Dreams Into Journey

"What creatures would those be?"  Lia asks with a concerned glance to the others.  "Anything we need to worry about?"

Oswin and his SD will join the group getting ready to go, listening carefully for an answer to LIa's question.

 "Mostly local wildlife: cougars, mountain goats, eagles." Gerrod replies, "Sometimes you'll see a harpy or two hunting. They used to be an occasional sight in the sky in these parts, but are becoming more common. But the ones to really look out for are ogres. People have been talking unnatural rockfalls, disappearing horses and donkeys, and even some sightings."

"Looks like our ass is done eating, so unless there is anything you need before you shove off, good luck out there." Arnout asks. "i know it's not gonna be too far off, but who knows?"

(I'll just continue on, but feel free to do something in town)

Gerrod moves to the front to the cart and tugs on the donkey's lead, signaling it to start moving. As the group travels south, soon the crags are behind them and other mountains flank them. The further into the mountain rage they go, the more the path zigs and zags.

Some rocks are heard settling nearby, but a quick look reveals a mountain goat negotiating a precarious climb to the east.

Before long, Gerrod starts looking toward a nondescript portion of the sharply winding route.

"We're nearly there." Gerrod says. "Mr. Nessarian hides himself well, but there are some telltale signs."

Not long after, he pulls the donkey toward the west along a portion of a mountain that has some subtle signs of a rut. Following it for a few dozen feet, the group then crosses a threshold that turns the rocky terrain typically seen on mountains into a level, more verdant plot of land. A stone brick path makes soft curves through the property, weaving between small gardens of herbaceous flora whose colors seem to flow from one plant to another, and fountains that hover in the air. At the back of it, a small, cobblestone cottage it seen, with part of it seemingly built into the mountain behind it.

As they approach the cottage's ovoid door, a voice rings out, "If that's you, Gerrod, you know what to do. Otherwise, you'd best vacate."

"Never liked this part... He keeps on say that he'll change the way to get in 'later.' Who knows what that means to an elf?" He says as he ties the donkey to a nearby post, he then takes out a small knife and pricks his finger with the tip.

Gerrod then places the bleeding finger on one of the stones bordering the door. The stone glows for a moment and the door becomes ajar.

"Come on in. He's seldom in the cottage this time of day. He's most likely in the study."

The interior of the cottage quickly shows what a lie the outward appearance was. A large number of corridors and rooms branch out from the entrance of the structure. Floating candle hover above various tables with tomes that have been bookmarked for some reason or another. How long ago seems to be anyone's guess.

As they go deeper, a large tree appears to be the centerpiece of a large rotunda, its branches teeming with small lights fitting about. Around its trunk is an intricately-made scaffole that twists its way up to an opening some 50 feet above the ground.

"A little later than usual, Gerrod?" A voice is heard in the branches, a small figure with wings like a luna moth flies down . "And it looks like you brought others. What's the occasion?

Oswin just had a couple shopping things to do if possible. Purchase a bag of ball bearings and trade his two gemstones (50gp) for two potions of healing if possible. Other than that, good to go.

Lia is ready to go.

(Continued from above)

"Yes, sorry, Glimmer. Caravan came much later than expected. As for them, people in town have been talking about the Empire of Wings, lately. Pa says that these folk have found some proof of it." Gerrod explains with a shrug.

"Oh? I don't suppose you have brought it with you?" Glimmer turns to the party and asks, skeptically.

Oswin will fish out the dragon tooth piece that he broke off, “I got this from the ritual chamber set up inside its skull? Proof enough?”

Lia pulls out the amulet she found during the last ritual they broke up.  "And this." She says holding it out.

Valentia goes into her pocket as well to pull out the amulet that was found in the kobold's unconscious body when they entered the mines for the first time. "We've actually got two amulets in fact. I was also able to detect some magic traces inside this one."

"A tooth and some amulets...? Intriguing..." A voice sounds as a tall elf in blue robes walks down the scaffold. "Nessarian Ambervale, at your service."

"I must say your timing is quite impeccable. I was nearly ready to declare my pursuit of the truth behind the Empire of Wings as a Library of Flying Books. It is not the first time time I had to do so."

"Follow me to my atelier, I would like to assess them there. While we are on our way, I suppose you have some questions regarding the Empire, yes?"

"Not a very curious bunch, are you...?" Nessarian says with a hint of disappointment as they wind through the various corridors.

Eventually, the mage opens a door to a chamber with inactive runes peppered around the walls, shelves of various components, and an intricate, inactive magical circle on the floor.

"This is where I investigate magical items of elusive natures. In most cases, the Identify spell is enough to reveal all there is to know about an item. But even then, there is knowledge that even that spell is unable to uncover. On top of an items properties, I can discern much more, here: who made it, when and where it was made, and its history."

"Which item shall we scry the information from first?"

"Here."  Lia says, handing over the amulet she got from the lizardman village.  She steps back.  "The reason we don't have too many questions is mostly due to not knowing the right questions to ask." She informs the wizard.  "Hopefully the information you gather will help us with that problem."

"Yes, my apologies for the silence, I thought I'd let them ask first, but I think what Lia said is correct." Valentia keeps the second amulet, the one which belonged to Korvak, in hand, just to make it the second in line after the one Lia handed.

Oswin passes over the tooth, "Agreed, the only question I know to ask is 'what is it?' Which is a little vague."

 "I see." Nessarian says, satisfied with the responses he got.

"Hmm... I think I may recognize the emblem on these amulets. I can't exactly recall where I saw it before. But, I'm certain that this ritual will jog my memory." He continues as he moves about the room, gathering numerous components.

After placing the components in specific parts of the inactive circle her places the amulets a little off the center, and takes a quick look at the tooth fragment, "The growth rings are almost imperceptible, this dragon must have been just on the cusp of reaching its Ancient stage."

After putting the tooth in its place within the circle, he stepped out side of the circle and grabs a staff from off of the wall. After muttering an incantation, the staff glows a with a whitish aura. He touches the staff to the circle, which then starts glowing the same color.

A green light starts emitting from within the amulets and the tooth, "Looks like we have some fighters here! Whomever made the amulets really didn't want anyone to know about them! Why the tooth, as well?"

"I may need a little assistance here. I am most likely able to push through their resistance by myself, but it will be at a sacrifice of information. But with some help I can focus more on extracting what we want to know."

(This will be a cumulative roll using arcana and religion, choose whichever one is greater)

Lia would cast guidance on herself...

Arcana: 8 add guidance of 4

Valentia does the same as Lia, also casting Guidance before she tries to help.

Arcana or Religion: 14 + 2 (I have the same modifier on both.)

And another guidanced arcana roll for Oswin: 13+3.

(WOW! 51 total!)

With the combined efforts of Lia, Oswin and Valentia, the green glowing shrinks down to almost nothing.

As this is happening, many symbols start streaming out of them and arranging themselves above each of them.

"That is more than sufficient, now, what do we have...?" Nessarian says as he studies the symbols.

"Curious... We have a wealth of information, but some of it actually raises more questions."

"Let's start with the amulets; they were made in these mountains using draconic magic. There are gems inside each of them that do not tap into any of the inner planes of reality, nor any of the known outer ones. Instead, they are drawing from the subconscious. Theoretically, you could attune to the gems yourselves if you were able to achieve lucid dreaming and focus on them. Which then brings me to the tooth. There is a slight natural magical charge to it, enough to let me know that that this dragon was the one who enchanted the gems in the amulets. There are most likely others like them."

"Now what is curious is -or rather, was - the owner of the tooth. First of all, the dragon in question, no doubt, had lived during the proposed time of the Empire of Wings. Whether it was actually one of the 'emperors' is still yet to be seen. Now, I have not only uncovered the type of dragon it is, but I also have its name. It was a white dragon named Scerfozar."

"But, just the revelation of this Scerfozar's species brings out two pressing issues. The first of which is that I have never heard of a white dragon being able to prepare magical items of any complexity. Secondly, by the nature of the gems, the dragon would need to dream to make them. But, that's the biggest problem; dragons don't dream."

"That said, I did say I recognized the emblem on the amulets. I now know where I have seen it before. Further in the mountains is an old, crumbling temple. I have journeyed there once, nearly a century ago, and noted it as a mere curiosity. But, with this new data, I think a second look is warranted. I would like to commission you to come along with me, because I am fairly certain you would want to know the significance of the temple, yes?"