return from Gorrush-Kar

[cellio]

May 22, later

Elys' is even more impressive in person than I'd imagined. She shines with magic and the star in her hand does actually glow. She's now dressed in some of Liandra's clothes (they're about the same size), and we gave her a few magic items we've been holding for her: a headband of intellect taken from Melisande, bracers of armor, the cloak of resistance that I originally made for Kyle, and the spellbooks we took from Melisande. (We also found Kepta-Mor's spellbooks and she took those too.)

She asked about Therion immediately, and we told her that we had seen him and he still sleeps in the caverns of Laryn. Soon, I hope, he will awake and they will be together. Liandra gave him the locket that Therion had been holding; we no longer need it to be able to scry Elys' because she's with us now. Elys' got teary at that and said she had given it to him centuries ago.

Elys' told us that she doesn't think she was specifically Kepta-Mor's target, but he had been planning aggression against Agondre and he seemed happy to catch her. He spoke to her from time to time by scrying.

Meanwhile, Dorla was still quite agitated, and her dagger arm kept making stabbing motions long after Kepta-Mor was dead and we took the dagger away. Liandra discovered that it was a mechanical failure; some of the machinery Kepta-Mor had put in her was broken. Turok and Dorla spoke a lot; he told us later that she didn't believe he was really Turok at first because of his transformation. It reminded her, Turok told us, of what Kepta-Mor had done to her, transforming her into something very different from herself. It sounds awful; she said she was awake for most of it. Turok assured her that he was not filled with metal and that we were trying to help her. (He was restraining her the whole time and told us that she is very strong.)

Liandra attempted to heal her; Dorla has apparently never seen a healer before. She was able to stop the automated response and locate the control device, but she wasn't able to negate it. She has some ideas to try tomorrow, though. And, at least, Dorla has stopped asking us to just kill her now.

When searching the keep we found, in Kepta-Mor's lab, pieces of the meta-golem from Durgam's Folly. So that's what the cat-man was doing there -- bringing back artifacts so that Kepta-Mor could replicate the work. I do hope that he doesn't have other victims beyond Dorla; that's bad enough.

In securing the place we found and disposed of a few more guards, and then we found the flying ship that Kepta-Mor kept here. Yes! I had been hoping to capture one of those. It will take time to fly it back, though, and we have to return to Agondre quickly now that we have the Dragon's Heart. So I got the idea to contact the mayor of Aulos via the crystal ball.

When I reached him he first challenged my identity, thinking that Kepta-Mor was scrying him and pretending to be me. It's good that he's cautious; it's an important survival skill. Once I convinced him of my identity (by telling him things that happened while we were in Aulos two days ago), I told him of our victory over Kepta-Mor. He seemed very relieved. I then explained that we'd captured a ship but needed his help to bring it to Agondre, and asked if he could assemble a crew of people who understand the magic of the flying city to bring it back. He said he thought he could do that, and I told him to expect me tomorrow. (I warned him that I'd be polymorphed as a troll, which I need to be in order to be strong enough to carry the Dragon's Heart -- which I need to enhance my teleport range.) I think he was a little scared by that, but he'll know it's me because most trolls don't teleport in while carrying a gem the size of your head that burns with an inner fire. And if anyone tries to take it from me, having the form of a troll doesn't hurt.

So we will be staying here tonight so that we can recharge and Elys' can study spellbooks. We don't expect anyone to bother us. Turok found a keg of beer and has been enthuasically sharing it with us, telling us that this is real beer. It tastes a little odd to me -- it must be the local grains -- but it's passable. I don't see why he's so excited by it, though. Oakhame's mead is much tastier.

Being near the Dragon's Heart makes me feel warm and powerful. I can feel the extra magic coursing through my veins. I can see why Kepta-Mor wanted to steal it. If it's this powerful over here, imagine what it'll be like when it's back in Agondre! With this magic I hope we can finally heal the dragon.

May 23 (Monday)

This morning Liandra and Kyle were able to restore Dorla's free will. It was amazing! The control device was near the base of her skull. Liandra gave her some tea first and applied some magical healing, and then after determining that removing it would probably not kill Dorla, they proceeded. Liandra made an incision -- I could see Dorla wince though she pretended to not feel it -- and once the device was exposed, Kyle was able to nimbly disable it. (I found myself thinking that Liandra had everything she needed -- scalpal, forceps, halfling...)

Once they did that and Liandra tried to heal the incision (which didn't work very well), Dorla seemed to be in full control of herself. She is still pretty obviously despondant, though; she keeps saying that it would be better if we or Kepta-Mor had just killed her. Liandra (talking through Turok) tried to console her and eventually persuaded her to come with us back to Agondre, where there are other healers who might be able to help. And if nothing else, she can start a new life there. She and Turok obviously have a lot to talk about, and it's possible that they have a future together. I could see how Turok's eyes lit up when he realized that had not willingly betrayed him after all. They belong together. Perhaps that is enough to encourage her.

Dorla is very magic-resistant (that's why Liandra's healing isn't working well), and we believe that she will not be able to teleport back with us. So she will go on the ship instead. Elys' vaporized Kepta-Mor's body and we gave the ashes to Dorla to sprinkle over the ocean. That's one wizard who won't be coming back to haunt us without a lot of effort.

I then contacted Nathan, the mayor of Aulos, to let him know I was coming. I told him I could transport two groups of six people; he was ready for me. I was surprised to find that he would be joining the group; he assured me that his deputy mayor has things under control and he can be spared for a couple of weeks. Really, I think he's almost as excited by this magical technology as I am. I told him I would check in on him via scrying to make sure they haven't gotten into any trouble, and that I'll see him in Aulos in a couple of weeks.

I watched Nathan's crew get the ship (also carrying Dorla) airborne, and then our group teleported first to Aulos and then to Beliaberith. The reunion between Elys' and the elves, particularly Anarian, filled me with emotion -- a mix of joy that they're finally back together and sadness that they were separated so long. To me Elys' was an abstract idea until yesterday; I spoke with her and saw her in the gem, but I didn't know her. She's a remarkable woman, and Anarian knew her and was then denied her company for decades. That has to have been really rough; I didn't realize how rough until I saw him beam at her return. I know that elves live forever and age is therefore a meaningless concept for them, but he seemed younger upon seeing her.

I may also be affected by the elves' impending departure. Or at least that's what it looks like; they have been gathering her for months and Anarian has said that Beliaberith is a burden on the land. I don't quite understand; the folks here have been nothing but kind and hospitable, and I saw no obvious effects on the dragon. But obviously Anarian knows something I don't.

Anarian invited us to go with them when they leave; he said they're returning to the stars. Fascinating as that sounds -- and a year ago I would have jumped at the chance -- I have responsibilities here, most especially to Agondre. The others could go, but they too have declined the offer. Liandra has specific responsibilities to Oakhame, and Turok and Kyle have reasons to stay too. I will miss Anarian and Firella and Elys'; I would miss Turok or Kyle or Liandra much more if they chose to go. So I'm glad they're not.

But, Anarian said, they will not leave before we finish our work with Agondre; if we bring enough healing to him then they will re-evaluate. He fears that Beliaberith burdens Agondre as a gall does an oak tree; Agondre accepted them willingly when he was strong, but he is no longer strong. But he will be again, I hope, and maybe the elves will be able to stay. We'll see.

Anarian, Liandra, and Viggo spent most of the day together, wandering through the groves together and talking. I spent part of the day talking with Elys' and filling her in on some of what has happened in the last year; she already knew a lot of it, of course, but conversation through a scry isn't always the best way to share information.

Late in the day, Liandra said it was time to go and we tree-walked to Oakhame. Seamus and Mairead were excited to see us and eager to hear about the liberation of Aulos and the defeat of Kepta-Mor. They were also fascinated by the Dragon's Heart. Seamus asked me if I have decided to take on the mantle of being empress and I said it seems so, though the ultimate decision is Agondre's. It seems clear that Seamus and the bardic network support the idea.

Mairead was very impressed by Liandra's account of her surgery on Dorla, and she is eager to meet Dorla when the ship arrives in a few weeks. I had thought that Mairead might have additional magic to bring to bear on the problem, but she says that Liandra has surpassed her own skill.

When we told them about the prophecy that Kepta-Mor had repeated about Turok, Seamus laughed. Did we know what that meant? It must be that Turok is of royal blood in Gorrush-Kar. But Turok gave up his ties to his land at the Gorge of Fire, so now it's not clear what that prophecy would mean now. I asked Turok if he seeks to rule Gorrush-Kar and he said no, he has no interest in that.

But this made me wonder. Turok is of royal blood; could he be of Agondre's royal blood as a result of his transformation? Is he the proper emperor here? Turok pointed out that I've been doing the healing, not him; I suggested that we could always rule together. I meant an affair of state, so when Liandra commented that she does weddings I was taken by surprise. While I like Turok, I'm not sure that would be the best outcome. Besides, he has Dorla. I can remain alone a while longer; it's nothing new. (And if I do become empress, Mom will have a hard time claiming that I'm nobody if I'm not married.)

As we were getting ready to retire for the evening, Seamus suddenly told us that he'd received a shipment of goods from Colm. Nithelin sent some zwiebacks of wine enhancement, which I look forward to using, but he's also been branching out into potions and he sent some along. These should help us tomorrow when we enter Agondre's cavern once more. Colm reports that he is doing well; there have been occasional troubles, but his inn has attracted enough adventurers that they don't stay troubles for long. He says he's making good money through us indirectly and we should come by for a drink and to catch up. After we heal Agondre I mean to do that.

Seamus told us he has continued to work on the magic of the sound spheres from the caverns of Laryn. He gave us an orb that seemed as fragile as a soap-bubble and told us that if it works it should radiate hopeful music that will boost our skills and morale in battle. The item is masterfully made; Seamus must have worked long and hard on it. It's a pity that it will be gone in another day, but its effects will, I hope, be worth the cost.