boj0
You feel....nothing.

Not the lack of any particular sensation, but an all-consuming embrace of the void, you feel  nothing . It envelops you, caresses you, strangles you, beats you, holds you, an absolute that feels like it lasts an eternity (and who is to say it doesn't?) After your minds begin to slowly fade into the static of entropy, there is a sudden, and violent pull in the back of your skull. Your normal senses begin to return, and your physical form returns to its (un)natural state of feeling.

" Arise, my devoted children, it is time." 

A voice, but whose? Where is it coming from? Before you have the opportunity to protest, your sense of self snaps back to the front of your mind, like the crack of a whip.

 Vecna .
You  serve  Vecna.
You. Serve. Vecna.

Stone grinds and metal creaks, whatever was containing you begins to open.

Soft candlelight becomes apparent, cold stone under you, chanting - soft and whispered - in the distance; you are in a room; a six-sided room. There are four others being...drawn, out of their massive stone coffins that take up almost an entire massive wall. The sixth side, there is a circle drawn in blood on the floor, candles, skulls, and relics dot the circle. A pedestal is behind them, and standing at the ready is a tall, guant figure in plain black robes. The skin is grey and taut, like the leather of an ancient book, the left hand is missing, and where the left eye would be, a bejeweled blade seems to be...sheathed in the socket. The figure looks up from its work and passes their gaze over every one in the room.

"Greetings, hear me and obey the words of your Heart, who has the favor of our true master; the Master of Secrets calls upon his Hand."

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
You are in a massive stone chamber, all five of you have just emerged from some sort of containment area. Your recent memories are vague and incomplete, but the important parts (backstory, personal history, class abilities, etc.) are fully intact. Only the past week or so seem hazy, you know you are a member of the Hand, and that the high priest of Vecna may call upon you to commit unholy providence in his name. The figure across from all of you is alone and unadorned, save for his robe and dagger in the eye. Feel free to describe your character, their immediate reaction, and anything else you think your character would do after being summoned fron the void.
 
Doxkid
Videl pulls himself from the container looking ragged and wretched like a cat drowned two days afore. His breaths rattle his shivering mortal body and the simple robes upon him are threadbare enough to openly display that his body is weak and failing; that his body is gaunt and starving; that his body is  dying ...and then he is not.

One by one the autonomic actions of his body fall under active control, coordinating such that his heart beats in a secret rhythm that gives him strength and his blood pulses across his body without need for veins and his breath is a shepherd's tone of inhaling and exhaling that blend until the anticipation of one makes it easy to forget the other hasn't started either. Death needs his permission to come. By will alone he lives.

 "I serve again."  Service to the God of Secrets is nothing new.  "I will be useful." 
Armonia13
Bliss. That is the only way Azula can describe. Absolute and total Bliss. The feeling of Nothingness, the absolute void, to be one with everything and nothing all at once. This surely is the Annihilation that all her kind seek for themselves and the rest of existence. A true and total Peace. Just as her mind begins to waver and her essence relents to the unadulterated pleasure of nonexistence, her conciousness is snapped back to reality.

Azula's body lays peacefully in her coffin. The bright blue of her skin is in stark contrast to the gloom and dank of the barely lit room. Her skins arms lay gently across her perfectly sculpted body, and for the moment before she recognizes herself as Being, a look of pure ecstasy is shown on all three faces.

Her eyes open, a shining gold hue as her faces turn annoyed. She was nearly at the peak of Enlightenment, if only she had a few moments more. But her irritation slowly melts into a cool smirk. She is a servant of Vecna. After so many years of service, she has finally earned the privilege of being one of the Fingers in the Whispered One's Hand. Though she strangely can't recall the events that led up to her appointment, none of it matters. She serves Vecna, and through his will, all of creation shall experience the bliss of Annihilation.

Azula steps from the coffin and kneels to the ground, prostrating herself before the Heart.*  "Praise to Lord Vecna. His Will be done." 
Genth
There was, perhaps, a brief moment of visibility in one of the coffins, the hint of a tiny, small shape within the massive coffin, but it was present only for a moment before with a wink, the figure vanished, and the coffin was subsumed in a billowing mass of shadows and half-lights. Within, nothing could be seen or heard save for the vaguest of shapes and movements. The creature that had awoken, it seemed, prefered to stay out of sight wherever possible.

Nevertheless, there was a voice that spoke out, seeming to come first from one corner of the darkness, then the other, a small, quiet whisper of a voice, cold and unassuming.

 "I am here. What is our Lord's will, heart?" 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

As soon as he wakes up, Fletch activates spread the shadows as a swift action, filling an area up to 80ft wide with shadowy illumination. I believe the same rules regarding using a lower CL than you have applies to this ability as well, so we'll say it's about 40ft radius to fill his side of the room. As a free action, he also activates his pixie Greater Invisibility. As a move action, he Hides:  (1d20+78)[ 80 ]  assuming +20 for Invisibility.
 
Lioslaith
He came to quietly, almost somberly as he lay in the void wondering to himself   Was this what it was like to have a soul  . He seriously doubted it. He was called yet again to serve. Far more than he had with his previous god. This was good. It usually meant more slaughter, more carnage, more death. He was ready.

  “I stand ready, Vecna.”  
Postmodernist
The tombs opened, and the hollows of The Servant's eyes opened once more. The dark energies that had animated its form for untold years began to stir its consciousness again. The familiar embrace of  absence  cascaded through their body, calling them to service once again. A smile, or at least a leathery, lipless version thereof, split the corpse's face. They had purpose once again.

An oppressive heat began to permeate the room, the small puddles that had pooled in damp of the crypt began to steam, until the lich mentally suppressed the desert he carried within. He looked around the dimly lit chamber, regarding his restored comrades. The fallen angel, no doubt a source of immense pride for The Master, an incorruptible soul corrupted. The Beatific One, many-limbed and with a face for each of the Fates, she was another outsider who had been purified through initiation to the Maimed Lord's wisdom. Truly, his might knew no end.

Then there was the pixie, vanishing as soon as it was returned to cognizance. Again, The Servant marveled at its master's genius - there could be no better infiltrator than an unseen fey, and few better means of ferreting out secrets for Our Lord. The tiny winged sprite was also possessed of an inventive sort of malice that never failed to impress the Walker in the Waste. Finally, there was rakshasa, The Servant's fellow traveler in the necromantic arts. Though Videl's methods differed slightly, the two frequently collaborated in corpsecrafting service of The Whispered one. The shapechanger was also perhaps The Servant's greatest rival for his master's affection.

Brothers and sisters. The Servant wondered if they remembered him.

A hiss escaped his lips, thin and sere as a wasteland sirocco,  "Master. I serve, as ever." 
Doxkid
Videl's senses leech into the air as he takes in the appearance of his coworkers. There is more than on familiar face, of this he is sure; as one of the more subtly skilled believers of the God of Secrets, Videl's duty often includes cleaning up after the more overtly powerful worshippers when they take action in Vecna's name.

The Lich is a longstanding coconspirator, skilled in the more technical aspects of necromancy but lacking the determination necessary to push death magic beyond being one tool among many in his magical arsenal. Two of the others have earned fame and glory in Vecna's name, and the last of them couldn't be observed for long enough for Videl to even try to recognize them, which is useful information in and of itself: The task they will be given will not be a simple one.
Lioslaith
Azrael stretches, feeling his body awaken once more. Perhaps an indicator of how long it had been since the last awakening. His large black feathered wings extending the retracting to settle on my shoulders like a fluffy cloak. His size changed slowly to that of a medium sized (though still tall) angel to better fit his surroundings.   ”The Hand is called to service once more. We are ready.”   The words were plainly spoken and matter-of-fact, no embellishment or pomp and circumstance. A simple statement that held weight and perhaps a bit of a threat for what was to come.
boj0
The figure, arms raised and outstretched, calls you all forth, "Heed my words then, Hand of Vecna, I have completed the rituals and summons to bring you forth from the void and as such proven mastery of the cult of Vecna's most potent spell. By deed and by loyalty I command you to acknowledge me with the rank of High Priest...", his voice drops from a call to a whisper, "and to banish away any thoughts of betrayal, to purge yourself of any loyalty to those who fail the Maimed God,  I  am the Heart now, and those who stand before me have proven their mettle, do not disappoint me, all of you proved your loyalty after the purge, some of you..only barely." His one eye passes over all assembled, who could he be referring to?

"Come, Hand of Vecna, the Study has changed since some of you were last here, I shall bring you to the library and inpart dark knowledge that shall aid you in your actions devoted to the Master of Secrets."

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
In my next post, I shall describe the Study and it's inhabitants as well as your first mission.
However, if anyone chooses to say anything or make sure they do something first, I'll give you the opportunity.

In other news, the new high priest sure doesn't want a repeat of the issue with the previous high priest, does he? Wonder what happened there?  And why can't you remember your part in it?  What fun is an evil game dedicated to a god of secrets if we can't have a sense of paranoia permeating everything?
 
Doxkid
Videl spends a good long moment assessing this 'new' high priest, trying and failing to discern how they are different from the previous one he worked under. Perhaps there is no difference; perhaps they are one in the same and   ANSWERING THE CALL   has left him confounded, blending memory and speculation and his current reality.

But this is a problem for later. There is profit to make and a God to serve, though probably not in that particular order.
Lioslaith
Azrael follows the Heart into the study.  As he passes Videl he taps his temple, once, subtlety.  Indicating the desire to connect them mentally, at least that much he remembered.  If and once he was connected to the others   My memory is strangely void of certain things.  Who is this new Heart, does anyone recall?  
Genth
  .....I do not know.   came Fletch's truncated reply. A smaller mass of shadows, about ten foot across emerged from his side of the room, following along to where the heart was showing them to.   It matters not. The whispered lord permitted us to be called. We will obey.  
Lioslaith
  It only matters if this new heart killed the old one and now seeks to usurp Vecna.  We obey....for now.  
Postmodernist
Ah, the sacred paranoia of my brethren. So comforting to be among it again. Our master was surpassingly wise to incorporate this into his faith. It was a whetstone that kept his implements sharp. How grand to know that each of us upheld a sacred covenant to one another, each buttressing the other, supporting the mighty Rotted Tower of which Vecna was Lord. Praise him.

 "If he were to attempt usurpation of our Lord, waking The Hand seems an ill-advised plan,"  The Servant hissed, seeming to float alongside their fellows.
Lioslaith
  Very true unless he seeks to use us in the attempt.  But my paranoia bleeds onto the others, I will keep it to myself.  
boj0
As the Hand telepathically converses, the Heart leads them through the Study, with a very quick overview of the amenities and resources available. Most of the demiplane feels familiar and recognizable, with small pieces of memories flickering in and out of the forefront of your minds, parts destroyed or changed in the recent weeks are glazed over with the certainty of the High Priest's descriptions.

Eventually you make your way to the (appropriately named) heart of the sanctum, the library: a collection of dark, esoteric knowledge collected, stolen, and divined by the worshippers of Vecna. It is a large, cylindrical room, clean and well-lit; five levels tall, with with a winding balcony gripping the scrolls and tomes like a wooden snake. From the center, there is a scrying pool that you could look up and see a detailed painter's rendition of the Great Wheel of the Cosmos.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Real quick post with a small break here in case anyone wants to have any dialogue, or make any checks; I'll get to the meat of this in a few hours otherwise
 
Postmodernist
Ahhhh, what untold joyous hours had The Servant spent here, gazing into the pool, watching the little puppets dance on their strings. 1 Eye, the twin Astral and Ethereal planes, the Rule-of-Three, 4 para-elemental planes, 5 Fingers of the Hand, 6 major elemental planes, 7 Grand Secrets of Vecna, 8 quasi-elemental planes. The mysteries our Lord was privy to were infinite, but the labor did not end. But it was a joyous labor.

He remembered, he must make a  sending  to his Salt Mummy, and see how things have progressed in his absence. The Servant waited in silence, enjoying the suspense.
boj0
Aarwyn, the Heart, High Priest of Vecna beckons you all closer to the center. "I have received unholy knowledge from our master, lord Vecna demands his Hand grasp an opportunity. There are grand machinations at play, and the fate of the cosmos will be at the Master of Secrets' mercy when we succeed; but first there are steps to take, diversions to mask our intentions from rivals and fools."

He waves his one hand over the pool, and the water ripples and shimmers until you see a scene of clashing rivers of flame and ice whorl around a massive realm of rock and earth, and where a range of tranquil alpine mountains rises to the sky, "There is, within the plane of Ysgard, a kingdom of giants known as Stormsreach. Their king, Vagniir Drakkengir wears a crown that grants immense clarity and foresight."

The water ripples again, and you see the stern, wizened face of a regal giant, hair and beard the color of a sunset and purple eyes that smolder with confidence. Upon his head is a crown of intricate design, gold and mithril woven together with innumerable gemstones set within.

"This crown must become ours, while we have no need for such a trinket, as lord Vecna grants us knowledge and wisdom far beyond the brutish insights of the jotunn, the theft of such an item is instrumental to our plans. Without the crown, the sovereignty of the king becomes suspect, and there are many rivals to Vagniir who shall be overjoyed to topple his rule. Analysis of prophecy and divinations show that the giants of Ysgard marching to war is a crucial first step in the Maimed God's plans."

"You shall first need to travel to Muspelheim, the realm of flame that boils beneath Ysgard, there you shall find fire giant servants of Sutur, they will show you to a hidden passageway that will bring you to Stormsreach unseen; in exchange for their guidance you shall give them...this."

Aarwyn produces a box from his sleeve, with a flick of his thumb the box opens to show the rich, soft velvet interior that a beautiful chain of silver sits on, links so small and delicate you could be forgiven for thinking it was a piece of Elven jewelry. "It is not important what this is, as without the proper ritual it is no more than a bauble, but you  will  ensure that Sutur's devotees receive it undamaged. While we have no love for them, their cooperation in this matter is neccessary."

He closes the box and steps forward to place it in the care of the Hand. With another wave, the pool returns to clear water. "Make any preparations you need, as always the sacred knowledge of the Study is available to those who deserve it, but do not delay for long, the patience of the gods is not to be tested. You are capable, for you are the Hand, whatever plan you devise we shall proceed with. I shall await you in the courtyard when you are ready to depart."

With that, he turns and vanishes from the library, leaving you to decide how you will steal a crown from a giant king, while sneaking through a realm of flame and war, in the service of a dead god that does not tolerate failure...

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
This is where you can plan out your heist, you don't actually have a time limit that matters, it was more that you shouldn't take months IC researching fire giant philosophy. Any lore checks or knowledge checks in the library will gain a +3 bonus due to the sheer collection of knowledge available. Should you need to find any NPCs or items, simply ask me and I'll help you out IC with it. Otherwise feel free to RP amongst yourselves and if you want a more concrete plan of attack just let me know so we don't waffle about for weeks irl. Otherwise, yeah, you all have free reign to come up with whatever plan you think makes sense, as the Hand you are trusted with solving problems your way.
 
Doxkid
 "How fortuitous that we will face Giants first; their bodies are uniquely suited for my use as bound thralls or undead servants. Our Lord's knowledge is truly endless and his blessings are truly bountiful.

I will need some time to prepare my magical defenses and research the current situation within that Ysgard before I can assess my preferred method of acquiring the crown. Oh,  speaking of which... "  Videl launches into a long sales pitch for his more advanced revival services,  "Our devotion to Our Lord cannot be questioned so I am sure The Heart would be willing to reimburse the cost of any revival, should such a thing be necessary, but in light of...tumultuous internal politics, it would be best to prepare for the chance of there being a new Heart with new goals and a new roster for The Hand in mind.

If memory serves there is a spell oft used by The Hand for communication purposes recorded among the records here. I'll see about preparing it as soon as possible; if there are any other feats of magic needed I will be glad to oblige; my magic is my duty to Our Lord, so do not concern yourself with the cost of simple spells." 
 
 Spoiler: OoC 

Knowledge Arcana check to locate/remember  Doxy's Mental Bond :  (1d20+35)[ 44 ]  (Including +3 bonus from Library)
Knowledge Religion to determine which forms of undeath are DM approved to be applied to Fire Giants  (1d20+35)[ 54 ]  (Including +3 from Library). I don't need a horde, but background minions and 1 Brute for standard combat use is always appreciated.

If nothing interrupts Videl will, after 24 hours, use Necro Arcana to swap 9 spells. Necro Arcana (fueled by Change Shape)
Mass Inflict Critical -(8 to 7)&gt; Plane Shift
Symbol of Death (8 to 7) Doxy's Mental Bond
Bodak Glare (8 to 7)&gt; Energy Immunity
Awaken Undead -(7 to 6)&gt; Superior Resistance
Mass Inflict Serious (7 to 6)&gt; Flesh to Stone
Evil Glare (7 to 6)&gt; Stone to Flesh
Ghoul Gauntlet (6 to 5)&gt; Teleport
Inflict Critical -(4 to 3)&gt; Greater Mage Armor
Inflict Serious (3 to 2)&gt;Magic Tattoo
 
Lioslaith
Azrael takes the box but then sets it on the edge of the scrying pool, he was usually in the heat of the fight, it was probably not a good idea for him to hold it.    "At least we are 'expected' with the fire giants.  It likely does not matter where we end up for that plane."  
Armonia13
Azula remains quiet throughout their journey to the Study, and keeps focused on the Heart as he lays out their mission for them. Once he has said his piece and left the Hand to prepare, mild uncertainty crosses her mind. She has no clue about any of her compatriots, this being the first time she has met any of them. But their dynamic shows a tense ease of allies who have long worked together but don't quite trust eachother. Azula isn't sure what her role should be in this preparation, being more accustomed to immediate action.

 "My apologies, but I feel I am a little lost as to what I should do. I am....accustomed to simply being directed, and working in a group is new to me as well. Is there anything I could assist with?" 
boj0
@Azula
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
If you are up for a little "scouting", the main lair of Ysgard is a fantastic spot to just fight and kill to your heart's content; as nothing can stay dead if killed on the fields of battle there. While this might infuriate an Asura that nothing really  stays  destroyed, it could be a good way to Gather Information amongst other warriors. Otherwise, Aarwyn is always down for a bit of philosophical meditation on how anything that isn't devoted to Vecna should be annihilated, if you want some RP with the boss.
 
Genth
A voice emerges from one small whirl of the darkness that seems to be in several places through the room.  "This seems like a simple mission. Stealth is best accomplished by a single actor. We should decide who will take the crown, and who will distract."  Fletch's voice was somewhat detached, though part of the tone brought to mind a furrowed brow.  "Foresight, and no doubt magical protections to prevent it merely being removed. We will need strategies for both. I, however, amd no strategist. Merely a shadow." 
Postmodernist
The Servant busies himself for an hour divining the nature of the chain The Hand was meant to deliver to the fire giants of Ysgard. He relates the story of Stratis, and of his unusual history with fire giants.

 "I will be happy to ferry us through the multiverse to Ysgard, and Vecna's wisdom will allow me to do so with the precision that is only possible in His name. The effects of the plane are unpleasant, but they should not deter us overmuch from our goals.

I am sure you are all familiar with Oerth, the world in which our Dread Lord is said to have first assumed mortal form. The Maimed God has shared his knowledge with me of this chain, a symbol of the slain god Stratis. Stratis was once god of conflict, brother to Heironeous and Hextor, though he loved conflict for its own sake, and not in service of justice or rulership.

He was slain, by foolish mortals who thought they could end conflict with the deity's death. Instead, with his final breath, the god cursed Oerth, saying the conflict would not end until a new deity rose to replace him. They provoked the Godswar, plunging a dozen different factions into continent-wide conflict. Many sought the panoply of this many armed god,"  The Servant shot a sly glance at Azula,  "to replace him. One such weapon was the Flail of Stratis, which I believe is stylistically depicted here."  The Servant gestured toward the chain.

 "There is one more tale of relevance here: Stratis has an ancient conflict with fire giants, specifically those of Ysgard. Bonebreak, the great club of his famed armaments. I shall recount the wisdom of Our Lord."  With that, The Servant's eyes go black, his voice reverberates throughout the chamber, though he never raises it above a whisper.

 
 Spoiler: A recitation 

 
 Originally Posted by The Tale of Bonebreak, as told by The Servant of Vecna 
 "When Stratis was but a godling, he chafed at his mother's protectiveness. She kept her son safe in her fortress on Ysgard, the plane of heroes. "The mortals need your shield, not I," he asserted, but Stern Alia did not heed him. By day Stratis studied the ways of war on Ysgard's many battlefields, learning from the greatest heroes of the past. In Alia's fortress, however, no weapons were allowed. "There is no war within these walls," she decreed.

Stratis, like all sons, longed to succeed on his own. When his mother was away attending the high priests of Thalos, Stratis made his way to one of her planar portals and stepped through. He found himself in a land of heat and fire. Ribbons of earth floated on pools of magma and the ground beneath his feet oozed acrid smoke. In the distance Stratis could see the World Ash, so he knew he was somewhere on Ysgard still. With godly powers, he strode over the lava and bounded over geysers, making his way to the planespannning tree.

The appearance of this impetuous godling had not gone unnoticed. Savage fire giants spied him from afar and set up an ambush near the World Ash. In the blink of an eye, Stratis was surrounded by a dozen of the brutes, each one encased in glowing hot armor and wielding a mighty two-handed blade. "Your blood is ours, little god," they taunted. "You don't even have a weapon to defend yourself."

Stratis said nothing. Before they could close with him, he leaped over their heads and bounded to the World Ash. He could have climbed the tree and escaped to another plane of existence. He could have, but he did not. Instead, he grabbed a branch and tore it free. He then charged the fire giants, wielding his club with deadly skill, smashing bones and skulls in a bloodthirsty rage. In the end, Stratis stood alone with twelve lifeless fire giants at his feet.

Thus did Stratis win his first battle and gain his first weapon." 
 
 


The story told, The Servant's eyes returned to their customary hollowness, and his voice again became croak that rasped in his dusty throat.

 "I think Azula is correct - the fire giants intend to use this chain to bind or corrupt a binding. There is a powerful connection between the chains of conflict and chains of binding, and the giants no doubt seek to exploit this. Perhaps they seek to punish this god, or steal his might, or otherwise control him. Which would indebt them to us. And make for powerful allies, indeed. Praise Vecna, sometimes known as the Chained God, for his blessings of insight into all things. I shall make ready, and depart when the moment is right." 
Doxkid
The oration of Fire Giant myth gives Videl pause amidst his studies.

 "Bind or corrupt bindings?"  Videl does not look toward the item itself, instead casting his gaze upon the team that has been assembled.  "...Perhaps while we do our duty in delivering this relic we should also ensure it is quickly put to  proper use . The task at hand will be a difficult one already, so should not require much more effort on our part to intensify the conflicts in situ and then overwatch any rituals they need to perform; our accomplices will get what they need, albeit not with the flexibility of options they expected, and we will ensure that even if they do have duplicitous intent they will not be able to act upon those intentions.

I prefer for tenuous allies to lack the option to betray, especially when their betrayal could bypass me and affect Our Lord directly." 
Genth
Another burst of shadows engulfs a corner of the room, from which Fletch's voice comes again, strangely placed and shifting from spot to spot.

 "Then again, perhaps the plans of our Lord require that the ritual be  improperly  peformed. We cannot assume that victory for the fire giants is what is desired."  he pointed out.  "I suggest that we focus on distraction and stealth." 
Postmodernist
 "Agreed. The Hand will beckon and caress, only becoming a fist if necessary." 
Lioslaith
  ”We have settled on a course of action, then?”   Azrael asks the others as he waits. He was not much of a planner. He was more the kill everything and it will probably sort itself out type.
Doxkid
 "Doxy's Mental Bond derived from Rary's Telepathic Bond; the creation of a thrifty mage whose insights into permanent magic helped him bypass the exorbitant costs of purchasing magical items or augmenting an extant spell with expensive reagents to make the spell last longer. A man after my own heart, still and cold as it often is..."  With a gesture and a huffed archaic creole of the Infernal and Celestial words for 'speak', Videl spreads magic into the air between each Finger of The Hand and then draws translucent threads from this magic to himself and the other 4 beings. After a moment his voice whispers in their heads

 &lt;For group-wide communication think at the idea of The Hand; otherwise you merely need to think at the individual and they should 'hear' you plainly. While on the same plane and unimpeded by powerful magic we should be able to maintain communications regardless of distance.&gt;  Videls voice whispers in their minds.  "There are other versions of the spell that are suited for interplanar communication or for bypassing some of the more common impediments of this spell, but this version was the only one found within this archive. I'll look into finding or recreating the interplanar version later,"  he speaks out loud.

He follows this by applying a powerful series of defensive spells upon himself.  "If necessary either myself or The Servant can abjure the rest of you. Hopefully it will not be necessary. Let's go."  Borne aloft by his invocation magic activating upon him, Videl leads the group toward The Heart.

 
 Spoiler: OoC 

Necro Arcana (fueled by Change Shape) 
 Spoiler: Necro Arcana spell swapping 

Mass Inflict Critical -(8 to 7)&gt; Plane Shift
Symbol of Death (8 to 7) Doxy's Mental Bond
Bodak Glare (8 to 7)&gt; Energy Immunity
Awaken Undead -(7 to 6)&gt; Superior Resistance
Mass Inflict Serious (7 to 6)&gt; Flesh to Stone
Evil Glare (7 to 6)&gt; Stone to Flesh
Ghoul Gauntlet (6 to 5)&gt; Teleport
Inflict Critical -(4 to 3)&gt; Greater Mage Armor
Inflict Serious (3 to 2)&gt;Magic Tattoo
 


Videl casts:
Doxy's Mental Bond (Nec Arc spell, 7th level using 8th level slot
Energy Immunity (Fire) on himself (Nec Arc spell, 7th level using 8th level slot)
Superior Resistance (Nec Arc spell, 6th level using 7th level slot)
Greater Mage Armor (Nec Arc spell, 3rd level using 4th level slot)

and already has Magic Tattoo running by now since he'll cast that at the start of the day every day (Nec Arc spell, 2nd level using 3rd level slot)
 
Genth
The darkness seems to fade, but it Fletch is coming out of the shadows, he is not reverting from his invisibility. Nevertheless he follows along.
Lioslaith
  "Let's go see what these fire giants have in the way of a back door."  
Postmodernist
 "Make your arrangements, fellow Enlightened. Unless otherwise instructed, I shall prepare the  plane shift  tomorrow. Rest well, those of you that still require it."  With that, The Servant withdrew to his chambers.

While there, he cast a  sending,  directed to Ei-uskh, the salt mummy who resided on Faerun, and tended to an ancient crypt somewhere in the Raurin desert, near the Plains of Purple dust.

 
 Spoiler: The Sending 
I am awake again. Service calls me to Ysgard. Continue the preparations. I shall return soon. I look forward to viewing your progress. The Servant.
 


With that, the deathless seer began his meditations.
Lioslaith
Azrael moves to one of the castle ramparts and stands looking out over the land.  Silent and stoic, thinking about the mission to come.
boj0
After much study and research in the library, information was gleaned from ancient tomes and scrolls: the celestial domain of brawlers, warriors, giants, and legends - Ysgard is not for those who lack confidence; it is a place where the very ground you walk on and air you breathe demands you to give 100% at all times...and it will kill you repeatedly until you learn that. Rivers of crushing stone and roaring flames surround fields of battle where the fallen rise the next day to do it all over again.

Stormsreach is a massive realm of dense forests, tall mountains, brisk air, and cycles between scorching clear days, calamitous thunderstorms that shred the sky, and snowfall heavy enough to make the land 10 feet in front of you impossible to see. Attempts to enter Stormsreach from the main realm of Ysgard are often battered away by powerful winds and storms, not even mentioning the rivers of fire and ice that complete the maelstrom protecting the realm.

The fire giants of Muspelheim are believed to have knowledge of a passageway that cuts through the layers of the plane and brings travelers directly to the kingdom of Vagniir Drakkengir. You're objective is to traverse the jotun realm of flame and gift their black iron clans the chain given to you, their leader Sootbeard the Ugly shall determine it's authenticity and then allow you safe passage.

Stormsreach itself, despite being practically tranquil in comparison to Muspelheim and most of Ysgard, is still a realm of giants and battle, and you  will be  uninvited guests. Stealth and guile shall be your best options to traverse the forests and the castle, King Drakkengir makes his home in the highest tower that punctures the clouds. Flight is assumed difficult if not outright impossible. He is a powerful warrior and no slouch in matters of spellcraft.
The other giants who live there are to also be assumed dangerous to the completion of this task. While murder is an absolutely acceptable answer, the discord among the giants is paramount: the rule of Drakkengir  must  be called into question...or at least a power vaccum must become very apparent. The specifics will be left to the Hand.

Anything else regarding intelligence will have to be gathered on the ground as the protective storms make even divination difficult outside of Stormsreach.

The High Priest will await you when you have finished readying yourselves.
Genth
Fletch did not require much in the realm of preperation - he kept to himself, shrouded in shadow during the night, and could have slept anywhere, were he indeeed to require sleep. But on the morn, he approached the High Priest, invisible and allowing the shadows of the place to cling tightly to him. There, he awaited the others, though the High Priest could feel his gaze upon him, watching carefully.
boj0
Aarwyn stands on a balcony, overlooking the demiplane of the Study, a cracked landscape of ashen grey dirt in all directions, jet black monoliths dot the wastes - security features, chunks of shadow that scream out when the living approach. Further out the barrier of the demiplane scrapes across the cosmos, creating a storm like appearance of whipping clouds of the Astral Sea, Plane of Shadow, and other Inner Planes as the Study skips across the Wheel, never in one space too long; best to hide that way.

Without taking his dead eyes off the beautiful chaos of the boundries of the Study, he speaks, "Ah, Fletch, even without seeing you, your aura of mischief is a blessing to feel upon me. Truly, lord Vecna has marked you as an aspect of his domains of deceit and intrigue. I am pleased to know one such as yourself will be joining in such an audacious act of theft." His right hand, his only hand, extends out to offer a spot to observe the edge of the plane.
"Tell me, what do you feel when gazing upon the thin veneer between security and oblivion?"
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
You may roll Sense Motive of you'd like, but it is not necessary, Knowledge (Planes) if you wish to make a more literal comment about the edge between realities
 
Genth
There was a long pause, and the shadows where Fletch  might  have been seem to flicker.

 "I feel nothing."  he replied, and turned to look towards Aarwyn.  "Am I instructed to feel? I believe not." 
boj0
"A more astute answer than you may realize..."
He continues to stare out for a while longer before continuing, "I understand you are the expert of infiltration amongst the Hand, there will be expectations of you, and I believe you shall meet them - acquisition of the crown should go smoothly if you are as capable as Vecna demands. However, no plan is perfect, and arrogance is an affront if it can not be backed up with deed. These giants are not to be underestimated, should it become necessary, the angel and asura should make quick work of any foe in combat, while Videl and the Servant are capable mages in their own right, as long as you come back with the crown, the mission is a success."
He gives a nod of dismissal, "Ready yourself, I believe the others will be here shortly"
Doxkid
The death-fiend gazes upon the sky with bright eyes and interjects,  "One could argue that there is no such thing as security. There is only confidence in achieving results when enough advantages congregate; sufficient profit, a good failsafe, clever hand, unyielding will, and strength sufficient to stymie defeat when victory escapes your grasp.

Where there is sufficient Profit even becoming entwined inexorably with oblivion could be worth a loss of Self.
Where there is Will even nothingness cannot abate your influence or delay your progress forward.
Where there is Power and Skill even the end is merely a step on a path forward that others cannot bear to tread.
Where there is a good Failsafe not even a thousand defeats can break the shackles binding you to victory.

I too feel nothing. Other than admiration for the fine magecraft that has created this place; assuming Our Lord did not directly bring this place into existence I can only guess that this Demiplane is only partially anchored in the Ethereal plane, with the unanchored portion wedded to something else entirely? Or perhaps the Demiplane was directly divided to allow multiple portions of it to move independently, so the stability here is a roaming single point of overlap that is part of a 'body' in motion but itself technically stationary when compared to all components of the Demiplane? Conjurations were never my strong point, so please excuse my ineptitude in wording this hypothesis." 
Postmodernist
The Servant smiled from his meditations as he overheard the theological discussion. The High Priest's question was a trick. Feeling, not that The Servant could feel any more, was not the point. Vecna valued  knowledge,  not sentiment. The fundamental question of Vecnan faith was one of epistemology, not faith. Despite his single eye, the Maimed One saw more clearly than any other deity of the pantheon.

He approached his comrades.  "When all are ready, please hold hands, and I will transport us."  The Servant was clearly in no hurry, favoring preparation to speed.
boj0
Aarwyn has the most faint smile cross his withered face as the Hand humors him and indulges him in such brutalist philosophy.
"Nothing. We feel nothing, we only know, we only act. Lord Vecna cares not what lies in our hearts beyond our devotion to him, we are taught that the path to power requires us to crush that part of ourselves, we only serve."

A few more moments pass, "Videl, to answer your question, it is intentionally unknown who originally brought this demiplane into existence, my own ponderings would surmise a previous Heart used extensive mastery of ritual and spellcraft to cast a more potent version of the  genesis  spell. For it's size and ability to move about in relation to the Inner Planes is nothing short of awe-inspiring."

"Alas, I cannot keep you from your divine mission, everyone gather around the Servant, you shall need to be close by for any protection spells or teleportation magic."
Lioslaith
  ”Let us not tarry any longer, the fire giants await.”  
Genth
Fletch's voice sounded from just behind the Servant.  "We require protective magics as well. Will you cast them now?"  he said, and the servant felt a tiny hand land on their shoulder, gripping the fabric tightly ready for shifting.
Postmodernist
The hour had arrived. One The Hand gathered in the chamber, The Servant bowed to his brethren. As he did so, they were filled with the conviction that these Ysgardian flames would not trouble them during their visit. Once all preparations were confirmed, he bid his companions join hands, and intoned strange words in an arcane tongue. His eyes shot jet black, and though his voice never rose above a whisper, they reverberated in the ears of all gathered. A void swelled at the center of the circle The Hand formed, looking like a lidless, terrible eye expanding toward the periphery of their union. The emptiness extended itself to them, suffusing their consciousness before they suddenly felt... elsewhere.

Muspelheim awaited.
boj0
Ash, smoke, unbearable heat, and a pulsing sensation that rattles through your form - Muspelheim, planar domain of fire giants and dragons, only the most prepared..or the most foolish would dare make the interdimensional trek to the doorstep of the lava-ridden jotun.

As you snap into focus you immediately grasp why most would call this suicidal, as far as you can see massive oceans of molten rock and flame, with jagged volcanoes and mountains piercing into the soot-blackened sky. The ground itself feels ready to explode into a burst of heat in the blink of an eye.

However, you find yourselves within walking distance of a massive, black iron gate. If there were a temple filled with fire giants, that would be the first place you would think to look.
Lioslaith
Almost as soon as they appear the angel spots the gate and starts walking towards it. Nodding his thanks he mentally says to everyone   Flying in would be easiest but might give the wrong impression if we still need to convince them to help us.  
Doxkid
 &lt;It is doubtful that they will know our numbers at this juncture, so this is probably the best time for those incline toward secrecy to put their abilities to use. Perhaps by acquiring a captive to interrogate...and to enthrall once their value alive is less than their value dead.&gt; [At:Party] Videl follows Azrael, hovering mere inches above the ground.  "A temple? It seems that I am at a disadvantage; I do hope that our allies do not make this a problem." 
Lioslaith
  Remeber they are just supposed to show us the way. We do not want to make enemies of them until we are through with them.    Azrael walks up to the gate and if not presented with another option…. He knocks.
boj0
OOC - If anyone wants to be stealthy before approaching the gate you can roll for that or cast any spells you need when you land and I'll apply them retroactively.
Doxkid
Videl takes a position behind Azrael facing the gate. He's as ready as he'll ever be.
boj0
As the fallen angel approached the gate, he felt the raging heat emanate from the blackened iron, the walls were well over 60' in height, and embossed with crude effigies of snarling faces and decorated with scorched skulls and charred bodies hanging from chains. Stretched out several hundred feet in both directions from the gate, the wall proved to be an efficient first impression that the jotun wished to make.

As he knocks on the massive door, a moment or two passes before one of the reliefs slides to the side and an ugly brute with wild eyes and a flaming beard that bristles with barely restrained fury glares with scorn.
" YOU! WHO ARE YOU TO DARE APPROACH?! IF YOU ARE AN ENEMY, WE SHALL KILL AND COOK YOU! SPEAK NOW,  BEFORE YOU ARE BUT A ROASTED BIRD IN MY STOMACH!" 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
@Azrael - with a passive Sense Motive success, you notice a not so subtle tinge of shock in the fire giant's voice, you feel some of this bluster might be for show
 
Postmodernist
 "We could consider announcing ourselves. Sending a message to their king or the appropriate emissary? 'Messengers from afar come bearing a gift,' or some such. I could probably compel some locals to send word for us ominously. I'd prefer the yearslong corruption of a single, well-positioned acolyte in the Fire Giant court, but alas, we haven't the time for it. I'm perfectly content with a stealthy approach, though I admit it isn't my forte, assistance of whatever sort would be appreciated. I am also happy to request advice from Our Lord with a  divination,  should the group deem it necessary." 

With that, The Servant relaxes for the first time in a while. The air, already sweltering, redoubles in intensity and unfurls around him. What passes for a smile crosses his face, further disfiguring him. Though he no longer breathes, he sighs. He seems unusually eager to Serve.

As he sees the fire giant, he telepathically sends the message,   "This one would serve, nicely."  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 
 Just for funsies, since it's probably irrelevant here, The Servant will drop his normally conscious effort to keep his  greater drought  effect active. I also assume this fiery plane activates his fast healing 2, but the aura should, regardless. 
 Waiting to hear what the team's decisions are, but if we do go stealth, he'll take this opportunity to spend 4 damnation points to shift into yochlol form. He'll gain 20 temp HP, and can spend 1 pt to cast  gaseous form  on himself for about half an hour. He can keep that up for about 6.5 hours. The crit resistance is wasted on him, alas. Otherwise, he'll shift into something else, glabrezu being a likely contender, for +bluff and  true seeing.  
 He has  divine power  persisted. This is probably just a thing he does in general. 
 Let me know if we wanna get down and dirty with any big buffs like Heroes' Feast, GMW, etc. or want a divination/scrying. 
  The Servant is happy to solicit buffs from anyone to aid in stealth. 
 
 
Lioslaith
Azrael's wings unfurl just a bit, making himself seem larger than he was,   "We seek passage to Stormsreach.  We are lead to believe your kind can show us the way."    Mentally he says to the rest   Show them the box.  
Doxkid
 &lt;Do NOT show them the box until we have confirmed which of these lowly creatures is our point of contact. I would gladly lead us in slaughtering and enthralling every miscreant or mischief-maker that tried to acquire the divine artifact of a god in their pantheon, regardless of whether they worship that god or not, but we have tasks to complete and our Lord is Master of  Secrets , not The Element of  Honesty .

Besides that, we must be wary of other factions among or 'allies' and 'enemies' creating trouble. Better to kill unjustly than to supply information in excess; at the very least we could discuss this matter with someone more important than a doorman.&gt;  Videl's voices is clear and rushed in the minds of his allies, taking great effort to dissuade them from sharing information early that will cause problems later.

 "This is not a matter of Might and Valor, honorable Giant Warrior. Our troubles are but small ones to you." 
Lioslaith
  Showing them the box is not the same as giving them the box.  Do you doubt our ability to retain it?  
Doxkid
 &lt;I would prefer for our ability to retain it to never come into question. What could a mere doorman do for us anyway? Dance and caper for our amusement? You do not become a Doorman by having vast authority and possessing intimate connections.&gt;  Videl answers mentally.
Lioslaith
  He is the one to take us to whom we need meet with, lest we burst in and kill our way to who we think it might be.  I do not think he will open the door for us simply because we ask it.  
Doxkid
 {Indeed he will be taking us to the person that is more likely to be the one we need to meet, whether he wants to or not, but it may not be necessary for him to know  why  he needs to take us to that person. My duty when serving under Our Lord often includes extracting information from the corpses of allies and enemies alike so that priests of Our Master can use that information to make more precise calculations or more accurate predictions; any extra information may be used against us even if the person who holds that information is nonthreatening.

Besides, we could always show it to him later if doing so proves necessary.} 
Lioslaith
Stepping to one side Azrael replies   Be my guest.  
Doxkid
Videl floats ahead of Azrael and lands, then bows beforethe door.  "Noble Giant Warrior, it is urgent that we cross through this place to find Stormreach; many lives, the least of which are our own, depend upon this. If you are unsure of our intensions then we request permission to meet with your leader, a superior officer, a titled Paladin of your god, or a priest of your god.

We can assure you that I are not your enemy; I am but a messenger who is neither willing not capable to being your foe, great warrior." 
boj0
" STORMSREACH?! YOU DARE ASK FOR PASSAGE TO THE REALM OF THE PRETENDER KING!? YOU SHALL ANSWER TO THE HIGH PRIEST FOR THIS! "

The massive iron gate begins creaking open, revealing the black-iron fortress temple of the fire giants, and heavily armed guards. The roads are polished volcanic rock, the buildings are stone and iron, brutalist and foreboding. When the gate finishes opening, the gate guard lowers his head and whispers best a giant can. "Follow me, Ashbeard is expecting you."
Postmodernist
  "Do any of you know this Ashbeard? I do not enjoy being ignorant of things, and I am tempted to compel this one to answer,"   The Servant mentally conveys to his comrades as he nods toward the fire giant towering a dozen feet above him.   Videl, do you think his corpse would serve better as a nimble skeleton or a resilient zombie?"   The Servant took care to keep his feet on the ground, though he was loathe to touch the same earth as the living, let alone these unbelievers.
Lioslaith
  I've not heard of him but his demeanor would suggest a friendly attitude.  
boj0
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Apologies, I could've sworn I posted that somewhere but Ashbeard is the priest of Sutur you've been told to give the box to.
 
Genth
Fletch follows behind the others, keeping himself out of sight with his innate invisibility. Grey eyes narrowed on the giant who greeted them, a slight smirk on the hidden pixies features, pondering the ways to end him should the need arise. For now though, his role was merely to watch, and wait. He dipped downwards into Azrael's shadow, another small way to keep prying eyes from him, and stayed close.   I am keeping my eyes on him. We all should.   he said to the others through their link.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Greater Invisibility as the pixie ability, pluss a hide roll:  (1d20+58)[ 77 ]  plus 20 for invisibility
 
Doxkid
 {Giants are typically better suited for serving as Skeletons; the simple magic for Animated the Dead typically fails when used on creatures as robust as them, and the more advanced forms of undeath are typically too overbearing to make use of their natural advantages. Through the guidance of Our Lord my research has led me to uncover more advanced forms of skeletons and zombies that retain more of their innate capabilities; Corpse creatures and Bone creatures. It would be my pleasure to collaborate with you in raising a elite team of thralls, but such matters must wait until after this business is settled...one way or the other.}  [@The Servant] Videl face betrays none of these musings. Without missing a beat he answers the giant  "I'm sure the High priest will make sense of this misunderstanding, great warrior. Please lead the way." 

Videl takes point following behind the giant, humble in his words but still gliding inches above the ground.
boj0
The massive gates open, and before you lays the fire giant's stronghold. As you follow behind, your senses are assaulted by the immense heat (thankfully mitigated by magic), the thunderous clanging of hammered metal and shrieks of slaves laboring, while the stinging scent of sulfur and burnt flesh wafts through the air.

You pass by gargantuan, iron-clad effigies of warriors and gods; spartan buildings, purpose built for the jotun who live only for smithing, war, and the worship of both. It is all made to tower over and intimidate any who would deny the fire giants.

Finally you reach the temple, an overwhelming zigguraut with blackened, wrought iron braziers blazing along the stairs to the top. You see three figures at the top, presumably the high priest, flanked by heavily armed guards.

If you continue, a voice booms forth.
" YOU WHO HAVE APPROACED, KNEEL BEFORE THE BURNING MIGHT OF SUTUR, AND MAKE YOUR OFFERING KNOWN. "
Doxkid
{ Such blasphemy must be some kind of code, or carry some hidden message that I am not quite understanding, since it seems that this High Priest wants us to  massacre this place from the lowest servant to the high priest himself ; perhaps this is a method of avoid information leaks, as we were discussing earlier. Unfortunately I doubt Our Lord would consider our service complete if we slaughter this entire stronghold and then reanimate key figures as needed, as dark magic tends to strain a devotee's connection to their god.

Azrael, as our leader how do you think we should handle this situation? To be clear I am not opposed to following the High priest's implied request to  slaughter everyone here , I just wonder if you have a more time and effort efficient course of action that would be similarly satisfactory. } [@Party]
Postmodernist
The Servant places one hand over where his heart once resided, and drops into a sweeping bow so low it approached obsequious, though the members of The Hand could telepathically discern the lich's barely concealed contempt.

 "Greetings, honored priest of Surtur. May his blazing sword reduce all worlds to cinders upon the appointed day. We are but humble emissaries, bearing a gift - a silver chain of great value. Though this trinket falls far below the craftsmanship of your incomparable people, I am told it brings great fortune to those who  bind  themselves to it."  The Servant's rasp should be insubstantial, yet somehow it projected all the way up to the seated priest.

 "We seek nothing in exchange, save brief audience with the mighty Ashbeard, and whatever hospitality you might grant weary travelers assembled from across the Great Wheel." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
The Servant will attempt a diplomacy check to improve their attitudes as much as possible, and expend a use of Divine Insight for +15. Cause you only get one chance to make a first impression.
 (1d20+47)[ 49 ] 
 
Lioslaith
Taking a knee before Surtur, Azrael says to the others   For now we play along, remember this is our means to an end.  Doubtless we will have to come back here and when we do we can carry out this new high priests wishes then.     "We seek an audience with Ashbeard."  

The others can hear the contempt for the new high priest though the mental connection, a contempt barely softened when he speaks to the fire giant leader.
boj0
After a moment of pause, the priest's eyes somehow manage to burn even brighter for a moment and a wicked, yellow-toothed smile breaks through his beard. His voice, less demanding, but still carrying great power, calls you forth. " Ha ha ha! It is good that you brought this token, oh  servant  from afar, and may you live long enough to witness the smoldering of the Wheel. I have received vision from the smoke and was foretold of this visit. Come, we have much to discuss, and I understand you lot are not as fond of speaking in the open as my acolytes are. " He nods to his guards and they step aside, he beckons you up to the top of the temple.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Well, a 49 is a pretty good start to open discussions. I'll wait a bit before I post again, in case anyone wants to through out any RP or make any checks.
 
Doxkid
Videl says no more, simply gliding up the stairs as requested. Those with a good eye may notice that he now hovers just a tiny bit higher off the stairs than he hovered off the ground though; even if the blasphemy was spoken as a means to cover this conspiracy, Videl will not forget this offense against  his  God.
boj0
At the top of the zigguraut, Ashbeard holds one hand up and with a word of authority the stone opens to reveal a small (for giants) room with a shrine to Sutur on the far wall, with a blazing center fire being worked by an Azer.

The fire giant priest takes a seat on one of the benches that circle the flame. " COME! Sit and breathe the smoke and the soot, peer through the wisps of flame that I may show you the passage you seek. "
Doxkid
Videl openly looks this blasphemous giant up and down, but does not hesitate to glide forward to the fire to taste its sting and directly breathe its emissions without giving the smoke and ash a chance to disperse.

Only after suffering for a few seconds does he retreat, taking a place well within the giant's reach on the bench to make himself a more attractive first target should this giant decide to take action against them. Out of everyone in this group Videl is the most disposable as his death would merely be a momentary inconvenience; it's quite likely that he could Plane Shift back to this plane and fly back to this location before his corpse even cools.

 
 Spoiler 
Heal check on  himself  to determine if anything is amiss with the smoke or fire.  (1d20+34)[ 50 ] 
 
Postmodernist
The Servant could not resist a self-indulgent smile; he could no longer breathe in the soot and smoke. This giant was a curious one, but had dropped enough hints to reveal that he might have other allegiances. The lich ascended the ziggurat behind Videl, head bowed. The flames of the room did not bother the undead zealot - indeed, his desiccated husk seemed to echo the sweltering heat. He said nothing, but observed the giant.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Sense Motive on our fire giant friend.  (1d20+16)[ 18 ] 
 
Lioslaith
Azrael moved in behind the group, spacing himself out so they weren't all in a clump.  He stood quietly and listened to what was surely to come.