(S24) A Hateful Smile

The group found themselves without any foes once the undead warrior had fallen. In the chamber beyond, an elf stood, arms outstretched facing an equally silent and still black dragon, but a shimmering barrier stood between the group and the pair, and the group seemed uncertain how to proceed, not only to get through the barrier itself, but whether they should be attempting to do so at all.

Idris, never one to be idle when curiosity could be satisfied, threw a gold coin at the barrier with as much force as he could muster, only to find it dropping harmlessly to the ground as soon as it was stopped by it. Then, in a moment of clarity, took out the waterskin that he'd filled with the transformative river water from the lizardfolk city, and poured some of that onto the barrier. Amazingly the water transformed the barrier from a force that blocked, into a force of fire in that area. A gap, small as it might be, was nonetheless available to them. About to shout introductions, Pine stopped him swiftly, only too aware of other foes in the tower behind them that might be alerted.

Siax's keen eyes and knowledge of creatures made out that there was something off about this dragon, for despite being so large and ancient looking, it didn't appear nearly as robust as it should have been, and hypothesised that it might be a ghost dragon. This was [Chardansearavitriol], also known as Ebondeath, Idris told them from his extensive knowledge, a dragon that had devastated this area, and fairly recently too. Ularan had wanted to tame its power to use as a force against the Talos cult before the cult destroyed the institution of death even more than they had. Trying to get Ularan's attention, Siax fired an arrow through the hole in the barrier and into the wall to the side. But it was not Ularan that spoke, but the dragon.

The dragon spoke to the group, attempting to get them to side with it and help it deal with Ularan in exchange for its hoard currently held behind a second barrier nearby. Although Idris asserts their intent to help Ularan, the dragon continues to try and talk around that, while Ularan himself asked for aid as well, focusing on reminding the group of how much evil the dragon would inflict if it got free. He wanted the group to retrieve a gem from his pocket and shatter it, to summon the creature they had been told about by Naralis.

Idris, ever wanting to make friends, especially with dragons, continued to try and talk the dragon around, but ended up insulting the dragon greatly by saying that he was at least partially a dragon now too and that should count. With the dragon's vast roar that shook the place, Pine, swiftly followed by the rest of the group, except Siax, dove through the flaming hole in the barrier with the intent to help Ularan. Their goal? The crystal in Ularan's pocket.

As the group rushed forwards, the dragon started to cast a spell, dropping the barrier. Ularan, seeing this, cried out to the group, warning them that if the dragon disappeared then it might have succeeded in possessing him. With renewed determination the group attempted to get to the elf, Effie dashing forward and trying to use mage hand to pluck the crystal out of Ularan's pocket, seeing as how he was floating high in the air at the time. She came away with a bottle of green and white liquid and readied herself to make another attempt at Ularan's urging. Idris summoned his spectral wings, and they were different from what the group had seen before, seeming almost more draconic in appearance, and Ebondeath seethed in hatred at the sight.

It was Arya though, whose actions caused the most disruption. All through the Uthtower she had been forced to maintain her form of a giant spider in order to circumvent the forbiddance spell that had been set into it. But she had been testing it out with her senses, seeking weak points, and it was during the struggle to help Ularan that she voluntarily left that form and focused her not inconsiderable magic upon dispelling it in the moments before it would have caused her destruction. This spell, so ancient and engrained, fell away in tatters, leaving both Ularan and the dragon in shock as a heaviness felt in the tower lifted a little with it gone.

Unfortunately, this shock was what distracted Ularan, and between one moment and the next the great black dragon disappeared from the room, and Ularan plunged downwards deep into the waters of the mere the dragon had been languishing in. The water churned, and then attacked those nearest it. The necromancer was pulled, screaming in terror, into its depths.

Then, from the fetid water, Ularan emerges. But there was no calm stoicism on the ancient elf's face. No, it was twisted in a rictus of glee. Ebondeath had taken over.

"You had your chance to help me. Now see true greatness!" the dragon said, and the words were imbued with the understanding so fearful that Effie, Arya, and Idris are caught by the fear about what an outcome Ebondeath free in the world would mean. Arya and Idris though were affected more, both of them aging 40 years in an instant. For Arya the age was not so detrimental, but Idris hailed from shorter lived races, and it was visible to everyone, but especially himself, in that moment. Seeing that desperate times called for desperate measures, Pine attempted to reach out to his Gods for some aid or intervention, but whatever it was that Ularan had done to block out the influence of the shards that he held, it affected the one in Pine as well, and the cleric was left without any divine help.

While Siax battled with summoned ghouls, Effie helping buff the group, Idris convincing himself of his heroism to combat the fear, Arya sent her water elemental after Ebondeath. The elemental had been a staple in overcoming enemies while in the tower, but picking up Ularan's long mace, Ebondeath brought it down once upon the elemental, necrotic energy slamming down, and just like that the elemental was gone and turned to focus on Idris. This was the distraction Effie needed, and with a deft movement of her mage hand, the crystal slipped out of Ularan's pocket and into her grip, holding it only momentarily before Idris was able to crush it. A shining light appeared, along with a shriek of rage. Ularan's creature had appeared; cowled and a mass of writhing tentacles, it attacked Ebondeath in Ularan's body.

Looking on, Arya watched the creature, as they all did, but to her it seemed so wrong. It's existence screamed of wrongness to her. As she summoned a centaur to aid in battle, she tried to get Pine to banish the tentacled creature, but he prioritised dealing with the dragon first.

The battle continues, until Idris stepped up and laid a hand upon Ebondeath's shoulder. [see transcript on this page below]. Between one moment and the next, Ularan was freed from possession, but in his stead, so Idris had made a deal with the black dragon, claiming they were friends now. Ularan was not impressed, and Siax tried to talk Idris out of the decision, but the paladin had always honoured his word when it was given. He would not be moved.

"Then I'm afraid I must do what must be done."

Seeing that Ularan was set to kill him, Idris reached out to Eefe and Ebondeath (See (RP24) Moments Before Disaster), both bound to him in different ways, and asked for aid. In that moment, Idris decided to make a further agreement with Ebondeath, giving him temporary willing control over his body so they could escape. A wicked smile spilled across Idris's face, a mockery of the Paladin's usually guileless smile of welcome.

During the battle where the soul of the black dragon, Ebondeath, had possessed Ularan, Idris reached out and places his hand on Ularan's head, and attempt to paralyze him using his ability to extract information. Seemingly too distracted by the internal battle, Ebondeath catastrophically fails to guard its mind from Idris [Nat 1].

Idris enters a battlefield where Ularan and Ebondeath struggle for supremacy, where Ebondeath currently has the upper hand. Idris tries to reason with the dragon, and the battle of wills changes, and Idris makes the attempt to free Ularan at a cost to himself. Ebondeath takes the opportunity and Idris becomes possessed although he is in control, and yet somehow he manages to convince the dragon to be friends [Persuasion = Nat 20], at least on the surface. Ularan is not happy with this, seeing the threat that Ebondeath holds.

[3:56:32]

Siax:

Siax would start walking, pacing, towards Idris, and just start shouting "What have you done?! What have you done?!"

Idris:
Realising that the rest don't know what's happened, would say:
"Well, the dragon is trapped inside of me."

Siax:
"WHAT?! What do you mean, it's trapped inside of you? Get it out! It's going to possess you! And then we're going to have to fight you! What are you thinking?!"

Idris:
Idris tries to calm him down, and tell him:
"I've actually just made friends with the dragon. So I think we're good for now."

Siax:
Siax throws his hands up in frustrated disbelief and incredulity.

Ularan:
"I'm afraid your companion is correct. The creature in your mind will not be held down. It will possess you at its earliest convenience, and use you as a vessel, as it tried to use me. I do appreciate your rescue."

Idris:
Idris would flex his arm and be like, "Don't worry, I got this!"

He then, directing it to the dragon, "We are technically friends now, right?"

Ebondeath:
"Yes."

Siax:
Siax would turn around and put an arm on Idris's shoulder and say:
"Idris, this is not going to end well. Your heart's in the right place, but this is a bad move."

Idris:
"I understand the danger that he's imposing on me, as well as everyone else because the dragon might possess me, but if the dragon can't be killed right now," It is clear he has no plans to do so, since he just made friends with the dragon, "I'd rather it be me, rather than anyone else."

Siax:
Siax falls silent for a second, and he looks to the ground, then back to Idris.

"What happens if we go back to Leilon, and then the dragon takes over? What happens to the people of Leilon then? What happens to the people of Phandalin? What happens to the people around here if you can't control that dragon? What will you think then, that you've caused so much death and destruction."

Idris:
"I am confident that if that were to ever happen, that the heroes of Leilon will protect the world from me."

Siax:
Siax sighs. "Yes, you are probably right. But at what cost? We saved the people of Leilon, but we lose one of its heroes."

Idris:
Idris would try to downplay it, and take it with humour.

"But that's what heroes do, right? Die for the people."

Siax:
Siax shakes his head, and then turn to Pine an say:
"Are you going to say something?"

Pine:
In this circumstance, Pine would look to the person that has the most information and knowledge about the subject, which is Ularan. As a group they have experience in tackling threats, but Ularan knows more about this creature.

"Your thoughts, on what to do?"

Ularan:

Ularan turns to face Idris.

"Knowing what I have said, that this creature would not be contained, you intend to still follow through with this action?"

Idris:
Idris would nod with determination in his eyes.

Ularan:
Ularan straightens and grabs his fallen mace-staff.

"I will not allow you to leave this chamber alive, I'm afraid."

Siax:
Siax turns to Ularan and gives him a sharp look.

Idris:
Idris having sheathed his sword, places one hand on it.

"We can solve this peacefully. I'd prefer that."

Ularan:
There is a solution. My initial plan to take the spirit of the dragon and deposit it in a harmless creature to be contained until later used. But for that, you must give it to me."

Idris:
"I am against keeping him contained in that way. So either you find another solution, or…"

Ularan:
As this is going on, the group sees Arya go up to Ularan and whisper something into his ear. Ularan doesn't look at her, he keeps looking at Idris. As she finishes talking, he nods. "So be it." and then says an arcane word. He then continues the conversation with Idris as if nothing happened.

During this time, the tentacled creature was up on the ceiling, using its tentacles to swing from one side of the room to the other, almost circling its prey… the people around here.

Pine:

Pine would look to Ularan, not so much in deference as he had before, but with more determination and purpose.

"The ritual is not the only way to ascend to be a God. And the world needs a God of death right now. All it needs is all the shards, together, and for one or more to ascend to that position. If that were to happen, any strong souls could easily be dealt with, without any of this nastiness."

Ularan:
Ularan looks down. "I see the old death god has been active. Yes, you are right. The issue with death could be solved right this moment. I could bash you across the skull with this mace, take the shard. Or you do to me, and a death god would be born. But that would solve the issues of one Age, Pine. I am concerned with the issue of all Ages. This cannot continue."

Pine:
It would likely be pretty clear that Pine doesn't particularly agree with him. He's not looking aggressively at Ularan. In many ways he is quite calm right now compared to the drama and threats going on around him. He's not looking to attack Ularan, or force him to give away the shards, but he is between Idris and Ularan.

Ularan:
"This is a discussion I am more than willing to have with you all, but this more pressing issue now must be solved. I cannot allow the soul of that black dragon to leave this place. Not outside of my care."

Pine:
"And yet Idris is, currently, within your care."

Ularan:
"What say you, paladin, would you stay forever here?"

Siax:
Siax answers for him. "Absolutely not!"

Ularan:
"I thought not."

Siax:
"What are your plans for the dragon. How would you transfer it from Idris to somewhere else? What are the details? What aren't you telling us?"

Ularan:

"I have devised a body. A creature made harmless. An irresistible lure for a spirit like that. First the original possessed creature would need to be incapacitated, and then the spirit drawn out and put into it. This is but temporary. Dangerous. I must then locate a suitable vessel for this creature. A vessel that must be slain and then bound by me. Unbreakable shackles. Then it is only safe for the spirit to move in there. Absolute control would then be reality.

Pine:
"Forcing others to bow to your demands against their path is not something I'm happy with."

Ularan:
"What would you have an ancient black dragon do? Would you let it frolic? Be merry? "

Pine:
"I would have it be taken care of, like all dead should be taken care of."

Idris:
"I would show it a different side of the world, perhaps. Find a different way, a different path."

Siax:
In Siax's mind, all he can think of is 'Idris, shut up. Let the adults talk'.

Ularan:
"There is more at stake here than you know, and I am willing to include you into this, to discuss, to treat you as my allies. You have done much good to me, even though I have treated you poorly. I will not force you to aid me, but I will stop you, paladin, from leaving here with that soul. Make your choice."

Siax:
Siax slowly turns to Pine, and Pine would know from their time travelling and fighting together, that Siax is unwilling to let anything happen to Idris, consequences or not.

Idris:
"We are all pretty beat up. We don't have any plans on leaving any time soon. We all probably need a rest. So why don't we rest. We'll stay here, and then discuss our further options."

Ularan:
"Tell me, truthfully, will you change your mind?"

Idris:
Idris has no intent to deceive, and merely answers truthfully.

"Most likely not."

Ularan:
"Then I'm afraid I must do what must be done."

[DM]
Roll initiative and we will see what happens next session.

(S24) A Hateful Smile

Transcript of standoff with Ularan