In reply to Boreas Highwind (msg # 305):

A pale green orb appears above Lyriel's head as the stump accepts her offering, completing the set.

One after another, as Drexler looks on, Zuriel and Boreas step onto the stump themselves.  Shortly thereafter, they are pulled downward through the surface, where they vanish from sight.

Drexler looks wistfully at the three who remain, then removes the signet ring Zuriel had given him earlier and offers it to whoever might care to take it.

"Take this with you, in case you encounter another of Cedrik's faithful.  If they are at all like me, it would warm their heart to know they are neither alone nor fully forgotten."

***

Elsewhere

Zuriel and Boreas are greeted by nothing but darkness for a moment, followed by the sensation of falling.  Before long, however, they find themselves standing in the clearing above the vault itself, near the semicircle of withered saplings and the shattered gate of vines.

The orbs of light above their heads have vanished, and the objects both they and their allies selected have been piled neatly near the cavernous maw of the stump -- not far from perch of the stone raven statue.

They are not, however, alone.

"How nice of you to rejoin us," comes the familiar voice of Shaw, who shimmers into existence alongside Charles and Quinn near the stump's opening.

"Tell us about the vault and its wonders," he continues, his eyes caressing the wonders the P.A.R.T.Y. has retrieved.  "We are eager to learn... and to return our share of the treasure to Mi'driel."
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:05, Thu 02 Jan 2014.

Maeve, who is now the P.A.R.T.Y's designated keeper of signet rings, graciously accepts the token from Drexler.

Thank you, Sir Drexler.  We will remember you, and Cedrik.

Maeve steps up onto the stump and awaits teleportation to places unknown.

In reply to Maeve Hassan (msg # 307):

Maeve melds into the stump, and soon finds herself standing near Boreas and Zuriel in the clearing.  Though she has not heard Shaw's words, the body language of the three Bluebands as they make eyes at the treasure is fairly obvious.

Zuriel raises his hand in greeting to the Bluebands, outwardly relaxed and friendly. He is nevertheless on his guard. This might get unpleasant.

"Are you three all right? What happened? You were right behind us and then you disappeared. Where is Lukas?"

He walks over to his chest and opens it.

I'm sure there is something here we can part with. I'd like to remain on good terms with Shaw.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:30, Thu 02 Jan 2014.

Lyriel steps on the stump and finds herself in the clearing with the others. Immediately her eyes are drawn to the Bluebands. Well this doesn't look good.

Her companions seem at ease, but Lyriel knows them all well enough to see that they are all alert, ready for trouble. Zuriel is opening his chest, and while he appears to be meticulously examining the contents she can see him keeping an equally intent eye on the mages. Taking his cue, she walks over to her treasure and crouches down, opening the latch and looking curiously within.

Zuriel flashes Lyriel a smile as she opens her own chest. An entirely unexpected quip comes to mind as she bends down to examine her treasure. I wonder why she picked a chest as well, when she already has an impressive one of her own, chuckles a voice in his mind that sounded vaguely like Giles. Zuriel nearly laughs out loud, and he glances over involuntarily at Lyriel, unable to resist noticing how her chain armor is filled out in certain locations. His eyes quickly dart away, and he fights back a blush, getting his inappropriate outburst under control.

For shame, Zuriel. For shame. Highly discourteous...but not untrue.. The paladin suppresses a smile, looking back into his chest to see what lay within.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:15, Thu 02 Jan 2014.

In reply to Zuriel Silendril (msg # 311):

Keef takes one last look around the chamber, then bounds onto the stump and sinks into it.

When he reappears in the clearing, he rushes to his new prize and picks it up, holding it carefully aloft then swinging it this way and that.

It's only then that he notices Shaw and the others.  Keef lowers the sword carefully and looks around with some degree of concern.

Chubbs shakes his head and rolls his beady eyes at the newcomers.

In reply to Keef (msg # 312):

Zuriel flings open the lid of his chest to reveal a cloud of dust.  Coughing and waving a hand over his face until it fades, he peers intently at its contents:

• a bejeweled chalice
• roughly 2,000 in gold pieces
• a lumpy burlap sack

Lyriel does the same, stepping backward to avoid the cloud of dust that took it upon itself to clear the paladin's sinuses.  Her chest contains the following:

• a charm bracelet
• roughly 5,000 in gold pieces
• a large spool of thick linen
• a form-fitting, sleeveless dress (black with silver lining)

The Bluebands crowd closer to the treasure, clearly curious, though only Shaw answers Zuriel's question.

"He's still seeking enlightenment down below," he says, shrugging.  "He'll be there a while yet.  We tried to follow you through the door, but ended up falling from the stone bridge.  Woke up here and decided to wait in case you got dumped out, too."

He grins and gestures to the pile of loot.

"I presume you made it to the other side?"

Zuriel looks through his chest, intrigued. He reaches into the burlap sack, wondering if it contained anything. He waves Boreas over. "Any of this look magical to you?" he asks, gesturing to his and Lyriel's treasure.

Speaking to Shaw, he says "I'm glad you are all unharmed then. All who pass the trial are allowed to claim a stake of the treasure within. There is an entire vault full of riches still buried underground. If you like, we can provide guidance should you wish to prove yourself worthy to the Vault's guardians and stake your claim to the treasure. In the meantime, I see no reason why we can't share some of the bounty we've claimed, as a token of our goodwill."

The paladin's subtle influences on the words 'some' and 'goodwill' are polite and friendly, but leave no room to interpretation. Sharing will be on the party's terms.

[Private to Lyriel Vesper: As Lyriel takes out the magnificent dress, Zuriel catches her eyes and a faint blush colors his cheeks. Lyriel doesn't need divination to read his thoughts; the paladin clearly recognizes full well how stunning the dress would look on her.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:44, Fri 03 Jan 2014.

Well met, Maeve says politely but without much warmth.  She still hadn't forgotten that these mages had used their powers to bind her to their will, albeit briefly.

In reply to Maeve Hassan (msg # 315):

While the others chat and look over the contents of the chests, Keef straps on his new sword.  His old sword, the rusted thing taken what seems like ages ago, he sets aside.  His old waster, however, he wraps into his bedroll and keeps.

Keef then marches, sword at his side and staff in hand, to guard the chests and his companions if need be.

In reply to Keef (msg # 316):

"A trinket or two from this cache, in addition to instructions on how to access the vaults ourselves, would be more than sufficiently generous," Shaw responds, rubbing his hands together with anticipation.

[Private to Boreas Highwind: Everything in the chests is magical except for the money and the burlap sack.]

After some fiddling, Zuriel withdraws a strange wooden box from the sack.  It looks like someone took two cigar boxes and slapped them together, then added a latch to keep it shut.  The wood is polished maple and completely smooth, though unadorned with any sort of identifying markings.

Boreas nods to Zuriel.  Nearly all of it is, save the money and the bags.

He addresses the bluebands.

I have no idea whether the vault will present the same challenges to you that it did to us, but I can tell you what we did...

Boreas describes the party's trek into the vault, save for the specifics of the riddles and their fear-visions.

Don't know how you'll convince the guardian to let you through.  But if you can, he'll give you your choice of a few items.  Hope the knowledge you gain will help you serve the greater good.  Meantime, what are we going to do about Lukas?

In reply to Boreas Highwind (msg # 318):

"As an independent city, Mi'driel enjoys its own code of laws," Shaw answers.  "I should think it appropriate for us to bring him home for trial, seeing as he masterminded a bloody revolution with the help of... whatever Giles ended up being."

Charles and Quinn nod their agreement, and Shaw continues.

"So that's that.  We'll take another run through the vault, collect our share of the treasure, and drag Lukas home in chains.  You five are free to go about your business, and everyone's happy.  Sound good?"

It certainly seems reasonable to me, Maeve says, relieved to have been spared the betrayal that she had been expecting from Shaw and the others.

I wish you the best of luck navigating the vault.  May you find knowledge and treasure that will assist you in your cause.  She sticks out a hand to solidify the deal.

Zuriel clears his throat. "I think we should also take efforts to identify the magical items we've uncovered to determine a fair distribution of wealth. And...I would like to put Trish to rest..."

What little is left of her, at least...

The paladin shudders involuntarily. "And I think we should do something for Giles. Not the monster he became, but the hero he once was."

Zuriel studies Shaw's face carefully. "I know we originally intended for Lukas to be tried by the wild elves. But if you promise me that he will receive a fair trial, with neither weight in or against his favor, I would acquiesce to turning the jurisdiction over to Mid'riel."

Would save us the trouble of having to deal with him. And I'm fairly certain he will get his just rewards.

In reply to Zuriel Silendril (msg # 321):

Keef brightens.

Yeah, that's a great idea!  I mean, he was turned INTO a monster BY a monster... but he wasn't one maybe...

Keef starts to pick through the findings from the chests and the vault and to sort them into piles.  Chubbs assists by hopping onto everything and either disapproving of Keef's selections or else being bored by them.

The staff... I think it needs a name... I'm working on that... it can help us learn about these things I think, some of them anyway... and it doesn't even need to take off any clothes!  Which should I have it study?

For reasons known only to him, Chubbs hops over onto a single (but very large) gold coin and sits on it, apparently claiming his stake of the treasure.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:28, Fri 03 Jan 2014.

Maeve wonders why in the world the removal of clothes would help to identify any of their newly-acquired items.

Well, I would be much obliged if the staff could tell me something about this breastplate.  And your sword, certainly. It looks as if there are some intriguing items in the chests as well.

Zuriel looks at the staff mistrustfully but keeps his peace. "In order to determine how to allocate the treasure we should really identify everything..."

He fiddles with the box, trying to see if it would open.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:43, Fri 03 Jan 2014.

Lyriel has been spending the past several minutes of the discussion quietly gazing at the dress, running her hands through the silky fabricate with barely contained glee. It's all she can manage to not stand up and hold it against herself to examine the fit. At last she speaks up to add her piece. You said this was magic too?

I don't even think it needs alterations!
This message was last edited by the player at 15:39, Fri 03 Jan 2014.

Boreas examines it for a moment, then nods.

Indeed.  Most everything we found, save the gold and gems, is.

He turns to the paladin.

I agree, Zuriel.  While the Giles we knew was a monster, there was a time before he became one.  We should honor that man.

After a brief pause, taking in the faces of his comrades, Boreas brightens.

But yes, the treasure.  The bard will be able to help us determine the nature of some of these.  I think Maeve's right, though.  The breastplate and the sword should at least be identified.

And we need to find a couple of objects that we can give to our friends from Mi'driel for study.  Things we won't need in our travels.

In reply to Lyriel Vesper (msg # 325):

Shaw grasps Maeve's outstretched hand and shakes it, then turns to Zuriel.

"You have my word, it will be a fair trial.  Thank you."

He then cracks his knuckles and takes a step back, motioning toward Keef absently.

"By all means, lad, reveal the secrets of these treasures.  Then we can divvy the spoils, conduct your memorial services, and take our respective leave -- you onward to wherever you're heading, and we to try our hands once more at the vault."

Zuriel fiddles with the box while Shaw is speaking, eventually snapping open the latch with an obvious CLICK.  The wooden halves split open like a suitcase, revealing two ancient-looking books -- one tucked into either side.

Huh.   A magic dress.  Never heard of such a thing.  I've seen dresses that looked as if they stayed *on* with magic, but never one that actually was magical. Better add that to the pile, Lyriel.

In reply to DM (msg # 327):

Keef beams at the P.A.R.T.Y.  He grasps the hilt of his new sword in one knukly hand.

THIS is Flametongue!  It breathes fire!  Seeing that nobody is suitably impressed he barges on, Well, it's not in my book, but I'm SURE it has a history... I'll just need to find it.

Keef steps over to Maeve and taps the breastplate with the Everstaff.  Red energy flows from the staff along the armor and flicks to Keef's eyes.

Interesting... this breastplate is only... partially here.  I mean, it's HERE, but it's also THERE... at this point, Keef doesn't even need to look up to know that nobody is following what he says.  It's incorporeal, at least partly.  It will protect against incorporeal creatures, but they can also touch it... move it, tap on it, maybe sit on it I guess

He repeats the process with the dress.

Aha!  Keef picks up the dress and gives it a shake.  The beautiful black fabric wavers and turns into a normal boring shirt of chain.  He gives it another shake and once again the skimpy dress is in his hands.  It's just a glammer... I mean not JUST, but just it is!  Only seeing spells will be able to tell that it's armor.

Keef is distracted from identifying the next item by the familiar smell of old leather and parchment as the box is opened...
This message was last edited by the player at 16:17, Fri 03 Jan 2014.

Noticing Keef's interest, he tilts the titles of the books - turns out there are four of them - in Keef's direction. "Do you recognize any of these languages? Boreas, this first one here looks to be in Sylvan. Maeve, this one here is Minotaur."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:40, Fri 03 Jan 2014.