The Burning Itch

[Attilius]

HurKling hops down and gets ready to push his pack through whatever portal is created by the "away team".

25/136 Psp's
100/100 Hp

[DM Bob]

The possessed halfling merely turns to Ande and states:

"WE DO NOT WISH TO EXPEND STRENGTH ON TELEPATHY, SMALL ONE. IF WE EVER RETURN TO THE AETHER AND YOU WISH TO SPEAK THEN, LIKE OTHERS IN THE PAST, THAT IS WELCOME. IF WE OPEN AN EXIT, IT IS BEST IN THIS CHAMBER. WHILE POSSIBLE IN OTHER ROOMS, THIS IS DESIGNATED FOR THAT PURPOSE AND REQUIRES LESS STRENGTH. WE MAY OPEN TO ANY DIRECTION, BELOW, ABOVE OR TO THE SIDES OF OUR FRAME."

Those looking outside see the arrival of more tohr from the north. They lead several dozen jalath'gak of the winged variety on long tethers or rope. Perhaps something fashioned from these ever present grasses.

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

”So we are going to be flying to our destination it would seem. What say we then? Leave altogether or split up?”

[AthasianLaborer]

Prior to finalizing any decisions on who goes and who stays, Ande will cast Moment Reading and share her findings with the party, Efurth and the Seed.

I want to declare Ande's intention to cast Moment Reading, once a day, everyday in-game (it can be used once every 12 hours) to keep a finger on the pulse of this evolving situation.

[Niachi]

The possessed halfling said:

"WE DO NOT WISH TO EXPEND STRENGTH ON TELEPATHY, SMALL ONE. IF WE EVER RETURN TO THE AETHER AND YOU WISH TO SPEAK THEN, LIKE OTHERS IN THE PAST, THAT IS WELCOME.

"So further communications with you are too taxing and are to end soonish. I have magic to communicate for a short duration. Should we consider further talk is done until you rest? 

Is your ability to provide viewing the outside likewise taxing or limited? Can it be requested without difficulty?"

To the group:

"I will stay with another 'porter. Niachi Skyflyer has a nice ring to it..."

You get some of that Elven irreverence from him. Like maybe he's just doing all this to add some colorful nicknames to sing among his kind. 

[DM Bob]

As you debate your next moves, Ande scries the future.

Two words.

"Draconic arrival."

[DM Bob]

"So further communications with you are too taxing and are to end soonish. I have magic to communicate for a short duration. Should we consider further talk is done until you rest?
"THIS WOULD BE THE BEST OPTION, AS AMUSING AS YOU ARE TO CONVERSE WITH."

Is your ability to provide viewing the outside likewise taxing or limited? Can it be requested without difficulty?"

"THIS REQUIRES NOTHING MUCH. OFTEN THE FAMILY WOULD SING AND WATCH OUR PASSINGS THROUGH THE AETHER TOGETHER."

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

Quila will sit and open a deck of cards handpainted on aprig folio with numbers and some formulae on them and spread the cards in a half circle in front of her.
She closes her eyes and starts to chant and concentrate both on the name and on any specifics Quila might know, like the appearance, letting her fingertips wander over and lightly touch the cards and let her intuition guide her as she focuses first on Liandrin the noble efreetess (before moving on to Graytch, and later Kurt'ta'ali. With each she casts a Personal Reading (Level 1 spell, Priest Spell Compendium Vol 2, p. 447) in order to learn valuable facts about them.

[Niachi]

At Ande's pronouncement, Niachi drops his 'tude and snaps back to reality.

"Um. Shitfire. Of course the Dragon has been watching. (he has heard it called many things, but not its actual name)

I think I prefer being outside!"

[DM Bob]

Results of the three personal readings:

Liandrin is a highly respected efreetess widow & war leader from the mythical City of Brass, located within the very plane of flames & fire. She was bound once by an evil wizard and forced to reveal the secrets of draconic ascension. Upon revealing these dread methods, she was left buried to the sands of time, contained in an obsidian bottle. She was released just prior to Kalak's first death by a caravan of traders & ex-gladiators out of Nibenay, somewhere in the sands north of the Stone City on the way to Shalzim. She is angry and plots revenge on this evil wizard... the one known only as Graytch.

Graytch was an apprentice to the Sorcerer King Kalak before the construction of the Ziggurat ever began in Tyr. They are headstrong and craved power beyond that the Sorcerer King would ever provide a court defiler. Their interests in necromancy and the planes led them to the eventual capture of Liandrin the efreetess, that they tortured until she gave up the secrets to draconic immortality & power. They are considered weak by draconic standards and they raid the lands to the west of the obsidian plain, yet holds court with the undead kings & queens there often to gather more power and tricks to hopefully eclipse that of their former master, Kalak. Graytch is crueler than Dote Mal Payne ever was, if there needed to be a benchmark.

Kurt'ta'ali was a greedy elven assassin with contacts in Draj, Urik, Malka and numerous elven tribes. He was shaman of fire and a preserver... as well as a strong psionic wild talent. These traits made him difficult to kill, to say the very least. After encountering Liandrin and seducing the efreetess, he was able to ask for two wishes as long as he did her bidding on the prime. The deal was struck, and his first wish was a templar's hoard. A flatbox containing gold-fused quartz from the templaress Ande of Kurn's nest was magically delivered into his hands. There was some irony in this, as Fate tends to deal. As Ande and her friends were the ones that Liandrin wanted to weaken Graytch upon their arrival to the Messenger - a temptation of power that they could nary turn down.

[AthasianLaborer]

As she hears the reading regarding Kurt'ta'ali, Ande's eyes widen before she closes them to check on the status of the hoarded rewards of her youth and training (Clairvoyance rolled a 9 needing under 13; -7 PSP; 33/112) before flushing a deep maroon purple as she sputters <Aarakocra> "Oh, oh, that bitch, she robbed me and she gave it to him and- and, no doubt, my flatbox, that's what fucking blew up!?!?!?!?... " she continues in this vein, semi-coherently muttering in Aarakocra in the cartoon fashion of "Why I oughta!!" for several minutes

After spending several minutes breathing deeply to regain her composure, Ande looks at Niachi "I doubt being outside is a better option, unless you're talking about also being far from here."  she then turns to Quila  <Ping: "I think it prudent to inform Akos of this development and query what course of action we should take"> Ande looks around at everyone before stating "The divination I used does not reach very far, no more than a half day, so we will not have to wait long to witness whoever's arrival.  I suggest we prepare ourselves for whatever we choose to do at that time or beforehand?"

Ande sighs and gazes forlornly at nothing in particular as she is obviously still processing her loss, forget the monetary loss, every piece gone, a gift for a job well accomplished.

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- "Dragon?? What can we do?" - looking at everyone - "I can create a dimensional door if need it"

[OOC: At work]

[Attilius]

"Let's hope it's A dragon and not THE dragon. Could be a Drake or maybe one of the other Sorcerer Monarchs? Though I don't think they'll be much easier to deal with." He rubs his chin

He turns to Coden "Brother, can you use your cold Manipulation on each vine rope? (He points at the window) That way they'll break as they begin to pull. Should give us more time to keep the seed put and resurrect the remaining family members."

[Coden Rokos (Jesse H.)]

"With what we just learned it might be Graytch instead of THE Dragon. But... any dragon is above our level. We, uh, oughta go."

[Niachi]

Niachi gives a thumbs up to exit, accidentally goosing the low ceiling.