CELESTIAL  CAPER

May 15, 2010


Day 2  (cont.)  <date TBD; late spring>

11:00am  

Rowan and Velia spot, and Rowan identifies, two 30' tall giant, stone-like creatures approaching us as being Gerivar.  

0.  Velia warns everyone, moves off to the left; Rowan yells, "Gerivar; acid, cold normal damage, move very fast", moves back to not be on the front line; G-1 throws a nodule at Ninalyn for 15 shrapnel and 19 fire; G-2 throws a nodule at Axe, miss, explodes on Axe for 13 shrapnel and 22 fire.

1.  Velia moves more to the side and forward; Tarva yells, "archers to take them out at distance; fighters form a line to protect them", moves 120' forward; Rowan continues describing, "Spell Resistance, Damage Reductions except for magic & adamantine", shoots G-1 for 20, 23,17; Zeln casts Wall of Ice cylinder - 30' high 10' rad - around G-1 (overcomes SR), moves to left; Axe moves up; Ninalyn casts Blessing of the Righteous on herself and Surune; G-1 leaps over ice wall, takes 17, throws nodule at Tarva for 13 shrapnel and 6 fire; G-2 casts Reverse Gravity on Axe, tossing him 100' up; Surune moves up.

2.  Velia moves up; HR says, "I'm a +2 Keen Icy Burst for now", Tarva starts singing Inspire Courage, charges G-1 for 18 + 1, Haste 10 + 6; Rowan shoots G-2 for 19, 23, 18, 22; Zeln casts Reverse Gravity on G-1, up 80'; Axe activates his boots to fly, charges G-2, misses; Ninalyn flies forward; G-1 throws nodules down at Tarva for 14 + 8, 2 + 10; G-2 on Axe hits for 147 in seven out of eight blows; Surune charges G-2 for 22.

3.  Velia tumbles to G-2, flanking with Surune; Tarva, keeps singing, sheathes HR, changes to bow, bloopers: drops bow (HR snickers); Rowan shoots G-1 for 15, crit 65, 18, 18, 18, 20; Zeln casts Flesh to Stone, overcomes SR, but G-1 saves; Axe on G-2 for 30, crit 101, 28, 27; Ninalyn flies up; G-1 throws nodule at Surune for 22 + 21, on Axe, miss, explodes on Surune for 20 + 22; G-2 tumbles out of surrounding foes, runs 210' away; Surune moves towards G-2.

4.  Velia moves towards G-1; Tarva says, "Zeln, bring that thing back down", draws HR, reserves for G-1 in reach; Rowan shoots G-2 for 23, crit 67, it falls down, on G-1 for 24, 18, 19; Zeln moves to G-2, drops G-1; Tarva on G-1 for 14 + 6; Axe charges G-1 for 36; Ninalyn charges G-1, crits for 49; G-1 hits Ninalyn for 49, Axe for 66, Tarva for 29; Surune goes to G-2, hits for 51.

5.  Velia Flick-of-the-Wrist but misses; Rowan shoots G-1 for 17, 24, 18, 22, 21, 20; Zeln casts Orb of Acid for coup de grace on G-2 for 122, dead; Tarva on G-1 for 13 + 1; Axe on G-1 for 27; Ninalyn defensively casts Cure Moderate Wounds Mass for 31 on Axe, Ninalyn, Tarva, and Velia; G-1 changes position, Tarva AoO for 14 + 3, hits Axe for 26; Surune moves towards G-1.

6.  Velia reserves for an opportunity to flank; Rowan shoots G-1 for 19, 24, 19, 23, 21; Zeln moves towards G-1; Tarva spring attacks for 18 + 4; Axe charges G-1 for 35; Ninalyn charges G-1 for 29; V moves to G-1, takes AoO for 24, sneak attacks for 47; G-1 hits Velia for 47, hits Axe for 68, hits Ninalyn for 42; Surune charges G-1 for 29 + 4.

7.  Rowan shoots G-1 for 21, 23, 21, 19, 22; Zeln reserves for G-1 to fall down; Tarva spring attacks for 18 + 2; Axe retreats, but takes AoO for 24, falls down; Ninalyn casts Cure Critical Wounds Mass for 38 to Axe, Ninalyn, Surune, Tarva, Velia, and Zeln; Velia hits G-1 for 45, it falls down, 42, 46; Zeln moves to G-1; Surune hits G-1 for 51 + 4.

8.  Zeln casts Orb of Cold for coup de grace on G-1.

A -253     N -45     R  0     S -47     T -13     V -33     Z  0
    -103                                                                                      Ninalyn casts Heal
      -82         -21                    -23           0           -0                  Ninalyn casts Cure Light Wounds Mass
      -58             0                       0                                              Ninalyn casts Cure Light Wounds Mass
      -28                                                                                     Tarva uses Faith Healing
      -18                                                                                      Tarva uses Laying on Hands
         0                                                                                      Ninalyn casts Cure Light Wounds, twice

normal hearts, no treasure on bodies
remaining nodules could be removed, but weigh too much for any of us to throw as grenades

Rowan backtracks their trail until we find two bags:
 gold  (Tarva casts Easy Math to estimate as 13,000)
platinum  (Tarva casts Easy Math to estimate as 2,400)
42 ornate, electrum-bladed daggers with a gem in the pommel
9" wood wand - detects as Magic, low, illusion -- 
boots - detect as Magic, low, transmutation
flask - detects as Magic
11" metal rod - detects as Magic, high, no school 
iron flask - detects as Magic, high, conjuration
rolled up carpet - detects as Magic, medium, transmutation
scroll case - detects as Magic

Tarva casts Detect Magic (see above)

Zeln opens the scroll case, can't read the contained scroll; hands to Ninalyn, divine spells:
Summon Nature's Ally VI   (can't cast)
Etherealness
Transport via Plant  (can't cast)
Slay Living
Finger of Death
Break Enchantment
Ninalyn says this is a Druid scroll, but that she can use four of its six spells.  She will carry it.

Zeln believes that the Metal Rod is a meta-magic

Velia takes the wood wand and Use Magical Device to activate it on a rock, the rock disappears, Tarva carefully moves out to where the rock was and bumps into it, we conclude that the wand is Invisibility.

The iron flask is inlayed with runes of silver, stoppered with brass plug with seal; if the holder knows the Command Word, can force a creature from another plane into the flask if it fails its Will save.  Opening the flask releases the held creature.  Opening the flask while reciting the Command Word will cause the contained creature to obey orders for one hour before returning to the flask.


2:00pm

A single orc steps into sight about 200' feet ahead of Rowan and announces, "We should talk."  

Tarva moves to the front, comes up to about 100' from him, says, "I'm always ready to talk.  About what?"  

"I need to explain that it is my job to stop your group from coming through this pass.  I don't particularly want to, but I gave my promise.  Oh, my name is Granthis - you may have heard of me."

Tarva has heard a fair number of songs in which Granthis is the heroic figure.  He's know as being Epic, extremely honest, lawful good, worships Moradin, has fought many of the evil things in this world during the 400 years he's been adventuring.  Everyone else in the group has heard something about Granthis - enough to recognize the name.

Tarva says, "My name is Tarva Streamside, and I have heard of you; many things, all good.  So I don't understand: we are trying to reach the cause of the warped devastation and wrongness around us, and put a stop to it.  Everything I've heard tells me that you should be helping us, not hindering."

Granthis replies that he made a promise to Darinthalus many years ago, and he is bound by that promise.   Darinthalus is the Solar who caused the disruption on the Celestial Plane.  Centuries ago, he rescued a very young Granthis and set him on his so different from normal orcs path.  As such, Granthis owes Darinthalus practically anything.   Several years ago, before any of this insanity descended upon Darinthalus, he came to Granthis and said that he'd had a vision of the future.  That in this vision a future version of himself would task Granthis with preventing anyone from approaching Darinthalus, and he wanted Granthis's promise, now (i.e., several years ago), that Granthis would accept that task.  Also in the vision, the earlier Darinthalus described a group that would try to approach him, and from that description Granthis now recognizes us.  Well, sorta: Tarva and Rowan are clear matches, but the rest of the group is different (in particular, there was a short, powerful Cleric of Pelor -- Rowan and Tarva easily recognize this as referring to Ahb).  

Granthis most emphatically does not want to kill us.  He proposes a contest.  If we win, he will tell us what he can about Darinthalus and let us go forward; if he wins, we will not attempt to go forward, through this pass or the others he is responsible for, but must instead circle around (losing time and allowing Darinthalus to create more obstacles in our way).  We can appoint a single champion, have all of us go up against him one after the other, or even take him on with all seven of us together.  

He has a Rod which will create an Arena that neither side can leave until all the members of one side have lost consciousness (or worse); but at the termination of the contest everyone will be restored to full health.  Spells which cause ultimate (non-resurrectable) destruction cannot be cast inside the Arena; but otherwise everything else goes.  

Tarva is thinking about possibly taking him on, if he'd agree to additional terms: if neither of them had weapons, armor, magical devices, or used spells or songs -- just a physical contest of endurance -- she thinks she might be able to take him.  But Rowan catches on that Tarva is thinking along some such lines and says, "Don't be stupid: if we accept, we're going to contest as a group."  So Tarva drops that idea.  She asks, "If we accept, would we need to begin the contest immediately?"  

"No," replies Granthis, clearly understanding the underlying thought, "we could wait until tomorrow.  However, you should consider that Darinthalus will use any additional time to create more monsters."  

Tarva quickly checks with all the other group members.  Zeln is fairly adamant about wanting to wait.  Tarva thinks that waiting is worth the passing time: if it gives us the edge we need to win, then we'll have more than made it up when compared to the time we would have lost having to find a different approach, get to it, and then get through whatever guardians are waiting for us along that path.  "We do accept your contest.  And we would like to hold it tomorrow morning," she tells Granthis.  "In the meantime, would you like to share a meal and the night with us?  I believe that Zeln is about to provide us with Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion."  And then she proceeds to introduce the rest of the group to Granthis.

Over the afternoon and evening Granthis is quite willing to tell stories of his many adventures.  Tarva, for one, is fascinated.  It turns out that Granthis knows Mordenkainen quite well, and has taken on several tasks for the Circle.

Tarva asks Zeln to select one slot, tomorrow, for Identify(3.5): because she wants to know as much about the iron flask as possible.  In the meantime, she is going to spend eight hours casting Identify(3.0) on the most interesting of the other magical items we've obtained recently.  But then Granthis offers to identify any unknown items for us.  Tarva accepts:

2'6" iron rod from Fire Giants:    Rod of Wonder
huge breastplate from Deathdrinkers:    +2
huge longsword from Deathdrinkers:    +3 adamantine
9" wood wand from Gerivar:    Invisibility, 41 shots left
boots from Gerivar:   winged (flying), and command word
normal flask from Gerivar:    potion of Remove Curse
11" metal rod from Gerivar:     meta-magic::enlarge for 6th spell or lower
carpet from Gerivar:    flying, 5'x10', hold 400 lbs, 40' per round, and command word
iron flask:    can't tell what the command word is, but can tell that it is currently empty

Day 3

9:00am

After Breakfast, Granthis politely withdraws from the Mansion so that the group can make it's plans without him overhearing.  [This does also give him an opportunity to prepare for the contest.]  Zeln, Ninalyn, and Tarva all want to buff everyone in the group prior to the start of the contest.  Most of the buffing will last for minutes, thus we will cast it while still inside the Mansion;  the two spells which will only last several rounds will be cast immediately before the contest begins, thus outside in the open, thus Granthis will be able to observe and know what we're doing.

Inside.

Zeln casts:
Resist Elements::Fire, Mass, 180 min, 30 reduction from each fire damage;
Resist Elements::Electricity, Mass,  180 min, 30 reduction from each electricity damage;
Bull Strength, Mass, 18 min, +4 Str: +2 toHit melee, +2 one-handed, +3 two-handed damage;
Cat's Grace, Mass, 18 min, +4 Dex: +2 toHit ranged, +2 to AC (if not already maxed by armor), +2 Reflex;

Tarva casts:
Aid, seven times, 8 min, +1 to AC, +1 vs Fear, +8 temporary HP;

Ninalyn casts:
Status, 17 hours, five creatures [skipping Tarva who has her own healing] will know roughly how healthy each of us are -- 100% to 75%, 75% to 25%, 25% to 0%, below 0%;
Imbue with Spell Ability onto Axe: one Cure Moderate Wounds, and two Cure Light Wounds;

Outside.

Zeln casts:
Haste, Mass, 18 rounds, +1 toHit, +1 AC, +1 Reflex, +30' move, one additional blow if Full Attack;

Ninalyn casts:
Prayer, 18 rounds, +1 toHit, +1 AC, +1 damage, +1 saves, +1 skills

Granthis indicates the rough area that the Rod will create the Arena in, explains that we need to be on opposite sides of a middle line (so the Rod will know who is on which side of the contest, in order to evaluate when it is over and which side won).  Everyone gets into the place they wish to start from.  Granthis moves to just in front of Tarva (more or less at front and center of the group), puts the Rod down lengthwise between us, activates it, and retreats quickly to the farthest point from us, as the Arena's hemisphere forms.

1.  Granthis casts Fireball on Axe and Zeln for 42 each, Sonicball on Tarva and Surune for 60 to Surune, 30 to Tarva; Tarva begins singing Inspire Greatness on Rowan, charges Granthis and crits, but the crit is ignored, for 18 (HR says, "Ow, ow, he's hard"); Zeln casts Timestop, but Granthis counterspells it, moves; Velia moves to flank Granthis with Tarva; Axe casts Cure Moderate Wounds on himself for 18, Rages, moves to Granthis; Surune charges Granthis for 37 + 1; Rowan shoots Granthis for 31, 18, 21,17, 19; Ninalyn flies to near Granthis, casts Cure Moderate Wounds Mass for 33 on Axe, Surune, Tarva.

2.  Granthis casts Timestop -- various things happen unnoticed by any of us -- suddenly his place has been taken by a small red sphere (Tarva uses Spellcraft to recognize the 'seed' of a fireball), casts Chain Lightning with Tarva as the primary, causing Axe, Ninalyn, Surune, and Velia to take 30 each; Tarva stops singing [Inspire Greatness begins on Rowan, will last rounds 2-6], yells, "Fireball!  Get away!  He's immune to criticals!" and backs up quickly about 30', something landmineish explodes and gives her 10 sonic damage, looks around, sees Granthis at opposite end of Arena, with four small balls circling his head, casts Glitterdust on Granthis (saves vs blindness), moves 60' towards him; Zeln casts Cone of Cold for 73; Velia activates boots to fly, moves; Axe charges Granthis, triggers another landmineish thing for 22 sonic damage, hits for 31; Surune charges for 34 + 1; Rowan shoots for 18, 18, 18, 18, 20; Ninalyn moves towards other end.

3.  Granthis gestures the four balls to Rowan, where they explode for 0 fire and 9 sonic damage, casts Telekinesis to bring the Delayed Blast Fireball seed to where it will affect Axe, Surune, Tarva, Velia, and Granthis himself for 120, Axe, Surune, and Velia take 90, Tarva takes 30, casts Prismatic Spray at Axe, Tarva, Velia, Zeln, on Axe for 40 Acid damage, then Poison taking him to -1 HP and falls down, on Tarva for 40 Acid damage, on Zeln for 50 Electricity damage, then turned to Stone, on Velia turned to Stone (falls out of air); Tarva starts singing Inspire Greatness on Surune, moves to Granthis, flanking with Surune, hits for 17 + HR (who says "didn't hurt that time" in a satisfied tone, and is both lighter and of a more silvery color), 20 + HR; Zeln is Stone; Velia is Stone; Axe is Poisoned; Surune hits for 39 + 1, 30 + 4, 38 + 4, 33 + 4; Rowan shoots for 20, 16, 19, 20; Ninalyn casts, as a ray, Heal on Axe, he is now at 149 HP and not poisoned.

4.  Granthis casts (quickened) Greater Teleport, reappears at other end, casts (wider, enhanced, maximized) Sonicball on Axe, Ninalyn, Surune, Tarva for 90, Tarva saves for 45; Tarva stops singing  [Inspire Greatness begins on Surune, will last rounds 4-8], starts singing Inspire Greatness on Heart's Reach, moves 60', charges for 19 + HR, Granthis is suddenly wreathed in thin and wispy green flames, Tarva uses Spellcraft and thinks this is a shield that will protect against fire damage, and cause cold damage to anyone hitting Granthis; Zeln is Stone; Velia is Stone; Axe stands up and activates his boots for flying; Surune charges for 37 + 5, takes 21 cold; Rowan shoots for 15, 19, 16, 21,20; Ninalyn flies towards Granthis, casts Cure Serious Wounds Mass on Ninalyn, Surune, Tarva for 31.

5.  Granthis casts Prismatic Spray at Ninalyn, Surune, Tarva, on Tarva for Poison to -1 HP and falls down, on Surune becomes Insane, on Ninalyn for 50 points Electricity, casts Teleport and moves to Rowan; Tarva is Poisoned [Inspire Greatness begins on Heart's Reach, will last rounds 5-9]; Zeln is Stone; Velia is Stone; Axe charges for 32, takes 16 cold; Surune babbles incoherently; Rowan moves away, takes AoO 5, shoots for 17, 17, 16; Ninalyn casts, as a ray, Heal on Tarva, she is now at 149 HP and not poisoned.

6.  Granthis casts defensively (wider, maximized) Sonicball on Ninalyn, Surune, Tarva for 60, Ninalyn goes unconscious, falls to ground, takes 14 additional, Surune takes 60, Tarva takes 30, casts Lightning Bolt on Rowan for 90; Tarva stands up, casts Magic Missile on Granthis for 16, moves to center of Arena; Zeln is Stone; Velia is Stone; Axe hits for 39, takes 17 cold, Granthis falls down.

The Arena wall vanishes.  All damage is removed.  All spontaneous spell slots that were used in the Arena are now available again.  All selected & memorized spell slots that were used in the Arena are now open and can be used to learn spells again.

Granthis tells us:

Youall fought well.  Congratulations.  It is good that youall do not have to find another route, as given more time Darinthalus would be summoning more foes to slow you down further.  One of the other approaches is guarded by the Tarrasque.  Also, he has set loose a Spirax.  We tell him we've seen its trail; he expresses the hope that it will encounter him, in a way wherein he can justify removing it.  His promise is to defend this approach against any and all who might try to use it, but to allow any creatures, of whatever alignment, to pass him going south (the implication seems to be that if the Spirax wanders by East-to-West, he'll take it out).  The current Darinthalus did not specifically mention our group -- in fact as far as Granthis can tell, the current Darinthalus has no memory of the earlier Darinthalus's vision of us.

In addition to the standard Solar weaponry of a Dancing Greatsword and a Longbow of Slaying, Darinthalus has a black Dagger which radiates vast amounts of evil and is Intelligent.  Or, rather, it might be said that this Dagger has Darinthalus.  Anyone or anything hit by the Dagger falls under his/its control; they are changed in a twisted way.  Tarva and Ninalyn look at each other, sure that this explains the strange hearts we have been finding.  Granthis knows that the Dagger has been used on an Old Brass Dragon (meaning that we're quite likely to find ourselves fighting it). Darinthalus has also been opening gates to bring in additional drafted protectors of his position.  The Dagger is an Artifact of Tharizdon, who is a vanished Deity: the Primary of Greater Elemental Evil.  Granthis speculates that the Dagger's intent is to bring Tharizdon back to this world.

We show him the forty-two daggers we found with the Gerivars.  He thinks they must have been intended for ritual use, has no idea what ritual that would be.

Darinthalus is Resistant to Fire and Electricity spells; Regenerates some HP every round; is Immune to Acid, Cold, and Petrification; has great Saves; takes Normal Damage from either Epic Evil Weapons or Evil Aligned Spells.

How far away is he?  About four hours.  Rowan and Velia, the most sensitive of us all to the "wrongness shimmer", concur that it appears to be about four hours away.  Beristhalis is holed up in an old desecrated temple.

Tarva asks if Granthis, especially from his time spent with Mordenkainen, can tell her anything else about her Mordenkainen-created amulet.  But other than being able to tell that it is an incredibly complex piece of amazing workmanship, he is unable to find out anything in detail about it, in the time they have.

How long as Granthis been guarding this approach?  About a day and a half.

Could a Break Curse be used to separate Darinthalus from the Dagger?  No.

When did Darinthalus tell Granthis about his vision?  Sometime five to seven years ago.

Since Darinthalus is a Solar, and thus from another plane, could this Iron Flask be used to entrap him?  Not while he has the Dagger (or vice versa).

Tarva still wants Zeln to cast Identify and learn the Control Word - and anything else - about the Iron Flask; even at the cost of the hour it will take for him to cast that spell.   Granthis requests that we not do that until we've moved completely out of his sight: if we stay here much longer he will feel compelled to renew his attempt to stop us.  We hastily say our good-byes and wish each other the best of luck. Then move on through the pass and far enough beyond to feel safe in stopping.  

Axe (who despite his frequent posing as such - to fool foes into thinking him a less dangerous opponent - is not a dumb fighter) expresses his opinion on two aspects of what we've learned from Granthis.  The first is that the current Darinthalus likely accepted, almost volunteered, to be taken under the control of the Dagger, in order to keep it from instead affecting anyone else.  And the second is  that the earlier Darinthalus, from his vision, recognized that his current self  was going to need help to overcome the Dagger, and did what he could to set conditions up to allow that help -- us -- to reach him.

End of run.