Chronicles of the Realm Walkers: Session 52

The Realm Walkers started heading east on the 3rd of Kirit into the Mintar Desert on their way to the Dragon Spine Mountain Ridge where they hoped to find the King of the Dragons. As the party started to prepare for their first night in the desert a sandstorm kicked up. Ranrus fabricated them a temporary shelter while they tried to determine how best to proceed. The storm had no end in sight and sand storms in the desert could last days. The party contemplated some of the party becoming ethereal to traverse the desert and Rhy suggested planeshifting to another plane and then back, arriving closer to the mountains. While the party debated the viability of this strategy based on previous experience they decided it was worth the risk. They considered traveling to Yua's plane but decide she may either delay their return or cause unexpected chaos. Instead they chose to planeshift to Barovia and the Amber Forge and potentially get Ysir a new sword.   The party introduced Feln to Ysir and the two went into Feln's gallery to find a potential new blade. They returned with two options. Rhy offered to buy Ysir the sword and he opted for one that he could use to to support the Realm Walkers.   While there Lee began to contemplate his desire to use Sin Flayer but his limited amount of attunement. This all seemed to revolve around not wanting to give up his dagger despite that being the most logical choice. As Ranrus and Rhy began to become suspicious Feln realized what was going on and gave Lee permission, letting Lee know he wouldn't be insulted by Lee using another weapon better equipped for the job. Lee and Ysir attuned to their prefered weapons and the Rhy plane shifted them back to Ithica.   The party arrived near the base of the mountain ridge they needed to climb but do to the lack of moonlight decided to set up camp and climb the mountain in the morning.   During the first watch Rhy finally introduced ysir to Pip via invisibly. Ysir was a bit throw by mention of not giving pip alcohol.   During Lee's watch he heard lite metallic clanking coming from up in the mountains.   During Ranrus's watch travelers came upon their camp, Sithala, and her Dwarf and Goblin traveling companions. Ranrus allowed them to join them at their fire and the three bedded down.   Theren took the last watch during which pip asked them about dreaming, since Theren used to trance like Pip but now dreams and can share real perspective.   In the morning Sithala exited her trance before anyone else was up and spoke with Theren. Sithala was very fascinated by Theren and their new state of sleeping. Sithala gifted Theren a tincture to help them sleep and eventually introduced herself, and explained she was there to collect mushrooms.   Theren was very direct, telling Sithala that she could not come with them unless she turned out to be the Dragon Sithala. Sithala was even more intrigued but if she was the Dragon Sithala did not show her cards.   Sithala made breakfast for everyone and as they woke introductions were made, but the party seemed slightly suspicious and caught off guard when, based on Theren's reveal/miscommunication, Sithala assumed Ysir was Rhy's partner.   Sithala's companion introduced themselves, Gan, the Goblin, and Gor, the Dwarf. Sithala informed the party she was looking for unique mushroom that grew in the damp but cool eco system up the mountain where the fog formed, her goal being to find a way to replicate the ecosystem in a box so she didn't have to climb the mountain in future.   As it seemed both groups had the same destination they followed Sithala up the mountain.   The combined parties reached a clearing where they took a brief break. Theren and Ysir found a set of deep heavy medium sized footprints leading away from the direction they were headed. Ranrusn inspected the print and found the individual would be a similar weight to himself and Pip was sent invisible to inspect the path. Pip found a well traveled path and once he was past the point where Rhy could see through his eyes Pip found a wooden stool and something exciting. Returning he brought a shiny gear.   Ranrus inspected the gear and determined it was of the same type found in the Murder Mansion in the constructs and laboratory so either they were sourced from the same place or someone from the mansion most likely crafted these as well. Ranrus considered the path may lead to Vissers hideout.   Traveling further they soon found a fog bank. Sithala and her party tied of to a rock wall and proceeded into the fog in search of Sithala's mushrooms. The Realm Walkers and Ysir did much the same and made their way into the fog but soon felt their ropes go slack and the sound of footstep around them go quiet as i became clear this was no ordinary fog. Theren and Ysir made it through arriving at a cave entrance clear of fog. After a brief discussion they decided to go in, Ysir marking the entrance with two lit torches in hope they would air the rest of the Realm Walkers find their way.   Lee, realizing things were not going as planned, cast locate object through his treasure hunter goggles and was momentarily overwhelmed by his faulting senses as he could sense the direction of the object ( Theren's viscous dagger) but something in the fog fought to make it unclear but he muddled through and found the direction to travel.   Rhy cast commune for the first time and went to Spearadear to ask for help. Spearadear showed her the cave and aided in her sense of direction. Rhy asked if Spearadear had any tasks for her now that she was a Chosen, Spearadear told her she would wait till Rhy had completed the tasks for Sasnia before she gave any of her own. Returning from the commune Rhy tried to focus through the fog but whatever was affecting her sense of direction was to strong.   Ranrus cast true seeing allowing him to see more clearly but the spell was restrained. Ranrus could see ahead of him and started to get his barring's of the path and started making progress forward, seeing Lee in the fog Ranrus moved up to him and the two moved forward together.   Meanwhile Theren and Visser made their way down the a long dark tunnel. Entering into a carved out stone chamber with two rows of stone pillars leading to a raised platform and a small stone throne on which a Tiefling sat.   Theren spoke with the Tiefling, who acknowledged them a calling Theren by name. Theren told the Tiefling, presumably the King of the Dragons, they came to ask about Caleroh and giving him the tuning fork. Theren, when prompted by the Tiefling, asked if he would stop Caleroh from taking the tuning fork. The Tiefling told Theren there was someone they should talk to first and he quickly, without any resistance, plane shifted Theren.   Theren appeared in front of another cave, this one in a large field of molten rock and liquid magma, the surface of Fron Tar. Emerging from the cave, sound of rough bare feet falling on rough rock, was Tenara in his Half Elf form, his silver tattoos returned. The two spoke candidly and cordially, Theren informed Tenara they were sent by the King of the Dragons, they were meeting with him. Theren explained the party and specifically their predicament. Tenara was surprised to hear Theren's description of Caleroh, finding it unlike the Caleroh he remembered.   Tenara asked Theren if they would question their King. Theren explained their fear of joining another family like their own. Theren began to cry and Tenara took Theren and held them close, whispering kindly, "No one should trust their king blindly." He then pulled Theren away removed his silver ring from his left ring finger and onto Theren's left ring finger. with one last statement " That's all he wanted" Tenara planeshifted Theren back to the Keep of the King.   The remaining Realm Walkers reached the mouth of the cave where Rhy, having communed, had her appearance greatly changed. Her scar was now more like a tattoo of crescent moon weaving around her body shimmering like moonlight on water, her har gained a similar property with one long purple streak at the front.   They proceeded in and as they Joined Ysir in the room and soon after Theren returned from the planeshift.   The King of the Dragons looked down at Theren, and spoke "I will hear you."   Theren, now with permission, spoke freely, asking what they needed to know to make a decision on the tuning fork. Theren asked the King to let them decide if they would give Caleroh the fork or not, and that caleroh can't take it from them.   As the discussion continued the King of the Dragon asked Theren if they wanted to know what Caleroh wanted to do. Theren said yes and the King explained simply, Caleroh wanted to trap Yua on her plane.   Theren reiterated their desire to be able to choose. The King of the Dragons asked the rest of the Realm Walkers, their thoughts. One by one in their own way they iterated Theren had no choice before and that that was the issue, if Theren could make the choice then they would follow Theren's decision.   With that the King granted Theren's request revealing Desmond's presence in the keep, and making sure he acknowledge the decision. Desmond's face was filled with a deep sadness but he looked to the King and acknowledge he understood the decision before stepping back behind the pillar he had appeared from behind.   The King of the Dragons approached the Realm Walkers touching each of their foreheads, his sharp nail piercing the skin on their foreheads effortlessly. With a small drip of blood running down each of their foreheads, the King turned to Theren and asked, "Theren what is my name?"   Theren replied, "Mutta" and the golden flames of Maranath's curse did not appear.   There was a calm moment as the freedom each of the Realm Walkers had regained washed over them before the King of the Dragons, Mutta, turned returning to his throne and asked them "Please tell me about the world."   Theren began to update him in a spree of absolute word vomit. amongst which they passed on the message that Disiga would be by to visit soon.   The party proceed to ask about anything an everything. tapping into the open and ancient wisdom of Mutta.   Rhy asked if Mutta knew anything about Oddi, he replied that he only knew what Maranath had told him and that did not get involved in non Dragon related issues.   Theren asked if Mutta was Yua's chosen or related to her, he explained she was like his godmother, she had been the cease of his birth.   Theren asked if he knew who Yua's father was, and Mutta said he did, but it was complicated. He replied asking if they knew what came before. Lee reading into this assumed Mutta was referring to the remains of the force or will that created all the gods, and its belief that what was left over became something, Mutta refers to that something as a him and called him a the God of Creation.   Lee asked about Mutta's feeling on Yua. He answered, that he would not exist without her but wonders if the world would be better of without him, but he did express he feels no ill will towards Yua. He expressed Yua made a choice that affected everyone, everywhere, forever. Her decision was not one mortals could ever understand. The Kings court live between and therefore have diverse opinions on it.   Rhy asked what was Yua's choice? "She cause his birth and that changed everything because he broke the balance."   Theren asked how Mutta interacted with the Dragon Gods, to which he replied, he still occasionally spoke with mother and father, Bahamut and Tiamat.   Lee asked if the balance is why he's here since... and Mutta finished "I massacred millions of lives?". He expressed that him being here in the keep was self imposed. There was no remorse for his action but there was empathy towards what was lost.   Rhy asked if Mutta's birth caused the God war she believed occured as part of the Gods leaving. Mutta calmly corrected "I am the only reason the Gods left." a strange pressure Rhy and Ranrus had been feeling changed and was replaced by an overwhelming feeling of divinity. Ranrus with his true sight still present saw Mutta's true form, the glorious three horned metallic and chromatic colored Dragon standing in front of the stone throne and also a small Silver Dragon where Theren's elven form had been.   Mutta explained, Yua inverted Tiamat and Bahamut's hatred turning it into love and they procreated resulting in his hatching. The balance was broken since he had equal allegiance to each of his parent and no gods trusted the balance to remain. The deal was made, Mutta would be allowed to live (in part because the Gods were not sure they could actually destroy him), he would remain on Ithica, and no God would attempt to influence him or the plane.   Theren asked if they would be able to see Dragons now, to which Mutta replied that would depend on Theren's ability to control what they were now, pointing out they complete missed "her" gesturing to the entrance to the keep. leaning against the entrance was Sithala, who apologized to her King, hoping he didn't mind her interfering. With Mutta showing no animosity, she approached and mentioned the other Mutta, once again mocking the name but expressing her restraint in not melting the imposter.   Rhy asked again about Calerohs grudge and Mutta further explained Caleroh believes Yua is responsible for trapping Mutta on Ithica and seeks to do the same to her, to confine her and cut off her influence to ithica.   Lee encouraged Mutta to get out of his cave, he just quietly smiled.   Theren asked about the trio Saransina, Yenter and Caran. The party learnt Mutta had no chosen or any desire for worship, but that he had none of the limitations of the Gods. The Realm Walker began a downward spiral theorizing if Mutta was a God, his domain and the nature of Gods entirely. Mutta eventually explained, he is divine, death less, and unlikely able to die: but also does not have an avatar, his body is his, his power is contained with in his flesh, he can not be forced from it and it can't be taken from him.   Rhy asked if Mutta knew how some of the the other-planar mortals had come to be on the plane. He didn't know the specifics but he could see on Ranrus that he had been forced here by something, and that Mutta believed at some point Rhy would be able to see the same. Sher tried but failed to perceive whatever it was that hung on Ranrus that Mutta could perceive.   Mutta told everyone present that they should of course keep his name and knowledge of him close to the chest that he chose to let the world believe he, the desert and everything else was a myth.   Ranrus espoused allowed his wonder as to what the world would look like if Mutta wasn't secret. This immediately drew Muttas focus "his existence would be divisive either worshipped because he was the single true divine presence on the plane or hated, because he was the single true divine presence on the plane.   Lastly he made clear he would not be involved in anyway with Oddi or any other things of that nature and he would not request or even imply any members of his court should be involved.   Rhy asked about Haunthera. Mutta explained Huanthera was the one member of his court most like Dragons before he arrived. Haunthera finds humanoid disgusting and will not take a humanoid form.   Rhy asked if he would help the trio, he explained that he considered them travelers and not his subjects and as such would not help them nor force them under his law or rule.   Lee asked if he knew Caran's where abouts and Mutta explained he knew the location of every dragon on the plane at all times, Caran was trapped underground inside the Living Caverns, this led to a shared joke between the Realm Walkers, Mutta, and Sithala about why would a Dragon go underground. as they all laughed Ysir spoke up for the first time confused, not understanding why it was funny, Sithala shook her head and walked over to him and tapped his forehead. A sort of wave of realization washing over him. Mutta explained it was something done by Caleroh to keep himself secreted.   Lee asked about his affiliation with the Umberhall's and the library, and Mutta reiterated that the library was not Caleroh's hoard and that he had affiliated with the Umberhalls, or Umbercalls as they were formerly known, since long before Mutta was born. Lee was perplexed by Mutta's humbleness and the respect he garners. Mutta went on to explain the state of Dragons on the plane and shed some insight on his courts behaviour as both humanoids and Dragons. Lee re-expressed his desire for Mutta to go out into the world and Mutta re-expressed that he needed to bear a punishment for his action for the lives he took. Rhy asked about Bolo and receive three more pages for volume three. Theren asked about Yua's cards and he did not have any but that he suspected she would have gifted them one for this particular adventure, and Theren found the Cosmos card added to the deck box. Mutta went on to tell Rhy all about Bolo and his history. Importantly he told her that the despite living in the age of the Gods Bolo did not use the God calendar, but instead used the Titan calendar which was based on the movement of ancient celestial bodies. As their question winded down Eragis became the topic, and Mutta offered to share the knowledge of Eragis's location if he had it. Sithala summoned Desmond who scryed and marked on a map Eragis's location and gifted to the party a scrying orb.   The party were teleported the party to Eragis.   Date: 3rd - 4th of Kirit, 1437 DC Caleroh's Ultamatum vetod.