Session 019

Session 19:

With Lilly's head in hand, the Party returns safely to the edge of the river outside the caves. With the warm noon sun, a breath of fresh air clears your minds and at last there is the peaceful sounds of the mountain winds.

Dez is soon overcome with the dreaded feeling of impending doom... Hlal is calling her back to the Shrine for one final task before he is ready to finally become a Paladin of Hlal and fulfill his birth right. The weight of it's
honor and burden is heavy on his mind, and his apprehension of swearing an oath to Hlal has returned in full. (Sorcerer, Dragonblood, will not take Oath yet).

Nyx watches the blood drip from Lilly's head with special satisfaction, to have the honor of bringing home the head of a traitor to the Guild will reap many rewards now and in the future, and knows Yolandi will be most pleased
by her success. Nyx senses that Dez is having internal conflicts with coming to terms with his Oath.

Dax feels the mountain winds blowing along his hair, and the faint whisper of a familiar voice echos within his ears. It is Verenestra, blowing whispers to Dax among the winds.
Dax can not understand a word that is being said, he can feel her love and gentle kiss among his face - followed by a cautionary word to stay with his new companions, as danger lurks nearby.

As Dane walks into the sun light, she is blinded for just a moment as the image of a large, fierce black cat of that which she has never seen before, pounces unto to her before vanishing. Dane blinks, and the the blinding light fades,
returning her senses to normal. Bewildered by the vision, Dane is reminded that Hlal mentioned a rare and exotic creature was tracking her, perhaps she knows more?
Prifi grasps the ancient holy symbol tightly, she has never felt such warm energy before in a holy symbol, it is as if Pelor himself has touched this silver icon. Prifi will need a quiet place to channel her soul and prayer,
perhaps she can better understand what Pelor is trying to tell her if she can temporarily escape this mortal realm and become closer with her God.


* In about an hour, you return to the Shrine. It is getting close to the the start of the afternoon, and there is not a single cloud in the sky.
Hlal is sitting on the stone altar, legs crossed, and casually speaking with Turok and Durok, whom appear very tense and alert - they immediately see you arrive. Turok beckons you all with a subtle wave while Durok continues
his conversation with the Dragon Goddess.

Hlal catches Durok scanning the Party approaching, and she turns around, her voice is playful but urgent, "Hey, Prifi, was it? Yeah, do you still got that nifty book I gave you?"
Hlal reaches her arm out, "We're going to need that back, sooner rather than later." She carefully takes the dusty black leather book with unusual seriousness, and claps it between her hands. She closes her eyes, and the book ignites
in a burst of white fire before disappearing as if it was never there. She opens her eyes, and smiles, "So, uh, funny thing happened when you took that book out of the Shrine... it kind of... attracted things..." She reaches back and
scratches the back of her head, as if to stall for time.
"Turok and Durok report that not only are Order Clerics en route by sea, but a large Infernal presences will be here by tonight, presumably looking for that book I just hid
within this Shrine. It is well hidden, but if they manage to capture this Shrine, they will find it eventually, reclaiming knowledge on how to re-open the gate between worlds and cause another apocalyptic scenario like the Ashford
Nightmare that had occurred, oh, 500 years ago?" She laughs nervously, "You know Gods can make mistakes too, right?"
Kliffington — 02/21/2021
Hlal claims to have a meeting with the Celestial Gods, and vanishes in white fire

The Party plans for a defensive siege on the Shrine. Kelketh volunteers to scout the area, Turok begins to pray to the Dragon Icon of Hlal. Between rest cycles, Dez and Prifi begin to realize they could bless oil, and used it to anoint the Party's weapons and ammunition. Holy Oil coats the window sills, and blessed netting is put up on the eastern windows.

Kelketh returns from scouting, panicked, and reports his findings - it is a large number of Demonic forces, more than the Party has ever encountered before. Turok mentioned the Awakening Ritual of the Blood Sworn, and Kelketh admits that he will see if the Party is worthy and ready
Dax finds a corner and maintains his high level of hygiene, and slowly, the sun sets behind the mountains

All are in position: Dane and Kelketh light a candle on the stone altar to light their oiled arrows. Turok, with greatsword in hand, aim to face the evils to come head on. Dez, Nyx, and Prifi hold steady behind the wooden pews at the front entrance.

The twisted mind eating sounds of the other worldly draw close, the sun has now set, leaving only the light of a full moon and the stars above that will witness the Party's greatest battle - a holy battle within an ancient place that will bind their souls into one, changing their lives forever
Kliffington — 02/27/2021
Should the Shrine fall, the knowledge on how to re-open the Gate between the Infernal Plane and ours will be known, and the Infernal Lords will once again attempt to destroy or enslave all of us. If we attempted to flee the Shrine with the Heretic's Tome, surely the Infernals already in the area will pursue us to the ends of the world. Hlal urges the Party to stay and exterminate the fiends in the local area now drawn to the presence of the Heretic's Tome. It may not rid the entire world of such creatures, but at least we know the Tome will be safe within the Shrine afterwards.