Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread (PbP)

(History check on Vezivi at Dis: 11. Merkas heard anything about her or the term Blue Spark?) 

Markas smiles genially at the disapproving glance of the kobold before spurring Barkly to follow. He

Upon entering the throne room, as it is, he dismounts and bows slightly keeping his gaze lowered and teeth covered to avoid appearing aggressive. He digs through his mind to remember the etiquette that Kasi had taught him about interacting with her people. 

Quote from Larskolstad >>

Sera bows politely " I am honored Queen...I see how taxing this is for you and your people. We understand you worship a dead blue dragon....you keep its corpse someplace? I will confer with Paladine about the next action needed.."

Sera get fort some incense and lut ut...the villowingvsweet smoke swirls around and she take a deep breath..

" Great Dragon...please answer your servant and guide us. ...we seek to cleanse this place of its sickening aura by finding the blue dragoncorpse ... please tell us how we might succeed..."

Sera eyes turn all white. And her body goes stiff as she seeks answers from her deity

( cast Divination )

Before Sera, a silvery light begins to glow and pulse. In this blighted air, it takes longer than anticipated for the glowing form to take shape. But eventually, a ghostly visage of your god in dragon form appears. It's shimmering eyes turn to Sera, then look away. 

"You take great risk calling upon me. The eyes of Takhisis are everywhere." He takes a deep breath, then blows out an illusion of a rotted corpse, most of its ribcage exposed. Blue bobolds mill about the form, placing scented herbs, and polishing the holy relics around its form. Near it are smaller blue dragons who have apparently died near their mother. Their flesh has rotted under their scales, and their hide sags into their bones.

"The price of defiance," he answers vaguely. "The role of the child is to devour the mother when she dies. It purifies the den and fortifies the young with her magic. No descendant in her line remains to complete this sacred and honored tradition. The body must be absorbed, and the magic contained, or the plague will last a thousand years."

With that, Paldine vanishes.

The silence that follows is nearly deafening. The idea of devouring their goddess seems like heresy to them. One of the priestesses speaks up in Yipyak, her tone clearly upset. The queen hears her, nods, and frowns. The other priestesses, encouraged by their sister, also begin to speak up, offering their support of the first priestesses words.

She sits there, on her cushions, quietly debating the options.

Larskolstad, the casting cost for Divination is 25 Stl. Please deduct that from your wealth.
Please roll Persuasion as well.
If you wish, you may also Roll Insight or Religion. Although you do not speak Yipyak, the priestesses are obviously objecting. A successful roll may help you understand how to convince the queen.

( peruasion 16. Religion 9)

Sera just stand stunned a while...greatly honored her god spoke to her...then notice the distress of the kobolds..

" I not thing YOU need to eat the dragon mother...it is about heritage. Absorbing the body... we can find another dragon being to take the role of the child? ..or absorb it into a idol?...if not. The pain last 1000 years"

Sera look at the Strider...and Merkas. It is his steed. She decide not ask.  Then at Buckeran. " could the absorbing part go into a magical idol?..or item?"

Buckeran considers the possibility. "Well, it's certainly possible. Powerful magics would be required, and a new idol would most likely need to be constructed... one large enough to contain such magic without being destroyed. Some ancient relics exist with antimagic properties that could effectively store the magic in a void. But to consume the magic that that cave Paladine showed us would no doubt be inundated with spoiled magic... the antimagic device would have to be even bigger than the cave itself, because it's not cased in a solid entity. Hmm...."

It's clear that Buckeran is about to prattle. His hands are clasped behind his back, and he's pacing now, looking at the ground.

"If dismembered, I have some antimagic caskets back in Santech, which could hold the younger dragons. I could have the acolytes bring it. But the adult dragon, guessing by it's size, it's most likely an elder Adult Blue, or a younger Ancient Dragon, the remains will have to be destroyed. We simply don't have enough anti-magic devices to contain such a being. Then there's the matter of the treasure, of which I am fairly certain is cursed. It will need to be removed from this place, and purified in a holy sanctum. Even then, we may need to make multiple pilgrimages here to continue to bless the caves. But if the treasure remains, the curse will continue to fester. You can't take the knife out part of the way to tend the wound." He takes a wide stance, his arms out pleading. "This is a huge request of a theocratic society. What we're asking borders on heresy."

"IT IS HERESY YOU IDIOT MALE!" One of the priestesses screams, tired of Buckeran's blasphemy. "My queen, surely you hear what this man says! He wishes to defile the bodies of The Great Mother Vezivi and her offspring, then plunder her riches that rightfully belong to her in her tomb! I know that you are wise and wish to protect our people, but surely there must be another way!" She steps forward, pleading to Queen Ozula.

Queen Ozula raises her hand to silence the priestess. Her face is calm... she sympathizes with the priestesses concern. "I am the Handmaiden of the Great Mother. I tended her in life from the time I was barely more than a hatchling, and though it would've been my greatest honor to become nourishment for her, she saw my wisdom, and deigned I should rule over her servants, our clan, instead. And yet, with all my knowledge of how to tend her grave... with all the knowledge of the priestesses combined... none here have offered a solution that even has a chance of working until now. Our clan was once 300 strong. We are dying. We have failed our Great Mother. And yet, the Great Mother still shows mercy and brings us a servant of Paladine to grant us new wisdom. You heard her god. There is no higher power than his words, for he is the king of dragons!" She huffs and places a hand on her belly. 

"There isss another higher power," the priestess reminds Queen Ozula.

This time, Ozula is the one outraged. "Our Great Mother refused her call. And you would ask me to deny her dying decree? Who desecrates the Great Mother now, Adriaak?!" She slams a fist down on a cushion. "Speak such heresy again, and I will order you to personally dismember the children of the Great Mother!" Priestess Adriaak silences herself after the brutal rebuking.

She looks to Buckeran, his forehead beaded with sweat, then to Sera. "Do you have proof that the treasure is also cursed?"

Buckeran pulls out the vial, "Yes, your majesty. You see I performed my research-"

Queen Ozula turns her head slowly, casting a wilting glare at Buckeran. "Do your men always speak so forwardly? Or has the madness begun to take them? We have more cells... and more manacles, if you require."

Buckeran shrinks back.

Hastos has been watching the events play out. He chuckles to himself at Buckerans absentminded outburst. 

Hastos has just stays in the background. Then a thought came to mind. He walks up to Sera and leans over her to whisper in her ear. “What about the carrion crawler we saw when we first entered the cave? Perhaps we could lure it down here to consume the dragon?”

Sera whisper back to Hastos " might rid us of the dragon...but...I doubt they like to see that...." Sera see tension grow...and hear...

That the Queen kobold snap at Buckeran for just speaking she ignore. The queen klbold are ignorant of other cuktures but thats a matter to adress later.

" it is not only you who suffer...everyone around here suffer. The land suffer. I will cut the debate.This is how it might work out. 

You and us make a ritual to cleanse and purify the body of your great mother. Her spirit lives on in the afterlife. That is what matters most. That spirit is what you keep value. Not her poisening carcass. I suggest a holy incineration with lighting. She was a blue dragon and lighting was hers. I think that would please her. 

Then you start trade off the treasure. Value for value. No one steal your treasure. We take piece by piece. Start purify it and trade it in for new valuables.

You cannot thrive serving a dead dragon. We take our loss and keep live on. Humans or kobolds. For generations to come they need a future. I will pray to father of dragons to send forth a new metallic dragon who needs a place. Or chromatic if he knows of one.  Who might be yours to serve. "

Sera looks around. 

" this sounds like a option your majesty?"

( persuasion 21)

The slightly inebriated kender shifts to the side and sends a message to Sera “Her girl, um, didn’t Mushroom King say that they were absorbing the magics to keep their people safe, maybe they can help with the cleaning up process, or maybe I actually doomed this whole place by blowing ul the big fungusses?” 

Sera nods. " they did..but would it not doom the mushroom people if they absobed the sickness? They might  dam the sickness some....but that could not last. I am tempted to try summon the Efreet. 1 of ten it grants a wish. ...or fight us.... "

Sera sigh. Some will be disseapointed for sure. 

The queen rubs her temples.

Buckeran sweats nervously at Sera's offer. He heads over to the group and requests a huddle. "Your generosity is admirable, but I'm afraid you're making promises we can't keep. Santekh is well funded, but not... dragon horde funded. An even exchange simply isn't possible. Even with Dawnbound and Santekh's wealth combined, we'd bankrupt the town and still be in debt. There's no way the council would agree to this. And frankly, I can't support it. We have a cause that's far greater than the theological preferences of a remote kobold clan."

Queen Ozula is too busy being frustrated with a stressful decision to notice you huddling. And the priestesses are still nagging her, trying to sway her to some better choice. Finally she raises a hand. "Stop! Stop this at once! The Priestess Sera is right. Our Great Mother has transcended this plane, and no doubt thinks us fools for standing on tradition. But reverence for the proper disposal of a dragon's remains should be observed. Priestess Sera, if you do this, you must do so with the oversight of my priestesses. Due to my condition, I cannot accompany you. I will trust in their advice, but the disposal of the holy remains are the top priority. Do that first, and we will discuss the trade of the dragon's horde. The gold and relics within that chamber carry ancient and divine powers. A 1 for 1 exchange will not be suitable. We don't care for shiny trinkets. Such honors belong to the Great Mother alone. And without further guidance from her about what to do with that horde, we cannot risk desecrating her treasures without further council and information."

Buckeran looks to Queen Ozula, then back to Sera. "We need to secure all of it. And we can't exchange it. I'm sorry, Sera, but we may need to apply deception here," he whispers out of the side of his mouth.

While huddled up with the others Merkas tilts his head In thought again. “Hey, kobold people need dragons to serve, right, or they feel lost?” Merkas looks between his friends trying to parse if his next thought is viable.
(Insight: 13 - would informing this group of kobolds about the Letni Inhelk and the egg they are nurturing be a good idea, as in giving these blue ones another patron to follow? Or maybe would introducing them and having the young dragon brought here to absorb the magics fix the issue?) 

“Like maybe we have another way to help but it isn’t super obvious? Some of the other places we travelled”

“Interesting thought.” Hastos says as Merkas’ meaning hit him. “Would one be willing to move to the other?”

She rubs her temples. Such a mess. " well speak your mind Merkas..."

She leans over to Buckeran and say "deception? I think you got the wrong cleric...how that help us?..no" her words are final. 

Still huddled up and whispering “Well you showed that Letni Inhelk trinket right, it at least let us talk with this group. Maybe they can move over there until the curse is gone, if they will get along that is. Or maybe the others can come here and their treasure can help purify the curse” Merkas head is swimming as he tries to get his thoughts out in a logical order “Hey Bucky, do you know if any dragon can absorb the energies here, or does it have to be  a blue. Also how well will a group of blue kobolds whose patron was killed by this To Take Hits lady get along with red kobolds who refused to fight in the big war?” 

"Okay..this is not easy to fix. But anyway we should start to move out your Queen. The Dragonarmy know something is here. We found corpses. With notes. That the patrol did not return will strenghten the suspicion valuables are here. The Dragonarmies will not bother talk to you or even consider to let you keep anything. 

We have options to where you can live...we can also search aroynd more. Take the treasure with you. We purify it somehow. It is yours. We are not thieves and we help protect it with you"

Sera feel they running out of options. Now it is time for action. 

Hastos mainstains a watchful eye on the kobolds. (perception 16)

Quote from Hrothbert_Neruca >>

Still huddled up and whispering “Well you showed that Letni Inhelk trinket right, it at least let us talk with this group. Maybe they can move over there until the curse is gone, if they will get along that is. Or maybe the others can come here and their treasure can help purify the curse” Merkas head is swimming as he tries to get his thoughts out in a logical order “Hey Bucky, do you know if any dragon can absorb the energies here, or does it have to be  a blue. Also how well will a group of blue kobolds whose patron was killed by this To Take Hits lady get along with red kobolds who refused to fight in the big war?” 

Buckeran takes a moment to understand Merkas. "To Take Hits? To take- OH! Takhisis!" He catches himself, and lowers his voice. "Takhisis..." he whispers apologetically. I truly do not know. Dragons can be cannibalistic. So I don't think another dragon would be harmed by consuming the corpse of another dragon. Based on their state of decay, however... I can't say for certain. Dragons prefer their meat to be fresh. As for rival kobold tribes... they're famously insular. But that doesn't mean they are incapable of joining under a singular cause. Takhsis's army uses kobolds of all breeds to fight in her wars. It's part of why our own dear Kasi had such a hard time in Santekh, before her ascension to council member. Even now, she often struggles against the prejudices brought about by her heritage. Why? Do you think she could be of aid here?"

Buckeran, unaware that the Letni Inhelk clan still exists, seems to misunderstand Merkas's plan.

Quote from Larskolstad >>

"Okay..this is not easy to fix. But anyway we should start to move out your Queen. The Dragonarmy know something is here. We found corpses. With notes. That the patrol did not return will strenghten the suspicion valuables are here. The Dragonarmies will not bother talk to you or even consider to let you keep anything. 

We have options to where you can live...we can also search aroynd more. Take the treasure with you. We purify it somehow. It is yours. We are not thieves and we help protect it with you"

Sera feel they running out of options. Now it is time for action. 

Buckeran clearly tenses at your proclamation, and hopes beyond hope that you're bluffing.

Queen Ozula agrees with the basics of Sera's assessment. "It's true that strangers have attempted to plunder our Great Mother's treasure. We overheard them seeking an ancient relic. Our Great Mother has many. But we would rather die than see them in the hands of the Dragon Armies. We will consider your suggesstion to make an exodus. Go now with my priestesses, and survey the tomb. Be cautious. The madness will assault your minds. My priestesses can ward you, but at great risk to their own strength. You evacuate on their command. It is for your safety, and theirs. Do we have an accord?"

Quote from MrUncleTio >>

Hastos mainstains a watchful eye on the kobolds. (perception 16)

Several of the kobolds are watching your group. Some with drooling mouths. Others with a keen eye on your weapons and armor.

" this seems fine..lead the way. " Sera look to her friends...when we get closer I bless us. She looks at her friends. "Merkas, Hastos and Orr you will be given extra resistance ...I will pray to the great dragon...

( Sera cast bless when they are nearing the grave. Adding 1d4 on attacks and saving throws)

The priestesses gather around you with a following of male warriors. They guide you north, through a narrow tunnel that Barkly can barely squeeze through. Then east through a mushroom grove, following a miandering path towards the entrance to the dragon's tomb. The priestesses pray and cast wards over the group, touching each of the warrior's foreheads, and smearing a mysterious black goo in the shape of a sigil. Two priestesses stand on their tippy toes to attempt to reach Hastos and Sera's foreheads before giving up. They clear their throats, embarrased. "Kneel male," one barks at Hastos. "Please lower your head," the other says to Sera.

Already you can feel the intensity of the poisoned mana wash over you. It feels foul... nauseating even. Like you're slogging through raw sewage.

The path you take...

Sera lower hersels so the goo can be attatched. " thank you" she give a nid of appreciation

" now...I feel the piisined aura getting stronger. " Great Dragon...watch over my friends." She make a quick orayer 

( cast bless on Hastos, Merkas and Orr)

Hastos scan the kobolds and notices they seem to be watching them with an almost ravenous intensity. One kobold in particular seems to be singling out Hastos.

He follows carefully to the great mother’s entrance. Watching the surroundings. 

Hastos fights to hide his smirk as the Kobold priestess commands him to kneel, but he obeys. But is unable to hide a twinkle in his eyes.

His mirth is short lived as he feels the waves of poisonous magic continue to wash over him. He feels the nausea and is barely able to keep his stomach in check.

“I have never felt anything like this. No wander the males lose their minds.” He says quietly.