Never Tarnish Nor Grow Dim – Forfeit – 09/05/2023
Jun 10, 2023 21:13:28 GMT
Riah, Andy D, and 2 more like this
Post by Forfeit on Jun 10, 2023 21:13:28 GMT
A writeup of Never Tarnish Nor Grow Dim
Featuring:
Forfeit, Tiefling, Level 2 Warlock
Calla, Drow, Level 7 Wizard/Cleric/Warlock
Sterling, Halfling, Level 8 Artificer
Ruthenia, Wood Elf, Level 8 Wizard
Archie, Human, Level 10 Wizard
Continues after The Golden Carrot
The denizens of a backwater settlement like Daring Heights are full of incomprehensible notions. Naïve misunderstandings about the world, an imagined sense of duty or honour, delusions of grandeur when setting their mitts on the smallest item of power.
Why, today I overheard a mistaken idea about mithril. And when I took it upon myself to generously offer a correction, it led to ingratitude and indignance.
No matter. The discussion led me to escort a group of wizards to the Plane of Minerals, in a tall labyrinth of stone and ores. There, within a large chunk of mithril, we found an exquisite door of white marble built into the rock.
When we returned to Daring Heights later, I caught snatches of conversation about the Staircase from the wizards. Most of the details had dissolved from my memory. Forgetfulness is a humiliation I have not yet recovered from. In a weak mortal form, I am ever more susceptible to its effects.
At some point, we found ourselves ejected into Porphatys, one of the bleaker levels of Tartarus. Within moments, acidic black snow was melting through this useless Tiefling form and I had to run for cover. Even my Fey umbrella was of no use. Do I have old memories of this place? I’m certain I’ve traversed every plane of existence a hundredfold times and more. But do I know this, or merely hope it?
There I was, trapped in hell with a group of inexperienced wizards. In searching for a solution to our predicament, they implied I might have some form of elder, guide or patron who could help. The temerity! Suggesting I am beholden to another being for my power. Still… it is somewhat true at the moment – but not in any way I could disclose, even if I wanted to.
How keen mortals are to cast their lot with greater beings, promising fealty and servitude, all for a mere taste of power! Lo and behold, it turns out that some of the mortals in my party were already beholden to a creature of the Staircase, and upon begging for his clemency and offering their servitude, were able to buy us passage back to Daring Heights.
What a resource of willing souls Daring Heights possesses! Would that I were in a position to exploit it better.
Someday, maybe I shall…
The Disagreement: Mithril is patently inferior to adamantine. While it moves silently, it does not deflect more than the average blow, despite what the Dwarven smiths would have you believe. A perfectly suitable material for the training yard, and no more. Naturally, both metals are inferior to gold dragon scales, in my experience (well, as far as I can remember).
The Wizard: Indignant. Determined to craft and wear an inferior quality material. Embraced the rustic aesthetic to the point of it being an interesting fashion statement. Studied under a professor with sympathies to the Court of Sorcery, making her redeemable by proxy.
The Wizard: Indignant. Having died before and finding it some kind of learning experience, she seemed irritated about wasting the slightest moment of her brief remaining years. Paradoxically seeking the company of death in the form of reanimated corpses, ones not in a position to answer back.
The Wizard: Indignant. Well, mostly affable, but incomprehensibly prone to dashing after others to save them, which made me indignant. Sharply dressed and well spoken… for Daring Heights. Bizarrely, he confessed to once possessing enough wealth to bedeck himself fully in adamantine, yet had given it all away. Prime Material people baffle me endlessly.
The Artificer: Indignant. Covered in engineering grease and singed around the edges. Built a mechanical dog. I did not detect any negative attitude within the mechanical creature.
The Stranger: Delightful. The most good-natured person I met all day. His face escapes me, his sharp, dark suit more of a blur in my memory, to be honest. But he was intent on encouraging weaker beings to tie their fates up in their own ill-advised thirst for knowledge and power. My memories of what exactly the Staircase is seem to have vanished, but perhaps he’ll snare some of them again, and as long as I continue to resist its effects, perhaps I’ll be there to witness it. Now that would be truly entertaining indeed!
The Stranger: Man with a silver quill. Again, the memories have faded somewhat. But I remember he looked at us as if he had a story to tell, or something. Indignant.
Continues in Secretary Business
Featuring:
Forfeit, Tiefling, Level 2 Warlock
Calla, Drow, Level 7 Wizard/Cleric/Warlock
Sterling, Halfling, Level 8 Artificer
Ruthenia, Wood Elf, Level 8 Wizard
Archie, Human, Level 10 Wizard
Continues after The Golden Carrot
The denizens of a backwater settlement like Daring Heights are full of incomprehensible notions. Naïve misunderstandings about the world, an imagined sense of duty or honour, delusions of grandeur when setting their mitts on the smallest item of power.
Why, today I overheard a mistaken idea about mithril. And when I took it upon myself to generously offer a correction, it led to ingratitude and indignance.
No matter. The discussion led me to escort a group of wizards to the Plane of Minerals, in a tall labyrinth of stone and ores. There, within a large chunk of mithril, we found an exquisite door of white marble built into the rock.
When we returned to Daring Heights later, I caught snatches of conversation about the Staircase from the wizards. Most of the details had dissolved from my memory. Forgetfulness is a humiliation I have not yet recovered from. In a weak mortal form, I am ever more susceptible to its effects.
At some point, we found ourselves ejected into Porphatys, one of the bleaker levels of Tartarus. Within moments, acidic black snow was melting through this useless Tiefling form and I had to run for cover. Even my Fey umbrella was of no use. Do I have old memories of this place? I’m certain I’ve traversed every plane of existence a hundredfold times and more. But do I know this, or merely hope it?
There I was, trapped in hell with a group of inexperienced wizards. In searching for a solution to our predicament, they implied I might have some form of elder, guide or patron who could help. The temerity! Suggesting I am beholden to another being for my power. Still… it is somewhat true at the moment – but not in any way I could disclose, even if I wanted to.
How keen mortals are to cast their lot with greater beings, promising fealty and servitude, all for a mere taste of power! Lo and behold, it turns out that some of the mortals in my party were already beholden to a creature of the Staircase, and upon begging for his clemency and offering their servitude, were able to buy us passage back to Daring Heights.
What a resource of willing souls Daring Heights possesses! Would that I were in a position to exploit it better.
Someday, maybe I shall…
* * *
The Disagreement: Mithril is patently inferior to adamantine. While it moves silently, it does not deflect more than the average blow, despite what the Dwarven smiths would have you believe. A perfectly suitable material for the training yard, and no more. Naturally, both metals are inferior to gold dragon scales, in my experience (well, as far as I can remember).
The Wizard: Indignant. Determined to craft and wear an inferior quality material. Embraced the rustic aesthetic to the point of it being an interesting fashion statement. Studied under a professor with sympathies to the Court of Sorcery, making her redeemable by proxy.
The Wizard: Indignant. Having died before and finding it some kind of learning experience, she seemed irritated about wasting the slightest moment of her brief remaining years. Paradoxically seeking the company of death in the form of reanimated corpses, ones not in a position to answer back.
The Wizard: Indignant. Well, mostly affable, but incomprehensibly prone to dashing after others to save them, which made me indignant. Sharply dressed and well spoken… for Daring Heights. Bizarrely, he confessed to once possessing enough wealth to bedeck himself fully in adamantine, yet had given it all away. Prime Material people baffle me endlessly.
The Artificer: Indignant. Covered in engineering grease and singed around the edges. Built a mechanical dog. I did not detect any negative attitude within the mechanical creature.
The Stranger: Delightful. The most good-natured person I met all day. His face escapes me, his sharp, dark suit more of a blur in my memory, to be honest. But he was intent on encouraging weaker beings to tie their fates up in their own ill-advised thirst for knowledge and power. My memories of what exactly the Staircase is seem to have vanished, but perhaps he’ll snare some of them again, and as long as I continue to resist its effects, perhaps I’ll be there to witness it. Now that would be truly entertaining indeed!
The Stranger: Man with a silver quill. Again, the memories have faded somewhat. But I remember he looked at us as if he had a story to tell, or something. Indignant.
Continues in Secretary Business