Brief Recap: Last turn saw many events, as the party ended their encounter with the slavers, dropped off the (few) remaining slaves they saved, and made their way to Dunore. There, they were greeted by Blade and Fyona, and met Trenin. Aria addressed them, asking their wishes and the reason for their presence. Humphrey revealed that he has the Crown of Acererak and that the party wishes to bathe in the healing waters to remove its effects, which the party has been referring to as the "curse." Humphrey also warned that he may try to take the stone if he deems it necessary.

The Healing Waters

The party is greeted shortly before midnight, a holy hour for druids, and the appointed time for their cleansing in the Healing Waters. Two acolytes clad in the red of mourning escort them from their house to the center of the city, where the main temple is located. [Trenin accompanies them, unless someone in the party objects.] A ring of standing stones, each a massive gray monolith, defines the circle of the temple grounds. Between each of the standing stones is a cobblestone path that leads from the temple center to the edge of the city itself, like spokes in a wheel.

Bibi alone in the party knows that the city itself is laid out to describe an ancient rune, creating a massive spell of protection and blessing on the city. The center of that rune, the holiest and most potent mark of the spell, is here at the temple. This is where the power of the druids is strongest, that of their enemies weakest.

Humphrey, though he knows nothing of this, senses that the place is enchanted. The power of it makes him slightly uncomfortable, like he is being watched.

The moon is almost full. There are no torches, leaving the gathering lit only by the silvery moonlight. Aria stands on a dais in the center of the temple. The two Archdruids, Azrael and Sinest, stand a step down on the dais to either side of Aria. The third position on that step of the dais is vacant. A young man in green robes, an initiate of the 9th circle, stands beside Sinest.

Six of the nine Druids, of which Bibi is one, stand at specific locations in the temple grounds, each location marked by a circular piece of stone deeply engraved with a druidic rune. Bibi's position stands empty, and Azrael makes a small gesture with his hand to Bibi indicating she should take her place. [Anne, please let me know if Bibi does not take her place.] [Note it is not unusual for a few of the Druids to be absent.]

The rest of the party stands before the dais, about ten meters away, facing Aria. Her dress differs from the others only by a narrow wreath of holly she wears, and the oversized living oak staff she holds in the crook of her left arm, the staff of her position.

Aria says, "Greetings friends. Ghotu, Mog, and Bronk, welcome again to Dunore, it pleases us to see you well."

Mog says, "Mog again thanks the holy ones of the forest for their aid to him, which he will never forget." He bows.

Aria continues, "And the druids do not forget the services you have rendered to all. You and the other heroes of your company, are welcome in Dunore.

"We know that some among you suffer from a curse, remnant magic from the lich Acererak. The ceremony is prepared, and we wish to attend this before all else. However, the ceremony requires the three Archdruids acting in concert, and we have only two. The Choosing must therefore first take place.

"Because Azrael and Sinest are in disagreement, I must decide who shall fill the vacancy. I choose Letaria." A buxom female druid with dark features near the party's left steps from her flat round stone and moves smoothly to occupy the position of the third Archdruid. Sinest's face betrays a small smile; Azrael's expresses no reaction.

Trenin wonders briefly why the two are in disagreement over the position of Archdruid. Letaria must have been Sinests' choice given her smile. 'Who did Azrael favor?' he thinks

Aria continues, "Mocal, you are chosen as Druid." The one in green robes next to Sinest moves to fill Letaria's position as a Druid.

Immediately, another druid steps forward, a middle aged man with graying temples and a straight oak staff. "I, Gerund, invoke the right of challenge to Archdruid Letaria."

Trenin belives he has found his answer to his earlier question. Gerund may be Azrael's favorite for the position of the third Archdruid, though it could be another. He wonders if such maneuverings occur in every ascension. It was hard to say, since they occurred so rarely.

None of the druids seems surprised by this, and after a moment Aria answers, "Very well. But the challenge shall not be conducted now. At dawn we will gather and let the challenge take place. Right now we will attend to the ceremony." Gerund gives a small bow and steps back onto his stone.

Trenin smiles slightly. This was turning out to be an eventful visit indeed. Dunore had not seen this much excitement in at least 100 years. He would have many tales to tell the others in the Brotherhood.

"Those who wish to bate in the waters, follow." The Grand Druid leads the three Archdruids down a passageway behind the dais. Mog, Ghotu, Bibi, and Bronk recognize it as leading to the inner sanctum of this place, where the Healing Waters are found. They all go down, as do Blade, Fyona, and Bibi. [Anyone I named who does not go down, please post. Brian, note I did not name Humphrey, does he go down?]

Humphrey does go down

The party is led through utter darkness down a turning sloping passage. Soon a dim light shows a large underground chamber. The walls appear to be made of uncut stones and boulders, dirt, and living tree roots. Globes with what look like small silver fireflies within float near the top of the chamber, casting a light similar to that of the moon outside.

The druids gather in an alcove to the right, and the party follows. There, an underground stream forms a pool. When the party is gathered, Aria speaks. "This is the First Water, a direct vein of the source for all water of the Wurld. Here in Dunore it is closest to the surface than anywhere else. Come and bathe in it."

The three Archdruids begin to chant, and the party bathes. [If anyone present does not bathe, please say so.]

Humphrey does not bathe, merely watches as Bibi bathes (and Fyona).

Blade inmmediately feels better, able to think clearly for the first time in months.

After the rest of the party has bathed, it is Humphrey's turn. When Humphrey does not immediately step forward, Aria says, "Come, mage, and be cleansed. Perhaps the healing waters can smoothe your troubled brow." The Archdruids still chant.

"Thank you Grand one (without sarcasm). But I am afraid I cannot shed these troubles just yet. However, I appreciate the care you have offered my companions. Now that I have seen them free of the Crown's influence I must head south to learn more of the Crown, as it is surely among the most dangerous items on this Wurld and I quest to destroy it before it, and I wreak more havoc on this plane. I shall catch up to you, my companions, when the time is right. He bows to Aria, "Good day m'lady."

[Humphrey teleports out of the chamber and back to some place that he knows well (I forget where)].

Humphrey attempts to teleport, but nothing happens. It is as if there were a barrier through which he cannot teleport. Humphrey looks around, slightly confused at his failure but quickly realizing what happened. As he looks around, he no longer sees the exit to this room. It is as if the roots, stones, and dirt have shifted so as to obliterate the doorway.

Aria says, "The magic of the inner sanctum will not allow you to enter or leave by spell. It is one of the permanent protections guarding this place." Her face is expressionless as she says this. Over the continued chanting of the Archdruids, she continues, saying, "But I ask, why do you not bathe? If the crown is truly cursed, as you say, then surely you yourself will have been affected more than those who surround you." She takes a few steps closer to Humphrey, looking closely at him. "And I sense there is evil about you, even if it is not in your heart. Will you not bathe, and be cleansed?"

Humphrey takes a step back when she comes closer. "There is evil about me, no doubt the effect of the crown. But I assure you, I harbor the best interests of the Wurld in my heart. I seek the destruction of the crown. I don't think it wise to subject myself to this pool, crown or no. My instincts tell me to resist. I prefer to follow my instincts. If I cannot use magic here, I shall be exiting this grove immediately." Humphrey has a bit of a look of a caged animal in his eyes. He turns to walk out of the grove.

Aria has a look of resignation in her eyes, maybe even genuine sadness. "Very well. Though I do not believe the waters would harm you, it is not our way to force aid upon anyone. And I also believe that you speak the truth about having the interests of the Wurld in your heart, at least with respect to the obsidian stone. But be warned: Acererak was a mage of great evil. The forces he bound to himself eventually undid him. And now these forces are bound to you." With these disturbing words, Aria closes her eyes, and in a moment the roots and stones where the doorway once was begin to quietly part. The passage outside is open. The company is ushered out of the inner sanctum of the druids.

The party stands outside the temple on the cobblestone path. "Thank you for your hospitality Aria," Humphrey says. "I shall look forward to a time we can meet again. A wry, almost sexy smile crosses the old mages lips. "As for you, my companions, I am now off to continue my search. I shall travel alone. Good luck on your way to the Southlands. Ware the desert nights, it is during these that desert bandits hunt. Good luck and we shall meet again soon. As for the stone," he says, turning again to Aria, "I shall trust it is safe here, for now. But there are powers greater than you or I that seek it. Be sure to keep it well, for it is a key to a lock that must not be opened again." He pauses to let the words sink in. "Will my spell work now, before I try it again?"

Aria answers Humphrey, "Yes, the inner sanctum is protected from such spells as scrying, clairvoyance, and teleportation. But outside the temple, you should be able to teleport."

Aria pauses, then continues. "Humphrey, I do not exaggerate when I speak of Acererak's evil. His kind spread their plague across the northern continent, when the Magocracy took power. Tens of thousands died under their rule, as human sacrifice to their foul magic. Acererak was among the most powerful of the Magococracy, and the most evil. Beware."

"Thank you for your warning. I know you are correct. I shall heed your words. I am off then." Humphrey bows, then speaks the words of magic that will take him to Galay-- "ebegonema" He dissappears.

Bibi turns to Aria "Once again I am in wonder of the powers of this holy place. I will be present in the morning for the ascensions." Bibi bows and starts to catch Azrael.

Bronk tells the others that he wishes to return to his lands and then to Rasheman. He wants to start building a place for himself on his lands. He asks Ghotu if he wishes to accompany him home.

"Fare well old friend. I will not be able to visit you on your lands as Fyona and I have been banished from the kingdom. Perhaps that mess will sort itself out in the future. Give my best to Mother Beareye."

He then looks to the others, "The wound that took Fyona's arm has seemingly taken her tongue as well but I know she wishes to journey south in search of the Prophet. It is rumoured he can heal such things. You are welcome to join us on our quest, though it may be dangerous to even be seen with us in teh southern cities at the moment."

Mog says, "Mog will accompany Blade and Fyona south."

* * *

Bibi follows Azrael until she finds him alone. She then questions him thoroughly about the challenges and challengers that will occur tomorrow. She also ask if she may have his blessing to also challenge.

[Anne, Bibi knows a little about the challenges anyway, as we discussed last night, but here is Azrael's answer:]

Azrael says, "It is up to each individual as to whether they will challenge. Since Gerund spoke his challenge before you did, he will be allowed to go first. I do not know whether he will be able to best Letaria. As you know, the battle is not to the death, but only to subdual. Then, the following morning, if you so choose, you too may challenge. If Gerund or Letaria is wounded or needs time to recover from their battle, Aria will likely give them more time before she allows you to challenge them.

"Be aware Bibi, the duties of the Archdruids requires their presence here in Dunore more often than the nine Druids, who roam freely thoughout the forest. With the Plant doors, returning to Dunore is easy if you are in the forest. But if you journey to distant lands, where the trees are of different species, return may be harder.

"How is your curse, Bibi? The moon is nearly full, only a few days away. Perhaps, if you are willing to stay until then, Aria would let you hold the Obsidian Stone while the change would normally take you. It would spare you the transformation. If you like, we may ask her of this in the morning, after the challenge."

* * *

[Cut Scene, location unknown:]

Fzzlch learned much from these humans. Though he had never before heard of this Acererak--doubtless some weakling human mage who dabbled in powers beyond himself--Fzzlch is intrigued. He must have this crown and sceptre for his own.

And the obsidian stone. Ah, Fzzlch imagined the gith flesh upon which he could feast, could he only procure that stone. In due time. In due time...

_____

[Anne, if you want to be involved in the challenge, please post. Otherwise, I will wrap up the turn and the party will leave Dunore. If anyone else has business in Dunore, please post what your character says or does.

[For the next few turns, I intended to have Humphrey journey to Galay to research the crown (he expressed this intent earlier), while Blade and Fyona embark on a journey south, to find the Prophet--that will be a long journey, but most of it will be narrated (I won't make you fight a hundred random encounters before you get there...). The other characters--Mog, Ghotu, Bronk, Bibi--can do whatever they wish, such as accompany either Humphrey or Blyona. Or you can do something else if that is your wish.]

Posting Instructions: The forest is kind of dim, as it is pretty dense overhead.

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