We Didn't Start the Fire – Orianna Èirigh – 20.10.2022
Oct 29, 2022 10:53:15 GMT
Velania Kalugina, Derthaad, and 2 more like this
Post by Orianna Èirigh on Oct 29, 2022 10:53:15 GMT
OBSERVATIONS & EXCERPTS from the JOURNAL of SECOND ASSISTANT ARCHIVIST ORIANNA ÈIRIGH of ASHKHA
I was worried about leaving Valethra on her own as I knew I needed to go to this meeting of the two Temples in Kundar but I couldn’t leave her on her own. But then Lucky offered to have his squire, Tamarkh, be with her whilst both Gerhard and I are away. Not for the first time I cannot help but question the timing of the Calls he receives from the Staircase. Why are they always when I am leaving to help others too? But my mentor in all things Draconic assured me that his squire will be up for the task and after talking with them I think I am inclined to agree.
Still, a part of my mind will now be with her, always thinking and wondering if she is safe…
Derthaad was already at the portal with Lucky by the time I arrived. He looked a bit strained, worried about something other than this horrible undeath we were attempting to fight against. I did not get a chance to ask him what was wrong, too focused on what was ahead of us: this historic event of the Temples of Bahamut and Tiamat working together for the first time in any known or recorded history! I can just picture the look on father’s face, if he could only know.
Another scholar from the Academy was with us, someone I had seen in passing a few times, a fire genasi by the name of Glint. I wasn’t sure how much he already knew at first — there seemed to be some familiarity between him and Derthaad — but it became apparent he did not know much more than cursory information that’s been floating around the Halls of Learning. I did my best to give an update on the broader strokes without going into too much detail, and certainly not mentioning the young one.
We decided to head to the Temple of Bahamut first to get one of their few remaining members to join us for this talk. I was glad when Lucky suggested we take Theilius, the young (and rather gorgeous) acolyte I spoke to last time. I couldn’t say why but the idea of bringing Cornelius didn’t sit right with me, almost like… a ghost was telling me it would be unwise. Of course, at the time, I gave the reasoning he was very tired, overworked, and stressed, but now, thinking back on it, I do wonder where the thought came from. It was only compounded when I spoke to Theilius and he said he wanted to speak to Cornelius before going, to reassure the First Cleric that he wasn’t going to the Temple of Tiamat for other reasons.
I wonder what those other reasons could be…
On our way to the Temple of Tiamat, Glint informed us that we were being followed. The person, a noble kobold — Koble for short? — didn’t seem to be tied to either temple in particular. But then remembering the distrusting or dismissive looks we have gotten from the nobles in Kundar did make me wonder if she was suspicious of us. I called upon the Sky and wrote a note for its Child to send to her, inviting her to come speak to us before we got to the Temple. It was not the results I was expecting but certainly not a bad thing, I think. Upon reading my invitation she looked at us and then ran away. Glint then spoke to her via magic, reiterating that we were here to help the city. The Koble replied back, much to my surprise, saying ‘Matthias said the adventurers are bad for Kundar.’
The name was familiar to me, of course. I had heard it when we were following the Tiamat priests to the Heart…
The Temple of Tiamat is beautiful in a way the Temple of Bahamut isn’t, but is no less a wonder for the eyes. Modest, but richly decorated, to me it seemed the better off of the two houses of worship. However, much like the Temple of Bahamut, their people have been severely reduced in number.
I did not know my concern could increase but it did.
As we waited for Tyraxes Wraithborn, the priest who requested this meeting, to join us, Derthaad found… well, something I was not prepared for.
It was another book of prophecies written by Grougaloragran.
I have scoured the tome I have, reading it front to back and back to front, over and over, keeping it in our apartment when I know I should keep it in the Academy, trying to find clues or other prophecies he might have had about this rise of a new ‘god’. This one the Temple had was different than mine and I was able to see that right away.
First off it was smaller, less pages and seemed to be written before mine. Second, all the prophecies pertained to dragons. There was a moment where Derthaad wanted to take it, but I suggested we should not. If the Temple of Tiamat has it, then it was more likely Grougaloragran gave it to them for a reason…
The dragonborn I saved the week before was alive. I breathed a sigh of relief at the news…
During our discussion we found out some background information about two figures, the High Priestess of the Temple of Tiamat and one of its patrons.
High Priestess Méridianna
Matthias
We also shared and we gained a better insight into how Desathrax came about, all thanks to Grougaloragran’s book of prophecies the Temple of Tiamat had.
Their book spoke of a battle between two great giants — one brilliant platinum, one many headed. As the two ferociously battled each other, tearing off limbs and flesh, burning, freezing, electrifying, and blasting one another, these avatars of the gods Bahamut and Tiamat fell in the area of these lands that is currently the Sunset Spines. As these avatars decayed in the newly forming mountains, some remnant of the divine sparks of both mighty draconic gods seeped into the stones. Over time, that spark had somehow fused and merged together. Then, it began to build power.
This is why it- them- Desathrax is calling for both. It is a union that is not meant to be. The two are and have been since the dawn of the gods diametrically opposed. But somehow, in this land of strange magic and power, Desathrax has been created.
They have manipulated, interrupted, and lessened the priests of Tiamat’s connection to the Many Mawed, just as they have been doing to the Platinum Lord’s followers. Tyraxes confirmed their divine powers are weakening, which in turn is leaving them vulnerable. Any time they ask a question of their Queen they don’t get a response. If they call for aid, no whiff of power is felt.
To be honest, the more he spoke of it the more afeared I became. I don’t know what I would do if I could not hear the Cosmos. When Mister had me sequestered away, I still had some semblance of a connection, twisted and maddening as it was. But to slowly lose it entirely?
Unthinkable…
The next steps were clear.
I told Tyraxes I will arrange a scouting party to go to the mountains to find Desathrax’s lair, assess what their power is, find any weakness we possibly can (if there is any), and report back right away. If we could find out what sort of form Desathrax has — Is it elemental like the black radiant flames? Or is it a physical form? — we could maybe find the anchor that holds their power. Something like, but not quite, a philacrary, perhaps?
Though I write this a part of me cannot help but… doubt isn’t right. Question? Worry? Wonder? I can’t quite name it, but the vision I had of the two temples coming together… is this something Desathrax wants? Is what we are doing only serving to further their goals even as we try to fight futility?
No. I must not think so. Nihilism is the death of free will and I will not let myself fall into such a way. If I do, then I will have been truly lost.
If we are successful — and I mean successful in stopping this ascension, though there are many steps to go before we can get to that — will it be possible to uncorrupt those that have fallen prey to Desathrax? Tyraxes did not seem to think so. I have not known a way for one to come back from undeath before. The only method I could see it happening is through some immense arcane power or divine intervention. But if the Many Mawed or the Platinum Lord are meant to help their followers, they first have to be able to reach them.
Which brings me to the final, most interesting and daunting bit of information shared with us. The Herald we have faced numerous times came from the Temple of Tiamat. His name is Steppenwolf, and he had a vested interest in the power of things found beneath the earth — things like crystalline structures and geodes.
It makes sense then that he has found a way to draw power from other sources to corrupt them as that was probably the way he first touched the Dark Radiance. I still remember the screams, the voices.
Note to self: Must check in with Derthaad on the progress of removing Grougaloragran’s radiance from the geode…
I was worried about leaving Valethra on her own as I knew I needed to go to this meeting of the two Temples in Kundar but I couldn’t leave her on her own. But then Lucky offered to have his squire, Tamarkh, be with her whilst both Gerhard and I are away. Not for the first time I cannot help but question the timing of the Calls he receives from the Staircase. Why are they always when I am leaving to help others too? But my mentor in all things Draconic assured me that his squire will be up for the task and after talking with them I think I am inclined to agree.
Still, a part of my mind will now be with her, always thinking and wondering if she is safe…
Derthaad was already at the portal with Lucky by the time I arrived. He looked a bit strained, worried about something other than this horrible undeath we were attempting to fight against. I did not get a chance to ask him what was wrong, too focused on what was ahead of us: this historic event of the Temples of Bahamut and Tiamat working together for the first time in any known or recorded history! I can just picture the look on father’s face, if he could only know.
Another scholar from the Academy was with us, someone I had seen in passing a few times, a fire genasi by the name of Glint. I wasn’t sure how much he already knew at first — there seemed to be some familiarity between him and Derthaad — but it became apparent he did not know much more than cursory information that’s been floating around the Halls of Learning. I did my best to give an update on the broader strokes without going into too much detail, and certainly not mentioning the young one.
We decided to head to the Temple of Bahamut first to get one of their few remaining members to join us for this talk. I was glad when Lucky suggested we take Theilius, the young (and rather gorgeous) acolyte I spoke to last time. I couldn’t say why but the idea of bringing Cornelius didn’t sit right with me, almost like… a ghost was telling me it would be unwise. Of course, at the time, I gave the reasoning he was very tired, overworked, and stressed, but now, thinking back on it, I do wonder where the thought came from. It was only compounded when I spoke to Theilius and he said he wanted to speak to Cornelius before going, to reassure the First Cleric that he wasn’t going to the Temple of Tiamat for other reasons.
I wonder what those other reasons could be…
On our way to the Temple of Tiamat, Glint informed us that we were being followed. The person, a noble kobold — Koble for short? — didn’t seem to be tied to either temple in particular. But then remembering the distrusting or dismissive looks we have gotten from the nobles in Kundar did make me wonder if she was suspicious of us. I called upon the Sky and wrote a note for its Child to send to her, inviting her to come speak to us before we got to the Temple. It was not the results I was expecting but certainly not a bad thing, I think. Upon reading my invitation she looked at us and then ran away. Glint then spoke to her via magic, reiterating that we were here to help the city. The Koble replied back, much to my surprise, saying ‘Matthias said the adventurers are bad for Kundar.’
The name was familiar to me, of course. I had heard it when we were following the Tiamat priests to the Heart…
The Temple of Tiamat is beautiful in a way the Temple of Bahamut isn’t, but is no less a wonder for the eyes. Modest, but richly decorated, to me it seemed the better off of the two houses of worship. However, much like the Temple of Bahamut, their people have been severely reduced in number.
I did not know my concern could increase but it did.
As we waited for Tyraxes Wraithborn, the priest who requested this meeting, to join us, Derthaad found… well, something I was not prepared for.
It was another book of prophecies written by Grougaloragran.
I have scoured the tome I have, reading it front to back and back to front, over and over, keeping it in our apartment when I know I should keep it in the Academy, trying to find clues or other prophecies he might have had about this rise of a new ‘god’. This one the Temple had was different than mine and I was able to see that right away.
First off it was smaller, less pages and seemed to be written before mine. Second, all the prophecies pertained to dragons. There was a moment where Derthaad wanted to take it, but I suggested we should not. If the Temple of Tiamat has it, then it was more likely Grougaloragran gave it to them for a reason…
The dragonborn I saved the week before was alive. I breathed a sigh of relief at the news…
During our discussion we found out some background information about two figures, the High Priestess of the Temple of Tiamat and one of its patrons.
High Priestess Méridianna
- We did not meet her but we now have a name for the leader in the Temple of Tiamat
- It was her will to try to deal with the attacks “in house” — told them it was a “trial of strength” and did not wish to contradict the will of their Queen
- It was not her change in opinion to call for help from adventurers, rather the rest of the temple’s priests, clerics, etc. that thought “enough was enough”
- She was the one who had the vision/instruction from the Many Mawed to create the Heart of Fire — it was an artefact of the goddess Tiamat herself
Matthias
- A loyal member of the temple
- Occasionally visits but more out of principle than any real belief — does it to be seen doing it, rather than to worship
We also shared and we gained a better insight into how Desathrax came about, all thanks to Grougaloragran’s book of prophecies the Temple of Tiamat had.
Their book spoke of a battle between two great giants — one brilliant platinum, one many headed. As the two ferociously battled each other, tearing off limbs and flesh, burning, freezing, electrifying, and blasting one another, these avatars of the gods Bahamut and Tiamat fell in the area of these lands that is currently the Sunset Spines. As these avatars decayed in the newly forming mountains, some remnant of the divine sparks of both mighty draconic gods seeped into the stones. Over time, that spark had somehow fused and merged together. Then, it began to build power.
This is why it- them- Desathrax is calling for both. It is a union that is not meant to be. The two are and have been since the dawn of the gods diametrically opposed. But somehow, in this land of strange magic and power, Desathrax has been created.
They have manipulated, interrupted, and lessened the priests of Tiamat’s connection to the Many Mawed, just as they have been doing to the Platinum Lord’s followers. Tyraxes confirmed their divine powers are weakening, which in turn is leaving them vulnerable. Any time they ask a question of their Queen they don’t get a response. If they call for aid, no whiff of power is felt.
To be honest, the more he spoke of it the more afeared I became. I don’t know what I would do if I could not hear the Cosmos. When Mister had me sequestered away, I still had some semblance of a connection, twisted and maddening as it was. But to slowly lose it entirely?
Unthinkable…
The next steps were clear.
I told Tyraxes I will arrange a scouting party to go to the mountains to find Desathrax’s lair, assess what their power is, find any weakness we possibly can (if there is any), and report back right away. If we could find out what sort of form Desathrax has — Is it elemental like the black radiant flames? Or is it a physical form? — we could maybe find the anchor that holds their power. Something like, but not quite, a philacrary, perhaps?
Though I write this a part of me cannot help but… doubt isn’t right. Question? Worry? Wonder? I can’t quite name it, but the vision I had of the two temples coming together… is this something Desathrax wants? Is what we are doing only serving to further their goals even as we try to fight futility?
No. I must not think so. Nihilism is the death of free will and I will not let myself fall into such a way. If I do, then I will have been truly lost.
If we are successful — and I mean successful in stopping this ascension, though there are many steps to go before we can get to that — will it be possible to uncorrupt those that have fallen prey to Desathrax? Tyraxes did not seem to think so. I have not known a way for one to come back from undeath before. The only method I could see it happening is through some immense arcane power or divine intervention. But if the Many Mawed or the Platinum Lord are meant to help their followers, they first have to be able to reach them.
Which brings me to the final, most interesting and daunting bit of information shared with us. The Herald we have faced numerous times came from the Temple of Tiamat. His name is Steppenwolf, and he had a vested interest in the power of things found beneath the earth — things like crystalline structures and geodes.
It makes sense then that he has found a way to draw power from other sources to corrupt them as that was probably the way he first touched the Dark Radiance. I still remember the screams, the voices.
Note to self: Must check in with Derthaad on the progress of removing Grougaloragran’s radiance from the geode…