13/07/2021 The Ambar Temple. Faust Greyheart
Jul 18, 2021 8:11:39 GMT
Queen Merla, the Sun-Blessed, Jaezred Vandree, and 2 more like this
Post by WillJ on Jul 18, 2021 8:11:39 GMT
My beloved Margret,
I find myself again in a state of uncertainty. When we were together I held such strong beliefs about right and wrong, I wonder if it ever frustrated you? Those beliefs are still there, but I find the Dawnlands to be a source of challenge to these beliefs far more regularly than our simple home in the Greycloaks. On this particular occasion I find myself questioning whether there is such a thing as a good lie. Can deceit ever be kind thing and the right thing to do? I hope so, it felt right at the time and I think it has made the world a safer place, at least in the short term.
Dwirihian had asked for some assistance, having leant me aid with the foolishly marked 'treasure cave' a few months ago and having identified her as one of the more morally sound adventurers I of course acquiesced and was happy to see that Celina, Velania and Breeze had also found the time to help our friend. She had heard of a second portal from Faerun to Kantas in the sunset spine mountains and wanted help to explore its potential to further open routes of travel around the continent. As we all packed and bought provisions young Velania pulled me aside and in a gesture that brought tears to my eyes handed me a tiny paper parcel. Identical to the one she gifted Coll in Fort Ettin. A gift I shall keep safe and treasure far more than any gold. Explaining her concern from the battle in the Court of Autumn when I was knocked unconscious, she expressed in a very serious fashion (even for Velania) that she would help protect me if I even needed it. I was touched and thanked her, although of course I would gladly join you in the afterlife before allowing anyone to be hurt trying to protect an old fool like me.
We trekked our way north and west and I was able to utilise a new ability I had replicated from that fine fellow Veridian and the unfortunate incident in the Witching court mountain. Summoning a dome of force to protect us all as we slept. It is so pleasant to be able to stare up at the stars drifting off to sleep knowing my friends are perfectly safe within it. As we got closer we found some ruins, hundreds of years old. This was our marker and the entrance into the mountains was nearby. Celina's sharp eyes caught movement on the hill and we hailed a rather disheveled looking man with a bow and spear. He seemed a little out of sorts that we had seen him and sheepishly came down to join us. He turned out to be Ambar, an odd fellow who spoke to himself occasionally and who we had previously been informed owned the portal we were looking for. He agreed (a little too willingly) to take us to there.
Stopping us short after a few hours, Ambar warned us of guards around the portal but promises he can talk us past them. Apparently they are of the Kuo-Toa; a race of fish people who are extremely devout. Velania puts a stern hand on Ambar's shoulder and makes it clear that betrayal will not work out well for him. Approaching the guards, we met Flib, a verbose Kuo-Toa who fails to see the distinction between us offering tribute to the portal god All-Gress and being that same tribute. An important distinction to the team. To buy my friends some time to plan I stood and listened to a lengthy description of this god-creature-portal and its virtues as seen by Flib.
Questioning Ambar firmly, the remainder of the team discovered he had brought these guards to the portal intentionally. Attempting to make himself their god. Their devotion however is easily swayed and within the space of a day they had began to worship the portal instead. Their combined belief had actually brought it to sentience and it had trapped Ambar here, demanding blood sacrifice. Which Ambar had provided. Albeit unwillingly at first.
Armed with this knowledge we constructed a plan. An elaborate lie to rob the portal of its power and perhaps install a new and safe diety in the minds of these Kuo-Toa. Between us we created a falsehood about the god 'Librarion' who sought and demanded knowledge rather than sacrificial offerings. Assembling in a nearby section of the caves we mounted my old book of forgetting on a pedestal of ice, Celina summoned 'Barry' her unseen servant to move it around and we took our places. As the Kuo-Toa responded to our summons, I began to use all my skills in oration, along with a little magic to weave a tale of Librarion and its greatness. Assisted by Breezes telepathic abilities, Barry, Velania and Dwirihian's magics we instilled a sense of awe in our audience and quashed any descent. Oddly though, the better we did, the more the book began to move on its own account. I witnessed the power of belief first hand as it rose into the air and we all heard a booming voice in our head, demanding knowledge. Librarion had actually been willed into existence. A unsettling turn of events. The Kuo-Toa began forming an orderly queue to achieve this demand and left us to go about our business.
That business was to make certain the portal had lost its sentience and to escort Ambar home to Daring Heights. The more we walked and talked with him, listening intently to what he was saying, and critically what he wasn't; we began to piece together his extremely unsavoury past as a slaver of sorts. With this new knowledge we saw a man who needed justice rather than assistance and we walked him right into the waiting hands of Aurelia who knew exactly who he was and what he had done. She thanked us and promised to make certain that he got what he deserved. All that remained was to update the cartographers of Daring Academy and retire here to the Four Fair Winds where I have had the pleasure of watching both Breeze and Lady Merla perform. Both excellent in their own ways.
And so it appears my deceit has led to the creation and existence of an actual minor god. Or at least a sentient being. Which is most disconcerting. Did I do the right thing Margret?
I remain yours, always.
I find myself again in a state of uncertainty. When we were together I held such strong beliefs about right and wrong, I wonder if it ever frustrated you? Those beliefs are still there, but I find the Dawnlands to be a source of challenge to these beliefs far more regularly than our simple home in the Greycloaks. On this particular occasion I find myself questioning whether there is such a thing as a good lie. Can deceit ever be kind thing and the right thing to do? I hope so, it felt right at the time and I think it has made the world a safer place, at least in the short term.
Dwirihian had asked for some assistance, having leant me aid with the foolishly marked 'treasure cave' a few months ago and having identified her as one of the more morally sound adventurers I of course acquiesced and was happy to see that Celina, Velania and Breeze had also found the time to help our friend. She had heard of a second portal from Faerun to Kantas in the sunset spine mountains and wanted help to explore its potential to further open routes of travel around the continent. As we all packed and bought provisions young Velania pulled me aside and in a gesture that brought tears to my eyes handed me a tiny paper parcel. Identical to the one she gifted Coll in Fort Ettin. A gift I shall keep safe and treasure far more than any gold. Explaining her concern from the battle in the Court of Autumn when I was knocked unconscious, she expressed in a very serious fashion (even for Velania) that she would help protect me if I even needed it. I was touched and thanked her, although of course I would gladly join you in the afterlife before allowing anyone to be hurt trying to protect an old fool like me.
We trekked our way north and west and I was able to utilise a new ability I had replicated from that fine fellow Veridian and the unfortunate incident in the Witching court mountain. Summoning a dome of force to protect us all as we slept. It is so pleasant to be able to stare up at the stars drifting off to sleep knowing my friends are perfectly safe within it. As we got closer we found some ruins, hundreds of years old. This was our marker and the entrance into the mountains was nearby. Celina's sharp eyes caught movement on the hill and we hailed a rather disheveled looking man with a bow and spear. He seemed a little out of sorts that we had seen him and sheepishly came down to join us. He turned out to be Ambar, an odd fellow who spoke to himself occasionally and who we had previously been informed owned the portal we were looking for. He agreed (a little too willingly) to take us to there.
Stopping us short after a few hours, Ambar warned us of guards around the portal but promises he can talk us past them. Apparently they are of the Kuo-Toa; a race of fish people who are extremely devout. Velania puts a stern hand on Ambar's shoulder and makes it clear that betrayal will not work out well for him. Approaching the guards, we met Flib, a verbose Kuo-Toa who fails to see the distinction between us offering tribute to the portal god All-Gress and being that same tribute. An important distinction to the team. To buy my friends some time to plan I stood and listened to a lengthy description of this god-creature-portal and its virtues as seen by Flib.
Questioning Ambar firmly, the remainder of the team discovered he had brought these guards to the portal intentionally. Attempting to make himself their god. Their devotion however is easily swayed and within the space of a day they had began to worship the portal instead. Their combined belief had actually brought it to sentience and it had trapped Ambar here, demanding blood sacrifice. Which Ambar had provided. Albeit unwillingly at first.
Armed with this knowledge we constructed a plan. An elaborate lie to rob the portal of its power and perhaps install a new and safe diety in the minds of these Kuo-Toa. Between us we created a falsehood about the god 'Librarion' who sought and demanded knowledge rather than sacrificial offerings. Assembling in a nearby section of the caves we mounted my old book of forgetting on a pedestal of ice, Celina summoned 'Barry' her unseen servant to move it around and we took our places. As the Kuo-Toa responded to our summons, I began to use all my skills in oration, along with a little magic to weave a tale of Librarion and its greatness. Assisted by Breezes telepathic abilities, Barry, Velania and Dwirihian's magics we instilled a sense of awe in our audience and quashed any descent. Oddly though, the better we did, the more the book began to move on its own account. I witnessed the power of belief first hand as it rose into the air and we all heard a booming voice in our head, demanding knowledge. Librarion had actually been willed into existence. A unsettling turn of events. The Kuo-Toa began forming an orderly queue to achieve this demand and left us to go about our business.
That business was to make certain the portal had lost its sentience and to escort Ambar home to Daring Heights. The more we walked and talked with him, listening intently to what he was saying, and critically what he wasn't; we began to piece together his extremely unsavoury past as a slaver of sorts. With this new knowledge we saw a man who needed justice rather than assistance and we walked him right into the waiting hands of Aurelia who knew exactly who he was and what he had done. She thanked us and promised to make certain that he got what he deserved. All that remained was to update the cartographers of Daring Academy and retire here to the Four Fair Winds where I have had the pleasure of watching both Breeze and Lady Merla perform. Both excellent in their own ways.
And so it appears my deceit has led to the creation and existence of an actual minor god. Or at least a sentient being. Which is most disconcerting. Did I do the right thing Margret?
I remain yours, always.