From the journal of Kenari Sanura
After we shake off the shock of the teleportation we make our way back to the ship to find a rather excited Hatuk.
"There you all are! You were gone for like 18 hours while it's been scary quiet around here."
Wait… what? It seems the Dream Stone might be affecting the passage of time around here too.
"We have a new guest who is going to accompany us, Hatuk," Vedis explains to her 1st mate.
"What kind of guest?" He asks cautiously as the Imaskari grunts in pain and holds his head for a moment.
"The 'really powerful and scary kind that we want to keep happy at all times' kind," I reply in Common before turning to the Imaskari. "Let me show you to quarters, oh Lord."
Once I get him seated in a nice quiet room I take a chance and try to glean some more information from him by telling him of our experiences in this sphere.
"Ah yes… the cats… they were creations of ours that live 800 years, you see… and not the mere pittance that you assumed. That is why your calculations of time past were wrong. As to your plight… I cannot take on a god alone. I must rest and think on this… so please see that I am not disturbed."
I bow and leave to get a guard for the door to his room. "Don't try to talk to him… just make sure no one goes in there, and come get me if he wakes up, ok? I'm going to be in my quarters."
After another potentially near death experience like that, I need some cuddle time.
From the journal of Vedis Valentine
So much has happened since I've been able to write last.
I shall attempt to outline the events so far:
We entered the Great Pyramid at the center of the cavern by the big lake, followed the passageways down, and ran into a Sphinx. I hate riddles. This one was a doozy and I'm glad I've mostly forgotten it. Needless to say, I guessed wrong. Word got the answer: a tomb. Bloody-minded morbid Sphinx…
We passed through into a room with floating spheres- the old transportation network. It still had some juice and the first one we touched was supposed to bring us to the 'sweet forests.' Well, apparently things have been wrong with this sphere's sun so long that the sweet forests shriveled up and died for want of proper sunlight. We met some star-whales but they were no help. (Note to self: next time we hit Greyspace, see if there's a psionic power that will let me communicate with non-humanoids.) We ended up hitching a ride to the next habitable rock on Word's back. He holds his own air envelope for short distances. He's now permanently of fetch duty when somebody gets spaced.
We camped on a tiny rock within sight of the big one with the dome, and got attacked by a planar creature that slips between angles. It was horrendous and scary. Nearly made off with Word-on-a-Rope. There was much healing to be done for Lenata, and nobody got much rest.
The next rock held a dome that was bigger on the inside and housed the memory/nightmare of a Scro. I have one of his hopes circling about my head, now. I sucked it out of him like I did with the Quori. It says simply, "The Key!" over and over again. Must have been a degraded memory. It still had enough ass to hurt me something fierce, though.
We got further into the dome after fianlly destroying it. The dome looked Ithillid in make from the outside. Inside was GIGANTIC. There was a four-ton mantis chasing after us. We found our way to a portal that popped us out into a room with a guy on a bier. Turns out this guy was the last of an ancient race called the Imaskari, and his powers are nothing to be trifled with. We accidentally-on-purpose woke him up while the walls around us were crumbling. We think we may have been inside the sun. The light all around us was green. He's not telling us otherwise.
He's got a major case of hyper-inflated ego, but I guess that when your race rules the known multiverses and you're like the biggest badass with planar magics, you're bound to get a big head. He treats Kenari like a slave and the rest of us are barely even beneath his notice. More like fathoms deep below his notice. Even the Hadozee shut up when he's around. That's right, he transported us back to our ship with a snap of his fingers. All of us. And we didn't even need to be touching him.
So now we're off to find the Dreamstone, presumably located within the eye of the Dragon Constellation. Apparently, it's what put the entire sphere to sleep, and with prolonged exposure, we will succumb as well.
Hang on, Kenari's knocking on my door. Apparently 'his Highness' has called a meeting.
Well, that was certainly interesting. Just talking to the guy and postulating theories of planar magic and what might be possible concerning the Dreamstone, Melcot, and the Spelljammer, along with other strange and wondrous theorems of Planar travel and magical stuff has energized my mind. It seems we're no longer beneath his notice. He's deigned to speak to us mere mortals, and even learn our language.
He doesn't look too healthy, though, like something is paining him. He spends a lot of time resting and being 'undisturbed.' Perhaps he was put in stasis to preserve his declining health. That would certainly explain the combo of healing spells with the stasis field he was under. Too bad Lenata left that book about Deeomers (whatever they are) in that crumbling room inside the sun.
We've got our heading and all we can do is make our way there as fast as we can.
Problem: Tenth Pit armada. Solution: Imaskari Ubermage. He took them all out with one shot of chain lightning.
We're nearing the rock that is the Dragon's eye. We've sent Hatuk and Takero out on the little sidewheeler to see if any of the helms from the vessels are salvageable. It wouldn't hurt to have a backup and if we can find more than one, those things are worth a pretty penny, indeed. The Arcane know their business.
We're going down to the rock. I've decided not to leave my journal on the ship this time, just in case. I might run across something I have to write down, or we might get separated from the vessel for some indeterminate period of time once more.
Looks like the next step in this wild goose chase is through yet another portal. Kenari managed to 'peek' through it to the other side, using poor Melcot's blood. The ritual did indeed happen, and we've got a single dead Divati body, still juicy, minus a brain to prove it.
He's not the goriest thing on the asteroid, though. Not since Ma'at showed up in her 40-foot tall glory and smooshed the Imaskari flat with her foot of smiting. (Seems he'd outlived his usefulness and she probably blames him and his people for bringing the Dreamstone to the sphere and subjugating her followers). My morbid arcane fellows decided to collect some of the Imaskari and Divati blood for spell-components, and Word snagged the poor guy's coat to mend and clean later for his own. We're waiting until nightfall to go and investigate the Tenth Pit camp outside the pyramid they're excavating. We'll beat them to whatever they're trying to get to inside. They haven't gotten it yet.
We've gotten some of the constellation-markers for the planet we'll be going to and I've instructed Hatuk to wait for us for three days and then fly the ship to that planet. Here's hoping they won't arrive too late for us.
From the journal of Kenari Sanura
The next morning I am woken by a knock on the door and a brief "He's up!" I kiss Dassam on the temple and carefully slide out of our hammock so he doesn't wake before making my way to the Imaskari.
"How can I help you this morning, oh Lord?" I ask as I bow to him.
"Please sit, slave… but make sure you avoid the couch by the 4th bookcase," he replies as he gestures to the other chairs. I sit near him as he continues. "You say that the gods are refusing to let you leave until you solve the riddle of their sleeping people, yes? The sleeping curse inflicted on them is due to the effects of the Dream Stone created by my people. From what I can tell, it should be the star that is the eye of the fish constellation on your map."
Waitaminute… the Dream Stone is still here? That means… the one that we were chasing after was a decoy?!
"The longer one is in contact with the Dream Stone, the thinner the barrier becomes between this dimension and the one of Dreams. If we remain in this sphere too long, we too are in danger of falling to the Eternal Sleep… for anything that lives is subject to it. Beings, plants, animals, and the planets themselves."
"If I may ask, oh Lord… if your people left, why are you still here?" Okay… wrong question… his eyes narrow for a moment and then he continues as if I hadn't interrupted him.
"If the Dream Stone is taken into the phlogiston, the effects would be quieted. Unfortunately… more than 8 weeks into the flow and it will explode."
He then stands and walks with purpose up onto the deck. I do my best to follow behind him and hear him mutter to himself as he stares into the sky.
"Time to reclaim my property."
Three days into our journey to the home of the Dream Stone, the Imaskari wizard decides to share some more information with us that makes the mind boggle.
"The Dream Stone is actually a solid pyramid shape about 400 feet on one side."
Woah… how in the 9 Hells are we supposed to move something like that from this sphere?
Before we can ask him more about it, however, he turns to look out to the stars and begins to mutter in Common. "Strange… it doesn't seem to be here."
"What?" Ef Utan exclaims as he walks up beside the wizard and looks out to the stars.
"There," he replies as he points out to a dark patch in the sky. "That is where the Dream Stone should be."
As we get closer I notice something that I hadn't picked up on before: all of the stars are pyramid shaped here. Amazing… could the Imaskari have made this whole sphere? I simply must read more about them!
Eventually we make it near to the inside edge of the sphere only to see that we're not alone. Dozens of Spelljammer ships have entered the sphere and anchored themselves in this area. Climbing up into the rigging, I do my best to get a closer look at the flags and banners they are flying. I can just make out a large X on one of them.
"10th Pit," I spit out as I land back on the deck with the others. "These are the evil ones we spoke about, oh Lord." I say as I turn to the Imaskari. "Verily, they deserve to be shown your wrath for thinking they could use your creation for evil."
"Presumptuous child," the wizard snorts. He then turns and whispers into his cupped hands before gesturing towards the ships. After a moment he acts like he heard something and then before I could even blink he's casting lightning towards the ships and cutting the smaller wasps to pieces.
"Forward!" he commands as Hatuk relays it through the communication tubes.
We move in closer through the rubble till more ships come into view. I barely get a chance to even look at them before I have to shield my eyes from the fireball blast ripping them apart.
Thank the gods that he's on our side for now!
We move through the rest of the scraps till we finally reach our destination… only to find an arrangement of asteroids where the Dream Stone should have been. Looking out at them I can just pick out some kind of figures out on the rocks. Across from the grouping of rocks is one last spelljammer. This one seems to be the flagship of the group, as it is much bigger and flying a white flag.
The Imaskari squints at it and sneers. "I'll be right back." With a flick of his hand he then rises up into the air and floats over to the other ship.
"Nice trick," Ef Utan says with a whistle. "I'd like to learn that one sometime."
"Yeah," I chuckle as heads begin to go flying on the other ship. "I hear it's a real killer."
The wizard then floats back to rejoin us as and stumbles in pain on the deck as the other ship explodes behind him. I'm not sure how I feel about his rampant destruction. Sure, I'm very happy that they are gone… but I can't help but feel that we've missed out on some important information gathering with their total destruction; not to mention some worthwhile salvage operations.
"Take us to the rocks," he commands before sitting down on a pile of rope to rest.
Ef Utan relays the command and then summons Takero and Hatuk to him. "You two, I want you to take one of the paddle boats and see what you can salvage from the wreckage. Perhaps we can find a helm or two?" Hatuk grins and slaps Takero on the back. "Be careful, you two."
Once we move closer we can see that the figures are actually statues… but there does seem to be a figure strapped to a rock. "Come on, let's check it out!" I cry as I leap over the side onto the rocks below.
"There is a planar overlap here amongst these asteroids," the wizard declares as he walks around the stones.
I'm only barely listening, however… as my attention has been grabbed by the corpse strapped to a boulder. A Dvati corpse… and missing the top of his head. Eww… and his brain.
"Lenata?" I call to our cleric. "This looks like it might have been Melchot, that Dvati sorcerer we were told about by Parvatta. Do you think you could ask your god for help to speak to his spirit?"
"I will try. Give me a moment." She clasps her hands together and prays… but then looks up in disappointment. "I'm sorry… the spell doesn't seem to be working."
"Are you unable to talk to your god here?" Ef Utan asks as the wizard snorts.
"It's not that… it's more like… like he's not dead." she replies nervously.
"He definitely looks dead to me," Vedis grimaces as she notices the partially chopped off skull and turns a little green. "Unless… you don't think that… his brain could be alive somewhere?"
"Disgusting, but not something I would put past those Illithid," I answer as the Imaskari wizard stomps his foot and large portal activates in the middle of the rock.
"Tell me slave… what do you see?" he asks as he beckons me over with his hand.
I defocus my eyes and let the information from the portal flow through me. "This portal leads to one of the inner planets and is opened by the blood of a Dvati. I see… burning sands, a pyramid at the bottom of a bowl of sand, with nasty looking humans and Mulhorandi directing slaves to dig it out."
"Very good," he replies with what I swear was almost a grin. "If you are to serve me, however, you need to be quicker." He then reaches out and grabs my head with his hands, his two thumbs meeting in the middle of my forehead. I let out a small yelp of surprise and pray that he doesn't kill me before my brain is flooded with images and words. It's like his hands are ripping into my brain and taking away the parts he doesn't need so that he can replace my knowledge with something new.
"There…it is done."
"I…I…" I shake my head and grab my temple as my thoughts rejoin into their proper places. "I thank you, my Lord." I then bow and grab one of my empty flasks out of my pouch as I approach the Dvati corpse.
"Oh gods… what are you doing?" Vedis asks in disgust as I find a spot where the blood is still dripping from his still fresh wounds.
"Just being practical, you know. If Dvati blood is the key to this portal, we better have some handy!"
"Good idea," Ef Utan replies and joins me with his own flask.
"Eww.. you guys are just gross! I'm going to check out the statues over there… away from you two."
Suddenly a gong sounds from nowhere and rings out seemingly across the whole sphere. "You are the one to blame for the plight of my people, wizard!" a voice calls out before the avatar of Ma'at appears in the middle of the circle… and squishes the Imaskari wizard to a pulp under her sandal. "He has taken you as far as he is useful," she declares to the rest of us. "Your quest is not finished, however you are now on your own." She then disappears as suddenly as she arrived.
"I think I'm going to be sick," I hear Vedis moan as we see what's left of the Imaskari wizard spread about the circle. "Oh gods, Kenari… what are you doing now?"
"What?" I answer as I gather some of the Imaskari's blood into a vial. "This is rare stuff! You never know what a wizard might pay for it as a spell component! Besides… there might be other valuable stuff left in this mess."
Bingo! This amulet looks nice… and there seems to be some kind of crystal rod strapped to the inside of his thigh. Heh… if I hadn't seen all his power I might have thought he was compensating for something.
"These statues… I think these are of the demon lord Asmodeus!" Lenata says in shock as she joins Vedis.
"The one over there looks different, though," Vedis points out. The thing over there is covered in snakes!"
Snakes… Mulhorand… and now the second demon lord statue we've encountered in all of this. Bast protect us. "I think that one is Set," I reply in dread. "He is the god of evil and destruction for the Mulhorandi people."
"What does this all mean?" Vedis asks worriedly.
I shrug my shoulders as I look at the portal. "It means we're on our own… and in it deep."
It's all agreed that we need to rest up and plan before heading into the portal. Considering my Ring of Sustenance is still functioning, I take my extra time to do some experimenting with the items I found amidst the goo that was once the Imaskari wizard. From the intricate carvings and runes, I can tell they are definitely high quality and magical… but any attempts to activate them have left me scratching my head. For all I can tell the items work … there's just nothing happening. Hmmn… perhaps they require something I cannot provide… like a spell, perhaps?
After a few hours time Ef Utan and Lenata have woken up, so I tell them what I have discovered and my theories about their uses.
"Okay, let me try a basic missile spell and see what happens," Lenata replies as she dons the amulet and points toward a nondescript rock. Balls of light appear at her fingertips and launch into the rock with a streak of light and a shattering of stone.
"Hmmn… interesting," Lenata mutters.
"Do tell," I chuckle after I brush the dust out of my fur.
"It seems that the amulet increases the strength of my spells! A mighty handy device to have, to be sure," she answers as she gazes at it fondly.
I smile to myself as I can already tell what's going to happen next. "Tell you what," I say as I step next to her and put an arm around her shoulder, "I'll give you that amulet if you let me have that weird die you found back on the Demiplane of Dread…"
"The Fist of Emmercol? It is yours," she responds and quickly pulls the stone out of her pouch and hands it to me. "It is a device of offensive magics, so be careful," she calls over her shoulder as she wanders off to test her new treasure some more.
Excellent! I grin and slip the Fist of Emmercol into my sash pocket as I saunter over to Ef Utan trying out the other treasure I found. "Nice rod," I joke as he peruses the crystal.
"Heard that one before," he snorts before grabbing the crystal in one hand and casting a spell in the other. With a flash the traditional crackling of electricity from his spell turns into licks of flame. "Curious… it seems to change the energy of ones spell to Fire. This could come in handy!"
"It's yours," I say as I clap him on the shoulder. "Just don't say I never give you anything!"