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07:47, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Chapter 3 - Dark Hearts.

Posted by EruFor group 0
Klale Tsolo
player, 413 posts
Human
Fighter
Thu 27 Aug 2015
at 18:22
  • msg #322

Re: Chapter 3 - Dark Hearts

Klale looks at Kornari.
Kornari
NPC, 19 posts
Proto-drake
Fri 28 Aug 2015
at 12:01
  • msg #323

Re: Chapter 3 - Dark Hearts

Kornari sits in the corner of the room curled up like a cat.  His eyes are closed and he doesn't seem to be paying attention to anything.
Ceven
NPC, 3 posts
Maiar
Geomancer
Fri 28 Aug 2015
at 18:07
  • msg #324

Re: Chapter 3 - Dark Hearts

"There are seven stars that descended to Arda:

Ceven of the Song of Earth who was captured by the dark heart,
Nestael the Healer, whose body is ravaged without death,
Naurel the Song of Fire, who runs with dragon masters,
Lanthir the Song of Water, frozen in the land of the sun,
Gwaelind the Song of Wind, buried in the sky,
Nauthaur the Fool,
Faeruel Taurmaiar, who cannot be corrupted
."

The listing seems to exhaust Ceven as if he used some power to discern what information he learned.  He rubs his head and sits against the table.
Toben Ironsprings
player, 547 posts
Human
Scholar
Fri 28 Aug 2015
at 23:54
  • msg #325

Re: Chapter 3 - Dark Hearts

Tobe instinctively reacts to Ceven, and jumps up from his seat. "Woah, are you ok? You should probably take it easy... that corruption really took a toll on you."

He steps back to evaluate Ceven's condition. "Speaking of that corruption. We won't have Telchar with us forever. Do you know what it is, and how we can fight it?"
Ceven
NPC, 4 posts
Maiar
Geomancer
Sat 29 Aug 2015
at 00:48
  • msg #326

Re: Chapter 3 - Dark Hearts

The Maia waves the scholar off.  "The corruption is gone.  Freeing me and restoring my power allowed me to wipe out what Dúath'gûr tried to do to me.  He will find something else to torment me with, but he lost the one minion he had vested his power in and I have Klale to bolster me.  It will be far long before he tries anything that potent again."

Ceven takes a deep breath.  "No, when you asked my about my siblings, something else took hold and gave me insight into their condition.  Whatever it was drained me for a moment, but I am fine.  It wasn't evil, whatever it was, but I don't know what it was, either."

He stands and eyes Toben for a moment.  "To your question, though.  Should Dúath'gûr attempt to use that corruption again elsewhere, you should have something to combat it.  Here."  Ceven reaches out and touches Toben's forehead with a finger.
Toben Ironsprings
player, 556 posts
Human
Scholar
Sat 29 Aug 2015
at 02:27
  • msg #327

Re: Chapter 3 - Dark Hearts

When Ceven's finger touches Toben's forehead, time almost seems to stop. He can't breath, he can't think, all he can do is absorb the knowledge being transferred to him.

The moment Ceven release his finger, Toben inhales sharply as if a renewed life had been breathed into him. He looks to Ceven in amazement, then looks around the cavern. Pointing to a small crystal shard across from them he says, "May I?"
Klale Tsolo
player, 417 posts
Human
Fighter
Sat 29 Aug 2015
at 04:00
  • msg #328

Re: Chapter 3 - Dark Hearts

Klale's attention goes back to Ceven. Uh, in what ways may I, or can I, bolster you?
Ceven
NPC, 5 posts
Maiar
Geomancer
Sat 29 Aug 2015
at 04:22
  • msg #329

Re: Chapter 3 - Dark Hearts

Ceven nods at Toben.  "Of course.  Take several, just in case."

The Maia turns to Klale.  "Thank you, my friend, but it is already passing.  I will be fine."
Klale Tsolo
player, 418 posts
Human
Fighter
Sat 29 Aug 2015
at 04:27
  • msg #330

Re: Chapter 3 - Dark Hearts

Klale continues Oh, I meant in the future...if such help were useful.
Toben Ironsprings
player, 557 posts
Human
Scholar
Sat 29 Aug 2015
at 22:30
  • msg #331

Re: Chapter 3 - Dark Hearts

Toben smiles and walks to the back of the cave. He takes his time selecting a few choice crystals before stuffing them in his pouch. He walks back to the group and nods to Ceven. "Thank you, I think these will do nicely."

"All that information about your siblings... it seemed very cryptic. What did you mean by 'body is ravaged without death'? Do you know where we can find her?"
Ceven
NPC, 6 posts
Maiar
Geomancer
Sun 30 Aug 2015
at 00:48
  • msg #332

Re: Chapter 3 - Dark Hearts

The Maia smiles at Klale.  "For now, the best thing you can do is find the other fallen stars."

Then he shakes his head.  "Honestly, Toben, I don't recall what I said now.  It is gone from my mind, like a dream lost upon waking too fast.  Whatever gave you that information was trying to help, reaching through me as I cast my thoughts abroad for information on my siblings.  There is something malevolent in the very fabric of the magic of Arda preventing me from sensing them on my own.  Whatever it was that gave you that information protected me...even kept me from connecting to my brothers and sisters in order to shield me from their pain, the corruption that binds them.  I fear that if I cast out for them again, I will be ensnared once more in the corruption, but on a much broader scope than against Dúath'gûr."

He sighs, not weary, but in looking ahead at the journey before all of you.  "I am sorry I cannot be of more help.  All I can tell you is that when we came to Arda, we weren't meant to fall, we were meant to descend.  Something powerful struck us during our entry into this world and so we fell.  Yet our fall was not in darkness, but with the light of our nature as Maiar.  Many had to have seen us and can guide you to where the others landed.  That is all I can say for sure."
Klale Tsolo
player, 419 posts
Human
Fighter
Sun 30 Aug 2015
at 03:57
  • msg #333

Re: Chapter 3 - Dark Hearts

Then we'd best take our leave to go our ways...some of us to trust that we'll find our way. May the earth uphold us, water refresh us, air sustain us, and fire befriend us. Kornari, what are your plans?
Kornari
NPC, 20 posts
Proto-drake
Mon 31 Aug 2015
at 01:14
  • msg #334

Re: Chapter 3 - Dark Hearts

Kornari opens his eyes.  He seems a bit groggy, even for a dragon-kin.  "I'm coming with you."  There is no bluster, no arrogance in his voice, just a matter-of-fact statement full of what would be exhaustion in a human voice.  In a drake, its hard to tell.
Klale Tsolo
player, 420 posts
Human
Fighter
Mon 31 Aug 2015
at 02:19
  • msg #335

Re: Chapter 3 - Dark Hearts

Glad to have you Klale says. When this is over, may we all meet and share tales and laughter.
Toben Ironsprings
player, 558 posts
Human
Scholar
Mon 31 Aug 2015
at 02:33
  • msg #336

Re: Chapter 3 - Dark Hearts

Toben strokes his chin as he thinks about the message Ceven passed on to them. He grabs his journal and scribbles for a moment. Once done, he recites Ceven's original message back to him. "I'm not entirely sure what it all means yet, but I may have a lead as to what direction we can start looking."

He walks over to the table and takes a seat again. He sighs heavily in remembrance. "I came from a small village nestled between the union of an iron-ore mountain and a fresh water spring that ran from it. The night the stars fell was the same night my village, Iron Springs, was destroyed. One passed directly over head actually. It was probably the most brilliant thing I had ever seen up to that moment. Hours later, a torrent of rock sliding down from the mountain buried everything... everyone. Somehow, I was the only one to survive. After everything we have come to know so far, maybe whatever thing caused the Maiar to fall also woke something up within that mountain. Something big enough to bring part of it down."

Toben looks down and away, then clears his throat in an attempt to regain composure. "Anyway, if I recall the trajectory of that star correctly then it wasn't Ceven. It was one of the other six. It's thin, but it's something..."
Phineas Highwood
player, 224 posts
Mon 31 Aug 2015
at 12:45
  • msg #337

Re: Chapter 3 - Dark Hearts

Phineas hoists himself to his feet. "Cevan, I'm delighted that you are free. No creature should be imprisoned in the way you were, and the fact that we had the privilege of being an infinitesimal part of your emancipation does my heart no end of good. But now, it appears, the time for us to part is upon us. Does anybody else here have any ideas about where the other stars might have landed in addition to Toben's? If not, it seems we have but one direction to go."

He begins putting his things in order, readying himself for the next leg of their travels.
Klale Tsolo
player, 421 posts
Human
Fighter
Mon 31 Aug 2015
at 22:10
  • msg #338

Re: Chapter 3 - Dark Hearts

Toben leads, we follow.
Telchar
NPC, 38 posts
Gonnhirrim
Artificer
Tue 1 Sep 2015
at 03:33
  • msg #339

Re: Chapter 3 - Dark Hearts

"I might have one other lead for ya, lads.  The reference t' th' dragon lords can only be north o' th' Lonely Mountain.  In th' Withered Heath, maybe beyond."
Toben Ironsprings
player, 559 posts
Human
Scholar
Tue 1 Sep 2015
at 04:11
  • msg #340

Re: Chapter 3 - Dark Hearts

Toben's ears perk up. "The Withered Heath, eh?" He pulls the weathered map from his travel pack and rolls it out over the table.

He points to a small speck east of the turtle shaped body of water. "That is where Iron Springs used to be. The star was falling due west from there, but it's trajectory was far to low to make it over the mountains that Moria sits beneath. So the star I saw is likely going to be somewhere on a line between where we just were in Moria and the sea of Rhun." He sighs, "That's a pretty long stretch though, and that huge forest runs right in between."

He looks up at Telchar, "Could you point out where the Withered Heath is? Maybe that would be a little closer..."

Map references here:
1) http://5thagedivergent.wikia.c...e_Duchies_of_Man.jpg
2) http://5thagedivergent.wikia.c...i/File:World_map.jpg

Telchar
NPC, 39 posts
Gonnhirrim
Artificer
Tue 1 Sep 2015
at 18:21
  • msg #341

Re: Chapter 3 - Dark Hearts

"Aye.  This here," he follows the map north of Mordun, "is th' forest o' Mirkwood.  Just east o' th' northern most portion o' Mirkwood is Erebor, th' Lonely Mountain, where my kinfolk live.  Th' range o' mountains to th' north are th' Grey Mountains.  Within in them -- see here where they split? -- is an area known as th' Withered Heath.  It's vast and mostly empty, but in th' ancient days, when Smaug th' Golden took Erebor for himself, 'twas a land o' dragons and drakes like our friend Kornari here.  If there still be dragon lords, this would be a place t' start looking for them."
Toben Ironsprings
player, 560 posts
Human
Scholar
Wed 2 Sep 2015
at 03:05
  • msg #342

Re: Chapter 3 - Dark Hearts

As Telchar shows everyone the points of interest, Toben quickly annotates the map. He looks up and smiles, "That's great information."

He steps back to take it all in for a moment. "What do you all think about this idea. We can all travel back to Moria together, which would help ensure Ceven and the others get their safely plus it's a great start for our search eastward towards Mirkwood. If the search for the star that flew over Iron Springs turns up with nothing, we could always turn northward towards the Withered Heath."
Klale Tsolo
player, 422 posts
Human
Fighter
Wed 2 Sep 2015
at 03:18
  • msg #343

Re: Chapter 3 - Dark Hearts

Good. Remember there's an army headed north, and there may be complications with the hunters on the west side of the river.
Ano
player, 277 posts
Human Monk
AC16(FF13, T16) HP 44/44
Wed 2 Sep 2015
at 03:33
  • msg #344

Re: Chapter 3 - Dark Hearts

"Sounds like a good a plan as any.  Let us hope the other Maiar share a resilience similar to Ceven."
Toben Ironsprings
player, 561 posts
Human
Scholar
Wed 2 Sep 2015
at 03:34
  • msg #345

Re: Chapter 3 - Dark Hearts

Toben nods. "That's right. All the more reason to make sure they get to Moria safely."
Eru
GM, 329 posts
Wed 2 Sep 2015
at 16:49
  • msg #346

Re: Chapter 3 - Dark Hearts

Decisions made and plans laid, the group leaves the mountain.  Ceven uses his impressive powers to close up his cavern and hide it away from those who might seek entrance.  Only those who have been there before will know where to look for the entrance.

One surprising addition to the group is Amath and two of his Lim Orchoth.  They will follow Ceven and the Gonhirrim back down into Moria to fight against the Valaraukar.

Middle Earth remains peaceful throughout the journey north, but there is an edge to it know.  Scents in the air, a kind of electricity that makes hair stand on end, gives the feeling of the oppressive stillness before a storm.  Something is about to happen, something significant.

North of the sharp hills and valleys Amath refers to as Emyn Muil, the group splits.  Ceven, Ok, the Lim Orchoth, and two of the Gonhirrim travel west toward the Misty Mountains.  Following Toben's clues, the rest head east toward the Sea of Rhun: Ano, Klale, Phineas, Toben, Kornari, Saris, and Xar.

GM: Please move forward in Chapter 4.
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