The priestess closes her book and turns to give Delvindra her full attention.
"Well... I only met the lich himself briefly," she says after a moment. "But I got to know a warlock who made a pact with him very well... a half-orc woman by the name of Bridgette..."
The priestess smiles thinking about her orcish friend.
"This will sound strange... but when I met her, I had become quite jaded by my duties of caring for the sick... from watching those who we couldn't save pass away. To be frank, at first I thought she was a terrifying cultist... but... over and over she demonstrated herself to be one of the most loving and compassionate people I have ever met. She risked her life many times to protect the innocent, especially children. She was able to help me kindle that spark of compassion again, to let myself feel for others in a way I hadn't for some time... I eventually asked her how someone like her... why she would pledge her service to a lich..."
The priestess pauses for a moment and takes a deep breathe.
"...She told me that, when she was extremely young, barely able to walk, she was abducted by Drow raiders. She grew up as a slave in the Underdark, unwillingly serving her abductors in the mines for several years. But... apparently the slavers managed to make an enemy of the lich. She didn't give me a lot of the specifics, but she told me that he wiped out the slavers and then guided their now free slaves safely to the surface. Bridgette had no home or family to return to, so she asked this lich to take her as his apprentice, and he agreed. I won't lie, I had my doubts that such a creature would ever perform such an act of what I can only describe as heroism. But I couldn't see any other explanation for why such a sweet woman would willingly serve him. When I actually met him, he was searching for Bridgette... he had travelled across the multiverse to deliver her from the clutches of the monster who had ensnared both of us. I honestly couldn't believe that such a creature would go to such efforts to protect a mere servant. So... after he used his powers to deliver both of us from that gods-forsaken dimension, I gathered my courage and I asked him."
"He told me that when he was still human, he had a daughter," she says, struggling a bit to remember every details of the encounter. "And he told me that his daughter was murdered by the dark elves. That memory of his little girl was why he decided to save Bridgette from her captors, and why he took her in and taught her the ways of magic..."
The priestess waits a moment to let the full story sink in, giving Delvindra time to digest what she has just been told. Then she concludes her thoughts on the subject.
"I don't know if I can call this lich a 'good' creature, I am sure that he has done many ruthless things throughout the centuries, and I don't even want to think about what he must have done to become what he is now. But I know for certain that he still has humanity within his soul."
"Where the spark of compassion lives, hope endures."
Delvindra bows her head slightly in deference.
"Thank you Sister. I will approach Lord Akkron with respect for his enduring humanity and gratitude for the kindness he has shown you. Is there any message you would like me to convey, either to Lord Akkron or to Bridgette?"
"Let Bridgette know that she gave me hope when I needed it most," Sister Eila says with a soft smile. "And... let Lord Akkron know that his daughter rests in peace, with the blessing of Ilmater."
"Sister, I am honored to bear this message for you. Thank you for all that you have done for us."
She struggles for a moment, as if there is more she wants to say but can't seem to find the right words.
"I'm sorry to have imposed. I will leave you to your rest."
With that, Delvindra heads to the place that has been made up for her and her companions and meditates briefly before crawling into a (much too comfortable) bed.
Duwamilly ate slowly at dinner, interspersing long chats while eating. At a certain point, taken by inspiration, she also began to rummage through her things, extracting bizarre tools and combining them with waste materials found in the temple, and after some intent fiddling (which did not prevent her from continuing to have a conversation), he produced... a cube similar in appearance to his own! But only in appearance; the functions are very different: the side relating to number 1, if pressed, triggers a spring that opens it... and a cheerful piece of music begins to play, brightening up dinner.
"Oh, that's better, isn't it?" the gnome looks around, proud of her achievement.
At the end of dinner, the unusual cleric closes her music box - which therefore stops playing and retreats to her room. Where, however, she suddenly facepalms: "How silly! I wanted to ask Sister Eila the details of her meeting with Lord Akkron! I got distracted and forgot about it!"
To remedy this, the lively Planerunner leaves the room and heads to the Priestess' cell, only to realize that a conversation is already underway...
'It's not good to eavesdrop, I always explain this to kids...' muses the ex-Preceptor 'But you have to know the enemy. How can I convince kids how inappropriate it is to eavesdrop if I don't try it firsthand?' and so, she tries to stop and listen...
When Duwamilly commits to something, she always gives it her all and with enthusiasm - this is how she is able to perfectly follow the conversation inside between Delvina and Sister Eila.
"Poor Lord Akkron!" the gnome can't help but feel instinctive compassion for this man - no for this lich - well, for this ex-man-with-still-so-much-humanity-remaining"To lose a daughter like that! Thank goodness that at least Ilmater is taking care of her! Maybe..." she turns to her god "...just pay her a visit you too, Garl, will you? I'm sure Ilmater has the best intentions, but in my opinion having only his company for all eternity might be a little... boring. Not that I mean to sound offensive - there are entities that are truly wonderful, despite being boring, and I'm pretty sure Ilmater is one of them - but the point is that I think you would be better suited to lift the morale of this poor soul from time to time..." and continuing to talk to herself and reflect on what she has learned, she returns to her room and, while still thinking and talking, falls asleep.
As the gnome interjects herself, the red-haired half-elf first gives her a cold glare, but as she goes on her expression softens and finally she shrugs, offering the ex-preceptor a small smile. "You are quite a lecturer, aren't you?" She says with a tired smile. "But I suppose you are right, I will certainly not strike any deals with that Firion and I suppose we should at least journey to seek an audience with that lich before the dark archmage returns." She says weakly, giving the gnome a nod, then getting up to talk to the high priest.
"I apologize, that was ungraceful of me, I should have accepted your guidance without questioning it, I was just not prepared for..." Yasmina says with an apologetic smile and a small shrug. "And thank you for these, I am very grateful." She adds, looking at the cloak and boots she is offered, noting they are red too, very much in style with her dress. "I will need to speak to my master now, but I'm sure he will understand." She finishes with a faint smile and a slight bow before heading outside to seek the djinni.
"So, was Ilmater able to lift the curse and set me free?"The djinni asks in a demanding tone as Yasmina steps outside the impressive temple and into the fresh evening air. "Not exactly." The half-elf starts, weighing her next words. "We will need to journey, together with the other accursed in the temple, to a lich who hopefully will be able to lift the curses." She explains and goes on to in her most diplmatic way encourage the djinni to agree with the advice given. "A lich?" The djinni scoffs. "And this would be the best course of action you say?" He asks with doubt in his booming voice. "I believe it is the only way forward at the moment my master. The dark wizard Firion will most likely return and we would at least travel with others when he does. The high priest gave me these though." She finishes with a smile, making a twirl wearing her new boots and thin cloak.
The djinni still seems annoyed but scratches his chin over what has been said. "We have no time to waste then. I will take you and the other accursed to this lich in the morning."He says with a proud and pompous tone before vanishing back into the Sapphire ring on Yasmina's finger, making her quiver as she feels the drain, the curse weakining her. She was running out of time and if a lich had to be served so be it.
The red-haired half-elf then walks back into the great temple with heavy steps, gratefully accepting the hot meal and the bed offered, hoping for a restful sleep before the coming journey.
After Delvindra has her talk with Sister Eila (with Duwamilly pressing her ear to the door the whole time), the night passes uneventfully. Yasmina manages to convince her patron that yes, going to see a lich is probably the least-bad option on the table at the moment. And everyone gets a good night of sleep.
The morning sunlight wakes you all up early, and the priests bring you some breakfast. You are each also given two potions of healing which you may now add to your inventory.
What do you all do next?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Well... I guess it's enough to get the poor priestess currently stuck in the Far Realm back...
Certainly! Duwamilly immediately runs enthusiastically to announce to the High Priest that the Cubic Gate has regenerated enough power to try to save the poor priestess... and, as soon as the elf declares himself ready, she opens the portal, hoping that it is not too late to save the poor thing from madness... or a horrible death.
Delvindra wakes up early and engages in quiet meditation and contemplation of her god followed by a long series of slow, precise, graceful katas. Her face is a stoic mask, marred occasionally by furrows of concentration as she makes a particularly difficult transition, that almost conceals the pure joy sparkling in her eyes.
At breakfast, she continues to take meager portions but refuses to let even a crumb of food go to waste. Assuming the Ilmateri serve anything but thin, bland gruel, Delvindra will eat with gusto and comment on/compliment the quality of the food.
Now that her new ring is suppressing the incessant whispers in her head, she seems somewhat more tolerant of Duwamilly's ceaseless and one-sided conversations as the groups discusses what to do next.
"The first step doesn't seem that complicated. Anyone who's coming with us will need to walk to the nearest port. The sooner we leave the better." Delvindra offers matter-of-factly.
Waking up after a restful sleep, the red-haired half-elf would wash up and gratefully accept the offered breakfast, simple as it may be, then preparing to leave for the haunted island. "My master Lord Amir can make us all travel like the wind, maybe even to that island depending on how far it is, but alas I can not summon him quite yes."Yasmina offers with a small smile, looking around to see who else will be coming along.
(OOC: using wind walk, courtesy of Amir, you could make it to the nearest port city in a couple of hours. However, the island is very remote so you would still need to take a ship to cross the sea)
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Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
"Unfortunately, I have not yet fully recovered the powers to allow us to travel through other dimensions..." admits Duwamilly, a little embarrassed "And the little that I have recovered, I have to use to see if Alaion and I can return between we the Priestess who stole from Frinion the holiday I had so lovingly organized for him. I can't contribute anything, for now, kids... we can leave on foot, and continue in the way suggested by Yasmina - which sounds beautiful! Travel like the wind?! I can't wait to try it! - as soon as she can summon Lord Amir again".
"I won't be able to summon my master until tonight though I'm afraid, and hopefully we will have reached that port by then."The red-haired half-elf explains, seeming a bit embarrassed about this. "The wind walking is amazing though, well, as soon as you get used to it at least." She adds with a soft laugh. "With all the resources of this temple, is it possible to let us have horses to ride there, or a carriage even?" Yasmina then turns and asks the High Priest with a polite smile.
"If you wish it, the Temple can provide two horses and a carriage," the High Priest says. "You can leave your steeds at one of the local shrines when you reach the port."
(OOC: are you planning to travel on your own to move as quickly as you can, or would you prefer to join a caravan for more security?)
The priestess closes her book and turns to give Delvindra her full attention.
"Well... I only met the lich himself briefly," she says after a moment. "But I got to know a warlock who made a pact with him very well... a half-orc woman by the name of Bridgette..."
The priestess smiles thinking about her orcish friend.
"This will sound strange... but when I met her, I had become quite jaded by my duties of caring for the sick... from watching those who we couldn't save pass away. To be frank, at first I thought she was a terrifying cultist... but... over and over she demonstrated herself to be one of the most loving and compassionate people I have ever met. She risked her life many times to protect the innocent, especially children. She was able to help me kindle that spark of compassion again, to let myself feel for others in a way I hadn't for some time... I eventually asked her how someone like her... why she would pledge her service to a lich..."
The priestess pauses for a moment and takes a deep breathe.
"...She told me that, when she was extremely young, barely able to walk, she was abducted by Drow raiders. She grew up as a slave in the Underdark, unwillingly serving her abductors in the mines for several years. But... apparently the slavers managed to make an enemy of the lich. She didn't give me a lot of the specifics, but she told me that he wiped out the slavers and then guided their now free slaves safely to the surface. Bridgette had no home or family to return to, so she asked this lich to take her as his apprentice, and he agreed. I won't lie, I had my doubts that such a creature would ever perform such an act of what I can only describe as heroism. But I couldn't see any other explanation for why such a sweet woman would willingly serve him. When I actually met him, he was searching for Bridgette... he had travelled across the multiverse to deliver her from the clutches of the monster who had ensnared both of us. I honestly couldn't believe that such a creature would go to such efforts to protect a mere servant. So... after he used his powers to deliver both of us from that gods-forsaken dimension, I gathered my courage and I asked him."
"He told me that when he was still human, he had a daughter," she says, struggling a bit to remember every details of the encounter. "And he told me that his daughter was murdered by the dark elves. That memory of his little girl was why he decided to save Bridgette from her captors, and why he took her in and taught her the ways of magic..."
The priestess waits a moment to let the full story sink in, giving Delvindra time to digest what she has just been told. Then she concludes her thoughts on the subject.
"I don't know if I can call this lich a 'good' creature, I am sure that he has done many ruthless things throughout the centuries, and I don't even want to think about what he must have done to become what he is now. But I know for certain that he still has humanity within his soul."
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(If anyone wants to try to eavesdrop on the conversation between Delvindra and Sister Eila, feel free to roll me a DC 15 Perception check)
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"Where the spark of compassion lives, hope endures."
Delvindra bows her head slightly in deference.
"Thank you Sister. I will approach Lord Akkron with respect for his enduring humanity and gratitude for the kindness he has shown you. Is there any message you would like me to convey, either to Lord Akkron or to Bridgette?"
"Let Bridgette know that she gave me hope when I needed it most," Sister Eila says with a soft smile. "And... let Lord Akkron know that his daughter rests in peace, with the blessing of Ilmater."
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Delvina bows even lower this time.
"Sister, I am honored to bear this message for you. Thank you for all that you have done for us."
She struggles for a moment, as if there is more she wants to say but can't seem to find the right words.
"I'm sorry to have imposed. I will leave you to your rest."
With that, Delvindra heads to the place that has been made up for her and her companions and meditates briefly before crawling into a (much too comfortable) bed.
Duwamilly ate slowly at dinner, interspersing long chats while eating. At a certain point, taken by inspiration, she also began to rummage through her things, extracting bizarre tools and combining them with waste materials found in the temple, and after some intent fiddling (which did not prevent her from continuing to have a conversation), he produced... a cube similar in appearance to his own! But only in appearance; the functions are very different: the side relating to number 1, if pressed, triggers a spring that opens it... and a cheerful piece of music begins to play, brightening up dinner.
"Oh, that's better, isn't it?" the gnome looks around, proud of her achievement.
At the end of dinner, the unusual cleric closes her music box - which therefore stops playing and retreats to her room. Where, however, she suddenly facepalms: "How silly! I wanted to ask Sister Eila the details of her meeting with Lord Akkron! I got distracted and forgot about it!"
To remedy this, the lively Planerunner leaves the room and heads to the Priestess' cell, only to realize that a conversation is already underway...
'It's not good to eavesdrop, I always explain this to kids...' muses the ex-Preceptor 'But you have to know the enemy. How can I convince kids how inappropriate it is to eavesdrop if I don't try it firsthand?' and so, she tries to stop and listen...
Duwamilly's Perception: 23
When Duwamilly commits to something, she always gives it her all and with enthusiasm - this is how she is able to perfectly follow the conversation inside between Delvina and Sister Eila.
"Poor Lord Akkron!" the gnome can't help but feel instinctive compassion for this man - no for this lich - well, for this ex-man-with-still-so-much-humanity-remaining "To lose a daughter like that! Thank goodness that at least Ilmater is taking care of her! Maybe..." she turns to her god "...just pay her a visit you too, Garl, will you? I'm sure Ilmater has the best intentions, but in my opinion having only his company for all eternity might be a little... boring. Not that I mean to sound offensive - there are entities that are truly wonderful, despite being boring, and I'm pretty sure Ilmater is one of them - but the point is that I think you would be better suited to lift the morale of this poor soul from time to time..." and continuing to talk to herself and reflect on what she has learned, she returns to her room and, while still thinking and talking, falls asleep.
As the gnome interjects herself, the red-haired half-elf first gives her a cold glare, but as she goes on her expression softens and finally she shrugs, offering the ex-preceptor a small smile. "You are quite a lecturer, aren't you?" She says with a tired smile. "But I suppose you are right, I will certainly not strike any deals with that Firion and I suppose we should at least journey to seek an audience with that lich before the dark archmage returns." She says weakly, giving the gnome a nod, then getting up to talk to the high priest.
"I apologize, that was ungraceful of me, I should have accepted your guidance without questioning it, I was just not prepared for..." Yasmina says with an apologetic smile and a small shrug. "And thank you for these, I am very grateful." She adds, looking at the cloak and boots she is offered, noting they are red too, very much in style with her dress. "I will need to speak to my master now, but I'm sure he will understand." She finishes with a faint smile and a slight bow before heading outside to seek the djinni.
"So, was Ilmater able to lift the curse and set me free?" The djinni asks in a demanding tone as Yasmina steps outside the impressive temple and into the fresh evening air. "Not exactly." The half-elf starts, weighing her next words. "We will need to journey, together with the other accursed in the temple, to a lich who hopefully will be able to lift the curses." She explains and goes on to in her most diplmatic way encourage the djinni to agree with the advice given. "A lich?" The djinni scoffs. "And this would be the best course of action you say?" He asks with doubt in his booming voice. "I believe it is the only way forward at the moment my master. The dark wizard Firion will most likely return and we would at least travel with others when he does. The high priest gave me these though." She finishes with a smile, making a twirl wearing her new boots and thin cloak.
The djinni still seems annoyed but scratches his chin over what has been said. "We have no time to waste then. I will take you and the other accursed to this lich in the morning." He says with a proud and pompous tone before vanishing back into the Sapphire ring on Yasmina's finger, making her quiver as she feels the drain, the curse weakining her. She was running out of time and if a lich had to be served so be it.
The red-haired half-elf then walks back into the great temple with heavy steps, gratefully accepting the hot meal and the bed offered, hoping for a restful sleep before the coming journey.
After Delvindra has her talk with Sister Eila (with Duwamilly pressing her ear to the door the whole time), the night passes uneventfully. Yasmina manages to convince her patron that yes, going to see a lich is probably the least-bad option on the table at the moment. And everyone gets a good night of sleep.
The morning sunlight wakes you all up early, and the priests bring you some breakfast. You are each also given two potions of healing which you may now add to your inventory.
What do you all do next?
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The Cubic Gate gets back 1 charges
Well... I guess it's enough to get the poor priestess currently stuck in the Far Realm back...
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Certainly! Duwamilly immediately runs enthusiastically to announce to the High Priest that the Cubic Gate has regenerated enough power to try to save the poor priestess... and, as soon as the elf declares himself ready, she opens the portal, hoping that it is not too late to save the poor thing from madness... or a horrible death.
Delvindra's ring recovers 3 out of 6 charges
Delvindra wakes up early and engages in quiet meditation and contemplation of her god followed by a long series of slow, precise, graceful katas. Her face is a stoic mask, marred occasionally by furrows of concentration as she makes a particularly difficult transition, that almost conceals the pure joy sparkling in her eyes.
At breakfast, she continues to take meager portions but refuses to let even a crumb of food go to waste. Assuming the Ilmateri serve anything but thin, bland gruel, Delvindra will eat with gusto and comment on/compliment the quality of the food.
Now that her new ring is suppressing the incessant whispers in her head, she seems somewhat more tolerant of Duwamilly's ceaseless and one-sided conversations as the groups discusses what to do next.
"The first step doesn't seem that complicated. Anyone who's coming with us will need to walk to the nearest port. The sooner we leave the better." Delvindra offers matter-of-factly.
Waking up after a restful sleep, the red-haired half-elf would wash up and gratefully accept the offered breakfast, simple as it may be, then preparing to leave for the haunted island. "My master Lord Amir can make us all travel like the wind, maybe even to that island depending on how far it is, but alas I can not summon him quite yes." Yasmina offers with a small smile, looking around to see who else will be coming along.
(OOC: using wind walk, courtesy of Amir, you could make it to the nearest port city in a couple of hours. However, the island is very remote so you would still need to take a ship to cross the sea)
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"Unfortunately, I have not yet fully recovered the powers to allow us to travel through other dimensions..." admits Duwamilly, a little embarrassed "And the little that I have recovered, I have to use to see if Alaion and I can return between we the Priestess who stole from Frinion the holiday I had so lovingly organized for him. I can't contribute anything, for now, kids... we can leave on foot, and continue in the way suggested by Yasmina - which sounds beautiful! Travel like the wind?! I can't wait to try it! - as soon as she can summon Lord Amir again".
"I won't be able to summon my master until tonight though I'm afraid, and hopefully we will have reached that port by then." The red-haired half-elf explains, seeming a bit embarrassed about this. "The wind walking is amazing though, well, as soon as you get used to it at least." She adds with a soft laugh. "With all the resources of this temple, is it possible to let us have horses to ride there, or a carriage even?" Yasmina then turns and asks the High Priest with a polite smile.
"If you wish it, the Temple can provide two horses and a carriage," the High Priest says. "You can leave your steeds at one of the local shrines when you reach the port."
(OOC: are you planning to travel on your own to move as quickly as you can, or would you prefer to join a caravan for more security?)
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