North by Northwest (storyline)/2023-01-31 - Iliyaas Sees Sand and Stone (log)

This log is from a North by Northwest storyline event that occurred January 31, 2023 from the viewpoint of Avalera.

Log

This log has been edited to focus on the divination.

[The Black Sands]
Waves roll up onto the dull black beach, the seafoam tracing lacy patterns against the dark background.  Flies buzz among the rotting seaweed, rising up in swarms as you pass.  To the northwest, a pillar of rock rises out of the water.  You also see the sparking Dendum disk, a resplendent obsidian black raven, a point of elemental instability and a tall wooden archery tower.
Also here: Seaward Gutstorm, Dendum, Lady Iliyaas who is kneeling
Obvious paths: east, west, northwest

You tilt your head down.

(Gutstorm draws a stick figure in the sand.)

Iliyaas sifts her hands through the black sands, her eyes closed, her lips tight.

(Irval sinks his toes into  the sand.)

Iliyaas cups some of the sand in her hand, and moves it to the side.

The severe snowstorm blankets the entire area into white drifts.

Iliyaas presses deeper into the sand, sifting some away, slowly creating a small shallow hole.

Gutstorm drunkenly slurs, "Bigger hole?"

Iliyaas glances at Gutstorm.

Iliyaas nods.

Pukk says, "Only Gutstorm will have a shovel handy."

Vaemyr glances between Iliyaas and Gutstorm.

Iliyaas holds up her hand.

Gutstorm grunts in agreement.

A blinding curtain of heavy snow flutters down from the sky, blanketing the surroundings in a layer of white.

Gusts of heavy snowfall blow across the area.

Iliyaas stands up.

Iliyaas moves to stand in front of Gutstorm.

Iliyaas nods.

Gutstorm drunkenly slurs, "More dig?"

Iliyaas turns towards the hole.

Iliyaas shakes her head.

Iliyaas kneels down.

Iliyaas kneels down before the larger hole, and places the palms of her hands upon its rim.

Gutstorm works his fingers under his jester mask and scratches his head.

Gutstorm drunkenly slurs, "Me not goin in."

Gutstorm grunts and shakes his head.

Kayse begins chuckling at Gutstorm!

Speaking to Gutstorm, Kippe urges, "Do it."

Iliyaas points to the shovel in Gutstorm's hand.

Iliyaas slowly empties her lungs.

A sudden gust makes the snow dance and swirl around you.

Iliyaas nods.

Gutstorm steps on the top of his wooden shovel's blade and leans into it, sinking the blade into the ground.  With a hefty tug, he lifts out a large load of sand and throws it aside.

Iliyaas holds up her hand.

Lylia glances between Gutstorm and Iliyaas.

Within the hole, a small seam of water bursts out of the sand wall, slowly pouring into the hole.

Iliyaas nods.

Iliyaas sits back, watching.

Evia says, "Hmmm."

Perigourd scratches at his beard.

Raelee narrows her eyes slightly, studying Iliyaas with a cool, analytical gaze.

Gutstorm drunkenly slurs, "We gonna fit da whole bay, we need bigger hole me thinkin."

The shadows around you twist and undulate towards each other until they converge into an inky pillar of darkness.

The pillar of darkness pulses momentarily.

The pillar of darkness ripples for a moment as it separates into shadows that recede into the darkness from which they came.

Lylia says, "The bay is a big hole."

Water begins to pool into the hole, slowly filling it up, its murky sea water swirling about.

Kayse furrows her brow.

Moving his right hand around idly, Ulfwine leaves a wavy line of clove and spices scented smoke in the air.

Stormyrain glances down.

The surroundings are engulfed in gusts of white snow.

Thrassus asks, "What are we looking at?"

Lylia says, "A hole."

Speaking helpfully to Thrassus, Lylia clarifies, "A hole that is filling with water."

Speaking to Thrassus, Stormyrain asks, "Nothing, yet. Mayhaps she is waiting for the water to show her what she seeks?"

Iliyaas raises her arms upward, and bleeding into existence come several silver and bronze motes of light that upon Iliyaas closing her eyes, they drift down to sprinkle along the water like glitteriing dust.

Kayse gazes with interest at Iliyaas.

Iliyaas says, "The enemy stirs."

Roelon furrows his brow.

Irval frowns.

Gutstorm sits down.

Thrassus raises an eyebrow.

Irval asks, "They come?"

Earthdiver put some black leather reins in his black shirt.

Iliyaas places one finger into the murky water and stirs it briefly, the silver and bronze specks of light churning like crystalline salt.

Iliyaas sits back, placing her palms on her thights and closes her eyes.

Guarrin folds his hands behind his back.

Evia stares downward.

A bubble appears within the water.

Drazaa kneels down.

Missoni tilts her head down.

Gutstorm drunkenly slurs, "Da hole burped."

Gusts of heavy snowfall blow across the area.

A second bubble appears, then a third, until it resembles a boiling pot.

Pukk chuckles.

Speaking to Gutstorm, Irval asks, "Sure it was a burp?"

One by one the bubbles pop and splash, and as the water calms, the murky depths take on the image of a giant dark cavern.

Perigourd furrows his brow.

Iliyaas lifts one hand, moving her fingers to the left.

A blinding flurry of snowflakes drifts down from the grey skies.

Gutstorm glances to his left.

Stormyrain folds her arms over her chest.

Within the water, the cavern expands, and a strange green glow emanates in the distance.

Iliyaas lifts one hand, moving her fingers to the right.

Perigourd begins chuckling at Mourdeyan!

Within the water, more of the cavern comes into view, and the area glows with a sickly blue light, and several fractured and shattered plinite shards lay scattered about the corpses of seven minotaurs.

Tikba nods thoughtfully at Iliyaas.

A pained expression crosses Drazaa's face.

Missoni frowns.

Earthdiver nods with satisfaction.

Kayse shakes her head, totally at a loss.

Irval shifts his weight.

Ulfwine nods.

Mourdeyan squints.

Tikba murmurs, "The experiments."

Ulfwine says, "No wonder they left."

Stormyrain furrows her brow.

(Archious observes the water intently, taking in all the details.)

There is a rumble within the water.

Pukk glances down.

The severe snowstorm blankets the entire area into white drifts.

Irval says, "He comes."

Missoni frowns.

Gusts of heavy snowfall blow across the area.

Evia inclines her ear, listening intently.

Iliyaas slowly empties her lungs.

The severe snowstorm blankets the entire area into white drifts.

Stormyrain glances down.

Vaemyr takes a long, deep breath, and the veins along his exposed skin pulse with a soft crimson glow.

Dendum shrugs at Gutstorm.

Ulfwine parts his lips and blows a steady stream of clove and spices smoke into the air before him.

Thrassus squints.

Irval asks, "Thats either Gnul, Or he might of  successfully plinite to a minotaur?"

Within the waters, a giant hulking figure appears from the shadows of the cavern.  It towers near the dead minotaurs, the sickly blue light of the dying plinite shards casting eerie azure shadows along its jagged, stone body.

Tikba nods once.

Lylia sets her mouth in a thin line of disapproval.

Ulfwine says, "Gnul, or the figure posing as him."

A blinding flurry of snowflakes drifts down from the grey skies.

Heavy gusts of wind cause the area to be blinded in white snow.

Within the water, the giant figure lurches forward, his arms and chests chiseled from stone, a great beard of rocks, outstretched and jagged like small stalactites.  He lifts am arm, and hoists up an elven corpse, whose body is covered in fur hunts, but his limbs are twisted unnaturally.  Flecks of yellow light glow beneath the elf's chest, and the stone giant tosses the corpse to the side, adding to the pile of minotaurs.

Gutstorm drunkenly slurs, "Da elf join up wit Gnul? dat not good."

Raelee says, "... but he took an elf to experiment upon."

Tikba nods grimly at Raelee.

Lylia narrows her eyes.

The surroundings are engulfed in gusts of white snow.

Mourdeyan says, "Appears so."

Thrassus says, "Likely because he ran out of other fodder."

Lylia says, "I suspect that was not voluntary."

Perigourd asks, "Has he been taking folk from the Elven village?"

The giant's head suddenly looks up, staring to the side, looking into the darkness.

Guarrin grumbles to himself.

Kayse slowly asks, "But why an elf?"

Footsteps approach.

Guarrin says, "From where."

Irval asks, "The puppet master?"

Gutstorm drunkenly slurs, "Hmm maybe Sablo approach."

Kelfyr says, "His allies are not far from the Village."

Guarrin says, "That is what I am concerned about."

Drazaa nods gravely at Kayse.

Mourdeyan agrees with Guarrin.

A blinding curtain of heavy snow flutters down from the sky, blanketing the surroundings in a layer of white.

A figure appears from the side of the cavern, bathed in a cloak the color of darkness, hands swathed in black leather gloves.  Blue light from the broken plinite throws a cerulean haze along the cavern floor as the figure kneels down, placing five ebony cases on the ground, each one plain save for a simple silver and gold sword marking.

Thrassus says, "Now this is something."

Furrowing his brow in thought, Guarrin strokes absently at his greased neatly trimmed, full beard.

Evia frowns.

Stormyrain gives a sidelong glance at Raelee.

Mourdeyan furrows her brow.

Irval asks, "That mark look familiar to anyone?"

Speaking to Stormyrain, Raelee says, "Uterlain."

The giant lurches to the side, and the grinding sound of rock on rock resonates as the great creature smiles, his face half in shadows, the other have bathed in a ghostly blue light, creating deep shadows along the crags of his stone face.

Tikba glances inquiringly at Raelee.

Vaemyr says, "There's our puppet master."

Speaking to Raelee, Stormyrain asks, "Who or what?"

Tikba asks, "Puppet master, or ally?"

Speaking quietly to Tikba, Lylia says, "I was wondering the same thing."

Speaking to Stormyrain, Raelee says, "That is the symbol of the Uterlain Traders.  They are a mercenary outfit that originates in The Swale."

Xorus says, "They are mercenaries who transport things."

Irval asks, "Who leads them?"

Missoni frowns at Raelee.

Gusts of heavy snowfall blow across the area.

Speaking to Irval, Raelee says, "Roland and Randall and Uterlain."

Raelee clears her throat.

Speaking to Irval, Raelee says, "Roland and Randall Uterlain.  Brothers."

Furrowing his brow in thought, Guarrin strokes absently at his greased neatly trimmed, full beard.

The figure opens the first case, revealing a very large shard of glowing yellow plinite, encased within several bands of black alloy.  The blue light of the cavern almost bleeds away in the wake of the citrine glow.

Raelee hisses an esoteric epithet from between clenched teeth.

Perigourd says, "Well, that's not good."

Ulfwine says, "Elidal will be interested to learn this, as would Earl Jovery I imagine."

Heavy gusts of wind cause the area to be blinded in white snow.

Thrassus says, "If they are mercenary couriers, they might just be the transporters and not masterminds."

Stormyrain slowly says, "Well those two reactions do not make me comfortable."

Stormyrain folds her arms over her chest.

Raelee says, "That is likely not the plinite that was stolen here, however."

Speaking to Raelee, Perigourd says, "Seems rather large comparatively."

Speaking to Raelee, Missoni whispers aloud, "Do we have access to any plinite of that quality?"

The giant smiles wide, its great maw spreading open.  The figure nods, and says nothing.

Kayse frowns at Drazaa.

Irval says, "Thats definitely refined...polished...whatever you do with plinite..."

Speaking to Missoni, Raelee says, "It is not on hand."

Thrassus says, "It couldn't be. The black allow bindings are a giveaway."

Tikba slowly says, "I believe that is black alloy."

Speaking to Thrassus, Kayse asks, "A give away for who?"

Heavy gusts of wind cause the area to be blinded in white snow.

Speaking to Irval, Raelee says, "Greater power in plinite comes not from a refinement process, generally speaking, but from the strength of the elemental it is created from."

Gnul leans forward, his giant hand scooping up the glowing yellow plinite shard into his grasp.  The figure nods, and then disappears into the shadows from where they came.

Speaking to Kayse, Thrassus says, "That's it's not from the plinite stolen from the Outpost."

Kayse says, "Ah, I thought it gave a clue to our mystery figure."

Perigourd says, "One wonders what Gnul traded for it."

Tikba says, "He did not have sufficient plinite for his experiments. He needed more, and knew who to ask."

Kelfyr asks, "Goods or deeds?"

Thrassus says, "He has five samples as well."

Xorus says, "Rather morbid, in a way, for a stone thing to be using plinite."

Speaking to Tikba, Raelee says, "More, and possibly better."

Tikba nods thoughtfully at Raelee.

Speaking to Perigourd, Vaemyr says, "Perhaps all the lesser quality plinite, in the right hands those shares would still be extremely useful."

Irval says, "That looks like a powerful elemental then if you ask me."

A sudden gust makes the snow dance and swirl around you.

Speaking to Kelfyr, Kayse says, "Most likely something of great cost."

Speaking to Tikba, Perigourd says, "Or he was using the other plinite to test for a purpose first before risking the larger pieces."

Gnul slowly raises the shard before him.  His dark eyes almost glow in the reflection of the citrine light.

Grinding his teeth like rock upon stone, Gnul places the edge of the glowing yellow plinite shard into his chest.  His eyes widen, as he applies more pressure and the plinite begins to slowly burrow into his chest.  His dark eyes brighten, and the image within the pool of water flashes away.

Iliyaas slowly empties her lungs.

Kelfyr slowly empties his lungs.

Thrassus says, "Ah, I see now."

Mourdeyan gasps.

Vaemyr frowns.

Irval says, "Come on blow up..."

Ulfwine winces.

Tikba nods grimly.

Guarrin slowly empties his lungs.

Drazaa nods gravely.

Emperia frowns.

Lylia says, "Not quite 'eating,' but enveloping."

Stormyrain slowly says, "Ow."

Vaemyr says, "So, gnul and four others potentially..."

Irval says, "So thats. Definitely not good."

Evia says, "Or all in one."

Thrassus says, "Or he uses all five on himself."

Guarrin says, "Or, all for him."

Kayse agrees with Thrassus.

Iliyaas stands up.

Guarrin nods.

Iliyaas nods.

Speaking to Raelee, Perigourd asks, "What would be the fifth?"

Iliyaas says, "I will inform the Lord."

Earthdiver asks, "You'd think he'd use other stone creatures and not...minotaurs and elves.  What power does he seek in them that he cannot find in the stone creatures?"

Earthdiver shrugs.

Irval says, "Either he shortened his lifespan or became something even greater than before...."

Ulfwine nods.

The severe snowstorm blankets the entire area into white drifts.

Speaking to Iliyaas, Kelfyr says, "Thank you for sharing this vision with us."

Irval says, "Lets hope for the former. I just dont think we are that lucky."

Guarrin nods appreciatively at Iliyaas.

Speaking to Iliyaas, Ulfwine says, ""yes, thank you, disturbing as it was to watch."

Irval asks, "Raelee are there any successes to recount of a being doing this?"

Stormyrain nods gratefully at Iliyaas.

Vaemyr says, "Seems like he's going to be... tough to kill potentially."

Iliyaas raises her hand, and the specks of silver and bronze energy lift up from the pool of water, swirl about her for a moment, then dissipate.

Vaemyr sighs.

Bernadette nods.

Evia slowly empties her lungs.

Lylia quietly says, "Thank you for revealing this to all of us."

Mourdeyan bows respectfully, her eyes fixed firmly on the ground.

Speaking quietly to himself, Archious says, "I had not considered using plinite to channel energy."

Speaking to Irval, Raelee says, "We, and I mean the community of magical scholarship as a whole, have only known plinite exists for approximately thirteen years."

Iliyaas looks to the sea, then back at the forest near town.

Irval bows to Iliyaas.

Iliyaas nods.

Lady Iliyaas just went east.

The surroundings are engulfed in gusts of white snow.

Missoni gazes east.

Speaking to Irval, Raelee says, "... we will be making discoveries for decades to come."