Erastus 13, 4712, continued
Following their encounter with the Storm Queen, the Coopers triplets have taken refuge back on Darelle's jar of cloud to debate their options. They don't really want to abandon the city of Jol to the whims and caprices of a crazed cloud giant. At the same time, they don't really want to confront her and her blue dragon. After discussing their options, they decide their best course of action is to return to the Storm Queen's fortress and deal with the Rift above the storm.
Before leaving Darelle's cloud, Gerald casts fly and heads to the platform. He plans on coming from below the Storm Queen's flying contraption and sneak aboard, but unfortunately the blue dragon and the rocs were flying in tight formation, and the blue dragon notices Gerald as the sorcerer swoops low, dodging between darker clouds inside the large storm formation that surrounds the fortress. The dragon immediately turns and heads in the sorcerer's direction, gaining ground fast. Darelle catches glimpses of a blue streak heading towards her brother. Gerald is in trouble again. Darelle summons nature's ally, calling forth a griffon and sends it to distract the dragon. This diversion works, and the dragon pivots towards the new arrival. The rocs, guided by their hill giant riders, pursue Gerald. The sorcerer loosens a fireball. The rocs and hill giants suffer tremendous damage, and the straps holding one of the giants to his roc burn, breaking in pieces. He falls over, plummeting to the ground. The giant's trajectory avoids the city but crashes in someone's garden, creating a lovely crater near the city wall that in later years will be known as the hole from above.
Daryle positions herself on the edge of the cloud and begins firing arrows at the rocs. Gerald casts another fireball, hitting the rocs and the remaining giant. Unfortunately the rocs pursue their advance and catch up to the sorcerer. Each roc makes a pass and successfully rakes Gerald. The damage is terrifying and Gerald passes out from the pain. He begins plummeting to the ground, and is about to suffer the same fate as the hill giant from earlier before the riderless roc sweeps down and catches him in his talons, intent on eating him. Both roc and the remaining rider retreat and return to their nest to devour poor Gerald. While unconscious, Gerald receives a vision of Pharasma, goddess of death, healing, knowledge, repose and water. In the vision, Pharasma states she has become too familiar with his face, and desires very much to prevent a disturbing of her peace by prolonging the time between his visitations to the very gates of death. The goddess shows him what it could mean if he followed her as an acolyte. Now Gerald will have certain abilities to deal with death and with life, in order to maintain a balance not only for the world in general but for his life as well. He's also fairly certain that another near death experience in the near future would not be welcomed by Pharasma.
Meanwhile, the griffon lands several blows on the dragon, but it doesn't deter the lizard, who deals as good as he gets. Sensing the griffon's distress, Darelle recalls it to her and heals it, restoring it to full health. With the rocs gone, Daryle turns her arrows on the dragon and scores a direct hit. The dragon, meanwhile, pivots and unleashes his breath weapon, shocking the Cooper sisters and the griffon with a bolt of electricity. Pursued by the griffon, the dragon disappears into the cloud cover, closely followed by Darelle's summoned creature. The two of them disappear from view in the storm clouds.
The rangers decide to attempt a rescue of Gerald, and they board the Storm Queen's floating ship. They carefully and quietly climb up to the rocs' nest. Daryle moves quietly and manages to drag Gerald away while the rocs are fighting each other for the pleasure of eating their meal. They bring him back to the lower platform and are able to heal him. When he comes to, his facial expression has changed to one of contentment. The Coopers climb up to the rocs' nest again, and they engage the birds one more time, managing to slay both of them in a surprise attack. Gerald casts his Hellknight uniform over the edge of the platform, renouncing his allegiance to this dark organization. Darelle feels herself being scryed. Gerald argues that it might be Zoarth trying to find their location. Daryle voices her opinion that it might be the Storm Queen, so her sister should not allow the scry to take place. Unfortunately Darelle has no way to prevent the scrying. After a minute and a half, Thedan Nammas appears in a puff of smoke, ready to help the Coopers.
The Coopers explain their situation to Thedan to fill him in on what has transpired since the tree token was sent to him. Thedan voices the idea that if the Storm Queen is really upset at Zoarth, perhaps they could use that to their advantage and convince her to find him and exact her vengeance on him instead. Daryle worries that she might abandon the rift behind if she discovers where Zoarth lives. Darrelle replies that they really should confront her and figure out what it is she really wants. Gerald expresses no opinion on the matter, but frets that the dragon might still be out there, waiting for them to pounce and attack.
Thus, the Coopers and Thedan make the decision to return and confront the Storm Queen and attempt to negotiate an agreement. They cautiously approach the uppermost platform. The Storm Queen
whereby they will convince Zoarth to return with them.
Erastus 19, 4712, continued
FThe Coopers arrive at Zoarth's keep and find that some progress has been made on fixing it up.
Erastus 25, 4712, continued
The storm still rages on. Daryle tells her that Zoarth is right over there, the two of them fight, Zoarth emerges triumphant. Gerald heals him.
Showing posts with label Thedan Nammas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thedan Nammas. Show all posts
Friday, June 16, 2017
Friday, June 9, 2017
The Storm Queen
Erastus 11, 4712
Having found the crude gold featuring a bird of prey on a background of lightning in the hoard of the giants' chief, the Coopers hold hope that these pieces will lead them to discover who sponsored the hit on Zoarth. Maybe the farmers would know. Gerald rubs one of the coins onto parchment so he can show them without having to hand over any of the gold. Daryle wonders why they just couldn't give them a few of the coins since they are down on their luck following their village's destruction by the giants. Darelle agrees.
The Coopers return to the farmers' camp, and make contact with the farmers. The head of the farmers does not recognize the sign, but he refers them to a sage named Thedan Nammas, a sage who lives in the hills just outside of Jol. Surely if anyone around these parts is able to tell them what this sign is, it will be him.
Gerald gives a gold coin to every person in the farming community, but after 130 coins have been distributed he realizes that the farmers and their families have taken advantage of him by disguising themselves to get more coins. Daryle, seeing this strategem, hints that the coins may be cursed. Many of the children drop their coins and run, but the adults hang on. The triplets return to their cloud and fly away, following the valley as it becomes wider. They pass over the giants' camp again, but none of the hill giants have returned.
In the late afternoon, they see in the distance their destination. Jol is a small city of 9,500 inhabitants. The Coopers can see it from miles away. They get off the cloud about a half mile away, and trek into town from the north. Questioning the first farmer's wife they find, they obtain directions to Thedan's cottage. The woman refers to the weather several times, complaining about the weird storms they have been getting. The Coopers thank her and follow the roads.
A few minutes later they come across a rundown and overgrown cottage. They knock on the door, and Thedan Nammas answers. After pleasant introductions, Thedan invites them over for dinner, since he rarely receives guests. Over the course of the meal, the Cooper reveal their purpose for being here. Thedan identifies the symbol on the gold coin as being that of the Storm Queen, but he doesn't know whom she is. He has, however, heard of the orb beyond and he speculates that this is what is causing the bad weather around Jol. He agrees to perform research for them, but he tells them it will take about two days. The Coopers agree. Over the next two days they mend and fix the cottage, clean up the garden, and tend to the animals.
Erastus 13, 4712
After a most excellent lunch, Thedan emerges from his library and describes what he has discovered in a little known book about the history of giants. There is enough evidence to suggest that the Storm Queen is named Verakas and is a cloud giant. Once upon a time she was Zoarth's companion, but her birds and herself were attacked by Zoarth's cats and she was left for dead. Clearly, the Storm Queen intended to make Zoarth pay for his treachery.
As they clean the dishes, Darelle and Daryle notice pinkish clouds billowing above the town. Soon it begins to rain, but the rain is like jelly. Slowly the jelly agglutinates and turns into gelatinous amorphous creatures. Gerald transfoms Daryle's arrows to add flames to them, and the Coopers join the city guards in fighting these creatures. Darelle notice a group of children being attacked by one of the creatures, so, headless of her own safety, she jumps inside the creature and kills it. Gerald uses flaming sphere and manage to destroy another one, while Daryle dispatches the last one with her skillful use of her bow.
The Coopers are invited to the city palace and they are rewarded by King Opir Eightfingers for their bravery. He offers them unlimited food and drink for the rest of their lives. Gerald muses this would be a great place for retirement or for a vacation cottage.
Looking up at the storm, the Coopers decide it is time to take the fight to the Storm Queen. Darelle sends a tree token to the Storm Queen asking her if she was behind the attack on Zoarth. The token also provides directions to their location. Meanwhile, she maneuvers the cloud upward. The rain increases and it becomes difficult to see beyond a few feet. The noises of the storm do not obscure the approach of two heavily armed hill giants flying on roc mounts. The Coopers suffer some damage but are able to beat the giants back.
Entering inside the cloud, they discover a flying platform. Four heavily armed and armored cloud giants await them and immediately begin launching stones at them. The battle is brutal and Daryle is taken out. Gerald uses up all of his fireball spells but his efforts, along with Darelle's, manage to slay all of the giants. Exploring the platform, they discover the giants' treasure, as well as the roc's nest. They set up a trap there in case the giant birds return.
On the upper level they find the Storm Queen awaiting them in the middle of a pool of ectoplasm, with a blue dragon standing a few feet away awaiting her command. Gerald artfully attempts to negotiate with her but instead hurls insults. The Storm Queen welcomes them as agents of Zoarth and tells them she will destroy them all and will make him pay for what he did to her. She tells them she was attacked by hellish cats and Zoarth did not lift even a finger to rescue her, and, worse, his other cats ate her birds! She vows death and destruction.
The Coopers mull leaving this fight. After all, they don't really care what happens to the Storm Queen or Zoarth, for that matter. But could they really leave the citizens of Jol below underneath the rendering tear in the sky created by the Storm Queen?
Darelle decide to send a tree token to Zoarth to tell him who attempted to kill him and that his former lover is coming for him. She also tells him about the rift in the sky, and wonders if he could help. She sends another tree token to Thedan Nammas requesting his help. The Coopers withdraw back to their cloud and await an answer ...
Having found the crude gold featuring a bird of prey on a background of lightning in the hoard of the giants' chief, the Coopers hold hope that these pieces will lead them to discover who sponsored the hit on Zoarth. Maybe the farmers would know. Gerald rubs one of the coins onto parchment so he can show them without having to hand over any of the gold. Daryle wonders why they just couldn't give them a few of the coins since they are down on their luck following their village's destruction by the giants. Darelle agrees.
The Coopers return to the farmers' camp, and make contact with the farmers. The head of the farmers does not recognize the sign, but he refers them to a sage named Thedan Nammas, a sage who lives in the hills just outside of Jol. Surely if anyone around these parts is able to tell them what this sign is, it will be him.
Gerald gives a gold coin to every person in the farming community, but after 130 coins have been distributed he realizes that the farmers and their families have taken advantage of him by disguising themselves to get more coins. Daryle, seeing this strategem, hints that the coins may be cursed. Many of the children drop their coins and run, but the adults hang on. The triplets return to their cloud and fly away, following the valley as it becomes wider. They pass over the giants' camp again, but none of the hill giants have returned.
In the late afternoon, they see in the distance their destination. Jol is a small city of 9,500 inhabitants. The Coopers can see it from miles away. They get off the cloud about a half mile away, and trek into town from the north. Questioning the first farmer's wife they find, they obtain directions to Thedan's cottage. The woman refers to the weather several times, complaining about the weird storms they have been getting. The Coopers thank her and follow the roads.
A few minutes later they come across a rundown and overgrown cottage. They knock on the door, and Thedan Nammas answers. After pleasant introductions, Thedan invites them over for dinner, since he rarely receives guests. Over the course of the meal, the Cooper reveal their purpose for being here. Thedan identifies the symbol on the gold coin as being that of the Storm Queen, but he doesn't know whom she is. He has, however, heard of the orb beyond and he speculates that this is what is causing the bad weather around Jol. He agrees to perform research for them, but he tells them it will take about two days. The Coopers agree. Over the next two days they mend and fix the cottage, clean up the garden, and tend to the animals.
Erastus 13, 4712
After a most excellent lunch, Thedan emerges from his library and describes what he has discovered in a little known book about the history of giants. There is enough evidence to suggest that the Storm Queen is named Verakas and is a cloud giant. Once upon a time she was Zoarth's companion, but her birds and herself were attacked by Zoarth's cats and she was left for dead. Clearly, the Storm Queen intended to make Zoarth pay for his treachery.
As they clean the dishes, Darelle and Daryle notice pinkish clouds billowing above the town. Soon it begins to rain, but the rain is like jelly. Slowly the jelly agglutinates and turns into gelatinous amorphous creatures. Gerald transfoms Daryle's arrows to add flames to them, and the Coopers join the city guards in fighting these creatures. Darelle notice a group of children being attacked by one of the creatures, so, headless of her own safety, she jumps inside the creature and kills it. Gerald uses flaming sphere and manage to destroy another one, while Daryle dispatches the last one with her skillful use of her bow.
The Coopers are invited to the city palace and they are rewarded by King Opir Eightfingers for their bravery. He offers them unlimited food and drink for the rest of their lives. Gerald muses this would be a great place for retirement or for a vacation cottage.
Looking up at the storm, the Coopers decide it is time to take the fight to the Storm Queen. Darelle sends a tree token to the Storm Queen asking her if she was behind the attack on Zoarth. The token also provides directions to their location. Meanwhile, she maneuvers the cloud upward. The rain increases and it becomes difficult to see beyond a few feet. The noises of the storm do not obscure the approach of two heavily armed hill giants flying on roc mounts. The Coopers suffer some damage but are able to beat the giants back.
Entering inside the cloud, they discover a flying platform. Four heavily armed and armored cloud giants await them and immediately begin launching stones at them. The battle is brutal and Daryle is taken out. Gerald uses up all of his fireball spells but his efforts, along with Darelle's, manage to slay all of the giants. Exploring the platform, they discover the giants' treasure, as well as the roc's nest. They set up a trap there in case the giant birds return.
On the upper level they find the Storm Queen awaiting them in the middle of a pool of ectoplasm, with a blue dragon standing a few feet away awaiting her command. Gerald artfully attempts to negotiate with her but instead hurls insults. The Storm Queen welcomes them as agents of Zoarth and tells them she will destroy them all and will make him pay for what he did to her. She tells them she was attacked by hellish cats and Zoarth did not lift even a finger to rescue her, and, worse, his other cats ate her birds! She vows death and destruction.
The Coopers mull leaving this fight. After all, they don't really care what happens to the Storm Queen or Zoarth, for that matter. But could they really leave the citizens of Jol below underneath the rendering tear in the sky created by the Storm Queen?
Darelle decide to send a tree token to Zoarth to tell him who attempted to kill him and that his former lover is coming for him. She also tells him about the rift in the sky, and wonders if he could help. She sends another tree token to Thedan Nammas requesting his help. The Coopers withdraw back to their cloud and await an answer ...
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