We had found a wand of snow balls on the furnace guard and decided to use it against the swarm of elementals, but when we opened the door they had disappeared. Good for us.
Through the next door we found a laboratory. This was quite a find. Gim was immediately excited, I hadnt known it but the little gnome was once a student of alchemy. I helped him collect the item he pointed out to make a function alchemy kit for traveling. Once I had put the last instrument in my bag I noticed Tenedos looking at a book. I walked over and he warned me there was a ward on it. I offered to cast an unseen servant to try and set off the ward on it while we waited in the hall. We tried it but it didnt work. I went to examine it and my heritage betrayed me. Illumian have a weakness for sigils and runes of great power. I felt captivated by the spells symbols and felt compelled to touch it. Before anyone realized what I was doing I touched the book. The burst of energy was incredible. As every nerve in my body burn in agony I was exhilarated by the experience of such powerful words. Even afterwards, when I lay on the ground in pain I did not completely regret my actions.
With the release of the energy Tenedos was able to open the book. He discovered it to be an ancient tomb call the Manual of the Planes. Due to it being made completely of copper we stowed it in my bag for later. The few of us who had been so absorbed in this room suddenly realized that the more martial members of our group had continued on to the next room.
Tendos and just left the room when our companions open the door in the opposing room and at this distance we could just see the large salamander rising from in front of an altar.
Tenedos and I hurried to catch up. When I had gotten a little closer I tried to help by dispelling whatever magic the salamander was wearing, he glowed with enchantment. I know my spells tore away a few but he had plenty left on him. As we all reached the room fight began in earnest.
He held most of us at a distance with protective spells. Gim and Frenzy were able to close on him and fight. Tenedos blanketed the area in Darkness and cast his magic from a safe distance. Nameless released his arcane fury on the salamander. Frenzy went into a rage swinging wildly at where he last saw the enemy, connecting a surprising number of times. Gim fought with tooth and nail, Captain slashed with his mighty blade and I waited to heal where I was needed. Near the end the great fire lizard was able to momentarily stun all of us. He then summoned an enormous fire elemental in the center of the room. This in the center of Tenedos magical darkness so I learned later that this was an elemental, at the time all I knew was there was a tremendous blast of heat.
The salamander finally fell to frenzys rage, the barbarians blade cutting the beast in two. The elemental fell next in a blaze of fire, steel, claw, and magic. Once our adversary was dead we took at a look at what he had. With my trusty monocle I was able to devise the enchantments one a suit of armor and the great hammer. The Hammer of the Searing Soul, quite an impressive bit of magic had been imbued in this hammer. Its not really my weapon of choice so we will have to decide its fate later. The skeletal priest appeared before the altar in the room. He thanked us for killing his enemy and went on a bit. I do not recall most of it because at the time I was inspecting the salamanders armor. But it was from the spirit we learned the name of the great hammer for it was once his weapon. He then gave it to us and said that he and his would insure the salamanders sole would find no rest. With that he bid us farewell.
Tenedos began searching the room and found a hidden door in the sculpted wall. Inside was a fortune in gold and treasure and the thing we had been looking for. A sealed square container lay in the center of the room. It was bound by magic to hold the evil spirit inside. Knowing this I question the priest Berins motives even more. We packed up the case and the treasure and headed towards the furnace to help the azers return home. Nameless and I spent most of the time looking over the magical items we had found while Frenzy and the Captain carried the gold and gems. Tenedos and Gim discussed how to close the portal and in the end Tenedos said he would cross over to the plane of fire and close it from there. He claimed the book we had found in the laboratory would protect him. I was impressed by his nerve, he was going to a place where most mortals would die instantly. We all wished him good luck and then ran like hell. The closing of such a portal would have severe consequences on the surrounding area. We ran to the entrance and climbed out. Just as we were emerging from the cave an earthquake shook the area. The portal was closed. I hope Tenedos made it ok.
As we picked ourselves up, I looked at my companions. They were covered in ash, dirt, and blood. I knew I must look about the same. And then Hazim came forward. I had to think quick, I was not yet sure if Berin should get his hands on this relic so I did one of the things I do best…I lied. I told I acted all worked up because we had been through battles and explosions and had even lost our friend Tenedos to the dangers of the caverns. This was partially true we had faced all of this and we had lost Tenedos, he just wasnt as dead as I made it sound. I also denied that we found the heart. If it had only been Hazim questioning me I may have gotten away with it, but thats when Berin showed up.
He looked strange and when I repeated my tale to him he asked us to return to the tent. I tried to keep up my story and he seemed confused. He attempted to get the truth from the Captain knowing him to be an honorable man. Berin said he could feel the heart to be close but he couldnt tell where. Well since I had put it into my bag of holding I am not surprised, though I was disturbed to know its influence could be felt. I still dont know if Berin should have gotten hold of the heart. I resigned myself to the fact that we were not going to get away with the lie and was about to surrender the heart to him when Gim spoke up.
I had never heard him speak like this and it surprised me. He spoke of how he, having no desire for the material rewards we found in the caves, had a price for the heart. He said that he would only give up the heart if Berin would fill a strange crystal of Gims with the essence of fire. I was stumped I have no idea what Gim was going on about but I could only assume it was what brought him to this land. Gim was adamant about his price and would not back down. In the end Berin told him to seek him out in one month and he would give Gim what he wanted. Then with a nod from Gim I pulled out the bow holding the heart.
Berin took the case almost lovingly. He place the box on a table and with a wave of his hand made the box melt away. The stone inside was the size of Hunters fist. Berin reached for it, his hands shaking in excitement. When his fingers touched the stones surface something came over him. We all watched as he mumble to himself. What bits I could catch sounds as if he were speaking with someone. He mentioned a black altar and a sacrifice of blood. My suspicions of Berin just grew exponentially. When he finally stopped his conversation his shoulder dropped as a man defeated and when he turned he seemed changed. I suspect the dragons spirit may have won a little more than we know.
Berin gave last instructions to Hazim and teleported away. We all stepped out of the tent and Gim sat down. He had decided to wait for the month to pass and if Berin did not return he would find him. I tried to talk to him but he was determined to not move from that spot. My last question for Gim was since he could not tell me what his mission was in detail tell me is it noble, is it a worthy cause. Gim said yes and I decided if I could help him before our ways parted I would.
The rest of us returned to the city to inform the King that we had accomplished the task he had given us and it was time to pay up. The King paid us handsomely. Nameless disappeared rather suddenly and I had things I had to do myself. I wanted to learn what the black altar may be and what sacrifices were done upon it. I was heading to the temple, my companions were also coming, when I noticed the airship was starting to pull away. I activated my boots and teleported onto the ship. The gnomes were quite surprised. I just said I was a friend of Gims and made myself comfortable. The ship was a marvel to see. I was also surprised to see Nameless flying ahead to guide it. We were heading for Gim.
The ship arrived at the camp dropping an anchor near Gim. I floated down as did a few gnomes and a strange woman who looked to be touch by the element of air. I sought out Hazim, Berins subordinate. I had questions that needed answering but I wanted to be careful that I did not let Hazim know my reason why. Making up a story that I had been offered a job to find some relic, I asked Hazim about the black alter. As I had guessed he knew what I was speaking off. It was a sacrificial altar in the land of Corea, the land of the red dragons, where the made living sacrifices. I now believe Berins instructions to Gim to find him are a trap. I thanked Hazim and retuned to the others.
Frenzy and Captain Gray had acquired horses and also returned to the camp. When I rejoined the group the strange air touched woman was offering to give up her essence to help Gim. As I watched she changed, the traits that marked her as blessed by the air left her and one of Gims crystals seemed to glow. Gims must have needed the essence of air just as he needs the essence of fire. After one last attempt to convince Gim to return to Citadel I gave up. He told he had decided to wait and that was it. Who am I to tell him what to do. I decided it was time for me to leave these lands.
Torvans friends may still be looking for me and they are more dangerous than he ever was. A new country would be a great place to visit. Good luck Gim. May we meet again.
|
