Gnome's OOTA Story Thread [CLOSED]

Khessa tries to find a way to banish or at least hinder the Demon Lords

Quote from Painted_Beyond >>

Khessa tries to find a way to banish or at least hinder the Demon Lords

 As Khessa tries to focus on a pragmatic solution, all she gets are fleeting visions of the various demon lords moving about here and there, and a flash of a view of the city of Menzoberranzan. It seems that perhaps the Library deals mostly with factual events, and is not a more typical library full of tomes on every subject and kind. (GM note: Attempting to find an answer consumes 2 charges of the stonespeaker crystal, and can only be done once per day. But considering the unusual nature of the Library, spending several days here accessing the information you can will not have unintended consequences later).

Quote from Oberon99 >>

The noble Drow gets more and more frustrated with his seemingly futile search for answers, but then he recalls something about a crystal gifted by the Stonegiants in Gracklstugh that Khessa should be carrying around still, so he wills himself to the blonde arcane warrior hoping the crystal will help them find the answers they need.

Another Wis check if needed: 18

 Traydark can find the area Khessa is in.

Horkas stops short as he recognizes the great, and storied, Elminster Aumar, Sage of Shadowdale! "Master Elminster? It is you, is it not? No surprise to run into you here at this incredible library! I am here on a grave, and great, quest - to find information on how we can stop the demon lords from invading the underdark, and then th rest of the world as we know it! But I have not been able to figure this place out and have been wandering for hours! Perhaps you can help a magic-loving gnome out? Please?!!?"

"Traydark!" Khessa is quite happy to see her favorite Angel "I discovered what you Angels already knew! But do they never end, these tests you subject me to? Why didn't you tell me right away, that here in the library it is possible to access the information using the Stonespeaker Crystal? The crystal that Stonespeaker Hgraam, of Gracklstugh gave us - and which you angels have entrusted to me? It's always a matter of making us poor mortals grow up on our own, etc., etc., I guess... isn't it?"

"Anyway, for now I've tried to find a pragmatic solution to the demonic invasion," the blonde arcane warrior explains, standing proudly "but all I got were fleeting visions of the various demon lords moving about here and there, and a flash of a view of the city of Menzoberranzan. So perhaps the solution lies in Menzoberranzan - or requires components that need to be sourced there".

"Maybe the point is that the Library deals mostly with factual events," la tall adventurer muses aloud "and is not a more typical library full of tomes on every subject and kind. Unfortunately, we can't give it another try right away... Because - as I'm sure you celestials already know - these attempts to gain knowledge through our crystal can only be made once a day".

Quote from Rhanloi >>

Horkas stops short as he recognizes the great, and storied, Elminster Aumar, Sage of Shadowdale! "Master Elminster? It is you, is it not? No surprise to run into you here at this incredible library! I am here on a grave, and great, quest - to find information on how we can stop the demon lords from invading the underdark, and then th rest of the world as we know it! But I have not been able to figure this place out and have been wandering for hours! Perhaps you can help a magic-loving gnome out? Please?!!?"

 "Ah yes," the elder wizard mutters, "When that fool Gromph Baenre bungled a spell I believe. Nasty business. I'd stay out of it if I were you. Now...where is that spell..." The elder man looks around in thought and starts to patter off, albeit at a rather slow pace, with a shimmer to his form as he moves.

Lulu nods her head in quiet agreement with Katryl, taking a half-step closer to the genasi in support. Her own visions of the future, warnings from Lurue, were not so different, but the giantess' assurance that that bleakness is not set in stone is reassuring.

"Hope can come from just one spark, Keeper. That is all we ask for. We do no' need surety, only the possibility ye speak of. Of light." She takes a deep breath, fingers brushing her symbol. "Even if ye could share the threads which unraveled into darkness, it would be a great help so we might could avoid the same mistakes."

The Keeper blinks slowly as she speaks, "I see only the possibilities of the future, not how they got there. One reason they are so fascinating and cryptic. If I knew how to make the visions come about they wouldn't be visions anymore in this sense. And alas I do not have such power, I can only see. But I'm hopeful that if you are working on a solution then that is better than nothing at all. There are brief moments of hope in these visions, but always still dark and bittersweet."

Lulu’s tail curls then droops, a bit confused by the librarian’s words and surprised that no help could be found here. “Then  we apologize for wastin’ yer time, Keeper,” she relents.

The cleric takes a breath then meets and holds the giantess’ gaze. “The dark in your visions may always win—it is generous and patient after all–but in the heart of its strength lies also its weakness: one lone candle is enough to hold it back.” Lulu inclines her head in respect, ready to take their leave, before smiling softly at the stone giant. “May you see our light ahead, Keeper.” 

The Keeper simply looks back at Lulu, her face fixed, "Knowing you are already working helps more than you know. You have no wasted my time. The future has yet to be written, and perhaps, the deeds you do will be kept here later. Keep you faith."

The noble Drow tries his best to hide his annoyance over the delusional cabbage farmer constantly referring to him as a celestial. "We should seek out the others then and see if they have been more fortunate." He says with a tired sigh and tries to will himself on to the gentle Firbolg.

Horkas concentrates on finding more information about Gromph Baenre and the spell that may have allowed the demon incursion to happen! If this fails, he will try to find the others and tell them what the mighty wizard Elminster said. (Wis? 21)

Khessa doesn't have too much confidence in her abilities to 'will herself' to a destination... How many times has she already tried to do this - regularly without success? But since the Angel asks her, she tries one last time...

The blonde arcane warrior tries to 'will hersefl' in the place where one of the other celestials is located, in particular...

1 = Lunaria, 2 = Horkas, 3 = Katryl

In particular: 1

Wis to 'will herself': 2 

If she fails once again to 'will herself' to destination, Khessa simply goes back to the room with the Infantry, waiting for the others to return to their rooms also and share with them what each has discovered.

Horkas and Khessa have a hard time finding what they are looking for, and perhaps then return (easily) back to their and their party's rooms are.

Seeing the Angel in gnome form who also arrives on foot (like her) in the area where the small army has chosen their rooms, Khessa greets him cheerfully: "Horkas! It's kind of you to show solidarity with me to the point of traveling on foot too, instead of moving with your thoughts as the other Angels are managing to do without problems".

"I discovered what you Angels already knew!" the blonde arcane warrior tells him "The Stonespeaker Crystal!" she extracts it and shows it to the celestial who passes himself off as an artificer "You wanted me to discover it myself, right? Well, I did! Once a day, I can use the crystal to access the facts stored in the library".

"Don't look at me with that face, stop pretending! You knew it very well!" the tall adventuress continues "The Library deals mostly with factual events, it is not a more typical library full of tomes on every subject and kind. And I, who didn't know it, more or less wasted my attempt today... I've tried to find a pragmatic solution to the demonic invasion, but all I got were fleeting visions of the various demon lords moving about here and there, and a flash of a view of the city of Menzoberranzan. So perhaps the solution lies in Menzoberranzan - or requires components that need to be sourced there".

"Anyway," Khessa smiles "do you wish to tell me what did you find out in the meantime? Or do you prefer for all the others to come back and join us?"

"Oh, I found a corner where some spiders have managed to actually make a web, although I don't think there are any flying insects for them to catch." Horkas responds with a defeated huff. "And I saw lots of the vast hallways with books and scrolls and tomes - none of which were helpful in my searches in any way. The only thing of interest I have to report is that I saw a simulacrum of the great Elminster! I even asked if perhaps he could help me find my way, and when I told him our quest to stop the demon incursion, he said something about "...that fool Gromph Baenre bungling a spell...""

"What about you, Khessa? I'm sure that you discovered something unique! You have no fewer powers than me in this place!" Horkas says with a big grin as he playfully slaps the big warrior on her arm (because he can't reach her shoulders... =)

"You are very kind," Khessa laughs, reciprocating the pat "but as I already told you, I just discovered that the crystal has its special use here in Gravenhollow - and we will put it to good use in the next days, I guess - and that Menzoberranzan can play a role".

"Speaking of that, 'Baenre' is a drow family name..." the blonde arcane warrior muses aloud "Maybe the drow - or at least some of them - are involved, after all..."

"I really would have liked to meet the Sage of Shadowdale," the tall adventuress dreams, widening her blue eyes "even only in simulacrum forn... But I guess viditors meet the simulacrum they deserve" she sighs.

Arriving at the scene, the noble drow finds Lunaria and Katryl conversing a stone giant that he decides is most likely one of the keepers of the library that the galeb duhr spoke of. "Greetings, pardon me for intruding on your conversation. As I am sure my companions have already explained we have recently arrived at Gravenhollow and we would greatly appreciate any assistance you are able to provide us with." Traydark says with a courteous bow to the stone giant.

"I still don't understand," Katryl says. "If..."  She pauses as Traydark appears and interrupts with his introduction.  She shakes her head, giving the drow a sharp look with a slight fiery glow to her eyes. She quickly turns to Lulu. "It just doesn't seem right. How can there be nothing to learn here?  There must be some way to continue to use the Future for understanding? Or are we stuck now to just explore the other sections?"  She glances again at Traydark. "Perhaps you learned something from your wandering?"