Io's Labyrinth

[Corwin]

What is the closest unexplored place from where we are?

[Anastasia]

You could return to the intersection and go east or north and then east to find unexplored territory.

[Corwin]

First east it is.

[Anastasia]

You travel east. It is a long hall, the colors turning brighter yet, more sapphire blue. As you walk down this hall, seeing it widen and expand south ahead?  An orb floats in the air ahead, awaiting you.

3 minutes for durations, adjust as needed.

[Corwin]

Recitation refreshed

Seira heads over to the orb and taps it!

[Anastasia]

At this, Io's voice is heard.

"Yet in the end, no one path was sufficient. I tried many things and yet none of them were sufficient for my children by themselves. The choice I made was to make them masters of none and princes of all. They are flying terrors, sorcerers, titans, elemental masters...and yet they are not supreme in any one field. "

A pause at this, as if Io is collecting his thoughts.

"Dragons of the kinds you know were made. Dragons of good and evil, dragons of law and chaos. Metallic colors shined like the heavens that wear those same banners, most choosing to follow that path. Chromatics came and chose the other path, vibrant and self absorbed. Of my children, the gem dragons ultimately chose to follow their own path and their own power, the better to represent their psionic potential. In time, three arose to rule over my dragons: Bahamut, Tiamat and Sardior. "

Another pause, shorter this time.

"Yet I desired a fourth beyond the three, a dragon to correct them should they any of the three go astray from my commands. He awaits ahead."

[Ebiris]

"Begs the question of why he's here instead of out watching over the other three and performing the other duties of a deity," Alicia comments, nonetheless advancing on to meet this hitherto unknown draconic god.

Spoiler: ShowHide

Alicia: 696/696
Active spells: Extended nondetection (CL 33, 65hrs), extended repelling shield (CL 33, 40m), keen edge (CL 32, 295m), sensual blessing (CL 32, 7m), vision of the omniscient eye (CL 32, 7m), greater heroism (CL 32, 7m), death ward (CL 32, 7m), extended ray deflection (CL 33, 41m), divine insight (CL 32, 32hrs), foresight (CL 32, 304m), dance of the unicorn (CL 32, 16m), recitation (CL 32, 3m), greater visage of the deity (CL 32, 3m), ghost touch weapon (CL 32, 19m), many moments of prescience (CL 32, 32 hrs)
Defences: AC 79 (touch 40), CMD 105 spell resistance 47, status immunity (dazzled, blinding, polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), energy immunity (fire, cold, negative energy), energy resist 10 (acid), nondetection (DC 48), ray deflection
Stat buffs/penalties: +9 shield AC, 17-20 crit range, +25 competence perception, +10 insight perception, +4 morale skills/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +3 luck attack/saves, +1 natural armour, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +18 morale attack/damage
Perceptions: Darkvision 2 miles, scent, low-light vision, tremorsense/blindsight 2 miles, arcane sight, perception +88
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/15/16/13/5/7/12/6/4/4/5/2/6/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/22/20/19/6/7
Quick-casts left: 2

[Nephrite]

"I wonder if they're even aware of it." Moore says.

[Corwin]

"They're not," Seira tells Moore. "The gem dragon is barely known, so this one's a total surprise."

[Anastasia]

"It may be just that," Antenora muses, "A trump card in case Io's orders were defied when he was away. Io seems prone to over engineering what he creates."

"Seira," Jetina asks, "This isn't something you've heard about, I presum - No, I presume not, then."

"It also says that Io's willing to be ruthless to ensure his goals and will are followed. Though...Perhaps Bahamut and Tiamat suspect there is something like this, and that is why they were wnot willing to deviate from Io's commands, even when it would make sense for them to?" Amaryl remarks.

[Nephrite]

"Now I have to wonder why prismatic dragons were even an issue. Especially since I'm seemed to want and expect them to follow that path." Moore says quietly.

[Ebiris]

"I believe the issue was that for Baleruk to ascend he had to feast on the essence of four other great wyrms, and neither Tiamat nor Bahamut could abide the slaughter of such dragons nor the collateral damage and breakdown in what passes for their society as every dragon sees their fellows as fuel for their ascension," Alicia says from her memory of how it all went down.

[Corwin]

"That doesn't really make sense," Seira voices, "given we're about to face this dragon, and Io believes we can take him. Either Bahamut or Tiamat have the power to match ours."

[Ebiris]

"He never said anything about fighting him," Alicia says, shaking her head.

[Anastasia]

As you talk and go along, you reach the turn south. Ahead is a cavern room, filled with vast treasures of gold and silver, gems and wood, steel and other things. Pottery, pearls, cloths, art and so much more. Yet you arrive? The world SHAKES hard enough to send you all a step back, even in the air.

You feel it. A presence that overwhelms, as much felt as seen. A haze shape in the form of a dragon. Raw power constantly erupts like it, filling the room ahead with vast torrents of energy.

"As Lord Io commands, I have appeared here." It intones, a genderless voice. "You are the one Lord Io offers his secrets, treasure and wisdom to?"