- The next Door opens out into an underground cavern. Investigating, he quickly finds he is inside an asteroid and there are embedded machines to turn this into a spacefaring vessel. The creatures who own this vessel are themselves large hulking mounds of rock with very small eyes. Finding no sign of the Gold or Silver men here, Grant moves on.
- Searching further, Grant finds a Door which leads to a stone temple. Nearby trees are blackened as if by fire. At the base of the temple is a group of about thirty dishevelled vagrants – both adults and children. They are giving off smoke. The ground around them is blackened by fire. They are whimpering, clearly in distress. When they sense the Door being opened, they immediately get to their feet as if waiting for some deliverance. But Grant slips out in shadow form and they begin arguing amongst themselves about whether the door was opened or not.
- Using Umbral sight, Grant is able to see that their elemental bodies are being consumed by their own fire. They are in pain. They are suffering. Remembering a conversation with Liliana about ‘Cinders’, Grant assumes that this pitiful group has been infected by some sorcerous poison and they are indentured to Nicol Bolas. Grant watches them for a little while but finds their state so pitiful that he decides to save them. He contacts Ethan via Icon and explains the situation.
- Ethan discusses with Liliana and she confirms that these creatures are Elementals that Bolas has enslaved. They are a ruined shadow of what they once were. Ethan decides to leave Liliana in charge (rather than a guest). She says nothing but simply nods.
- Joining Grant, Ethan reveals his presence to the poor ‘Cinders’ and they throw themselves upon the Lords’ mercy, begging for either for a cure or for ‘final death’. At first Ethan doesn’t understand them (because he didn’t come through a Door) but he uses a spell to translate their words. They ask if he has been sent by Silver, who they also called ‘She who brings life’. Ethan explains that he wasn’t sent by Silver but he can cure them.
- Ethan and Grant work together. Grant gently breaks the enchantments on the Cinders and Ethan heals them. Like a miracle, their fire no longer burns inwards but outwards. Their bodies burn hot and brightly. They are no longer in pain. They are delighted. Overjoyed. It is a miracle.
- While Ethan does some Divination spells to think through the next steps, Grant asks the leader of the Fire Elementals to tell him more about what happened.
- These people have no knowledge of the Stair. They have been slaves of Nicol Bolas for generations. They do what he tells them to do. But there came an attack from the Stair – massive golden knights who carried a thunderbolt symbol on their armour. They attacked the Elementals and slew many of them. They finally saw an opportunity for final death and gathered around the Door, hoping that their mystery invaders would return.
- They explain that they had burning internally for a very long period of time. But there was one woman named Silver who brought them some relief from their suffering. She is described as being about five-foot tall (ie: short), with silver hair and pale, almost white skin and golden eyes. Her face is expressionless – they have never seen her frown or smile. Apparently, she comes and goes – they don’t know how. It could be through a Door.
- They discuss where the Elementals should be taken next. Ethan offers them sanctuary in the Legendary Realm but Grant suggests that he find another place where they can live in peace. They elect to go with Grant and Ethan returns to the Legendary Realm.
- Grant finds a suitable realm to leave the Elementals in and he goes to find a realm to rest and eat in. He then finds a cold realm where the locals serve good ‘hot pot’ and he settles down to a fine meal at a wayfarer’s inn.
* Image by Raphael-Lacoste on DeviantART
- Grant thumbs through his Icons, wondering how Lady Sophia and his friend Ethan are going. He considers contacting Yaeger Zane but decides not to. In the end, he decides to rest for a bit. The next morning, he is contacted by Lofwyr using ‘dragon magic’. Lofwyr’s voice simply speaks to Grant but no one can Grant can hear what is said. Lofwyr explains that he has located Lady Abigail in the port city of Abaranth. He doesn’t know what she is doing there but suggests that she may not be there long. Grant listens intently and agrees to go there immediately.
- With an image of Abaranth in mind, Grant uses his Mastery of the Stair to find the most expedient way of getting there. It takes him only a few hours (at engine speed).
* Image by FrankAtt on DeviantART
- The Door to Abaranth emerges from a townhouse built into the hillside. Grant assumes the form of one of the locals and goes hunting for Abigail. This is surprisingly easy. She is in one of the larger manor houses made out of stone. Using all of his guile, he observes her and confirms that she is not guarded. She has many warding spells but she seems unable to detect him. She sits behind a desk, doing paperwork of all things. She is very focused on it. He decides that he cannot render her unconscious lest a recall spell be triggered, but she must sleep sometime. He gently uses Umbra to tire her. To his dismay, she uses sorcery to keep herself working and Grant settles down to wait for the Umbra effect to gradually exhaust her.
- The stakeout takes all day. She is brought food and water but she carries on working. She goes for a walk later in the day and Grant follows her. That evening, she is clearly very tired. She pours a glass of wine for herself and Grant spies her taking out a handful of Icons. She thinks over Ethan’s Icon and casts a spell, using it as a focus. Grant recognizes the Divination spell as similar to that which Ethan uses. She holds Lady Sophia’s Icon and initiates a conversation. She skips over Macavity’s Icon and performs a Divination ritual over Isabelle’s Icon. Somewhat dissatisfied with the outcome, she puts Ethan’s and Isabelle’s Icons together and casts another spell. The result displeases her and she flings them onto her desk. (GM’s note – yes, this is yet another example of Ethan’s bad stuff. He cannot catch a break) She produces another Icon which Grant does not recognize, contemplates it and then puts it down with a yawn. Finally, she retires to a nearby bedchamber, summons a shadow to watch over her (which is one of Liliana’s spells) and Grant spies her reading “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” (of all things) before she nods off.
- Grant uses Umbra to make sure that she is asleep. He then unsummons the shadow servant using Umbra and goes to look through the paperwork that she was doing. He knows that she is a planner and organizer and sure enough, the paperwork details manpower, logistics and resources. He considers taking it with him but instead decides to take a few minutes to skip-read what he can. Then he quietly steals her away in the middle of the night. Grant is almost certain that something will go wrong but to his surprise no one challenges him as he marches off with her and returns to the Stair. Once back on the Stair, he contacts Lofwyr and is brought through into his penthouse, high in the golden skyscraper.
- Lofwyr is pleased with this and he assures Grant that Bolas will not find her here. Together they work to remove the magical enchantments that Bolas has laid on her. Lofwyr suggests that Grant not be present when she awakens and he promises Grant that he will honour their agreement. She will be looked after.
- After rescuing Abbie so easily that it was almost anticlimactic, Grant feels good about the situation. Finally, something has gone right. He contacts Ethan but Ethan does not immediately answer. (GM’s note - Grant has no way of knowing that Ethan is at the Feymoon Ball with Isabelle – more on that below)
- It is not until sometime later that Ethan is given the good news. He is pleased at first but less so when he is told that Abbie is with Lofwyr and that Grant has no idea how that conversation is going. He was advised by Lofwyr not to be present when Abbie woke up, so there would be no connection to Grant or Ethan. Ethan thanks his friend for rescuing Abbie and they promise to catch up for a beer to celebrate ‘soon’.
- Grant returns to the Stair, looking for information about the Golden Men. He finds a Door which is ornate, in good repair, and inlaid with gold. On the other side is an open street vista. The streets are clean. The buildings are made of Stair. The people on the street have olive complexion. Grant shifts his form and blends in. The city here is a wealthy middle-eastern city, perhaps like Baghdad or Ur were in their prime. There are large bulbous structures and delicate artefact devices flying through the air. Everywhere people are enthusiastic and energetic. This place feels alive. The marketplace has good quality vegetables and meat. The people appear well fed and happy. There appears be an Eidolon effect in play here. There are many temples of worship and larger than life statues of the golden gods.
Off-Camera Narrative
- Ethan has used Eidolon to boost Liliana’s powers. He has not put any constraints on her and, when Ethan is away, she is in charge. She quickly reverts to type, deciding that negotiating with the Wizards of Thay is too slow. She decides to kill a few of the Red Wizards, raising them from the dead as her undead servants and then she pursues the Zulkirs (the ruling Red Wizards), figuring to conquer Thay or at least to secure more powerful allies.
- When Ethan returns from looking after the ‘Cinders’, he finds the right side of her face appears to have been melted as if by fire, and her right arm is badly injured such that she can hardly move it. Liliana gives a painful smile and comments that she managed to heal her minor injuries but not the curses. She asks for his help and explains that three of the eight Zulkirs are now in her thrall. He is very surprised that Liliana has been so active so quickly and he heals her injured body.
- Ethan asks whether Nicol Bolas has contacted her yet and she says that he has not. Ethan goes back to work recruiting allies from the neighbouring nations, but he still makes time to attend the Feymoon Ball with Isabelle. There, he is very flirty and shows interest in Isabelle. Isabelle is flattered by the attention and reciprocates Ethan’s affections. However, she’s an Invoker, a friend of Abbie’s and particularly cluey about Ethan. Late in the evening when a lot of wine has been had and a lot of dancing has been done, she asks about Abbie and if he’s really okay. She admits to having feelings for Ethan but she’s not stupid – he’s not done with Abbie so why is he doing this with her. It’s like cold water being poured over him – she sees straight through what is happening. She clearly wishes that Ethan did feel this way about her, but she’s not stupid – so what’s his angle? Ethan is embarrassed, admits that he really needs her help and that what he asks will be dangerous. He explains that he plans to use the Silver Crown (GM’s note – which can mould reality) and he won’t want to take it off. There is only one person who really knows him and that is Isabelle (not Abbie), and there is only one person who can convince him to take the Crown off – and that’s her. Isabelle is a little taken aback by Ethan’s sincerity, but at the same time annoyed that he couldn’t have just asked. Ethan explains that it is going to be dangerous. People are going to try to kill him, including possibly some of his allies. She puts two and two together and realises that Ethan really was trying to seduce her. He chose to attempt to manipulate her rather than treat her with honesty. She is not impressed and says as much – she expected better from him.
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