The Recovery - Part I
February 5, 2007
His friends slowly left the ruins of the Temple of Lathander. It was getting late and they were all tired. Reece had been generous to offer his home to all that needed it, but Jaden declined just for the night, instead wishing to stay with the other priests as they set up small tents around the ruble that once was their temple.
“Jaden,” called the high priest Pacin, “come walk with me.”
“Of course sir.” Jaden answered in a somewhat dejected voice. It had been a long night, bringing priests back from Lathander’s realm to continue their work among the living.
Pacin looked happy. Jaden could only stare as they walked around the ruins of the temple.
“Come now, Jaden, it’s a good thing this happened. We were getting lax and this allows us a new beginning. Lathander wouldn’t have had it happen if he didn’t want us to look anew at things.”
“That is true,” replied Jaden. “I am merely sorry I couldn’t do more when it happened. And I worry that there is more than getting the items from the vault. I do look forward to the new place, though. It will be better and grander than before!”
Pacin smiled at these words. “Indeed, Jaden, I look forward to the process as well. I have not talked to the builders and engineers of the city for too long, and they always create something new with each new project.”
The walking and the talking continued for a short time as the sun fully set for the evening. All the while Pacin described some of his plans for the new glorious temple to be constructed. Jaden couldn’t help but feel his heart lighten as Pacin’s excitement became contagious. And, it was with a happy heart that he finally found a tent set aside for him to sleep in.
Jaden awoke from the dream with a start, his body drenched in sweat and his heart racing. Looking around the makeshift tent, the last remnants of the dream actually became clearer instead of fading away. The dream that wasn’t a dream was still buzzing in his mind as his eyes focused on the early morning sunlight leaking through the tent flap. Noise from outside indicated that others had already begun the massive task of clearing away the rubble from the Temple of Lathander. The new work had already begun only one day after the damage had happened. Jaden felt certain happiness at this thought. Even so, his mind quickly drifted off to the very real memory from the dream.
“FINALLY, CENTURIES OF PREPARATION ARE COMING TOGETHER. THE THINGS THAT I HAVE READ AND SEEN ARE COMING TO PASS.” Lathander had said to Jaden.
Jaden sat up on the cot he had been resting on and put his face into his hands. “How can it be me?” he questioned of himself “Maybe there has been some mistake?” Looking up, Jaden saw the new celestial armor sitting on the chair next to his cot, the gold links glistening off the light coming through the tent flap. There was no mistake, things were expected of him.
“YOU WILL FIND THE CLOAK AMONG THE SHADOW THIEVES OF Athkalta. THE SCYTHE DID NOT GO FAR. HERE IN ORDULIN.” Had said Lathander.
Quests. Jaden had been given quests by his god. Praying for spells and guidance had been something Jaden had done for years. But the sudden unbidden direct communication was something else entirely.
“THE FINAL PIECE IS IN WATERDEEP, IN UNDERMOUNTAIN. “ Lathander had said as they had walked through a dream representation of the place. He had been speaking calmly as if he were talking about a restaurant down the street.
“Undermountain?” Jaden caught himself mumbling as the thought out loud “Of all places Undermountan! How am I supposed to request this of my new friends?”
Jaden knew that alone he could never accomplish such tasks. Notch was a given, he would join with but a simple request. But the others, he had known them for such a short time, and now two of them had damaged domiciles and injured servants, would they be willing to leave for a quest not given from their god?
“EVIL WILL FINALLY BE SWEPT AWAY BY THE BRIGHTNESS. MY HOLY LIGHT WILL SHINE FOR ALL TO SEE. AND IT WILL LAST FOREVER, THANKS TO YOU. “ Lathander had been looking to the sky as he spoke, his voice rising in a loud creshendo that echoed through the land and reverberated in Jadens mind. Then he looked down at his small disciple and smiled.
“He had looked at me” Jaden said quietly in the tent “In the dream, he looked to me fulfill his plans. Me? And with full confidence, no doubt, he just expected me to do my part.”
Jaden rubbed his hands through his hair as he began to stand up. Looking at his new armor, he picked it up and gazed at it. It was just perfect, and much more than he felt he ever deserved. Jaden set it back down and turned around to face the early rising sun. As he began his daily prayers he couldn’t help but think to himself “This is the beginning of a very long day.”
The day begins as a logistics nightmare. Already, Pacin had managed to obtain some of the best builders in the city and they were already on site. Their discussions were not quiet to say the least, as their small group moved around the ruins describing what would and wouldn’t work, and what kind of support structure would be needed, and on and on. Meanwhile, the alcolytes and disciples were slowly salvaging what they could into one pile while trying to move the larger pieces into another. Many of the priests had learned spells to shape and transmute the stones, but it was still going to be a long process.
“Jaden!” called a voice from behind. Jaden straitened up and prepared himself for whatever onslaught was about to befall him. Then as he turned, he saw the smiling face of Deuce standing there, and his worries momentarily left him.
“Deuce. Whatever can I do for you?” Jaden replied with a smile as he wiped the dust of stone from his hands as he walked over to his friend. But as he got closer, Jaden could sense that something was bothering Deuce. “Well of course there is a problem…”Jaden thought to himself, then chuckled at his own pessimistic attitude.
“Jaden, do you have a minute?” Deuce asked. There was a sense of urgency in his voice that Jaden hadn’t heard before. He could tell this was important.
“But of course Deuce. The work on the temple is the task a months, maybe longer. They will not miss me.” Jaden replied, trying to put a confident smile on his face. Looking at Deuce, the attempt was a wasted effort.
“I have a favor to ask. I’ve done some sendings to Lisha. It took her a while to understand how to make it work out, but she has found some connection between the Red Wizards and the uprising thieves’ guild and the nobles of Arabel. She thinks they are the reason that Thay is even getting consideration. She mentioned something about the king, but then fell silent.”
Deuce stops and looks worried. He catches his breath and asks, “Jayden, please, will you do a divination for me? I need to know where she is. Something’s wrong. Julia’s with her, but that won’t be enough. I would have been with her too if I had only believed her when she showed me the initial evidence of the guild forming.”
Jayden can tell Deuce is distressed by this. This was interesting, Jayden didn’t think he had ever seen Deuce show this much concern over anything before.
“But of course Deuce. As a matter of fact, I can do that for you right now if you would like?”
“Yes, I mean, if you have the time.” Said Deuce, again with a bit of worry in his voice.
“Certainly. I have a small tent designated to me over this way. Not very clean or quiet, but private enough for this simple task.” And so saying, Jaden started walking over to his small tent with Deuce quickly catching up from behind.
Jaden entered the tent and moved some items aside to make room for Deuce. As Deuce enters, Jaden points to the small cot for him to sit on, as Jaden sits down on the floor and faced the early morning sun through the tent.
Jaden begins the Divination. At first, it seems to be flowing as easily as any spell cast, as the power of Lathander washes over him in a warm embrace. But then, instead of the easy flowing accompanied by a divination, a feeling becomes present in the casting. A pressure, as if something is pushing against him prevents the spell from completing. But finally Jaden manages to push back, and after pushing more energy into it, he can see Lisha and Julia in a damp tunnel.
“I see them” he says to Deuce “It looks like a sewer but it's a lot wetter than you would expect. They are with some other people, some dressed in rags but some have nicer clothes that look dirty. They are huddled in a room, eating some rations. Wait, I think I can hear their voices…”
"-to believe us. We never stepped out of the shadow of the others," Julia is saying. "We don't have any credibility."
"True enough but one of them might," Lisha says, pointing at the other people. "We have to get this news out to someone and-"
Lisha stops as she noticed one of the others looking at something. Lisha turns to look right at Jadens scrying point, as she looks him right in the eyes.
"Dammit! They found! Use it Julia! The rest of you get your stuff and let's get moving."
Jaden turn the view to look at Julia and sees her pull out a wand. A bright yellow blast hits his scrying point. Things get fuzzy and wobble as the spell starts to falter. Jaden concentrates harder on the image, willing it to clear and manages to keep the scrying going.
"Dammit! This one is strong!" cries Julia as two more yellow blasts come from the wand. This time, he is unable to keep focus and the divination ends. Jaden’s eyes widen and he takes a deep breath. Looking around at the tent, he remembers where he is and turns to face Deuce.
“Well?” asks Deuce, “What did you see?”
Jaden proceeds to relate the incident, and watches Deuces reaction as he asks “So what exactly is going on? Where were they and what were they doing?”
“Very good questions indeed, and ones I aim to find answers to! Thank you again Jaden, your help is much appreciated.” And so saying, Deuce stands up and makes his way towards the tent.
“Wait,” calls Jaden, “Do you want me to tell the others about this? I have some other information I need to share with them as well. I have already sent runners out to have them all meet at Reece’s for lunch.”
“That sounds good. I will try to meet you all there. I have some other items I need to check on first.” Reaching his hand out, Deuce again thanks Jaden “At least I know they are both still together.” And with that, he spins and takes off out the tent towards his waiting horse. Jaden watches him riding off knowing that this information is only going to compound the already growing list of tasks this team is already dealing with.
Lunch at Reece’s house was wonderful. Wine and cakes, small bread and meat snacks, with small pieces of some cheese spread around in a delicate pattern on a plate. Jaden knew that if not for the mounting lists of troubles, he would truly be enjoying himself. Remembering where he was, he looked back at the four people he was having lunch with and wondered when the last time such an odd group had assembled for a meal.
“-and so I have to stay away from the Thayans.” Said Notch, continuing his story about the Thayan enclave he was investigating. “I’m just not sure what I’m going to do, but I don’t want to spend any time in Jail, that’s for certain. I just have to somehow make them realize what the Thayan’s really are!” A loud ‘clap’ echoed through the room as Notch pounded his fist into his open palm. Pacin was right about Notch, his youth was working both for and against the young monk. He was passionate enough, but the energy of youth was really riling him up.
Sitting next to Notch, Reece exhaled loudly as he listened to his friend’s tale. “This is just the sort of thing Tabra wants me to get involved with.” He paused, and then another exasperated deep breath and release escaped the very unhappy bard. He continued “She is leaving for 3-4 tenday’s and said that she wants ‘me’ to handle any sort of political wrangling that arise while she is gone. Apparently, she wants me to become more involved in politics. I mean, she even suggested that I hang out with the nobles. Nail, quit laughing I’m serious. She wants me to go to their parties, and socialize with them like I like them!”
“Hahahahaha,” as Nail continued to laugh, intentionally ribbing the bard. “I just don’t see what you’re worried about. I mean, you’re a natural diplomat. You should just accept it and do it. What’s the worst that could happen; you get all of us exiled?”
A cup hit the floor at this statement, and we all looked over at Finn. The mighty warrior had somehow managed to drop his now empty cup onto the floor. “Sorry about that…” he murmured as he picked the cup up and gently set it on the table next to him. Still wearing his full armor, it was amazing that the chair didn’t just collapse beneath his weight. Even more odd, was that he was drinking tea.
“What’s eating at you?” asks Nail, as all eyes are still on the now visibly uncomfortable Finn. Sitting up straight, Finn stares down the dragon in elf form and says nothing. Shrugging, Nail reaches over to a food tray and proceeds to eat yet another stack of meat snacks.
One of the servants chose that moment to walk into the room. “Sir” he said addressing Reece, “There is a gentleman here who wishes to speak with you. He is well dressed, I would presume to say he is a noble, sir.”
“Oh great, that’s just great” Said Reece. “Did he give his name?”
“Yes sir, a Mr. Galmdon Hardcastle.” Answered the servant.
“What!” shouted Notch, as he stood up in his chair and turned to face the now startled servant? Notch can move incredibly fast when he wants to.
“So what’s the problem?” Asked Nail, still eating snacks without a care in the world.
“He’s one of the people backing the Thayans trying to set up the Enclave. And he’s here?” said an exasperated Notch. I could tell he was ready to go pound this poor fellow into the ground, and apparently so could Reece.
“Well, I’d better go see what he wants then, shouldn’t I. You all stay here; I will meet the gentlman over in the study.” Reece nodded to his servant, who nodded back and left to show the man to the room. Reece still didn’t move from his chair though, instead he filled his glass from a red decanter of wine and drained it in one gulp. Again, he breathed and exhaled a deep breath, then standing up, went to talk with his visitor.
Reece had no sooner shut the door behind him before Nail was up on his feet looking around at all the platters and bowls on the food table. He finally found the one he wanted, and dumped the fruit out of it. Grabbing an unopened decanter, he sat back down in his chair and pulled a small table around in front of himself. He then placed the bowl on the table and poured all the wine into it. Looking up at the three of us, he merely said “if you think I’m going to miss a minute of this visit, your sorely mistaken…” and so saying began casting a spell.
Jaden immediately recognized a scrying spell, and saw the bowl shimmer with magical energy. In a matter of only a few seconds, Nail had managed to set up and activate a visual portal into the room that Reece hadn’t even gotten to yet. It only took another second before both all three of the other members of the room were hovering close over the image in the bowl.
In the room sat a very gaunt man dressed in very expensive clothing. His straw colored hair was visibly thinning, and Jaden immediately took a dislike to him. A sound came from the one side and the man stood up holding out his hand and smiling. I couldn’t help think that this is what a cat feels like when the dog has him cornered.
“Master Reece, what a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance! I know you are a busy man so I will cut to the chase. We are having a party three days from hence welcoming the new Thayan dignitaries to the city. We would love to have Tabra, and you of course, attend the celebration. The Thayan’s will of course be honored guests at the proceeding, and it would go a long way toward their acceptance into the city if you were seen talking and chatting with them. Surely you must both attend!” The smile on the mans face resembled nothing so much as a shark as he recited his request to Reece.
Reece, for his part, managed not to laugh or punch the man. Instead, he calmly explained that Tabra was out of town. The man persisted that Reece himself should go at a minimum, and that the event was of great importance. Again, Reece somehow managed to both accept the invitation and yet not endorse the Thayans while doing it. Jaden couldn’t help but be amazed by Reeces careful phrasing as he talked to the gaunt noble without giving him one piece of backing that he could leave with other than his acceptance of the invitation. He even managed to mention he would be bringing some of his own retainers and guards, to which the noble merely nodded as if that went without saying. And Jaden could tell that the noble, for all his odd looks and simple demeanor, knew exactly what was being said and done, but in the end thanked Reece for his acceptance and took his leave. Galmdon still stated the Thayans would be able to state their case much better than he, but Reece wouldn’t budge and the man finally took his leave.
“Well that’s wonderful…”said Nail “it looks like we are all going to a party!”
“Maybe,” said Jaden in a serious voice, “I still have some information that I have to make everyone aware of.”
As they looked at Jaden, Reece entered the room. Looking at the no longer unknown observers, he walked over and looked at the still active scrying bowl looking in on his study. Nail merely grinned at Reece as the other three quietly went back to their respective seats.
“Good, at least I don’t have to recap everything that just happened” said Reece, as he filled yet another goblet of wine and drank it.
“Since we now have plans for 3 days from now, and again in six days, I should make you aware of some plans that Lathander has for us as well” said Jaden. Notch visibly sank into his chair, as Reece refilled his goblet and Nail rolled his eyes. Finn, still silent, sat listening without a change in facial expression.
Jaden recapped the vision he had seen of the stolen cloak of Bhaal being held by the Mask worshipping shadow thieves in Athkalta. He then described the Scythe in Ordulin being held by a sect of Shar that hope to use it to gain more power and influence.
At this announcement, Nail spit out the wine he was drinking and said “What? He wants us to do what? I’m not messing with those people?”
“But I’m not finished,” continued Jaden, “I still have to tell you about the item in Undermountain under Waterdeep.”
“In where!” exclaimed Nail, “no way, that’s it, I’m out of here. I’m not going there, I don’t care who set up this quest. You’re on your own. I think Lathander needs to rethink some things, that’s what I think, and further more….” As Nail continued his rant, Jaden wasn’t sure if he was just being funny or if he was truly worried.
Fortunately, Reece started asking serious questions about location and exactly what I saw in the visions. These questions were quickly followed by Notch investing his own questions into the fray. Soon, Nail realized he was outnumbered and offered up a suggestion of an old contact he had in Athkalta if we went there. Once it was determined that Jaden would have to find a way to locate the object once in Athkalta, the destination and general mission were almost done. While discussing the best methods for transportation, be it dragon back or teleport spell, a quiet and then louder throat clearing happened from the side of the room. It was Finn; it seemed he finally had something to say.
“I don’t know if I will be able to leave with you four if you cross the boarder.” Said Finn.
The question on everyone’s mind would have gone unasked, except Nail was in the room. “Really? Why is that? Do you have somewhere else more important to be?”
“Well,” continued the visibly uncomfortable Finn, “it has to do with some complications that happened almost 150 years ago. A certain royal family had an altercation with my ancestors and somehow managed to get them exiled from the country. Apparently, for some reason, the royal family is still upset. I have been given only 38 days to prove my worth before I have to leave the city, otherwise I will be arrested. On top of that, if I leave the city prior to that, I expect they won’t let me get back in.”
Everyone looked at the powerful warrior. All of them had allowed him to protect them, their very lives had been in his hands and he had done them no harm. And now he might be forced to leave because of some old blue bloods. Now new plans were laid out. Finn was to go to the magistrate and see if allowances could be made. Reece was to accompany him to see if his standing in the town could help his case. Nail decided to go along because, well, who knows why but it was probably to cause trouble. So deciding, the group separated onto their separate gatherings before the real quest began.
Jaden and Notch went to the former temple of Lathander and talked with Pacin the High Priest to see if he had a method of divining the location of the magical cloak. Jaden noticed that the ground had been totally flattened and cleared, most likely from magical means. He also noted that this did a wonderful job of hiding the caves and the vault that were hidden beneath the former temple. As it turned out, Pacin had five small threads of the cloak, that when used with a divination spell, could determine the cloaks exact location. He had them with him for just that purpose, but gladly handed them over to Jaden to do the task for him. Jaden thanked his mentor and the two returned to Reece’s house.
Finn, on the other hand, was getting a good example of bureaucracy. The magistrate listened well enough, but finally said that he couldn’t make a decision of this magnitude, that Finn would have to talk to Myrmeen. Myrmeen was a member of the court and new the laws of the land. Myrmeen was also a busy person, as the three sat waiting patiently for a meeting with the barrister. Finally, Reece managed to get the attention of one of the aids running around and explained who he was. Minutes later the three of them were sitting in a room explaining Finn’s predicament.
“So you see sir, I am only leaving to accompany and protect Reece and his party. I am not leaving for any social reason” said Finn in his very serous tone.
“I’m sorry sir, but the law is the law” answered Myrmeen.” We can’t make changes just because it’s inconvenient for one person. I can tell by looking at you that you wouldn’t want us to do that, now would you? No, I thought not. I’m sorry, I know it’s kind of broken, but there is just nothing legally that I can do.”
Quiet giggles could be heard as the three turn around to look at Nail. He smiles a wicked grin, and pulls Finn close and whispers into his ear. Finn’s forehead crinkles as he listens, then he pulls himself away and looks at Nail. Nail brushes his hand at Finn in a gesture meant that Finn was to explain what Nail had told him.
“Nail has come up with a possible solution that would not require you to change the rules” says Finn. He hesitates and looks back at Nail, who is quietly smiling as the situation unfolds as if he’s watching a play. “It seems that he technically has…um…he owns much of the land to the north of here. And since Cormyr and Nail are in good relations, he says that he wants to make me his new diplomat for his domain. Would that allow me to stay in the country?”
Now it was Reece’s turn to look at the still smiling Nail as he turns to face this mysterious companion. Shaking his head, he looks at the duchess to see her thoughts. Her elbows on the table and bouncing her folded hands off her lips, she looks deep in thought as she ponders the new situation.
“Maybe…” she says. And standing up she turns behind herself and pulls some law books off the shelf. Quickly, she leafs through some pages in the first book, then opens the second book, finally stopping at a passage she finds there. “Well, Nail would have to write up the proper papers for Finn. And if Finn is ok with it, well, it would technically be valid. Looking here, they would even be valid in Sembia and the Dale Lands. It sounds like you found a legal way to stay in Cormyr. Allow me to be the first to congratulate you on your new position.” So saying, she stands and offers her hand to Finn.
Totally caught off guard, Finn stands up and takes her hand, trying not to break any bones in the process.
“Wonderful!” says Nail, “Now just don’t do anything that will start a war with Cormyr and we will get along just great!” Myrmeen cringes in pain as Finn almost crushes her hand as he hears this exclamation from Nail. Apologizing, Finn releases her hand and backs out of the room as the three of them leave to return to Reece’s. But not before Nail turns and bestows a most graceful bow to Myrmeen.
Reece thinks to himself “I quietly welcome our new dragon overlord….”
The group decides to go to Athkatla, in Amn, to recover an item there. Nail can teleport them within a few miles outside of the city, so they take him up on the offer. They enter under an illusion of Reece's. The idea is to approach one of the Shadow Thieves that Nail knows and ask to buy it. Nail goes to arrange a meeting while the others find a room. Once in the room, the group asks if Jaden can find it. He pulls out five threads and says this is from the cloak and must be used to find something like it. He casts a spell and determines that it is in the city, about five hundred yards away from them. The group decides to go once Nail gets back.
They find the warehouse, after one more use of the spell and one more thread gone, and make plans to attack. The main group will attack from one direction, while Nail and Notch try and run in and grab the item and get out. Reece modifies his spell so they look like Shar worshippers to help in the ruse. The plan goes well to start. The group attacks and the guards turn toward them and guard a chest. As they are distracted, Notch rushes in and tries to pick up the chest. Nothing! He doesn't even budge it! That's when he notices the glue holding it down.
"Crap," he mutters and then jumps into the attack. They spare one of the men, one who had been held by a spell and they wouldn't attack, and take the chest, which also had two immovable rods in it as well! They find some good treasure and the cloak. Nail isn't happy as he had nothing to do, coming in so late on the battle.
They leave the area and Reece switches back to their other disguises. They decide to keep their cover and spend the night at the Inn, drinking and talking. The next morning, they convey their regrets as they must leave, and Nail takes them back to Arabel.
Notes
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This was written by a player and as I am several *weeks* behind, I used it!
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It covers about half of the session. I summed up the second part but most of it was the battle anyway. It wasn't very tough, imo, as the group won easily.
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It was a good session. We talked about adding politics, and combining role playing and game terms so that all of us are comfortable with it. I think it worked out well.
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Deuce's player was gone, so Deuce was gone as well. As Lisha had left him to help some others, it worked out.
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