Chương 27: Ch27 - Finishing up
We all begun to gather around again, just before the giant hole in the ground. Shart was healed and Astarion unconscious, very fortunate all things considered. As we relaxed, 4 figures flew towards us, I and everyone else there felt a telepathic link between formed between us.
"Very well, we have noticed the elder brain's discomfort. In agreement with our deal, we shall aid you when you face the keepers of the stones." As soon as they came, they simply flew away.
Out loud now, Shart said, "What was all that about?"
"I thought we could use the extra help, so I signed up some mind flayers. Don't worry Lae'zel, I don't plan to keep them alive for long." She smiled at that.
Now we could see Dame curb stomping the corpse of Ketheric, she raised him up and pulverised his spine. We all just stood there and awkwardly watched her, "Allies of the just, I shall march with you on Baldur's Gate, my revenge is not over yet."
"Sounds good to me" I nod and look around for disagreements. But everyone seemed pleased at the turn of events, "Let it be, I shall journey to Moonrise, someone very important awaits me." And she flew off.
Not even a second later, a portal opens up revealing a short Mephistopheles tiefling woman floating towards us. "Very good, with your first netherstone, you are one step closer to defeating the Absolute." I have no idea who this lady is, I guess she's the dream guardian, but no one's told me about them yet.
"Guys who's this?" I point to her with my thumb and ask.
"Oh soldier, you didn't know? She's been keeping the tadpoles from going through that ceremorphing thing. Also, she lives in Shadowheart's cube." Karlach responds.
"Oh, thank you. Explains why I don't know her then." Just wanted to double check what I know.
The dream guardian waited for our conversation to end before continuing, "You must go to Baldur's gate and seek the netherstones from Enver Gortash and Orin the red." And she immediately left through the portal she came in.
"Right, well granted we get no more interruptions, shall we use the sigils to get back to moonrise then?" I carried Astarion and everyone else begun to warp just outside of Moonrise towers. The outside was no different, aside from the lack of ghouls and corpses of course. But upon entry it was a different story, the first room was filled with unblemished corpses with a few that were killed normally. However the quartermaster was there looting the corpses with a grim look on her face, greeting her normally, I bought a simple un-enchanted quarterstaff for later along with a plain ring.
The throne room was home to all the survivors or allies against Thorm, Dame was hugging Isobel her girlfriend so tightly I saw her tapping for air.Art waited for Halsin and Jaheira went to her Harpers. Everyone else scattered, I took Astarion and placed him on one of the pews. Then I started looking for everyone else, I saw Alfira in the small library with all the kids from the grove.
"You okay Alfira?" She looked truly defeated, like a sad puppy really.
"Uh yeah, the kids are just inconsolable from losing Mol. I hope wherever she is, she's safe. If I just had another bard, I could cheer them up!"
"Ohhh, I've got an idea for you then. Just try to keep pace with them, I don't know what they'll be like." I open up my lighter, summoning all four wisps. I turn into my Crypt chanter form in preparation, using the ethereal instrument to turn it into the bass.
Flying out in front of me was Elton John and his band, "Let's cheer everyone up" I patted her shoulder and we all walked to the main hall, kids in tow.
The keyboard started screaming into the crowd, I followed in with the bass setting a good beat for the song.
"You could never know what it's like,
Your blood like winter freezes just like ice."
(I'm still standing - Elton John)
Alfira jumped in with the violins, the other instrument she learnt in bard college. Everyone was gathered around Elton now, cheering on. The amount of people with loss in their hearts should hopefully be feeling better with my [Moral booster] and the band playing. It was a great show, it only got better when after the song, they changed form into KISS. (I was made for loving you - KISS).
The night ended in joyous uproar, drinks were poured and lives were mourned. But what could've been a bitter-sweet night, was now a night to remember.
****
One by one people started to go find rooms for themselves, or with others, and settled down for the night. There was only a few of us left downstairs, those who don't need sleep and haven't passed out. Me, Jaheira, Shart, Halsin and the elven refugees, sat in a circle reminiscing on the battle or fond memories in general. It was here that Jaheira brought up Minsc, a human ranger who suffered a serious head injury a long time ago. She spoke fondly of him, they've fought against countless Bhaalspawn together after all, gone through years of battle for the same cause.
"I'll make sure to look out for him when we reach Baldur's Gate, if he's in stone, some basilisk oil should help. And if you're willing to join us, would you mind helping us find him?" I offer her a chance to fully join us.
"I may be old, but I know enough mind flayer tricks to keep up" She smiled at me, shaking my hand to seal the deal.
"Perfect, now if you don't mind, I've got just a few more things to do." I say goodbye to the stragglers and leave the tower, before the curse is lifted, I want to make sure to collect and use as much material as I can so it doesn't go to waste.
Paying no heed to caution, I use my moon lantern to go deep into the woods. A swarm of trees fell to a few eldritch blast cantrips, the deep black rotted wood was rolled over to a nice clearing. Next, I threw in the quarterstaff, the final part was painful however. I used all of my hag forms and [Grow more eyes] to place 10 eyes from each of the hags in the pile as well.
Drawing a large ritual circle around the items, I was ready for my new weapon to be made. I realised in the Myrkul fight that my main attacks were psychic and my claws. I'll change that. Just as I begun the chant, I realised a few more things I could add in: the naked bodies of Balthazar and Ketheric, the circlet of bones and the exalted marrow.
Clearing my throat, I begun chanting, I beseeched Shar. I can only hope she blesses it absentmindedly or not at all really. A minute passes with no issues, I can only guess one of the two best case scenarios happened. Finally, my chants ended and the items begun coalescing into a large black void, swirling and chewing its own mass to form a vantablack staff. I waited for a moment for the true colours of the staff to show, but this was it, a true black staff.
[Corrupting staff-
A ritual-infused quarterstaff. This staff is synthesised from an amalgamation of evil, not a single shred of good remains in this and not a single shred of light can remain.
Hags-eyes - All spells cast have the same homing property as magic missile.
Curse-rotted logs - Grants advantage against plants. The staff cannot be affected by rot or natural effects.
Ketheric the undying - The wielder now has the medium toughness effect.
Balthazar the cruel and the exalted marrow - Command undead cantrip granted to the current wielder.
Circlet of bones - Any summoned or animated being under your command has the 'bone ward' regardless of classification.
Features of the staff - Due to being formed out of literal darkness, spells and attacks phase through it. Grants immunity to 'weapon dropped' and no other being can even touch it. All 'dark' or 'evil' magics are now 50% more effective.]
The staff floated there, just in the air, waiting for anything to happen. I took my time to look through the description, almost amazing myself by the power of the sacrificed items. But to be sure, I was definitely not done. I gripped the staff, it felt like chilly wood, able to be compressed to any shape I desired, so I pressed it down into my pocket.
Now I have to enchant the ring, just like before I have a lot of materials for it.
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