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2 - 9 Coldeven, 581 CY, Ralsand
We spent some days in Ralsand, shopping, seeing sights and waiting for the full moon. Galen took some time to find a songbook and look at hideously overpriced instruments. Oliver joined up with him to go gambling at one of the many gambling halls in town run by the temple of Olidammara. Ryvvik was cloistered in Francenn's tower scribing scrolls. Darcius and Cedric spent a while fixing up the splint mail we'd been dragging around since Tarrentch all those weeks ago. Isaac made arrows and kept up his weapons, that guy is stoic.
10 - 12 Coldeven, 581 CY, Ralsand
Isaac and Darcius were confined to cages in Francenn's tower again, right beside the guard that was infected with lycanthropy. Unfortunately, Francenn wasn't doing this out of the goodness of his heart. His price was thus: We (the group) would go to Rel Deven and use a wand, specifically designed to divine the nature of the magical glowstones that defended the city. There were dweomers on the stones that would be of value for Francenn and he would consider a successful return from this mission full repayment for his assistance. He also provided us horses for the mission, which was kind of him, since our boots were getting pretty thin-soled. We waited the three days of the full moons and set off for Rel Deven.
13 Coldeven, 581 CY, Deowin Road
Tolls Tolls Tolls.
We blasted through Oldridge without stopping.
14 Coldeven, 581 CY, Rasfern
Tolls Tolls Tolls.
What a strange town. Everyone here is alike. Not that they are similar looking, but they all act as though they are under some kind of enchantment. It was very strange. The inn was also hideously expensive. Ryvvik and Galen stayed at the inn, but the rest of us went outside of town to camp. There we saw some more strangeness. The town was surrounded by scores of lakelets, all with small paths that were fenced off and signs warning of death for trespassers. We ostensibly camped beside the road, nowhere near the paths. In the far distance we saw an impossibly tall spire topping a hill, but our journey dictated that we press on. Maybe some day we'll return here with time to unwrap this enigma.
15 Coldeven, 581 CY, Bar Strannach
Tolls Tolls Tolls.
Bar Strannach was...interesting. There is a temple to Boccob here, but it is unusual even for a temple. The story goes like this: One day a forty foot tall giant came to the town, gibbering madly in lost tongues and when it died a book came spewing forth from it's gizzard. The priests there read the book and it turned out to be filled with prophecies and predictions. The temple was then built out of the skull and spine of the giant and a great library has been built up there since.
DM: The predictions within the book are in a very strange language that most have difficulty deciphering, and that seems to foretell some great calamities within the not so distant future. Only those who's reputation precedes them are allowed to look at the book, and no one is allowed to take it from the shrine.
Of course, we weren't allowed to see the book, or get anywhere past the front desk of the temple. We pressed on.
16 Coldeven, 581 CY, Rel Deven
Tolls Tolls Tolls.
We saw a group of people in the river outside of Rel Deven. It turned out to be two Baalzite priests 'blessing' travelers heading into the city. Oliver and Galen tried it out. They got wet and felt a slight tingling. That's all. We all thought there might be something more to it, but so far nothing has come of it.
We made the town at nightfall, after the gates were closed. It was very impressive, with it's massive walls made of ancient stone. But even more impressive than that were the pale blue clouds that turned out to be the wardstones we had been sent to investigate. They seemed to be patrolling the city, some stationary, some roaming erratically. Rel Deven is noted as one of the cities of the Enlightenment, a triumvirate of cities established in the earliest days of the Great Kingdom. The wardstones have been around nearly as long as the city, some six hundred years all told.
Due to the relatively late hour, the gates were closed. We picked our way through the fringes of the camps by the gate, those farthest out were the outcasts and castoffs. Closer to the gate we found a group of merchants and an armored caravan of the cult of Zilchus. We camped near them, knowing that nothing would likely happen so close to such heavily armed people.
17 Coldeven, 581 CY, Rel Deven
At dawn, the gates were opened and we lined up to get in. The guards performed a greeting ritual and had everyone line up based on social class. Princes go first (Galen jumped into that line after a moment's thought), then merchants, followed by freemen and then peasants. It was almost an hour before we(everyone but Galen) got to the front of the line. The guards took a look at us and then said we had to pay a "Citizen Equity Tax" of one Ivid per person. There was some grumbling but we all paid the extortion.
DM: As per request here is the Rel Deven gate guards dawn opening speech:
"This early dawn morn on the 17th day of the month of Coldeven, year of his Celestial Transcendancy 581, in the name of Prince Carwend of house Cranden, the gates of Rel Deven are cast open, and thee are bid welcome."
Inside the gate we caught up to Galen and before we could find an inn we were confronted with a bizarre spectacle. A group of white robed men with a pale blue circle on the chest were preaching to the crowd entering the city. "Know all ye who enter that you enter the domain of the stones. We've spoken to the stones and they predict a war in the future that will tear the Great Kingdom asunder and from which the kingdom will never recover." After a time their ranting reached a fever pitch and they started grabbing at people. The guards took this as a cue to disperse the cultists. We asked a bawd to guide us to a decent inn off the main street that wasn't too expensive. The kid led us to the North Gate Inn, near the farmer's gate. After securing lodging, we split up to follow our separate leads.
Isaac and Cedric went from temple to temple. Isaac ended up stuck poring over tomes in a public library funded by the cult of Boccob. Cedric used his religious affiliations to procure audiences with most of the high priests of the major cults. Fharlanghn was first, and the head of the temple directed him to the unlicensed temple of Pelor. He also brought up a crisis of faith in one of our friends. Galen had been having doubts about his faith since the episode with the 'Holy Smoke' addiction. As recently as Oldridge, he'd been having cravings for the weed that Justavin of Ralsand had given him. He asked for advice to help guide Galen to a safer path of worship. The priest was unable to say ,much more, only that men must make their own way in the world, under their own guidance. He also mentioned looking for a cure for lycanthropy, but the priest said he was not skilled in healing and that the Pelorites might be more able in that regard.
Cedric then headed off to the temple of Pelor. It was behind a storefront facade decorated by an enormous mosaic of the sun. Cedric was surprised by the fact that the temple was unlicensed yet so obvious, that is until he remembered that the town was run by a group od Lords dedicated to Boccob and neutrality in all things. Pelor may be 'good', but his worship wouldn't be terribly kosher. Entering the shrine he talked briefly with the head priestess (!) about his mission to find records of Tehlei the Slayer and that his friends may be infected with lycanthropy, only a little different. He didn't get into the details, but the priestess may have suspected something was up. In the end, she directed him to a small shrine to St. Cuthbert.
DM: Unsanctioned and illegal are two different things. Most shrines are tolerated as long as they do not cause too much of a disruption, and Pelor, being of Neutral good alignment is more tolerated than most. There is something about Pelor's good nature and willingness to help others that so many rulers appreciate.
Happy about this discovery he made his way to the shrine, which was a cobbler's shop by all outward appearances. Knocking on the door, it was answered by a man with a cudgel. Looking Cedric over he said, "Welcome, we're expecting you...Well you are a little early but no problem." He went further in and saw three more men, all in robes of Cuthbert. They looked at Cedric, and seeing his vestments, were quite happy to see him. They all carried a cudgel everywhere they went. Cedric said, "What did you mean I was early?" "Well, aren't you here for the posse?" "Uh...no. I am Cedric Cromwell, devoted of St. Cuthbert. And I'm not here for any posse." It turned out that these zealots were planning to go round up anyone they thought were "evil" and beat them up. They figured this was what priests of St. Cuthbert did. Cedric almost blew a brain pan. He left in a hurry after that.
DM: A lot of the shrines in this city are sects of the original religion that have focused on one aspect of their deities doctrine to the neglect of the others. This is caused by the populous' lack of moral guidance from its leaders and the lack of support for any non-neutral priesthood. It is the people who are at the fringes of this society that are drawn towards religion, with no proper guidance they tend to bend the worship to a more neutral, indifferent, or exaggerated end.
Angele, Darcius and Ryvvik went off trying to track down a wardstone to scan with Francenn's wand of divination. Small problem. The stones were completely random in their movements and the cult of the stone worshippers chased them incessantly. Ryvvik suggested they ask the stone-worshippers if they could help out. Heading back to the main gate, they settled down to watch the cultists. They waited until the guards chased them out and followed them to where they regrouped in an alley. Ryvvik stepped up and began speaking wise words about the stones, attempting to overawe the cultists. They weren't sure what to make of him however and were not as open as he might have wished. In the end, he learned that the stones apparently spoke to them, but not how, and they wouldn't speak anymore about it. He even tried inviting them to a good dinner and they refused.
DM: Cults like the stone worshipers draw people who are even more morally unguided. Combine that with being viewed as outsiders and even lunatics by the general populace and you have a cult who is highly sceptical of peoples motives.
Darcius suggested following the cultists on rooftops might be an option, but the balconies and roofs were widely spaced and a quick investigation proved this idea unfeasible. Their next best plan was to wander the city, hoping that one of the stones might come low enough to scan. Hahaha, likely. Not.
After about 5 hours of running their asses off, they remembered that there were two stones permanently circling the spire of the city hall. Darcius and Ryvvik cased the building, inside and out, and sketched out what they could of the layout. They figured there must be stairs up the spire but were unable to gain access to the upper level. Darcius was all for climbing the outside of the building, but Ryvvik tried a different method. He arranged a meeting with the head groundskeeper, proposing that he was an artist hoping to paint landscapes from the spire with the stones as foreground. The groundskeeper was short with him, telling him he'd need an artist's license before he'd even consider it and sent him off with the address to the artisan's guild. Ryvvik turned out to be a fair painter and got Darcius to pose nude for a portrait. This was quite funny, but proved sufficient for Ryvvik to be licensed. Unfortunately, the sun was near the horizon by this time and he returned to our inn. DM: Somehow I don't remember anything about nude poses…
Galen and Oliver headed out with the letter of introduction to Ilgrar, sage of the Eldritch Lords, and friend of Adamane. On the way to the Eldritch Lord's compound they stopped off at the temple of Olidammara. Galen had some issues of faith to clear up and wanted those answers now. All the priests were walking about with a two-sided mask (happy and sad) on a stick, which they would hold in front of their face and spin as was their wont. For some reason, they were 'imitating' how they thought their god would act. The chaos inherent in this was enough to get us miffed at being brushed off the first time. Oliver even fell down to look pathetic and try and draw some attention, but ended up looking like an idiot because no one even reacted. (lol) Galen walked in a little more and found another acolyte who had the happy mask facing out. The acolyte led him into the temple and showed him around but couldn't provide him with the answers he was seeking. Oliver began exploring on his own and penetrated deeper into the temple until he came face to face with a guard wearing a mask with no expression. He bolted into another room and eventually lost the guard and tried to lie his way through the temple saying he was a messenger from Justavin in Ralsand. Eventually he became tired of having masks spun in his face and tried to knock out one of the acolytes. He missed terribly and was 'escorted out' onto his arse in front of the temple. Galen followed momentarily led by another guard after trying to steal an acolyte's mask. Galen took off his holy symbol and pitched it at the building, smacking it against the facade and turning his back on his faith.
The two of them went to the temple of Fharlanghn next, so Oliver could pay his respects. He left a portion of his journal but was insulted after a know-nothing acolyte said that he hadn't really traveled very far after all. He left in a huff after that and went to the temple of Boccob to make contact with Ilgrar. They were ushered into a meeting room and they handed over their letter of introduction and were told they would get word in a day or two. They went home, dejected and tired.
DM: Ah the two befell the same fate as most who come to Rel Deven seeking faith. Even if the acolytes within the temples viewed the outsiders as worthy of attention their bizarre moral codes would likely confound them and cause no end of grief and ill will.
18 Coldeven, 581 CY, Rel Deven
Darcius, Isaac and Cedric went to the temple of Pelor this morning, hoping that the priestess might have a way to cure the two infected fellows. She got them to stand in the morning sunlight and cast a spell at them to divine their favor in Pelor's eyes. She apparently didn't like what she saw. However, our ever perceptive friends didn't catch it at the time. (LOL)They told her of the curse, the demonic possession, etc... She said there was nothing she could do for them and began asking very probing questions. They became suspicious at this point and were tightlipped about where they were staying and where she might find them later. Cedric talked to her of good faith and bad things happening to good people, but he sensed her heart was hardened and they left quickly, taking care not to be followed. DM: Left quickly after a lengthy argument between the priestess and Angele and Cedric.
They went to the temple of Istus next, hoping they could make some kind of deal with the Lady of Fate to change what is. The high priest came up with some outrageous (in our opinion) prices to cure them and they left.
Ryvvik went back to the Head Groundskeeper at city hall with his license and asked for access to the higher levels of the spire. The bureaucrat still declined his request, saying if he let this happen, then he'd have all the stone-worshippers coming in with artisan licenses asking to go to the spire. Ryvvik was nonplused, he'd formulated a plan to get around this. Going to the paper market, he bought some parchment and forged a letter of permission for access to the spire. He apparently is a much better forger than a painter because the guards at the stairs to the spire looked over the letter and let him pass. He took the wand, an easel, some paints and a canvas and spent the afternoon painting the city. After he'd taken his readings. DM: See Galen's entry of these same events for a more detailed explanation of what Ryvvik did. I think our chronicler missed that day.
The messenger from the Eldritch Lords came that afternoon and we all headed to meet Ilgrar. We explained why we'd come, that Adamane wanted all the information Ilgrar could come up with in reference to Tehlei the Slayer, and that we'd need it soon, because of the time situation in the Adri. He told us it would be a week before he could have a comprehensive report for us. It ended up being ten days by the time we heard back from him.
28 Coldeven, 581 CY, Rel Deven
Everyone was quite happy to hear that Ilgrar had everything we needed, finally. We had a meeting with him and presented us with this.
The Story of Tehlei the Slayer
To fully understand the story of Tehlei the Slayer one must first understand the history of the UrFlanae
The Flan are the original human settlers of the Flanaess, Flan meaning "people" in their tongue and Flanaess meaning "The home of the people". They were driven to the Flanaess by the armies of the Seul Imperium in its expansionist days. The Flan were a peaceful people who respected the gods and knew little of magic and warfare. They were also a simple people who were very close to nature and who awed at and feared the spirits of the world.
Their arrival was well received by the Elves who lived in the Flanaess and the two races got along well. One fateful day the leader of one of the tribes of the Flan known as the UrFlanae gave his heir to the king of the elves in exchange for land rights. This heir greatly impressed the elven king and during his stay with the elves he learned many of their secrets. The heirs name was Vecna.
Upon his return home Vecna began to explore the secrets learned among the elves, carefully hiding his work from them. None are sure exactly what occurred but Vecna is believed to have had dealings with forces from beyond the known spheres in his search for the secret to elven longevity. Whether these powers corrupted Vecna or were welcomed by a corruption that was already there is of little matter. Vecna was taught the secrets of necromancy and began his first experiments in un-life.
We shall skip over Vecna's rise to power and his 400 year war against the elves for it is a story that long by itself. What is important is to mention that it is within this war that the first record of Tehlei the Slayer is found. He was a general during the siege of the City of Summer Stars and commanded an army of strange abominations, undead and UrFlanae, one of many such armies that befell the elves. The UrFlanae necromancers were out in force that day, for it was the day that Vecna had ordered the city to fall and the final battle was approaching. Tehlei was to be the rear guard and watch for elves trying to escape or for reinforcements from their allies. It was by this order alone that he and his army survived the cataclysm that befell the city and all who threatened it. What exactly occurred that day has been a secret that the elves refuse to reveal but the city and the armies of the UrFlanae were all lost. Vecna himself was tremendously weakened after the battle and it is then that he was betrayed by his general Kas and the two passed from the Oerth. The remaining UrFlanae were scattered, and eventually fell to the invading Oeridians.
Tehlei was the only general to survive this catastrophe, with most of his army gone he had only a small cadre of soldiers left.Centuries later, in the founding days of the Great Kingdom of Aerdy, the legend of Tehlei the Slayers resurfaced. This was a time when warlords were common and boundaries of civilization were still fluid. From these war mongering men arose a warrior of such ruthlessness that all others took notice. He was said to be a slayer of men, a monster on the battlefield and a terror to fight against. He was known to consort with the foul purveyors of necromancy and, with the aid of such magics as they could command, was able to carve out a small kingdom for himself and threaten a much larger one. The Great Kingdom fielded some of her best armies against this Tehlei the Slayer, and they are remembered to driven forth from his armies speaking of things and magics not seen since the wars against the UrFlanae. Tehlei was said to be a horrendously cruel man who would shrug off any blow and wielded a massive black axe that cut through men like they were stalks of wheat. Fear and panic spread through the Kingdoms men and soon armies began to break at word that Tehlei was on the field.
For such a man to live so long after the death of his people suggests that Tehlei had a close relationship with the necromancers that once served him. Indeed three such beings were spied among his camp and they are largely credited for his longevity and seeming immortality. Of them it was told that their power was such that they could regenerate Tehlei's lost limbs, raise his slain soldiers and steal the life from his enemies.
The Kingdoms generals began to take the threat of Tehlei seriously, and began to plan a brutal campaign against the monster. The most compassionate among them, an unnamed Paladin of Heironeous saw that this plan would result in much death before Tehlei was stopped, and suspected that such a massacre was precisely what the fiend wanted. This Lord took it upon himself to destroy Tehlei and his necromancers.
Armed with the powers of the heavens the Paladin and his small but powerful army met with Tehlei and his growing force. Their faith was like a holy fire in a forest of dried leaves and they clashed with Tehlei himself in no time. Descending on him en-mass they overwhelmed him, and fought their way clear of the horde with their quarry. Devastating magicks were afflicted upon them as they tried to escape and the holy warriors began to wither as grapes in the sun. Very few escaped with their lord, who was said to have dragged Tehlei along the entire time and was unable to defend himself from the many mortal wounds he suffered. He had the warriors with him build a mighty pyre, upon which he burned the corpse of Tehlei, to ensure his necromancers would have nothing to work with to bring him back. Yet still the spirit of Tehlei was strong and scraps of his body could not be annihilated. The paladin then cast a mighty illusion over the remains of Tehlei to hide them as ordinary objects. Tehlei's hands became rings, his flesh a cape, and his vile black heart became an amulet. The paladin then instructed his men to distribute the items to those they could trust and to scatter them as far as they could. With his last breath he instructed the warriors to hunt down and destroy the necromancers, and to ensure they remain dead. He then succumbed to his wounds.
The necromancers must have sensed Tehlei's destruction for at that moment they began to weave a spell to foil the paladin, even should he momentarily succeed. They were able to beckon Tehlei's soul back from the abyss and bestow upon it the ability to possess the mortal who enshrouded himself in the vestments of Tehlei. To promote this action they created a legend, saying that who so ever donned all four pieces of jewelry would be able to summon the spirit of once great general who would be bound to the summoners will. So it was that Tehlei now waits in the nether between worlds for the summoning that will allow his mind to bind itself to another's will and be reborn unto the Oerth.The sage spoke with an entity that said even if Tehlei is reborn he will likely still not be as powerful as he once was since his blood will not be UrFlanae and his necromancers are still imprisoned within Tartarus.
Armed with this information we packed up to head back to Ralsand, tired, annoyed and homesick.
