Well, we now need to get out of the Hollow World. Back to Mystara, and man will it be great to get back.
Unfortunately, Leo couldn't tell us of an easy way out. He asked if it was okay to determine the best way out of the Hollow World, but got the impression that yes, someone doesn't want us to know. Leo has the distinct feeling that we were never meant to come here, but now that we're here, we're not meant to leave.
The best option would appear to be to try to leave via the tunnel near the Shrine of Shadow. However, before we go, we really need to figure out a way to get the spell research library out.
The best way appears to be to create a permanent (or instantaneous) item spell, which simply shrinks books (specifically) to one-twelfth their original size (not into cloth). The material component would be some origami. This would have to be a sixth level spell. We'd then need a reverse of that spell. Another sixth-level spell, unfortunately. For this, we're going to have to create a laboratory, and arrange supplies of test materials.
We can then sell the laboratory afterwards. We'll also make a copy of the library to sell, for profit. Zim will be exploring the ruins, earning money to pay for research costs.
In the meantme, Gurzurk will be exploring the shaft, and everyone else will explore the ruins for self-profit.
This will take a long, long time. But it'll be worth it!
After all this time, we're finally ready to go to Milenia to try out the shaft. The spell to shrink the books works fine, thankfully. As does the unshrink spell.
Gurzurk had fun investigating the shaft. It is dead straight. The cage itself has an adamantite tip, and there are massive chains that connect to the cage. Chains that are made of adamantite themselves. Or was it mithril? There are signs of heat stress in the lift.
That's a lot of money.
Anyway, we'll hopefully leave the easy way.
We've arrived near the Shrine of Shadows. Gurzurk, with some assistance, will be digging a new connection to the tunnel he saw earlier.
Gurzurk has finished connecting up with the already existing tunnel. We've already started travelling. The tunnels seem comfortable. At any rate, we haven't encountered any unpleasant things as yet.
We'll follow the tunnels down. When there's a choice of several tunnels, we'll go for the steepest one. I hope Gurzurk can negotiate tunnels as well as we think he can.
We have encountered the edges of the anti-magic zone within the tunnel system. It's been seven weeks, so it's taken a while.
We'll rest one last time, then head in.
We've observed that the rock has been changing. Becoming more metallic. Perhaps this is the substance that causes the anti-magic?
We have exited the anti-magic area. Finally! And no lava to contend with either!
Seems like a lot has happened in our absence, not the least of which is Serraine being invaded by Thyatus. Well, in the process of being attacked by Thyatus.
Well, start at the start.
We communicated with Nemon, who teleported in (upside down). He has informed us of events. The first is that the Thyatians have constructed Alphatian style flying vessels. They only have a few, but they do have them. Apparently it took them a while to develop it (due to sabotage, and so forth), but they persisted. It will no doubt pay off in the future.
The Emperor of Thyatus is dead. Apparently he just got old and died. In a very short period of time. Now the eldest son is the emperor. Go figure.
The plague in Ethengar and surrounds seems to have ceased.
Glantri still allows clerics within its borders.
The Shadow Elves seem to have fixed up the forest.
Unfortunately, Thyatus decided it wanted Serraine. There's been fighting on and off for a while now, so any help we can offer is greatly appreciated. Serraine has been holding its own, but Thyatus has numbers of its side. It's all rather rude of the Thyatians. Serraine is the spitting image of a neutral country, and a country that threatens no-one. But of course, Thyatus does have to get greedy.
Tried to contact Lyril, but she's still absent.
Well, glad to leave the Hollow World behind. I wonder how Mr B will get on back in the Hollow World. Never did get to see his home. Perhaps another day. Well, it will certainly be interesting to see Minora's reaction to Mystara. I guess that since we've got this relic, she's forced to follow us.
We've memorised where we are, and Gurzurk has got a fix on our location (600 miles underground), so we can teleport back later. For the moment, we'll head back to Serraine.
We had Leo find out when the Thyatians will next attack. We have about three days.
Still, it's good to be home.
Unfortunately, my old master is dead. He died fighting to free Sind. I will miss him.
I spoke to the priest who married Turia and I. The latest news from Sind is that Hule has tightened its grip. Some allies of Sind, primitive tribesmen on the south-west border, attempted to help, but failed. Not the best news, unfortunately.
Apparently, there is also a new religion in Sind. I'll have to find out more later, for now we have to start practicing, in preparation of the attack.
Oh, T'zaz identified the items we obtained from the Alphatian enchanter. We don't have portable holes, they are in fact portable shadows. Bummer.
The bag of holding I picked up for less than 10000 gold can hold 500 lbs, and a maximum of 70 cubic feet. Very handy.
Thyatians attacked us today. But we fought them off with relative ease, even if they had a copper and bronze dragon assisting them. Quite disgusting really. I thought that copper and bronze dragons were meant to be good creatures!
The Thyatian attack was not very strong, probably helped by Serraine having been flying to the middle of nowhere for quite a while now, and the Thyatians supply lines getting rather stretched as a result.
We have heard more news. The north half of the Isle of Dawn is now controlled by the Thyatians. Indeed, the Thyatians looked unstoppable, until the Thothians decided to stop them. The Thothians are a culture not unlike the Nithians. No-one thought the Thothians were a threat to anyone. However, they repelled the Thyatians when they used mummies, sphinxes, vampires, skeletons, zombies, and other varieties of undead. Apparently, there are lots of undead in Thothia. The Thyatians have not tried again.
Glantri now has a new princedom: King Coll the Kobold's princedom. This is interesting, since to be a prince of Glantri, one must be a powerful spellcaster. So who on Mystara's name is this King Coll fellow?
I spoke some more to the priest in Sind. Gareth is the new religion. Gareth preaches non-interference by the gods, but protection by the gods. Gareth is the deity. A strange thing to preach. Priests of Gareth receive spells.
The priest believes there may be on the order of 10000 invaders in Sind. Sind has no hope of freeing itself without outside aid. At this time, outside help appears unlikely.
Not all news is bad. On the bright side, Zim is marrying. Congratulations to Zim! I look forward to the ceremony!
Leo determined that the Thyatians have given up on Serraine. There is much rejoicing. However, whilst we celebrate the continued independence of Serraine, I know that few Sindhi can be truly happy whilst Hule remains in control. And that includes me.
Now that the business with Thyatus has been put on hold, we have been able to report to the council on our activities. The conclusion is, they are pleased. They are certainly very interested in what we've reported.
I had a private chat with Alexene Cloudmantle, Lani's sister. I intend to publish a book about the Hollow World. A kind of travellers guide. I'm convinced it will be helpful to any who intend to travel there. However, politeness dictates that I ask permission of the Serraine council first. After all, it was on their commission that we travelled there.
Alexene believes the council will agree to the idea, so long as they receive a portion of the profits. She also believes they will wish to delay publishing it by perhaps a year, so that they can get a head start on the information contained within.
However, she is just guessing at this stage, and will see what happens.
In the meanwhile, Zim and some others have gone to collect the falcon, and we've arranged Nemon to advertise the other magical items we obtained from the Alphatian Enchanter. We've decided upon a blind auction. We will be advertising in several countries, including Karameikos, Harath, Darokin, and Glantri.
I'm going to try and find out what this substance we picked up from the anti-magic area is.
I tried and tried, but no-one seemed to know what this substance is. Gurzurk said the dwarves didn't know, and I couldn't find anyone who knew elsewhere, even in far away Harath. Eventually, we had Leo ask. Leo said it is part of the World Shield. It is essentially antimagic. Oh well.
I spoke to Phoranon via sendings. She was very interested in hearing what we knew about the Schatten Alfen. However, she would not agree to meet on Darokinian soil. Do not know why, but I expect she is just being difficult. Well, if she doesn't want to meet, then so be it.
We still have this icon to worry about. Thora performed a divination, and received quite detailed information. There are four options.
Firstly, we could do nothing with the icon, just carry it about with us. In this event, we will die.
Alternatively, we could destroy its physical form, in which case Nyx would lose a bit of power reforming it.
Or, we could destroy the icon properly, which we know how to do. This would definitely piss Nyx off.
The final option is, we could try to imprison it for as long as possible. Turia has informed us of a place on the Astral plane called the prison. It is meant to be extremely secure.
Freyja stated that all four options are within our power.
Turia further informed us that the astral and the Cage are neutral ground. Deities, proxies, and avatars are not allowed. Priests are allowed. We can enter the astral plane via the cage. Carrying the icon with us shouldn't be a problem. Going to a different plane could be a problem, but the planes we're interested in are safe.
Well, we may as well pick up Melany, then head to Glantri, where we can enter the Cage through the gate we know of.
It'll be my first visit to Turia's old home.