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{{Worldbuilders}} {{Infobox character|name=Durzibethinus|image=Durzibethinus.png|caption=Moments after his rebirth as a [[Dragon]].|relatives=[[Feredemius]], [[Smargarg]]|affilliation=[[Ruby Court]]|alias=[[Ruby Court#Resurrected Court|Emerald Thane of Sardior]], Durian, Adrian Grunwald|birthDate=826 [[PR]]|birthPlace=[[Northern Snowy Mountains]], [[Isonhound]]|species=[[Dragon]]|gender=Male (he/him)|eyes=Emerald|field1=Class|field2=Domain|value1=[[Quelmar Deities|Deity]]|value2=Trickery}} | {{Worldbuilders}} {{Infobox character|name=Durzibethinus|image=Durzibethinus.png|caption=Moments after his rebirth as a [[Dragon]].|relatives=[[Feredemius]], [[Smargarg]]|affilliation=[[Ruby Court]]|alias=[[Ruby Court#Resurrected Court|Emerald Thane of Sardior]], Durian Grunwald, Adrian Grunwald|birthDate=826 [[PR]]|birthPlace=[[Northern Snowy Mountains]], [[Isonhound]]|species=[[Dragon]]|gender=Male (he/him)|eyes=Emerald|field1=Class|field2=Domain|value1=[[Quelmar Deities|Deity]]|value2=Trickery}} | ||
'''{{PAGENAME}}''', also known as '''Durian''', is an [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Emerald Dragon]] and the [[Ruby Court#Resurrected Court|Emerald Thane of Sardior]]. Prior to his ascension, he lived a mortal life in [[Isonhound]] as a [[Dragonborn]] named '''Adrian Grunwald''', son of the high sorcerer in a hidden town called [[Jadenhill]]. After leaving home in 825 [[PR]] with the hopes of finding a way to protect his clan from hostile [[Dragon|Dragons]] and [[The Second Draconic Crusades|Crusaders]], he changed his name to '''Durian''' and discovered the existence of [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragons]] as well as his own emerald heritage. This sent him down a path towards helping to resurrect [[Sardior|Sardior, the Ruby King of Gem Dragons]] and defeating his disgraced ancestor [[Feredemius]], who served as the original [[Ruby Court#Prehistoric Court|Emerald Thane]] before the dissolution of the prehistoric [[Ruby Court]]. Durian’s role in the ritual to resurrect [[Sardior]] caused him to be reborn as an [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Emerald Dragon]] and empowered him to sit on the reassembled [[Ruby Court]] as the new [[Ruby Court#Resurrected Court|Emerald Thane]]. Following his deification, he took to using the name '''Durzibethinus''', a draconic name his father had given him, in order to protect his identity as well as his clan. | '''{{PAGENAME}}''', also known as '''Durian''', is an [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Emerald Dragon]] and the [[Ruby Court#Resurrected Court|Emerald Thane of Sardior]]. Prior to his ascension, he lived a mortal life in [[Isonhound]] as a [[Dragonborn]] named '''Adrian Grunwald''', son of the high sorcerer in a hidden town called [[Jadenhill]]. After leaving home in 825 [[PR]] with the hopes of finding a way to protect his clan from hostile [[Dragon|Dragons]] and [[The Second Draconic Crusades|Crusaders]], he changed his name to '''Durian''' and discovered the existence of [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragons]] as well as his own emerald heritage. This sent him down a path towards helping to resurrect [[Sardior|Sardior, the Ruby King of Gem Dragons]] and defeating his disgraced ancestor [[Feredemius]], who served as the original [[Ruby Court#Prehistoric Court|Emerald Thane]] before the dissolution of the prehistoric [[Ruby Court]]. Durian’s role in the ritual to resurrect [[Sardior]] caused him to be reborn as an [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Emerald Dragon]] and empowered him to sit on the reassembled [[Ruby Court]] as the new [[Ruby Court#Resurrected Court|Emerald Thane]]. Following his deification, he took to using the name '''Durzibethinus''', a draconic name his father had given him, in order to protect his identity as well as his clan. | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
Durian was born at the [[Jadenhill#Religion|Temple on Jadenhill]], a small community off the southern coast of [[Isonhound]]. Its population primarily | Durian was born at the [[Jadenhill#Religion|Temple on Jadenhill]], a small community off the southern coast of [[Isonhound]]. Its population is primarily metallic [[Dragonborn]] and was settled by a clan of devout [[Bahamut]] worshippers who emigrated from [[Pteris]] in the early [[PR]] era to escape the chaos of the [[The Cavalry Rush|Cavalry Rush]]. The town of [[Jadenhill]] consists of little more than the temple, which is partially built into the ruins of an ancient abandoned mining project. | ||
The temple practiced its worship in relative peace and seclusion for nearly three centuries, finding ways to honor [[Bahamut]] while they awaited his inevitable return, such as studying the [[Monk|Way of the Ascendant Dragon]]. However, they would fall victim to the [[The Razing of Isonhound|Razing of Isonhound]] in 700 [[PR]] | The temple practiced its worship in relative peace and seclusion for nearly three centuries, finding ways to honor [[Bahamut]] while they awaited his inevitable return, such as studying the [[Monk|Way of the Ascendant Dragon]]. However, they would fall victim to the [[The Razing of Isonhound|Razing of Isonhound]] in 700 [[PR]], flattening most parts of the temple that were not housed in the repurposed mining tunnels. Most lives were spared, but it was a devastating loss that would prove too difficult to build back from without outside help. They began tiptoeing back into the outside world to attempt trade and other forms of participating in greater society. | ||
Blaming the [[Dragon|Dragons]] of [[Tiamat]] | Blaming the [[Dragon|Dragons]] of [[Tiamat]] for this misfortune, they wrote letters declaring their loyalty to the church of [[Kragnux (Deity)|Kragnux the Dragon Slayer]], adding the god to their pantheon of deities. Around this same time, a few of the children in town had been born with brilliant, gemlike scales and proved to be gifted with psionic powers and sorcery. The origins of this gem ancestry was unknown, but the temple's priests interpreted it as a blessing from [[Bahamut]] as proof that they were on the most noble path. | ||
This interpretation would prove regrettable as the growing church of [[Kragnux (Deity)|Kragnux]] became radicalized against not just [[Dragon|Dragons]], but against all draconic races. The temple heard word of the [[Dragonborn]] being slaughtered in the [[The Second Draconic Crusades|Second Draconic Crusades]] and quietly dissolved their | This interpretation would prove regrettable as the growing church of [[Kragnux (Deity)|Kragnux]] became radicalized against not just [[Dragon|Dragons]], but against all draconic races. The temple heard word of the [[Dragonborn]] being slaughtered in the [[The Second Draconic Crusades|Second Draconic Crusades]] and quietly dissolved their allegiances to the church, but it was too late to recluse their community again. They had rebuilt and thrived with the benefit of outside trading partners who knew of the temple and would soon be visiting in greater numbers. | ||
The temple leaders devised a system for receiving guests, erecting a mage tower dubbed the [[Jadenhill#Court of Quartz|Court of Quartz]] to serve as a visitors center as well as house many of the artifacts pulled from the former mining tunnels over the | The temple leaders devised a system for receiving guests, erecting a mage tower dubbed the [[Jadenhill#Court of Quartz|Court of Quartz]] to serve as a visitors center as well as house many of the artifacts pulled from the former mining tunnels over the years, including a large amethyst gem shaped like a [[Dragon]] egg. They also appointed a high sorcerer, one of the gem-touched [[Dragonborn]], to reside in the tower and perform an essential part of their plan using one of the few rocky relics in the collection brought over from the old continent. | ||
Dubbed the [[Selune Splinter]] and described as a fragment from an ancient moon crystal imbued with peculiar paranormal properties, it | Dubbed the [[Selune Splinter]] and described as a fragment from an ancient moon crystal imbued with peculiar paranormal properties, it is able to amplify illusionary magic to increase its effect and distance. Wielding this artifact, the high sorcerer could cast a spell over the entire temple to disguise its [[Dragonborn]] residents as [[Elf|Wood Elves]], the primary inhabitants of the [[Woldlin]] region. This ruse was successfully kept up for the remainder of the century, and the monotonous high sorcerer position would be passed between gem-touched [[Dragonborn]] before reaching Durian's mother. | ||
Ironically, the long-awaited return of [[Bahamut]] in 795 [[PR]] would also soon signal the end of | Ironically, the long-awaited return of [[Bahamut]] in 795 [[PR]] would also soon signal the end of this ruse. As [[Dragon|Dragons]] were now free to wreak their will on the realm, the temple came under attack by an unidentified [[Dragon]] in 825 [[PR]] and the [[Jadenhill#Court of Quartz|Court of Quartz]] was robbed of its collection, including the [[Selune Splinter]] which they had spent decades relying upon for protection. Its residents were sitting ducks in a world finding itself at odds with the [[Dragon|Dragons]] for the first time in over a century. How long would it be before the rest of the realm grew frustrated and turned its sights back on what was left of the draconic races? | ||
Adrian | Adrian, son of the high sorcerer and presumed next in line for the position, changed his name to Durian (a portmanteau of his elvish and draconic names) to conceal his identity and snuck away from the temple with aspirations to show the realm that the [[Dragonborn]] are equal victims of the [[Dragon|Dragons]]' ransacking ways and can be strong allies in the fight against them. If he could also uncover a new means of protecting his clan somewhere along the way, that would be all the better. | ||
== Adventures in Quelmar == | == Adventures in Quelmar == | ||
{{Infobox_character|affilliation=[[Harbingers of Sardior]]|name=Durian|image=Durian.png|caption=His [[Dragonborn]] form, prior to his rebirth.|relatives=|languages=Celestial, Common, Draconic, Dwarvish, Elvish, Infernal, Primordial, Telepathy, Wiki|alias=|marital=|birthPlace=[[Jadenhill]], [[Isonhound]]|deathDate=|deathPlace=|species=[[Dragonborn]]|gender=Male (he/him)|height=6' 4"|weight=260 lbs|eyes=Emerald|field1=Class|value1=[[Sorcerer]]|playerName=[[User:Jeffbuterbaugh|Jeff]]|birthDate=806 [[PR]]}} | {{Infobox_character|affilliation=[[Harbingers of Sardior]]|name=Durian Grunwald|image=Durian.png|caption=His [[Dragonborn]] form, prior to his rebirth.|relatives=|languages=Celestial, Common, Draconic, Dwarvish, Elvish, Infernal, Primordial, Telepathy, Wiki|alias=|marital=|birthPlace=[[Jadenhill]], [[Isonhound]]|deathDate=|deathPlace=|species=[[Dragonborn]]|gender=Male (he/him)|height=6' 4"|weight=260 lbs|eyes=Emerald|field1=Class|value1=[[Sorcerer]]|playerName=[[User:Jeffbuterbaugh|Jeff]]|birthDate=806 [[PR]]}} | ||
=== Draconic Divinations === | === Draconic Divinations === | ||
Durian leaves home for the first time and is given an alarming vision of the future before meeting a [[Silver Dragon]] with a peculiar ideology, causing him to have a crisis of faith… | Durian leaves home for the first time and is given an alarming vision of the future before meeting a [[Dragon#Metallic Dragons|Silver Dragon]] with a peculiar ideology, causing him to have a crisis of faith… | ||
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Durian did not ask for explicit permission to leave [[Jadenhill]], but after the [[Dragon]] attack and theft of the [[Selune Splinter]], he felt an obligation to protect his home and find a new way of defending his clan from annihilation. He wore his [[Elf|Wood Elf]] disguise everywhere early in his journey due to fears of hostility towards [[Dragonborn]], but dropped this precaution soon before arriving in the city of [[Synàra]] to gage how people would respond. Sensing no immediate animosity, he ceased the pretense of a disguise while still remaining guarded about the hometown of [[Dragonborn]] he heralded from. | Durian did not ask for explicit permission to leave [[Jadenhill]], but after the [[Dragon]] attack and theft of the [[Selune Splinter]], he felt an obligation to protect his home and find a new way of defending his clan from annihilation. He wore his [[Elf|Wood Elf]] disguise everywhere early in his journey due to fears of hostility towards [[Dragonborn]], but dropped this precaution soon before arriving in the city of [[Synàra]] to gage how people would respond. Sensing no immediate animosity, he ceased the pretense of a disguise while still remaining guarded about the hometown of [[Dragonborn]] he heralded from. | ||
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He entered a fortune teller's tent, expecting an entertaining swindle for one gold piece…what he got instead was a cryptic prophecy. The teller gazed into his scrying sphere as the lights dimmed and he described a flood of smoke which would precede the return of powerful [[Dragon|Dragons]]. The teller peered to Durian, staring him down with a bewildered expression and asked "who are you?" Durian could only stutter out, "I'm a [[Dragonborn]]," unsure of how to respond. The fortune teller warned, "you should leave [[Synàra]]," before light returned to the tent and the prophecy faded from view. | He entered a fortune teller's tent, expecting an entertaining swindle for one gold piece…what he got instead was a cryptic prophecy. The teller gazed into his scrying sphere as the lights dimmed and he described a flood of smoke which would precede the return of powerful [[Dragon|Dragons]]. The teller peered to Durian, staring him down with a bewildered expression and asked "who are you?" Durian could only stutter out, "I'm a [[Dragonborn]]," unsure of how to respond. The fortune teller warned, "you should leave [[Synàra]]," before light returned to the tent and the prophecy faded from view. | ||
Durian exited the tent shaken, but barely a minute passed before he would experience his first crisis of faith in the teachings of [[Bahamut]] as he witnessed [[Sro|Sro the Silver Dragon]], seemingly allied with a [[Red Dragon]] and a [[Black Dragon]], descending upon the festivities and [[Three Dragons on Synàra|attacking the city]]. Durian joined a group of adventurers who were dashing towards city hall to confront the [[Silver Dragon]]. Once they caught up, however, they quickly discovered the [[Dragon|Greatwyrm]] was simply too powerful to take down as it laid waste to the building's stone walls as if they were parchment. Durian avoided a breath weapon which took down most of the city guard and followed the massive creature inside the building. He tried to get closer to its head by climbing onto a balcony, but one whip from the [[Dragon|Dragon's]] tail sent Durian tumbling back to the ground floor. As Durian struggled to stand back up, he tried sending [[Sro]] a telepathic message: "child of [[Bahamut]], what is it that you want? Let us help you and cease this destruction!" The [[Silver Dragon]] turned his head towards Durian and bellowed out "bring me the mayor!" What they didn't know was that some of the other adventurers were smuggling the mayor out of the building as Durian helped distract [[Sro]]. The mayor was rescued, but the [[Dragon]] grabbed one of the mayor's assistants in its claws before flying away with a thunderous boom. | Durian exited the tent shaken, but barely a minute passed before he would experience his first crisis of faith in the teachings of [[Bahamut]] as he witnessed [[Sro|Sro the Silver Dragon]], seemingly allied with a [[Dragon#Chromatic Dragons|Red Dragon]] and a [[Dragon#Chromatic Dragons|Black Dragon]], descending upon the festivities and [[Three Dragons on Synàra|attacking the city]]. Durian joined a group of adventurers who were dashing towards city hall to confront the [[Dragon#Metallic Dragons|Silver Dragon]]. Once they caught up, however, they quickly discovered the [[Dragon|Greatwyrm]] was simply too powerful to take down as it laid waste to the building's stone walls as if they were parchment. Durian avoided a breath weapon which took down most of the city guard and followed the massive creature inside the building. He tried to get closer to its head by climbing onto a balcony, but one whip from the [[Dragon|Dragon's]] tail sent Durian tumbling back to the ground floor. As Durian struggled to stand back up, he tried sending [[Sro]] a telepathic message: "child of [[Bahamut]], what is it that you want? Let us help you and cease this destruction!" The [[Dragon#Metallic Dragons|Silver Dragon]] turned his head towards Durian and bellowed out "bring me the mayor!" What they didn't know was that some of the other adventurers were smuggling the mayor out of the building as Durian helped distract [[Sro]]. The mayor was rescued, but the [[Dragon]] grabbed one of the mayor's assistants in its claws before flying away with a thunderous boom. | ||
Durian was left confused and with so many questions…why would a child of [[Bahamut]] conspire with spawns of [[Tiamat]] to commit such a seemingly evil act? To find out why, Durian responded to some local calls for aid and joined a rescue party that was on its way to confront [[Sro]] at his lair. The journey took several days to navigate [[Isonhound|Isonhound's]] thick forests, but after scaling a mountain and finally arriving at the lair's cavernous entrance, the [[Silver Dragon]] was surprisingly receptive to them. [[Sro]] clarified that he was not allied with the [[Dragon#Chromatic Dragons|Chromatic Dragons]], but rather, he had been abducting mayors in order to better prepare humankind to battle [[Dragon|Dragons]] again. Durian was not impressed with this answer but held his tongue, knowing better than to fight or argue with one of the children of his deity. Still, he could not shake his worries…was it really wise to be raising armies of [[Dragon]] killers only a few decades after the heedless genocide of the [[The Second Draconic Crusades|Second Draconic Crusades]]? How long would it be before a new generation of crusaders rose up to finish off the remaining [[Dragonborn]]? He returned to [[Synàra]] in search of another job, one that he hoped would reveal a better path forward. | Durian was left confused and with so many questions…why would a child of [[Bahamut]] conspire with spawns of [[Tiamat]] to commit such a seemingly evil act? To find out why, Durian responded to some local calls for aid and joined a rescue party that was on its way to confront [[Sro]] at his lair. The journey took several days to navigate [[Isonhound|Isonhound's]] thick forests, but after scaling a mountain and finally arriving at the lair's cavernous entrance, the [[Dragon#Metallic Dragons|Silver Dragon]] was surprisingly receptive to them. [[Sro]] clarified that he was not allied with the [[Dragon#Chromatic Dragons|Chromatic Dragons]], but rather, he had been abducting mayors in order to better prepare humankind to battle [[Dragon|Dragons]] again. Durian was not impressed with this answer but held his tongue, knowing better than to fight or argue with one of the children of his deity. Still, he could not shake his worries…was it really wise to be raising armies of [[Dragon]] killers only a few decades after the heedless genocide of the [[The Second Draconic Crusades|Second Draconic Crusades]]? How long would it be before a new generation of crusaders rose up to finish off the remaining [[Dragonborn]]? He returned to [[Synàra]] in search of another job, one that he hoped would reveal a better path forward. | ||
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=== Surprise Sapphire === | === Surprise Sapphire === | ||
Durian discovers the existence of [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragons]] and attempts to befriend one of them, leading him towards questions about his own identity… | Durian discovers the existence of [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragons]] and attempts to befriend one of them, leading him towards questions about his own identity… | ||
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Not yet convinced that fighting was the best solution for his clan, he found himself in the town of [[ | Not yet convinced that fighting was the best solution for his clan, he found himself in the town of [[Into the Greedy Green/The Story So Far#Session 5: Bleucorundum I|Tsoljcanth]] where he was intrigued by the unique problem plaguing its residents: they were being rendered invisible to one another at seemingly random intervals. Durian joined a search party in following clues to the potential source of the problem: a stolen [[Dragon]] egg, strange in appearance and not dissimilar to the "egg-shaped gem" that had been stolen from [[Jadenhill]]. The party tracked the egg into the forest and found themselves battling invisible monsters. In a last-ditch attempt to shake them off, Durian shouted at the monsters that "I need to protect that egg!" In that moment, the monsters became visible to him and a brilliant [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Sapphire Dragon]] appeared flying overhead. Durian had never heard of a [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragon]] before. He called out to her "who are you, who do you follow?" before witnessing her fly off with the egg, questions unanswered. Shortly thereafter, the party heard a voice in their heads declaring them friends of [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragons]] and being granted the [[Draconic Boon#Boon of the Galadiir (Corundum Egg)|Boon of Bleucorundum the Sapphire Dragon]], a protection which would render them "invisible to any [[Dragon]] who would hurt you, so long as you don't shed any [[Dragon|Dragon's]] blood." Possibilities raced through Durian's mind, could this boon lead to the solution for his clan that he'd been looking for? What is a [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragon]], could this be the reason he looks and feels so different from the other metallic [[Dragonborn]] at home? | ||
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Durian tests the limits of the boon that [[Bleucorundum]] gave him by taking a job which would lead him to encounter another child of [[Bahamut]]… | Durian tests the limits of the boon that [[Bleucorundum]] gave him by taking a job which would lead him to encounter another child of [[Bahamut]]… | ||
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Eager to find out how [[Bleucorundum|Bleucorundum's]] boon really worked, Durian took a job in an area where a [[Bronze Dragon]] had reportedly been sighted. He would be providing protection to a cargo boat named the '''River Queen''' while it sailed from [[Sneerwell]] to the [[Isonhound#Geography|Ssaphíbían River]]. He met the rest of the adventuring team at the dock and they all boarded the vessel, which was being captained by two '''Korreds'''. They were not on the river for long before they had their first sighting of the [[Bronze Dragon]] swimming towards the stern of the ship. They managed to put some distance between themselves and the [[Dragon]] by kicking the boat's engine into temporary overdrive, but the [[Dragon]] eventually caught up and attacked the boat with its lightning breath weapon. The team managed to get one more boost out of the boat's engine to escape the [[Dragon]] again, but the engine was shot afterwards. | Eager to find out how [[Bleucorundum|Bleucorundum's]] boon really worked, Durian took a job in an area where a [[Dragon#Metallic Dragons|Bronze Dragon]] had reportedly been sighted. He would be providing protection to a cargo boat named the '''River Queen''' while it sailed from [[Sneerwell]] to the [[Isonhound#Geography|Ssaphíbían River]]. He met the rest of the adventuring team at the dock and they all boarded the vessel, which was being captained by two '''Korreds'''. They were not on the river for long before they had their first sighting of the [[Dragon#Metallic Dragons|Bronze Dragon]] swimming towards the stern of the ship. They managed to put some distance between themselves and the [[Dragon]] by kicking the boat's engine into temporary overdrive, but the [[Dragon]] eventually caught up and attacked the boat with its lightning breath weapon. The team managed to get one more boost out of the boat's engine to escape the [[Dragon]] again, but the engine was shot afterwards. | ||
The '''Korred''' captains docked the boat to address any damages and refuel at their midway station, which turned out to be an illicit mining operation in the [[Isonhound]] forests that the captains were involved with, even hauling mining equipment on their boat. As they pulled in, however, it was clear that the site had been completely destroyed, presumably by the [[Bronze Dragon]]. The team explored what was left of the | The '''Korred''' captains docked the boat to address any damages and refuel at their midway station, which turned out to be an illicit mining operation in the [[Isonhound]] forests that the captains were involved with, even hauling mining equipment on their boat. As they pulled in, however, it was clear that the site had been completely destroyed, presumably by the [[Dragon#Metallic Dragons|Bronze Dragon]]. The team explored what was left of the site, displeased with the environmental scarring that the mining had caused, and quickly turned against the unapologetic '''Korreds'''. So much so, that when the [[Dragon#Metallic Dragons|Bronze Dragon]] eventually caught up with the team, they fed the '''Korred''' captains to him. They had a brief conversation with the [[Dragon]], who revealed that there were still enslaved workers trapped in the collapsed mine. He was unsympathetic to them, however, as he believed that anyone involved with this mining "deserve their fate." Durian also spoke to the [[Dragon#Metallic Dragons|Bronze Dragon]], but it was very clear that Durian was invisible to him as the creature struggled to make eye contact and follow the sound of Durian's voice. This was curious to Durian…did this mean that the [[Dragon#Metallic Dragons|Bronze Dragon]] still sought to harm him, or was he simply now invisible to all [[Dragon|Dragons]] of the [[Dragon#Metallic Dragons|Metallic]] and [[Dragon#Chromatic Dragons|Chromatic]] variety? More importantly, what did it say about the moral perspectives of [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragons]] if [[Bleucorundum]] viewed all non-[[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragons]] as potentially harmful? There was a [[Warforged]] on their team who also seemed to be invisible to the [[Dragon]], but Durian did not know where the [[Warforged]] sourced their invisibility from. | ||
After the [[Bronze Dragon]] took off, the team's [[Druid]] melded into stone in order to rescue the enslaved workers trapped underground and return them to the surface (including a [[Shifter]] from the [[Shifter#Igneous of Isonhound|Igneous of Isonhound]] tribe). Meanwhile, an [[Artificer]] worked on the boat's engine to make it operational again and the team was able to sail home. | After the [[Dragon#Metallic Dragons|Bronze Dragon]] took off, the team's [[Druid]] melded into stone in order to rescue the enslaved workers trapped underground and return them to the surface (including a [[Shifter]] from the [[Shifter#Igneous of Isonhound|Igneous of Isonhound]] tribe). Meanwhile, an [[Artificer]] worked on the boat's engine to make it operational again and the team was able to sail home. | ||
Hoping to further test [[Bleucorundum|Bleucorundum's]] boon, Durian took another job not long afterwards which he hoped would lead to him encountering a spawn of [[Tiamat]]. This job proved to be a bust, however, as the alleged [[Red Dragon]] who had been causing trouble for the town of [[Briar Glen]] turned out to merely be a major image that a retired [[Wizard]] had been casting in order to manipulate the local [[Kobold|Kobolds]] into doing his bidding. | Hoping to further test [[Bleucorundum|Bleucorundum's]] boon, Durian took another job not long afterwards which he hoped would lead to him encountering a spawn of [[Tiamat]]. This job proved to be a bust, however, as the alleged [[Dragon#Chromatic Dragons|Red Dragon]] who had been causing trouble for the town of [[Briar Glen]] turned out to merely be a major image that a retired [[Wizard]] had been casting in order to manipulate the local [[Kobold|Kobolds]] into doing his bidding. | ||
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=== Sardior Secrets === | === Sardior Secrets === | ||
Durian meets an ancient witch who is the first to divulge the existence of the [[Ruby Court]] as well as his god [[Sardior|Sardior, the Ruby King of Gem Dragons]]… | Durian meets an ancient witch who is the first to divulge the existence of the [[Ruby Court]] as well as his god [[Sardior|Sardior, the Ruby King of Gem Dragons]]… | ||
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Durian's questions regarding the [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragons]] would remain unanswered until he met [[Yggwilv]], a powerful witch possessing ancient powers and knowledge. Durian asked her about the [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragons]], to which she unfurled the story of [[Sardior|Sardior the Ruby Dragon]], the lost third pillar of [[Dragon|Dragonkind]]. She explained that he was an ancient god of neutrality who once had a court consisting of each type of [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragon]], but that he had died sometime before [[Prehistory]]. She told Durian that [[Sardior]] was his god, and that if [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragon]] eggs are suddenly appearing in the realm, it may be a sign that this forgotten pillar of neutrality is needed once again. Durian left [[Yggwilv's Hut]], unsure of what it means to worship [[Sardior]] but determined to do all he could to find out. | Durian's questions regarding the [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragons]] would remain unanswered until he met [[Into the Greedy Green/The Story So Far#Session 17: Silent I|Yggwilv]], a powerful witch possessing ancient powers and knowledge. Durian asked her about the [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragons]], to which she unfurled the story of [[Sardior|Sardior the Ruby Dragon]], the lost third pillar of [[Dragon|Dragonkind]]. She explained that he was an ancient god of neutrality who once had a court consisting of each type of [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragon]], but that he had died sometime before [[Prehistory]]. She told Durian that [[Sardior]] was his god, and that if [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragon]] eggs are suddenly appearing in the realm, it may be a sign that this forgotten pillar of neutrality is needed once again. Durian left [[Yggwilv's Hut]], unsure of what it means to worship [[Sardior]] but determined to do all he could to find out. | ||
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Durian joins a guild in order to reacquire the [[Selune Splinter]], an artifact of tremendous significance that had been stolen from his clan… | Durian joins a guild in order to reacquire the [[Selune Splinter]], an artifact of tremendous significance that had been stolen from his clan… | ||
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Before Durian could put any more legwork into pursuing the path of [[Sardior]], he would first need to address the loose thread from his past which had made an unexpected reappearance in his life: the [[Selune Splinter]]. Unbeknownst to him, the [[Wold Order]] had taken possession of it sometime after it was stolen from the [[Jadenhill#Court of Quartz|Court of Quartz]], using it in one of their training grounds to create the illusion of a [[ | Before Durian could put any more legwork into pursuing the path of [[Sardior]], he would first need to address the loose thread from his past which had made an unexpected reappearance in his life: the [[Selune Splinter]]. Unbeknownst to him, the [[Wold Order]] had taken possession of it sometime after it was stolen from the [[Jadenhill#Court of Quartz|Court of Quartz]], using it in one of their training grounds to create the illusion of a [[Dragon#Chromatic Dragons|Red Dragon's]] lair. Even more frustrating, the adventurer who had swiped it from the [[Wold Order]] refused to hear Durian out about the significance it carried to his clan. In a move that felt almost mocking, they also seemed to openly carry the [[Selune Splinter]] around with them everywhere they went. Durian kept close tabs on them, awaiting an opportunity when he could negotiate for the artifact that, as far as Durian was concerned, was the only thing standing between his clan and certain annihilation. After three months, he learned that the [[Selune Splinter]] had traded hands once again. After formally meeting the [[Band of the Iron Hawk]] at the battle of the [[The Shadow Forge Shutdown|Shadow Forge]], however, Durian was invited to join their guild—giving him the title of '''Psionic Sorcerer'''—and they used their connections to help negotiate the reacquisition of the [[Selune Splinter]]. Having finally recovered his coveted artifact, Durian spent lots of time on his own practicing how to channel illusionary magic through the [[Selune Splinter]], trusting that it would not be long before he could arrange for its safe transport back to [[Jadenhill]]. In the meantime, however, he returned his attention to uncovering all he could about the [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragon]] god: [[Sardior]]. | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
=== Jeered Tears === | === Jeered Tears === | ||
Durian sets out to learn everything he can about [[Sardior]] and acquires one of the only known physical remnants of the [[Dragon#Gem Dragon|Gem Dragon]] god… | Durian sets out to learn everything he can about [[Sardior]] and acquires one of the only known physical remnants of the [[Dragon#Gem Dragon|Gem Dragon]] god… | ||
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Following the battle of the [[The Shadow Forge Shutdown|Shadow Forge]], the '''Curator''' offered a favor of information to those who aided in the battle. Durian used his favor to ask the '''Curator''' about [[Sardior]], but he was unable to provide any new leads except to reaffirm all that [[Yggwilv]] had already said. He suggested seeking out the [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragons]] for more answers, a recommendation which Durian felt very intent on following. He spent six weeks conducting research on [[Sardior]] and the [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragons]], using bribes and favors in order to compile a list of nearly everything ever put to paper about the ancient ruby god. It was not a terribly long list, which is predictable when conducting research on | Following the battle of the [[The Shadow Forge Shutdown|Shadow Forge]], the '''Curator''' offered a favor of information to those who aided in the battle. Durian used his favor to ask the '''Curator''' about [[Sardior]], but he was unable to provide any new leads except to reaffirm all that [[Into the Greedy Green/The Story So Far#Session 17: Silent I|Yggwilv]] had already said. He suggested seeking out the [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragons]] for more answers, a recommendation which Durian felt very intent on following. He spent six weeks conducting research on [[Sardior]] and the [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragons]], using bribes and favors in order to compile a list of nearly everything ever put to paper about the ancient ruby god. It was not a terribly long list, which is predictable when conducting research on prehistory beings, but Durian was confident that it was at least comprehensive. One particular find caught his attention: stories of an unknown sixth type of [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragon]]. He immediately connected this sixth type with [[Feredemius|The One That Waits]], a mysterious dark entity who had recently began plaguing Isonhound. Durian surmised that [[Sardior]] must have casted this sixth [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragon]] out of his court and that they had returned to exact revenge on the reemerging [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragons]]. He felt further supported by this claim after some other adventures turned up a previously unknown [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragon]] type: [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Obsidian]]. | ||
Around the same time, a handful of adventurers returned from visiting [[Sro]] with six ancient artifacts called the [[Tear of Sardior|Tears of Sardior]]. Durian was shocked by the possibility of a physical remnant of [[Sardior]] still existing on the realm. He attempted to leverage his research in exchange for one of the artifacts. He soon felt guilty for withholding information and apologized for attempting that trick, freely sharing the research with the [[Band of the Iron Hawk]] as well as his theory about the identity of [[Feredemius|The One That Waits]]. Durian would eventually acquire a [[Tear of Sardior]] by bartering with someone outside of the guild. Being the only artifact of [[Sardior]] that he knew, he fastened it into a necklace to wear as a holy symbol in the same manner as his pendant of [[Bahamut]]. | Around the same time, a handful of adventurers returned from visiting [[Sro]] with six ancient artifacts called the [[Tear of Sardior|Tears of Sardior]]. Durian was shocked by the possibility of a physical remnant of [[Sardior]] still existing on the realm. He attempted to leverage his research in exchange for one of the artifacts. He soon felt guilty for withholding information and apologized for attempting that trick, freely sharing the research with the [[Band of the Iron Hawk]] as well as his theory about the identity of [[Feredemius|The One That Waits]]. Durian would eventually acquire a [[Tear of Sardior]] by bartering with someone outside of the guild. Being the only artifact of [[Sardior]] that he knew, he fastened it into a necklace to wear as a holy symbol in the same manner as his pendant of [[Bahamut]]. | ||
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Durian tracks down the lair of an [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Emerald Dragon]] who teaches him how to read minds in exchange for helping to return one of his eggs… | Durian tracks down the lair of an [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Emerald Dragon]] who teaches him how to read minds in exchange for helping to return one of his eggs… | ||
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Durian spent the next month conducting research to track down the potential whereabouts of the [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Emerald]], [[Amethyst | Durian spent the next month conducting research to track down the potential whereabouts of the [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Emerald]], [[Amethyst dragon|Amethyst]], and [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Crystal]] [[Dragon|Dragons]]. He joined a party sailing up the [[Isonhound#Geography|Ssaphíbían River]] in order to follow a lead he found on the location of [[Feredemius|Feredemius, the Emerald Thane of Sardior]]. The expedition was contracted by [[Into the Greedy Green/NPCs#Miranda Wright|Professor Miranda Wright]], a psionic professor from [[Katharda Academy]]. As they arrived at the fiery entrance to an underground lair and the professor sensed the psionic activity within, Durian and the professor realized that they were both after the same thing. Durian, hovering over the entrance, folded his wings and plummeted straight down the hole leading into the lair, soon joined by the rest of the group as they each jumped in. It was immediately apparent that they were being watched as Durian spotted a clairvoyant eye peering from a nearby lava pillar, which disappeared after its owner was taken aback by being spotted. The group negotiated their way through the lair, encountering major illusions and conversing with the disembodied voice of a [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragon]] as it picked through each of their memories. They eventually found their way to the main hall where the [[Dragon]] resided, but it was not [[Feredemius]], but rather [[Smargarg|Smargarg the Emerald Dragon]]. It may not have been the [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Emerald Dragon]] that Durian had set out to find, but it was still the first physical evidence he had encountered that [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Emerald Dragons]] still walk the realm. He found the experience both incredibly validating and intimidating. [[Smargarg]] explained that all draconic emerald beings trace their lineage back to [[Feredemius]], and that he could sense the psionic presence of [[Feredemius]] somewhere in [[Isonhound]]. Durian asked the [[Dragon]] if he could be taught to sense [[Feredemius]], and he promised to grant the party this power if they could return an [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Emerald Dragon]] egg that was stolen from his hatchery. | ||
A couple days later, Durian connected with another adventurer who had also been along to meet the [[Into the Greedy Green/The Story So Far#Session 53: DOS III|Most Sanctified Disciples of Sardior]], who confirmed that their most recent party had come into possession of the missing [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Emerald Dragon]] egg. However, the egg had been damaged and possibly possessed by [[Feredemius|The One That Waits]], so they agreed to bring the egg back to [[Smargarg]] in hopes that he could help repair and purify it. Upon the egg's return, [[Smargarg]] granted the party a [[Draconic Boon|Boon of Telepathy]] and tasked them with "searching the minds of men to see if you can discern the presence of the emerald [[Feredemius]], or maybe even [[Venaleth|The One That Walks Among You]], or the presence of other mental powers such as [[Feredemius|The One That Waits]]…" Durian accepted this assignment and, with his new mind-reading ability, set his sights back on reassembling the court of [[Sardior]]. | A couple days later, Durian connected with another adventurer who had also been along to meet the [[Into the Greedy Green/The Story So Far#Session 53: DOS III|Most Sanctified Disciples of Sardior]], who confirmed that their most recent party had come into possession of the missing [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Emerald Dragon]] egg. However, the egg had been damaged and possibly possessed by [[Feredemius|The One That Waits]], so they agreed to bring the egg back to [[Smargarg]] in hopes that he could help repair and purify it. Upon the egg's return, [[Smargarg]] granted the party a [[Draconic Boon|Boon of Telepathy]] and tasked them with "searching the minds of men to see if you can discern the presence of the emerald [[Feredemius]], or maybe even [[Venaleth|The One That Walks Among You]], or the presence of other mental powers such as [[Feredemius|The One That Waits]]…" Durian accepted this assignment and, with his new mind-reading ability, set his sights back on reassembling the court of [[Sardior]]. | ||
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Durian learns names for all of the original [[Ruby Court]] members and ponders what it means to be a [[Ruby Court|Harbinger]], forming the [[Harbingers of Sardior]] to share information more efficiently… | Durian learns names for all of the original [[Ruby Court]] members and ponders what it means to be a [[Ruby Court|Harbinger]], forming the [[Harbingers of Sardior]] to share information more efficiently… | ||
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Shortly after returning to [[Seglock]], Durian began compiling everything he had learned about the [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragons]] from his visits with [[Smargarg]] as well as the [[Into the Greedy Green/The Story So Far#Session 53: DOS III|Most Sanctified Disciples of Sardior]]…attempting to organize his scattered notes into a tome of more comprehensible information that others could benefit from. Arguably the most significant discoveries from his most recent outings were names for two more of [[Sardior|Sardior's]] court members…the [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Emerald]]—[[Feredemius]]—and the [[Amethyst | Shortly after returning to [[Seglock]], Durian began compiling everything he had learned about the [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragons]] from his visits with [[Smargarg]] as well as the [[Into the Greedy Green/The Story So Far#Session 53: DOS III|Most Sanctified Disciples of Sardior]]…attempting to organize his scattered notes into a tome of more comprehensible information that others could benefit from. Arguably the most significant discoveries from his most recent outings were names for two more of [[Sardior|Sardior's]] court members…the [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Emerald]]—[[Feredemius]]—and the [[Amethyst dragon|Amethyst]]—[[Venaleth|The One That Walks Among You]]. Durian was among the first to meet the [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Sapphire]]—[[Bleucorundum]]—early on in his journey, and another party had uncovered the name of the [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Crystal]]—[[Eros]]—several months ago. All that had yet to be uncovered was a name for the fifth court member…that is, until another adventuring party returned from the [[Northern Snowy Mountains]] wielding an artifact called the [[Topaz Astrolabe]] and finally putting a name to the [[Topaz Dragon|Topaz]]—[[Tuschello]]. Additionally, the party claimed that the artifact gifted them boons of a [[Ruby Court|Harbinger]] upon its activation and that it had briefly opened a portal to the soul of [[Tuschello]] within the [[Astral Plane|Astral Sea]]. Durian was impressed by these claims and was particularly intrigued by the party's use of the word [[Ruby Court|Harbinger]], as it was the first title he had heard which resembled anything pertaining to a formal role in the court of [[Sardior]]. He certainly had theories about what such a role may have entailed in the context of an ancient court, especially since the benefits of the [[Ruby Court|Harbinger]] boon—namely, a gem-based breath weapon and resistance—seemed to mirror his own innate abilities as a [[Dragonborn|Gem Dragonborn]]. But it was the only title he knew thus far to describe a follower of [[Sardior]]…so regardless of whatever its official meaning once was, Durian was determined to be a [[Ruby Court|Harbinger]], too. He finished compiling his tome of [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragon]] notes—deciding to title it the [[Harbingers of Sardior]]—and treated it as a pseudo-guild, extending invitations to share the tome with any adventurer who expressed interest in learning more about the [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragons]] and who might want to contribute any relevant information that they pick up along their travels. | ||
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=== Festive Fall === | === Festive Fall === | ||
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Durian emerged from the tent, wiser than he was the year before, and his weariness around festivals was quickly validated as a thunderous, quaking boom crashed the celebration. In the panic, Durian noticed a commotion coming from the [[Pendergras Industries|Pendergras]] factory and darted towards it with another group of adventurers to investigate. They saw a shouting [[Gnome|Half-Gnome]] man remote controlling a group of [[Autom|Automs]] and demanding to know what was going on at his factory. It was '''Tolmè Pendergras''', who turned to the adventurers and asked what they knew about the situation. Durian noticed a familiar sight barricading the entrance into the factory: the amethyst '''Warforged-Centaur''' from the [[Into the Greedy Green/The Story So Far#Session 53: DOS III|Most Sanctified Disciples of Sardior]]. "It's a '''Warforged-Centaur'''," Durian shouted in surprise, but this did nothing to clarify things to '''Tolmè''' as he readied his [[Autom|Automs]] to attack. Durian turned invisible, trying not to rouse a showdown, and spoke in the minds of the other adventurers to convince them to help the [[Into the Greedy Green/The Story So Far#Session 53: DOS III|MSDOS]]. Likewise, he sent a telepathic message to '''Tolmè''' pleading to stand down his [[Autom|Automs]] and let them handle the situation. '''Tolmè''' seemed very skeptical, but allowed the adventurers to push through to the entrance of the factory. | Durian emerged from the tent, wiser than he was the year before, and his weariness around festivals was quickly validated as a thunderous, quaking boom crashed the celebration. In the panic, Durian noticed a commotion coming from the [[Pendergras Industries|Pendergras]] factory and darted towards it with another group of adventurers to investigate. They saw a shouting [[Gnome|Half-Gnome]] man remote controlling a group of [[Autom|Automs]] and demanding to know what was going on at his factory. It was '''Tolmè Pendergras''', who turned to the adventurers and asked what they knew about the situation. Durian noticed a familiar sight barricading the entrance into the factory: the amethyst '''Warforged-Centaur''' from the [[Into the Greedy Green/The Story So Far#Session 53: DOS III|Most Sanctified Disciples of Sardior]]. "It's a '''Warforged-Centaur'''," Durian shouted in surprise, but this did nothing to clarify things to '''Tolmè''' as he readied his [[Autom|Automs]] to attack. Durian turned invisible, trying not to rouse a showdown, and spoke in the minds of the other adventurers to convince them to help the [[Into the Greedy Green/The Story So Far#Session 53: DOS III|MSDOS]]. Likewise, he sent a telepathic message to '''Tolmè''' pleading to stand down his [[Autom|Automs]] and let them handle the situation. '''Tolmè''' seemed very skeptical, but allowed the adventurers to push through to the entrance of the factory. | ||
After a bit of struggle crossing the [[Iron Horse]] track that circled the factory, they entered to find it in the midst of a large-scale heist. '''Warforged-Centaurs''' were rolling around collecting as much [[Wovenstone]] as they could for use in the [[Into the Greedy Green/The Story So Far#Session 53: DOS III|MSDOS']] project to resurrect [[Tuschello|Tuschello the Topaz Dragon]]. Durian also spotted the topaz [[Warforged]] from [[Into the Greedy Green/The Story So Far#Session 53: DOS III|MSDOS]] standing atop a high balcony giving directions, and he called up to ask how they could help. The [[Warforged]] thanked him, telling them to grab [[Wovenstone]] and start carrying it to the cart they had parked outside. Durian began to do so, but '''Tolmè''' soon caught up with them and discovered his factory in the midst of being robbed. He turned his [[Autom|Automs]] on the adventurers as well as the '''Warforged-Centaurs''' and even began shooting at them himself. Durian tried to escape by hitching a ride on a conveyer belt deeper into the factory, where he discovered [[Into the Greedy Green/The Story So Far#Session 53: DOS III|MSDOS']] '''Clockwork Dragon''' also wreaking havoc. This gave Durian an idea | After a bit of struggle crossing the [[Iron Horse]] track that circled the factory, they entered to find it in the midst of a large-scale heist. '''Warforged-Centaurs''' were rolling around collecting as much [[Wovenstone]] as they could for use in the [[Into the Greedy Green/The Story So Far#Session 53: DOS III|MSDOS']] project to resurrect [[Tuschello|Tuschello the Topaz Dragon]]. Durian also spotted the topaz [[Warforged]] from [[Into the Greedy Green/The Story So Far#Session 53: DOS III|MSDOS]] standing atop a high balcony giving directions, and he called up to ask how they could help. The [[Warforged]] thanked him, telling them to grab [[Wovenstone]] and start carrying it to the cart they had parked outside. Durian began to do so, but '''Tolmè''' soon caught up with them and discovered his factory in the midst of being robbed. He turned his [[Autom|Automs]] on the adventurers as well as the '''Warforged-Centaurs''' and even began shooting at them himself. Durian tried to escape by hitching a ride on a conveyer belt deeper into the factory, where he discovered [[Into the Greedy Green/The Story So Far#Session 53: DOS III|MSDOS']] '''Clockwork Dragon''' also wreaking havoc. This gave Durian an idea and, in the chaos of the factory floor, he casted a major image of [[Smargarg|Smargarg the Emerald Dragon]] that roared "court is called, the five complete the four, the ruby will be…[[Sardior|Sardior's]] return is inevitable!" This served to briefly distract the [[Autom|Automs]] in the ensuing fight which persisted until everyone heard a monstrous roar coming from outside. The adventurers fled the factory to find the source of this roar and discovered an enormous [[Dragon#Chromatic Dragons|Red Dragon]] attacking the town. Believing that he couldn't help in this fight without drawing [[Bleucorundum|Bleucorundum's]] wrath, Durian fled through one of the [[The Feywild|Fey]] portals that the '''Curator''' had left behind, depositing him and the [[Topaz Astrolabe|Astrolabe]] at the '''Lunaran''' temple in [[Seglock]]. | ||
Within the safety of the temple, Durian met [[Echemus|Echemus the Crystal Dragon]] for the first time, who was using his healing tears to cure adventurers' wounds. The '''Lunarans''' debriefed Durian on just how bad things really were on the outside. The seismic explosion he heard in [[Sneerwell]] had actually been felt all across [[Isonhound]], its epicenter being the [[Northern Snowy Mountains]]. Dark [[The Shadowfell|Shadowfell]] energy was flooding from the exploded [[Northern Snowy Mountains|Mountains]], rendering the surrounding areas uninhabitable and quickly sweeping across the entirety of [[Isonhound]]. Even [[Sneerwell]], which was closer to the southern coast, would soon be enveloped in darkness along with the rest of the continent. On the bright side, the '''Lunarans''' and the adventurers held up in the temple had discerned that the [[Topaz Astrolabe|Astrolabe]] was capable of producing a protective dome that repelled dark energy, similar to the dome that the [[Crystal Moonwell|Moonwell]] created around [[Seglock]]. This meant they could potentially use it to save one other city, if only they could figure out how to activate it. At first they thought it might attach to the [[Crystal Moonwell|Moonwell]] somehow, but none of the configurations they tried seemed to securely fit them together. So they tried a different approach, postulating from the '''Lunarans'''' books that the [[Topaz Astrolabe|Astrolabe]] could only be activated once in a lunar cycle. They counted the time since its last activation, discovering that the next cycle was set to begin in a mere couple of hours. The adventurers debated the best location to activate the [[Topaz Astrolabe|Astrolabe]] and landed on [[Gammelgard]], reasoning that it was a port city which could allow them to transport refugees safely off the continent. Durian, ready to jump back into the fray, took the [[Topaz Astrolabe|Astrolabe]] and leapt into the '''Curator's''' portal headed to [[Gammelgard]]. | Within the safety of the temple, Durian met [[Echemus|Echemus the Crystal Dragon]] for the first time, who was using his healing tears to cure adventurers' wounds. The '''Lunarans''' debriefed Durian on just how bad things really were on the outside. The seismic explosion he heard in [[Sneerwell]] had actually been felt all across [[Isonhound]], its epicenter being the [[Northern Snowy Mountains]]. Dark [[The Shadowfell|Shadowfell]] energy was flooding from the exploded [[Northern Snowy Mountains|Mountains]], rendering the surrounding areas uninhabitable and quickly sweeping across the entirety of [[Isonhound]]. Even [[Sneerwell]], which was closer to the southern coast, would soon be enveloped in darkness along with the rest of the continent. On the bright side, the '''Lunarans''' and the adventurers held up in the temple had discerned that the [[Topaz Astrolabe|Astrolabe]] was capable of producing a protective dome that repelled dark energy, similar to the dome that the [[Crystal Moonwell|Moonwell]] created around [[Seglock]]. This meant they could potentially use it to save one other city, if only they could figure out how to activate it. At first they thought it might attach to the [[Crystal Moonwell|Moonwell]] somehow, but none of the configurations they tried seemed to securely fit them together. So they tried a different approach, postulating from the '''Lunarans'''' books that the [[Topaz Astrolabe|Astrolabe]] could only be activated once in a lunar cycle. They counted the time since its last activation, discovering that the next cycle was set to begin in a mere couple of hours. The adventurers debated the best location to activate the [[Topaz Astrolabe|Astrolabe]] and landed on [[Gammelgard]], reasoning that it was a port city which could allow them to transport refugees safely off the continent. Durian, ready to jump back into the fray, took the [[Topaz Astrolabe|Astrolabe]] and leapt into the '''Curator's''' portal headed to [[Gammelgard]]. | ||
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=== Amethyst Altercation === | === Amethyst Altercation === | ||
Durian encounters [[Bleucorundum]] once again, who sends him on a mission into a city with no name that is being guarded by a possessed [[Amethyst Dragon]]… | Durian encounters [[Bleucorundum]] once again, who sends him on a mission into a city with no name that is being guarded by a possessed [[Amethyst dragon|Amethyst Dragon]]… | ||
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Durian joined a party that was venturing into the [[The Shadowfell|Shadowfell]]-infested forests in search of a city whose name could not be remembered by anyone. As they delved deeper into the gloomy woods, they spotted the head of [[Feredemius|The One That Waits]] peeking out from the forest ground as the creature seemed to swim towards them. The group found themselves grappled by his shadowy tendrils, and they would need to pull out all of their tricks to escape his grasp as he crept ever closer, eager to assimilate them into his hive-mind. Some used magic to teleport away, others used brute strength to rip out of his clutches. Any attempt to communicate with [[Feredemius|The One That Waits]] was met with the same word echoed loudly in their heads: “fall.” This was all they could hear repeated from him until Durian attempted to read his thoughts, demanding to know “where’s [[Feredemius]]?” [[Feredemius|The One That Waits]] fell quiet at the mention of this name, turning with his head cocked to stare directly at Durian. Unable to tell if this expression was one of being pleased or of animosity, Durian shook his head in frustration and fled with the rest of the team. | Durian joined a party that was venturing into the [[The Shadowfell|Shadowfell]]-infested forests in search of a city whose name could not be remembered by anyone. As they delved deeper into the gloomy woods, they spotted the head of [[Feredemius|The One That Waits]] peeking out from the forest ground as the creature seemed to swim towards them. The group found themselves grappled by his shadowy tendrils, and they would need to pull out all of their tricks to escape his grasp as he crept ever closer, eager to assimilate them into his hive-mind. Some used magic to teleport away, others used brute strength to rip out of his clutches. Any attempt to communicate with [[Feredemius|The One That Waits]] was met with the same word echoed loudly in their heads: “fall.” This was all they could hear repeated from him until Durian attempted to read his thoughts, demanding to know “where’s [[Feredemius]]?” [[Feredemius|The One That Waits]] fell quiet at the mention of this name, turning with his head cocked to stare directly at Durian. Unable to tell if this expression was one of being pleased or of animosity, Durian shook his head in frustration and fled with the rest of the team. | ||
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The party inquired about what it meant to be a [[Ruby Court|Harbinger]], and the [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Sapphire Dragon]] did her best to draw upon ancient memories…from long bygone times when she sat on the [[Ruby Court]]. She recalled that a [[Ruby Court|Harbinger]] was a position in the court, typically held by younger [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragons]] but could also be held by [[Dragonborn|Gem Dragonborn]] or really any creature who possessed some trace essence of the [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragons]], tasked with taking the place of their respective [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragon's]] court seat on occasions when their [[Ruby Court#Prehistoric Court|Thanes]] could not be present for meetings. She pondered, “it’s been so long since I’ve had a [[Ruby Court|Harbinger]], I don’t know what I would even do with one now.” | The party inquired about what it meant to be a [[Ruby Court|Harbinger]], and the [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Sapphire Dragon]] did her best to draw upon ancient memories…from long bygone times when she sat on the [[Ruby Court]]. She recalled that a [[Ruby Court|Harbinger]] was a position in the court, typically held by younger [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragons]] but could also be held by [[Dragonborn|Gem Dragonborn]] or really any creature who possessed some trace essence of the [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragons]], tasked with taking the place of their respective [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragon's]] court seat on occasions when their [[Ruby Court#Prehistoric Court|Thanes]] could not be present for meetings. She pondered, “it’s been so long since I’ve had a [[Ruby Court|Harbinger]], I don’t know what I would even do with one now.” | ||
By this point, the rest of the group began to reconvene, chiming in with their own questions about the [[Ruby Court]]. Durian asked if she has had any contact with [[Feredemius]]. She said no, but that [[Feredemius]] is a master at hiding, protecting his location by dispersing his essence amongst the Weave. Echoing what [[Smargarg]] had described prior, “I can feel [[Feredemius]]' presence…everywhere, he is still alive somewhere, somehow, in [[Isonhound]].” She asked Durian, “you’re an [[Dragonborn|Emerald Dragonborn]], can you not sense his presence everywhere, as well?” He responded, “I guess, but…have you seen everywhere lately?” He then asked about [[Ruby Court#Prehistoric Court|Kristang the Obsidian Dragon]], to which [[Bleucorundum]] began to loudly laugh. “For as much as you seem to know, it’s funny that you would still believe in a bogeyman like [[Ruby Court#Prehistoric Court|Kristang]]!” He questioned why [[Ruby Court#Prehistoric Court|Kristang]] had been given a [[Ruby Court|Harbinger]] if he wasn’t real. [[Bleucorundum]] theorized that since it had come from the [[Topaz Astrolabe]], it was likely merely a tribute from [[Tuschello|Tuschello the Topaz Dragon]] who had something of an obsession with [[Ruby Court#Prehistoric Court|Kristang]]. But [[Bleucorundum]] was adamant that there had only ever been five [[Ruby Court#Prehistoric Court|Thanes]] on the [[Ruby Court]], never six. Durian insisted that, even if not [[Ruby Court#Prehistoric Court|Kristang]], there was at least some sort of [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Obsidian]]-looking [[Dragon]] terrorizing [[Isonhound]] on the surface. But [[Bleucorundum]] was entirely certain, “shadow and [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Obsidian]] are different,” and whoever [[Feredemius|The One That Waits]] really was had merely taken the form of a [[Dragon]] as a means of intimidation and that they seemed to have a vendetta against all [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragons]] for whatever reason. Durian replied how that seemed accurate, seeing how [[Smargarg]] was having a similar rough time trapped underground in his hatchery of [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragon]] eggs. At the mention of there being more [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragon]] eggs in danger, [[Bleucorundum|Bleucorundum’s]] face filled with surprise and worry before slowly recomposing herself; “no…[[Amethyst | By this point, the rest of the group began to reconvene, chiming in with their own questions about the [[Ruby Court]]. Durian asked if she has had any contact with [[Feredemius]]. She said no, but that [[Feredemius]] is a master at hiding, protecting his location by dispersing his essence amongst the Weave. Echoing what [[Smargarg]] had described prior, “I can feel [[Feredemius]]' presence…everywhere, he is still alive somewhere, somehow, in [[Isonhound]].” She asked Durian, “you’re an [[Dragonborn|Emerald Dragonborn]], can you not sense his presence everywhere, as well?” He responded, “I guess, but…have you seen everywhere lately?” He then asked about [[Ruby Court#Prehistoric Court|Kristang the Obsidian Dragon]], to which [[Bleucorundum]] began to loudly laugh. “For as much as you seem to know, it’s funny that you would still believe in a bogeyman like [[Ruby Court#Prehistoric Court|Kristang]]!” He questioned why [[Ruby Court#Prehistoric Court|Kristang]] had been given a [[Ruby Court|Harbinger]] if he wasn’t real. [[Bleucorundum]] theorized that since it had come from the [[Topaz Astrolabe]], it was likely merely a tribute from [[Tuschello|Tuschello the Topaz Dragon]] who had something of an obsession with [[Ruby Court#Prehistoric Court|Kristang]]. But [[Bleucorundum]] was adamant that there had only ever been five [[Ruby Court#Prehistoric Court|Thanes]] on the [[Ruby Court]], never six. Durian insisted that, even if not [[Ruby Court#Prehistoric Court|Kristang]], there was at least some sort of [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Obsidian]]-looking [[Dragon]] terrorizing [[Isonhound]] on the surface. But [[Bleucorundum]] was entirely certain, “shadow and [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Obsidian]] are different,” and whoever [[Feredemius|The One That Waits]] really was had merely taken the form of a [[Dragon]] as a means of intimidation and that they seemed to have a vendetta against all [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragons]] for whatever reason. Durian replied how that seemed accurate, seeing how [[Smargarg]] was having a similar rough time trapped underground in his hatchery of [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragon]] eggs. At the mention of there being more [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragon]] eggs in danger, [[Bleucorundum|Bleucorundum’s]] face filled with surprise and worry before slowly recomposing herself; “no…[[Amethyst dragon|Amethyst]] first, then we can focus on saving the hatchlings.” | ||
She told the party that if they could arrange to rescue [[Smargarg]] and his hatchery, she would provide him sanctuary in her lair. But in the meantime, her priority was trying to locate her friend the [[Venaleth|Amethyst Thane]]. She described rumors of an [[Amethyst Dragon]] in a nearby city with no name that was also being protected from the shadows (presumably by one of the [[Ruby Court#Artifacts|Gem Artifacts]]), and she offered the party shelter in her lair if they agreed to venture into this city in search of the supposed [[Amethyst Dragon]]. The team readily agreed, as the city is why they had come out there to begin with…but there was also a catch: the city had been overtaken by the cult of [[Att-Annalo]] who were keeping the city heavily guarded and under quarantine. [[Bleucorundum]] granted the party one of her [[Draconic Boon#Boon of the Galadiir (Corundum Egg)|Boons of Neutrality]], rendering them invisible to the cultists so long as they don’t harm any of them (since [[Bleucorundum|Bleucorundum’s]] boons could not stack, Durian opted to keep his existing boon of invisibility to [[Dragon|Dragons]], reassuring the group that his normal invisibility spell would be sufficient for him to avoid detection by the cultists). So after resting off their head-on encounter with [[Feredemius|The One That Waits]], the party ventured back to the shadowy surface of [[Isonhound]] in the direction of this unnamed city. | She told the party that if they could arrange to rescue [[Smargarg]] and his hatchery, she would provide him sanctuary in her lair. But in the meantime, her priority was trying to locate her friend the [[Venaleth|Amethyst Thane]]. She described rumors of an [[Amethyst dragon|Amethyst Dragon]] in a nearby city with no name that was also being protected from the shadows (presumably by one of the [[Ruby Court#Artifacts|Gem Artifacts]]), and she offered the party shelter in her lair if they agreed to venture into this city in search of the supposed [[Amethyst dragon|Amethyst Dragon]]. The team readily agreed, as the city is why they had come out there to begin with…but there was also a catch: the city had been overtaken by the cult of [[Att-Annalo]] who were keeping the city heavily guarded and under quarantine. [[Bleucorundum]] granted the party one of her [[Draconic Boon#Boon of the Galadiir (Corundum Egg)|Boons of Neutrality]], rendering them invisible to the cultists so long as they don’t harm any of them (since [[Bleucorundum|Bleucorundum’s]] boons could not stack, Durian opted to keep his existing boon of invisibility to [[Dragon|Dragons]], reassuring the group that his normal invisibility spell would be sufficient for him to avoid detection by the cultists). So after resting off their head-on encounter with [[Feredemius|The One That Waits]], the party ventured back to the shadowy surface of [[Isonhound]] in the direction of this unnamed city. | ||
As the team made their approach, Durian imparted his knowledge about [[Amethyst | As the team made their approach, Durian imparted his knowledge about [[Amethyst dragon|Amethyst Dragons]] being the most powerful type of [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragon]] due to their ability to deal force damage and manipulate gravity. Just then, they got close enough to take in the entire city, portions of it being torn apart and lifted upwards into the sky. The cultists were alerted to the approaching party members by the sound of clanking armor and turned invisible to try and engage them. Having a visual on the invisible guards, Durian leapt from the rooftops to try and help escort the rest of the party through the inconspicuous chaos while taking four direct hits of necrotic damage from the cultists. Still managing to retain his invisibility, he teleported out of that mayhem and into the nearest floating building he could spot in the distance. Despite immediately recasting invisibility, he was briefly spotted by a crazed [[Halfling]] known as '''Father Mel''' who launched into a long villainous speech and challenged Durian to strike him down. Not being one for obvious bait, Durian chose to hide. At the first opportunity, Durian leapt from the floating building, narrowly avoiding landing on the rest of his party as they all regrouped on the rooftops. | ||
As the team investigated another floating building, they located a humanoid figure with dark [[Amethyst | As the team investigated another floating building, they located a humanoid figure with dark [[Amethyst dragon|Amethyst]]-looking skin and pitch-black eyes sitting in a trance on the bed. They repeatedly warned, “you shouldn’t have come here…they know you’re here…you need to leave.” The party questioned them about the [[Amethyst dragon|Amethyst]] [[Ruby Court#Artifacts|Gem Artifact]] as they seemed to struggle for control, but they replied that it was safe and deep underground. It was then the group realized that there was no [[Ruby Court#Artifacts|Gem Artifact]] protecting this city, but rather, it was the sheer force of will from this [[Amethyst dragon|Amethyst Dragon]] constantly pushing the shadows away with gravitational force. The group began discussing other ways of extracting the charmed [[Amethyst dragon|Amethyst Dragon]], but they refused to leave so long as there were people in the city. Meanwhile, '''Father Mel''' discovered the rest of the party’s presence and began sounding alarms across the city. | ||
Finally, the [[Amethyst Dragon]] lost control and transformed into their [[Dragon]] form, rapidly launching the room high up into the air. Most of the party was able to jump out, but one teammate got caught in the [[Dragon|Dragon’s]] grasp. Seeing his friend get launched ever further into the sky and panicked by his inability to reach them, Durian casted a major image of [[Feredemius|The One That Waits]] to try and briefly distract the [[Amethyst Dragon]] | Finally, the [[Amethyst dragon|Amethyst Dragon]] lost control and transformed into their [[Dragon]] form, rapidly launching the room high up into the air. Most of the party was able to jump out, but one teammate got caught in the [[Dragon|Dragon’s]] grasp. Seeing his friend get launched ever further into the sky and panicked by his inability to reach them, Durian casted a major image of [[Feredemius|The One That Waits]] to try and briefly distract the [[Amethyst dragon|Amethyst Dragon.]] This would prove just barely enough assistance for them to wriggle free and feather fall one hundred and twenty feet from the skyward room. | ||
Meanwhile on the ground, another teammate kept '''Father Mel''' at bay by darting through the streets of the city and making as much noise as possible to lure him away from the rest of the party. This gave everyone enough opportunity to successfully escape and report back to [[Bleucorundum]], confirming the presence of an [[Amethyst Dragon]] within the city. | Meanwhile on the ground, another teammate kept '''Father Mel''' at bay by darting through the streets of the city and making as much noise as possible to lure him away from the rest of the party. This gave everyone enough opportunity to successfully escape and report back to [[Bleucorundum]], confirming the presence of an [[Amethyst dragon|Amethyst Dragon]] within the city. | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
=== Kill Durian === | === Kill Durian === | ||
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They carried on deeper into the factory, descending lower until finally reaching the basement. Another one of the corpses with glowing, emerald green eyes sprung up in front of them as they approached the hangar bay, but most of the party simply walked past it. Durian, however, hung back and questioned [[Feredemius|The One That Waits]], "I don't understand…why haven't you tried to kill us yet? All you've done so far is taunt us." By this point, Durian's [[Elf]] disguise had worn off and [[Feredemius|The One That Waits]] slyly hissed back, "which one of your friends do you care about the most?" Indignant at the question, Durian refused to answer and stormed past him to catch up with the rest of the team. They located the component they were searching for on a nearby worktable and grabbed it before turning their attention to unchaining the fleet of [[Airship|Airships]]. As he was helping to disconnect the chains, Durian heard the familiar voice of [[Feredemius|The One That Waits]] cackling in his head, "I'm going to kill you, but first you're going to watch me kill all of your friends!" Just then, the entire party heard a loud, monstrous roar from one of the far-off dark corners of the hangar. They had already managed to unchain two of the [[Airship|Airships]], so they quickly designated pilots for each [[Airship]] and all hurriedly climbed aboard, launching off as quickly as their thrusters would propel them. | They carried on deeper into the factory, descending lower until finally reaching the basement. Another one of the corpses with glowing, emerald green eyes sprung up in front of them as they approached the hangar bay, but most of the party simply walked past it. Durian, however, hung back and questioned [[Feredemius|The One That Waits]], "I don't understand…why haven't you tried to kill us yet? All you've done so far is taunt us." By this point, Durian's [[Elf]] disguise had worn off and [[Feredemius|The One That Waits]] slyly hissed back, "which one of your friends do you care about the most?" Indignant at the question, Durian refused to answer and stormed past him to catch up with the rest of the team. They located the component they were searching for on a nearby worktable and grabbed it before turning their attention to unchaining the fleet of [[Airship|Airships]]. As he was helping to disconnect the chains, Durian heard the familiar voice of [[Feredemius|The One That Waits]] cackling in his head, "I'm going to kill you, but first you're going to watch me kill all of your friends!" Just then, the entire party heard a loud, monstrous roar from one of the far-off dark corners of the hangar. They had already managed to unchain two of the [[Airship|Airships]], so they quickly designated pilots for each [[Airship]] and all hurriedly climbed aboard, launching off as quickly as their thrusters would propel them. | ||
As Durian peered off the stern of the [[Airship]], he saw the reanimated skeleton of a gargantuan [[Dragon]] flying towards them with incredible speed. Its eye sockets were filled with green fire and it was steadily gaining on the two [[Airship|Airships]]. Members of the party launched ranged spells and weapons at the monster, which seemed to slow it down for a while. Thinking back to the massive [[Sardior|Ruby Dragon]] woven into the tapestries in [[Bleucorundum|Bleucorundum's]] lair, Durian casted a major image of what he imagined [[Sardior]] to look like and | As Durian peered off the stern of the [[Airship]], he saw the reanimated skeleton of a gargantuan [[Dragon]] flying towards them with incredible speed. Its eye sockets were filled with green fire and it was steadily gaining on the two [[Airship|Airships]]. Members of the party launched ranged spells and weapons at the monster, which seemed to slow it down for a while. Thinking back to the massive [[Sardior|Ruby Dragon]] woven into the tapestries in [[Bleucorundum|Bleucorundum's]] lair, Durian casted a major image of what he imagined [[Sardior]] to look like and shouted, "you cannot stop him!" For a brief moment, [[Feredemius|The One That Waits]] seemed startled by the visage of his old boss before coming to his senses and flying straight through the illusion. The party continued pelting heavy blows at the monster until they managed to put a respectable distance between them. Durian casted another major image off the stern of the [[Airship]]—this time of a massive [[Dragon#Gem Dragon|Emerald Dragon]] like how he imagined [[Feredemius]] must have looked in the old days—and loudly echoed the prophecy: "court is called, the five complete the four, the ruby will be…[[Sardior]] will return and there's nothing you can do about it!" This visibly enraged [[Feredemius|The One That Waits]] as the entire skeletal [[Dragon]] became washed over in green flames and caught up to the [[Airship|Airships]] with a sudden burst of speed. In his shock as he stood off the stern of the [[Airship]], Durian roared his breath weapon at the monster as it quickly bolted towards him. This was in vain, however, as the skeletal [[Dragon]] grabbed Durian in his teeth and slammed him into the deck of the [[Airship]], knocking him unconscious. His wounds were stabilized by another member of the party as the rest of the group threw a final round of blows at the monster before its bones began to break apart and land scattered on the ground below them. The party carried on their course towards [[Seglock]], having secured two [[Airship|Airships]] as well as the vital component for '''Tolmè''' to craft an artificial [[Crystal Moonwell|Moonwell]]. | ||
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=== Chronoseptic Antics === | === Chronoseptic Antics === | ||
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[[Feredemius]] appeared again for one final confrontation, blasting the team with a breath weapon of necrotic energy. Fearing another hit like that may shatter the [[Ruby Court#Artifacts|Blade]], Durian prepared to teleport away with it again if necessary, but thankfully the team was able to knock the shadowy [[Dragon]] away with purifying magic. | [[Feredemius]] appeared again for one final confrontation, blasting the team with a breath weapon of necrotic energy. Fearing another hit like that may shatter the [[Ruby Court#Artifacts|Blade]], Durian prepared to teleport away with it again if necessary, but thankfully the team was able to knock the shadowy [[Dragon]] away with purifying magic. | ||
Finally, another wave of psychic energy blasted from the [[Ruby Court#Artifacts|Blade]] with twice the intensity as before, knocking back everyone in range…except for Durian. At first he felt nothing, but then began to feel a dull heat rising in his chest cavity. The warmth quickly grew and soon worked its way into every crevice of his body. He realized what was happening as the energy from the [[Ruby Court#Artifacts|Emerald Blade]] flowed directly into him, and showed no signs of easing up. The warmth escalated into an intense heat, and then a writhing inferno. His hands squeezed tighter around the [[Ruby Court#Artifacts|Blade’s]] hilt as he was paralyzed by the seething pain. Durian could not even open his mouth to scream in agony as every fiber of his body was being burned away at the same time. It took no time at all for the power to eat through his physical form and, in another blast, his consciousness exploded out and suddenly he became hyper-aware of everything and everyone on the [[Northern Snowy Mountains|Mountains]]. He could see the five ritual sites all at once, including the [[Ruby Court#Artifacts|Corundum Egg]] which now glowed with a blinding ruby light. His consciousness bumped into the other “court candidates,” and in their momentary mind meld they saw each other’s similar ordeals. Their swelling consciousnesses hit their limits, and Durian felt a ruby tether connecting him to the [[Ruby Court#Artifacts|Blade]] as it pulled taut and began slipping loose. He knew in this moment he could choose to let go and have his soul carried to whatever peaceful afterlife awaited him. But remembering the words of [[Yggwilv]], he knew his soul belonged to [[Sardior]]…and he was determined to stick this out until the very end. So he grabbed the tether and held onto it with all the strength of an incorporeal consciousness. The explosion began to subside, and his consciousness intermixed with the energy from the blast as it receded back to its origin point. | Finally, another wave of psychic energy blasted from the [[Ruby Court#Artifacts|Blade]] with twice the intensity as before, knocking back everyone in range…except for Durian. At first he felt nothing, but then began to feel a dull heat rising in his chest cavity. The warmth quickly grew and soon worked its way into every crevice of his body. He realized what was happening as the energy from the [[Ruby Court#Artifacts|Emerald Blade]] flowed directly into him, and showed no signs of easing up. The warmth escalated into an intense heat, and then a writhing inferno. His hands squeezed tighter around the [[Ruby Court#Artifacts|Blade’s]] hilt as he was paralyzed by the seething pain. Durian could not even open his mouth to scream in agony as every fiber of his body was being burned away at the same time. It took no time at all for the power to eat through his physical form and, in another blast, his consciousness exploded out and suddenly he became hyper-aware of everything and everyone on the [[Northern Snowy Mountains|Mountains]]. He could see the five ritual sites all at once, including the [[Ruby Court#Artifacts|Corundum Egg]] which now glowed with a blinding ruby light. His consciousness bumped into the other “court candidates,” and in their momentary mind meld they saw each other’s similar ordeals. Their swelling consciousnesses hit their limits, and Durian felt a ruby tether connecting him to the [[Ruby Court#Artifacts|Blade]] as it pulled taut and began slipping loose. He knew in this moment he could choose to let go and have his soul carried to whatever peaceful afterlife awaited him. But remembering the words of [[Into the Greedy Green/The Story So Far#Session 17: Silent I|Yggwilv]], he knew his soul belonged to [[Sardior]]…and he was determined to stick this out until the very end. So he grabbed the tether and held onto it with all the strength of an incorporeal consciousness. The explosion began to subside, and his consciousness intermixed with the energy from the blast as it receded back to its origin point. | ||
Durian felt himself yanked back to the ritual site. The immense psionic energy that had melded with him began clumping back into a solid, humanoid-sized mass, but the intense burning returned again and did not relent. The pain only seemed to intensify until, like a dying star revolting against its own collapse, the energy inside him pushed outwards in all directions, expanding his form and twisting it into a powerful new shape until his body grew large enough to contain the energy and the burning sensation waned. He should have been exhausted from the ordeal, but the psionic power which had been searing him moments ago now vibrated through every part of his being and even hummed in the air around him. He stood up, disoriented, his line of sight rising far higher than he recalled, despite feeling his feet planted firmly on the ground. Before he had any chance to process what had occurred, he heard a new yet familiar voice ringing a single command inside his mind: “fly.” Compelled to obey, he leapt from the [[Northern Snowy Mountains|Mountain]] peak intending to summon his spectral wings but, strangely, he found them already protruding from his back as he flapped them with unfamiliar might. The [[Ruby Court#Artifacts|Emerald Blade]] still firmly gripped in his hand, he flew towards the [[Ruby Court#Artifacts|Corundum Egg]] with incredible speed before landing at the site with a ground-shaking thud. He knew from the [[Ruby Court#Artifacts|Egg’s]] blinding ruby glow that it was time for him to fulfill his role. He approached the [[Ruby Court#Artifacts|Egg]], recalling how intent he was on protecting it over a year ago…it felt right that he must now be the one to break it. Wielding the [[Ruby Court#Artifacts|Emerald Blade]] high in the air, he plunged the weapon into the [[Ruby Court#Artifacts|Egg]], splitting the shell and causing a brilliant ruby light to shine forth. It glowed so brightly that he was at last forced to look away and noticed his other surroundings. He towered over the other adventurers as they slowly gathered and seemed to gawk up at him in awe. He felt the weight and power of his body as he lumbered back on four legs to give the [[Ruby Court#Artifacts|Egg]] space to hatch. Four brilliant [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragons]] of differing | Durian felt himself yanked back to the ritual site. The immense psionic energy that had melded with him began clumping back into a solid, humanoid-sized mass, but the intense burning returned again and did not relent. The pain only seemed to intensify until, like a dying star revolting against its own collapse, the energy inside him pushed outwards in all directions, expanding his form and twisting it into a powerful new shape until his body grew large enough to contain the energy and the burning sensation waned. He should have been exhausted from the ordeal, but the psionic power which had been searing him moments ago now vibrated through every part of his being and even hummed in the air around him. He stood up, disoriented, his line of sight rising far higher than he recalled, despite feeling his feet planted firmly on the ground. Before he had any chance to process what had occurred, he heard a new yet familiar voice ringing a single command inside his mind: “fly.” Compelled to obey, he leapt from the [[Northern Snowy Mountains|Mountain]] peak intending to summon his spectral wings but, strangely, he found them already protruding from his back as he flapped them with unfamiliar might. The [[Ruby Court#Artifacts|Emerald Blade]] still firmly gripped in his hand, he flew towards the [[Ruby Court#Artifacts|Corundum Egg]] with incredible speed before landing at the site with a ground-shaking thud. He knew from the [[Ruby Court#Artifacts|Egg’s]] blinding ruby glow that it was time for him to fulfill his role. He approached the [[Ruby Court#Artifacts|Egg]], recalling how intent he was on protecting it over a year ago…it felt right that he must now be the one to break it. Wielding the [[Ruby Court#Artifacts|Emerald Blade]] high in the air, he plunged the weapon into the [[Ruby Court#Artifacts|Egg]], splitting the shell and causing a brilliant ruby light to shine forth. It glowed so brightly that he was at last forced to look away and noticed his other surroundings. He towered over the other adventurers as they slowly gathered and seemed to gawk up at him in awe. He felt the weight and power of his body as he lumbered back on four legs to give the [[Ruby Court#Artifacts|Egg]] space to hatch. Four brilliant [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragons]] of differing types—Amethyst, Crystal, Sapphire, and Topaz—encircled the [[Ruby Court#Artifacts|Egg]] with him to witness the final portion of the ritual. It finally began to sink in for Durian: he had been reincarnated into an [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Emerald Dragon]]. But not just any [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Emerald Dragon]], he was ''the'' [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Emerald Dragon]]. The [[Ruby Court#Resurrected Court|Emerald Thane of Sardior]]. | ||
His conscious mind thought to panic, but a strange instinctual pride and reassurance grappled him in place. He found surface feelings of self-doubt were immediately snuffed out by something rooted to his new nature. “Was this not a mistake?—No, [[Sardior]] doesn’t make mistakes. But should this not have been [[Smargarg]]?—No, you are the chosen, otherwise [[Smargarg]] would be standing here.” It didn’t sound like something he’d say, but his core commanded him to believe it. He found odd comfort in this overbearing confidence, and he understood now why [[Dragon|Dragons]] seem to often behave in such arrogant ways. | His conscious mind thought to panic, but a strange instinctual pride and reassurance grappled him in place. He found surface feelings of self-doubt were immediately snuffed out by something rooted to his new nature. “Was this not a mistake?—No, [[Sardior]] doesn’t make mistakes. But should this not have been [[Smargarg]]?—No, you are the chosen, otherwise [[Smargarg]] would be standing here.” It didn’t sound like something he’d say, but his core commanded him to believe it. He found odd comfort in this overbearing confidence, and he understood now why [[Dragon|Dragons]] seem to often behave in such arrogant ways. | ||
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=== | === Mirrors & Fountains === | ||
Adrian barters with '''Kyar'''' for information on how to turn the transformed children back into their normal selves, '''Dave''' talks to a strange pointy-toothed man in a two-way mirror, '''Ashe''' gets nearly killed after being flung off a balcony, and '''Merys''' gets turned into a [[Goblin]] after drinking from a fountain… | Adrian barters with '''Kyar'''' for information on how to turn the transformed children back into their normal selves, '''Dave''' talks to a strange pointy-toothed man in a two-way mirror, '''Ashe''' gets nearly killed after being flung off a balcony, and '''Merys''' gets turned into a [[Goblin]] after drinking from a fountain… | ||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"> | <div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"> | ||
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'''Kyar'''' offered to remove the glass shards from '''Ashe''' if she allowed him to use drops of her blood in the fountain, to which she agreed. The transformed '''Osric''', the [[Goblin]] child who had also been embedded with glass shards, agreed to the same offer. '''Kyar'''' removed the shards and mixed their blood into the fountain, revealing a journal that he pulled from the water and took over to a corner of the cavern to sift through. With '''Kyar'''' seemingly satisfied, the team and the [[Goblin]] children took the opportunity to rest. | '''Kyar'''' offered to remove the glass shards from '''Ashe''' if she allowed him to use drops of her blood in the fountain, to which she agreed. The transformed '''Osric''', the [[Goblin]] child who had also been embedded with glass shards, agreed to the same offer. '''Kyar'''' removed the shards and mixed their blood into the fountain, revealing a journal that he pulled from the water and took over to a corner of the cavern to sift through. With '''Kyar'''' seemingly satisfied, the team and the [[Goblin]] children took the opportunity to rest. | ||
During Adrian's watch, he tried talking to '''Kyar'''' to try and get a better understanding of his affinity for secrets. Making small talk about the contents of the journal, '''Kyar'''' revealed that it had belonged to his old friend '''Nephilla''' and that he was reading it "for nostalgia." He seemed to come across a page that was especially interesting and Adrian asked what it said, but '''Kyar'''' would not reveal anything more without another trade. He took particular interest in the silver raven figurine as it was apparently some sort of wondrous magical item, but Adrian said that it belonged to the team and it was not his alone to trade away, which '''Kyar'''' seemed to accept. Before returning to his rest, Adrian also asked '''Kyar'''' about the glowing rock that the '''Bullywugs''' in the cave worshipped. '''Kyar'''' laughed, explaining that it was a simple '''Luckstone''' that the '''Bullywugs''' assigned superstition to after an earthquake had coincidentally occurred at the same time they had last touched the stone. With that, '''Kyar'''' returned to his reading and Adrian went to sleep. | During Adrian's watch, he tried talking to '''Kyar'<nowiki/>''' to try and get a better understanding of his affinity for secrets. Making small talk about the contents of the journal, '''Kyar'''' revealed that it had belonged to his old friend '''Nephilla''' and that he was reading it "for nostalgia." He seemed to come across a page that was especially interesting and Adrian asked what it said, but '''Kyar'''' would not reveal anything more without another trade. He took particular interest in the silver raven figurine as it was apparently some sort of wondrous magical item, but Adrian said that it belonged to the team and it was not his alone to trade away, which '''Kyar'''' seemed to accept. Before returning to his rest, Adrian also asked '''Kyar'''' about the glowing rock that the '''Bullywugs''' in the cave worshipped. '''Kyar'''' laughed, explaining that it was a simple '''Luckstone''' that the '''Bullywugs''' assigned superstition to after an earthquake had coincidentally occurred at the same time they had last touched the stone. With that, '''Kyar'''' returned to his reading and Adrian went to sleep. | ||
In the morning, it was a harder task than expected to keep the [[Goblin]] children from drinking the fountain water as many of them woke up extremely parched. '''Merys''' attempted to explain the consequences to them but they were in no mood to listen to him. '''Dave''' scared off most of the [[Goblin]] children from the fountain, however, by waving a weapon at them. By morning, the bodies of the slain [[Goblin|Goblins]] had turned back into children and the team, determined not to leave them behind, coordinated amongst themselves how to carry the bodies back to '''Terakai''' as well as get the surviving [[Goblin]] children to cooperate as they left the caves. Ultimately, '''Kylie''' volunteered to drink from the fountain and remain a [[Goblin]] for a while longer to help keep the other children in check. So the group departed the caves, with '''Merys''' taking great glee in being able to cuss out the real [[Goblin|Goblins]] who had attacked the team previously as they passed their encampment. | In the morning, it was a harder task than expected to keep the [[Goblin]] children from drinking the fountain water as many of them woke up extremely parched. '''Merys''' attempted to explain the consequences to them but they were in no mood to listen to him. '''Dave''' scared off most of the [[Goblin]] children from the fountain, however, by waving a weapon at them. By morning, the bodies of the slain [[Goblin|Goblins]] had turned back into children and the team, determined not to leave them behind, coordinated amongst themselves how to carry the bodies back to '''Terakai''' as well as get the surviving [[Goblin]] children to cooperate as they left the caves. Ultimately, '''Kylie''' volunteered to drink from the fountain and remain a [[Goblin]] for a while longer to help keep the other children in check. So the group departed the caves, with '''Merys''' taking great glee in being able to cuss out the real [[Goblin|Goblins]] who had attacked the team previously as they passed their encampment. | ||
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Adrian and the team make a less-than-heroic return to '''Terakai''' with a mob of uncontrollable children in tow and they all agree to ask '''Silence''' for help in dealing with their families, then a mentor from '''Ashe's''' past appears in town and the rest of the team must suddenly say goodbye to their friend… | Adrian and the team make a less-than-heroic return to '''Terakai''' with a mob of uncontrollable children in tow and they all agree to ask '''Silence''' for help in dealing with their families, then a mentor from '''Ashe's''' past appears in town and the rest of the team must suddenly say goodbye to their friend… | ||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"> | <div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"> | ||
It was one day's journey back to '''Terakai''' after leaving the '''Pericles Hills'''. Adrian and '''Dave''' attempted to identify the raven figurine along the way, discerning that it was magical in some way but not how to activate it. All of the living as well as deceased children ('''Garland''' the 4-year-old [[Halfling]], '''Anton''' the 5-year-old [[Human]], '''Rupus''' the 7-year-old [[Human]], and '''Huru''' the 9-year-old [[Half-Orc]]) had reverted to their original forms as they reached the outskirts of town. It was the late evening and the team decided to come up with a plan for how to deal with the children before | It was one day's journey back to '''Terakai''' after leaving the '''Pericles Hills'''. Adrian and '''Dave''' attempted to identify the raven figurine along the way, discerning that it was magical in some way but not how to activate it. All of the living as well as deceased children ('''Garland''' the 4-year-old [[Halfling]], '''Anton''' the 5-year-old [[Human]], '''Rupus''' the 7-year-old [[Human]], and '''Huru''' the 9-year-old [[Half-Orc]]) had reverted to their original forms as they reached the outskirts of town. It was the late evening and the team decided to come up with a plan for how to deal with the children before reentering town, opting to take them to '''Silence''' as she seemed well-rehearsed in dealing with conflict amongst the townsfolk. '''Merys''' relayed this plan to the oldest child '''Kylie''', and she relayed it to the younger surviving children. | ||
As soon as they entered town, however, the children realized where they were and the team began to lose control of the situation. '''Kylie''' and '''Henry''', a [[Gnome]] boy, remained calm, but two of the other children immediately tried to run straight home. '''Dave''' attempted to stop the children by stunning them with a magical bright flash, but this merely blinded them as they continued running haphazardly towards the wrong houses. Harmony, the [[Tiefling]] girl, stumbled straight into the door of a random house and got her horns stuck. Adrian chased after '''Osric''', the [[Human]] boy, attempting to stop him from also slamming into the wrong house. But as soon as he picked him up, the boy screeched even louder and caused Adrian to compulsively drop him. As '''Osric''' is throwing an extremely audible fit, the lights come on from inside the house. Turning back to the other house that '''Harmony''' had slammed into, the team saw a very tall [[List of Races#New World Crossbreeds (After 0 BR)|Half-Elf]] woman who had emerged from the house, gotten '''Harmony''' unstuck from the door and began to soothe her. '''Ashe''' recognized this woman and began pleadingly looking towards her to assist with the other screaming child. The woman directed '''Harmony''' over to '''Ashe''', who hung off of her pant leg as the woman went to calm down '''Osric'''. An old man had emerged from the house that '''Osric''' was screaming in front of, but it only took the woman's reassurance that all was well for him to go back inside. | As soon as they entered town, however, the children realized where they were and the team began to lose control of the situation. '''Kylie''' and '''Henry''', a [[Gnome]] boy, remained calm, but two of the other children immediately tried to run straight home. '''Dave''' attempted to stop the children by stunning them with a magical bright flash, but this merely blinded them as they continued running haphazardly towards the wrong houses. Harmony, the [[Tiefling]] girl, stumbled straight into the door of a random house and got her horns stuck. Adrian chased after '''Osric''', the [[Human]] boy, attempting to stop him from also slamming into the wrong house. But as soon as he picked him up, the boy screeched even louder and caused Adrian to compulsively drop him. As '''Osric''' is throwing an extremely audible fit, the lights come on from inside the house. Turning back to the other house that '''Harmony''' had slammed into, the team saw a very tall [[List of Races#New World Crossbreeds (After 0 BR)|Half-Elf]] woman who had emerged from the house, gotten '''Harmony''' unstuck from the door and began to soothe her. '''Ashe''' recognized this woman and began pleadingly looking towards her to assist with the other screaming child. The woman directed '''Harmony''' over to '''Ashe''', who hung off of her pant leg as the woman went to calm down '''Osric'''. An old man had emerged from the house that '''Osric''' was screaming in front of, but it only took the woman's reassurance that all was well for him to go back inside. | ||
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'''Silence''' opened the door to meet the three of them and they began struggling to explain what had happened, but '''Silence''' was adamant about not wanting to know anything. '''Merys''' continued to relay the story, however, presumably out of shock and nerves. '''Silence''' protested, annoyed that she would now be forced to lie in order to keep things under control. She ordered "you three, take the children upstairs and make them look comfortable." Just as Adrian made a move to lift one of the bodies, '''Silence''' snapped back "I wasn't talking to you," as the bodies seemed to float out of the cart all on their own and into the tavern. The visage of this shocked Adrian…it had been several years since he'd lost the ability to see invisible things, but something about being unable to see '''Silence's''' ghostly servants in this moment truly shook him and he let out an audible gasp. '''Silence''' retorted, "what's wrong with the dead helping the dead?" Adrian sheepishly clarified, "nothing…it's just that the floating surprised me." '''Silence''' invited the group back into the tavern, as their previous rooms were still available. '''Ashe''' chose to camp in the woods to get some distance from the situation and '''Dave''' decided to spend the rest of the night strolling around town in case any commotion happened. Adrian and '''Merys''' retired to their respective rooms for the night, however, and all they could hear outside were the occasional sounds in the hallway of some parents' grief which quickly became muffled by a closing door. | '''Silence''' opened the door to meet the three of them and they began struggling to explain what had happened, but '''Silence''' was adamant about not wanting to know anything. '''Merys''' continued to relay the story, however, presumably out of shock and nerves. '''Silence''' protested, annoyed that she would now be forced to lie in order to keep things under control. She ordered "you three, take the children upstairs and make them look comfortable." Just as Adrian made a move to lift one of the bodies, '''Silence''' snapped back "I wasn't talking to you," as the bodies seemed to float out of the cart all on their own and into the tavern. The visage of this shocked Adrian…it had been several years since he'd lost the ability to see invisible things, but something about being unable to see '''Silence's''' ghostly servants in this moment truly shook him and he let out an audible gasp. '''Silence''' retorted, "what's wrong with the dead helping the dead?" Adrian sheepishly clarified, "nothing…it's just that the floating surprised me." '''Silence''' invited the group back into the tavern, as their previous rooms were still available. '''Ashe''' chose to camp in the woods to get some distance from the situation and '''Dave''' decided to spend the rest of the night strolling around town in case any commotion happened. Adrian and '''Merys''' retired to their respective rooms for the night, however, and all they could hear outside were the occasional sounds in the hallway of some parents' grief which quickly became muffled by a closing door. | ||
When morning finally came, Adrian walked past '''Merys'''' door hoping that he was also up as he did not quite feel ready to brave downstairs alone. Luckily, '''Merys''' was walking out at that exact moment and they both went down together. '''Ashe''' and '''Dave''' also | When morning finally came, Adrian walked past '''Merys'''' door hoping that he was also up as he did not quite feel ready to brave downstairs alone. Luckily, '''Merys''' was walking out at that exact moment and they both went down together. '''Ashe''' and '''Dave''' also reentered the tavern in that moment through the front door. They all sat at a table except for '''Dave''', who started trying to clean all around the room as if nothing had happened. '''Silence''' descended the stairs with a yawn, seemingly back to her normal spirits, and called to the kitchen for four morning sunrise platters. She sat with the team, apologizing for her impatience the night before as four platters of food floated towards the table and were placed in front of each of them. | ||
As they ate, '''Silence''' handed the team ten gold each—the promised payment for having saved four children—as well a sack of thirty extra gold to split amongst themselves as thanks for bringing the bodies back. "You did not need to, but the families were incredibly grateful," she explained. Adrian tried proposing that instead of paying him, that she might help identify the raven figurine they had found instead. '''Silence''' rebuffed, "I see no reason why I can't do both" and grabbed his hand, reassuring him that what happened wasn't his fault and insisting that he take the money. Adrian reluctantly agreed as he pulled the raven figurine from his bag for her to inspect. She identified it as a '''Figurine of Wondrous Power''', an uncommon magical item that could come to life for a brief time and deliver a message. She explained she would need to spend some time to figure out its power word, but that she would return it as soon as she was done. Adrian also ran back up to his room to fetch the shield with the runes on it, which '''Silence''' recognized as command glyphs that would have allowed '''B'rogo''' the [[Bugbear]] to control anyone who drank from '''Nephilla's''' fountain. | As they ate, '''Silence''' handed the team ten gold each—the promised payment for having saved four children—as well a sack of thirty extra gold to split amongst themselves as thanks for bringing the bodies back. "You did not need to, but the families were incredibly grateful," she explained. Adrian tried proposing that instead of paying him, that she might help identify the raven figurine they had found instead. '''Silence''' rebuffed, "I see no reason why I can't do both" and grabbed his hand, reassuring him that what happened wasn't his fault and insisting that he take the money. Adrian reluctantly agreed as he pulled the raven figurine from his bag for her to inspect. She identified it as a '''Figurine of Wondrous Power''', an uncommon magical item that could come to life for a brief time and deliver a message. She explained she would need to spend some time to figure out its power word, but that she would return it as soon as she was done. Adrian also ran back up to his room to fetch the shield with the runes on it, which '''Silence''' recognized as command glyphs that would have allowed '''B'rogo''' the [[Bugbear]] to control anyone who drank from '''Nephilla's''' fountain. | ||
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Adrian and the team relocate the child's body back to their rooms at the '''Welcome Rest''', then Adrian gets in a skirmish with a [[Yuan-Ti]] outside of a circus tent before they all decide to revisit '''Les Talismans''' and follow a new chain of leads which brings them to an orphanage as well as an art gallery… | Adrian and the team relocate the child's body back to their rooms at the '''Welcome Rest''', then Adrian gets in a skirmish with a [[Yuan-Ti]] outside of a circus tent before they all decide to revisit '''Les Talismans''' and follow a new chain of leads which brings them to an orphanage as well as an art gallery… | ||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"> | <div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"> | ||
As '''Sqecia''' begrudgingly assessed the scene in the basement, the team felt unnerved by the lack of concern she was giving to the situation. Adrian tried explaining how the child had just seemingly died without any clear cause as he tried to apprehend them, but '''Sqecia''' reacted with agitation. '''Sqecia''' had been content assuming that the child was simply a street rat from the local orphanage who had snuck into the tavern basement to steal food, and that the team had merely "dealt with the rat problem." Adrian sheepishly confessed that the child was trying to make off with a sack of grain when the team had apprehended them, to which '''Sqecia''' shouted "so why are you trying to complicate your story by telling me that the child 'just died?'" '''Merys''' pointed out that the child had no visible marks which would indicate any obvious cause of death, to which '''Sqecia''' beelined to the body and stabbed them in the chest several times with a dagger. She plainly stated "there…you came down here to take care of the rats, you caught the street rat stealing food, and you took care of the problem." The team was shaken by her brazenness, but the only thing they could think to do in that moment was reluctantly accept this alibi and get the child's body out of there as quickly as possible. Adrian requested anything they could use to carry the child with, to which '''Sqecia''' tossed him a burlap sack like the ones the tavern used to store grain. He folded the body into the sack with as much dignity for the child as he could feasibly manage, given the circumstances. Meanwhile, '''Maple''' got a glimpse at the child's face and, with her photographic memory, recognized them from a missing children's poster she saw back in '''Terakai'''. She also scooped up several carcasses of the rats that had swarmed her earlier and realized they were | As '''Sqecia''' begrudgingly assessed the scene in the basement, the team felt unnerved by the lack of concern she was giving to the situation. Adrian tried explaining how the child had just seemingly died without any clear cause as he tried to apprehend them, but '''Sqecia''' reacted with agitation. '''Sqecia''' had been content assuming that the child was simply a street rat from the local orphanage who had snuck into the tavern basement to steal food, and that the team had merely "dealt with the rat problem." Adrian sheepishly confessed that the child was trying to make off with a sack of grain when the team had apprehended them, to which '''Sqecia''' shouted "so why are you trying to complicate your story by telling me that the child 'just died?'" '''Merys''' pointed out that the child had no visible marks which would indicate any obvious cause of death, to which '''Sqecia''' beelined to the body and stabbed them in the chest several times with a dagger. She plainly stated "there…you came down here to take care of the rats, you caught the street rat stealing food, and you took care of the problem." The team was shaken by her brazenness, but the only thing they could think to do in that moment was reluctantly accept this alibi and get the child's body out of there as quickly as possible. Adrian requested anything they could use to carry the child with, to which '''Sqecia''' tossed him a burlap sack like the ones the tavern used to store grain. He folded the body into the sack with as much dignity for the child as he could feasibly manage, given the circumstances. Meanwhile, '''Maple''' got a glimpse at the child's face and, with her photographic memory, recognized them from a missing children's poster she saw back in '''Terakai'''. She also scooped up several carcasses of the rats that had swarmed her earlier and realized they were merely wooden toys. The team promised '''Sqecia''' that they would return the next day to confirm whether the actual rat problem had been fully dealt with, then they departed the '''Yellow-Bellied Baron'''—with Adrian carrying the child's body in tow—back towards the '''Welcome Rest'''. | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
== Appearance == | == Appearance == | ||
=== Durian === | === Durian === | ||
Durian was sturdily built like most [[Dragonborn]], although he was not exceptionally strong. His scales were a shimmering emerald color with a fine, prickly texture and translucent at the surface. He had draconic emerald eyes and long head tendrils which hung down his back like a mop of hair. He also had a tail, uncommon but not unheard of amongst [[Dragonborn]]. His garbs would forego the customary blue of most [[Bahamut]] worshippers, instead opting for assorted metallic hues to better resemble the [[ | Durian was sturdily built like most [[Dragonborn]], although he was not exceptionally strong. His scales were a shimmering emerald color with a fine, prickly texture and translucent at the surface. He had draconic emerald eyes and long head tendrils which hung down his back like a mop of hair. He also had a tail, uncommon but not unheard of amongst [[Dragonborn]]. His garbs would forego the customary blue of most [[Bahamut]] worshippers, instead opting for assorted metallic hues to better resemble the metallic [[Dragonborn]] most common amongst his clan. He still expressed his allegiance to [[Bahamut]], however, by donning a conspicuous pendant with his religion’s traditional symbol and color. He also wore a necklace that he handmade fastened with a [[Tear of Sardior]], symbolizing his mission to help resurrect the god of [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Neutral Dragons]]. | ||
=== Durzibethinus === | === Durzibethinus === | ||
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=== Durian === | === Durian === | ||
Durian’s prior knowledge of what existed outside [[Jadenhill]] had all been secondhand, so he looked upon the | Durian’s prior knowledge of what existed outside [[Jadenhill]] had all been secondhand, so he looked upon the world with wondrous eyes. He asked lots of questions, seeking knowledge and solutions to problems that may not have even occurred yet. He had a deep appreciation for his own mortality, but would go all in for a cause he felt was just. He would try to fall back on the teachings of his temple when confronted with a new moral dilemma, but often privately struggled to fit all quandaries into the good-versus-evil paradigm that [[Bahamut]] espoused. He hoped that joining the fight against [[Dragon|Dragons]] would help bring clarity to his religious anxieties. The realities of the conflict, however, only further muddied his outlook. | ||
=== Durzibethinus === | === Durzibethinus === | ||
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=== Adrian === | === Adrian === | ||
Being new to '''Lyaphaire''', Adrian can come off as endearingly naive when encountering new things. He hides a chip on his shoulder due to feeling forsaken by his god, [[Sardior]], after sacrificing himself for the [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragon]] god's resurrection and being consequently discarded in an unfamiliar realm. He speaks about his past in vague terms and is often reluctant to talk about it since he is doubtful that anyone would believe him, yet alone be able to provide the sort of closure he desires. Optimism is a shaky habit to kick, however, so he hopes for a day when he is able to prove his worthiness to the [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragons]] | Being new to '''Lyaphaire''', Adrian can come off as endearingly naive when encountering new things. He hides a chip on his shoulder due to feeling forsaken by his god, [[Sardior]], after sacrificing himself for the [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragon]] god's resurrection and being consequently discarded in an unfamiliar realm. He speaks about his past in vague terms and is often reluctant to talk about it since he is doubtful that anyone would believe him, yet alone be able to provide the sort of closure he desires. Optimism is a shaky habit to kick, however, so he hopes for a day when he is able to prove his worthiness to the [[Dragon#Gem Dragons|Gem Dragons]] and reclaim his emerald essence…possibly even return home and learn if his efforts to revive [[Sardior]] had paid off. | ||
== Abilities == | == Abilities == | ||
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*In 820 [[PR]], visiting representatives attempted to scout Durian for [[Katharda Academy]], a proposal which his mother outright refused as he "has a purpose here" and stated that the school "cannot accommodate our unique situation." The representatives warned of the escalating [[The War of Many Names|War of Dragons]] but, after implying that they could see through her [[Elf|Wood Elf]] disguise, she angrily dismissed them, exclaiming "this is your fight, we're just trying to survive through it." Durian kept a longstanding grudge against his mother for not allowing him to go, and he likely would have gone himself had he not been a year short of fifteen (the age of adulthood in [[Dragonborn]] societies). His place was instead offered to [[Frances|Frances Langford]], the next candidate on the school’s list. | *In 820 [[PR]], visiting representatives attempted to scout Durian for [[Katharda Academy]], a proposal which his mother outright refused as he "has a purpose here" and stated that the school "cannot accommodate our unique situation." The representatives warned of the escalating [[The War of Many Names|War of Dragons]] but, after implying that they could see through her [[Elf|Wood Elf]] disguise, she angrily dismissed them, exclaiming "this is your fight, we're just trying to survive through it." Durian kept a longstanding grudge against his mother for not allowing him to go, and he likely would have gone himself had he not been a year short of fifteen (the age of adulthood in [[Dragonborn]] societies). His place was instead offered to [[Frances|Frances Langford]], the next candidate on the school’s list. | ||
*Durian's mother eschewed many aspects of [[Dragonborn]] culture due to the fear of her family being discovered by [[The Second Draconic Crusades|Crusaders]]. This included conventional draconic names, so she named her son Adrian at birth with the intent of making him sound more elvish. His father, however, was far more relaxed and gifted him the draconic name Durzibethinus on his fifteenth birthday. Upon leaving home, he combined both names and began calling himself Durian in a halfhearted attempt to reclaim some part of his identity. | *Durian's mother eschewed many aspects of [[Dragonborn]] culture due to the fear of her family being discovered by [[The Second Draconic Crusades|Crusaders]]. This included conventional draconic names, so she named her son Adrian at birth with the intent of making him sound more elvish. His father, however, was far more relaxed and gifted him the draconic name Durzibethinus on his fifteenth birthday. Upon leaving home, he combined both names and began calling himself Durian in a halfhearted attempt to reclaim some part of his identity. | ||
*Before leaving home, Durian had never seen or tasted the fruit of his unintended namesake. Coincidentally, however, durians are one of the few fruits that appear on the [[GM:It Came From Kiston#Scavenging Table|Scavenging Table]] for the [[Dragon]]- | *Before leaving home, Durian had never seen or tasted the fruit of his unintended namesake. Coincidentally, however, durians are one of the few fruits that appear on the [[GM:It Came From Kiston#Scavenging Table|Scavenging Table]] for the [[Dragon]]-ridden mainland of [[Kiston (Island)|Kiston]]. Additionally, a single durian fruit once came into [[Jadenhill]] as a gift from an overseas diplomat, but it just ended up used as a kickball. | ||
*While visiting the lair of [[Smargarg]], Durian came across the [[Amethyst Dragon]] egg which had been stolen from the [[Jadenhill#Court of Quartz|Court of Quartz]]. He left it alone as he could not tell it apart from any other gem egg, but the party's ship captain managed to swipe the egg and fled before anyone could see as it almost immediately hatched into an [[Amethyst Dragon]] wyrmling | *While visiting the lair of [[Smargarg]], Durian came across the [[Amethyst dragon|Amethyst Dragon]] egg which had been stolen from the [[Jadenhill#Court of Quartz|Court of Quartz]]. He left it alone as he could not tell it apart from any other gem egg, but the party's ship captain managed to swipe the egg and fled before anyone could see as it almost immediately hatched into an [[Amethyst dragon|Amethyst Dragon]] wyrmling. | ||
*Following his ascension, Durian became a [[List of LEGNdary Characters|LEGNdary Character]] throughout the mortal realms and his adventures were echoed over the centuries, even inspiring a myth about an [[Elf]] who accrued so much knowledge of [[Dragon|Dragons]] that he ultimately turned into one. | *Following his ascension, Durian became a [[List of LEGNdary Characters|LEGNdary Character]] throughout the mortal realms and his adventures were echoed over the centuries, even inspiring a myth about an [[Elf]] who accrued so much knowledge of [[Dragon|Dragons]] that he ultimately turned into one. | ||