The Final Chapter - 06/09/2022 - A Kavel Perspective

The Dwarven Quarter - Daring Heights

“So do you know if you can carry gifts back through the Spirit Road to Nathalie? Another hamper from the Gilded Mirror might not be worth buying, if you can’t take it with you.” My Scriber friend might have a point.

Archie was making me question the specifics of how my, as Mendal put it, ‘Bonk Bangle’ works.

“He should still buy the fancy hamper, Archie!” Mendel chimed in, “just make sure when you’re off for your bonk you leave from here, with us around. That way, if the hamper can’t go with you; we can share it, ha, ha, ha!”

“Oh very self-interested Mendal. Shame on you!” Archie reproached. “But, Kavel, do get a hamper to share with Nathalie,” Archie said encouragingly. He then looked back at Mendal with a silly smirk, before he said, “and make sure you put a couple of bottles of my favourite brandy in there. Aha, ha, ha!”

The pair of them laughed. The joke material went unexhausted for another five minutes.

…

Mendel was lighting the forge. He pulled out an ebony stone the size of his fist that was shaped into a fox’s head, and placed it in the forge.

“What are you working on, Mendal? The fox's head looks finished already” I asked.

“That’s Sparky! I told you about him! I got him on my first adventure here.”

Archie was fascinated as a small, fire elemental fox appeared next to the forge, and began fetching coal to keep the forge fueled. “Marvellous little fellow, Mendal!” Archie exclaimed.

“Sparky’s lovely isn’t he?” Mendal said, agreeing, “‘a smith’s best friend’.”

Perhaps with a little whine in my voice, I observed, “everyone seems to have a familiar or pet - not just the wizards. Now clerics have them. Wait! Archie, I’ve never seen you with a fam…”

A barn owl appeared on Archie’s shoulder, “meet Barnaby, chaps!”. Now I have seen Archie with a familiar.

“I might change Barnaby to a cat, fellas. I think a cat suits me better, but an owl can fly and has so much utility to offer,” Archie said, assessing the pros and cons of different familiars. I have zero familiars, and he was talking about magically switching his - what a show-off.

I left my companions with their creatures, and went to enquire at the Gilded Mirror.


The Adventurer Beacon Calls

It was around midday when I walked to the Gilded Mirror.

As I passed by the Three Headed Dragon, I saw a tree out front that seemed to have been reshaped to bend over slightly, as if it was talking to the comrades I saw underneath it.

Before me were: Celina; my red Tiefling, rapier stabby friend. Derthaad; my blue Dragonborn spell-splitting friend. Tayz; my Aarocokra, divine magic friend. Lastly, there was a new comrade for me, Prowler, a black Tabaxi stealthy friend. I presumed stealthy from Mendal’s description of him.

My comrades were trying to help an awakened tree called River step out of the stone where he was planted. I did not stop to question the ‘hows and whys’ of the matter. Everybody was gearing up for a big lift. So, I chose to join in and help my comrades. This was going to be difficult. I’m sure I could lift River, but extract him from the stone and earth?

Both Tayz and Derthaad casted the Enhance Ability spell for the Bull Strength enhancement. We all received a boost of strength - even me, who must surely be approaching an upper limit for super humanoids.

The others, enhanced with bull strength began lifting - amateurs. I took the time to get some chalk out and chalked my hands. A few stretches too.

Perhaps, if I’m being kind, it could be said they ‘loosened’ River for me.

It’s commonly known that larger humanoids such as Goliaths and Firbolg are usually twice as strong as the rest. With my training, I’m four times as strong. With a little magical boost - ooooooof - I’m feeling doubly strong - again! I can lift 2,000lbs easily. Can I now lift 4,000lbs? Truly I am an impressive specimen.

I walked up to the tree person, wrapped my arms around one of his thighs, and with one powerful motion - one leg was out. I repeated the same on the other side, and done!

River took his first few steps and was very happy. He exclaimed he would now visit every place in the city, and off he went to the Dragon’s neighbour to greet the occupants.

We now had a big whole in the ground on a busy road in front of a well frequented establishment…

“Don’t worry. I’ve got this,” comrade Tayz announced. I didn’t realise he was a mason like me. But, it turned out he had a spell for this, the spell Stone Shape. Except, he didn’t, because he didn’t have it prepared for today. I pushed as much earth as I could back into the hole and covered it with the broken slabs of stone. It wasn’t pretty, but it was safer for the public.

“Was this City Watch work I just helped with, comrade?” I said to comrade Derthaad.

“No,” the City Watch member responded, “but I do have something you could all help me with…”


The House of One Alistair McCleary

We walked twenty minutes or so up to Lupus Road, still in Castle Side, to get to Mr. McCleary’s house. My City Watch friend said that the occupant had fraudulent deeds to his home - unlike say me, I have very real deeds to an island, which I was given on the moon during some regular adventuring. It’s so strange when the party is rewarded with trinkets, and one of us obtains something far more valuable than the others. I’ve been given all kinds of crap for rewards, my comrades too. Case in point:

“Comade, what crap did you get from the Elderbrain that time?”

“Yeah funny that,” Derthaad said, pulling out a book from his satchel.

“Oh yes. Your shit book with no final chapter,” I said recognising it. It turns out, the ‘owner’ of the large, gated house we now stood in front of, was the author of the book.

As we approached the front entrance to the home, the door swung open by itself.


The Magnificently Immortal Mr. McCleary

I’ve only ever accompanied comrade Derthaad once on City Watch business.. It was to be a pleasure to be reminded how the arm of the City’s law goes about its profession..

“Hello! Anyone home? I’m here for the taxes you’ve evaded!” The sergeant announced. This was far from the diplomatic professionalism I would have expected from, say Glint. Or for that matter, Sergeant Grimes.

Mr. Alistair McCleary was sitting in an armchair by the fire of a sitting room on the ground floor. He had the appearance of a strapping, wealthy youngish, human man with blond hair.

Derthaad showed Alistair the book, and for whatever reason, Alistair was not surprised that Derthaad found it with Infernum the Elder Brain.

Sergeant Derthaad had many non tax related questions for Alistair, who seemed to be treating my Watch friend’s questions like it was more of a date than an on-the-spot interrogation. Despite, what appeared to be Derthaad using a bad cop persona with the many uses of the word ‘fuck’, Alistair was composed and delighted.

We learnt a lot about the immortal man. Alistair is one of several names he has used over the centuries. He is here in the City, because he fancied a break and Daring Heights seemed quaint to him. Certainly better than Phlegethos, he said - and I agreed with this.

Alistair stopped counting his age around 3,000 years old. He claimed to be in Gadenthor when it was first built and Sigil when the first doors opened. He is human now, but originally wasn’t born one. His book that Derthaad possessed, which featured a hero battling many monsters, he claimed was autobiographical.

On behalf of Archie, I asked about Alistair’s longevity, since it seemed to be exactly what Archie was after. Alistair, however, said he was cursed. The immortality was part of a punishment. He was turned into an immortal, and chained to rocks where ravens would come to him each day and peck at his innards. The whole thing happened because he pissed off a now dead god by calling his mother a whore. The innard pecking went on for 700 years. He was freed when the god was killed. Alistair kept the chains as a memento, and reportedly the chains are inescapable (I did wonder if I could break them…).

Celina noted that Alistair looked very good for someone who was repeatedly pecked to death. Alistair responded that she should see him without his clothes off. You see? Mr. McCleary was enjoying himself, being the centre of attention.

Mention of the chains kept coming up between Derthaad and Alistair. Alistair said he’s had many people shackled up in the chains, in his basement willingly for fun - something of a business practice. Apparently Watch members are frequent visitors.

“Derthaad. How did you say you met Mr. McClearly again?” I inquired curiously.

“Found him in pieces. We put him back together,” was the response. So, not how I was thinking he met Alistair…


Just Write What You Want

“The ending hasn’t been written yet. But… write anything in the book, and it will happen!”

This must be the most powerful conjuration magic! There were 30 or so blank pages at the end of the book. We wrote a line about apples raining on us. And from inside the house, apple branches grew out of the ground floor ceiling and apples fell on us!

Derthaad asked where Alistair found the book. Alistair claimed to have acquired it from Mount Celestia, where in doing so, he ‘gave the book new ownership’. It was going to waste not being used, in his opinion. Derthaad was convinced the book must be a lesser Book of Destiny. I did not know what that was, other than powerfully magic. Alistair confirmed a celestial tried to copy the Book of Destiny, and his book was the result.

Derthaad insisted on keeping the book.

“Sure. Alistair replied, but warned Derthaad about some rules, like never writing the word ‘Seraphin’ in the book. Alistair wouldn’t explain why though. Until Prowler wrote in the book, “Alistair explains himself fully.”

It turns out, due to magic stuff, all the writing Alistair did in the book over the years eventually led to the book developing a personality. The entity would sometimes write some drastic things in the book like, ‘a terrasque appears’. Now, this was a bit worrying.

“Dangerous,” Derthaad said, when I expressed concern. “Imaginative,” Alistair said in defence of Seraphin.

Alistair offered some reassurance, whilst also explaining more about the book - if you cross out what you write, what you wrote goes away. Cross out the word Seraphin, and trouble, or if you will, imagination goes away too. So, you don’t need to look at a hideous, ear-to-ear grinning goblin for too long, as Alistair described Seraphin.


Feeling Inspired

I had the book in my hand. Alistair’s eyes were inviting me to try it out; ‘write whatever you want’. My eyes drifted to the fireplace beside Alistair’s armchair. I was reminded of the forge earlier that day, back with Mendal and Archie, and…

I took Derthaad’s quill and wrote something down. A couple seconds later, I had a golden-headed lion tamarin sitting on my left shoulder. He was very cute. I named him Timur. It means iron.

Prowler borrowed the book, wrote something, looked down at his trousers and smiled. Alistair smiled and said he had used the book and done the same.

Celina took the book next and wrote that she will find 100 golden apples. 100 golden apples later, I thought why not see what my peak strength looks like now, before I get there? So, I took the book and wrote, “Kavel at maximum potential,” and discovered how impressive I will eventually be.

Tayz, inspired by me, didn’t just want a preview - he saw the potential good he could do if he hit his full potential right now. He wrote a similar thing to me and felt he now heal a mass of people. Tayz has a generous spirit. This inspired me in return!

Mendal has always wanted to work with adamantine and mithril. Archie wants to discover the secret to human longevity - let’s make it so!

I was writing, “Mendal gets a forge sized pile of adaman…”

And comrade Derthaad snatched the book and quill from my hands! He then started crossing out sentences we had just written. Both me and Tayz felt depowered, and curiously Prowler did too.

Derthaad felt there was something objectionable about the use of this book. He showed some sympathy though, as Celina still had a golden apple, but not a 100, and fortunately I still had Timur - poor thing had no idea what was going on. But then I realised Timur was my familiar now, so I reassured him nothing troubling was happening through thought.

Alistair shared some of the things he had written, such as writing that he killed an Astral Dreadnought. There’s no limits to this book. I had another idea - for the person who wasn’t participating.

“Say, comrade. You could use the book to be rid of the mark of Air and Darkness,” I suggested.

“... fuck it!” Came his reluctant but persuaded response. One sentence later; a non-hostile welcome to the Summer Court was restored.

Tayz wanted the book back. Derthaad was not handing it back.


Tug of War

I was happy I could see where my future strength progression was taking me. I was perfectly happy to wait and earn my gains. Tayz, I feel more understandably, saw a huge benefit to many people if he could take a shortcut.

As Tayz and Derthaad played Tug of War with the book, we all saw the quill move by itself on the open page. There were no words being written, but instead a crappy drawing of a minotaur was appearing on the page, and then from the page…

“Roaw!!” A very oddly proportioned, paper-like minotaur appeared before us, roaring.

“What did you do?!” Derthaad said accusingly towards Celina.

“My baby!” She exclaimed joyfully, and then fed, who she named ‘Goober’ an apple, which he ate appreciatively. I wondered if Timur liked apples? I can speak with animals, but thanks to the telepathic bond, I simply asked Timur with my thoughts. Timur was busy checking my beard and hair for lice. What a good little Familiar. I am happy I finally have one.

Despite having his power stripped away, Tayz seemed in good spirits. He summoned a Celestial being, Horus to join in with the summoning party we were having. After some persuasion, Horus agreed to flex and display his prowess. Alistair was entertained and clapped along with the performance. Celina got Goober to join in too. I clapped along like Alistair, and Timur decided to join in too and imitate. He’s the cutest.

Prowler and Derthaad left the room for a chat. I’ve seen other people send their familiars, so they can scout or spy with them. I thought that was rude here, plus me and Timur were having fun watching the Horus and Goober show.


Decisions

Everyone was back in the room.

“So, have you decided what you will do with my book?” Alistair asked Derthaad.

“Maybe. It’s my book,” Derthaad responded with emphasis on the possessive. My comrade was worried about further abuses of the book. I haven’t read the book, so I’m not sure what abuses Alistair may have made, but so far he seemed reasonable, quite pleasant really.

I couldn’t move… nor could everyone else except Derthaad. And Alistair, who had gotten up from his armchair, was walking towards Derthaad. There was some kind of mental battle between the two. I think I saw the quill in Derthaad’s hand, behind his back, where he was holding the book, move two times. Once from left to right, and again from right to left.

Alistair was fine to simply not have the book in his possession, but he was against handing the book over to Lady Aurelia - there were things he had written in the book that he didn’t want undone. He seemed to trust Derthaad not to undo them, but didn’t trust Aurelia.

There was a negotiation about how the book could remain out of anyone’s hands safely.

I wasn’t sure how, but Alistair was now the one holding the book. Atleast, this was until Derthaad snatched it back and with the use of the Misty Step spell to surprise Alistair. Tayz then sought to snatch the book. But, Derthaad used his Dimension Door spell to step through a portal. We weren’t sure where he went. What we were sure of was that he undid everything we had written in the book. Not a single golden apple for Celina. Goober was gone, and so too was little Timur…


Gifts for Stopping By

Suffice to say, Celina, Tayz and myself were all upset with comrade Derthaad. Alistair, showing hospitality, gave us all trinket sized gifts. This was nice of him. I received a tiny hand carved from amber that flies around its owner and pokes people. It was unique, but nothing compares to the deeds to Praxima Island. Not even the miniature, tame mimic Celina was given. It certainly compares unfavourably with Timur, wherever he is now. I would put the amber hand in the unwanted trinket box, me and the boys have back in the Dwarven Quarter.

As we left Alistair’s home. Derthaad revealed he had written things in the book that would resolve the legal status and unpaid taxes of Alistair. In addition he had a way to hide the book in plain sight in the Daring Academy shelves. He also won us back by writing some stuff that would appease us. Both Tayz and Prowler were given insight into how they could achieve their desires; become a more powerful healer, and join the Watch. Celina got a golden apple back, and I got Timur! Timur appeared on my shoulder again and we had a little hug. There was no magical connection though. Timur wasn’t a Familiar anymore, he was a non-celestial/fey creature. He was now a regular, golden-faced lion tamarin, who I would endeavour to give a good home - and train him to be strong!


Back in the Dwarven Quarter

Archie and Mendal were both pleased to meet Timur. They were both a little disappointed they didn’t get the things I intended for them to receive, but were grateful I thought of them.

As we introduced the animal companions to each other, the boys asked if I knew anything about the huge, awakened tree that was going around visiting every place in the City…