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There are no garrotte marks on the elven zombie's neck.

When you examine the zombie, you see him when he was alive, training in this very place as a hired killer, his agility and speed enabling him to rise through the ranks of killers elite. You also sense he was a drow in life, judging by the black obsidian skin. After his death, he was 'born' to darkness at the hands of a drow necromancer who commanded he guard this meditation chamber. The meazal fled from a lack of prey, having only had a fat orc scout too curious for its own good which cost it its life.

Karlene entered the engravings chamber, and the many runes ignited with blazing fiery light. There materialized before her a celestial servitor of Lor, a robed hooded man with black angelic wings, his robes shimmering and he looked adrondronous and eyes full of burning cobalt colored fire. 'Greetings, favored servant of Lor. You have been chosen by the Lord of Knowledge as an annointed champion, as has your brother by the God of the Blade." the celestial entity paused and continued 'you've many pressing queries, they will be addressed in due course. For now, rest assured all has gone according to the designs of he who created you. Yet, for all your tawdry triumphs you've far more greater deeds to undertake.

For now, you will interdict the black guard assassin team who hotly pursue a group of orphans lead by a monk. These orphans are each blessed by Lor with a special power. Lor has predestined that they will rise to obliterate a fourth darkness in Scarlor. One has a unique power that the corrupt Dezloz seeks to acquire, the power over time itself.

Only the farseer Hedge will be able to tell you how to shelter and protect them against death, he and he alone. Trust none other!'

King Rodac: (dead over 500 years) 20th King of Nyr, known as the Renaissance King. Beloved for having forged a bright and prosperous dynasty in Nyr's future and its golden age. He was also known as the scholar king and was a friend to the peasant and working class. Made Nyr a mighty realm through mass production of the finest ships in all the 13 kingdoms.

Idrys updates his sister, as will always be his default.
If my sister concurs, the I agree to your terms master Erodan. Welcome aboard. Idrys shakes the older man's hand. I should think the letter first. Such a response should have the benefit of timeliness to it if nothing else. I had meant to use thenundead as bait for the meazal, seeing as how it could not be strangled, but I'm not sure we nees bait the creatuee at all.. But let me make a closer inspection of the zombie myself as well, Idrys inspects the drow zombie for hidden weapons and devices if it doesn't seem to object. If Karlene imparts her vision regardinf the drow, does he get the sense the undead has retained some of its former assassination skill in undeath?

So, sister, it seems you are a Champion of Lor now... I admit I had considered joining thwm myself and taking their 'tests'. But this God of the Blade...


====
What should Idrys know of the God of the Blade?
Do we have a sense how long it would take to find/retrieve Erodan's gold and the immediacy of our need to find the orphan hunters?

Wrath: The God of Swords, is Lor's twin brother. He is venerated by rangers, fighters, paladins in defense of good and the oppressed.

When Idrys finished talking to Karlene a ghostly figure emerged from the wall, clad in a robe and armed with a simple dagger. It spoke to you in a slow, lethargic but sinister sounding voice 'I thought I heard the voice of one of my kindred, and behold here a dhampir assassin lies skulking in the shadows. You seek training, eh boy?" he said with a chuckle, 'it matters not, you are the prince of house Telemvor are you not? Even in death does Lucien serve his Lord's son'

The celestial being informs Karlene that before the weeks end, you will be guided and taken to the orphans and to prepare.

Karlane shares, "I believe the garotting creature has gone and it wasn't involved in making him." She indicates the zombie and then explains his origins and adds, "Looks like we know where we're headed. Not that we're spoilt for choice; just the opposite."

After listening to Idrys's update, Karlane nods. "Erodan? Ok, fine by me," she acknowledges. "And Champion? Well, it must be so if that celestial claims it. I don't think they're supposed to lie. But I don't feel like a Champion. Just an inexperienced 'scout' who's happy to have discovered she has a bother. I mean I'm not awful at things, just I, sorry 'we' - takes some getting used to, thinking 'we' - seem to be attracting too much attention from people with far more influence, power and ability. Or is it just me thinking that?" Just as she's about to respond to her brother's comment on tests, the ghostly figure emerges and talks.

Surprised yet again, Karlane addresses the ghostly figure, "So, would you tell us your name? Always a good start. Presumably you know who we are; everyone else seems to. Are you bound to this place? Or can you venture forth. And yes, we do need training, and 'he',"..pointing at Idrys, .."most certainly does. We found some writings about a Death Attack technique. Can you train him in that? Unless either of you have a better idea? And, apparently, I'm capable of learning almost anything, so can you teach me at the same time?" She looks at Idrys to check if she's being too bossy..

The spectre says 'Lucien, I was an imperial assassin and member of the dark brotherhood in life. This was my guilds secret base you now dwell. Of course I can move about as I so choose! Don't be a fool! I know you more than you realize girl, I sensed your blood lineage is that of House Telemvor firstly, whom I was born to in life. Secondly, you are heirs to a rarer lineage unknown in the mortal world...and by that birthright, am I also your servant in unlife as I would have been if I yet lived, for your father is the High King of vampires did you not know? I can teach you the death attack, since it was my secret technique. You may summon me at your leisure hence forth, if it be your will to do so. Perhaps a little 'fun' might be had at your sides, mi'lady' it turned a narrow gaze at the zombie 'pay it no heed, it is simply a door sentry and little more. One of my apt pupils in life, that one. Let us see how well you fight, mi'lord!' he says to Idrys when the spirit-form of the drow elf sprang forth out of nothingness and casually strode over toward Idrys, drawing a longsword it said 'sar'lacka noquar sinlu' and saluted Idrys.

Does Karlane get any sense of falsehood from the spectre? (After all, the celestial did say to trust no one other than the blind seer.)

(vs. int at 1/2: succeeded) Despite the sinister quality of his voice, Lucien does not appear to be lying about what he's saying.

The dark elf spirit comes at Idrys with an obvious feint, dipping forward with a elongated thrust of his sleek looking drow blade. The sword point cuts into Idrys, instilling briefly a sensation of cold where the spectral sword cuts him. There is no wound, only momentary pain that passes.

Lucien: 'Fight him, master Idrys! be swift and merciless!'

[Ooc: I feel like the story keeps running off without me. Hard to participate in conversation when 6 posts are mad in under 24 hrs on a game I'm expecting a 2-3 day pace on...]

Idrys regards the spectre When it appears. Fortunately his sister asks the same immediate questions he has, so he simply observes, interjecting only when the zomb-elf turns to him. Idrys salutes wordlessly. The result of the strike surprising him, but he doesn't let it show. Rather than take a traditional stance, Idrys waits for the creature to approach again. When it does he rolls forward but beneath the strike (parkour?) And attacks the undeas from behind.

After a few exchanges you defeated the drow spectral assassin, who yields.

Lucien: "you fight in an artless fashion, mi'lord. Speed and power, attack and worry not for defense, attack whilst defending. Every attack is a defense, and every defense is an attack! Economy of motion, something that is learned in the Nyrian fighters school which was destroyed ages ago. Do not leave yourself exposed, but crouch like a hunting cat poised to strike at any moment. Meditate on these words'

Idrys takes the words to heart and considers them closely. He raises his sword to the zombie, Again. is all he says.

[Ooc: he will continue training until exhausted or his sister is ready to move on. Not sure how long exhaustion will take with undead stamina and regeneration ]

Feeling that she has a little more capacity, Karlane says to Azonia. "I need to pray. I won't be long."
Karlane prays to Lor for guidance, enlightenment and to be granted the spell 'Detect Magic'.

Idrys: it is not the zombie you fight, but the actual spiritual essence of it (in spectre form) the drow zombie is simply by the door it was originally guarding.

Idrys and the drow elf entangle for hours on end, and Idrys discovers he is not physically tired and the harder he pushes himself, the less tired he is. A few times the drow-elf showed you some dirty sword tricks, such as cutting your hand with his blade before it could draw from the scabbard, and fighting one handed with equal potency.

Lucien: 'you ought use a shorter blade in your off hand if you were cunning. The longer to be used in open spaces, the shorter within constrained spaces. The drow know this exceptionally well. If you were in a confined area, they would dispatch you because of such a blunder' he said when the drow elf gained some swift kills against you.


Karlene prayed in the engravings room, gaining the spell she requested.

Erodan yawned.

Azonia grinned at Idrys, patting him on the shoulder 'you fight fairly well, but these black elves are weak. Why don't you fight a real warrior?' she said with a wry grin on her pretty face.

Erodan: "She has a point, no dark elf could ever withstand an Elsmyrian in hand to hand combat'

In the hours that Edrys is training with the spectre, Karlane casts Detect Magic (which lasts for 1 Turn so presumably with help can check out 10 items, with a 20% chance to know the spell sphere of each):
1) Elven cloak
2) Elven boots
3) Elven dagger, contains 3’ garrotte
4) Elven glassteel katana
5) Elven hauberk (chainmail)
6) Shoes & Rope (from Broken Ones' area)
7) Collapsible glaive (from pouches, I think from Broken Ones' area)
8 ) Sword & Shield (from Broken Ones' area)
9) Armour (from Broken Ones' area)
10) Pile of books near fireplace (Ok will only show none of them is magical or else some of them or , not necessarily which one or ones)

She also spends some more time going through the accumulated documents to see if she can wring any more secrets out of them {OOC: Intelligence Gathering (18), Obscure Knowledge (16), Photographic Memory (18)?}, including looking for anything hidden in covers, spines etc:
a) tiny ledger book (list of names and unpaid debts) - from pimp
b) Documents - from Mage Karnac for Dezloz. Stolen from priests of Lor
c) Map; Karlane studies the map in more detail - from the Black Officer
d) Several documents (cypher encrypted, invisible ink) - from the Black Officer
e) Tiny black leather bound journal - from Black guard #1
f) Journal - from Broken Ones' area

If time and opportunity allow, Karlane will ask those around (Azonia, Erodan, Lucien) what 'thyriz' is? And, if appropriate, how it's used? And whether any of them know of a person named 'Vor'?
She prowls around the walls of the place, including the engravings room & the secret tunnel into it, looking for secret or concealed doors of whatever size.
Then Karlane examines the engravings themselves to try and pry information from those.

Interspersed within this period {OOC: @ GM's discretion oc} she will talk about some thing and nothing with each of Azonia, Erodan & Lucien (general info from the 1st pair but more specifically about the High King of Vampires, House Telemvor and the 'lineage unknown in the mortal world' from the latter) to try and Gather Information from them. {OOC: Not subtle, but saves a lot of postings}. Finally, the girl inquires if Lucien can start her training on the Death Attack technique.

{OOC: What time of day is it approx ?}

Idrys files the advice away and swaps his offhand to a shorter blade. Shall we dance then? he asks Azonia, saluting with the longer blade and readying himself for their sparring.

time of day: early evening around 7pm

Idrys came at Azonia with his whirring blades which she deflects with a single one, kicking him square in the face with a roundhouse. The blow was not hard but bought her enough time to sword to his neck before he could break away.

*Klang* she parried your main sword and spun it in a circle, knocked your hand with an elbow strike and caused the blade to fly into the air, catching it with her off-hand behind her back. Several times she brought her blade to your neck before you could draw steel. Finally she gave you a piece of near invisible thread and tied it to your main sword handle, the other end to your bracer. "This thin chord is used by drow assassins, to strangle targets that are closely protected. I find it useful to retrieve swords or as a makeshift climbing tool."Your right hand is for attack only, your left for defense. The main is closest to your enemy so you strike first, and your off-hand for attack or defense. Use your knees, legs, and elbows as additional weapons. Glancing blows, to disorient and intimidate an advesary. Sometimes a good elbow or push-kick will be the difference between victory and defeat." you gain quickdraw: (vs. dex) your speed factor is reduced by 2 for your main signature weapon at the onset of combat.

Karlene's conversations with Azonia and the others:

'What's Thyriz?'

High King of Vampires: Lucien says 'He is the vampire king, one of the most powerful undead arch-lords. Most vampires are gluttonous things, they dwell in a place deeply hid, hoard treasure beyond mortal comprehension, and he is the greatest that there is and ever will be. The lineage is that you are his heirs apparent, and because of this you have gained his lineage that is not known among mere mortals. Even now your powerful blood speaks to me, telling me of secrets and the dark gifts even now, when you young child have not even had a full blooded man to satisfy your awful hunger, aye mi'lady?'

Lucien continued: "House Telemvor is your mortal heritage, you two are its inheritors. Young Idrys the house lord, and all its prestige or debts depending on how its affairs have been handled, how loyal its servants and how blessed it has been by the Gods themselves. If you, Karlene were mortal woman you would have been married by your brother to some rival house. Telemvor has two other banner houses of House Shadus and House of Panthzor. You have a cousin named Storm, a knight who was leader of a party of secret agents loyal to the Nyrian queen. He is a scion of Telemvor and is gifted among men'

The elven cloak, hood radiate dweomer auras. You recognize these as authentic elvenkind garb. As with such, the cloak confirs invisibility in forests and the boots soundless movement.

glassteel sword: * judging by the smiths mark this is a succundus spy blade, empowered to the first level of enchantment and a masterwork weapon. Because of its transparent appearance opponents have a -4 penalty to parry it, and it is considered to be a weapon of speed factor 1. This one was created to pierce through shields, armor, and barriers such as doors, walls, thick chains with enhanced effectiveness.

armor: you recognize this as holy armor * : +1 scale mail, wearer is protected from evil.

glaive: * (obscure knowledge) this is obviously the thieves glaive, once belonging to the thief-hero Pyr it is able to snag and disarm opponents of their weapons. When thrown the bladed prongs extend out, and when it returns the prongs fold inward. It returns to the throwers grasp unerringly, and can fly through slits and narrow places to do just that. There are sprockets, six in all which once had fitted gems of power within, but all have been plucked out. Each one has a particular rune depicting: fire, ice, electricity, shield, and telepathy.

ledger book: nothing new, only names of persons with sizable debts.

documents:

a letter:

Mi'lord,

I am most pleased to report all operations throughout the district continue unimpeded, despite the Watcher's considerable efforts. They have their hands full chasing shadows and falsehoods, and remain affirmed in ignorance.

The orphan whelps we captured have been sent to castle gray, where they will be trained as fighters and baptized into shades to ensure their usefulness. The necromancer Kane has been indispensable, he is both gifted and powerful. Were it not for he, our work here would not be as fruitful as it is.

My goblinoid shock troops disrupt trade routes throughout the kingdom, weakening it from within. Verily, the queen in all her impudence will taste your wrath ere long. This I swear! Still, despite the ensuing chaos that you have authored brilliantly, she remains taciturn, resilient and steadfast. I believe her elven allies have secretley strengthening her. That, or her blasted wrymling.

I must implore you to destroy her sister Kyrillia the Harkonian sorceress bitch at your earliest pleasure. She has ever been a thorn in the black empire's side. Such insolence must not be tolerated.

Your servant,

-Karnak


Another:

Karnak,

One of my spies at the Lorian temple seeking the silvern key of Draxcon has reported it stolen. One Watcher agent seduced her and gained the key, a thief from Hetonk named Orath. He is the duke commander's chief spy. What he did with it is anyones guess, but it must be found immediately. Before the priesthood discovers its existence and its secret.

-Dezloz


black officer documents:

#1: Mi'lord Dezloz - report of progress: we have discovered the orphans were in hiding in an orphanage outside the royal capital Corealus in Nyr. They were cared for and properly educated by the rebel monk named Jor. They truly are the ones foretold, for one of the girls of the pack of little shits was able to errect a bubble shaped field of white light which repelled crossbow fire. This monk is a Lord of Discipline, he has been able to effectively thwart my efforts. I will need a mage and priest to assist me. The monk has already been able to teach them some of the power they possess.

From what I have gleaned thus far: the youngest girl can manipulate air into energy, the second girl commands fire, the elder lad can self heal and manipulate his body in such a way to avoid attacks, and one of the boys has power over time itself! One boy is able to grow into a giant or as small as an insect, and the last has strength of a titan. It sounds very much to me that they are of Drenai lineage, heavily dilluted through the ages but a very plausible reason.

#2: first attache of imperial assassins failed to destroy them. The monk defeated all easily, employing some power of his mind. Telekinetic, invisibility, and others. I will flush them out, there is nowhere to hide. There is nobody who can resist our might, or escape our reach!

#3: spies report - Lomag has assembled a secret summit to take place at the end of this month. Kobold King, Orc chieftan, Ogre boss, Troll King Grull, drow ambassador, and Gnoll chieftan in attendance.

Lomag has been behind the unsanctioned raids of late on ancient mariner's road, his Kobolds have been the muscle behind his little ambruscades. The profits he has amassed are considerable, and he has sufficient coin to build himself his own private army. Also, we now know he is the leader of the masked killers cult, who are responsible for many staged kidnappings and assassinations in eastern Nyr.

I did more digging, getting closer to his inner circle. He himself is a bit of a buffoon, lusts for power and carnality, is unusually greedy. However he permits himself to be taken over by a Demonlord through his Imp familiar once a week. Also he serves a master named only as 'The Architect' who gives him secret orders once a week. I discovered the Architect is but the pupil of the real ring leader: The Engineer. A Dwarven vampire with a talent for elaborate games, traps, and deception.

journal (broken ones)

page 1 -Harby is our new base. We were hired by a boy, an apparently rich one who wanted us to free his homeland of invaders, these black imperials. The black cloaks are exceptional fighters, but their strength is organizational genius. They employ tactics that are more cunning, refined, ruthless, and all encompassing. I've only seen elves display such syncronicity.

page 2- hired by Tharon Deltran, an alchemist that lives on the outskirts of Harby to gather components for a pepperfire potion, whatever that is. Odd fellow, eccentric sort. He has coin, hired us to find the components beneath Harby.

page 3-Found entrance to a dungeon level beneath the sewers, quite by chance while searching for potion components. Our thief Gilda discovered a mile long passage with some antechambers, and cubbies full of preserved bones. We fought against some ghouls, who were being lead by a ghast. Our priestess Esmera turned them, but they slew Gilda. We shall avenge her!

page 4- Returned with some blood ravens to supplement our ranks. This time, fought against the true evil, a vampire. The fiend was pale faced and devilishly handsome, angelic even. We severed its arms and legs. I would say it was about as strong as three men! It took full emersion in a blazing inferno to end it, yet the evil monster took our mage Benito with it as its final act of triumph. It was able to cause spontaneous combustion, a very lethal power. We used all the treasure we gained to raise Benito. Yet the priesthood of Wrath raised him for free in exchange for a doll we found in the vampires lair, which they later asked us to have destroyed in the mountains of Ash.

Map: you discover the location of seven watcher safehouses, each is outfitted with food, weapons, water, secure sleeping quarters, entertainment, and training facilities. There is also a vault where you can store valuables.