Necromancer's Delusion-Homebrew

You all watch Jinara turn beet red as he begins to chastise his mom.  Luckily for him, a giant tree whooshes into existence behind the group of people and shifts everyone's focus towards it.  Hazilegosa pats Jinara on the head and says, "Okay dear.  It seems your friends are quite useful." she says with a smile.  You watch as the bark of the tree trunk begins to glow and tears open into a glowing green portal.  Stepping through is a familiar looking red headed woman you know as Valeera.  She looks curiously at the collection of people then focuses in on each of the group smiling at the familiar faces. Just before the portal closes you can see the form of Herbert standing in the background waving from within the courtyard.  A split second later the portal flashes and closes restoring the tree bark.   Inara give Mucor a firm pat on the back and steps back over towards the group.

Valeera walks towards Gaelin then pauses as she sees Hazilegosa.  Her eyes flare with excitement and she curtseys before walking up to Gaelin and placing her arm through his.  "Greetings m'lady, I am Valeera.  How may I be of service?" she says with a small bow of her head.  "Well met Valeera.  All is well." she says watching Valeera's movements closely and making a note of her interaction with Gaelin.  "Is this one your mate?" she asks boldly.  Valeera doesn't skip a beat and says, "Yes. He saved me and nursed me back to health during the war.  He's everything to me." Hazilegosa catches Jinara's eye as she smiles and leans her head towards the couple in a "see." gesture. "So much the better. I wish you all the happiness in the world."

Jinara attempts to not make eye contact with his mother as to avoid embarrassment, but fails.  He cheeks run flush again. 

Mucor makes a few glances towards Aryn at all this talk about mates. He turns slightly red and lets out a tiny snort before shaking his sleeve and prompting the green flame serpent to dance out across his fingers as though to distract himself and anyone around him from his blushing face. 

Gaelin feels the urge to reply and feels the warmth of his body spread to his cheeks. "Yup" is all he manages to studder out.  He looks to Valeera and smiles trying to play it cool but everyone else would see the goofiest looking smile ever while Gaelin tries to restrain his emotions.  He does a short bow to Hazilegosa and looks to the sky hoping and praying for a shiny dragon to break the awkwardness.  His hand would wrap around Valeera's and squeeze tightly.

(apologies all, had two birthdays this weekend and I'm playing catch up.  Will post tomorrow morning.  Was able to get it in tonight.)

(All good. I had a busy weekend as well)

Aryn smiles and catches Mucor's gaze.  She casually walks over and kisses him on the cheek and holds his hand silently enjoying the discomfort felt by her brother.

A very awkward 5 minutes pass while the archivists all surround the group and prepare to take notes of this momentous occasion.  You occasionally hear side conversations about what Bahamut will be like and speculation on Hazilegosa's future plans.  At the expiration of 5 minutes the air around the mountainside crackles with arcane energy.  A great breeze of wind rushes past you from the east and you see a column of light pierce through a cloud above and slam into the ground 30 feet away causing another rush of wind to emanate in all directions.  You shield your eyes from the intense light and as the light fades you see the outline of a man standing amidst a large glowing circle of runes.  Perched on each shoulder of the man are three golden canaries.  Your eyes adjust as you see a male elf dressed in a simple grey robe with blue trim and golden buttons.  He smiles and walks towards you and takes a small bow as Hazilegosa walks out to meet him.  "I've missed you Hazel." the man says embracing Hazilegosa in a tight hug. 

The two break away from each other and he says in a voice that seems to resound in your mind as well as in your ears. "I am Bahamut and most gracious for your aid in restoring Hazilegosa." At these words the archivists all fall on their knees and bow.  "I'm surprised you didn't kill them all Hazel.  Have you grown soft over all these years?" he says smiling looking down to Hazilegosa.  "If I didn't smell Seregos I probably would have.  Inara helped clear things up rather quickly though.  How have you been in my absence?" she replies.  "I'm glad you didn't.  These dragonborn as their called are quite dedicated followers and a remarkable miracle of creation.  I've been well enough, though your place was never taken as you can see. There will be plenty of time to apprise yourself of all that's happened since you disappeared.  Right now, I'm quite interested to hear from Seregos and these Lightbringers of their interaction with Netharion and the journey that lead them to find and rescue you." he says and turns to look at each member of the group.  It is strange the sensation you feel at this moment as you stare at the simple figure in front of you.  Your eyes tell your brain one thing but yet you feel this faint aura exuding from Bahamut that causes your muscles to be tense.  It's as if your body is naturally reacting in a respectful fear.

Aryn wasn't sure what to do so she stood silent for a minute before saying, "Thank you for coming.  We did fight a shadowy dragon who sounded like Neltharion.  He took control of my mind for a short while and nearly killed me. We came here to do research on the pillars.  The obsidian pillar has been destroyed and three remain.  We hope to their location so we can protect the others and prevent Neltharion from returning."

"To expound on Aryn's remarks, the shadowy dragon was an avatar that seemed to be derived from a portion of Neltharion himself. We discovered this in the ruin at Phoax (right?) which cursed the townsfolk who died in its destruction and any travelers who came across it. Aryn was crucial in discovering the information regarding the pillars upon our research here in Sonas." He pauses for a moment of silence before redirecting the discussion "Your grace, if that is the most appropriate salutation, as you may be aware, my presence in this time is only by the grace of one of your allies of the cataclysm and the resulting banishment of Neltharion. Davara, Lady of Power. It is through her that my purpose in life is to gain power through knowledge in the efforts to discover my lineage. By her grace, and Gaelin's skill in the arcane (sending a wink in his direction) I have been reunited with my mother. I would ask to call upon her our discussion today. I feel her knowledge along with yours and my mother's would provide great benefit and resource in the preparation for Neltharion. If you agree, I am able to call upon her unless you would like to reconnect personally." You can see an element if confidence that is different than when he is talking to his mother as if he knows how to hold himself in the presence of a deity. 

(Jinara is willing to cast Planar Ally if Bahumat agrees or does not summon her himself. If a persuasion roll is needed - 18)

Mucor would give Aryn a smile and tightly squeeze her hand in return. When Bahamut arrives, he doesn't say anything. He tried his best to stand respectfully... a bit worried that he may not survive a fire breath from Bahamut himself. 

Gaelin bows his head low when Jinara mentions his name.  He tries to think of something to add but can't and looks to Valeera to gauge her reaction.

"I see. This news is most troubling.  You say you encountered the avatar within the ruins of Phoax?  I didn't think anyone had stepped foot there in over a thousand years.  I will see what I can do in contacting her.  I'm sure she would be pleased to see a child of hers once more." Bahamut nods listening to Aryn and Jinara's tales.  Inara interjects. "Two pillars remain Bahamut.  The alexandrite pillar stored in the black tower was destroyed..."  At the mention of the black tower your minds go back to the massive explosion that killed Daegon.

(Will post more tomorrow morning.)

(What??!? Major plot twist!!)

Inara blinks her eyes rapidly and you recognize the casting of a Sending spell. Bahamut's face changes to one of mixed confusion and anger.  "How!?!  The Black tower was guarded by one of the Seven.  It was the safest of the pillars...." Inara holds u a hand in a calming way and replies, "We believe Daegon was attempting to use the crystal's power to augment his own in his attempt to summon Vaeril back to the material plane." There's a momentary flash of light behind you that only Mucor and Aryn catch. "Daegon was a pawn, despite his capabilities he would've likely killed himself in the attempt if the spell rebounded to himself." Bahamut responds shortly. "A risk no one was willing to leave to chance." Varian says moving forward through the group as he speaks.  "Daegon was delusional but had he been successful in returning Vaeril to the material plane, it could've cost countless lives."  "If Neltharion returns Eraas shall suffer the same fate." "Which is why it is time to put an end to the shadows and mysteries.  It is time for us all to be forthright with one another."  He turns looking over to the archivists and Epos.  "Epos, my friend.  It has been too long.  I understand the importance of this occasion to you and your people but I fear I must ask you to leave us.  The information we are to discuss is delicate and should it reach the wrong ears, it could become the end of us all." Epos huffs out a short grunt and moves to retort back but stops when he looks to Bahamut.  Bahamut face and body, once smiling and cordial now glows with an aura of divine radiance.  Piercing eyes and a stone cold glare depict the god has no time for argument.  Epos bows and gathers the remaining archivists before they all move to the teleportation pad and disappear in a chorus of arcane flashes.

There's an awkward couple of minutes as the archivists leave and a sudden crack of thunder above despite the presence of any dark clouds.  The sun flashes and you see a winged female dressed in white robes descend as if from the sun itself and land on the ground lightly.  Davara, the lady of power herself not stand beside Bahamut in this large circle of gods, elders and adventurers.  "Greetings.  I understand we have much to discuss."  "Yes, beginning with the destruction of the black tower." Bahamut says irritably. "That is partially my doing." Davara replies with a smile and places her hand on Bahamut's left shoulder.  The three canaries flutter and scoot back towards his neck as the hand makes purchase.  "I gave the Lightbringers a vision of Daegon's location at the black tower. I lead them to it to stop him.  They succeeded but during the battle the crystal was destroyed in a great explosion.  Daegon was not as inept as you think.  He even managed to disrupt my vision to the Lightbringers, nearly killing them.  It was much more likely that he would've been able to summon Vaeril than previously thought. If you should find fault in anyone let it be on me."  There's a moment of silence that seems to take a lifetime but merely a few seconds pass. "I too am to blame." Varian says.  "I did not foresee this threat to be as great as it was until it was too late."

(Oh snap!)

"I appreciate the kindness but it was our choice.  We did what we thought was best at the time even though it nearly killed us. There's no reason to cover for our mistake." Gaelin says.  "We had no way of knowing the crystal was a pillar.  We didn't even know the pillars existed at that time.  We can dwell in the past or we can work together to ensure the best future for us all.  Where are the other two pillars? If anything, you can just tell us so we don't destroy them.  We should be making sure we do everything we can to prevent Neltharion's return."

Persuasion:  18

Reverence comes over the face of Jinara as the 3 beings in front of him all played a role in his existence. He recognizes the the magnitude of this moment in time and cherishes it for but a moment. He then returns to the conversation "We were unaware that the tower held a pillar. The knowledge of the pillars we just discovered here in Sonas. With two destroyed, we need to locate the other 2 so we can add protection to them."

"If... Anyone is to blame for the tower being destroyed... it would be me. The tower was destroyed by my hand... as a result of a decision I made without consulting the others." Mucor would say with a frown as his eyes moved to each of his companions and then stopped for a moment on Aryn. "I apologize. Had I known about the pillar... or how I would have nearly killed those that I love... I would not have made the same decision."

Hazilegosa looks over to Inara after Mucor speaks and sighs.  Varian holds up a hand to quiet the incoming storm growing on Bahamut's brow.  "What is done can not be undone.  There is no point in continuing to resolve the past.  We must move forward." Gaelin, in your mind you hear Varian's voice say, "Sarcasm will not win you any friends here." then he continues to speak.  "Bahamut, we need to ensure the protection of the other pillars.  The one entrusted to the Seven has been destroyed.  The one entrusted to the civilizations of Eraas was destroyed.  Where do the other two reside?"  Bahamut breathes out slowly and looks over to Inara.  "The emerald pillar is protected by the Elanaetas within the grove.  The Quartz pillar is entrusted to the metallic dragons of Eraas within Blackrock Mountain.  Both have proven capable of defending their pillars." he says proudly.  "If you wish to aid the dragons you should start with convincing Hazel.  If she agrees then you have my blessing."  Inara bows her head and adds, "You are welcome to visit anytime and aid us in the grove.  If we are ever in danger I will be sure to contact you immediately.  Though it may be prudent to show you where to go once we are done here."  Hazilegosa looks over the group then to Inara and says, "You trust them with such a task?  I cannot see it myself but perhaps I shall.  Is there anything else you have uncovered in your investigations?" Inara nods in agreement and looks to the group to answer.

Aryn finally speaks up though her body and adrenaline are still pumping.  "We know that there are tears in reality that we think Neltharion is using to taint the world.  This tear is somewhere in the Arak desert between the Blowing Peaks and Smoking Hills.  We may also have an informant who works for Neltharion named Wymeron.  We captured him and he is set to be punished in the next few days.  We know Wymeron made deals with the night queen of the feywild who was allegedly plotting an attack to the north.  There was a mage named Antonidus who was studying the pillars and the time distortion of the feywild plane.  We know he disappeared for many years and believe he is still in the feywild on his 11th journey. Antonidus made agreements with both factions of the feywild to allow for his safe and unimpeded travel." Aryn says then pauses and adds  "Ma'am." with a respectful bow.

Gaelin tries to think of anything to add but can't and just gives a nod to his sister.