Wrath of the Righteous 2 [3.5]

[razorback]

With a helpless look on his face, Jemus looks at the magic users in the group, especially Irabeth, before answering. "I... I don't know. This is all beyond me but from everything I've seen and heard of, anything done with magic can be undone with magic..." he says, trying to sound confident, though the end trails off.

[Novabomb]

Tellos
Your heart is human. Others will understand eventually.

[CWater]

Alamryn looks concerned. "No, no I didn't mean that you would have to hide forever, Sera, just... well... Maybe it would be best if someone could tell your family first... about what has happened to you. It could be easier that way, maybe? If it can be undone, I... I don't know. This magic is very alien to me, the skills my mother taught me are very different. But if we find something, we'll help, right?"

[RolandDeschain]

Trawyn

Not really surprised that people aren't answering his call to come out, he falls back and joins the others.

He nods along with what the others are saying then turns to Sera, "Not gonna lie missy, people are going to be taken aback by the....changes in you, and frankly some will either be afraid or down right hostile in light of what's recently happened here. BUT...and this is important, Tellos is correct, family will always understand. If we can get you back to them safely, you'll be alright, but don't think your life hasn't changed substantially, because it has. Not a pleasant truth....but truth rarely is. Not what you want to hear right now, but you may come to appreciate your....er.....heightened abilities as well."

[Kish]

"Do you want us to accompany you to your parents, Sera? It might be a little easier to convince them you're you that way," Irabeth says. "I'm not going to lie, I don't know if what's been done can be undone with any magic we have access to, but whether you're stuck this way physically or not, your mind seems unchanged."

Sera opens and closes her mouth before saying, "I'd rather be alone with them. I can convince them, I'm sure."

You suspect you could convince her to let you accompany her to her parents; convincing her to accompany you to somewhere else would be a lot harder; and if you don't wish to attempt either she'll leave without further discussion.

[RolandDeschain]

Trawyn

"How far is it to your parent's house? I would hate for something to happen to you between here and there due to the....change in your appearance."

[CWater]

"Yes, I agree we should at least escort you home. Considering everything that has happened, the streets are definitely not safe. Is that ok?", she looks at the other party members in turn for their opinions.

[razorback]

"Yes, we can do no less, I think." Jemus says with a heavy heart.

[Cavir]

Semult

"Sounds good to me. Let's go. Which way Sera?"

[Kish]

"All right," Sera says hesitantly. She gestures down one of the streets and hurries ahead of you down the street.

She leads you to a small house and knocks carefully on the door. "Mom? Dad?" she calls. "It's me."

Almost immediately, the door swings open. "Sera!" the woman on the other side cries out. "Are you all--?" then she stops, looking up at her daughter. "--Oh," she manages finally. Sera winces.

Spoiler: OOC

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To be continued tomorrow; I figured I'd give anyone who posted quickly a chance to jump in, if they want to.

[CWater]

Alamryn remains a few steps away as Sera goes to meet her family, trying hard to keep her expression neutral and not show any nervousness.

[Kish]

After a few seconds, the woman quickly steps through the door and outside as a man rushes out as well, comes to a stop, staring at Sera with a remarkably similar look of consternation.

More seconds pass, and then a boy who looks about twelve comes out. "What's going--on?" he asks, blinks up at Sera, then says in a tone that sounds the least panicked you've heard recently, says, "Wow! How fast can you fly?"

"That's...Sera, is it really you?" the woman asks.

"It's me," Sera says. "I haven't noticed any changes in my mind--or rather, in my personality yet. I don't know--"

"All I care about is that you're alive," the woman says. "I thought for sure that demon was going to, to..." She trails off there.

[razorback]

Jemus watches as the painful reunion unfolds. At Sera's mom's response, he tilts his head quizzically before asking "Ma'am, can you tell us what happened when she was taken?"

[RolandDeschain]

Trawyn

With a look to presumably Sera's mother, father, and brother, "Ma'am. Sir. My name is Trawyn. We found Sera here in the Gray Garrison. We were told she had been grievously wounded, but she had been taken inside and somehow healed. The healing has left her somehow physically changed, but is in fact still Sera."

[Cavir]

Semult tries to be positive too. "It is Sera, she'll need your support. If others give you trouble, direct them to one of us. My name is Semult Suntoz." He turns to Sera. "Stay strong, the city may yet need your help."

[Novabomb]

Tellos waves and then turns to leave.

[CWater]

Alamryn breathes a sigh of relief when Sera meets her family. They would look after her, she felt. And indeed, perhaps she would be able to defend them now. "Yes, what he said", she says, agreeing with Semult, "I am Alamryn Kven, if there's anything we can do..."

[RolandDeschain]

Trawyn

Content that the family would work out there difficulties as families do, the bard turns and joins Tellos.

[Cavir]

Semult follows the others leaving to head back to the temporary headquarters at the Inn.

[Kish]

Irabeth is the last to leave, talking to Sera's family a little more, but she quickly catches up with you outside. You head back to the inn. The city is still ruined, but you no longer hear screams of agony from the distance; the demons appear to be actually withdrawing.

At the inn, you're greeted by Quednys Orlun, who brings you into the back again. Anevia greets you there. "We heard the announcement, and figured it had to do with your mission. What happened?"

"Areelu Vorlesh showed up right after we shut down the wardstone fragment and the spell she was casting...had set up around it, somehow," Irabeth tells her. "She knocked me out, but apparently while I was unconscious she said some strange things and then left. One of them was that the entire wardstone network would no longer function."

Anevia whistles. "Just canceling that wardstone shouldn't have done that, should it?"

[Novabomb]

Tellos
No, it shouldn't have. And we have no reason to believe it has unless we hear word from the nearest fortresses.

[razorback]

Jemus just shakes his head for a moment before speaking. "All this is beyond my ability to understand. All I know is that bears ill for us and our cause." as he frets a bit before moving ahead, trying not to be distracted by the news.

[Cavir]

Semult is glad to have made it back to the Inn. The mission was far from a total success but it could have been worse. He greeted Quednys warmly. Inside the Inn, he queries Anevia. "How is your leg doing?"

The other cities need to be contacted to see if their wardstones are still good. The Queen is on her way. Is there a way to contact them so that they know they aren't marching into battle?"

Spoiler: OOC

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What do I know about inter city communications? Know (Local) (1d20+10)[25]
What do I know about the Queen? Know (Local) (1d20+10)[19]

[CWater]

Alamryn lets out a deep sigh of relief and sits down to make good use of the chance to finally relax. She'd already been certain to die once today and seen horrors she wished she could unsee. Yet here they all were, alive and well. Disturbingly well, even. She frowned and clutched a hand to her chest. The strange sensation was still inside, a feeling of strength and confidence that didn't match the day's happenings at all. "Do you have a song to cheer us up, Trawyn?", she asks wistfully.

[Kish]

"Whether what she said was true or not, I don't think we had any choice. I'll send out scouts; if the demons have withdrawn from the surrounding area entirely, they should be able to make contact with the Queen's army easily, and she should be able to confirm whether the wardstone network isn't working. In the meantime, it would be helpful if you could write down every word Vorlesh said, anything you can remember about her demeanor--anything that would give us a hint of why she would suddenly leave like that," Irabeth says. "None of you seem to be injured, somehow, but I need healing, and then we have nothing to do but wait."

Spoiler

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Let me know what you plan on doing next, if you plan on talking more to Irabeth, Anevia, Aravashnial or anyone else there, if you're going to do anything else, or if you're waiting for Queen Galfrey to arrive.

[Cavir]

Semult agrees to transcribe a report thoroughly. As he writes of his own actions to destroy the wardstone he pauses, releasing this may become written history. Would he be judged hero or traitor? If the city fell it didn't matter. His dream was to find a way to close the Worldwound. Was today a stepping stone to that or utter failure? With no way to know at this point, he continued writing.

Report complete he went to find Aravashnial. He tended to the blind elf's needs then found them a quiet corner or room to chat. He spoke in elven as much as he could, out of respect and to keep up his practice. He informed Aravashnial all he had just written in the report. He looked to the elf's greater experience for insight on Areelu Vorlesh's actions and intents based on their experience. He queried if the spell he saw cast was actually Weird, describing the casting that he saw and heard, as well as its effects. The junior conjurer asks about the "gift" that was affecting them.

Semult asks the master conjurer about the Riftwardens. What were their goals? Anything they could help fill that void? Anything from the Riftwardens that could help? Anything he needed now that the immediate threat was gone?

Semult pulls out the ring taken from the fireball using tiefling and a wand from their time underground to see if the elf had any insight to them.

Spoiler: OOC

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Ring: If Aravashnial can't ID it, I'll cast Detect Magic and use Spellcraft to glean what I can. Take 10 for a 24 total if I can else: (1d20+14)[28]
The wand is a Transmutation Wand (from Wenduag). Will keep the spell going for now.

What do I already know about Riftwardens: Know Local [roll]1d20+10]/roll] --> from OOC: 27
Are their existence common knowledge? Common knowledge for those in wizard academies?

EDIT: Forgot I have a conjuration potion that needs IDing too.

[CWater]

Alamryn confirms that she is uninjured. There was lot to think about, yet she feared no amount of thinking would produce any answer to the questions. For a while she simply sits in a corner, resting her feet and eating if something is offered, then seeks to talk to Anevia or anyone in the party, if they look willing to speak. She has no particular topic in mind, just the wish to hear the voices of other people, to have a normal conversation. Also if anyone had more information about the situation surely they would already have shared it.

[RolandDeschain]

Trawyn

Regretting the harsh words from earlier, Trawyn nods to Irabeth, "My apologies Commander, let me see what I can do for your wounds."

Throwing a wink at Alamyrn, "Not exactly a cheery tune, but one of renewal will perhaps do?"

Lifting the ivory horn to his lips he plays a soft melody of notes, then sings:


Day to night, dark to light
Fall the sands of time
Let the years like the gears
Of a clock unwind

In your mind walk through time
Back to better days
Memories, like a dream
Wash tears away

Like a star in the sky
Darkness can't reach you
Light the night, joy is light
Till the new dawn

Cast away your old face
Let go your spite
With this mask I'll ask
To borrow your light

While the fading notes of his song yet linger, he places both hands on Irabeth's shoulders and the begin to softly glow.

The bard will later take the time to assist Semult in drawing up his report, adding a bit of perspective of what it looked like from outside the room that held Areelu Vorlesh.

Spoiler: Actions

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Healing Hymn
Cure Moderate Wounds (2d8+12)[24]

[Novabomb]

Tellos writes his own account of what happened.

[CWater]

Alamryn listens to Trawyn's song and hums along silently, remembering happier times of her life. Her old home forest, where she lived with her mother. She feels her mood become more tranquil and when they go to sleep, her dreams are peaceful.

Spoiler: OOC

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Ready to move forward when you are.