Library: Back from the Dead

The New Hampshire cold was enough to drive some men mad. Three feet of snow had made the roads around the village of Portsmith impassible. Impassible save for the most determined. Even with the deer-laced snow boots providing him ample support to allow him to seemingly walk across the snow the cold crawled into Radegast's bones unabated. The cold plains were the bog-men of Portsmith's first defense against any enemy. That and that the lived in a swamp. The only natural resource of the swamp was the natural gases, long desired for the natural magic properties that gave the people of Portsmith their third most effective defense - powerful magic against an enemy. The second defense was as simple as the cold - five flat miles of terrain as any visitor approached the towering two hills that surrounded the swamp. Four miles away from his destination Radegast found himself face-to-face with the fourth defense: the famed Portsmith rangers. The only human rangers on par with halfling or elf rangers. Radegast nodded a greeting from deep within his many layers of clothing. The only visible part were his slightly rounded half-elf eyes, the shape of a badly formed almond. For the three rangers standing in front of him Radegast was positive there were five other rangers he could not see. The rangers and Radegast stared at each other - no one moving for several long minutes as the cold continued to rake his soul. Radegast was not concerned. He was counting on the fifth defense of Swampscott. Give them whatever is asked. Ten minutes. Twenty. Half an hour. Each minutes gave war to an hour then several hours. Finally one of the rangers spoke. Radegast could not tell which one as It was difficult to decipher sincen the wind has almost frozen his eyes shut. "Though you are pure of purpose you are broken. You may enter." Radegast followed the rangers to Swampscott - badly scarred, emotionally frail, and a man trapped memories.

Radegast was trapped in his memories as he said nothing. He watched the world unfold blankly before him, his eyes staring at the fire as it danced around the not moving body.

Elby chewed the venison methodically - 23 times exactly, silently singing the halfling alphabet as his mother had taught him as a boy  - the flavored careened around him mouth and tongue, each taste bud fighting for more. Not better than my mother's cooking...just different. He swallowed some more of the pepper, sweet tomatoe rubbed meat. He looked down at the hot plate roasting in the fire - the cubes of venison lay in its own juices, a touch on beer, some pepper, and sweet tomatoes. Okay this is better than my mother's cooking. "Ar ya tryin' ta chew it 'n make tack?" It took Elby thirty seconds to comprehend the words. I feel like I am learning common again. Dougherty of Saugus had a thick, coast-line accent that despite only being a day's ride from Elby's home in Wayland made it sound like this man was from a different universe. Elby hoped to visit there someday. Elby took his knife and speared a piece of venison. Without bothering to let it cool he shoved it into his mouth. This time his taste buds screamed in protest. Elby chewed twice, forced the piece of meat down his throat - choking for a moment - and felt the scorched trail that it had left behind. "Avant!" Dougherty of Saugus laughed as he watched Elby's eyes bulge. "Ya gonna 'ave ta lear' ta take a kid!" It took Elby a minute to understand what the man had said. By that time he had already sworn to chew his food like his mother had instructed.

"A coward. I knew it. Well it figures that bastard would disappear as quickly as he appeared." Elby provides himself a bit of a running monologue as he sniffs the air and notices a scent of smoke. "Fuck not another fire Stones." He turns to where Stones is face down on the ground.

Elby hops off the base of the statue, a slight grimace from the wounds sustained in battle crosses his face. He rushes over to where Stones lies. "Radegast, we need to deal with that fire and heal Stones. I can do either, provided you get rid of that barrier. Which do you want to deal with?" Elby rushes to Stones and is ready to either heal him or douse the fire with his cloak. Move quickly my friend, I don't want a repeat of the Happy Swallow."

Radegast, caught deep in whatever thoughts he had going on gives a wave of his hand the stones drop to the ground, landing on the burning body and extinguishing the fire. Elby wasnot sure where to start - the warrior was badly bruised and had a few cuts, nothing life threatening as far as bleeding out.

Stones swallowed another hot pepper. The insides of his mouth had gone numb first, his tongue was most likely five times it's normal girth, and each pepper caused his throat to constrict a bit more. He ignored the goat milk which would have assuaged the pain. He ignored the hot, fresh bread which would have taken the pain away. The sweat was involuntary - he would have had to be part dragon to not have sweated. Or he would have had to be Suneer. Suneer sat across the table from Stones. Almost all skin, bones, and right angles the young boy - definitely a boy since whenever he spoke he sounded like a girl - the boy's jaw jutted out, almost in defiance, as he chewed another hot pepper.

Suneer did not sweat. It was said that Suneer's people had come across the Atlantic years ago, they must be born in fire, and settled into the area. Sunderland was not an area that cared about who or even what you were, only that you did not ruin anyone else's day. At least that was Stones final analysis after two months disguised as a trader and spying on them. Just once. JUST ONCE I want to beat this guy. Tonight would not be that once.Stones felt the semi-familiar gurgle in his stomach.

Stones felt the semi-familiar gurgle in his stomach. Life. Or alive enough. He called on his inner reserves to bring himself out of the unconscious and into the world once again. He found himself eye-to-eye with the halfling. I've woken up next to uglier.

Another deep breath. He was always a quick healer. Or a smart healer. Smart enough to know when to rest. “Noienna…” Stones mutters aloud, “if I die with you inside of me, I’m sure one of our friends here will cut you free.  There is need to fear such a fate, unless we all perish.  But it seems you are not willing to let that happen, for which we are all gratefull. 

Another breath. More energy. Radegast continued to look distracted, glancing about the room though not venturing anywhere near the bookshelves. His weapon was at the ready in case anything else showed up.

“And I am grateful to you as well Elby, for bringing me back from the brink.  Please allow me to return the favor.” 

Stones attempts to heal the others as best he can. Eventually everyone found themselves completely healthy, though tired and worse for wear.  “Now, about this place….” Turning around the room, Stones soaks in the fact that upon these shelves sit lifetimes and lifetimes of knowledge.  “There must be thousands of souls trapped in here!”  His anger rising at this awareness he becomes the Stones you have grown to know, quick to anger, and dangerously impulsive.  Then something slows him almost immediately and his face becomes a twisted mask of indecision with a tinge of fear.  “How will we find Suresh among all these volumes?  And how to protect them while we search.  That book…” He looks to where the ashes of the burned book were scattered. “That soul…Noeinna, is it gone forever?  Is it…?  My actions…”  Stones balls his fist.

From within Stones's stomach you hear Noienna's now delicate voice. "You FREED the soul by destroying the book. While the knowledge eater's put the soul to some place of limbo...thanks to your flame the sole of Lolo has gone to his or her final destination."

“This is an EVIL place!  We must free these souls, but how?!”  He gazes up, not realizing he has walked over to the statue of Noeinna, and realizes how beautiful she appears, “And you Noeinna...how do we free you?”

"This statue contains a part of my soul. Your other friends will get the other part of the soul. United in front of the portal I will be free." There is a new sweetness to the voice. As though she is close to finding the happiness which she sought.

Stones walked back to the crumbled ruins and examines the books on the shelf, careful not to touch anything, and tries to interpret and mystical symbols or magical patterns.  He draws upon everything he learned from Suresh, hoping to gain some understanding, some insight.  With Suresh at the forefront of his thoughts, he makes a methodical tour of the room, looking for anything that may give him an indication of the book that holds Suresh’s soul…

DM Note:

• I'll figure out hit points via Rob later.
• It will take you about 15 minutes to rest. TO fully search the room it would take about 30 minutes. You can search as part of your rest. Well unless you run into something that thinks you are a meal.