All along the kreentower

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

Quila is mostly quiet, sometimes nodding to seemingly no-one (but always prompted by the Great Invisible 'Muiko), but visibly restless and pacing up and down a lot.

When asked about her noticeable aloofness and quietness, she reacts in a despondent tone "On my watch I let New Kurn both be discovered by a bored immortal maniac and almost be run down by a 12,000 year old cursed book on soil fertilizers. I feel there is atonement to be done, by my own hands, for all of this. I must return as soon as I can and give my apologies to the Tribunal."

[DM Bob]

Enemy's Slumber, 6th of Fortuary, early morning

Current Location: New Kurn, The day after the worm attack

The morning wind brings a dry, swift heat, rustling the newly formed grassland. Swathes of dried pale yellow-brown plants rustle heavily today. The thri-kreen beckon Chat’cho for the Hunt… as the others awaken either here or in the city proper.

Much cleanup is being made, from the families that called the New Kurn home and to the templars, who dealt more heavily with civic minded planning and moral outlook of the civilians. Today, they were working on leveling the area torn the evening before, bird folk swooping to grab stones and larger dirt clods and a pair of half giants that stomped the area flat once more.

The larger worms are being cut into chunks of meat by men, women, and elves, flaying the dense white flesh into manageable bits that then get scored and rubbed with pink flat salt and yavi herb. These are moved to dry before a longer curing or the pungent drying smoke from the ceramics kilns and their inix dung fires. This would feed many people for a good amount of time, a blessing in disguise from the chaos of the writhing earth.

There is something in the air that betrays such bliss. The stink of worm meat creeps up on you, a subtle air of malaise that was bound to bring bloodflies and other unwanted vermin to the arena. The tari Scrye, her mouth waters. Her whiskers twitch.

The Library is in a sad state of affairs, as the books, scrolls and tablets that formed its body now lay scattered about like the entrails of a proper corpse. You have a feeling research will be an impossibility, at least as of now, scholar templars shuffle about carefully trying to stitch the mass back into something recognisable once more.

Librarian Gruv finds you and hands you the pair of tomes from the ruins so recently have frequented. Enemies of Establishment and To The Elements and Beyond are exchanged with a creased bald brow.

“I did read these last night as service to you… I do keep my word. But there is much for me to rebuild here and quite frankly I have not slept much this evening. The Tribunal is in session today, and is not taking visitors. However, they did tell me, to tell you, that you are welcome to take any relics you have found within the cursed ruins if it would aid you in your travels.”

With that he turns and begins to growl orders to the others to put this here, and that there, and so on.

The Hunt is successful and the kreen clutch is happy with the feel of the earth beneath their feet. The younger of Kri-kcht asks of Chat, “Would it be possible for me to range with your clutch? The others, they would like to range here for a while. Is that okay with you, land warden? The others would keep it safe until your, our return.”

[Attilius]

Attilius, leaning against a wall and cleaning his finger nails with his bone dagger, asks the group "Don’t we want to get our new stuff eye-dent-tee-fied before we go explorin' fire land? I'm keen on learning about the weapons and heelin' bracelet I fell in that damned pit over..."

[DM Bob]

Enemies of the Establishment speaks of realms beyond the realms Myron and his brother had walked. There are symbols and theories on how to possibly contact those from beyond and how their power could theoretically be harnessed. Myron speaks of his brother often as the two disagreed upon certain details and the safety of tapping into such things.

The concept of binding is discussed. That powers once forgotten to the Eons might find new life in fresh remembrance and thus be drawn into a living being or construct allowing their forgotten vibrance to be tapped for power beyond that of a mortal’s ken.

Safety of one’s person is debated if this process were indeed attempted. Even psionically empowered totems tended to go mad after an extended period of time, as well as intelligences bound in magical artifacts. By making oneself the foci, could a true balance ever be achieved?

To take the entire psyche of an alien creator into one’s body & mind… is there any chance of retaining enough of one’s gestalt to enjoy the benefits of such power & immortality?

There are a few threads of text stating that Amon decided to make pacts with specific entities in a nightmare realm, entreating himself to a lesser form of immortality, dependent upon lesser bindings that usually would not work on Athas. As for why it was so difficult to reach our world? Well, it was simply the place that powers from beyond came to die or attempt to be forgotten (at least that’s what one such denizen of the City of Doors claimed).

These ebbing powers often slept for near eternities. Their dreams could be heard in the reality of day-to-day life if you knew where to listen. Scrawled above one such passage in the margins questions if this is where psionics were born.

To the Elements & Beyond is an interesting read. It refers heavily to the Journeys of the Elements, which still lies unread with the Librarian Gruv. This text details the process of planar jumping to reach further realms far, far away from Athas. The elemental planes are easier to jump from than the Astral & Ethereal realms.

From there the usual destination was a city only referred to as the City of Doors. This odd place, or perhaps prison of sorts, held the secrets of traversing to a place left untied to the Athasian prime. From here, one could reach the nightmare realms. And from there? Where else could one hop?

Most spells and psionics that one used to transverse reality were easier to attempt from the Inner (Elemental) planes. The City of Doors relies upon a different method of planar travel, one involving strange keys and even stranger portals. This is said to be explained in a different journal, likely A Strange City of Doors.

There are also notes of various locations in the prime of Athas, that correspond with points in other realms. This reinforces the concept of traveling from Guistenal to the Capital of the Efreet. While distances don’t always correspond, the text states, proximity helps in one’s transference to the Inner Planes.

Some light referral is made in this tome regarding locales specifically within the plane of flames, a couple in the realm of winds and one in water.

A note is also in the margins stating that the locals of the planes have their own specific allegiances, friendships and desires. Fire walkers loved rare flammable items for trade and barter. Many elementals did not like the efreeti, as they believed themselves better than the other walkers of living fire.

Water beings loved things or objects that changed temperature or colors and had a better relationship with their elemental djinn. Air was flighty and not to be trusted, changing directions and allegiances at a whim.

As far as the party’s general knowledge about Guistenal, it was not much. Said to once be a mighty city state led by a giant lion headed ruler, it was taken over by someone during the Cleansing Wars, one who was said to have been killed for offending the Sorcerer Monarchs. Many texts that have even begun to refer to this stage of Guistenal are missing or obviously destroyed.

More texts have referred to a psychic malaise near that forsaken tar and silt covered place and warn the mentally opened to abstain from using their powers the closer they get to the silt heavy ruins.

[AthasianLaborer]

"I will offer to 'dent'fy the items in question, though I will require time for the process" 'Muiko states from invisibility, standing just outside of Attilius' arm's reach (he moves after speaking).

He moves invisibly towards Quila "Additionally, I offer to provide for the security of these particular texts, the assumed originals and further, will furnish you with as many copies as you like given time and the material cost!"

"I am not suggesting that we delay for copies, just 'dent'fication, the copies can follow our return?" By now, 'Muiko's voice is just outside of Quila's arm's reach.

[Attilius]

Jan 4, 2024 9:13:56 GMT -12 AthasianLaborer said:

"I will offer to 'dent'fy the items in question, though I will require time for the process" 'Muiko states from invisibility, standing just outside of Attilius' arm's reach (he moves after speaking).

He moves invisibly towards Quila "Additionally, I offer to provide for the security of these particular texts, the assumed originals and further, will furnish you with as many copies as you like given time and the material cost!"

"I am not suggesting that we delay for copies, just 'dent'fication, the copies can follow our return?" By now, 'Muiko's voice is just outside of Quila's arm's reach.

The gladiator smirks while watching the depressions in the sand "Sounds good..."

youtube.com/clip/UgkxdteNW5Rco3ALyjpDAPB31l5cjuEnpFDl?si=KJLd2HUpgxvLc22z

[Niachi]

Librarian Gruv said:

“I did read these last night as service to you… I do keep my word. But there is much for me to rebuild here and quite frankly I have not slept much this evening. The Tribunal is in session today, and is not taking visitors. However, they did tell me, to tell you, that you are welcome to take any relics you have found within the cursed ruins if it would aid you in your travels.”

"This is priceless information, Librarian Gruv. We hope to use it to Kurn's success. We will watch for intruders."

DM Bob said:

There is something in the air that betrays such bliss. The stink of worm meat creeps up on you, a subtle air of malaise that was bound to bring bloodflies and other unwanted vermin to the arena. The tari Scrye, her mouth waters. Her whiskers twitch.

Niachi whistles for Kaw-Rawk to patrol at 500 feet elevation and:

<"Watch for air scavengers!">

In his best kreen he alerts their pack leader as the winged beastie launches skyward in a burst of swooping wings.

"This is my hunting scout K'hh Rkk the Potentially Wise! Not prey! It is my eyes and ears!"

He reviews the list of plundered artifacts with Muiko and the others.
To hopefully shield the Identifications from prying eyes, he casts a 12' x 20' Secure Shelter made of the surrounding earth. He shapes it to accommodate Atillius and the team.
The main door and window shutters are Wizard Locked (he repeats the unlock phrase to the team: "Zesamee!" 
The door, shutters, and chimney are protected with Alarm spells ("deactivate door/chimney/windows") 
The narrow chimney flute features a sturdy wooden grate near the top to prevent small intrusions.
The dwelling resists flames and fire as if it were stone, and is impervious to normal missiles (but not the sort cast by siege machinery or giants).
It features eight bunks, a trestle table and benches, as many as four chairs or eight stools, and a writing desk.


Duration: 10-13 hours (1d4+1 hrs. + 1 hr./level)

[Attilius]

Jan 4, 2024 13:40:57 GMT -12 Niachi said:

Niachi casts a 12' x 20' Secure Shelter made of the surrounding earth. He shapes it to accommodate Atillius and the team.

The giant puts his hands on his hips in awe "First a Rampart and now this!!! Man! you guys are sure handy!" he walks in and looks around like a kid in a high class hotel suite for the first time.

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- Skrye pick some of these unwanted blood flies and vermin with both hands full.
She moves to an unseen side and eats a couple of the vermin, a feel of satisfaction runs in her.




As she finishes, keeps the rest inside a clay vial, which she covers straight away, leaving it sealed like that for half a day, taking it with her. Some droplets of water are splashed by her in her hands, and so scrubbing the possible remains of food from her face and her whiskers.

The female Tari goes to help at the library and to see what could be learnt from that book of planes, been more interested in the possible references to the earthen one, but reading the others too, if she's allowed - "Is it something I can help with to identify the items?" - looking at everyone

[Deleted]

Chat'cho, already over the moon with the successful hunting expedition, is further overjoyed by the notion of continued contact with other Kreen.

[Thri-Kreen] "Of course. I don't object to your presence--you have been very kind to me, and I seek to return the favor. The way of kreen does not destroy the land--I trust that they will treat it right and, indeed, protect it in my absence. This would bring me peace of mind and please me greatly--they may stay as long as they wish. Just make certain that you are aware of the symptoms of Chitin Rot! Should any of your clutch become infected, you must immediately seek out either me or another priest capable of curing it. The Templars may be able to do this, but only some of them."

[Attilius]

While testing out a bunk in the earth lodge "We gonna explore that underground barred troll door first or not?"

[Niachi]

"How long will the ID's take, and which items, in what order? That 'backscratcher' staff is starting to creep me out."

He sighs wistfully, not having been properly creeped out in several days.

"I'll spend the rest of my silver to learn if that cellar door might shortcut to Fire City. That's a divination above my head."

[Attilius]

Jan 6, 2024 15:55:39 GMT -12 Niachi said:

"He sighs wistfully, not having been properly creeped out in several days.

"I'll spend the rest of my silver to learn if that cellar door might shortcut to Fire City. That's a divination above my head."

The gladiator lights up like a fire ball during a moonless night "oooOOOOooo a strong wager at last! How much you bettin' Niachi?"

[AthasianLaborer]

[Elven: "I must prepare the items in question; this requires 8 hours.  After the examination, I will require another 8 hours of recovery."] 'Muiko replies to Niachi's question.  

'Muiko clears his throat, clearly enunciating in the direction of Chat'cho "Chat'cho, do you think that we should seek a gate in the basement of the tomb or seek the gate in Guistenal?  You are an accomplished caster yes?  Can you divine any gates in that tomb?"

"2 Silver says there's terrible valuables there but no gate"

[Deleted]

Chat'cho wheels about to face the elf, knitting her arms in front of her. She switches back to the ever-cumbersome Common.

"Yes, I can dixhine this xhor you. Gixhe mme a mmomment."

The druidess casts the Consequence spell. The event in question is the discovery of the locked vault in the tomb's basement. Chat'cho's reasoning is that if the discovery of the tomb is 'very relevant,' it will be because there is a gate down there. She imagines that if it is stuffed with treasure or enemies only, it will register as 'unimportant.'