You wake up finding yourself in a VERY different place. You found yourselves in a large expanse, otherworldly space of blues and purples, jagged rocky ground where you are standing. But you were different as well.
Instead of your normal selves, you were silhouettes representing yourself. You all had a silver cord attached to you, but Idris you also had a red and white one, symbolising your dual allegiances. Effie you had the one chord but a small black bird on your shoulder, watching carefully. Siax as well, you had the one cord but also a various number of shades looking down to you, all of them elven and all of them looking very very serious. Arya you had the silver cord, but it was interwoven with a green essence. Your ring as well manifested in this place, shining extremely brightly on your finger. Pine you appeared as well, a different shade than most; brighter, a bit more washed out, and where your heart should have been there was a large red pulsating patch, probably the area empowered from the time you absorbed the dragon's power, as well as a black patch on your shoulder that doesn't feel healthy and looks a little bit like rot.
You weren't alone. A sixth figure was there, much larger than all of you, and this was not standing, but lying prone on the ground, and almost breathing heavily. It got up to its knees and addressed you as Ularan Mortus, and he wished to talk.
This individual did not have a silver cord unlike all of you. What it did have was two gigantic chains that manacled each of its wrists. It also had that red pulsating patch like seen on Pine, but instead of one, he had 27 of them in a variety of places on its body.
—
The group find themselves on another plane of existence
As you all get your bearings, this figure that identified itself as Ularan Mortus steadies himself on his feet, and you see him not really move, but concentrate, and the jagged rock that you have all be on flows, almost like water into a large chair. As this happens Ularan sits down upon it.
Idris tries to work out what the cords are. He figures out that the white cord is his connection to Lumalia, while the red cord is the feeling of not only the devils he had interacted with, but also the demons.
Siax's keen eyes sees far in the distance, beyond what the others can see, he spots several buildings on one of the far off rocks, and see movement, individuals going about their lives on them.
The group realise that they are on the Astral plane. It is technically a plane of existence, but there are theories that its what actually connects all the planes. It's one of the easiest planes to get to, because you don't have to travel, you just step through. What you know about this place is that it is a place of thought, and it is a place of souls, and if what you know is correct, your bodies aren't here. Your bodies are at the end of the cords. Where you currently are, are your souls. This place is very much governed by thought and intent, so the stronger that something is thought, the stronger it is willed the more likely it is to happen. Effie realises that she's heard of it before, and if a person's cord is severed, they die. Not only do they die, but their soul is gone. It will not enter the afterlife, instead it will become part of this place. She doesn't share that with the rest of the group, but does tell Idris to stop playing with his cord, making it sound as if it is dangerous to do so without giving details.
Effie makes her bird disappear.
Ularan is observing you all, as you are slowly making your way closer to this throne he has created. He is otherwise being silent.
Idris tries to fly, and manages it.
Seeing Idris doing his thing, he tries to refocus on why they were there in the first place: to build an accord with Ularan. The fact that the Three had sent all of the group here, rather than just himself, meant that he was more willing to say things he might otherwise not have in their presence. Pine tries to get across to Ularan what the group have been doing up until this point. He would tell Ularan that the Three have told him that his task right now is to 'Find the power that made the Mere, and make us whole.'
Although Pine is speaking, he has no mouth, it is more just thinking it. Ularan by comparison looks like a large hooded figure with two red pinpricks for eyes. No matter how close you look, you cannot make out any other features.
He does speak though, after all that information that had been condensed into packages.
"Hrm, allow me to help first. This place can be rough for the people who are not used to it. Please, all of you, focus on an image of yourselves, as detailed as you can, and that will restore you into more familiar bodies that you are able to speak and make that accord.
Pine and Arya gets bits of their original forms back, like eyes and ears, senses, and now they come back you realise you could see before but it was a different type of seeing. This feels much more concrete, much more real. Siax's bow, and Effie's rapier and loot is also with them, as they see them as something intrinsic to themselves. The bow does not respond though, it isn't there, its just a manifestation of it.
Idris thinks of a large majestic gold dragon
Idris's head turns into that of a white dragon, as that is what he has seen up close, but gold. He changes, but not to the point that he wants. He is kind of half his original form with a bit of draconic elements, arms are a bit shorter, he has a hunch, and doesn't seem to be the most comfortable but it looks like you did manage to bring forth what you were thinking.
"Yo, look at me! I'm a dragon!"
Ularan talks about the Gods of Death
Ularan: "The astral plane can be overwhelming for those who have not experienced it, but also those who have active imaginations. I am glad that we got this chance to talk. Your companion," he gestures to Pine, "got in touch with me and I suspected an enemy, but here I can see intentions, and I can see that is not the case. And as so, I would like us to talk. I would answer your questions, and perhaps you would answer mine, as I do believe we can all work together."
Pine would be very up for that, because the Three brought them here. He isn't good at hiding his thoughts, as he doesn't feel the need for doing so, so it would be very clear that he is looking at Ularan as a sort of military leader sort of thing where he sees Ularan as having a better idea of how to go about seeing to the Three's wishes than he does.
Ularan contemplates those thoughts and he addresses the others. "Your companion is ready to work with me, but I can see that you have all worked as a team quite effectively, so I would like to try and convince you all of the worth of what I am doing here. You are aware of your companion's gods, are you not?"
Idris meanwhile is standing on the edge of the jagged rocks of the island looking down, contemplating whether he could jump or fly, clearly distracted. Pine moves over and drags Idris back away from the edge while the conversation is going on.
Siax and Idris would nod to Ularan. Effie is very confused about this dude's intentions.
Ularan: "By all means ask me any questions you have. I wish to illuminate, for if you do not understand, how could we work together?"
Effie: "With what goal?"
Ularan: "That is the question. The gods of your companion, you perhaps know them as the Three. Or perhaps you don't. Some of you may be aware that these three gods of death have died themselves, almost 100 years now, vanished and almost forgotten. This is not a good thing. Life is continuing, almost from a momentum. But the lack of gods of death is damaging reality. And I will tell you one example of this damage, one that you have encountered the results of. This cult of Talos suddenly spreading across the Sword Coast; it always existed, but never managed to attain such power. Well their secret is they know that death is broken and they have been able to exploit it. Their leaders are immortal, they can fight and die, and be reborn the day after. But every day they do so they deepen that damage. What I am here to do is I wish to create a god of death. The Three, they have died but shades remain, but with these shards," he points to the 27 glowing red there, and then at Pine, "and a ritual of enough power, they could be forged together, the Three made into one. That is my aim: to restore the proper way of this world."
Siax would ask "So you are working against the Three in all but secret?"
Ularan: "You must understand, the Three do not exist, or rather they do but versions of them, shades of them. The ones that advise and talk to you, Pine, they are real, yes, but they are not the Gods that existed, they are the echoes, shadows. I am not working against them. Instead I wish to bring them back to life. I fear what is left is not enough to bring all three back, but using all three, a new god can be made."
Idris would ask, understanding that Ularan is wanting to turn someone into the god of death, he asks whether Pine couldn't be that person, considering him to be a good candidate.
Ularan: "A mortal turned to a god is not that mortal any more, you must understand. That mortal is gone, but they are used as an aspect, a template if you will. I had considered using myself as that template, but I see nothing wrong with allowing another as long as the ritual is conducted successfully."
Idris turns to Pine and gives a thumbs up. "Yeah, next god of death!"
Effie is still questioning. "What is the effect of taking the Three and making one again? Considering how the world is now with the Three separate evil gods working together, if they are merged into one, won't that become much more evil?"
Ularan: "As you said the Three have been known for evil, but of course death can often be seen as such. As I said before, the template of the mortal who ascends does inform the god that becomes, and that does mean that the Three, once mortal, carried through. The only reason I wish to make one of the Three is of feasibility, if it's possible to bring back three, all that I am concerned about is having someone in the role to keep the structure as it should be. If the template is perhaps a bit more well-meaning that would be reflected."
Effie: "For example, if Idris were to be a template for that, what would be the result?"
Ularan: "It is hard to tell, of course, but I would say that result would be disastrous. No offence to you, but you have obligations, connections, to both the celestial and abyssal sides. Those would be used, those would be abused. And also it is a position that requires focus."
Idris would completely agree.
Ularan: "You must understand, you see the Three as evil, and yes, in many ways they are, but murder will occur, tyranny will occur, whether it be a God or not. All the difference that is made is how it is managed, how is it manifested into the world. There must be evil for good to also exist."
Ularan's Chains
Idris would ask him why he is chained.
Ularan: "This, here in the astral realm, a cord connects your soul to your body. It is a weakness of this place. I have long since secured myself against these things. These chains are not a prison, they are a protection, for even if my body and soul were to be separated I would continue to live."
You are all getting the same sort of thought leakage from Ularan, and everything he is saying feels to be true. You don't know how accurate that feeling is, but that is what you feel.
Idris would ask him how he does that.
Ularan chuckles. "A long and storied process, but alas not one for me to share. Perhaps after we have worked together longer and you are still interested in such arcane secrets."
Idris would try and imagine his cord as a chain. Ularan: "I would not advise.." Idris no longer has draconic features as he returns to a base shade from before. As you try to imagine a difference onto your cord, you're gripped by this insane pain and you fall to your knees, it seems to be immutable. For the next 20 seconds you aren't able to speak because you are so out of mental breath after this happened. Stunned.
Pine questions about Thundertree
Pine would have a question for Ularan, because up until no he has been well on board, but his command from the Three was to make them whole, but making one out of three is not whole.
Ularan: "If a way can be found to bring the Three back as they were, it will be pursued, but so far this has not been feasible. There is a potential way, but I am blocked at all sides for it. The Taloists hound my every move, keeping me from finding what is needed. And the agents of the Bramble Queen, they just complicate things. Perhaps with your assistance such a way can be found."
Pine questions whether something could be done with Thundertree, because that place reacted in a way that he was not able to deal with because the well of death was so deep that it just filled in again like a lake. He would ask whether that place would not help in some way, because surely if the dead could be put to rest in that place as they should be, surely that would aid in the Three's power in some way.
He doesn't actually know this. Pine is just guessing.
Ularan nods. "You are on the correct path. It is by putting a sufficient of amount of souls to rest that energy can be found. I will have to explain to you what this place is. Many millennia ago an empire stood here named Merdelain. What you see in Thundertree was a part of it. A disaster befell this kingdom and instead of experiencing it and dying, it fled. The kingdom and everything that was part of it disappeared from this plane, trapped between life and death; an aberration. If, and that is one of my aims, the city can be found and put to rest finally, that would allow us to do many things thought impossible."
Ularan offers boons to the group
Ularan: "I do not expect you to assist me out of the goodness of your hearts. I do with this to be a mutual relationship, so I will help you in kind."
Effie: "How?"
Ularan: "That is for you to tell me. I will grant a boon to each and every one of you. You can tell me what this would be, be it knowledge, or some sort of act. As long as it is within my power, I will attempt to complete it."
Idris boon - wants arcane knowledge
Idris, now able to talk again, asks for the method to turn the cord into chains.
Ularan: "So be it, but I must warn you that it is a long and arduous process. It will take you years of study, if not decades to accomplish it."
Idris would consider, using his inner library, whether he knows anything about turning cords into chains. He gets an answer. A long and arcane answer, like a recipe online but like magical steps after steps after steps. A lot of it you do not understand, but you have an image in your head, but you only get the one answer.
Idris: "Yeah I wanna learn."
Ularan: "So be it. When you leave this place the knowledge will enter your mind."
Pine's boon
Other than the situation with Thundertree, the thing that has bothered Pine the most recently was when they were attacked by the wraiths.
"The rogue agent you mentioned, that attacked the Wayside Inn, it had powers I didn't understand. It caused this injury," Pine would say, gesturing to the black rot on his shoulder, "but it also destroyed souls." Everybody in the area was able to feel just how wrong this felt to Pine in such an intrinsic way. Those souls were still out there, broken, and that really bothered Pine. "Could you teach me how to mend those souls?"
As you say that, Ularan would have the first tinge of anger in his voice. "That is very disappointing. My … A lieutenant of mine, [Viantha Krex], decided to attack in this way. I assure you she will be punished. I am sad to inform you that these souls cannot be repaired. They shall eventually fade into the nether, and become part of infinity, but they are no longer salvageable. As your boon, however, I could undo this injury that you sustained."
Clearly disappointed and upset that the wrong could not be undone because it meant so much to him, he would question whether the spell he had been intending to use; Greater Restoration, would not fix that as he'd been intending.
Ularan: "It would reverse the damage that has been done so far, but it would continue beyond that. You see you have taken a few steps in altering your nature in the guise and the manner of the Three. What the wraith did was disrupt that delicate balance. You are dying, and your current power could delay it, but not stop it. I could."
Pine is unsurprised to hear that he is dying, but as this is what is being offered by Ularan, Pine would be okay with that being the boon.
Siax tries to figure out whether he can tell if Ularan is the only one that can fix Pine's wound. Everything Ularan has been saying sounds very true. He doesn't hesitate, he is just very certain. As far as Siax can tell, it's the truth. There is a sense of 'yes I can, I am much more powerful than you', not as a brag, just as a fact.
Before the conclusion of the meeting, Idris would speak up after Ularan mentioned how his Lieutenant had been lured to attack the Wayside Inn as she had.
Idris: "Does that mean Pine gets another boon?"
Ularan: "Why?"
Idris: "Well, it's her fault, right, that Pine now has this dark spot over there." [Persuasion 25]
Ularan looks thoughtful for a moment, "Indeed, that is only fair. When you meet my lieutenant [Luantha Krex], Pine, You will see that she has been severely chagrined for what she did, but your companion is correct, I am happy to grant you another boon.
Idris gives Pine another thumbs up "Yeah, future god of death!"
Pine would not know what to ask for, despite the opportunity. His first idea was shot down, his second is being granted for free.
Ularan: "Perhaps you can confer with your companions. From what I can see, they have assisted you so far." However Ularan would see the hesitation in Pine, who has no idea what to ask for. He is not a person with strong wants of his own. "I understand. In that case, when next we speak I shall keep that boon for you."
Ularan shares information about his task
Effie: "What is the downside of this boon? Things are not free, or completely positive."
Ularan: "In this case, I assure you there is no downside. I do wish for you to do certain things, but I will not obligate you with this boon. The only purpose of this boon is to assure you that I am willing to work with you. I can tell you what I wish you all to do, if that will put your suspicions at ease."
Effie: "It would help, so long as you telling us is not the boon. I have talked to a pixie, I am very conflicted about doing deals right now."
Ularan: "I agree with that. Quite so. As one of the confounding factors is this Bramble Queen, and she has been troublesome. Helpful at times, but troublesome at others. I believe she knows the location of Merdelain. The way to enter that area, but it is kept from me. However the true danger here, what i wish for you to do, is to destroy the cult of Talos entirely. That is quite a big ask, so I have a specific request. You see their ships are fast, allowing them to suddenly appear. Every time we had success in the Mere to find Merdelain, to create the ritual, they would attack us and destroy before my troops could retaliate. So I performed a ritual. I was able to bind a restless soul that was in the Mere that was existing from the time of Merdelain, resistant to any attempt to lay it to rest. I bound that soul upon a ship constructed by my soldiers. A ship powerful enough to destroy the Talos forces. For many months we were successful. This ship, it drove them back, destroyed many of its forces, however they were able to construct a lighthouse with an eldrich light. They used it to make this ship crash upon the coast."
Siax, Idris, and Pine all know the lighthouse he is speaking of. They had only checked that one ship in the wreckage around the lighthouse: Idris's cousin's ship.
[from campaign one: (S23) https://app.kanka.io/w/163775/entities/4608380 and (S24)https://app.kanka.io/w/163775/entities/4639762 ]
Idris would shrug and say casually "Oh, we turned that off already."
Ularan: "Indeed? Then you are already more useful than many that have worked with me. But yes, my ask is that on this ship the cult of Talos has swarmed. I believe it is resisting them, but they are trying to convert it, to make it serve them. [Fheralai Stormsworn], their leader, once she succeeds, and she will, there will be nothing to stop them from sailing into the Mere itself and destroying my base. I wish you to go to the ship and either destroy the bound soul, or free it, anything to avoid it falling into the clutches of the Talosists."
Pine would ask why the soul was unable to rest, not liking a soul being bound against their will.
Ularan: "Yes, a tragic fate. I personally attempted to lay that soul to rest several times, but the deeds it performed in life have driven it beyond insane. In life it was a champion called Emberlost. It cannot be put to rest, so it roams, but to roam is agony. As terrible as it sounds, being bound gave it purpose it lacked, and it was more at ease than it had been in millenia."
Pine: "We heard that it was once a demi-god."
Ularan chuckles: "Nothing can be said for the old Merdelain heroes than they did tend to be quite arrogant. A powerful champion if the legends hold true."
Pine: "It was Emberlost that damaged the tower, and caused the explosion, wasn't it?"
Ularan: "One of the first signs of the attack against Merdelain that caused them to flee. Why he betrayed the Empire, I do not know. He did not wish to speak."
Pine is still supportive of Ularan, but has been made uncomfortable by some of the things he has heard.
"Who made the Mere?"
Ularan: "Merdelain. You must understand, what they attempted, this fleeing, it wounded the world. The Mere is that bleeding wound left behind."
Pine is duty bound by his agreement to the Three, and what Ularan is asking him to do doesn't align as well as he had expected. Ularan is meant to be the person helping him, but the goal seems not to be what Pine was asked to do in some ways. Also this talk of someone else becoming the God of Death, Idris or himself, that is deeply uncomfortable for him as well. The whole goal was to find and bring back the Three properly, and this is veering widely off.
Ularan would answer Pine's concerns: "You do contain the memories of the Three within you. As do I. If enough energy can be found, all of the shards are brought together, and these memories are at the forefront of what goes ahead, then I do believe the Three would return. However the question is that energy to be found. By restoring a place such as this Thundertree, you said, perhaps something as well with that, we would be able to combine the shards, yes, but to do what you wish, to bring the Three back, that would require finding Merdelain.
"I will tell you the reason that I have settled for the one. We are on a time limit. There are outside interests that are waiting to claim the opportunity of a time when there is no god of death. The longer that is the case, the more likely that our plane, and everything we know will be destroyed. If we can find a way to restore them as they were, I will take them that way, but if we are running out of time, and the option is not there, I shall proceed."
Pine wouldn't have specifically spoken it, but his thoughts, visible to others in this place, would be circling around his interactions with Jergal, because he's met Jergal twice now.
Ularan: "That is the time limit, I am afraid. I do not wish to keep you here for too long, although we will speak again, but Jergal has an agenda. He created the Three, but before them he created others, and before those, others again. He creates gods of death, and then when they die, he is empowered. There is a reason for this, and I believe I am the only person who has discovered the reason. Jergal wishes to End everything. Once enough gods have died, he will be able to do so."
Effie: "So we should find someone immortal."
Ularan: "All gods are immortal, but they can be killed."
Effie: "No. If you can be killed, then you aren't immortal."
[Darren] Can you remind me why he wanted Merdelain destroyed?
[DM] Not destroyed, put to rest. It was such an insane force that brought a whole kingdom to rest, that that ould facilitate the ritual to restore the Three (like what Pine does with ceremony).
[Darren] Are all the people there dead?
[DM] He said that the are between life and death. They fled in an unholy existence. The way he described it does remind you of the way Thalivar was, but you don't know if that's the same thing. He said that they felt to the shadow plane and that their long stay there has corrupted them.
[Darren] I'm slightly conflicted because although Pine likes putting people to rest, he's also fine with sentient undead in the world, and this is a whole city, a whole kingdom of sentient people all going about their business
[DM] I think they way he said it, he didn't seem to imply undead, much more closer to what Thalivar was for example. Stuck in between.
Pine questions about Jergal's plans
Pine would ask how Jergal is meant to be the big bad here, because while he understands that Jergal was the God of the End of All Things, and therefore big picture, he wants the end of all things because that was his domain, but how does helping Pine help the Three forward that aim. Pine's overall impression of Jergal was always at odds with the Three's reactions, and found it surprising.
[DM] Pine doesn't know Jergal's intentions, but the Three consistently told him not to tell Jergal anything, so his motivations are unclear.
The first time Pine was brought back, it was not by the Three, but by Jergal. The second time he was brought back it was through Zenari's power, but the Three were channelling it in order to get her to do it properly. But it was Jergal that let him go out of his office back to life. So Jergal is not unaware that Pine is out in the world doing things that are helping the Three. Even if the Three are brought back, if Pine or Idris is made into a God, whoever it is, they can just be killed again, so how is making a god stopping Jergal.
[DM] You don't know. You do know that Jergal is not killing gods, he's just making them and waiting until they die. He is not a very active participant, he's content to sit on the sidelines. But from what Ularan has said, it is getting close. Enough times this has happened, he will be like 'okay, we're getting there'.
Surely someone becoming a god of death would just be creating another god to die though.
[DM] Unless the new gods don't die.
You are not confused. You have identified an existing issue in that logic. You simply don't know Jergal's intentions, and a new god would just continue the cycle.
Pine would ask Ularan about this, because Jergal was one of the original gods of death, and the most powerful one, because his power then got split into three gods rather than just one. So surely as a god of death, he is already there in place, there, waiting, and could retake the power and become powerful in order to settle the problems that we are currently having.
Ularan: "There are twofold reasons that he does not do so. One, it is not his way. He has given his station away time and time again and is content to let it play out. The other is if he is to resume as an active god, Ao and the other divinities will know his plans. As I said, I believe I am the only one who is aware of his machinations, and I do mean that as mortals and gods alike."
Pine: "The Three knew. They warned me not to contact him."
Ularan: "The Three are made of him, and I do believe they learned the full extent of his plans on the moment of their death, and not before. He will not do this in malice. He will do this while calm. He is not an evil raving maniac, but also he will end all life."
Pine actually does not seem particularly bothered by this knowledge, as others might. In some ways it feels more natural to him than the breaking of those souls did. He will do his duty to the Three, because he's already agreed to that, but he is not outraged or scared at the threat of Jergal, which might be seen as a bit strange to others.
Ularan: "So yes, I am willing to answer any more questions you have, but I think we should all return to our work."
Manifesting of Weaponry
Idris wants to see if he can manifest his sword. He does so, but instead of it being broken and fractured, he manages to manifest it as perfected. The flaws that were on it are no longer there. However it does feel a bit empty, Eefie is not in it, it is just a mental manifestation of it, but you can see what the sword could be like, if it was fixed.
Idris asks "How do I make this sword? Because there is usually this, it is usually a devil residing in here, but my current sword is not this sword, but I want it to be this sword, with the devil inside."
Ularan: "My knowledge is vast, but I am not an expert in smithing I'm afraid. I would seek creatures that are more well acquainted, perhaps fire giants or a possibility would be to ask the queen of the brambles but i do warn you that way is difficult."
Idris: "Oh, well thank you."
Ularan: "The Taloists as well, they have weapons that are forged beyond the capabilities of normal forges. I do not know if that will assist you, but perhaps what they have will help."
Idris, after thinking for a moment. "I'll consider it."
Effie's boon - rapier for luck
In a moment of silence, Effie would
"It seems that some of us are positive to helping you, so I'll tag along. It would be good to have things play out in my favour."
She wouldn't be wanting knowledge of anything, but some sort of practical solution for any scenario they end up in. She isn't religious, otherwise she would probably be satisfied with following Timora, but something like having better luck in certain situations.
Ularan: "A permanent change would be difficult. I could provide you with something for a single day would make every situation easier. You would have every single advantage that one could have. But that would only last that one particular day."
Effie tries to persuade: "Can't you spread it out, like once per day?" [30 persuasion roll]
Ularan: "So be it. I have an idea of something that might satisfy that. When you are back in your original location, your sword, it will contain the solution that you wish. Use it wisely. I will say, that I have said that I would give boons to the limits of my power, and you have tested me. I do hope that you get what you wish from this."
Siax boon - knowledge of the Enclave's fall
Siax: "You mentioned about your base. Where is your base?"
Ularan: "Deep into the swamp." He would say an ancient elven name that doesn't mean much to you, but in the common tongue it is called the Uthtower. "Part of the old Merdelain, too far from it to be taken when they fled. It lays in the swamp, far to the south." This confirms the location of the Dead Hand that you were told. "It is half sunk in the waters, but it serves its purposes. You are more than welcome to the Uthtower, but I am afraid you will not find much worthy currently, as we are embroiled in a fight against all outside forces."
Siax would ask "Do you know where this Merdelain is now?"
Ularan: "Yes, it is in the shadow plane, a plane close to your own and mine. It hides there between the shadows, between the decay that plane has. It has existed for many millennia there and has been corrupted, but it still exists."
You recognise the description of this as the Shadowfell, the almost direct counterpart to the feywild.
Siax is conflicted with the feeling of owing this person something. So he hesitates, but after some thought he explains: "My name is Siax Moonglide. I am a ranger from the Guided Path guild, and I am currently searching and investigating, trying to pick up the pieces of what happened to what appears to be some of my ancestors previously. Your mention of this lost city, and you mentioned Emberlost. Is there any more you can tell me to help piece together what happened?"
Ularan: "The Guided Path, I know this name. You are a child of the [Aguathen?]. What happened to destroy the four kingdoms is shrouded in chaos and mystery, but I do know some, and I can tell you.
"The time when the four kingdoms ruled this land was a time of progress and beauty. The magical accomplishments far surpassed anything you could see today. However it was a dangerous time, that was why the Enclave of the Evergreen was formed. They were able to survive together like that for many a year, but then one after another the kingdoms went dark. You are the survivors of one. I believe [Aguathen] was the only one to abandoned its cities and fled into the forests which is probably why you have persisted. I am not sure of what occurred, but from all of the legends and rumours i believe I know who is at fault, and it is [Selephra], the Bramble Queen, a name that you have heard recently. This creature she had a loved one, and this loved one was taken from her by the very tower that you were in recently. I believe she waged a war against the kingdoms in vengeance, but what exactly occurred, and how she brought about the downfall of the kingdoms is unclear. Of what I know, is that she worked slowly at first, and was able to turn various parts of the empire against itself without them even knowing an enemy was present. The kingdoms grew suspicious and stopped cooperating, and that is when she attacked. The influx of invaders from another plane. To learn more, however, I suggest you possibly seek out what is left of Merdelain, or even speak to [Selephra] herself, although that is an encounter few survive."
Pine would look to Siax, and mention that the person or creature that was in the basement of the tower that the Bramble Queen was looking for, that may well now be able to escape, this could be the person she was looking for, that all this started from, if they are still alive.
Ularan: "It was her attack that made the Green Lord decide to remove her from the Fae courts," and he looks to Ayra as he says this, "Something that even now possibly rings in the faewyld."
As Siax asked for knowledge as his boon, he would also tell you, "There are many ruins leftover from the four kingdoms, but seek out the most especially any towers that remain. Those were always of great importance to the kingdoms. Used to safeguard the kingdom from both physical and interplanar threats. They hold much knowledge."
Arya's boon - helping fix her ring
Ularan looks to Arya. "You have been silent. Do you not wish for a boon?"
During all this time she has tried to listen to all that is said, but distinctly trying not to think anything at all. She is trying to figure out if what Ularan is saying and promising, does he have the power to do those sorts of things so large.
[DM] All this time you have kept quiet, and more focused outwards, trying to get as much insight about this creature as you can. Every time someone asked a boon, be it knowledge or a more practical boon, there is a sense of him using some sort of power. Arya gets the sense of immense power. Mechanically speaking, you know this is a creature casting ninth level spells. Definitely extremely powerful. You and your group, you have seen you all fight, and you are astoundingly capable at this point. You are a force to be reckoned with. You are not sure you could fight him, not currently. You get a sense that he is a bit like Pine, and not just in his nature. He does seem to have a more clerical bent to his powers. His spells would mostly divine in nature.
Arya: "Can you see what I am bringing here?" She is referring to her ring, but does not say it.
Ularan: "Indeed I do. I will disappoint you. I cannot restore its original function. If I could, I could merely walk into Merdelain, and be done with the whole situation. However, if you wish, I could restore some of its capabilities. It would not allow you to travel to different planes, but it would allow you to move great distances, teleport, perhaps even fade into another plane for a few seconds at a time."
Arya: "Does the power in Merdelain, or the knowledge exist in Merdelain, about how to be able to use this as it was intended?"
Ularan: "Oh yes, they made a whole city, a whole kingdom do so. They have such knowledge. They are not the only ones, however. The fae equivalent will also know. [Selephra] has a lot of knowledge hidden away. Alas it is something that I do not know how to do. Not yet."
Arya tries to figure out whether there is some sort of magical bond to this agreement? Are they forcibly bound to keep their promises to each other, or is it just usual trust? Although Ularan had said he would not obligate the group due to the boons, she wanted to make sure.
[DM] Because she was paying so much close attention beforehand, she did notice that there was magic being cast at each boon, but no magic was being cast at any of you. So to the best of her knowledge, there are no hooks in any of these. It looks like he was being truthful. He is giving free help.
Arya: "Whatever you can do, I will agree to."
Ularan: "In that case, I will do what I first mentioned. I will restore your ring as much as I can. It should aid you quite a bit in the troubles to come."
As he makes a gesture, Arya feels almost as if the Astral Plane swirls into the ring a bit, like the energy of this place goes into it. It stops shining, not because it has no power, but because it is sated.
Ularan: "I do also with to tell you that if you wish to pursue to restore this ring to completion, I would be very careful to whom you show it. It would be quite the valuable artifact."
Arya would nod.
Talk conclusion
Ularan: "I have given you some boons. I ask you to strike against the cult of Talos, and I am sure we will speak again soon."
Idris would speak up. "Before we go, I have one last question. Does the name Alistair ring a bell?"
Ularan: "Oh yes. I recognise that name. It is part of that red cord that anchors you so, you know. With creatures like those, even a simple conversation can have hooks within them. If you have made any deals, I would keep them. There is nothing worse.. If you break a deal that you have made with a devil, you suffer the consequences of a contract. If you break a deal that you have made with a demon, you suffer more."
Idris would nod and say "Yeah, I'll keep that in mind. Not like I have any plans of breaking any deals."
Ularan would say one last thing. "I think we shall meet in person soon enough. I leave you with only a word of caution. The Taloists are brutes, they worship destruction, but they have grown quite cunning as of late. Suspect people, they are already within your cities. They are already in the places you consider safe. Yes, my lieutenant was mistaken to attack the Inn as she did. There was a reason she attacked."
He would look at the group as a whole, "I have been too long away from my work. I will be returning."
As your conversation ends, you see the chains that bind Ularan start clinking as they get pulled backwards, almost as if they are being winched back, and as this is happening they pull Ularan away off from the floating island that you are upon and into the distance, almost as if they are taking him back to something.
Idris thinks to himself 'Oh, so this is how it's done', and imagines himself getting pulled by his cord automatically back to his body. Idris disappears.
Pine realises that he has a sense of concentration around him, and drops the equivalent of concentration. They all end back softly, compared to Idris whose soul had dropped like a rock into a well.
The group wake up on the hilltop where you all fell unconscious.