"The mind is a doorway...
...one that you can walk through if you wish."
Summaries from Nathan's interactive storytelling sessions (otherwise known as DnD)
"The mind is a doorway...
...one that you can walk through if you wish."
- the journey back to the Dweller city is uneventful
- it seems that Ink has learned Dweller - they arrive at the city and the orb is given to the queen - the queen meets with them and thanks them for their service - Jaques begs for the Alwen people, but is denied - Derfel begs for peace but is denied - Tineye drags the group away before they are killed by the queens guards - Jaques asks Tineye how he feels about the war - Tineye says “short” - they exit the city and meet Treasure(formerly known as Gianna) camped outside the gates - Jaques flips off the Dweller gate and has a piece of his ear shot off by a bullet - ink(now carrying a large Dweller claymore and chalk/slate for poem writing) heads north and bids the group farewell - Tineye and Lida are traveling with the group south to Halfrock - as they travel Jaques, Raven, and Blay begin to get sick - Treasure diagnoses them with Tongue Rot, but cannot cure them - they are very close to death - the group rides hard for Halfrock - on the way the see the dead bodies of badnts, with A’s cut into their chests - the three infected are about to die - they are rushed into their quarters at Halfrock - raven preforms some clever ritualism using an artifact from Treasure, curing the lot of them - they also meet Cousin Nickeys bodyguard, a Norren woman named Greer - Cousin N Updates them on the castles progress - Simon also talks to the group about finding dead outlaws with A’s cut into them - Greer chimes in saying that she has seen this sort of thing on her journey down from Norren - Cousin N then shows the group what he uncovered - there is a large Weylanian entrance hall, with multiple offshoots all caved in - there is a large gate at the end that radiates heat - the group enters and finds a massive stone egg - Treasure is overjoyed and explains that this egg is a dragon, that she is actually related to - the group decide to let the dragon hatch, and swear to secrecy - they are talking with Cousin N about renovations when someone knocks at the gate - it’s a Alweni Knight, who is requesting the presence of Jaques - all get on horseback(Greer comes with, she originally wanted to join the Halfrock Heroes) - the team rides hard through the countryside - all around them the peasants are mustering for war - they arrive at Dragonsden - there are war preparations all around them - a man in a deep red cloak rides towards them - it is commandant Thorp - Jaques accepts Thorp’s offer to become Kapitan(the second in command of Alwen) and they talk strategy - Jaques explains what he knows of operation thunderhead - he agrees with The Commandant that a peace treaty between the Alweni and the Sudari should be made - also Jaques gives the commandant some information about entering Dwelle, so an assassination attempt can be made in Queen Aya - Jaques is scheduled to act as ambassador for Alwen, and head down to the capital of Sudar - Treasure goes to meet with some intellectuals about Aubery but is kicked out - the whole group then goes to talk to Aubery - the great dragon notices the changes in each character and talks to them long about their adventures - he seems to be very fond of them, even when they try to manipulate him into helping them fight the Dwellers - Aubery also doubles the price on that weylanian artifact - Fi goes off hunting for cake, but is satisfied with getting a carrot - they meet with Tim(the Snakeskull Guy) and do some business - Jaques goes in private to give Thorp an idea for a weapon that would burn the Dwellers - they then begin their journey to Sudar - they have to pass through the Shattered States first - it is a long journey and they meet many Sudari patrols along the way - the patrols are deadly and efficient - one day the Heroes come across a man being harassed by some bandits - they save the man and learn more about him - his name is Kirra and he is an Eschlen scholar - that night Derfel is in watch and notices something interesting - Kirra is not in his tent - Derfel investigates but is stopped by Kirra himself - but the old man is gone - in his place is a younger and stronger man - Kirra reveals that he is a vampire, he changes from a weak old man to young and strong in the night - he needs someone to draw blood from - Brink wakes up Treasure, who is given the details, and volunteers her blood - Kirra confides a bit in Treasure and tells her that another one of his powers is a perfect memory(even of colors, tones, sounds, smells, everything) - they continue on - Lucy rides up to the group out of nowhere again - everyone talks about how to negotiate with the Elxa(the Sudari emperor) - then they meet with their Sudari escort - their escort is extremely alert - when asked why they explain their fear of marauding Urom-No-Manda(nomadic horse riders) who are known to be extremely deadly archers - it is also migrating season for the Sand Snakes - suddenly the ground begins to tremble and a massive sand snake tunnels out of the ground - everyone goes into a dead gallop - after the Sand Snake departs the Sudari are still galloping - they explain that was just the pack leader - a dozen more sand snakes explode out of the dunes - the group rides as fast as they can to the gates of Caradyl(Sudari capitol, translates literally to City of Starlight) - they see how quiet and clean the streets are - the builders are all 10 stories plus and made out of sandstone - there is trading and business going on but it is all done in whispers - the narrow streets are kept clean and traffic is orderly - the Sudari warriors(mostly women) wear skirts to hide their footwork - the Sudari non-warriors(mostly men) wear pants - the Sudari children wear shorts - each Sudari has different ways of growing their chitin, it is an important personal and spiritual journey - any Sudari warrior would carry a knife on their left shoulder and a sword under their right arm - this implies that they are in safe trusted company, because you could never draw your sword quickly if it is under your arm - if you are in dangerous company you wear your blade naked on your right hip - on the right because 90% of Sudari are left handed - Sudar is also known for the Academy, which is the best school in the world - they proceed to the palace, which is a short building compared to all the skyscrapers - Sudari scholars come out and make sure the group is removed of all of their magic items - then a ritualist takes a sample of blood from each of them - then they enter the palace - sitting alone without guards is Elxa Quen - he is a young man in his late 20s - he wears his hair in the classic Sudari style, long and braided to his waist - the negotiations begin with Jaques and Derfel taking the lead - they explain the danger of the Dwellers - the Elxa then commands one of his guards to challenge Tineye to a duel - Tineye easily kills her(using a weapon that no one can see) and the negotiations continue - dueling is a very valued tradition in Sudar - the Elxa tells the group to walk with him - they follow him up some stairs into one of the large skyscrapers - as they ascend he tells them of the power of the Sudari people, of the richness of their heritage - as they reach the roof they see that all the Sudari warriors have been gathered, and they stand ready - the Elxa says, “My army is at the service of humanity” - the deal is sealed, and the group is shown to their rooms - all are given gifts from the Elxas treasury and plans are made for the future - Jaques, Greer, Treasure, and Kirra will head north to Norren - they will attempt to make a treaty with the High King there - Derfel, Alana, Tineye, Lucy, Blay, Raven, and Fi will head south to meet with the Urom-No-Manda and try to sign a treaty - one thing is certain - war is coming Comments are closed.
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