Arcturus2 wrote:If we are camping here, Traveler will see to preparing an evening meal from our supplies.
He also volunteers for first watch, since he is still at full vitality.
He will tend the fire and patrol the area occasionally.
The adventurers camp for the evening at the weird site. The night is very dark, because of the absence of the moon. An ominous vibe fills the air.
During Traveler's turn at watch, a strange thing happens. The green woman he had envisioned days earlier suddenly appears standing in the camp.
"Greetings, Monk," she says smiling. "It is I, Gyana Gyshmara, Protector of Elyssia, the Green Realm. I come to you in this time of great peril and darkness to ask you and your companions for help."
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"As you have no doubt witnessed, our beloved moon has been snuffed out, replaced by a void. I can say, behind the scenes, there are divine powers at play. The gods are forbidden to interfere directly in the affairs of this plane. There is an alien presence that has tipped the scale of cosmic balance. My order are known as the Icons and we are nine, pledged to protect the nine distinct realms of Aerth. In our home realms we have considerable power and influence, but we can not affect the realms of our peers."
At this time, Traveler notices that Gyana has become surrounded by members of her court: nymphs, a sprite, a dryad, a warden, an enchantress, some snakes, and a wood elemental. There are also two winged folk.
The rest of the companions hear and see the arrival of Gyana and her court. They also gather around.
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"The dark ones are an advanced race of alien beings, not even from this universe. It seems they have entered into a pact with Korvox, the protector of Orro, the realm of the Underdark. I can not accompany you in that realm, but I will give you aid."
She holds up a crystal ball. And a swirling image comes into view. It is a subterranean hall and a ritual is taking place. "This is a glimpse into the events that transpired earlier," Gyana says. "The tempest elemental was lured underground, below this very spot, where it was then bound and sacrificed in a hideous ritual."
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"It's energy channeled through a great crystal and rose up through the ground and passed through the circle here. What was the purpose of their dark ritual? We do not yet know. A company of Asimar have already been dispatched to investigate the void, but they have not returned.
"I do know some things about the land we stand upon. This territory is a nexus point and is highly charged with elemental energy. The wardens can not easily observe this area, which is why the warning was posted. The one you ignored.
"Yet, you defeated the mimic, which I or the wardens had not even known was here. This place was once the land of the Horden family cabin. Long ago, Maggie Horden was an apprentice of mine, but only for a time. Then her true colors became known, and she joined a covey of hags, and she became their leader. The hags were eventually defeated, but Maggie had other plans, for she had made herself a lich and burrowed a lair below the ground here. The other hags still serve her as shadows and wraiths.
"I understand that her undead cohorts would be attacking you even now, under the darkness of a moonless night, except that I have cast a dome of protection over this spot for the rest of the night. As for the dark ones, they will likely have retreated to their hive on White Mountain. Yet Maggie and her undead minions still haunt the dungeons below.
"I give you these stones, hollowed from running water. Keep them on yourselves and the dark ones will not be able to read your thoughts, for they are masters of preternatural psionics."
By dawn of the next day, Gyana and her followers depart. She is urgently needed at a counsel of her order. She takes Bluetwig with her, since he is an emissary of Greenwyrm. Klandor and Vyrm stay behind with the adventurers.
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