Cauldron Festival

[Anastasia]

"I'll return home, then," Oberuth says, raising his sword in salute to you. "Keep going, Seira."

[Corwin]

Seira returns that salute, and then she and Oraga are gone off to the entrance to Zaaman Rul's realm.

[Anastasia]

This time it is far simpler. You are taken into the realm of flames, not a one burning you. 'Come forward,' Zaaman Rul's voice is in your mind. 'The way will reveal itself.'

[Corwin]

Seira is all too happy to step into the flames, seeking out the path!

[Anastasia]

Amid the flames Zaaman Rul sits on a throne, reclined back and with head resting on his hand. "Seira," he rises to his feet, "Welcome! I heard of what you to that bastard Lixer."

[Corwin]

"He had it coming, though I'm more proud of getting Zariel out. Actually, I'm looking for proxies of Shar to take out, in case you've heard of any out there?"

[Anastasia]

"I've heard of one - the Gloom Eye." Zaaman Rul says, "You know a gloom is?" After a reply to that, "It is one that is also a skilled arcanist and unholy paladin of Shar. Have you dealt with him before?"

[Corwin]

"Right, I see," she muses. "Never had the pleasure of running into him before. Do you know where I could catch him, then?"

Also, is Yegola victorious? Or is there more to his quest?

[Anastasia]

What was the last update you got on him?

"It's said he's sometimes seen in Dis," Zaaman Rul says, "Obviously that's not a good choice for you. I've heard he lurks in the Crawling City, in some sort of tavern centered around the profane and unholy. He owns it and shows what abominations catch his eye."

[Corwin]

here

"Quite a few who I'd rather take out live in inconvenient places," Seira laments. "This actually brings me to the main reason I wanted to see you, Zaaman Rul. I want to kill Akil bin Faheem for his many crimes, and I'm hoping there is a better way than striking at his residence in the City of Brass."

[Anastasia]

Ah, there he goes. You see Yegola, having taken some time to dispatch of various minions and clear out complications. He's advancing deep now, deep towards a dark temple of Shar. Ahead of him it lies - a dragon of darkness and stone, looming above him. You feel it - Shar's power caressing it, bestowing it defense, endurance, power.

"The Princess of Dragons is with me!" Yegola declares, before charging the dragon.

Meanwhile?

Zaaman Rul breaks into a smile, "I'd hope there's a better way, but I like your plans. I'm actually waiting on a report from the City of Brass, since there's been movement in court. I'm hoping that sheds light on what's happening there. That should include Faheem, as between Jaela's attentions and now Moore of Aurora's, he's had a difficult time lately."

[Corwin]

"Duke Moore of Celestia," Seira corrects him with a sly grin. "While I've asked for general secrecy, it might serve you to know that he is aware of my plans. Celestia has offered me the use of his forces to support a larger campaign seeking to eliminate slavery across Fire and the rest of the Inner Planes."

The portion of her mind responsible for keeping track of Yegola empowers him to better face dragons. Given Shar's efforts, she would be remiss in failing to even the field of battle.

Antidragon Aura for +5 luck to AC and saves vs anything draconic, Fell the Greatest Foe for +1d6 damage for every size category the foe is larger than Yegola.

[Anastasia]

> roll 1d100
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=33 ]{33}

Painful but not disastrous.

"Great," Zaaman Rul grins at that, "You should have come to me earlier, Seira. Nonetheless, this sounds like a plan I want to be a part of."

Meanwhile Yegola is being pushed hard, the dragon's breath injuring him and pushing him back - but not out.

[Corwin]

"You were always part of the plan, since I had no doubt about your intentions regarding Fire," Seira responds, her smile turning genuine. "In short, my idea boils down to a multi-pronged approach where I take out the worst offenders head on, forces officially unrelated to me establish underground routes for slaves to run away towards freedom and safety, and pressure is brought to bear upon slavers and slave traders by the major trading houses across the planes. Toss in an increase in attacks on slave camps and we'll see some real change before long. I'm fine with it being gradual, so long as we keep it going in the right direction."

Frowning mentally at Yegola's setback, Seira reaches out to channel one more spell. Shar used three, so her third should be fair, shouldn't it? She certainly thinks so! And thus Yegola's body adopts the roughness of his opponent!

Stone Body. DR 10/adamant. You are immune to blindness, extra damage from critical hits, ability score damage, deafness, disease, drowning, poison, stunning, and all spells or attacks that affect your physiology or respiration, because you have no physiology or respiration while this spell is in effect. You gain a +4 enhancement bonus to Strength, but you take a –4 penalty to Dexterity (minimum Dexterity 1). Your speed is reduced to one-half normal, and your weight increases by a factor of three.

[Anastasia]

"We already have some routes for that," Zaaman Rul says, "I'll have you informed of them to help, but the efreet try and destroy them whenever they track one down," he says, "Including sending fake escaped slaves to use them, ones magically programmed to be loyal to them."