Summary LIX: What Is Known About the Deathstealers
It is clear from divinations and communes that the supernatural LE force is
in charge in that part of the castle. Specifically, according to the Grim,
that is the Citadel, which Beck had previously told us was separate from the
other sections of the Castle Bah Nareth.
Divination: Creatures there are vastly powerful (compared to Letier). Very
rich treasure in the area...Forces of LE, vastly dominant, chances of
disturbing are moderate to high.
Any earlier reference by the Sphinx places possibilities of Ghouls very
high. Specifically, he never mentioned the DeathStealers.
Auguries: Go through the bronze doors/portcullis into the Citadel? (This
was right after fighting the Great Ones and the next day when we were closer
to healed, but without any knowledge of what lay beyond) (The Grim said the
entrance into the Citadel had specific magical defenses, which is part of
the whole trapping of the DeathStealers. They cannot go through any door on
their own, but can go out an open door.)
"Much grief would result." "Many would be mourned."
At bronze doors in former mite lair: "Unexpected consequences would
result." (Before going in to mite lair: "Limited efforts will meet
acceptable goals." Going further would require going through the bronze
doors and so would have been bad)
Divination (Alegra) "Forces of Dispater (major archdevil of the hells-- not
his true name) have been left beyond the reach of otherworldly forces.
Mandrid once held sway here. There is an overwhelming chance of provoking
the mild ire of many deities of good. There is a tiny chance of enraging the
forces of LE." (probably by killing or banishing the DeathStealers)
Augury: go through bronze door on roof. "[No benefit] by any measure."
LE force: Older records from this area deal with Adv. Reserve parties who
came to fight the Behir. Traded info to sage at that time in exchange for
Behir info. DeathStealers present. Able to yank a soul out of a body, use
the death in it to kill another person, and inhabit the body with a passing
evil spirit. They were intentionally summoned to deal with the lightning
creatures that killed most of the city by the Council. Imprisoned probably
due to contract and there are probably 3 though this is not known exactly.
This was gained by legend lores, but most Adv Reserve parties only paid
attention to the Behir.
SMART didn't mess with the LE.
Fabias told us: There are records of one being fought in which 75% of the
party was killed but it was defeated. Normally, when they are young and
weak, they travel out from their home planes to devour people. They have
armies of ghouls or ghasts. They regenerate quickly. They can "deathsteal"
(As previously described) at a distance. Touch abilities include level
drain, hit point drain, power drain (spell-casting power, which can be used
against you). All four abilities-- only one can be selected per routine,
with a 1 minute recovery period. They paralyze within a large radius. They
are difficult to hit (very) and usually have vassals on the lower planes.
They are major devils. Prot. fr. evil does not work against them.
Paralyzation protection does work against them.
Lorm: No vassals present. No undead wraith or higher in level. They are
powerful psionics.
Astrology fr. Xavier: "You have both under and over estimated your
opponents. The Forces of Law will unexpectedly balance against you."
This was interpreted to mean the Grim, since he resides in a Korian Chapel,
though the divination on him away from the Chapel reveals Neutral Good.
This could also mean the DeathStealers, based on some unforeseen power....
Other info from Grim: His powers are better at night. May not leave chapel
(in castle) during the day. DS must not open a door themselves and the
defenses of the Citadel are probably activating preventing entry. They may
not attack a member of the Council, but that is irrelevant now, he thinks.
He was sent here a thousand years ago to watch the evils in Tan-El.
Removing the DS would not significantly change the requirement for him to
remain here (there are sufficient other evils to keep an eye on). If our
plan were not folly, and accomplished at night he would help us in his own
small way (probably healing, we guess).
We have _blowtorched_ one the portcullises now. We will soon be looking at
forcing the door.
Protection:
Prot. fr. Devils scroll (10 minutes)
Prot. fr. Paralyzation scroll (20 minutes) X 2
Prot. fr. Magic Scroll (10 minutes?)
Teleport Dampers (10 minutes) X 5
Current plan: Open doors, insect plague. Wander in, use artifact to find
LE forces. Kill undead, find the DS. Use Prot fr. Devils scroll. Abjure
the DS if possible. Fight if not. Use Prot. fr. Paral. for ghouls/ghasts
and for DS. Prot. fr. Magic only as an escape route (no magic can pass in
either direction). Teleport dampers throughout.
Lorm also wants to plane shift and follow them to their home plane if
possible... :)
Ha!
Kyle/Alegra