Defeat has always been in his stars

[DM Bob]

"OUR REALM IT NOT BE, BUT ENTROPY THE COMMON FOE. TWO PLACES WILL MELT YOUR WOE RIGHT FAST. THE STILL BURNING HEART OF THE DEAD GOD OR CAST BENEATH THE CITY OF BRASS IN THE SEAS OF ETERNAL FLAME." Responds a gravel ground voice in a tone less angry than usual... which is concerning given that the elemental spirits are generally far from happy. Quite the nihilistic type you've found.

[AthasianLaborer]

Tari 'Muiko's gaze immediately turns to Niachi [Elven: "Esteemed nephew], aside from what we witnessed with our own eyes while we were there in the Hearth, do you know anything of that City of Brass or the Seas of Eternal Flame beneath it?  I've met one dead god today and I am not sure how I feel about engaging another quite so soon and uninformed of their nature beyond the fact that they've a still burning heart" without further elaboration he begins incessently grooming his hands and face as he awaits Niachi's response.

[Niachi]

Niachi scratches his chin in response to 'Miuko. He whispers back in privacy, as the Message spell continues:

[whispered, Elven: "We seek burning seas under our hot headed lady's home city. After we spill wine and dance to the Hearth I will call on a fire servant to be our guide to this dead god's heart ."

If anyone else foregoes whispering to Niachi, he will mime to whisper back. For the remainder of his Wizard Sight, he will continue to watch the staff with icy blue glowing eyes analyzing its enchantments.

He says nothing aloud as long as the haunted item is present. It has learned far too much.

One more covert comment to Scrye:

[whispered: "Watch the mental sway of that thing on us. Atillius woke in one of his scattered moods of evil. Watch him..."]

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- Skrye bows, getting in her knees for a few seconds - "Thank you so much for listening to my prayers with your powers and guidance" - recovering the stand up position before mentally replying to Niachi - 'I will, thank you so much, yet the speaking weapon may be an issue if it realises that.."

[AthasianLaborer]

[Whispered in Elven "Apologies, I forgot, I was lost pondering the thought that perhaps we should be more prepared before we return, we did, after all, leave in great haste and pursued by mephits leading efreeti to our location.  It might not be a bad idea to confer about scrying on the location if that is possible, better to know if we're dancing into extra hostile fire beforehand yes?  I wonder if Hegrit has the good sense to take her freedom and leave us be or if she will also lie in wait for us.  I have plans to see her again, though they do not require that meeting to be combative.  I have so many questions regarding my magnificent tent"] he nods emphatically at Niachi with this last sentence.

[Attilius]

Jul 14, 2024 16:03:17 GMT -12 Niachi said:

[whispered: "Watch the mental sway of that thing on us. Atillius woke in one of his scattered moods of evil. Watch him..."]

[it's still the same day. He's been CE since we entered the tomb]

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

Quila looks to each and everyone.
"Let's be prepared for the worst. Anyone want to do some protective or helpful magics before we Fold to our next destination? Remember that psionics are very dangerous there, don't use them. And just in case we run into Eaters of Certain Bodyparts and are in a hurry for an exit, do we maybe want to apply our oils here?"

Quila herself will use Clairvoyance to take a peek around the destination we are Folding to (the portal location) and cast a Protection from Evil (lvl 1) upon herself.

Quila gives everyone time to make preparations and will afterward cast a Dimensional Folding (lvl 4) that opens up to the place where the rubbing stone is in Giustenal that we used as portal.

[AthasianLaborer]

"Hold on, we really should return New Kurn for the tent and more wine, just to be safe."  'Muiko looks to Quila "Would you communicate with our friend kreen and ask if she could bring us to New Kurn for the items we seek?  After we collect them, we can oil ourselves up and I will make myself and whoever else wishes be unseen, unseen just before you fold us to the dancehall equipped more appropriately for our return trip"

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

"Uhm, okay. Why didn't we take the tent in the first place then?" Quila almost sighs out. She harrumphs and then continues, "Getting in touch with Chat'cho. We better be frigging fast at this, I want no repeats of last time when we took this tome somewhere. That is not on me this time."

Quila then Mindlinks to her kreen druid friend asking if she can Fold us into her lands/New Kurn.

(OOC: Contact roll is 6, Mindlink is 7. Both are successful.)

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- Skrye casts protects herself vs Fire and improves her defense in case any combat goes their way - "I'm ready" - looking at everyone

[OOC: Locate Object spell (7hrs), Protection vs Fire, Barkskin (AC 0, 12rnds).
AC 3, 48/48HP; SPELLS 1stLvl(4/5), 2ndLvl(4/5), 3rdLvl(3/4), 4thLvl(3/3)]

[AthasianLaborer]

Tari 'Muiko looks up at Quila as sincerely as he can and says "Trust me when I say don't worry about it, I'd wager that given the time discrepencies, we've one of two circumstances to watch out for, either our pursuers grew bored of awaiting our return and have left or they've heavily fortified the arrival site.  Can you view the Eternal Hearth from here?"

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

Quila nods, "Ah yes, that time dilation. I totally forgot about that. It's a wise precaution. Let me try and pierce the veil between Athas and the Eternal Hearth. I've never tried to do so before."

Quila balances herself, rolls her shoulders and tries to get any remaining tenseness out of her system by a breathing exercise. Then she thinks about Giustenal, the dancing stone, and the place in the Eternal Hearth the portal ends up at. She takes a view higher up so she can view the place where the tent previously was erected as well, and she will hopefully also catch a glimpse of the further away city. Then she lets the energy flow from her nexus into her closed eyes while she keeps picturing the destination.

(OOC: Rolled a 5 on a needed 9 for adjusted Clairvoyance score, success.)

[DM Bob]

Sight into the planes other than the Prime is not apparently possible, at least as far as Quila is concerned. Perhaps she could fathom a way to do this with a new discipline someday.

Chat'cho is easier to reach.

She agrees to have the tent ready near her grove and is more than happy to assist as long as she can continue to remain here on Athas proper.

[Niachi]

Seeing as we have a bit of time, Niachi will use Whisper to ask ti inspect the ring engraved with Elvish script. he will examine it in his open palm, with back turned to the haunted stick. He will bite down on his upper lip to prevent him from verbalizing what he examines. If any of his Wizard Sight remains, he will focus on the ring.

[Umbris (AC 2 | HP 37/37)]

Will lick the evil stick while he waits for the shamans to cast their spells