Session18

**Release From the 4 Painted Prisons and The Disposition of the Map** Everyone receives word to meet Silvermane at the temple of Sune for the final steps to release the people from the portrait paintings. Yuki, after a very rough, late night in the woods gets woken up around noon by Axton, telling her that Silvermane was ready for her, and that her companions were on the way. He leaves the room so she can get ready. Azarius feels a wave of nausea and dizziness on the gondola ride on his travel to the temple. After a few minutes it passes. The gondolier is distressed, apologizing and offering the ride for free. Mali, Posy, Ursus, and Uther travel together, and they too feel a powerful wave of dizziness and nausea, stopping them in their tracks to steady themselves until it passes. Thorn finds himself throwing up as the world spins around him, again the dizziness only lasts for about five minutes and then fades away. Erevin, Shri, Wren, and Kale travel together from the elven embassy without incident. Erevin, Wren, and Kale having felt the powerful wave of dizziness the night before when they were in the woods... though it didn't seem to have an effect on Shri. Everyone arrives at the temple of Sune. Beautiful rose gardens, polished marble, lavish silk draperies that seem to waft lightly by some magical breeze... very beautiful men and women travel about in their diaphanous silken robes. We are greeted by High Priest Alain, who welcomes us warmly and escorts us to the room where Silvermane awaits our arrival. Each of the four paintings have been hung on their own wall. Lots of magical protection circles and enchantments have been put into place and prepped. We are greeted by Silvermane, an eccentrically handsome mage with silvery hair, and his very beautiful, red-haired wife, Magda, dressed in black leathers. As he greets us, he tells us we are just in time as he is prepped and ready to release Gracie. As he casts over her painting, skulls flashed out and skeletal hands grasped for souls, but then she dropped to the ground, naked. Wren covered her in a cloak and helped her to a chair to sit down. Silvermane had explained to us that Gracie was a priestess who specialized in healing mental ailments rather than physical. It was a common occurance in Thay for red wizards to go mad... and someone from this specialized group would be sent in to aid them. It was Silvermane's understanding that Lauzoril had been under some effect by Szass Tam and Dmitra Flass had Gracie sent in to aid him through it. Silvermane asks who the second person released should be, and Gracie pipes up immediately saying Lauzoril... Yuki can see the immense love Gracie has for Lauzoril over her... but the group decides it should be Belltra, as Bellana had helped us in Thay to get her brother back. Belltra is released from the painting as though frozen in a moment in time, hitting the ground naked with a pointed finger up, "You'll pay for this Szass Tam!" and then the realization of his surroundings. Wren steps forward with a robe for him to wear as the others welcome him to Lyrabar and he is reunited with his sister. Who should be next? Again Gracie asks for Lauzoril, and this time Yuki links her arm with the pale priestess wanting to reunite the lovers and makes her vote for Lauzoril too. Gracie tells us that he is healed, she made him better and the effect had worn off. Erevin asks of his elven slaves, to which she admits to him having about a half dozen, but that she had set them free with Lauzoril 's blessing. Since Lauzoril is still believed to be the most dangerous, it is decided that Dmitra Flass will be the next to be released. She also arrives naked, and Yuki offers her a robe and a drink. She introduces herself as the First Princess of Thay, though she says she's probably been replaced by now. It was a title bestowed on her by the people as she was very loved. She was the public face for Thay and had been working with Lauzoril to bring a diplomatic approach to their country. We talk about preparing a defense against Lauzoril in case he comes out in mid-spell. Gracie says he is aware, and Erevin asks her to talk to him and fill him in on the situation... that he's Lyrabar and that we're going to get him out. Silvermane is a little tired from all of the spell casting, but he casts over Lauzoril's painting... like with Gracie, we see flashes of a skull and skeletal hands grasping out for souls, but Lauzoril is brought to life to the floor, naked. Gracie immediately kneels before him but he helps her up gently, to stand by his side. Wren steps forward and offers him a robe. He is diplomatic, polite. He thanks her, and then all of us for releasing him. "I'm sure the decision must not have been easy." He looks at his hands, playing with them a bit, feeling out having a body again. "If its not any trouble, I think I would like to rest... and maybe enjoy the taste of food again." Yuki looks to Alain who has them all taken to another room with food and wine brought in. Yuki asks Silvermane what will happen to them now... will they be locked up or set free? Will any of them have a say in the disposition of the map? Silvermane says that he has told no one of the paintings or any of these people's presence here... that he will leave that in our hands, and asks that we leave his name out of it... he handled it personally since we were friends of Rosche. We all thank him for everything and he and Magda take their leave. We speak with Dmitra who believes they were trapped for about 10 years in the paintings. She apologizes to us for her country... she and Lauzoril were working hard to change things, but Szass Tam didn't like their plan. She had gone to Szass Tam to demand Lauzoril's release... apparently the talk didn't go well. Lauzoril and Gracie sit together in their own world. Dmitra guesses that Lauzoril's pride will eventually take him back to Thay to pay Szass Tam back for what he had done. Feeling out of the loop on everything that had happened over the last several years, Yuki suggests that she talk with the siblings, Bellana and Belltra. Dmitra takes her up on the suggestion and sits down with them as we take our leave. Mali goes to the refuge to investigate information on the red fungus. She and Ursus speak with Rayum Castle, who offers her condolences to Ursus on his loss of Whitefang. She is very supportive of his new younger bear, who is doing quite well in The Refuge. She tells Mali that she and the other druids have been doing tests on the sample of the fungus Mali had left for her. She says it seems to have gone dormant now, but that they found it to be sentient... intelligent. She had sent out druids to the forest to find more, but so far they had not been able to find it. When Mali asks what she can do to help with this, Rayum tells her that finding the origin of the fungus would be best, and to fully destroy it. She says that fire seems to do very well against it, but that healing makes it grow faster. It will be a long travel to the north to try and find it, so she and Ursus decide to wait until after the disposition of the map. Ursus convinces Mali to spend some time with him in the woods anyway, and they name his new companion Blackfang in honor of the bear he lost. While Blackfang and Melloran play together, Ursus suggest that Mali needs to practice her druidic skills. He changes into a bear and eggs her on to change and face his challenge. She chooses to change into a small air elemental and flies just high enough to be out of his reach. "That's so wrong..." he grumbles and changes into a giant eagle to fly toward her. She quickly unshifts back to a halfling and tumbles on to his back, grabbing a hold of him, "Wheee!" He grumbles, "Oh... so that's how you want to play it, hmm?" He speeds through the forest weaving through the trees with branches slapping her as they go. "Hey! Not in the face! Not in the face!" She leans in closer to him to protect herself. He speeds her around the city and circles back around to where Melloran and Blackfang still play in the forest. About 10 feet up, he changes into a water elemental and Mali falls through him getting all wet, but floating safely with her feather fall ring. She coughs a bit, "Oh! I got Ursus in my mouth!" He lands beside her, unshifting and laughs. He dries her off, and tells her she needs to work more on the art of fighting in the different forms. Each form has its own benefit... he goes on to teach her about some of the more useful skills. Posy talks with Uthgart who tells her the clan will be outside of town for a few days, he looks about to invite her, but Uther shakes his head against it. Uthgart goes wish his son's wishes and continues to explain that they will return in a few days. Posy goes aside with Uther and asks him what that was about... "It's a private thing..." he tries to explain her. She stares at him in disbelief, "What? Well I'm going now." "No, wait, I don't want you to see me like..." but she pushes him out of the way and goes straight to Uthgart, who is happy that she will be joining them. They exit the city and head into the woods, where large, muscled, barbarian men begin chopping down trees, shirts off, but Ursus and Uther seem a bit somber. They all lash the cut down trees together and make a giant, very sturdy animal cage... As the moon starts to rise, Uthgart mixes together protective herbs into a bowl with some mud. They slash their arms and add blood to the mixture, and Uther stands before Uthgart who paints symbols with the mixture onto Uther's skin.The clan escorts him into the cage and put him into thick iron manacles. They shut and lock the door. As the full moon rises high into the sky, Uther's red eyes change and go a little crazy, and he snarls. His hands change to bring out his claws as the clan chants around him. Inside the cage, Posy sees shadows form... big cat like beasts with bear paws and a hint of wolf. Uther fights the shadows, grabbing one of them in his claws as the other moves in behind him. Mali looks at Posy, confused, "why is he fighting the air?" Posy tells her he's fighting with shadow beasts. Ursus tells Mali that on the full moon, Uther is cursed by the beast lore and fights with the madness. Mali tells him that Posy sees shadow beasts that Uther is fighting. Uthgart asks if that is true and says she must be blessed! Before anyone can stop her, Posy slips between the bars of the cage to go inside with Uther and leaps onto the back of the shadow beast behind him, catching it by surprise, and digging her claws into it deeply. It swirls itself around to reshape the shadow and bring its head around to bite her... to everyone else, Posy appears to be hanging in mid-air as a bite mark appears on her neck, blood spattering off of her, and then she appears to bite into the air, tearing something off, and she lands on the ground as the beast dies. Uther eviscerates the other shadow beast in front of him, and turns to look at her with his red eyes, and he snarls. Posy puts her claws away and leaps onto him, grappling him to the ground with a bite. He rolls them over so he is on top of her and bites into her neck, but holds back as he breathes in her scent. Mali watches as Uther changes his bestial stance from one of battle to more of a breeding state... Posy rolls with it, taking him on. Ursus covers Mali's eyes and escorts her away from the site. Uthgart nudges the rest of the clan back... In the morning, Posy and Uther are both back to normal in the cage, and the clan is most impressed by Posy. Thorn goes carousing through various bars, collecting a few new trinkets along the way. He goes into a more upscale bar where several tables have been pushed together for a larger group of people. A well dressed, foreign party of humans, both men and women. One is standing before them telling adventurous stories of rescuing damsels and capturing the attention of the other patrons... stories of his youth when he fought against tyrants, and rescued women's virtues... "that's how I met my lovely wife!" A woman sits near him and looks like she's heard the story a million times. The crowd urges him on, "Tell us more, Thamelon!" Thamelon Uskreven. They appear to be from Sembia, to the west. They had a long war vs some wizards, the Shadow King and Princess who covered the land in darkness... They had been freed, but Sembia is still known to be a bit of a dicey place. While Thorn is watching the story telling display, he notices a tap on the window... Salem... and she's pointing at him. He gets up and tips the bartender and goes out to meet her. "I'm not old enough to go into those kind of places yet..." Thorn smiles at her and tells her she could probably listen from the doorway. She says the story teller does seem very charismatic. Thorn tells her he knows someone who is more charismatic, but to watch out for... and he makes some weird tentacle like gestures... "What does that even mean?" she stares at him. "Is that some kind of code?" He laughs and tells her nevermind and not to worry about it. She nods and tells him that the men she told him about before are still looking for him. "They're at a warehouse near the docks, but I didn't get too close, so I don't know much more... because someone told me to stay away from them." Thorn nods and tells her that that's still good advice, "letting me know that they are still looking for me is more than enough information. Thank you. And be careful." "I will!" Thorn goes to the docks, where it's more of a seedy place. He sneaks around the area with a few warehouses bearing noble crests until he finds an unmarked warehouse. There appears to be only one door and the windows are barred. He climbs up to the roof where he sees two figures posted as lookouts. He moves closer to the docks and sees something in the water... some sort of large fish with metal on it? He decides to back off until he can come back, better prepared. Azarius makes plans to do some research at one of the larger libraries in the city, but when he stops off at his room in the Vastel estate, he's startled by a half-naked woman still getting dressed. She quickly pulls a dagger from a thigh sheath. He puts his hands up, "No, no... Make yourself at home... I believe introductions are in order... I'm Azarius Chaat... am I in the wrong room?" She quickly sheathes the dagger, "No, no, young master. I apologize. This is not how I wanted us to first meet." He blinks at her, "Shall I come back when you're more prepared?" She nods to him. He leaves and closes the door, standing outside of his room, and waits... She opens the door, fully armored, a little spiky, and hands him a letter, introducing herself as Trieste Scourned. He accepts it, "Excuse me for a moment..." He opens it and reads it.... its a letter from his parents. They have sent Miss Scourned to be a body guard for both him and his sister, Amara. They have hopes that she will reach him in time to accompany him to Thay. He recognizes the Scourned name as a once noble merchant family who had fallen on bad times... He suggests that they find her a room, and she apologizes and said she did have hope that he could talk to the Vastels about a room for her. "Oh... you want a room here..." "Well... I do need to be close to you to protect you, young master. Perhaps you could see about a chair outside of your room?" "Well I don't think that's going to be necessary HERE..." "I need to go to the library... I suppose you're welcome to accompany me there if you wish, but lets see if we can settled into a room of your own." Azarius speaks with Carus Vastel and she's happy to supply a room for Teleste. There is plenty of room and Azarius is one of the family. She accompanies Azarius toward the library, walking two steps behind him. "Why don't you walk with me instead of behind me..." She joins his side, watching warily for any trouble, "Yes, young master." He looks her over, "Do we need to stop and get you some food? How long has it been since you have partaken?" "Oh no, young master, if anything I should be getting food for you." "I don't really eat much anymore..." They go to the library where Azarius does some research, but it seems most of the books written on other planes are for planes of this sphere, and the few books that are written with the mention of the possibility of other spheres always mentions Sigil. There doesn't seem to be any information about the boat since no one really has that information. Wren and Kale discuss plans in the elven embassy when they are interrupted by one of the elven guards who tells her that someone has come to see her mother, Raven. Wren thanks her and says she'd be happy to talk to the visitor in her mother's place. Wren goes in to see a beautiful woman in blue robes with a bit of a tribal flare. She's wearing a porcelain mask that fully covers her face, its a bit creepy with no eye holes, though she seems to be able to see just fine. "I had hoped to see my old friend, but I see Raven in you... are you one of her daughters?" Wren bows to her, recognizing symbolisms for the witches of Rashemen, "Yes, I am Wren. I'm sorry that my mother couldn't be here to see you today... Is there something I can do in her place?" "I am Nintra of the Seven Rivers... and these are my guards." she snaps at the two large men accompanying her with axes. Wren gestures toward Kale and smiles at her, "He is mine." Nintra nods and gestures beside her, "Come and tell me how your coven is doing..." she snaps at the two men who come forth to kneel before her with a large wheel of cheese and large decanter of a thick, blood red wine, "I've brought samples of our cheese and fire wine..." "It looks devine," Wren nods to her, taking a seat near Ninrta and patting the spot next to her for Kale. Nintra looks a little curiously at her for allowing her dog to sit next to her, but says nothing. Sipping from her glass, it's like liquid fire running down Wren's throat.. it's very strong. Smiling, Wren nods her approval, and passes the glass to Kale. She samples the cheese that is also quite strong, but tames the wine. "How many children does Raven have now?" "Alive? Two that I'm aware of... myself and an older sister... but you can never tell, my mother is full of secrets." Nintra nods and smiles, "Aren't we all?" Wren smiles and nods to her, "I would hope so." "Ironlord, the 'ruler' of Rashemen has sent me here, but the sisterhood wanted me to speak with Raven to hear a word on how the elves of Myth Coramanth feel about the map..." "Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to hear my mother's opinion on the map before she left..." "I hope she's not doing anything too dangerous?" "Oh she's off to deal with something to save the world..." Wren smiles and shakes her head. Nintra nods, "We would like to see the map used to destroy Thay, and we're hoping to hear that the elves of Myth Coramanth will stand with us." Wren nods, "Are you fully aware of everything about the map and the demon it would set loose?" Nintra nods, "Yes. I am aware of the demon." Wren nods, "Do you have a plan or suggestion of how to stop it once Thay was destroyed?" Nintra smiles,"The sisterhood is working on a plan." Wren nods, "Then that is great information to hear." "Do you perhaps have Lady Lionspaw's ear like your mother does? Do you know how she plans to vote?" "I am certain that I can speak with her without difficulty... and while I do not know what her vote will be... if I'm familiar enough by the stories from my mother, I am certain that she is on your same side... on our side." Wren nods to her. Nintra smiles, "Very well. Please talk to her then and let her know where we stand." "I will. It was a great pleasure to meet you." "You as well." She snaps her fingers and the two guards quickly wrap up the cheese and wine and accompany her in her exit. Wren and Kale go to see Horitsu to fill her in on the information from the witches as well as to bring her the good news of Shri's recovery. Erevin goes to speak with Silvermane. Taking Shri with him, he stops to have her pick out something pretty for herself. She chooses something pretty and expensive and gives her thanks. They go to tell Silvermane about Destiny. He says he's heard only a little about the ship of heroes. He asks Erevin, "You don't think you're a hero?" "I don't see myself that way, no." "The best ones don't..." Erevin mentions the tentacle sphere that was close to our world. Silvermane says that Ghaunadaur's power moves in cycles, and it's been centuries since he was last high in power. Erevin asks him how he and his people were stopped before. Silvermane tells him that he'd have to do some research on it, but it's usually adventurers and armies... but he did recall that one of his cults was put down here in Lyrabar about 30 years ago by a small group of adventurers. Erevin mentions something about the King Killer. "Are you feeling alright?" "Why would you ask me that?" "You have a strange aura about you... if you have the time, I can take a look at it." "By all means... please do." He puts down a circle of protection and after a few minutes says he's never seen anything like it. "It's dissipated now, but your body seems to have absorbed some sort of radiation... your body was changing, but it has recovered... it seems to be gone now. Have you been anywhere strange other than this cult you spoke of in the woods?" "I traveled to another sphere for days..." "I imagine with continued exposure, the effects will worsen... you say this Destiny is sentient, try talking to it... maybe it knows what it is and how to defend against it." Erevin thanks him for everything and he and Shri head out to the woods to worship in the light of the full moon. In the morning everyone heads in in groups, taking barges up to Magnus Dayus's keep out in the water. Several groups arrive, including the shao from the east... Yuki is very interested and tells Mali that her parents had traveled through their country and had named her from their language - Yuki...both "Spring snow on the mountain" and "blessing to others". The paladins are there and shiny to greet everyone. Magnus has a very well dressed, noble human woman on his arm... he introduces her as Sambril, Queen of Impiltur. We meet Trieste Scourned, Azarius's new body guard who accompanies him in. Sambril welcomes everyone warmly to our country and introduces Horitsu, leader of Myth Coramanth... someone who has been of great aid to her in a time of need and who has become like a sister. Horitsu accepts the praise saying that we should all come together in times of need. She introduces Silvermane from Damara... it seems the north has even more influence in our country than we knew. Silvermane apologizes for "this Rosche" person who was mentioned. Sambril says that he saved many lives that day... and she only asks that he make himself known in the future so that he may be greeted more apporpriately. "Of course, of course." Silvermane assured her. The shao from Thesk, Tai'Ching of the Golden Way. He seems a little confused on the concept of a queen vs an emperor, but greets her appropriately. We learn that the Shao had emigrated into in the country of Thesk and have worked their way into positions of political power. They helped to make Thesk a trading country by bringing in goods from Shao. Tai'Ching is pleased that their small country was invited. Sambril introduces Thamalon from Sembia, who is charming and enthusiastic and thanks her for their invitation. Algoran and the elves of Yerwood are also here to represent their country. They talk of the agents responsible for the retrieval of the map... agents for all of their countries... Horitsu introduces her son, Erevin Lionspaw, in effect "outing" Erevin as a young elven prince much to Erevin's disappointment... and Wren Dreamspinner, daughter of Raven... and then she hands the stage to Erevin to tell our story. A little unprepared for such a diplomatic presence, Erevin does very well, telling the story of our travel into Thay to rescue some friends trapped in portraits, and how we came to find the map. He talks everyone's part up, including Axton who had been released from custody that morning much to Yuki's suprise, and Thorn... though he shines him as more of a duelist. The court seems impressed. Nintra is the first to place a vote on the outcome of the map... "We of the sisterhood have the most experience dealing with Thay. We have to war with them every year. We would like to see the map used to destroy Thay. We are working on a plan to be able to capture the demon after it's release... once plans are ready for this... we think we should draw in the line on the map." Silvermane stands to counter her opinion, "What if the demon goes somewhere other than to Rashemen... Forgive me, my lady, but I believe your power is weaker away from your lands even if you went another country to lend your aid." Tai'Ching says that they are just a small country, but he believes it is in everyone's best interest to destroy the map. Silvermane agrees with him. Algoran says, "We are in a bit of a quandry... Symbol, lady of Mystra, and ruler of our country despises Thay and has personally seen the demise of many a red wizard who has come into their country looking for conquest. However she is a bit of a free spirit and we were unable to find her in time for the disposition of the map... I believe she would want to use the map, but as a representative of the people who would bare the brunt of the problem... I believe we should destroy the map." Sambril turns, "Lady Horitsu... what is your opinion?" "Since my son found the map... I would like to hear his say with the voice of his companions before I give my vote." Everyone turns to Erevin who humbly asks for a break to discuss it with the group. It seems reasonable to the court and they break for snacks while we adjourn to another room to discuss it amongst ourselves. The overall opinion being the innocent lives of the joining countries as well as in Thay itself was too great a cost and risk to release the demon... We return to the court. Erevin speaks for us, "While I would personally like to see Thay torn asunder... it is the collected opinion of our group to destroy the map... and to be sure that the Zulkirs of Thay hear of this loss of power... which will hopefully cause them to fight amongst themselves without Szass Tam's rule over them." Horitsu nods, "My son is wise beyond his years... the elves of Myth Coramanth will side with the retrievers of the map and vote to destroy it." Thamalon stands and declares how impressive the adventurers are and that Sembia too shall cast their vote to destroy the map. Nintra says that it is a mistake... that they should release the demon and take out Thay while they have this opportunity, but that Rashemen will abide by the decision of the court. The decision is made. The map will be destroyed. We all take our leave.
 * 5-14-13 **