Selvin was fairly quiet, other than his chanting and meditating, channeling his will and funneling his connection to the outer planes with his magic. It took a full minute to complete but suddenly there was burst of blue and purple light, and then Selvin was enveloped inside a strange, otherworldly creature.

Like a suit of armor, he wears a being from the Outer Planes, protecting him and granting him other abilities. The being resembles a cross between a tiger and a centaur, the lower body that of a tiger more than seven feet long, before the tail and looks to weigh hundreds of pounds. Electricity seems to crackle along it at times, with fur that is striped white, black and blue. The upper body is a humanoid cat person, with a massively-muscled body and arms, sharp fangs and claws, eyes slitted like a cat's, gills on its neck, and on its back are wings like a bat. Around its waist is what looks like a belt, a thick leather affair decorated with huge metal buckles, though very large and odd-shaped to fit it.

From inside Selvin spoke, but the creature also spoke at the same time, giving it an odd echoing flavor. "Okay. I feel whole again." He seemed MUCH more at ease suddenly. He looked at the new person. "Sorry, I wasn't listening. Did you fill this guy in?"

In reply to Lucky Six-Fingers (msg # 17):

Laoris shakes her head at Lucky's lockpicks.  "Not that kinda lock sweetie.  Come see..."

Inside the room is a large chapel.  There's a really dead guy laying on the floor, but none of the others seem to pay him any mind Lucky.  So you are probably safe to ignore him too.

In the middle of the chapel is an altar.

The altar is five sided.  At four of the points are symbols.  The fifth is blank other then the remains of dried blood stains.

Sacrafices were made here, Laoris points at the blank point.

The symbols are

An axe dripping blood.

A dragon's wing.

A woman turned away from the viewer, clutching a dagger in one hand.

A circle surrounding three intertwined triangles, all of whom are pointed downwards.

Laoris points at the circle.  That's a symbol for Zon-Kuthon.  I don't know about the others.

Laoris leans on the altar and gestures at the symbols.  "It's probably a mystical one.  I'm guessing we need to place an object associated with the symbols in each spot."

Chandanar points at the glowy tiger/centaur/electrical eel thing surrounding Selvin and says, "Lucky.  Zac.  Zac.  Lucky."

He nods at the elf.  "Yeah.  I mean I summarized.  If we went through every detail, it'd probably take like seven years to get through it all."

Ba-dum-bump.

Seven years next month. Jeez.

"Anyhoo," Laoris waves a hand.  "Maybe we should talk about how we're gonna figure out these symbols.  I mean axe and dragon wing seem obvious.  Don't know what to make of that lady. Maybe the dagger?  And I guess we need a holy symbol of Zonnie baby.  Which I got.  But it may need a specific symbol."

Chandanar scratches his nose.  "Well. Anyone got any ideas on where to start?  Or do we wander for a bit?"

Group 0 map updated.  It is basically all of the first floor both Lucky and the group have covered thus far.

Everyone is standing in either the courtyard (area 9) or in the chapel (area 39).

Lucky, you came out of the door to area 6.  But you did so at a different time period.  So you know the layout of the areas east of it, but not what is there any longer.

I keep thinking how wild it is. I got a degree and switched jobs and got promoted at the job in that time

Hearing the cleric recount the tale was oddly nostalgic - at least as much as kidnappings, murder, and horror demonic possessions could be something so fondly remembered. And Chandanar barely covered half of it. "That about sums up the need to know for sure. Crazy how much can change in a matter of weeks," came the gruff chuckle after. The sorcerer knew they had something more pressing than memories on hand after all, even if they were out of the very literal fire.

Izzick tried to think of where they might find an answer. He really hoped they weren't back to square one. "Maybe we should check Sial again? He must have had some idea what was going on around here." It was at best a guess and at worst a prayer that some god besides Zon-Kuthon was watching. He offered the map they had to Lucky, wondering if there was any suggestions from their newest ally. "So far we've gone through quite a chunk of this place but the entire keep's enormous...and even more confusing when time keeps changing. Sometimes we've got guards, others gargoyles, others the actual dragon servant of an evil god. We might even need to try doubling back if part of the keys in another time."

When he was handed the map, Lucky looked it over quickly to see what they had explored already.  He then made the map so they all could see and pointed to all the areas that he had visited.  "My group met the undead black shadowlike dragon in this room(room 10), we ran to the main room(9) and to this room to get away(6).  Everything east of that we had been through as well.  But as you said the time thing messed with me as well."

As he looked at the symbols though, Lucky placed his picks back in the pouch he retrieved them from.  "I always hated riddles as a child.  But, I am thinking along your line of thought.  We get part of the dragon wing, a bloodied axe, perhaps the only symbol of this Zon-Kuthon, and for the woman?"  Lucky thought a little on it, "It could just mean fear?  Can we cast fear on the symbol?  I don't know.  That is a tough one.  Have you found any of the other symbols yet?"

In reply to Lucky Six-Fingers (msg # 21):

The cantankerous cleric considers carefully.

"Hmmm.  We met a dwarf in...I guess...two different time zones.  The living version who seemed to think we were involved in some plot he was involved with and later on as an undead creepy guy.  We didn't tangle with him.  But he was in the upper floor over the gate house if I remember right.

"Then we met that dragon.  Although it was still alive.  But it was dying.  At least we met it at the time it was dying before we came back here.

"Am I the only one getting confused?"  Chandanar looks around at all of you.

"No, most certainly not." Upstairs had certainly been a mess of the time burps they'd come in and out of. Hostages, corpses, undead alike. Maybe it was time to truly look for as much as they could find up there. There had even been the room with the Bone Devil. "We don't know when half the upstairs was in while there, maybe we should try there first." He dreaded to think that whatever these symbols corresponded to weren't here now...or in the future...or the present? But they had to have been here at some point - likely whenever it was made. Izzick had begun to wish he'd spent more time paying attention to courses on divination. "We didn't really go all the way to the top for more than a moment."

Lucky was, of course, confused but tried not to show it too much.  He was a thinker and it was time for thought.

In response to the half0orc named Izzick, Lucky responded, "that sounds reasonable to me.  There has to be some clues to what to do here."

In reply to Lucky Six-Fingers (msg # 24):

Izzy, you guys went upstairs at S3 if I remember correctly.  You came down from the roof.  So from what you know there are three ways up now:  Two sets of stairs inside the Keep at S5 and S6. You can also go up the tower at S7, but that may not connect to the Keep's roof.  You aren't sure.

Just need to know which way you go to head upstairs:  S5, S6, or S7.  Please see group map.

Thanks Ya'll.

Selvin let out a long sigh. "Honestly? I kinda hate this place." He waved a hand around in the air, which the tiger-centaur symbiote mimiced with one of the humanoid arms. "This back an' forth time crap, this shiftin' stuff all over..." He shook his head. "It's annoyin' an' confusin."

He looked upwards or maybe he leaned back and closed his eyes. It was hard to tell. "So are we goin' back t'the black dragon? Or we goin' back t'the suspicious angry dwarf? I mean, they were both alive at some points an' both dyin' at some points."

"Let us start with the angry dwarf.  I have no desire to meet the dragon, dead or alive, right now.  We will need to prepare our spells and defenses to face the dragon."  Lucky said to the others.

Selvin looked torn. "I mean...." He hesitated, but then continued on. "I s'pose yer right. When I met the dragon, he was dyin' an' we talked. No hostility, no battle, just a quick conversation. But I guess, who knows when we'll meet 'em, what state they'll be in."

He looked down. "I will say...I don't wanna meet 'im hale an' healthy. He was BIG. An' I think he took down a lot by himself." He shrugged.

"Let's rest up first.  Best have everyone at their best."  Chandanar yawns.  "Anyone need healing?"

Consider yourselves rested, at full, and full spell compliments.

Uploaded two maps.

Group 1 Map:  The area above the front gate house.

Group 2 Map:  Where stairway S17 leads/The last place you saw Frigid Dwarf.

The culinary cleric whips up breakfast via his magic.  Laoris spreads out her maps as she chews on a croissant smeared with raspberry jam.

"This area is the upper floor above the gate house out front," She informs Lucky And reminds everyone else.  See Group 1 Map

She points at a stairwell marked with an S17.  "We went up these stairs and..."

She sketches out another map on a fresh sheet of paper. See Group Map 2

"This is where we saw the dwarf.  Didn't engage.  But as I recall he had a cold aura goin' on.  Obvy some kind of undead.  But my guess is supercharged.  He was just kinda loungin' around.  We didn' get close and he didn't react.  Least that I can recall."

She settles back and finishes her croissant.  "I can get us back there.  That's assumin' we don't skip around to sometime else.  But why would things be that easy."

Will wait until Sunday and move us along.  Wanted to give everyone a chance to prepare or ask any questions.  Thanks.

After a bit of rest and relaxation, Lucky was ready to go once more, so it seemed the others as well.  "Thank you for making breakfast.  It is delicious."  Lucky said as he grabbed up a roll and jam for himself as well.

"Chandanar, did you detect that the dwarf was undead?  If you think he is, do you think your god-given powers would be able to stay his hand.  That is if he is still undead if we meet him.  Perhaps, he will be alive?  Or dead dead when we find him?"

Selvin nodded at resting first. He volunteered to take first watch and then afterwards un-summoned his outsider symbiote before going to sleep.  When he woke in the morning, he stretched and then ate some breakfast before doing another minute-long ritual to re-summon his friend. "Thanks, Chandanar." He let out a sigh of relief after they were joined once more.

He gave a shrug. "Fine with me. We go see the dwarf then."

Their power nap and breakfast was refreshing, one of the small benefits that made the fact they were somewhen all the more bearable - the same feeling it gave across the various pits, guts, and deserts they'd been stuck in. "He was definitely undead, no doubts about that even if I've got not-quite-so-god-given powers." Izzick could still feel the tingling in his hands from the spell that had led to him turning one of those gargoyles to dust. "And I'm starting to think those might do us a little better if it comes to it."

In reply to Izzick (msg # 32):

Chandanar chews a melon slice wrapped in ham.  "I doubt there's much I can do along those lines.  This place..."  He gestures to indicate the whole keep. "Is so chocked with negative energy, I don't think I could really stay any hands."

Laoris nods.  "Yeah.  Zon-Kuthon has been extra careful with his attentions to this place.  Not to mention all the death that occured here.  It's like the negative energy plane's version of a beachside retreat."  She giggles.  "So we'll have to do things the old fashioned way."

"Yeah.  Nothing like the rustic wholesomeness of getting the job done with your own two hands."  Chandanar glances at Selvin.  "And claws...and four tentacles...and...let's just get to it."

---

The Gate House is much different to both Lucky and the others.  The layout of the first floor is familiar.  But where Lucky remembers his group dealing with a snake demon, there's only broken furniture and holes in the wall.

You all ascend, moving to the staircase that leads up to the Dwarf's last known position At the bottom of S17 on the Group 1 map

Last time you were here Selvin and Izzick, you could feel the dwarf's cold coming down the stairwell.

And it's still cold, but it feels off.

"It's not as cold as last time...".  Chandanar is correct.  The air is slightly warmer.

A quick glance up the stairs shows why.  The Dwarf isn't where he was.  Last time, he had been crouched at the end of the tower above Southern end of Area 23 on Group 2 map.  Have I mentioned how much I hate this modules maps?

But the air above it colder.  He can't have gone far, if that's any indication.

Chandanar takes out his holy symbol and mumbles something.  He points upwards.

The Dwarf is outside on the roof of the tower it seems.

You can step out on the ramparts to the east and west of Area 23/Group 2 map and head up the roof from either or both sides.  Or get up top in some other manner.  But Dwarfie boy is up top.  Whether he knows you're coming or not is unknown.

Questions?

Selvin narrowed his eyes at the description by Chandanar and Laoris. "No need t'be so gloom'n'doom! We've made it this far, haven't we?" It was a rhetorical question, of course.

He shook his head as the dwarf wasn't where he was - but in this place, that was hardly uncommon or even strange. He looked at Chandanar and then gave a nod. He checked out way to go. "Alright. T'be safe, we should split up and go up both ways. I mean, I could just fly up there, but then it'd just be me with the dwarf an' that's a recipe for instant combat."

He nodded. "Why don't Chandanar, Izzick an'...uh...Lucky, was it? Go up that way...I'll....take Laoris with me." He didn't sound thrilled with that but wasn't really worried about Laoris either. Sending both...was Laoris a cleric?...Chandanar and Laoris together seemed like it might be a bad idea.

As they went up and didn't find the dwarf where they said he would be, the group looked about a bit and found that he was indeed here but up a level.

At the suggestion from Selvin, Lucky said, "Yes, Lucky!  And terms seem appropriate.  Do we attack or talk first?"

Laoris seems to be both cleric and wizard Selvin.  But she's not really been too clear on it

Chandanar passes a couple of purple potions to everyone from your large supply.  Everyone:  two potions of extra heal in your inventory please

"He didn't seem too chatty last time.  But you guys call.  You never know.  At some point we've gotta meet someone who isn't out to kill us."

The dwarf is on top of the roof, staring at the lake.  His skin is a distinct frosty blue color, his thick matted hair the color of snow.  The cold up here is palpable.  It feels like the tundra just on the way up.

The dwarf's armor looks dingy.  Old chain and leather with large portions cut off or missing.  His skin is laced with a jigsaw puzzle amount of cuts and scars.

He holds a battle axe in one hand.  It's an ornate number, with a cherry wood haft and forged of some kind of black metal that's inlaid with runes that glow a dull red.

He ignores you as you hover/crouch at a distance...

I will follow ya'lls lead on how you want to proceed.  Parlay or attack. Or other.  Your call.

Thanks.

Selvin looked at the healing potions, but then kind of twitched head, shrugged and accepted them. "Okay, thanks. But you better be comin' up the other side directly too." He shook the vials a bit. "These ain't no substitute for Chandanar's magic, wit an' humor."

He turned to make his way slowly and quietly towards where they thought the dwarf was. He hesitated when he caught sight of the...gross-looking fellow. He drew in a deep breath and flew a couple of feet and landed softly, making sure he would be the first target the dwarf saw if this went sideways.

He cleared his throat gently, "Hey there. Can we talk a moment?"

Yes, thank you, Chandanar, Lucky said as he grabbed the potions and tucked them away in his pack.  When Selvin began to move, Lucky too began to head up to the next level.  He let Selvin do the talking while he stuck to any shadow that might be around to hide him a bit better.

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 37):

The dwarf eveeeeeeeeeeeeeer

soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

slowly

turns

his head

towards Selvin.

And just stands there.  Staring.  There isn't any light in his eyes.  If he weren't standing and upright, you'd swear there was no one at home.

He does seem to be listening though.

Lucky kept his eyes on the dwarf who seemed a bit listless.  Maybe there wouldn't be a fight after all.  The axe that he held was pretty awesome and deadly looking, Lucky hoped they could get it from him.

Izzick held back, not quite certain what they should do. Lighting up the dward in magical fire and electricity might have worked but they were trying to get help here too. The Dwarf's blank stare did not show any signs of intelligence but Izzick had been fooled before by that. Selvin had the man's attention, but he wondered if he should speak up instead, but it seemed better that they should hold their edge against the undead as long as they could. Instead Izzick prepared for anything, keeping a sharp look out for any sign the dwarf would turn violent so he could be on the assist.

OOC: So almost everything isn't the same color and some of it in italics, I'm not coloring his thoughts for this post, lol.

Selvin was staring at the undead dwarf and hesitated. He swallowed when no one else spoke up. Guess it was up to him. "Ah. Hi there! You might remember us from earlier?" Oh, man, he was off to a great start.

"I'm Selvin. These are my friends...an' allies." That might have sounded mean, but Laoris was back there. "Anyway. We were hopin' you could help us out. Is your axe, by chance, part of a key t'open a lock that you know of? Or maybe you know about the lock with several keys?"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:45, Sun 21 June 2020.