Lunadain, Vatermont (month 2) 15, 1028
Over the next two weeks our armies will patch themselves up and go back home.
Warlord Lehrer suggests having a treasure division process whereby we buy back some loot from the soldiers, and then share out the proceeds more evenly among the soldiers.
The locals also put on a celebration for us, namely for the officers and for soldiers who distinguished themselves in combat.
We catch up with Safranna at the party, who is polymorphed into a Pyrithian. She shapechanges into a human shortly after. It seems she has the ability to shapechange into more forms than just animals, unlike most druids.
Turis is also at the party, trying to look unthreatening.
We chat to a Sharin (Sindhi lieutenant). The Sharin chats to Grey about military tactics. He has a lengthy list, but we are saved from an overextended conversation by a Captain Hadrian, the leader of Lord Garan's heavy foot.
A local in rich but faded clothing starts thanking Zim for rescuing us from the nasty creatures that were here. He chats to Zim about random engineering stuff for a while.
Later, a dashing Heldannic Captain in a very smart uniform comes up to Lani and asks for a dance. Lani accepts. They have a slow dance, trying to follow the lead of the locals. They talk about their respective positions, etc. He leads a detachment of heavy cavalry. He's a very good dancer.
Later, after the dance, a Heldannic cleric comes to address us. He starts preaching about Vanya to us. Grey throws the scripture back at hi, and he leaves looking somewhat befuddled.
Later, a local Pyrithian (a dragon in disguise most likely) chats to us. He talks about preserving the culture here. His name is Yata. He is a cleric of Diamond. There are four different dragon deities. Diamond is for Law. He leaves after a bit.
Later, Warlord Lehrer rescues us from the Sharin with a list of questions. The warlord introduces himself to Safranna and Roland (Safranna first). We chat a bit. He's a priest of the Hammer.
The party ends.
We return to Mystara.
We discuss what to do next. The Star Seeker will have a break of about three months. During that time, we're going to go and randomly explore Davinia. First of all, we're going to check out some towns we previously ignored.
Lunadain, Thaumont (month 3) 1, 1028
We start our break.
At home, in his palace, a wounded Sindhi man approaches Grey, and warns him to beware the Guardian Mesa, it will be where my doom comes from. He is holding a bag full of gems, says it is meaningless and throws it away. It's full of ruby's and emeralds. He does not respond to a cure light wounds. He dies, and turns into a pile of ashes instantaneously. The guards do not recall seeing him enteing the palace grounds. The first thing the man said was "the Carnifex are coming."
A mesa is like a plateau.
Grey invites Safranna, Roland, Lani, and Zim to his palace to discuss the matter.
We research in the Serraine library. On the first day, one of Zim's researchers finds something. Inside a book entitled "Traveller's Masters Set Volume 4" is a comment: "The entrance to the seven realms lies on the Guardian Mesa". A note in the book has the comment: "Beauty lives at the centre of the garden. Etienne." It is in the language of the dominion of the former Prince Etienne. The people in the former Prince Etienne's dominion arrived from a plane different to any of the other inhabitants of Glantri.
In a book nearby is another note. It refers to a Castle Carnifex, and the blowing of a horn, and is inside a book dealing with the Planes.
Gromdain, Thaumont (month 3) 2, 1028
We find, in a book entitled "The Lost Worlds", authored by Aitch G Wales, a note scribbled in the margin saying: "Seven Realms ?". In the nearby passage is the phrase: "Gold is pure but hard to find. A place exists in utter darkness where a place exists among utter oblivion. Its walls are made of gold, and gems are but common gravel."
Lani finds inside a book about thievery that Carnifex can imitate just about anything without being discovered.
Zim finds a book indicating that it is unwise to blow horns in front of a castle when it is unknown what is inside.
Tserdain, Thaumont (month 3) 3, 1028
We find a book written on a skull. It says that nothing is at it seems, even in the seven realms. Etc, etc.
Moldain, Thaumont (month 3) 4, 1028
Various other little tidbits are found.
It seems someone else has done the research we are now doing.
Soladain, Thaumont (month 3) 7, 1028
The Guardian Mesa is in The Isle of Dawn. It is an unnatrually tall Mesa, the top of which is encased by a bubble of colour that no one has ever managed to penetrate. It's in the southwestern part, near an active volcano.
People have tried pretty much everything, but nothing has worked. People are unable to enter it.
We start flying to the Isle of Dawn, using the Falcon's teleport drive to speed up the journey.
Gromdain, Thaumont (month 3) 9, 1028
We find the Guardian Mesa, near the active volcano. There is a small town nearby. THe place is very flat - in fact, it's a big black desert.
We land, and approach the town. It's a ghost town. Lani finds no undead. Safranna finds signs of a dragon having rested here about a month ago.
The Guardian Mesa is about as tall as a scyscraper.
We head to the mesa, and find a cave. None of our clues mentioned anything about a cave. There are no tracks.
We go in. After about 200 ft, halfway inside the mesa (which is about 500' wide), we find a 50' wide cavern (right in the middle). The center of the cave is of a different material to the rest of the cave, and has seven symbols arranged in a circle on it. Above it is a hole in the roof, leading to the top of the Mesa. Probably a lift.
The symbols: square, triangle, circle, star, hourglass, cup, and arrow.
Grey searches around, and finds that part of the walll is fake. It's wood, painted to look like rock. Inside is a lever. We hop on the lift, Grey casts mage hand, and pulls the lever. We go up. As we go up, we pass through a dispelling field. It only dispels Grey's mage hand.
At the top is plataeu with seven different arches. Each arch is made of a different colour material, and one is made of a rainbow of colours. Beyond each of the arches is a formless void. The sky is a boring grey (not coloured).
There is lots of magic about.
Grey pops his head into each of the henges, and sees a heavy grey fog in each one. Grey enters the coloured henge. On the other side is heavy fog, and a path. We all go in.
We leave the mist. We find lovely hilly countryside. A massive rainbow stretches over head. There is a sphinx on this end of the rainbow, watching us. We can easily see the glowing henge in the fog.
The flowers are made of glass.
Rih flies up. The rainbow stretches farther than Rih can see.
We move to the sphinx. He identifies himself as the guardian of the bridge (the rainbow). He says if we dot answer his riddles correctly, there will be some danger. He says he has not spoken to anyone for an age. After answering the first riddle, we get the feeling we can cross the rainbow. After answering the second riddle, we feel we can come back. We get no feelings after answering the third riddle.
There is also a silvery lake here. Grey looks at it, and it attacks! It's made of quicksilver. In the middle of the lake is a glass case, with an object inside.
Magical flight does not work here.
There is a little golden lock on the glass container in the middle of the lake. Inside the case seems to be a wand.
Roland flies Zim up, and circles whilst Zim picks the lock at a range. Mage hand then opens the case and retrieves the item.
Lani identifies it as having elements of every wand Lani has ever seen. It has a command word. We put it away for now. It's overwhelmingly magical.
We go on the rainbow. Every step we take moves us many leagues.
At the other end is a slender man with purple eyes, arcane embroidered robe, standing on a very expensive stage, with three cards. For one gold, everyone wins. He has a carnival attitude. Lani plays and wins (Grey previously lost). She wins back her own ring of evasion (how did he get it off of Lani, and how did he know what it was), and a teddy bear with glass eyes. Inside the teddy bear is a five pointed electrum star. The star is overwhelmingly magical.
He disappears after giving up the prize. We head back across the rainbow bridge. It fades behind us. We do not arrive where we left - instead we arrive at the henge. We go back.
We go through the black gate. We arrive in a hot jungle. There is a dark building in the middle of an island, in a swamp that seems to go on forever. The smell of rotting vegetation is strong.
Lani goes to speak to some ominous looking birds. Alll they say is depressing things, like death, dead, and doom.
Safranna leads us through the swamp to the dark building.
We get to a clearing. We find a huge lizardlike creature who's holding a bloody dead smaller version of itself in its jaws. It sniffs the air. We sneak past it. It seems to be guarding some eggs.
A python, 150' long approaches from overhead. Three smaller pythons entwine it.
We speak to the python. It indicates there is a guadian here, in the building.
It starts talking about having a snack. Lani summons a celestial elephant. The two fight whilst we make our escape.
We head towards the island, which happens to be in the middle of a lake. On the island is a small black pyramid. We get most of the way there, when a hidous old crone gets rises up out of the swamp, and attacks.
On being hit, Turia gets level drained, and ages 20 years.
We "kill" her, and she grows young, evidently dying. We pull the body out the water, and see a 16 year old girl in black rags.he reallly did unage.
Turia unages.
We get to the pyramid. Inside is a crypt, with a tall man, dark complexion, scaly skin. He has obsidian armour, and has a voulge. Inside are many crows, all silent.
He tells us to leave, or be destroyed. We stay, and he says very well, is this place a manifestation of his will, or a product of his idea. He doesn't tolerate us for long, and he attacks.
Zim holds him with a spell, we then tie him up. He struggles when he comes to, so we knock him unconscious.
We look inside a coffin he was sitting on. Inside are ten black gems. Lani thinks they're diamonds, despite being black. He also has a lead triangle on his body.
Nothing is magical.
We leave. Overhead two black dragons seem to be dancing in the sky. They don't seem to notice us. We leave.
We get back to the mesa, and have a wash.
We go through the green henge. We're on a giant redwood. There's a door leading into the tree. The henge is suspended in mid air.
The door is locked. It is also apparently still alive. Zim unlocks it, and we go in. There are small building on the inside of the trunk of the tree. Everywhere there are wooden statues of elves caught mid action. Zim touches one, and it comes alive. It screams something unintelligible (elven), ending with Carnifex, and move to attack. Grey casts tongues, and tries to ease the situation. They seem to hate Carnifex. They are the guadians, and feel we're Carnifex after the key. They let us go to speak to the Queen. Se doesn't believe we're Carnifex, but she doesn't understand how we could come to be here.
She says there are wards against Carnifex. She does not know much, but she knows the Carnifex cannot be allowed to leave. She says the keys lead to the Carnifex.
This is her stronghold. She is Ambriel. She thinks doppelgangers sound like some kind of lesser Carnifex.
She says she is the guardian. She says the true guardian is beyond. She says there are always two guardians. The true guardian is Velotra.
She thinks for us to be here, someone must want us to be here. Perhaps the Carnifex, perhaps the gods.
She does not believe Carnifex can assume the shape of non-living things.
We go through the door that Ambriel gestures towards. It opens to a giant meadow, with a short path surrounded by thick growth. The path leads to an opening in a hedge. This area is a rather georgeous garden.
Beyond the hedge is a maze of hedges, suspended in time - inluding an elven lass and a dove in mid air, also suspended in time.
We head into the maze. There is an invisible roof on the maze.
We come across a partially buried chest, along with a mattock and a shovel.
On touching the chest, several trees throw exploding apples at Grey. They explode with magical force.
Lani summons an earth elemental to act as a shield, grabs the chest, and makes a run for it. Inside are a number of woody fibrous cloth-made items. There's some seriously good stuff in it.
We go a different way, and find a magestic, beautiful, mostly naked women on a throne.
She introduces herself as Belotra. She seems very shallow, and says we can stay here, where we will be beautiful, and will not age or die. She doesn't want to give us the cup, which is probably another key thing.
We go away, cast protection spells, and go back to her, asking if we can have the cup.
She says no, and then enspells Grey and Roland, who decide they'd rather stay here, and not leave.
The party attacks. Belotra is really skilled with her dagger.
Some trees animate nearby, and we can here some crashing noises coming through the hedges.
The trees ready actions.
Lani summons an earth elemental.
>From the direction in which we heard noises coming, we here shouts, and the sound of combat being joined.
We continue to fight Belotra. Turia is taking the bulk of the damage.
The trees continue to ready actions.
Safranna disarms Belotra's dagger, but has her broadsword disarmed in the process.
Belotra picks up Safranna's broadsword, and attacks Safranna.
Some more disarming goes on.
Meanwhile, the elf chick Ambriel has arrived. She claims that Belotra's time is at an end - all things must die. She raises her club, and casts some sort of spell. Grey is no longer effected by Belotra's enchantment.
A bunch of elves arrive and cast various spells at Belotra. Several dozen magic missiles thud into Belotra.
Ambriel calls out: "Get the cup - it's the source of her power."
Safranna charges the tree to grab the cup. All of the trees attack her, but she manages to grab the cup.
Grey Cone of Acid's her, but Belotra just manages to hold on.
Ambriel Flame Strike's Belotra killing her.
The place changes seasons rapidly - many many many seasons go past. The trees don't handle it well - they grow into each other, into a big tangle, and eventually when the seasons stop passing, all is dead.
We head back. We notice that in Ambriel's footsteps, the grass becomes green. By the time we get back, there is much greenness spreading. Ambriel tells us she is the new guardian.
Ambriel and Co. stumbled into this place. They weren't created.
We go back. Some of us want to rememorise.
We teleport back to Baratpur.
Tserdain, Thaumont (month 3) 10, 1028
We teleport back to the Guardian Mesa.
We go through the Blue henge. We're in crop fields - all kinds of food are being grown here. In the distance is a blue palace.
After a couple of minutes a scarecrow leaps out of the ground right in front of us.
The scarecrow asks for some blood from each of us to be given to the fields. Lani has to give up a kidney. On giving to the fields, to help them grow, we each feel as though a part of us has been given to the fields. We feel a bit weaker.
The scarecrow leaves after the donation.
We get to the palace. It's made of Lapis Lazuli. Bronze gates are open invitingly. Safranna isn't able to enter. A blue skinned servant passes by. We get him to invite Safranna in. He then leads us to the ruler. Blue skinned heralds announce us.
We pass by some courtiers, and get to meet the blue skinnd king. He's bedecked wealthy as - his crown is crafted from a single piece of sapphire. This is King Valeratros. He casts lesser restoration on us (it doesn't help the undead).
Apparently the Carnifex would not have given of themselves to the scarecrow. They just wouldn't do such a thing.
The King asks if we are after the symbol of the realm. On saying yes, he says it is in the possession of Sorubeth the Lawgiver. He shows us the way...
Sorubeth requires of us a test, to prove ourselves honourable. She asks a logic question, which Lani answers easily. She produces a bronze square. Before handing it over, some Fire Archons which had been flying around above come to the ground, and touch each of our weapons. Our weapons briefly flicker. We receive the bronze square. Sorubeth indicates the new command word for our weapons is her name.
Our weapons are now flaming weapons. Impressive.
We leave. We go through the yellow portal. We're on a ledge on a mountain in the middle of a desert.
A large cave is here. We hear a loud snort from the other end of the ledge. A gold dragon is there. He has a scratch, and seems embarassed. We heal him up. He tells us the guardian is in an oasis in the distance. The ledge we are on is quite a ways up.
We go in to the cave. The wind increases in speed behind us, and starts blowing down behind us. We get picked up bodily and hurled through the air before we can get anywhere. We smash into a wall, and then start getting hurled elsewhere. We're rapdily heading towards two pillars of rock in a large cavern.
Lani summons an air elemental to help us take less damage. We hit two more walls, Zim manages to grab onto a tree root, and the rest of us are flung out an exit into midair, ready to fall 1000 feet to the desert floor.
Lani's air elemental catches Grey and Turia, letting us get to the ground unhurt.
The rest of the party also manages to get to the ground.
We head to the oasis. There's a group of people there. A warrior in golden armour is there. There are breathtakingly beautiful golden statues there. The warrior is working on them. There are several other warriors in golden armour helping out. The warrior is named Hyperius. He tells us about his statues.
The warrior, well, loves his statues, and wants Lani to pose for a couple of years. He also wouldn't mind if Safranna would stay to pose. Unfortunately we must go.
The people here have red skin and yellow hair.
He is the Grandmaster of the Brotherhood of the Sun. The other warriors here are his sun brothers. Lani knows that they're Sollux, a lawful, martial group, known for waging war against the Efreet.
We head on to find the guardian. It's a lion-headed man, Amorylon the Golden. He offers some food, which surprisingly is only nice, not fantastic. Some lions are at his feet.
We telll him our tale. He tells us a tale in return. Long agao there were the gods, and there were Outer Beings, which were of godlike power. The gods battled these creatures (they might have unknowingly destroyed Mystara if they were not defeated), and managed to make Mystara safe for the mortal races. The carnifex were the servants of the Outer Beings.
The Scepter Henge is a gateway which can only be activated with all of the keys. The gateway leads to the carnifex. The place, with its guardians, was created by the gods, and is desiigned such that only those not like the carnifex can get the keys.
The carnifex were not destroyed, as they provide a means of contacting the Outer Beings if needed.
He finds it strange that the carnifex might be coming, as they should not be able to escape. However, they are very cunning, and may have found a way.
He tells us he was created by Odin.
Silchard the Black was created by Thanatos the Destroyer.
He does not know the creators of any of the other guardians.
He comments that he has heard from the gods that the Draden exist in the void. Even the gods do not face them lightly.
He lets us drink from the oasis. We each feel better in an area of our choosing (inherant +1 bonus to a stat).