The Temple of the Peacock Spirit
Our Heroes find their way to the Temple of the Peacock Spirit, a complex high in the northern Varisian mountains where an ancient cult from the Runelord's time is rumored to be found. They travel by way of the Viridian Transendence, a ritual that involves singing and dancing.
Yes, even Antwon. And of course Nelson joined in. That should not have been a question I wouldn't think.
Most of the inhabitants just waved The Party through, saying something about "He wants to meet with you." There was almost a fight with some Wereboars, but a quick shiv to the leader's kidney sorted shit out right quick. Then a long bridge, and a nice cathedral where the party cleaned out some haunted paintings and ALMOST kept from pissing everyone off just long enough to get some lunch.
Maybe next time. I hear they have a nice buffet.
Then downstairs - some demons, and some other strange dudes, and a weird feathery freak who spoke of himself in third person and called himself "Hobbin". Then a few more demons of the Vudran flavor - all multiple heads and arms and with WAY too many weapons.
Then some giants. Inverted Giants are just the grossest, and this is a group that's spent a good amount of time in the World Wound, you know? It gives me the heebie-geebies just thinking about an inverted giant and that is NOT a phrase I use lightly.
Just WRITING "heebie-geebies" kind of gives me the H-Gs. Eeeew. It's almost as bad as giants who have their organs on the outside of them, and just a toothy maw for a face, with glistening muscles and viscera out for everyone to see.
Viscera. That's another word for the H-Gs if one is not careful.
Well. Then the party found a peacock statue, and Torvan pulled out a red feather. Something went click, and it seemed to work pretty well!
The ball of fire that exploded and burnt everyone when Torvan attempted to pull the purple rod did NOT work as well.
After a quick think, Our Heroes decide to backtrack and look for more of the peacocks, with the idea that they'll disable the complex's defenses and defeat the Runelord! A few giants stand in their way briefly, and then upward and onward and...
And then Runelord Xanderghul appears, and asks the party if they can talk. "I am not your enemy - Alaznist is. She killed me which is why I'm stuck here, and she's in league with the demons who opened the World Wound - Baphomet or Deskari, one of those."
Alaznist is messing with time, which is perhaps why the party is mis-remembering some of their history. X has heard of the Lexicon of Paradox, and says that if part of the Lexicon is called "The Book of Serpents, Ash, and Acorns" then he suspects there are two other parts floating out there.
A nice long conversation is had. In order to tell when Alaznist has altered time, X thinks he'd like to be able to compare current Golarion history books with books that are out of the current time stream. Belimarius (Runelord of Envy) is trapped in a place called Cristilan, locked away outside of time... Xanderghul is trying to track down a way to get inside, but he needs more time to research. It might require the Sihedron - the artifact built by combining the seven activated Runeshards.
Vig even visits Xanderghul downstairs and goes on a tour of the (former(?)) Runelord's apartments! You can fill in the blanks for what a 'tour of the apartments' might mean for Vig.
Then Sorshen is contacted and asked to come over - and several hours later she does just that. She and Our Heroes head downstairs for some nice wine and another pleasant conversation. Xanderghul and Sorshen have known each other for 15,000 years, so there's a lot of subtext and high-information looks and gestures.
Yes, even Antwon. And of course Nelson joined in. That should not have been a question I wouldn't think.
Most of the inhabitants just waved The Party through, saying something about "He wants to meet with you." There was almost a fight with some Wereboars, but a quick shiv to the leader's kidney sorted shit out right quick. Then a long bridge, and a nice cathedral where the party cleaned out some haunted paintings and ALMOST kept from pissing everyone off just long enough to get some lunch.
Maybe next time. I hear they have a nice buffet.
Then downstairs - some demons, and some other strange dudes, and a weird feathery freak who spoke of himself in third person and called himself "Hobbin". Then a few more demons of the Vudran flavor - all multiple heads and arms and with WAY too many weapons.
Then some giants. Inverted Giants are just the grossest, and this is a group that's spent a good amount of time in the World Wound, you know? It gives me the heebie-geebies just thinking about an inverted giant and that is NOT a phrase I use lightly.
Just WRITING "heebie-geebies" kind of gives me the H-Gs. Eeeew. It's almost as bad as giants who have their organs on the outside of them, and just a toothy maw for a face, with glistening muscles and viscera out for everyone to see.
Viscera. That's another word for the H-Gs if one is not careful.
Well. Then the party found a peacock statue, and Torvan pulled out a red feather. Something went click, and it seemed to work pretty well!
The ball of fire that exploded and burnt everyone when Torvan attempted to pull the purple rod did NOT work as well.
After a quick think, Our Heroes decide to backtrack and look for more of the peacocks, with the idea that they'll disable the complex's defenses and defeat the Runelord! A few giants stand in their way briefly, and then upward and onward and...
And then Runelord Xanderghul appears, and asks the party if they can talk. "I am not your enemy - Alaznist is. She killed me which is why I'm stuck here, and she's in league with the demons who opened the World Wound - Baphomet or Deskari, one of those."
Alaznist is messing with time, which is perhaps why the party is mis-remembering some of their history. X has heard of the Lexicon of Paradox, and says that if part of the Lexicon is called "The Book of Serpents, Ash, and Acorns" then he suspects there are two other parts floating out there.
A nice long conversation is had. In order to tell when Alaznist has altered time, X thinks he'd like to be able to compare current Golarion history books with books that are out of the current time stream. Belimarius (Runelord of Envy) is trapped in a place called Cristilan, locked away outside of time... Xanderghul is trying to track down a way to get inside, but he needs more time to research. It might require the Sihedron - the artifact built by combining the seven activated Runeshards.
Vig even visits Xanderghul downstairs and goes on a tour of the (former(?)) Runelord's apartments! You can fill in the blanks for what a 'tour of the apartments' might mean for Vig.
Then Sorshen is contacted and asked to come over - and several hours later she does just that. She and Our Heroes head downstairs for some nice wine and another pleasant conversation. Xanderghul and Sorshen have known each other for 15,000 years, so there's a lot of subtext and high-information looks and gestures.
They seem like nice people. I mean, for 15,000 year old tyrants who control enough magic to rival demon lords. You know.
Vig sneaks off to use a spell of Commune to keep the Black Butterfly advised about events and transpirations.
Vig sneaks off to use a spell of Commune to keep the Black Butterfly advised about events and transpirations.
Xanderghul's stuck in the basement and Sorshen's on the run, but X gives the party the runeshard of Wrath - X was hoping to be able to use it against Alaznist in some way, but it doesn't have any particular powers against (or for) the Runelords.
Next stop is Illmarsh in Ustilav for the next Runeshard!
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