Visions of the Future, Meet Promise
Subject: Re: High Noon; The Sitch
Just so everyone knows, the writeup about what Cadfael knows of Pelor's plan is for color, and for Dan's benefit. None of the other characters actually know any of that stuff.
Sa'id could cast his spell through the window, but at which of the hundreds of undead? :)
From: Scott
Subject: Re: High Noon; The Sitch
Mission will attempt to retrieve his son from Cadfael.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: High Noon; A Promise is kept
Farron watches as Cafael enters the room. As he approaches the altar clothed in blackness, Farron admires the cleverness of the priest. Of course he'd have to disguise himself in some way or he'd be throttled at the door. He almost says as much to the fretting Mission, but Rennik and Garyth seem to have him under control, somewhat.
As the child is born, Farron is hit with a vision of his future. It is a future almost limitless in its possibilities. He sees himself returning triumphantly to Overlook and he sees the proud faces of his aunt and uncle. But beyond that he sees so many paths that none of them reveal themselves clearly. He catches glimpses of himself with power and wealth, fame and admiration. But these glimpses are as if viewing an image of himself at the far end of a long long road. The clearest message he gets from this vision is that whatever he will become it will be because of the choices he makes. But the ends of all the paths show to him, whether riches or fame, or a simple life loved only by a companion and a small circle of friends, are good ends, born of good choices. But all this he already knew on some level. He'd been taught all his life that hard work rewards and good choices bring good ends. The vision ends and he feels a moment of irritation. A feeling very akin to what he felt from the "knowledge" he gained from the orrery.
As the vision subsides, Farron sees that something has taken hold of the room below. Elise is on the floor, fetal, shaking with what looks like sobs. Many of the evil men and undead are on their knees, some tearing at their clothing as if in great remorse. Anileth herself is impossible for him to see as the spot where she lay is now too bright with white flame to look at directly.
But in the next moment, the pillar seems to pulse with unimaginable power. Farron sees beams of red light streaming from the pillar as if searching frantically for something. Where the beams strike those who have allied themselves with Kor Garesh, their mood seems to change from remorse to fury. Farron can see that in a moment the tide will be rushing towards them, bent on the destruction of Cadfael and the child, the only hope these evil beings have that the terrible price they have paid will not all be for naught.
Farron moves towards the ladder and down it in order to be in position to help Cadfael escape the room and, hopefully, them all escape the mountain. As he leaves the secret chamber he first realizes how protected they all were inside, for it is upon leaving that he first feels the darkness that is emanating from the pillar begin to tug at his heart and mind. He struggles against it as he tries to decide which of his prepared spells would best aid their escape.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: High Noon; A Promise is kept
The vision hits Garyth like a wall, and when he comes out of it he is left breathless and blinking for a moment. The motion of his companions bolting down the ladder brings him back to himself, and he follows as fast as he can.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: High Noon; A Promise is kept
The moment of ecstasy is over almost before it began and Cadfael slams back into the familiar weight of his body. He is already smiling and yet smiles brighter, taking a deep, strong breath of air.
And then the ring falls from his finger.
With a painful snap the shards in his mind form a clearer picture, one thought flowing seamlessly to another, so well defined he cannot focus on it. His head spins, he realizes he is still trying to fight off the darkness that has fallen away with the ring. So much of himself set on warding away the darkness and the darkness is lifted in an instant. It's too sudden. His vision goes black. He crashes to his knees. Vomit spills down over his chest, splashes over the babe in his arms. Still unsteady he collapses forward, one arm clutching Promise to his chest and the other desperately keeping him from sprawling to the floor. He thinks, perhaps, he screams. In anguish, in shock, born of frustration. And then the song of the orrery cuts through the chaos of his mind. He is aware of his breathing, the baby in his arms, and something sharp beneath his palm. Shuddering, unable to help himself, he closes his hand over the shards of the ring.
In only a moment his vision begins to clear and he sees his face is not far from Elise's. She writhes in horrors of her own creating; though Promise pierced the veil she had over her eyes and forced her to see. "A demon of fire," Cadfael thinks, "helpless now, as helpless as the infant in my arms. Why not?" Thinking back to Garth, "I've done it before." Forcing himself back to his knees he fumbles for his dagger even as spots fill his vision again.
"Go."
Fight or flight. He jerks to his feet and lurches toward the exit, his vision blacking out again as he does so. Tumbling down the unseen steps of the dais, both hands clutching promise, holding him steady. The body of something... something warm breaks his fall ... not undead. Images of his body splayed on the altar rip through his mind and Cadfael claws back to his feet. Without the ring's protection and unable to see clearly he stumbles over fallen bodies and barrels over those who are just finding their feet in his flight to the exit. Until, wild eyed and frantic, he bursts through it and into the chamber where the rest of the party waits.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: High Noon; A Promise is kept
Are we supposed to go further or are we waiting for a situation update from the DM?
From: Ty
Subject: Re: High Noon; A Promise is kept
I need a check in from rennik and we can move on.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: High Noon; A Promise is kept
Rennik's face is taut as the vision comes over him. Battle, blood, pain... so much pain. He sees himself older, bearded, on a throne of nettles grown into the form of a massive chair arising from a grassy, earthen dais, his face scarred and pitted with the struggles of the past. He rests uneasily on his shoulder on the chair, realizing that the chair of a leader should never be comforting, should never allow him to rest and forget his position. Two large wolves sit alert at either side, and about his shoulders he wears the skin of a third, the inside of which is tattooed with sigils of honor and remembrence for Tichenor, his sign from Mielikki of providence unlooked for.
Around the grassy dais are small, crudely woven banners of leather marking the names of various tribes - an alliance, if not a nation in truth. A pack organized around himself as alpha, holding his place only until challenged by a more cunning, stronger petitioner to the goddess.
He shakes off the vision as he watches Cadfael collapse to the ground, then stagger back the way he had come. Sprinting toward the ladder, he drops into the chamber below, notching an arrow and aiming at the door.
"When the priest comes through with the child, I will hold off any pursuers. With luck, I can pile at least one in the doorway to slow them."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: High Noon; A Promise is kept
Can you have a pile of one?
From: Dan
Subject: Re: High Noon; A Promise is kept
Cadfael was kinda planning on closing the door.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: High Noon; A Promise is kept
And Rennik is *quite* sure that no one will pursue Cadfael, or see him go through the door, or open it behind him. He's ever the optimist. ;) Precautions first, as ever.
As to the pile of one comment, Rennik would be quite happy to make Farron that one if need be.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: High Noon; A Promise is kept
Hold that thought until after my next post.
From: Ty
Subject: The chase begins; back down the tunnels
The moment passes. The awesome and yet subtle power displayed by Promise at his birth fades, and brings the party back to consciousness. Looking out the window, they can see Cadfael now staggering towards the secret door with the naked baby clutched close to his armored chest. The emotions this causes Mission are too complex even for him to comprehend, but in an odd moment of practicality amid the storm he thinks, "Promise must be cold."
Seconds later everyone is flying down the ladder as quickly as they can go. It is all Mission can do to not just leap down the shaft. But soon, everyone is at the bottom, and just as Sa'id follows the group as the last one down the ladder, Cadfael enters the room. He pauses for a split second to touch the door, and it swings shut. Rennik has bow drawn and pointed at it, and says, "That won't stop them for long, now that they know where it is."
Mission pushes to the front and holds out his hands. "Give me my son, Cadfael." There is still a touch of anger in his eyes when he looks at the priest, a bit of challenge. Cadfael looks down at the child, and a brief look of reluctance crosses his face. But then he looks up at Mission with a brilliant smile, unlike any the priest has ever worn in the company of this group. It is an open smile of true joy, though it is possible to still see a shadow of old pain under it.
"He is a fine boy, Mission. Congratulations." He hands the child to his father.
Everyone stops for just a second to look at the object of all this effort. The boy does not look like the savior of the world. He is covered in blood from his birth, with a bit of cord still hanging from his belly, the end charred off when Anileth burned. His skin is an odd mix of pale and splotchy red. On his head is a light smatter of blond hair, very much like Mission's. His eyes are large and blue. The only remarkable thing about him is his calm. A newborn of this age should be crying, and disoriented. But Promise doesn't make a sound as he is handed to his father. He just looks up at him with what can only be described as an interested and hopeful expression.
Most members of the group can't help but smile at the odd mix of tiny child and quiet reflection. Even Rennik stands on tiptoes to get a better look.
*slam*
something hits the secret door like a battering ram, and flakes of stone cascade off of it.