as well.

"Dear Lady, is this place your area of expertise? I am dreadfully sorry to be a bother-but I was hoping to get some help looking for a topic of intrest! I would be more than happy to make sure your time is not wasted in return for any help you might offer..." He said, letting his smooth voice, good looks, and bright teeth do the work for him.

OOC-
14:40, Today: Gromley Underhill rolled 46 using 1d20+27 with rolls of 19.  Spending a bennie. Diplomacy.

“Well, Ah’m no’ the most edicated, ye ken.  But Ah know ma way aroond a library an’ Ah might just be able tae spot onything aboot creatures o’ the Abyss an’ that.”

Harald did not sound too confident but he was quite willing to do piece work, finding volumes, fetching and carrying.


02:10, Today: Harald Gaptooth rolled 29 using 1d20+17 with rolls of 12.  bennie.
02:09, Today: Harald Gaptooth rolled 18 using 1d20+17 with rolls of 1.  Dungeoneering.

Zog pulls Darratheir aside and fills him in on what the angel told them in Sigil. "So, basically, if you want to help me or Agon climb up and get some books and such, we're looking for information about this bone arrow. Just don't mention it to a lot of people."

He then springs into action, joining Gromley in the buttering up of the staff, praising and sweet-talking them while concealing the purpose behind his questions about a "bone-arrow of Io." He knows enough about the topic to be mildly useful to Agon or Martha, but mostly gets Agon or Martha what they need. He asks Darratheir to help fetch the books and do anything physically demanding.

CHA skill rocking, assisting Agon or Martha whoever needs it more.

08:56, Today: Zog the Faceless rolled 43,42,21 using 1d20+25,1d20+22,1d20+19 with rolls of 18,20,2.  Diplomacy, Bluff, Arcana (assisting Agon).

Martha, typically, has managed to rub up the library clerks by recommending a different numbering system for the books, based on a hierarchical classification she developed for Tiamat's Dark Library of Strife. Zog's intervention comes just in the nick of time. 'Thanks Zog'.

Darratheir, you can assume that Zog answered your questions. Go ahead and make a skill check appropriate to helping these guys do their research.

"Thank you, Martha, but this is something I need to do alone. These papers are drenched in an unimaginable evil, and it would be best that the corruption be as contained as possible." Agon knew that there was steel in the unassuming old woman, but he didn't as yet know quite how deep it ran.  And at times, the wizardly habits of secrecy took over.

'Oh well' Martha shrugged innocently. But she resolves to win Agon's trust and allow her to see those papers in due course, whatever it takes. She wants to deliver the killing blow, drive the knife deep into her former mentor, and twist it. 'Back to my clerk lists with me then.'

Darratheir was not a scholar, that was certain. He never attended a school and he learned a few things about life the hard way, in the wild. The hard way, this is how he learned that Varness' berries weren't edible to most of the creatures. After three days being dying, vomiting and bleeding all the time, he was finally saved by a young human cleric who learned him that dried goblin stomach reduce to powder was the only antidote to the toxin present in the berries. That was a lesson he would never forget.

He was probably not the best to find the good books or parchment, but nonetheless, he could still help his own way. The Dragonborn was tough and he could perform many acrobatics someone could have thought impossible to do. He then joined Harald to help him retrieve the books catching his attention. When a volume was placed too high in the shelves, Darratheir used his powerful legs to jump here and there, sometime even wall-jumping to reach a better position. Used to this kind of move, he managed to be almost quiet but his behavior was drawing attention toward him. However, he didn't paid attention to all the repressing gazes taking on him. He was what he was, a creature from the wild and he couldn't restrain his habit.
He was even making light of the situation as he grinned at Harald every time he was getting back on terra firma with a new paper in hands.

15:30, Today: Darratheir Burnedbear rolled 35,26,35 using 1d20+20,1d20+22,1d20+17 with rolls of 15,4,18.  Acrobatics, Athletics, Perception (Assisting Harald).

Sonliin, already in the good graces of the citizens of this plane and adept in the ways of knowledge, is the first to discover some information about this mysterious arrow. Traces of it are found in the obscure history of the Dawn War, when gods fought primordials for control of the Prime Material Plane. The original dragon god Io was cut down during that struggle by the primordial known as the King of Terror. When the sundered halves of the deity fell to the ground, they sprang up as the twin gods Tiamat and Bahamut. A single fragment of Io’s physical form remained separated from the newly birthed gods. This bone seems to match the description of the thing fashioned into an arrow in Amyria’s dreams.

The others had a bit more trouble getting what they wanted. It took all of Gromley and Zog’s charm and finesse to gain access to the right places. In some cases, the books were stored in dizzying heights that Darratheir had tp balance precariously on the tops of ladders just to reach. The items he retrieved were of use to the party, however.

Martha, for her part, uncovered the most interesting next tidbit. There was some contention between the archdevil Asmodeous and the trio of Pelor, Earths and Ioun. Asmodeous, in a prior age, had sought access to Hestavar’s knowledge for his devils and followers. In a show of cooperation characteristic of an earlier age, the three gods granted this, but only with guarantees that Asmodeus and his adherents would treat Hestavar, its environs, and the souls of its inhabitants as strictly off- limits for their usual deviltry. An agreement was reached, which included the securing away of a powerful artifact that was said to be of interest all the gods.

Harald has no such luck, unfortunately. His pursuit of questions pertaining the use of such a weapon turn out to be fruitless.

Agon, though, finally gets a name for the object: the Arrow of Fate. It is a potent weapon against both the primordial and the divine, forged as it was during the upheaval of the Dawn War. As time wore on, claims arose that it was capable of exerting a powerful influence over the forces of life and death. He believes he understands enough about the artifact to make use of it if necessary!

They key questions remain: where is it? And what did the gods do to secure it? And how as a mere mortal to gain access to it?

Critical phase of the skill challenge. Choose your skill use carefully. Use only your best skills in this portion. Note that intellectual skills are not required—social or physical skills can be used. But restrict your roll to your very best skill. As before, excellent descriptions will earn you more attainable DCs

Had they missed anything?  Was there a tit-bit of information hidden in or within the books and parchments gathered together?

Harald stretched out his hands and started to turn the pages, his eyes shifting from page to page.  His fingers stroked the edges, searching for any semi-invisible marginal annotations, for anything that the group may have missed.

Harald was very perceptive for a dwarf but this was probably the most important task he had ever undertaken.  He threw all of himself into the task and even utilised the power of his Phoenix Helm to help.


22:35, Today: Harald Gaptooth rolled 37 using 1d20+27 with rolls of 10.  bennie reroll.
22:35, Today: Harald Gaptooth rolled 32 using 1d20+27 with rolls of 5.  Perception check.

Zog, meanwhile, moved about the library trying to get any little bit of help he could to find information for the others. He also whispered encouragement to the scholarly types to inspire them to greater feats of knowledge.

When in doubt, Zog talks his way through it. With a Benny, Diplomacy of 44.
18:11, Today: Zog the Faceless rolled 44 using 1d20+25 with rolls of 19.  Benny.
18:11, Today: Zog the Faceless rolled 28 using 1d20+25 with rolls of 3.  Diplomacy.

"Actually, my dear lady. Maybe you could help me out with a few things."

Agon set the wards on the chamber, spread and unfurled the first of the notes. "I never thought that you would turn from Tiamat, worldslayer." He said with feigned non-nonchalance. Being so close to the legendary assassin was scary, even for Agon. "Oh yes, I know who you are, Martha, and your works. I'd heard you left the game, but perhaps a score the magnitude of a god brought you back in.

Your motives are your own, of course. Myself, I have always sought knowledge, but now I seek something different... Vengeance on Tiamat. You know something about that, yes?" There was a cold edge in his voice. This was probably not the best time for the Archmage to be studying the notes of a lich alone.

****

Later, recombining their evidence, Agon presented a new line of inquiry. "It seems a reasonably supposition that this Arrow of Fate was sealed away by Asmodeous. He would covet such an item, but be unwilling to use it, knowing that he could only slay one of the gods before an alliance of the others destroyed him. Quite a clever balance of power." Agon stroked his beard. "Divination across the planes, and through whatever wards that protect the Arrow of Fate, is a tricky task, but I believe I can do so, and give an approximate location.  We will require something else that contains the essence of Io.  A true artifact would be best, but I may be able to conjure a substitute from items invested with the essence of Bahamut and Tiamat."

Benny spent. Arcana +43