Session 73 - Jalana Ramondo: Shadows Revealed and A Wrong Righted
So, it's clear now that Diedora is not Divine Fortune's best friend. Taedor did not ever detect evil in her heart but the same cannot be said about her associates. Ibis recalls talking with Diedora and Lorenzo during the long days a sea on the return from Maztica. She spoke a lot about morals, the root of good and evil and what makes a person act they way they do. Looking back she may have been struggling with her own morality. A few things are sure - Diedora, Jalana and the others mentioned in the journal are all agents of Shar. They are taking direction from the Shadovar, the Netherese that recently returned to Faerun. Given this, they are mostly likely to be users of the Shadow Weave. Now, don't you feel lucky that last battle didn't take place in a Wild Magic or (gulp!) Dead Magic zone? That purple disk shield that Jalana had protecting him must have been a Shadow Weave user's power. Taedor and Peccable now wonder if that's why Jalana's spells were so hard to dispel...? A Shadow Druid....who would have thought? With this revelation, other things start falling into place. The Shadow Treants, Szorlog's shadow minions etc...Shar's experiments with the Shadow Weave took place around the edges of the Weave....in secret places. She appears to have reach in the Unseelie Court. Diedora's insistence on getting hold of Chavel's Tome at all costs now almost seems rational. It's been a wild ride that takes us back about seven months ago (game time). I've attached the my wrap up from the Mage Fair and the games at the Quivering Thumb during Shieldmeet. Wow, it was all fun and games back then. That was when the group found their name and gained the first bit of notarity around Westgate. Since then Divine Fortune have - * Worked for Westgate's Thayan enclave. A morally dubious group that. Celerion is much happier out adventuring than home at the cloisters since the Monks of Pure Flame moved. * Rooted out the source of the plague that almost brought the city to it's knees * Broke up an unholy alliance between the worshippers of Garagos and Umberlee * Stumbled upon a letter to Trillobia the Hag, which eventually lead them to where they are now. It's now clear they were most unusual 'sisters'. * Been the souce of a hit song penned by Jill. The song did particularly well after Jill's performance at the Giant's Folly of Reddansyr on the eve of THE Auction of the year. * Met Imater in person (well, some of them) * Destroyed the curse of Umberlee that drifted across the Sean of Fallen stars for many years. * Created a Wild Magic zone in the Sea of Fallen Stars....during the Year of Wild Magic. * Learnt of the clan of Assasins called the Fire Knives operating in Westgate * Heard that their old foes of the Undrek-Thoz, House Vrasl, had commissioned a band of Drow mercanaries, know as Durdyn's Devils, to seek and ancient Imaskari site known a Sonjar's Tower. * Experienced Tymora's smile and Beshaba's wicked grin at the Shrine of Mixed Fortune. * Met the leader of Cedarspoke (Zalaznar Crinios)....without asking...he wanted to met Divine Fortune! Weird. * Lost a dear friend and ally, Chauvalette. * Made friends with the Petals of Gulthmere Forest. Ding ding! * Removed the new residents of Dragon's Rest * Travelled by Backroad through Crossroads. Played a few songs, did a few jigs, told a few stories. * Destroyed the Nightmare Twisted Tree that haunted the barrow beyond Deepwood. * Defeated the Mad Monk of Long Death as he held Celerion life at his whim. * Learnt of a powerful lich (The Blasphemer of Long Death) secured in a vault in the former Temple of Imater of Gulthmere Forest. A year and a day.... * Crossed swords with the Mine Overseer Dorn Crownshield. * Killed the Unseelie Nymph of the Secret Grove and the Hags that dwelled there And....... * Uncovered the Shadow Moot. Like life, there's lots of unfinished business - questions to be answered, old friends to catch up with and old enemies to track down.
Journal of Celerion
Exhausted. We have learned the secrets of the Secret Grove. We finally found this Jalana Ramondo, and boy, had he turned to evil in a big way.
We found him in a secret cave behind a waterfall, a cave with many little cells. Each cell contained obvious experiments, experiments on poor creatures. Half breeds and half mutilated creatures. Once we crashed into his inner sanctum, it was all on. We didn't see him at first, so we just defending ourselves from minotaur creatures led by an absolutely huge specimen. We didn't start well, and in particular I had some early trouble after crashing through the double doors. They were quite ready and hit me hard, tripping me to the floor with large whips.
As soon as I gained my footing, I retreated back down the corridor in need of some fast healing. I was seriously overpowered by myself in there. Next thing we know, the corridor is in darkness, and Peccable is throwing some heavy holy firepower into the room beyond. After being healed, I raced through the dark to try to surprise the enemies with a sudden reappearance. This, also was not a great call, as they were again waiting, and I suffered the whips once more.
This time, after having gained my footing, I blinked out and back into the room again, behind the furthest beast in an attempt to surprise. I was thwarted however, by the appearance of Jalana Ramondo from a back room. I ran at him, but soon discovered there was some sort of shield protecting him from my advance within ten feet or so! He also had a strange purple shield which I saw deflect arrows from the others.
We all felt in deep trouble now, and double so when Ramondo called into being a tightly formed whirlwind which cause much havoc round the room. Soon, however, Divine Fortune got the upper hand on the minions, and except for the strange wind entity, had only Ramondo remaining. I climbed in behind him, and found I could shoot, and hit him from behind where his purple shield was not facing. Jill was quick to join me, but as soon as he realised his advantage was broken, he turned into an eagle and soared away! I could not chase hard enough, nor could Jill fly fast enough to bring him down. Damn.
But he had to leave in such a hurry that he left all his work and importantly his journal, where we have learned all his foul plot, or at least all he cared to write about in his assumed safety.
Importantly, he was in league with Diedora and had possession of the Chavel's Tome which we had only recently acquired for her! I was particularly annoyed at this betrayal by Diedora. We had all thought her a useful friend and ally. Sure, she wasn't afraid to pull in her debts, but we really didn't think she was capable of much real evil. She helped us to get Lothulind - I guess she just saw her as a possible threat.
Also of interest, it seems these two are part of a larger group aligned with Shar and dealing in the so-called Shadow Weave. They also seem to be taking direction from the Shadowvar. Disturbing news as well. They call themselves the Shadow Moot. Since Ramondo escaped, we have no doubt now that we have very powerful enemies indeed. We must be very careful, and stay hidden over the next few days and weeks, perhaps much longer.
The mages in the team are very concerned about their use of this shadow magic, for they really seemed to have trouble countering it, and Elminster seemed to think it might work in dead and wild magic zones.
We must tread carefully.