Chain of Worlds

As we headed up the mountain towards the crashed Aerie of Summer, we entered a cloud of darkness centered on the mountain. Within the darkness were a multitude of spirit forms. These forms appear to be the husks that remain of other spirits.

It is unclear when these spirits appeared after the fall.

As we progressed up the mountain, we encountered undead who were equipped and dressed in a way consistent with the undead army that sent us to Furlough in the first place. We dispatched these undead and eventually reached the site of the crashed Aerie near the temple at the top of the mountain.

Baern began to have a strong desire to plant his giant acorn in the temple. While I wished to search the Aerie, it did seem desirable to first secure our surroundings. Therefore, we made our way to the temple. Here we encountered an undead warrior guarding a skeleton in a circle. The skeleton had the Sword of Summer inserted into her skull. It was within this circle that Baern wished to plant the acorn.

Once we defeated the warrior, I studied the circle. It was similar in design to the circle we recovered the Grotius Cube from (though still active). Designed to focus energies into the circle and then into the outer planes. I now believe that this circle was designed to allow the Lich Queen to potentially ascend into a quasi-deity.

I constructed a secondary circle around the other to keep the spirit forms away from the Queen when I suppressed the circle. I was concerned that these spirits would be able reanimate the Queen if they were able to infuse her body.

Seconds after I suppressed the circle, the Lich Queen came back into action. What power! She dropped her own circle and was barely slowed by my own (I have made notes that I believe will strengthen my future efforts). She recovered two swords before departing.

In retrospect, this is what I believe happened: The two swords represented the phylactery of the Lich Queen and her hand matron (the guard we defeated). The circle had blocked the Lich Queen from her phylactery until it was suppressed. Once this occurred, she was able to restore herself and depart.

Planting the acorn had an immediate effect. An oak tree began to sprout from the spot and the darkness was quickly suppressed. Though in retrospect, in may have been the departure of the Lich Queen that caused the dissipation.

Baern’s instructions did not include any warning or consideration about freeing the Lich Queen. I think this may be an indication that while the Mother remains, she has been altered on a behavioral level. It is as if she has become more animalistic, more feral. I suspect that this change may be caused by the Primal worship of the Mother that we encountered to the north.

It is now time to leave Ascension and see as to the fate of the other Aeries.

Posted by Savin at 1:12 PM 0 comments  

Labels: Savin, Summary

We finally have reached Ascension but the city is not the center of learning it was when we left.

As we entered the city, everyone was required to hand over their books to have them inspected by the Scriveners and have their mark updated. In my day, a Scrivener mark was a simple indication of the scribe guild that made the copy. Now, however, it looks more like governmental censorship. Books are “reviewed” before the mark is applied.

I was able to only hand over two of my many books by a clever explanation of the arcane situation. Unfortunately, one of the books I was forced to pass over was my journal. It seemed innocuous at the time, but soon I would get additional information that would change this view.

Since entering the city, it has become increasingly clear that the Patriarch runs Ascension as a theocracy. Church enforcers roam the streets. The University shows the greatest impact. Here, scientific investigation has been replaced by religious doctrine. All of this close mindedness appears to stem from the fact that the Patriarch was the first to reappear after the fall with divine powers. This, combined with the complete destruction of the existing university hierarchy, has allowed the church to dictate magical theory.

We have met with the Patriarch, and there is something wrong with him. I cannot fully determine the nature of the issue, but I suspect that he may6 be under the influence of an outside force.

I have recovered my tomes, and the party has established a source of income. I will continue to build influence with the University and, hopefully, I can reestablish a proper research group.

In the meantime, there is a crashed Aerie near to Ascension. If I can examine the dualistic elements that make up the power room, I may be able to determine precisely what occurred during the Fall. Unfortunately, the undead army that was threatening Ascension at the time of the Fall seems to be reestablishing itself on the mountain.

Posted by Savin at 10:24 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Savin, Summary, World