There is an assassin taking out the Arch mages.

We rejoin the Laughing Moons in the council of the Octad

First Lord Yannis looks to Nanfoodle. Then looks to Doctor Soell. Each Archmage sits or stands on a dias before a giant ghostly image of the appropriate school. He motion the two wizards both to the cracked and dripping with green ichor -  symbol for Evocation.

"JOIN US.. Wizards of Evocation.." His smouldering yellow eyes then rest on Doctor Soell before his raspy voice continues.. "or are you now the wizard of Enchantment…. The Archmage frowns his skin cracking & peeling.. You do both….." There is a note of slight.. amazement in his voice.

Doctor Barthalmu Soell smiles.. His skeletal face grinning even wider. "I would not presume to step on the toes of my ESTEEMED friend and colleague Nanfoodle!" The 1/2ling says with very mock sincerity. A bow to Nanfoodle with a wink. "I will leave him to his Evocation.. I learned and MASTERED that many years passed! Enchantment.. Is where I can stand if you wish HighLord Archmage Yannisssssss.." He bows low to the Lord Archmage.

As Nanfoodle takes the spot on the dias for Evocation an amulet appears in a ghostly hand beside him. It shows the schools of magic. As Nanfoodle stands there the green ichor drips on his shoulder and head..

Similarly a amulet appears beside Doctor Barthalamu Soell. He grins wider.. Winking at Nanfoodle he reverently places it on around his neck..

ArchMage Yannis will then advise and speak of the Lord Archmage Shenaya was killed in a freak accident it seems while crafting a new spell.
Lord Archmage Umbellee will pipe in at this point. A 10' tall celestial her beauty is god-given and looking at her you feel a warmth and comfort except for Morthos and Arjun whom suffer under the divine presence of the Celestial.  falling to knees.. Gasping in pain - guts writhing as if alive...
"Her voice booms out.. Archmage Shenaya was murdered. I saw the signs. I looked into the past.. Through the Astral sea.. One of HIS minions came.. "
First Lord Yannis: "you are sure.. Your divinations are confirmed..?"
ArchMage Umbellee nods.
"Salis…." The Lord Archmage asks slitted eyes..
"Same." Archmage Umbellee confirms.

A voice booms in all the mortals heads: "I TOOOOOOOLD YOOOOOOU SOOOOOO." As this happens the cloud of gas - Vincarr - expands an changes colour. All present fall to their knees as the telepathic voice booms. Images of the 2 Arch mages towers.. Crumbled and destroyed.. Of the 2 Archmages.. In life.. And then in death….
The gas recedes back to its original shape.. The voices and pain in the mortals heads retreating…

Yannis speaks to the 2 new mages.. "There are multiple chains binding the Chained one -  Tharizdun. One chain from each Wizard school. There are divine chains binding the Chained one as well.
2 chains are BROKEN: evocation and enchantment." He points to both Nanfoodle and the Doctor.

"Conjuration is partially still holding.. " Yannis will look to the BEHOLDER. Now the party will note that 3 eye stalks are missing large gashes in the spherical creatures hide look to be healing..
With a growling voice the Archmage Zzzon will garble: "I live… still. The assassin.. They.. At this word the other archmages look closer and lean forward..

Crassuss whom has not spoken yet comments. "They..? I thought there could only be one of them.."

Zzzon continues..  "YES.. There are  4 of them.."

Archmage Yannis: "4 avatars of the Chained One. how can this be….!?"

Archmage Kronon, a 7' tall female dragonborn in glittering gold scaled robe "There could only be one for each plane of existence.. With him chained and in a magic never ending sleep. They should not be able to exist! 4 together?.. Who supports him in this realm..?"

Umbellee will sigh.. The mortals will feel refreshed with that emotion from her. Morthos and Arjun suffer under her divine presence.. throw-uping up and massive headaches.  "In Faerun.. My divinations cannot penetrate the darkness that shrouds them…"

After some discussion it is determined the Black Duke is the key to the realm of Fareun.

Aust requests a zone of truth to confirm none present serve Thairuzdun or the Black Duke.. with a wave of her hand Umbellee casts this and it is confirmed none of the Laughing Moons OR the Doctor’s party serve the Chained One or lie about this..

Kronon stands from her massive dragonskull chair, “We need to rechain Him.. That could slow his awakening..”

As his chains break, his followers gain more power. If you can rechain him.. That will slow them. This is different from the rod of 3 parts. That will AWAKEN him where HE can break the chains!”

Lord Yannis will look to the party.. Both parties.. "you can do this….. His weathered skull seemingly to break into a bigger grin.. He points to both groups. “You WILL do this.”
 
 “I and my companions will do this for the good of all the world this and all the others HighLord archmage! We ask for NO reward.. Other than saving the world!”

Yannis nods. “Laughing Moons.. We understand you have discovered an idol of the Chained One. You can attempt to rechain him..”

With a wave of one skeletal hand covered in glittering rings a long 100’ long green glowing hazy chain appears at the feet of the party. Nanfoodle takes the weightless chain with a reverent bow.
With a second wave, a similar chain glowing green appears before the Doctors party.

Doctor, there is another idol to him..” A  map appears before Doctor somewhere far south in the jungles of CHULT it looks to be a green glowing idol appears. The Doctor bows again and grins.

Beware….” Yannis stands up, his bones creaking and cracking to a 8’ height before continuing.. “to do this feat you, need strength of body and will.” Being that close to the Chained one now that his slumber is no longer deep… he may become aware of YOU..”

“We will..” at that moment a screech is heard from Zzzon.. One of his eyestalks looks to be sliced off by a glowing black blade.

Then the image of Zzzon winks out.

Yannis steps back. “The council is over.” A black stone held in a glowing skeletal hand floats down to Nanfoodle and the Doctor. “You may communicate with me with this sending stone. Once per day..”

“Do not fail.. All life and death depend on you..” with a look to each Archmage still there.. “Guard your selves…”

Yannis nods to Umbrellee, and the Planetar closes her eyes reaching out one hand to each group. Morthos and Arjun gasp in pain as the group disappears - opening their eyes once again in their rooms in Waterdeep..

*******************

Back in Waterdeep, only a minute it seems past for the whole Octad Council! 
The Laughing moons split up to take care of a number of tasks:


  •  Aust uses high level magic to summons a Black pegasus as his permanent mount - BlackJack his name is.
  • Reinhard - with Aust, Keena as guild members of the Black Diamond and Arjun (as air support)  head off to the Guildhall to see what they can find out about his father (a vision for Reinhard showed his father in chains working in a mine under Waterdeep). An interesting - and amusing - encounter with the guards at the old well - one being an old woman. Arjun snaps his fingers in flight (you had to be there to understand joke)
  • Nanfoodle studies tomes and books to lean a new spell
  • Morthos and Rurrick get a good night's sleep
Morning comes, with the Captain commandeering a new steam wagon, the party heads off to the golden Citadel - acquiring their magical amoire- then head towards MoonLanding Outpost!

Late one evening they encounter a young elf fleeing from a humaoid figure in plate carrying a twohander. The party is wary at first and rightly so the ghoslty woman turns out to be a Banshee... and battle commences! Skeletons attack from all sides.
It seems the skeletal knight(?) is quite powerful.. dealing extensive damage to Arjun as well as the Banshee wail has detrimental affect on the party - the Captain falling first.

One by one the minions of the Chained One fall. Using his legendary actions the Knight teleports away. Leaving the party victorious if not frustrated at not defeating the evil creature.

The Captain is dead. Aust using his arcance arts, casts Raise Dead and the Captain returns to life.. weak but alive!
Further travel takes the party with no more encounters to MoonLanding Outpost! Much has changed since the Laughing Moons were last here. 
See post (https://sleet-dnd.blogspot.ca/2018/04/moonlanding-outpost.html)

The Laughing Moons enter their Tower, tavern and inn! With a flourish, and amazing performance, Aust blows the crowds away with a piece he created himself! Using magic, and lights..
The crowds are on their feet cheering and clapping...

After this fantastic entrance.. Morthos moves over to the new secret entrance (in the kitchen) to the main HQ..... and hears battle from below!!

NOTE to Party: You have about 24-36 hours free time on trip in SteamWagon - from Waterdeep -> Tower. 
Post in comments any tasks or work or anything you may use this time for...



 

No comments:

Post a Comment