A Day of Reckoning

The Wandsmen proposed several means of exiting Ceder’s “rope trick,” but ultimately, we chose to follow Ceder’s.  Shane bravely dropped down out of our sanctuary and ran as fast as only he can to distract the patrolling tower that we knew was near by.  Then, while the tower was distracted, Ceder crept down and cast a “wall of force” between the tower and us.  No sooner than the wall was up, the tower shot forth a “cage of force” to trap Shane.  Fortunately for Shane, and us, Ceder’s arcane skills proved the better and the tower’s efforts were thwarted. 

Above the locked gates to the temple of Mystral, Kerith read the inscription: “Are the Arts to be used for Good or Evil?”  Ceder, speaking the tongue of the Magi, said “neither” and we were teleported inside the temple.

We found ourselves inside a large room with a ghost of Mystral before us.  The ghost bade us to relieve the temple of a great burden.  But, to prove ourselves worthy, we were to complete a challenge, testing our knowledge of the arcane.  Ceder stepped forward and volunteered us for the challenge.  The ghost explained that he should take a vase and fill it from the urn of heavy magic at the far end of the temple chamber.  Then he should place the vase at the appropriate alter, of which there were four. 

We stood, looking for the vase of which the ghost spoke, and then, as if to answer our question, she said one of her own.  It was a question testing Ceder’s knowledge of the original name of an arcane spell.  I must say that I am lacking in such knowledge and it appeared that so was Ceder, for he was not able to answer before the ghost conjured four red spheres of Corellen knows what.  They were about twelve feet in diameter, transparent red, and hissed as they moved towards us.  Kerith jumped to one side and triggered a pit trap.  Not willing to defy gravity, he obligingly descended.  I peered over the edge and saw that he was still conscious so I tossed down to him an end of rope.  Shane and I took the other end when we were engulfed by one of the red spheres.  I let go of the rope and cast “magic circle against evil,” trusting Shane’s strength to support Kerith.  Immediately, the sphere retreated to a safe distance and Shane was able to help Kerith out of the pit. 

While Shane and I were helping Kerith, Ceder hastily picked up a vase that appeared at the foot of the ghost and was flying to the far end of the temple to fill it with heavy magic. 

After some trial and error (mostly error), we figured out that the spheres dispelled magic and even grew in size and strength if spells were cast upon them.  We also found out that the best way to fight them was to stay within the “magic circle of protection” and give them a good thrashing when ever they strayed too close to its circumference. 

As we handled the red spheres, Ceder proceeded with Mystral’s challenge.  Each time answering the ghost’s questions, filling the vase with heavy magic and placing it upon the correct alter.

Before he placed the last vase he came to us and said that there were two Netherese tablets in the urn of dark magic.  It was his intention to take them, but wanted to discuss this with us before he did.  I vehemently opposed us taking the Netherese artifacts from this perfect hiding place and returning them to the devices of men.  Humans always seem to think “short-term.”  Never thinking of what their actions will precipitate after they have left their mark upon the world.  These two artifacts provide insight to the fabric of magic itself.  Such knowledge is benign, but as the temple of Mystral states: “For good or evil; how shall the arts be used?”  Ceder is a good man.  I have learned through experience to trust his judgment.  But what if something were to happen to him?  Even if he were to use them only for academic purposes, what will become of the tablets after his death?  These questions weighed heavily upon me so I humbly requested some time to commune with Corellen before we made any decisions.  The group graciously agreed.

Corellen’s message was difficult to elucidate.  The temple is no longer a safe place for the Netherese tablets and they cannot be destroyed.  If I understand her correctly, she compels us to take the tablets for safekeeping.

After careful reflection of Corellen’s message, I pulled Ceder aside to discuss our course of action.  He said that he still wanted to take possession of the tablets.  Ceder said that he is aware of the peril he places himself in by doing this.  I reminded him that the Wandsmen will and have died to protect each other and that by taking possession of the tablets he is not just imperiling himself.  Should we fail to protect the tablets, it could be all of Faerun that would suffer the consequences of our decision here today.  He swallowed hard and said that he understood.  I told him that I would look after him as long as he should live and that he was the only human I would make such a pledge to.

Ceder placed the last vase on the alter and we were teleported back to the caravan.  Vestille and Evendur were overseeing the torture and murder of the Bedine captives.  It was high time we ended our relationship with the Zhentarum.  We loosened our checked hatred for the fell host and quickly liberated their souls.  When we had finished, we found that our actions had not gone unnoticed.  The Bedine and their leader had us surrounded.  As it turns out, our returning the good Tren to Dagger Falls had changed the course of events so that Kerith’s father was now the leader of this host of Bedine. 

After tying some loose ends, Kerith and the rest of the Wandsmen began our journey out of the desert and back to Dagger Falls.