Castle Amber: A D&D Adventure

BMR · Post by **BMR** » Thu Jul 02, 2015 3:07 am

Kalar would rather not meet a silver dragon, and whispers to Voulton, "Don't forget, if we are to leave the items, it should be with a party known to both of us and not just him. That, and as an assurance, we expect three items of equal value and importance to him."

Gizmog · Post by **Gizmog** » Thu Jul 02, 2015 3:12 am

Voulton nods to Kalar: "Whose acquaintance do we have in common with him though? I don't know anyone here capable of guarding it. I've never met a dragon, but if the stories are true one would be powerful enough to protect it and wouldn't need the sword to do anything stupid that would get it destroyed."

"I guess that's a good second question. You mentioned a few ways you could help us last night. What ways are those, and is it a fair bargain for the undead-slaying capability of the sword?"

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Thu Jul 02, 2015 3:31 am

"I had given some thought to what three things I could give you in exchange for the items. First, one of the things I was thinking of giving you all I think I will give to my son," Dan said as he walked over towards Rob. "I'm sorry I wasn't there. It's clearly affected you and I'm sure I'll never be able to truly make it up. I hope this small token can help to mend things." Dan then took out a mundane looking card. Kalar noticed it was the same object that he took out when fixing the oncoming mist. The card had four small burned out holes on it and a small star about the same size. "This is one of the most powerful objects I've found in this place. It will grant you almost any wish, beyond the limits of the powerful arcane spell that shares the name. I'm sure you will spend this last wish better than I spent the first four."
Dan turned back towards Voulton then. "I don't have two other cards, but I think what I can give you will be useful. I have a powerful rapier to replace the sword and I have picked out a pair of flying boots to replace the flying effect. I can also cast a permanent flying spell on everyone here. Finally, I drew a crude map to the dragons that might have powerful artifacts. Here you go. The arrow is where we currently are and the x would be the green dragons' lair."

The map was indeed crude, but given the placement of the mountains it seemed like it wouldn't be too hard to pinpoint a dragon sized cave with the map.

Post by **Bob the Hamster** » Thu Jul 02, 2015 3:32 am

Rob looks up from the book and accepts the card. "Thank you" he says simply.

Thinking about the subject matter f who they might both trust, Rob asks:

"Dan, do you trust Moriamis?"

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Thu Jul 02, 2015 3:34 am

"I don't fully trust anyone native to..." Dan caught himself mid sentence. "No, I don't fully trust her."

Gizmog · Post by **Gizmog** » Thu Jul 02, 2015 3:35 am

Happy to jump on Rob's great question, Voulton chimes in: "Why not?"

Feenicks · Post by **Feenicks** » Thu Jul 02, 2015 3:38 am

Rachelle perked up upon hearing Dan's reply. "Yeah, is there something about this place that makes people inherently untrustworthy?" The fact that it's carved out of what was, as far as she could recall, hell's meeting grounds, perhaps?

BMR · Post by **BMR** » Thu Jul 02, 2015 3:39 am

Kalar doesn't say anything, instead keeping quiet and observing Dan while listening closely to everything said.

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Thu Jul 02, 2015 3:41 am

"I believe Moriamis was present during the original cursing of the kingdom. I believe she was stricken mad like those in the castle. Her goals are mysterious and morals questionable. Azedarc, Nathaire, and a few others are among those I believe were directly affected by the curse," Dan said trying to avoid eye contact with Rob who thinks he may of just offend and ruined any good will the card may have bought him.

Feenicks · Post by **Feenicks** » Thu Jul 02, 2015 3:46 am

Moriamis, Azedarc, Nathaire... they were all around when this mess first started, huh? Rachelle turned Dan's comment around in her head for a second.

"Say, if the curse was set... however many years ago, yet all those people are still ticking, what's going on?" she asked. "Is it something to do with the curse?"

Gizmog · Post by **Gizmog** » Thu Jul 02, 2015 3:47 am

Voulton laughs at the line of questioning. "No offense Rob, but the townsfolk here have been pretty awful to us adventurering types." To Dan he gives sincere fascination: "I had no idea that some people had been here since the start of it all. When I first saw that letter these guys found "To Those Who Would Be Free" I thought it was curious how up to date it was. I wonder now if it's instructions aren't perhaps part of the whole thing, maybe even a deliberate deception like the Ring! I wonder if Gaspard Du Nord is in on it too..."

He turns his attention now to Kalar: "I hope you don't take offense at my doing this, but I have to ask: When you spoke to your deity, did he share with you any information that would be useful to us that you haven't yet shared? You've been much more direct since that encounter and I'm only curious if he's given you some insight that you feared might make us not trust you."

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Thu Jul 02, 2015 3:55 am

"I'm surprised you haven't noticed yet. The ones that were directly affected by the curse never really die. They spring back to life eventually," Dan said. He turned to Voulton next but was surprised to see that Voulton's question wasn't for him but was directed at Kalar instead.

BMR · Post by **BMR** » Thu Jul 02, 2015 3:57 am

"Yes, I do suppose I have been more direct. Though I can honestly say that that is more because things seem to becoming more dire than anything else. Granted, the encounter with my deity might have had something to do with it, but only because that really impressed upon me the gravity of the situation, and not because of anything specific said."

Kalar thinks a while and says, "I can also honestly say that I believe I have shared everything relevant with you. There are a few minor bits of information though, that I felt were not entirely relevant. Rachelle's question about how everyone still seems to be alive made me remember something. My deity said that this place 'exists out of time and space', so that might mean something. I thought it was just a figure of speech, but now I am not so sure."

Kalar then says to Rob and Dan, "The two of you have some measure of spellcasting power. I am sure you are familiar with summoning? My deity did say that there is a powerful high general of Baalzebul tied to the curse, and that breaking the curse frees that general to wreak havoc on the material plane. He did also say though, that the general was not summoned here per se, and that killing him here will completely destroy him rather than returning him to his home plane. I have been given leave to kill the general if I am able, and if we are to return home, that is something I believe we must certainly do."

Gizmog · Post by **Gizmog** » Thu Jul 02, 2015 4:04 am

Voulton is satisfied with Kalar's answer and pats him on the shoulder. "I suppose that direct relation to the curse is also why the Sword, the Ring, the Mirror and the Potion keep popping up, no matter how many have solved the puzzle before. I'd wondered about that!"

"Dan, suppose you had a really big wish to create your perfect outcome to this. What would we do, what would you do, and what becomes of the curse and Averogne? How does us giving our artifacts to you and the Silver Dragon help this perfect world become a reality?"

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Thu Jul 02, 2015 4:18 am

"Well ideally, we would all go together and collect the ring. Then we would gather up what allies we could before calling the tomb forth. I would use the spell I'm perfecting to dispel the illusion on the ring. We would call the true tomb forward, defeat anything in it, figure out the secret to breaking the curse that hides in the tomb and break the curse," Dan said. "Since your plan is to try to become stronger first, I would like the items you have to come back with me in case you fall somewhere. I would like you have you as allies, but I'm not willing to risk the need to regain the items after having to wait for the items to reappear."