TOPIC: Meet at the Inn

OOC - As the reader of the scroll, I was the target of the attack, right? That would hit me, 8 dmg.

cdsmith wrote: I walk up to the image of Strahd and look him in the eye. "Give me the Sun Sword my friend. You know it is the right thing to do. I serve Pelor and the need is great."

The image of Strahd turns to you prepared to fight then stops in recognition and cautiously greats you in an ancient dialect. You can understand very little save for the name of your god and the fact that while he has not lowered the sword he is no longer attacking.

bpsymington wrote: OOC - As the reader of the scroll, I was the target of the attack, right? That would hit me, 8 dmg.

OOC yes, as the reader of the scroll the attack would have been directed at you but only by virtue of where you were standing.

I try desperately to remember the temple language of the prays, psalms and stories that I learned while in the monastery hoping that I can remember enough to at least convey our danger. I know it is not the dialect he is speaking but it should be a language we both recognize.

I recite part of the Psalm of Need.

What can I tell Thee that thou already knowiest?
Have Mercy upon me Oh Pelor
My heart is down trodden
Darkness knocks at my door

I use the temple language again to recite part of the Psalm of War

For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult;
And they that hate thee have lifted up the head.
They take crafty counsel against thy people.

I pause to see if he understands.

I do a quick aside to my friends, "Bring Ismark over here. Maybe he knows this dialect."

I reach into my bag of holding and rummage around. I pull out an old scroll and read the scroll of comprehend languages.

Between Ismark, the scroll, and your bardic knowledge you are able to understand the stranger. He claims to be Lord Sergei von Zarovich of Barovia and wishes to know how and why it is you have stopped him from slaying his wicked brother Strahd?

"He failed to slay his brother, which brought us to this place, so we used this wish to bring him causing him to fail to slay his brother? My mind reels." Turning to the wizards, Barkley says, "my apologies; I have a new-found respect for your craft. How you can comprehend and harness these paradoxical powers without all becoming mad invokers is beyond me."

I am not sure we prevented him from slaying his brother. Since he is already dead in this time he must have lost the fight. The question is, do we tell him in order to get the sword? We may even be the cause of the sword's scattering to prevent Strahd from getting his hands on it.

It does become a quandary that I must leave to our magi to unravel.

"Breon used the wish to join the elements of the sword. I have a thought. Perhaps Sergei himself is a component of the sword. As my sword is soul bound to me, could it be that his sword is such a part of himself that Pelor has allowed his eternal essence to join with the sword?"

I take my dancing sword in my hand, examining it carefully. I face the specter, showing respect to a great lord. (I'm assuming the spell of the comprehend language will have an effect of allowing him to understand us for a short time.)

"Lord Sergei, your land of Barovia is in great distress because your brother has fallen into great evil. His evil transcends his treachery that slew you in life and caused the death of your beloved Tatyana. We have sought your sword to help us restore peace to this land, and to destroy Strahd and the power that sustains him. Through the faith of our holy ones and the arcane energies of our mages, Pelor has allowed you to join us here in this place of death. Will you assist us or will you allow the use of the sword that your brother fears to be used by one worthy to wield it?"

Cram is muttering under his breath as Widseth stops to converse with Delmar. As the Wish is released, Cram stops near the stairs, and turns around in awe of the arcane energy.
He pauses to watch the discourse between the stranger and his friends, but keeps a wary eye on the exit.

Breon gets up from where he had fallen after being attacked. He moves to the side, keeping an eye on Sergei in case he attacks again.

The image of Sergei pauses for a moment as if considering your words.

After a moment the apparition nods with understanding and takes a knee offering the sword to you on raised hands.