A Midnight Sojourn
Amidst the merry making, Drellak tells the party to stay and enjoy themselves, another fresh pot of stone soup still simmering in the center of the room, as stories of time travel and unknown wars fly about the room. You find it a bit strange that everyone stops, looks at him, and nods in unison, before returning right back to where they left off. He then looks you in the eye and says, "Mind joining me for a midnight constitutional?" You pause for a second, still a bit cautious of your largely mysterious host, and you ask the party if they mind. It is as if the don't even hear you. You turn back to Drellak, and he gives a wink as his eyes seem to sparkle in the torchlight, but there is not a single air of deception in his demeanor, just a coy genuine air and the promise of an interesting time. You set aside your misgivings and the two of you head outside.
Alert now to the slightest detail about your host, you notice the spring in his step, as if the ornate staff in his hand, with scales that look to be formed naturally and then shaped into wood more so than carved from it, and eyes that seem to peer into the soul of all who meet their gaze, is unnecessary. about 50 yards from the entrance to the hut, your suspicions are confirmed, as the man walking next to you begins to get younger and larger with each step. Soon you are walking beside a hulking adonis, whose presence seems almost supernatural. You stop, mouth agape, unsure of what to do next.
"It is time we were properly introduced. I am Kal'Drel, and I have been waiting some time to meet you."
Your heart stops for a second. You and your party had spent many a night theorizing what role this Kal'Drel plays in the apocalypse, but something about his tone connects the dots for you. You remember that he has orchestrated your travels to be sure, guiding you to the understanding of the lich. You remember that it was he who wrote the book regarding the upcoming Apocalypse, which Ptolomy verified as a true account. You remember that this man helped conceptualize Minoas, a being possessing superior insight into the hearts of men, and you remember that Minoas was the one who enslaved and created the lich. It becomes clear in this moment that Kal'Drel is not the lich, but is instead an ally against him, and possibly your only hope of steering the timeline away from what was written.
"I have something to show you" he continues, "should you be willing to humor an old man." You now remember the stories of Kal'Drel and realize this to be true. He is more ancient than any human, or any elf, dying countless times only to be reborn in some far off demiplane before returning to finish his work. You spot the tattoos on his forearms as he gestures to the forest, a flaming Phoenix on his left, a gleaming sword with words in an unknown language on his right. You remember that the legends include him awakening from a chamber when the world needs him the most, and that he has seen the comings and goings of many epochs, spanning from before the times that history as you know it could possibly trace back to.
You agree to see what he has to show you, and just into the forest, out of line of sight of the town around the castle, he waves his arm and a portal appears. He gestures for you to proceed, and smiles kindly as you hesitate for a moment at the precipice. You once more shed your misgivings and walk through, finding yourself in a familiar room. The bed, bookshelf, nightstand, floating light, and runes are all where you remember them, but now this demiplane also contains a number of runes and what looks to be circuitry of metal and ceramics line the walls. There is also a console in the center of the room with levers and knobs. "I've made a few additions since you were last here."
He walks to the center console as the portal closes behind you. He walks to the console, flips some levers, turns some knobs, and a loud noise echoes through the chamber, reminiscent of the music from your box, but more focused, more controlled. A few moments later it stops, and he opens the door once more. You step out, into a scorched world. "This is what still may happen, if the lich and Amand'Laith are not stopped. What is to be is not etched in stone. Sure, there are aspects that must remain, but how they manifest is up to us, up to you." You scan the horizon, and do not see a single thing alive, just ash. He puts his hand on your shoulder, and you jump just a bit, still in shock at what you are witnessing. With a serious expression, he hands you a looking glass and motions for you to turn around. You hold the looking glass up to your eye, and scan the other horizon. The dark clouds make it hard to make out anything, and at first glance you see nothing but desolation once more. But then you see what looks to be lights, ever so faint even at this distance and magnification, rising up into the sky over a hill. "What if I told you that was Amand'Laith and that it was all that survives into this timeframe, besides myself. The worst of the world ending events, the last of the Apocalypses?" You turn, with horror, searching his eyes for the answer to that question, but his expression provides no confirmation, just a grave somberness.
He walks you back into the portal, you take a few steps and collapse into a chair as your legs give out beneath you. Your mind is swimming with questions but you cannot find the strength to speak. He then manipulates the controls once more and the sound returns, only to fade back to silence. The silence seems to permeate everything now, as if somehow extending beyond the room as well.
"Mind you, I did not say it was Amand'Laith." Something about his tone conveys more obfuscation of a code than a true deception of any kind. "If you were certain of that, this would be your future, you would belong to this timeline. The other planes, destroyed, the gods, dead, even Minoas, gone. No, I asked you a question, and you came to a conclusion. While I know the answer, do not expect me to share it with you. Uncertainty is a powerful device, it lines the fabric of reality, and it is the foundation of free will. Sometimes you must maintain this uncertainty, and even good men hide the truth." His expression shifts to more of a coy confidence "Sometimes you must weave certainty into events, in order to anchor yourself to them. I have been helping you do just that. I have seen more than one timeline, having survived to the end of one with the knowledge of retracing my steps has allowed me to move into yours. 'Wake me the day after the city's last appearance' It was a sleep I could not be sure I would awake from, but one day I did. At that point I was the last living creature, and time was my own. But what good is time without anyone to share it with? Anyway, I love a good challenge, so I returned to the heroes who had awoken me previously, only a short time in your future, I returned to you. But I did not return to that moment, for steps cannot be retraced exactly, I returned to your past, on several occasions, providing you with one simple tool you did not have before, and leaving you with the ignorance required to use it beneath notice for just long enough to weave redundant threads upon your own timeline that could not be easily undone. In this way I have allowed you to insulate yourselves against the tools of your enemy, but that alone will not be enough. Minoas helped delay your demise, a point which I had not anticipated and I have been considering since I learned of it, but he has not prevented it entirely; think of it as breathing room. The lich has already gained the ability to see into men's minds in my timeline and even their dreams, and he is about to uncover this ability in yours. He embeds this knowledge into sleeper agents across space time, outside of where you have insulated yourselves with the music box, so even being aware of certain things now becomes a mortal danger."
He pauses for a moment and looks down. "That brings us to this trip. I am so sorry to have meddled with your friends, and I am very glad you were able to resist my trickery, but it means your path will be divergent from theirs from here on out." He sighs, and looks you in the eyes with a resolve. "I have cast Mass Suggestion on them. They are subtly compelled to enjoy this visit, and disregard any unusual activity like slipping off alone with me. I must take them, one by one, and cast both Gaes and Modify Memory on them, so they do not remember my instructions, but feel a subconscious compulsion to carry them out. Once per week, each on a different day, they will use a ring I give them but have clouded from their mind, to cast Dream and enter my dreams. There they will speak of their adventure, passing critical information to me to help shape events. I will provide cryptic instructions at times, but I must be extremely cautious not to let these small ripples be directly noticeable. By the time they awaken they will have forgotten the entire experience, outside of these trace clues I have provided. If we can pull this off, I can keep you from the jaws of your enemy long enough for you to grow in power and hopefully formulate a plan to take down Amand'Laith before it can destroy your reality, hypothetically of course."
He stands and goes to the nightstand, opening the drawer with a slow deliberation, and then pulls out a ring and a necklace. "I will give you one as well, but consider anything we say directly to each other to be heard by the lich. It must only be used in the most dire of circumstances, and even then we must act as spies discussing plans in a room full of our enemies. My hope is that you will instead learn to communicate with me through the dreams of your companions, a simple out of place phrase will be carried secretly to me, unbeknownst to them, which I will be able to act on, and sometimes be able to provide a direct reply, albeit cryptic. You will need to subtly create a dialogue about your dreams, so that on no level they suspect this delicate arrangement, but also so that you can receive critical information."
He hands you a thin ring. "One last thing, every lich has a phylactery, a critical weakness that if destroyed annihilates the lich. Typically this is a small yet durable object, protected by magic and difficult to destroy. The unique way this lich was created, however, and the experiences I have had thus far, have led me to assume that his phylactery is the city itself. I am not sure how it can be destroyed, but that is what we must do in order to destroy him for good, presumably. I will not be able to assist you directly, as it will immediately connect us and my ability to assist indirectly will be gone from that moment forward, spelling certain doom for us all if not timed perfectly. With any luck, I will be able to join you in the end."
He then turns his attention to the necklace, fidgeting with it in his hand for a moment. "You must also take this. It contains a modified Mind Blank spell. Its range of effect in your mind is limited to this interaction, a benefit of carrying on this conversation in a time beyond when the lich has ever bothered going. That silence you feel is what I awoke to. It's funny how we are all connected, but so subtly that it is impossible for most to notice the whispers of everyone else in the back of our minds. Until it is gone." He pauses again as his eyes turn sad and he looks once more at the floors before uttering "Theoretically speaking."
He then somberly returns to the controls and places a hand on a lever. He sighs and pulls his hand off slowly. "This trip has taken a lot out of me, and I am sure you have questions. How about we resign ourselves to the main foyer and continue our conversation before getting some rest?"
You look around the 30 foot room, with one bed and clearly no foyer, and look a bit puzzled. He smiles, pulls out a book from the shelf entitled "Small Comforts in Even Smaller Rooms," turns the page so that you can see it is on 216, reads the words "The Perks of Membership" while pointing at the wall opposite of where the door always opens. A portal appears, and he returns the book to the shelf, in the far upper left corner. "This way."
You walk through the portal into the foyer of a magnificent mansion, more fantastic than you have ever seen. Rooms line the upper floor, beyond your field of view, and there are large rooms in each direction downstairs that appear to be the dining room, living room, and kitchen. You can't help but stand in the doorway, taking it all in, as he leaves for the kitchen, returning with a feast. "I prefer to eat in the living room/study if that's alright with you?" He leads you into a comfortable room with a fireplace, and you each slump into overstuffed chairs. "So, what else would you like to know before we head back?"
Alert now to the slightest detail about your host, you notice the spring in his step, as if the ornate staff in his hand, with scales that look to be formed naturally and then shaped into wood more so than carved from it, and eyes that seem to peer into the soul of all who meet their gaze, is unnecessary. about 50 yards from the entrance to the hut, your suspicions are confirmed, as the man walking next to you begins to get younger and larger with each step. Soon you are walking beside a hulking adonis, whose presence seems almost supernatural. You stop, mouth agape, unsure of what to do next.
"It is time we were properly introduced. I am Kal'Drel, and I have been waiting some time to meet you."
Your heart stops for a second. You and your party had spent many a night theorizing what role this Kal'Drel plays in the apocalypse, but something about his tone connects the dots for you. You remember that he has orchestrated your travels to be sure, guiding you to the understanding of the lich. You remember that it was he who wrote the book regarding the upcoming Apocalypse, which Ptolomy verified as a true account. You remember that this man helped conceptualize Minoas, a being possessing superior insight into the hearts of men, and you remember that Minoas was the one who enslaved and created the lich. It becomes clear in this moment that Kal'Drel is not the lich, but is instead an ally against him, and possibly your only hope of steering the timeline away from what was written.
"I have something to show you" he continues, "should you be willing to humor an old man." You now remember the stories of Kal'Drel and realize this to be true. He is more ancient than any human, or any elf, dying countless times only to be reborn in some far off demiplane before returning to finish his work. You spot the tattoos on his forearms as he gestures to the forest, a flaming Phoenix on his left, a gleaming sword with words in an unknown language on his right. You remember that the legends include him awakening from a chamber when the world needs him the most, and that he has seen the comings and goings of many epochs, spanning from before the times that history as you know it could possibly trace back to.
You agree to see what he has to show you, and just into the forest, out of line of sight of the town around the castle, he waves his arm and a portal appears. He gestures for you to proceed, and smiles kindly as you hesitate for a moment at the precipice. You once more shed your misgivings and walk through, finding yourself in a familiar room. The bed, bookshelf, nightstand, floating light, and runes are all where you remember them, but now this demiplane also contains a number of runes and what looks to be circuitry of metal and ceramics line the walls. There is also a console in the center of the room with levers and knobs. "I've made a few additions since you were last here."
He walks to the center console as the portal closes behind you. He walks to the console, flips some levers, turns some knobs, and a loud noise echoes through the chamber, reminiscent of the music from your box, but more focused, more controlled. A few moments later it stops, and he opens the door once more. You step out, into a scorched world. "This is what still may happen, if the lich and Amand'Laith are not stopped. What is to be is not etched in stone. Sure, there are aspects that must remain, but how they manifest is up to us, up to you." You scan the horizon, and do not see a single thing alive, just ash. He puts his hand on your shoulder, and you jump just a bit, still in shock at what you are witnessing. With a serious expression, he hands you a looking glass and motions for you to turn around. You hold the looking glass up to your eye, and scan the other horizon. The dark clouds make it hard to make out anything, and at first glance you see nothing but desolation once more. But then you see what looks to be lights, ever so faint even at this distance and magnification, rising up into the sky over a hill. "What if I told you that was Amand'Laith and that it was all that survives into this timeframe, besides myself. The worst of the world ending events, the last of the Apocalypses?" You turn, with horror, searching his eyes for the answer to that question, but his expression provides no confirmation, just a grave somberness.
He walks you back into the portal, you take a few steps and collapse into a chair as your legs give out beneath you. Your mind is swimming with questions but you cannot find the strength to speak. He then manipulates the controls once more and the sound returns, only to fade back to silence. The silence seems to permeate everything now, as if somehow extending beyond the room as well.
"Mind you, I did not say it was Amand'Laith." Something about his tone conveys more obfuscation of a code than a true deception of any kind. "If you were certain of that, this would be your future, you would belong to this timeline. The other planes, destroyed, the gods, dead, even Minoas, gone. No, I asked you a question, and you came to a conclusion. While I know the answer, do not expect me to share it with you. Uncertainty is a powerful device, it lines the fabric of reality, and it is the foundation of free will. Sometimes you must maintain this uncertainty, and even good men hide the truth." His expression shifts to more of a coy confidence "Sometimes you must weave certainty into events, in order to anchor yourself to them. I have been helping you do just that. I have seen more than one timeline, having survived to the end of one with the knowledge of retracing my steps has allowed me to move into yours. 'Wake me the day after the city's last appearance' It was a sleep I could not be sure I would awake from, but one day I did. At that point I was the last living creature, and time was my own. But what good is time without anyone to share it with? Anyway, I love a good challenge, so I returned to the heroes who had awoken me previously, only a short time in your future, I returned to you. But I did not return to that moment, for steps cannot be retraced exactly, I returned to your past, on several occasions, providing you with one simple tool you did not have before, and leaving you with the ignorance required to use it beneath notice for just long enough to weave redundant threads upon your own timeline that could not be easily undone. In this way I have allowed you to insulate yourselves against the tools of your enemy, but that alone will not be enough. Minoas helped delay your demise, a point which I had not anticipated and I have been considering since I learned of it, but he has not prevented it entirely; think of it as breathing room. The lich has already gained the ability to see into men's minds in my timeline and even their dreams, and he is about to uncover this ability in yours. He embeds this knowledge into sleeper agents across space time, outside of where you have insulated yourselves with the music box, so even being aware of certain things now becomes a mortal danger."
He pauses for a moment and looks down. "That brings us to this trip. I am so sorry to have meddled with your friends, and I am very glad you were able to resist my trickery, but it means your path will be divergent from theirs from here on out." He sighs, and looks you in the eyes with a resolve. "I have cast Mass Suggestion on them. They are subtly compelled to enjoy this visit, and disregard any unusual activity like slipping off alone with me. I must take them, one by one, and cast both Gaes and Modify Memory on them, so they do not remember my instructions, but feel a subconscious compulsion to carry them out. Once per week, each on a different day, they will use a ring I give them but have clouded from their mind, to cast Dream and enter my dreams. There they will speak of their adventure, passing critical information to me to help shape events. I will provide cryptic instructions at times, but I must be extremely cautious not to let these small ripples be directly noticeable. By the time they awaken they will have forgotten the entire experience, outside of these trace clues I have provided. If we can pull this off, I can keep you from the jaws of your enemy long enough for you to grow in power and hopefully formulate a plan to take down Amand'Laith before it can destroy your reality, hypothetically of course."
He stands and goes to the nightstand, opening the drawer with a slow deliberation, and then pulls out a ring and a necklace. "I will give you one as well, but consider anything we say directly to each other to be heard by the lich. It must only be used in the most dire of circumstances, and even then we must act as spies discussing plans in a room full of our enemies. My hope is that you will instead learn to communicate with me through the dreams of your companions, a simple out of place phrase will be carried secretly to me, unbeknownst to them, which I will be able to act on, and sometimes be able to provide a direct reply, albeit cryptic. You will need to subtly create a dialogue about your dreams, so that on no level they suspect this delicate arrangement, but also so that you can receive critical information."
He hands you a thin ring. "One last thing, every lich has a phylactery, a critical weakness that if destroyed annihilates the lich. Typically this is a small yet durable object, protected by magic and difficult to destroy. The unique way this lich was created, however, and the experiences I have had thus far, have led me to assume that his phylactery is the city itself. I am not sure how it can be destroyed, but that is what we must do in order to destroy him for good, presumably. I will not be able to assist you directly, as it will immediately connect us and my ability to assist indirectly will be gone from that moment forward, spelling certain doom for us all if not timed perfectly. With any luck, I will be able to join you in the end."
He then turns his attention to the necklace, fidgeting with it in his hand for a moment. "You must also take this. It contains a modified Mind Blank spell. Its range of effect in your mind is limited to this interaction, a benefit of carrying on this conversation in a time beyond when the lich has ever bothered going. That silence you feel is what I awoke to. It's funny how we are all connected, but so subtly that it is impossible for most to notice the whispers of everyone else in the back of our minds. Until it is gone." He pauses again as his eyes turn sad and he looks once more at the floors before uttering "Theoretically speaking."
He then somberly returns to the controls and places a hand on a lever. He sighs and pulls his hand off slowly. "This trip has taken a lot out of me, and I am sure you have questions. How about we resign ourselves to the main foyer and continue our conversation before getting some rest?"
You look around the 30 foot room, with one bed and clearly no foyer, and look a bit puzzled. He smiles, pulls out a book from the shelf entitled "Small Comforts in Even Smaller Rooms," turns the page so that you can see it is on 216, reads the words "The Perks of Membership" while pointing at the wall opposite of where the door always opens. A portal appears, and he returns the book to the shelf, in the far upper left corner. "This way."
You walk through the portal into the foyer of a magnificent mansion, more fantastic than you have ever seen. Rooms line the upper floor, beyond your field of view, and there are large rooms in each direction downstairs that appear to be the dining room, living room, and kitchen. You can't help but stand in the doorway, taking it all in, as he leaves for the kitchen, returning with a feast. "I prefer to eat in the living room/study if that's alright with you?" He leads you into a comfortable room with a fireplace, and you each slump into overstuffed chairs. "So, what else would you like to know before we head back?"
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