Ain't no spring erdlu no more, the laments of a goliath

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

Quila will have cast a Wyvern Watch for protection, but also a Nap on any casters, including herself that want to be included.

[DM Bob]

That can be done. But as you awake from the wyvern warning, he sits.

"I fucked up. And instead of killing you while you're clearly weakened, I will take some ownership over my mistake. Care to guess at what has me angered?"

He looks to the awakening party expectantly.

[Deleted]

Wracking her brains for an answer, Chat'cho calls upon her uncanny observatory abilities.

[Observation proficiency check: Result 12, Success]

[Deleted]

Chat'cho clicks her mandibles, briefly pleased with herself before she replies. "You had a stake in the xhate oxh those strange creatures in the *one hea*s, did you not?"

[DM Bob]

He points a boney finger, er, bone at you and then snaps them.

"Correct."

Slightly nodding, Aman continues.

"You see, normally I love a good old hazing. But recently I've made some discoveries that have kept me rapt - and I forgot that my pets weren't hidden as well as they could have been. Again, I gave you grace to explore, but, you see..."

"THOSE WORMS ARE @#$%@-ING HARD TO REPLACE!"

"Calm down, Aman. Calm down." He mutters to himself.

"I take it you are planning on exploring the plains of life's flame? I will need you to pick me up some there. I'll make the necessary arrangements. What know you about travelling? Not walking the sands, but planar jaunts?"

[Deleted]

Chat'cho pulls out her little compass, which she shows to the creature. "Xhery little, admmitedly. Mmy comm*any are hunting xhor an Exhreeti that they *eliexhe needs to die. That is why we camme here--to o*tain this dust, which will assist us in surxhixhing the heat oxh her homme *lane. I haxhe nexher lexht the Mmaterial *lane *ehore mmyselxh, *ut I amm told this comm*ass will guide mme to a *ortal ixh one ha*ens to *e near."

[Attilius]

The half giant visibility shrinks his shoulders and head down at each yelled syllable as the lich shouts at them but says nothing out of respect.

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

Quila only looks and listens for now, noting any visible marks or heraldry Aman might display, especially if they are anything like the symbols we found before on any items (like the sigil I expect to be of Myron).

[DM Bob]

"I figured as much."

Humph.

"Where to begin?"

...

"My brother and I were tasked the impossible by the Warbringer. We were to learn of other worlds, to harness their power to submit this world to his whims. While we were gone, he accelerated other studies and our peers made some cataclysmic mistakes. But I digress. We found that by escaping to the elemental realms, that other ways not possible here, were then opened. Not easily, but possible. You can learn more in those journals you've absconded with."

"There are many interesting things to see in the worlds beyond ours, but also nightmares beyond the realm of comprehension. My brother and I formed our bonds thusly, and discovered our own way to immortality. Not the way of the kaisharga, but a proto-method that was then expounded upon by our leader when we returned. We have a slight difference in our continued existence. Ours requires occasional sacrifice. The worms."

"Now I have contact with those who can supply them, but they cannot access our world directly. When you reach the realm of flame, I can have them waiting (hopefully). Can you do me this one favor?"

[Deleted]

"That sounds like an agreea*le *ro*osition."

[DM Bob]

"Then I shall cast the Geas. Fair enough?"

[Deleted]

"It's either that or die, so yes."

[Attilius]

Attilius nods and asks "Won't the worms just attack us again?"

[Coden Rokos (Jesse H.)]

"I suppose we need some way to dominate or imprison them."

[DM Bob]

Skeletal hands are waved, words of power spoken.

"The terms are thus. You will ensure that my larvae are delivered after you dispose of your quarry in the planes of fire. Any deviation from this mission and you shall wither and perish thusly."

Chat feels an obligation to do just that.

"Good. You have my continued blessing to fool about here; there is still much to learn if you wish. But for now? I bid you adieu."

He bows and turns to leave.

"Oh, they (the worms) will follow. But just in case..."

An iron rod with a reversed cursive "A" drops and clatters to the stone floor.

"Brand them and they'll obey."