Hoid looks down at the pool of water showing the devastation encompassing the Desarin valley by the elder elemental eye. How did it get to this point he contemplates, what more could I have done? So many times the constraints of my order infuriates me as I witness tragic situations that could have been avoided by a simple whisper in the correct ear. As he peers into the pool, he sees some small movements in the destruction. Could they have survived? Amazing, their previous incarnations have accomplished so much, after a short contemplation, it is not surprising that the powers of the planes infuse their souls.
“Hoid,” the Master softly questions, “are you viewing the workings of the Nemesis?” “Yes Master.” Hoid replies, looking at the tall cowled figure that is approaching the pool. Has anyone ever seen the master’s face? Always in that midnight blue robe, face hidden in the shadows. “The destruction is great, yet the players remain. I cannot understand how mortals could have survived such a release of energy as these clearly did.” These heroes reborn were sent to stop the elemental cults from opening gateways to the the pure elemental planes. The achieved that purpose but at what costs? They have destroyed the keys that the Nemesis’ emissaries were using to open the gates and allow princes of the elemental planes access to the Prime Material, and with them, the chaos that governs their realms. The backlash of energy was tremendous, and it will take a generation to repair the damage and contain the wild elementals spawned at the keys destruction. “You forget where these mortals come from. Their first incarnations have achieved much and thwarted the Nemesis’ first attempt to bring ruin to all the planes. These are no longer mere mortals. It must have been the power that their first incarnation accumulated that allowed them to survive the power released.” muses the Master. Again the Nemesis. I wish that I could do more, but I have stretched the of the rules of my order to the breaking point. Mortals think that planar beings are all powerful, but in many ways we are more constrained than the mortals in the choices that we can make. We are guided by supreme powers that can snuff our existence, immortal or not, if we stray too far from the mandates that were given to us. The order to which I belong is charged with being the ultimate neutrality in the multiverse.. We are tasked with maintaining the balance in the multiverse, letting neither the good nor the evil powers gathers so much influence that it will tip the scales of balance beyond the recovery point. Some realms evil will reign supreme, and in others good will have snuffed evil out completely. We have to observe the mortals that are the main actors in this cosmic drama. We are not to interfere with their actions, but if it seems like one side is gaining too much power we must report this to the principalities that govern the opposite ethos so they will not be blindsided by the machinations of their opposite. I remember this group's first incarnation, the powers of the Abyss were stirring as they do every few millennia, and it was reported to the divines. They placed the heroes in the path of the dragon cult that was trying to resurrect Tiamat and bring her to the prime material plane. When they thwarted this plan, they were then tasked with infiltrating the Abyss and tracking the mastermind of this plan. It turns out that it was a move by Lady Lolth to try to seize more power in that infernal realm. It was also she who released Demogorgon to play havoc in the prime material plane, and to remove a major adversary for her power grab. I am always amazed at the power of mortals, that can destroy the plans of these immensely powerful beings, but now, it seems that even Lady Lolth a manipulator supreme was just a puppet of the Nemesis. “You look trouble Hoid,” the Master muses, “you wish to take a more active role against the Nemesis?” Hoid harrumphs, “Am I that transparent Master?” “You are not alone in the desire to do more, but if we violate the tenets of our order, we will be stripped of what little power we have to act. Remember, it is you interference with these mortals that sped the cultist to act before they were fully ready and released the chaos that we are now witnessing. A favorite mortal saying of mine is the road to ruin is paved with good intentions. I know that you did what you did out of selflessness and a desire to slow the Nemesis plans, but it seems that you might have actually accelerated them.” “But Master, the Nemesis desires to bring ruin to all of the cosmere. Its only desire is to bring nothingness to all planes of existence,” Hoid protests. “How are we to sit idle when the order’s existence and the existence of all things are threatened!” “Hoid, you are young to this order, only brought forth a few centuries ago by the reckoning of the Prime Material. You have not yet developed the necessary insight to determine what impact your actions will have” the Master chastises me. “I think I understand Master, but the pull to assist these mortals who strive against the Nemesis is great.” Hoid pleads, “I wish to strive with them against the destruction of the cosmere.” “Hoid, it is forbidden. Return to your observations and recordings, and do not interfere in their lives anymore.” the Master commands as he turns and walks from the room. I understand my charge, but it is difficult to not want to provide any little assistance that I might. As an observer of the multiverse, it is hard to simply observe the destruction of it without striving against the powers that would destroy everything. I turn back to the pool and see the mortals dig themselves from the rubble. These beings, not knowing what they were facing selflessly strove into the heart of battle and railed against the coming destruction that they cannot grasp the full scope of. The fall of the prime material would bring ruin to all the planes. It is amusing to think that this realm of mortals is the pillar on which all of the other planes rest. If it falls, it will sever the connection to all the other planes and their source of power will be gone. Slowly each plane will wither away to non existence as those that believe in them and seek power from the planes no longer feed psychic energy to the plane. This has to be the Nemesis’s plan. I can no longer sit idle, I am willing to sacrifice myself for the good of the planes. With that thought hesitation flees my mind and I teleport from the chamber to offer assistance to those brave mortals. Unseen is the Master, hidden in the shadows, a small smile showing from the shadows of his deep cowl. When I appear in the ruins, the mortals are pulling themselves from the rubble and taking inventory of their injuries. The cleric is casting healings on the most grievously injured, while the paladin and druid tend to the minor wound of the party, “By Kord!!” the cleric exclaims, divine energy dissipating from his hands. “Hoid,” the mage questions, “what are you doing here. It seems that we have failed in the task that you have given us.” “Be not troubled by that, it seems I was deceived into action by a power greater than any you have encountered yet. “I reply, “It is amazing that you survived the release of the elemental princes.” “Pure luck,” the ranger exclaims as he examines his panther companion. “I would not attribute it to luck “ I say, “but I am here to help direct your next steps. You were all awashed with the raw elemental energy that was released when these portals to the elemental planes were opened. It seems that you have absorbed some of the power that was released. You are now connected to the elemental plane, and with practice may be able to draw on its energies.” “What does this mean?” the dragonborn paladin grumbles, “A power greater than we have encountered? Our bodies absorbing elemental energies?” “It seems that all through your lives, there has been this being that have been directing events to remove you from its path. You for example, it was the one that influenced the raiders to come to your village and slaughter your people. It was you that it was looking for, and you druid, it was this power that led the flight of dragons that ravaged in the wake of the cult of the red hand that tried to resurrect the terrible Tiamat, that ravaged your forest, and killed your parents. This is just the latest in a series of step that it is taking to bring the destruction of all the planes.” “Well what can we do about it,” the warrior mumbles as she looks for something strong to drink. “Is the valley safe?” “No,” I reply, my voice full of remorse, “the elemental princes are spawning environmental disasters in their wake. You must stop them.” “What is the we part? What about you Hoid? You seem to know plenty about this, what is your roll?” questions the cleric. “I am already doing more than I should, My time here may be short, so let me explain what I can. A being that we call the Nemesis has been manipulating beings all throughout the planes to bring about the end of all existence. I do not know its motives, only that we must not allow this to happen. What occurred here, was just its first step. It seeks to destroy the prime material plane. Its destruction will cascade to all the planes of existence, and eventually will render the cosmere a vast nothingness.” Hoid explains. “When the elemental portals were opened, some of their energy seeped into you. Each of you will not have some elemental abilities, some will be more magical in nature, others will have abilities that aid in melee combat. I am sure that the more you use these abilities, the more that you will be able to control them. As you develop more skill with these powers, you will be able to tap deeper into the elemental realm and draw more power from them.” “Well, what can these elemental powers do?” queries the paladin. “As for the specifics, you will have to discover that for yourself, but in general I can tell you that power from the earth elements, tend to offer strength and protections, often imbuing the wielder with the strength and resilience of the earth itself. Creatures with affinity towards water elements tend to have affinity towards the healing arts, and subterfuge. The element of air has to do with movement and avoidance, typically striking from a distance without being seen. The most obvious is the fire element that deals with raw power and destruction.” Hoid explains to the companions. “How are we going to close these portals?” the mage asks.”They have to be the source of the princes’ power.” Hoid closes his eyes in a meditative manner. As he searches his mind for an answer to this dilemma.
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