Group 3 "To Do" Thread

[Lycos]

I keep forgetting about things we said we were going to do, and promised to do. So I thought this would be a useful thread to keep that information in.

[Lycos]

We have the amulet from the ambassador of Defiance. We should check that place out sometime.

[Lycos]

Find and kill Sanabelt.

[Lycos]

In 2 weeks time, we need to be ready to run weapons out to Defiance.

[Lycos]

We have another enemy in the background. Find out who it is an neutralize the source with extreme prejudice. :mrgreen:

[EricStratton]

The swordmaker does tell you that he's heard there is a powerful magical sword in a dragon horde to the south.
Rumor from swordmaker in Bracken.

[Lycos]

In Bracken, the Lord Provost and Rat King owe us a favor.

[Lycos]

We have the map of the Tomb of Aethering. It's on our bucket list. :D

Map link: http://www.legendsofwestwood.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1966&d=1257771794

[Lycos]

Archibald MacLeash stole our gems, and invited us to his dungeon in the cavern around where we met Sebastion. We're gonna kick his arse some day. :D

[Shiz]

Keeping our divine visions in one place:

Later that night, Baladir finds a quiet spot and turns his full attention to his holy symbol.

At first, he feels nothing.

Then he begins praying to the holy symbol.

Again, nothing happens.

Then he tries praying through the holy symbol and, at last, begins to feel a connection.
It seems hazy at first. Like a whisper in the fog. He pursues the sound, feeling now like he's in a fog shrouded maze. But he persists, weaving his way through to the center of the maze. There, he finds a glowing pedestal. On the pedestal is a statue to his god.

Kneeling next to the pedestal is a knight, humble before his lord. The knight makes a genuflection and turns to face Baladir. Opening his mouth, he begins to.. of all things.. sing. And this is what he sings:

(Listen to the attachment)

As he finishes, he stares directly into Baladir's eyes and Baladir begins to see a series of visions.

A paladin, paragon of his calling and faith, voluntarily lays down his life to trap a great evil.

A figure in plate mail reaches down to life a holy symbol from the bones of one long dead.

The figure dons the symbol - and lo, it is not only a fighter, but a Paladin of virtue and honor.

The Paladin, however, unwittingly releases a great evil.

But he risks his life to save a boy stabbed by goblins.. and returns him home.

He confronts lizardmen, but uses wisdom before violence. He finds truth where a lesser knight would bring only death.

And he vanquishes a dragon! The figure is impressed.

And he helps a boy - a brave shade of a child past - to find final peace.

The paladin cowering behind another - and not only is that other lesser armored, it is also a woman. The figure is not impressed. It tries to show it's disdain. The paladin ignores it.

The paladin uses his healing gifts on himself, early in a fight, when he is not significantly wounded and his party is more in need. The figure is angered. The paladin again ignores all warnings. The figure binds some of the paladin's power - stripping him of the greedily devoured healing. The paladin still doesn't notice.

The paladin and his party fighting a great foe and in dire straights.. the figure relents, releasing the healing.

A hand of magic, demanding answers. The figure swats it away.

The paladin, finally, coming as supplicant seeking enlightenment.

Trask also finds a quite place to commune. Focusing his prayers through his holy symbol, Trask gives thanks and praise and eventually gets around to asking a few questions.

The gods look favorably on the recovery of the Warforged. They do not find it a threat as in the attempt to create life. Rather, they see it as a way to move some existing lives into new and more useful forms.

As for Malacon, Trask gets a vision...

A dark figure lashes out violently at those who have caused him such... inconvenience. The attack is repulsed, but not without cost.

Taking some solace in that, the dark figure retreats to the shadows to torment his captive and to plot.

Time passes.

The dark figure re-emerges, moving through the world with purpose.
The figure finds a stick, puts it in a particular place and merges with it. Moment's later, a radiant figure comes along and picks up the stick. As the figure moves away, Trask notices a darkness on the seam of the figure's cloak. A darkness, unknown to the figure, that very slowly begins to grow.

[Shiz]

To the "Young Heros",

Somehow, it doesn't surprise me that you've run off on some boondoggle instead of helping to capture this ancient evil you've released. But I suppose it was too much to ask for you to be as responsible as you were gullible.

Well, on the off chance that you don't get yourselves killed before remembering the urgent task you begged me to undertake, I've written this letter and given it to the Mayor. If you do get yourselves killed, I suppose this might do the Baron some good, should he learn of the threat.

I write this down, rather than waiting, because I sense my efforts have been noticed. I would not be surprised if I am attacked before the week is out. It is important that what I have discovered not die with me.

Malacon is most likely the Aspect of Anarchy. The gods sent the Aspects to the mortal plan in what the learned call a "Time of Testing". It is believed that the last such test occurred a millenia ago. What that test was, none now remember. Nor do we have any records of which aspects came to lead the fight. We do know, though, that the Aspect of Anarchy cheated. When its task was complete and its host died, it remained on the mortal plane.

The Aspect of Anarchy seeks to forment discord and it feeds off of the pain and suffering caused. It can manipulate the minds of men in subtle but powerful ways. It can also possess others - though usually only those unwary and unprotected or those willing to be a host. When the host dies, Malacon can leave it to find a new host or can exist as a wraith-like being.

I do not know how to destroy Malacon. I suspect, as an Aspect, it cannot actually "die". Nor was I able to discover how to return it to the Realms of the Gods. I was able to find how Malacon was contained.

Malacon's host was disabled, but not killed. It was then covered with the Robes of Containment to prevent it from leaving the host when the host died. The robes also prevented Malacon from turning non-corporeal.

The robed Aspect was placed in a blessed, underground vault. To prevent Malacon from influencing others, a layered barrier was created. First there were the sanctified walls and door of the vault. Beyone that was a radiant barrier maintained by powerful ritual candles. The candles themselves were maintained by the faith and sacrifice of six holy souls.

To capture and hold Malacon, you must do several things:

1. Find him and bind him. Or perhaps you can find a way to draw him to you. The bones of his original host might help.

2. Find a way to capture his spirit and hold it. The Robes of Containment will work, once they are repaired. I hid them in the wall of my home just north of the altar.

3. Find a barrier to prevent his influence. You may wish to recover the ritual candles in the tomb where you found him. They are probably anchored. You must find a way to get them without harming them.

4. You must find a way to sustain the candles. This will require strong faith and great sacrifice.

If you return, may Pelor guide and bless you in this endeavor.
If you do not, well, the gods will do as they do.