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The Telling of the Three - Part Two.

Posted by DM HeathFor group 0
DM Heath
GM, 5188 posts
Fri 16 May 2014
at 00:04
  • msg #1

The Telling of the Three - Part Two

Etag is dying.  You see that now.  He says, "The Black Curse will take me.  There is no possible way for me to have the healing done now."  His eyes droop a moment.  His lips are dark with congealed blood, as are his fingertips.  His eyes seem shadowy and bloodshot.  "I must speak of things before I die.  You must survive."

He coughs and then looks at the bloody sputum in his hand.  "I have only hours, and the delirium and insanity will rob my brain even before then."

He takes a deep breath.  Speaking only comes with effort.  "I must tell you of the Telling of the Three, and of this mountain, and these lands, and all the changes wrought among them."  He pauses, squinting in pain, and then says, "Changes wrought by you, I think."  He nods toward Borimer and Kahan.  "You wield the Deathbane and the Godslayer.  I knew you would come."

He tries to hold his head up proudly for a moment and says, "My name is Faerl Yorthaeyorn, as I told you.  But I am called 'Etag' because long ago I reversed the gate."

He points toward the chasm.  "I asked you about Tienna, yes?  Your companion Hatchman said you come from the Krusark Kingdom, and King Thresh III sits on the throne.  He said the king was still alive.  But you," he says, pointing to Kahan and Borimer, "indicated the king was dead.  King Krusark, yes?  Your groups, wherever they came together here, did not come from the same Tiennas.  Remember that I told you: 'This is very troubling.  Neither or your stories matches the correct historical account of Tienna at the time of the Kuvlah Tah, which will not take place for another thousand years.  And the fact that your stories do not match each other means the Telling of the Three was true.'  Remember that?"

He points to the sky outside the cave.  "What do you see?"

Squinting, you see a moon rising above the peaked mountains.  "That," Etag says, "is Tienna.  You said it was destroyed, but it isn't.  Not yet.  That event will not occur for another thousand years.  You have traveled from there to here, but also from then to now.  Events now can change the future of Tienna, as you and Hatchman have shown.  But this also means that when I closed the Gates of Time, I was too late.  The changes already came.  They were perhaps inevitable.  I see it in your appearances here.  I see it in the revival of this Black Curse.  I see it in the earthquakes and opening of chasms in the mountain you just traversed.  These are not coincidences.  I came here for a purpose.  To find you.  And warn you."

He begins coughing.  "I need water," he says.  "I need water."  Cough.  "Then I can say more."  He looks at you, but he is becoming weaker, his eyes squinting.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:06, Fri 16 May 2014.
Shapfren Diditlew
player, 128 posts
Fri 16 May 2014
at 00:21
  • msg #2

Re: The Telling of the Three - Part Two

"I only have wine with me." Said didit while shyly offering the skin "please forgive me for being so silly" she added with resignation. But, she thought home is still there and there is hope of it being saved, perhaps even the kingdom could be spared
Borimer
player, 2473 posts
Ac 0 Hp 74/90
Thac0 12 Mvt18"
Fri 16 May 2014
at 01:47
  • msg #3

Re: The Telling of the Three - Part Two

Borimer gives the little man some water from a skin. He had seen death before, and it was usually ugly, but this curse was evil.
Tahldar of Tyrannia
player, 189 posts
Fri 16 May 2014
at 23:29
  • msg #4

Re: The Telling of the Three - Part Two

Tahldar looks at Etag with concern.

We must find this cure and soon! his face says he takes in the man's words and contemplates what they mean.
Kahan Singh
player, 1650 posts
Sat 17 May 2014
at 02:48
  • msg #5

Re: The Telling of the Three - Part Two

Kahan looks on as Etag slowly dies, his insides turning over in frustration at the fact that, even as accomplished as a healer that he was, there was nothing he could do to help his suffering or cure this mystery disease. "Is there anything we can do to help? Where do we find the cure for this plague?" he asks.
DM Heath
GM, 5190 posts
Mon 19 May 2014
at 16:53
  • msg #6

Re: The Telling of the Three - Part Two

Etag gulps the water down.  "It is too late for me with this plague, but I must tell you how to cure it before you all die of it.  But first--"

He stops and coughs.

"This is overwhelming for you all at once, but there are what we call Markers in time beyond which any portal cannot open backwards.  Anything before that Marker is set in stone, you might say.  Except that the Gates of Time allowed the Gods to change even markers.  I was guided to the Gates and closed them, but I was too late.  The changes in the past happened before I could get there, and now are forever in place.  I know his name, the name of the one who started this calamity.  He went through the Gate before me.  His name was Tarimar.  He was an understudy of a wizard, the same wizard who trained me.  That wizard's name is Azaron Ashe.  Ashe is mastering portals of time and space.  He says time and space are inextricably bound.  I do not know how this can be, but it is so."

He coughs again, takes some more water.

"His last experiment, though, resulted in a transfer of magics from Tienna to Allevia.  This upset the balance and continuity of the worlds.  You are probably aware of this in your world.  You have tales of the magic and dragons suddenly disappearing from Tienna.  This was because of Ashe, and that was...was...when was the Marker set?  It was...oh, the times are not clear in my head.  It would have been twenty years ago or so, maybe thirty or forty.  And the last Marker set in place just 8 years ago.  Between the influx of magic in Ashe's experiment and the travel and havoc wrought by Tarimar--whatever he did--the face of Allevia is forever changed.  Ecosystems are unrecognizable in places.  Old plagues are rising again.  Dragons rise from their slumber, and creatures have been called from otherworldly chasms.  There is a desert changed to pure glass, mountains have fallen to valleys, and mists have changed to poison.  Most of the world still remains as it was, but the pockets of destruction are there where the magic came through strongest."

He takes a sip of water.  "Does any of this make sense to you?  You must understand so you know what you must do.  So you can know about the Telling of the Three."
Shae Shadowglen
player, 76 posts
Mon 19 May 2014
at 19:44
  • msg #7

Re: The Telling of the Three - Part Two

Shae sits cross legged next to the drow, intrigued by his story, and listens for more, soaking in the new lore and her new home in a lotus position.
Borimer
player, 2474 posts
Ac 0 Hp 74/90
Thac0 12 Mvt18"
Mon 19 May 2014
at 21:47
  • msg #8

Re: The Telling of the Three - Part Two

Borimer listens to the gnome's story and bites back on a retort about feverish dreams.  His one hand unconsciously grips the Godslayer.
DM Heath
GM, 5192 posts
Tue 20 May 2014
at 00:09
  • msg #9

Re: The Telling of the Three - Part Two

Etag coughs again.  The drow is looking worse by the minute.

"Let me be brief," he says.  "First, this plague will spread unless you find Unther.  He is a gnome in the hamlet of Chikaar, at the base of these mountains.  These gnomes you rescued probably know him and can get you in his good graces if you save them.  Unther knows the ways of old.  The Black Curse originated in these mountains before being eradicated.  Unther knows how to heal it.  Sadly, time is insufficient for me.  But you will all catch it soon, so you must find him before it takes you."

You remember Malissin dying just one or two days ago from the Black Curse.  It has already taken one of your group.

"You must take Unther some Lathia berries, also called 'Earth Berries,' and he knows the spell to cast on them that will cure the disease.  Lathia are plentiful in certain parts of the world, but are scarce around here.  They heal most anything when eaten, but their power does not last long when removed from the branches--10 or maybe 15 minutes.  But if you soak them Earthsilver, it will preserve their power even longer, up to a day.  Earthsilver is that healing water that flows in the land.  It is rarely found together with Lathia, but they are both found within this mountain."

He nods toward the cave entrance, which goes back deep and dark into the mountain.

"There is only one problem.  As you descend, you will not only see the handiwork of many wizards and men, you will see the object of their attention.  A great wyrm is stirring within this mountain.  Your arrival here has disrupted enough to alert his senses to something odd entering the world."

He stops to begin coughing again, his hands now shaking slightly.

"This wyrm, a great dragon, slumbers in a lake of Earthsilver, while Lathia grows on the ledges around him.  This heals him constantly.  Warriors have sought him out, thinking that to kill him and take his scales for use as shields will save them from harm.  Wizards have many theories themselves.  You must pass him to escape this mountain.  It will not be easy.  It has never been done.  Even the giants shun this mountain."

The drow begins breathing heavily and places his hand on his forehead to take a break for a moment.

Then he says, "It will be especially hard to get these gnomes safely through.  Do you understand what must be done?"
Tahldar of Tyrannia
player, 192 posts
Tue 20 May 2014
at 01:03
  • msg #10

Re: The Telling of the Three - Part Two

"I think I understand." Tahldar says in reply.  "I assume we'll have to pass by the worm to reach Unther?  And if we can get by the dragon, bring Unther some berries and survive the plague, what then?  What should we do?" he asks of Etag.

"It would seem we have left the fire raging through Tienna only to find ourselves in a simmering frying pan here in Allevia." he adds wistfully.
DM Heath
GM, 5193 posts
Tue 20 May 2014
at 16:14
  • msg #11

Re: The Telling of the Three - Part Two

He nods slowly.  "Yes, that is where the Telling of the Three comes in.  But first, I am correct that you know Azaron Ashe, right?  He was the one who sent me, but he would not give me your names.  We have been scribing a history of the world and prophecies of the future based on our travels in time and space.  Ashe plans on calling them the Xren Codex, but he insists on having them written in Ancient Allevian so that he cannot stumble upon it himself and read it."

The drow pauses, as if understanding that further explanation is necessary.  "By stumble upon it, I mean that Ashe has been in many places and many times, and has lived longer than any man, elf, drow, or dwarf, supplemented by longevity potions and spells.  He has mastered time and space and all magics related thereto, and overall he intends to do good, though I suspect he wants to eventually be admitted into the pantheon of the gods.  But he does not want his younger self--in the future--to stumble upon things he oughtn't to know.  Not until he is ready.  You have met him and understand his ways, yes?"
Borimer
player, 2475 posts
Ac 0 Hp 74/90
Thac0 12 Mvt18"
Tue 20 May 2014
at 19:58
  • msg #12

Re: The Telling of the Three - Part Two

Borimer nods.  A wyrm...perhaps like the one on Tienna we found near that strange metal house deep in the mountain...
Kahan Singh
player, 1651 posts
Wed 21 May 2014
at 02:45
  • msg #13

Re: The Telling of the Three - Part Two

Kahan listens as Etag relates his story, nodding as he goes on about Ashe. "Yes, we lead Azaron to the Temple of Ashmere so he could translate the Xren Codex with a translator we had to bring with us. He never told us what it said, and we haven't seen him since. Does this wyrm have any weaknesses? Any shortcomings we could exploit?" the priest asks, hoping the elf would know something useful about killing it.
Tahldar of Tyrannia
player, 193 posts
Wed 21 May 2014
at 14:25
  • msg #14

Re: The Telling of the Three - Part Two

"From the sound of it this dragon is going to be impossible to beat with swords and sorcery if it continues to sit in a healing pool.  Many have tried it would seem and all have failed.  However all dragon's share one weakness, they all covet coin and rare treasures.  I suggest we try to bribe it."  Tahldar says in reply to Kahan.

Addressing Etag he adds "Does this wyrm have a proper name?  During my time spent studying at home I learned to speak Draconic.  Perhaps if I address him by his given proper name and speak to him in his native tongue, I may have some luck in winning him to the idea of letting us pass and take a few berries.  In lieu of a gift offering.  It is a pity though we do not have live stock to offer it.  I'm sure an offer of food would go over well."
Shapfren Diditlew
player, 130 posts
Wed 21 May 2014
at 17:56
  • msg #15

Re: The Telling of the Three - Part Two

"I don't know what's scarier. The black death or the wyrm." Said Shapfer "But if it comes to it. I know of a gift we could give to him that might please him"
DM Heath
GM, 5194 posts
Wed 21 May 2014
at 19:09
  • msg #16

Re: The Telling of the Three - Part Two

Etag says, "His name is Ozymandius.  From the tales of the few who have survived, the dragon is quite mad and has no honor or goodness left in it, if there ever was any.  I fear you will have to kill it.  To do so, you will need to draw it away from its healing lake.  I have never been in the mountain, and know little more than what I've said.  I came to these mountains through a different route."

At the end of his words, movement catches your attention, and you look across the fallen bridge to the giants' cave.  The giants have regrouped, and they begin scaling down the mountain.

Etag says, "The giants will not forget your escape, and their pride is great.  They will likely scale this mountain to fight you here, but they will not enter the mountain of Ozymandius.  In any case, their descent and ascent here will take many hours, likely over a day.  You can--"

He pauses in a fit of coughing.

"You can rest here safely for 12 hours, maybe a little more."

He coughs again.  "Give me a few minutes rest, and I will tell you of the Telling of the Three."  His eyes droop closed as he begins to breathe heavily once more.
Borimer
player, 2476 posts
Ac 0 Hp 74/90
Thac0 12 Mvt18"
Wed 21 May 2014
at 19:52
  • msg #17

Re: The Telling of the Three - Part Two

Borimer watches the giants but still finds his thoughts falling back to the mad wrym in the mountain.  "I'll take first watch."
DM Heath
GM, 5195 posts
Wed 21 May 2014
at 20:11
  • msg #18

Re: The Telling of the Three - Part Two

At this point, Etag is very weak and doesn't have much time left.  He will tell you about the Telling of the Three, and that's about all he'll have left in him.

You can make preparations for resting, so whatever you need to do for that, now is a good time to get it squared away.  Then he will awake, handle a few more questions if necessary, and give his last little discourse.
Tahldar of Tyrannia
player, 194 posts
Thu 22 May 2014
at 00:48
  • msg #19

Re: The Telling of the Three - Part Two

Tahldar helps Etag get as comfortable as he can.  Sitting tiredly next to him he says "Where I come from Drow are despised, but here everything is different."

Contemplating asking many questions about the new place he finds himself in, Tahldar instead focuses on the dragon.  "This Ozymandius do you know if wields spells?  And from what I understand they only use one type of breath attack.  It would be useful to know if it is fire, gas, or something else.  We may have protective magic we could use to thwart it."

OOC:  Tahldar is down 5pts.  He will seek a clw healing spell from Kahan before we rest for the day.  Or from someone else if they healing.

Kahan Singh
player, 1652 posts
Thu 22 May 2014
at 02:47
  • msg #20

Re: The Telling of the Three - Part Two

Before resting Kahan will administer his healing NWP on everyone injured. If they still require more healing, he will do so in order of necessity, starting with the most wounded and moving down. "I suggest we try to hamper the giant's efforts of following our tracks when we head off. I know not how to do this, but suggestions are welcome." the priest states, looking around to see who is the most wounded (other than Etag).
Shapfren Diditlew
player, 131 posts
Thu 22 May 2014
at 04:09
  • msg #21

Re: The Telling of the Three - Part Two

"They used to be the protagonists of horror stories back home. I feel bad for feeling bad, but deep down I'm still afraid. And this whole business with the fate of the world and impending doom, with the black death. And the giants and this wyrm."
DM Heath
GM, 5196 posts
Thu 22 May 2014
at 15:36
  • msg #22

Re: The Telling of the Three - Part Two

Etag looks up.  "Yes, you are injured.  There is a pool of Earthsilver down there."  He points deeper into the darkness of the cave.  "This is where I made preparations before coming to find you, and I remember it.  It will heal your wounds before you rest.  As you travel Allevia, you will find that Earthsilver can be found in some caverns and caves, places where the sun and air will not quickly take away its power.  And the healing Lathia, or Earth Berries, are found in the outdoors, growing here or there.  They are only rarely found in caves or places where the sun will not reach.  That is why the lair of Ozymandius is unique.  It has both in the same spot."

He touches his forehead, reaching into memory.  "The name Ozymandius was given to the dragon by the builders of the pyramids many centuries ago.  Because of the deserts of their land, some say that Ozymandius is a blue dragon that came from the deserts and breaths lightning.  Yet there are others who say blue dragons do not reside in mountains, and that it is a green dragon that breathes poisonous gas.  Other rumors say it is a red dragon that has just been tainted by the waters so that its colors have faded, and that it breathes fire.  As you can tell, the reports are inconsistent.  But I believe the more common and reliable reports indicate that the dragon is of a reddish, amber or brownish color, indicating perhaps fire or acid.  Perhaps it is a yellow dragon if it truly originated in the desert.  I simply know rumors, not enough facts to be of help.  It is an ancient dragon, and perhaps knows spells.  No one has denied that."

Etag looks at Kahan.  "You may prepare as you wish for the giants, but they will not go beyond this cave.  They fear Ozymandius and will not proceed further than here.  As long as you are not here when they arrive, you should be safe from them."

He says to Tahldar, "Your world is not so different.  Drow are despised here as well in most places, and with good reason.  But there are a few of us who have broken away for the betterment of this world, and who seek goodness."
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