Session 10 & 11: Lay Lines, Constellations, and Ratfolk Report

General Summary

With the scouts returned and an encounter with a Shadow Elf scouting party that attempted to apprehend Selestiel and the scouts. With the recent undead attack likely caused by blood magic and now the Shadow Elf party attempting to capture her people, Aria was furious, "I want them found," her voice like ice in the council meeting. Bahzel would concur that these potential neighbors needed to be delt with and soon. Malakar would speak up, "Mistress, is our time best used crawling over mountains trying to find them or would it be better to send the scouts back with the specific goal of evading notice, now that they know they may be watched, and to find where these Shadow Elves are coming from?" Aria would reluctantly nod, "Very well, Selest, take a week rest and then go find me these Shadow Elves...we shall deal with this primal wellspring in the mean time." Selestiel would bow and go try and find a bathhouse after a month and a few weeks in the wilds.  

The next day Aria and the others would head out attempt to tame the Primal Well Spring and create a lay line. Isenara had created an attuning rod which would focus and direct the lay line, while Zaelith had formulated and arcane shield that would attempt to protect them as they wrestled for control of the vortex. As they neared the vortex, all manner of elemental energy was crackling and being flung about. In the beginning their efforts were proving to bare fruit, as they were slowly gaining control of the vortex. Daereth and Isenara would align the rod while Malakar worked to anchor everyone from the gale force winds, and the others worked to control the raw power, As they gained more and more control the Vortex began to spew more and more of its power. Eventually the expedition was overwhelmed with Aria, Isenara, and Talindra being knocked unconscious. Malakar would cut the ropes while Daereth egressed with Aria. Zaelith and Bahzel grabbed the other downed members of the expedition and they withdrew. Heading back to Hrivenor to recover Aria would find an intricate scar left by the lighting that knocked her unconscious. Upon her hand the lightning would leave a mark that looked like lighting was flowing with her veins.  

After spending a few days to rest, Zaelith would put an order in with Durkor Deepsteel the Deep Dwarf which was in Arias service to build a battle wagon that would be anchored from the wind, carry his magical wards, and have a lightning rod to try and better protect them from the primal vortex. With that underway they decided to instead head north and explore the excavated standing stones. A small ritual room was found that had a spiral staircase leading down into the earth. The many standing stones were now seen and corresponded with each months full moon and the proper star alignment except for the full moon of High Autumn. Inside a double door was before them and locked. Isenara went to work upon it and they next found themselves in a room with vines and a wooden carving of a dryad who had an opening where her womb would be. Looking about the room after Zaelith had destroyed the spinney vines which lashed him, seed pods were found. Aria placed the pods in the statue and added water, the door opening before them. Each successive room would greet the expedition with a sign of the Zodiac and a trial to pass. In the sign of the mask it was required for someone who had been lying to speak a truth. Zaelith would take the mas off the wall and say, "Ugh my family is cursed" as he would then try to ware the mask a voice would ring, "You must reveal the truth of a lie." Zaelith would frown, "Well I have never actually lied about that so.....that didn't work," he would frown. Isenara would take the mask and sigh a bit looking around then clearing her throat, "Aranesi and I share the same body..." the others would look to her confused, and the mask would slip over her features, revealing the way. Aria would frown, "We will talk about this later..." Making their way thru the remaining constellations they would find the center room. Here the moon elves built a table where the power of the Autumnal Full Moon could be used by psionic and non psionic alike to reveal all truths and lay bare their minds to the current topic spoke. Whom ever sat across the table would know your feelings and thoughts upon any words spoke while at this table. The inscription would also imply only willing participants would find the table of any power. Aria would shrug and seat herself at the table inviting any to ask her any question. There were few asked, however in turn Zaelith would explain his family curse, while Isenara would let Aranesi take the stage and attempt to explain her situation to the others. In a past life they were twins with two bodies and perished in some ruin near here. They were almost instantly re incarnated, an oddity, and found their souls inhabited only one body. They were here to help Aria and find answers. Seemingly satisfied with this Aria would turn next to Malakar, "Whom in winter did you use to serve?" Malakar would frown then sigh and explain it was Leowyn and he wished to find the truth if she welcomed the corruption or was taken by it.  

With the standing stones now at their disposal, the expedition returned home and found Zaeliths wagon was ready. Taking Calendor with them they once again attempted to control the vortex. Knowing what to expect and with the druids help they were more quickly able to gain control of the vortex. The aligning rod was put in place, sadly without the protection of the wagon, Daereth doing what best he could to cover Isenara. With that done the two rushed back to cover, the vortex screaming its protest as massive winds smashed Isenara into the wall of the wagon once again knocking her unconscious. Aria sensing they could form the lay line would shout to Calendor, "Do it, form the Lay Line!" The Spring elf would hesitate, "We are so close, just a little more and it will grow!" Aria would hesitate, looking around, despite their preparations nature had taken its toll, "Don't risk, form the Lay Line!" she shouted back her orders, the druid would nod, perhaps disappointed, and form a Wind Lay line leading to their city and intersecting the Fire Lay Line somewhere to the west. With the job done Calendor set out to catch up with the scouts and try to hasten their finding of the shadow elves. With this done, the expedition would rest a few more days then head north west to secure a quarry site and deal with some undead Kobolds there. On their way they would stop by a curious tree which had the undead bound to it with rope and guts, clawing and hissing at any who approached. It would be found that something was living deep beneath the tree and had lured these Zombies as some kind of protection. Clearing the corpses Malakar would peer down the hole frowning at what could be there. Aria would send in a blast of wind, only to trigger a series of traps, bolts would fire, glass would break as alchemical acid flooded the hole. As the dust settled, the distinctive click of a flintlock echoed. "Come out from in there and no one will get hurt! You are trespassing in Lady Arias domains!" A rapid reply of squeaks and chirps was heard that none could make much sense of. Isenara would clear her throat, "I believe he offered a series of expletives' and was not very pleased, but it was slightly off..." Isenara would call back in High Chittern, the ratfolk within the hole would answer back in the same tongue, "Go Away you are disrupting my work!" Isenara would convince the ratfolk to come out and they would introduce themselves as Drin. Aria speaking thru Isenara as a translator would eventually convince Drin to come to her city and continue their work into a cureall for all disease under her care and supervision. Malakar was concerned if the ratfolk were diseased, but none seemed to worried about this. They let Drin know they would help him move when they returned from dealing with the Kobolds.