Spellbound, Session 12
{{DM}}
Background
3 days passed while the party was under Astral Projection. Szass Tam was made aware of the situation as people complained about the closed Hall of Ways. He reopened the facility, save for the portal to Iriaebor, in which the party was encamped. He divined the status of the party, and awaited their return. He invited them to his manor house in Eltabbar to ease the transition, and to offer an exchange of services.
Firstly, he offers them food and drink from his cabinet of feasting. They soon realize they are parched and famished, dangerously so, but the magical fare should more than make up for it. It should also help them relax, as he must inform them of the danger they faced.
Firstly, he lets them know that more time passed in the material plane than they experienced in the Astral, and, furthermore, if and when they return, more time will have passed there than in the Prime. It is all quite complicated, but has to do with the pecularities of time and space as they apply to Deep Imaskar.
He lets them know that he is quite intrigued in their find, and their feat at entering the isolated city. He was aware of the possibility of such a location, but no divinations had ever been able to prove it one way or the other. He has invited his associate, Zulkir Yaphyll, a long-time student of Imaskari lore and legend, to discuss what they have seen.
Yaphyll greets the party, and candidly asks how they were able to track it down. She is hungry for information, and offers little in return at first. If this is pointed out, Tam apologizes for her tendency to get excited about new information; there is so little of it out there for her.
Yaphyll comments on the possibilities of Imaskari magic in Thayan hands. She feels plainly that Thay is the rightful inheritor of the Imaskari tradition, that they have kept alive what little they could dredge up of their ancient ways. She reveals that, in fact, the purpose of their order, from their ancient beginnings as a sect of monks worshipping the Mulhorandi god Thoth, they were tasked with keeping safe and secret all that was taken from the oppressor state of Imaskar.
Tam voices a concern at least some might share: that the people of the Last City might look askance at the idea of Thayan right to their secrets. He proposes that a formal emissary be sent on Thay's behalf, in the spirit of cooperation with the ancient and noble people.
Surely at some point, the party will reveal the difficulties of getting in and around the city. To that end, Yaphyll will introduce her associate, Valin Arkanian, a man who has been undertaking a secret archaeological expedition in Thesk. It seems he has unearthed the remains of an Imaskari academy of magic, with many of its treasures reasonably intact. He has gained a remarkable depth of knowledge on Imaskar artifice, and would be instrumental in navigating the wards of the city.
Tam recommends against another brute-force attack on the city's wards. Not only could it be misconstrued, but it could allow unsavory elements to enter the city, which could have disastrous consequences. He hopes that Valin can help the party find their own way in.
Planning
- Re-entry into the City: pan over the destroyed areas of town, the colors of the rebellion, and their headquarters, the Great Pyramid. Above, the enlightened have lashed their pods together to form a massive, alien-like ship (Black Omen). All-out war looms. ((Matrix Reloaded-Suite))
- On the streets: The slaves have taken over! Drugs, sex, and chaos rule in the streets, as they revel in their eminent humanity. ((Matrix Reloaded-This is the New Shit))
Other Music
- ???: ((MR-Furious Angels))
- Club or rebel base: ((MR-Lucky You))
- Club: ((MR-Bruises))
- Fight: ((MR-Dread Rock))
- ((MR-Zion))
- Closer: ((MR-When the World Ends))
Treasure
Rylaun, Alice, Arturo, Ardyn, Zarek, and Svetlana received a box containing:
- 1 Wand of Shadow (VII)
- Allows characters capable of casting 7th-level spells to produce a bolt of 7d6 negative energy damage as a ranged attack at will. Value: 17,500 gp.
- 1 Scepter of Souls (III)
- Contains 4,000 XP for use in crafting magic items and casting spells. Value: 20,000 gp.
- 1 Medallion of the Collegium of Necromancy
- Allows access into Collegium restricted areas. Value: none.
- 1 Red Wizard's Robe
- A normal red wizard's robe with a black sash and a gray collar, signifying membership in the Collegium of Necromancy, and status as an "honorary member". Value: none.
Arturo, Zarek, and Ardyn gave their wand and scepter to Rylaun.