Chronicle - The Rescue of Yagitamo
To Limbo
Being back on the plains of Golgorath, a weaker mind might have thought we had dreamed our trip to Asgard, but there were clear signs that things had changed since we left. Burn marks showed where the dragolich, Rantor, had scorched the earth, and a number of bodies were visible. We sent a message to Si-Lung regarding Ollyhydra's dislike of Milai, suspecting that Inwe had blamed Milai for the acts of the Drow and wanting to explain that we were not her enemy. We then set off on another journey through the planes, starting once more with Asgard, as that was close to Limbo.
I took us there, this time leaving Aras and Bavarik to tell their tales of the Gods amongst their people, and Lanzi set about using his map and compass to locate a gate to Limbo. We first entered onto the Astral and then started moving rapidly, following Lanzi's lead. We were to be interrupted, though, as we came across some dragon-like beasts with Gith mounted upon them; they seemed to be engaging something on the far side of their number, but the rearmost quickly turned their attention to us.
There was a mental assault on Milai and Lanzi, as four of the winged creatures, each with two Gith upon them, approached at speed. I let off a fireball from the mace, as Milai absorbed dweomer that came back at us. Magic missiles got through, but failed to hurt me. What was painful, though, was the creatures' fiery breath, and it was clear that we would have to target them before the Gith. Milai hasted herself and attacked, slaying one of the creatures by hacking at its head until it was separated from the neck. The body continued some way before the Gith managed to separate themselves and head back towards us. Lanzi sent a familiar ray at another of them, and to everyone's surprise he successfully disintegrated the beast, leaving two Gith floating in a cloud of dust. Just to make sure his reputation did not suffer, he also created mirror images to protect himself.
Hintzu drew his Daikyu, but as he loosed his first arrow he ended up tumbling backwards in a circle, unable to brace himself in this place. He stopped himself with the power of his mind, but the arrow flew wildly over the target. Milai caused an explosion of ice around another creature, whilst engaging the Gith in melee. More breath weapons scorched us, causing great pain, Lanzi lost a few images, and Hintzu was stabbed by a poisonous tail (although he was immune to the poison). Lanzi ordered a strange stone to float around his head, then conjured a column of flame, killing another of the creatures and both its riders. Hintzu wisely switched to his Lajatang and landed solid blows on the flying creature nearest to us, and I followed up with a massive hammer blow, caving its head in and knocking it flying.
Milai killed the two Gith she was fighting, and then also ordered a stone to fly around her head (apparently these were a defence against mental assault). Another flying creature swooped to attack her, but she decapitated it as it passed, and dropped an ice attack on the Gith. There was but one flying creature left alive, but I suffered its breath yet again and was badly burned; the shield on my back provided some protection but was destroyed in the heat. Lanzi fought fire with fire, hurling a fireball that killed the creature and Hintzu and I engaged in melee with the Gith. I used the mace to heal my substantial wounds, as Hintzu killed one of the Gith. Milai finished the two she had been fighting, then turned and felled the last with a surprise blow from behind.
As the last of them fell, a human appeared (apparently he was the one that had initially drawn the attention of the Gith) and greeted us. He introduced himself as "Felanor", and instantly bowed to Lanzi, telling of his great regard for his legendary exploits and achievements - as if Lanzi needed a boost to his ego. He served Freya, and knew of our quest to aid Perion. He was quick to talk about himself, and we soon learned that he was Mercantire's son! He sought his father in Morgrad, and was well versed in planar travel, preferring to avoid fights where possible. A large, white, glowing pegasus creature appeared next to him, radiant, and knelt before Lanzi, praising him in the common tongue (not another one). He also conversed with us about our quest, being something of a companion of Felanor's. He regretted that he could not accompany his friend to Morgrad, and Felanor removed a bridle from him and said farewell before the creature once again disappeared.
Felanor seemed agreeable to our quest to return Merc to Asgard, and welcomed likeminded company, so we continued our journey together. Eventually we came across a large, shiny black well and could look through it into the chaos of Limbo. Lanzi attempted to direct the gate at the home of the Gnomes, and the viewpoint shifted; we could just about make out the place we were looking for some way in the distance. Lanzi slowly moved the gate closer to our destination, but as we had anticipated this approach was detected and the gate began to close. We quickly stepped through, and I emerged into a bubble of water, quickly making a one-word prayer that created a pocket of air, enabling me to breathe!
Felanor seemed completely unaffected by the chaos swirling around in Limbo, although that chaos was beginning to settle down a little as our minds interacted with the form of the plane. He offered to go and ask the Gnomes for assistance, and happily set off in their direction, surrounded by his own personal bubble of air. Lanzi concentrated on bringing some nearby rocks over for us to stand on, and Milai created a pocket of Prime material so that we would be comfortable in the mean time. We eventually set off after Felanor, although much more slowly.
Gnome guards in bright shiny armour greeted Felanor as he approached the gates, and it was clear that he had been here before. He noted that the White Council were (slowly) on their way over and entered their halls. Light was created for the benefit of us mere humans, highlighting a hall that appeared bigger on the inside than the outside, with a vaulted blue ceiling as if on a sunny day on the Prime. Gnomes caused tables and chairs to move into position for us with their minds, so that we might seat ourselves comfortably. As we finally reached the edge of the Gnomes' domain they created stairs for us to easily alight, and invited us in with bows. Felanor was already eating hungrily, and I was happy to join him for an excellent meal.
A younger looking Gnome, with a half grown beard and dressed in red finery, who was clearly a leader here introduced himself as Graftak (a descendant of Ichshoos). He explained that most of his people were away on the Prime, fighting for Rodrus. He also confirmed that Perion had been through these halls recently. He was a little upset that he had been left to defend their home when his kin faced mortal peril fighting the "greatest fight in history" against the enemy forces from the forgotten lands. None of his kin, other than those gathered here, were left on the planes; all were on the Prime at Morgul to prepare for this fight.
Milai was concerned that our friend, Ichshoos, should face mortal peril without our support. Hintzu, who knew that Odin's quest took him on a different path anyway, stepped forward and volunteered to go to his side and ensure victory in the fight to come; this victory had been foretold in visions, but he would protect Ichshoos during the battle. Whilst we rested, Lanzi took the opportunity to use dweomer to summon a familiar, hoping that the promises of the Gods would be upheld. Sure enough (he should have had faith), Moya Moya was returned to him and glad to be reunited.
Frasgrad - Drow Fortress of Ash
We then set about the task of continuing our journey to find Yagitamo. I asked for a large bowl of water, which I blessed and then called on Odin's power to enable me to scry through this font. I sought Perion, knowing that our visions put them together and that he should not be screened in any way. I saw him on a cliff edge, filthy with ash, cold, wrapped in a cloak on a narrow path. Looking closer, I saw that his cloak was wrapped around another that he was trying to keep warm, as a flash of lightning highlighted him more clearly. The light also revealed a few feline predators ahead of him, and he saw them too. He placed another cloak over Yagitamo (for it was he) and readied his sword. Lanzi quickly used dweomer to send a message to him, asking him to find a place of safety as we were on our way to his location.
We travelled to the Astral with the assistance of the Gnomes, and from there to the Ethereal with Lanzi's guidance. He then sought out a gate to the Plane of Ash, and surprisingly we reached it without meeting any foes. Milai went first, creating a pocket of Prime material again so that we could safely enter. Lanzi and I landed heavily but were safe, but there was no sign of Felanor. I activated the light on my crown, and held it outside the pocket Milai had created, hoping that he was not far from us, and shortly afterwards he stepped inside, again not peturbed by the plane's choking ash cloud.