Whatever it was in that bizarre concoction Elwoz devised is doing its job well. I happily gulped down another bottle of it this morning. This, coupled with the fact that we are closer than ever to destroying the Tear of Ioun, has left me feeling as good as I have since we found the tear. I still have these damned blisters on my hands, but I am rejuvenated. I can feel the stubble of my hair growing back. I may speak with Elwoz on how to speed up this regrowth process later. How awful it is that a vessel of His divine power appears so weak and sickly!
Our first order of business today was to appease Elwoz's spiritual needs. He spied a garden on the city map and wanted to commune with nature. When we arrived, we saw that this was perhaps the only place in the entire city that was not overrun with the razor vine. Instead, about a dozen warm and friendly centaurs tended to a garden which stretched a little less than a city block. Now I have met centaurs before, but they have typically been reserved, surly, or downright aggressive, so I was initially apprehensive. Elwoz, however, wasted no time talking about spirits and potions, much to the centaurs' enjoyment. I suppose I should no longer be amazed at the sights I see in Sigil.
We sat with them and engaged in a ritual, meant to open one's mind and commune with the natural spirits, which consisted of smoking a sacred herb and sitting around in a circle. We sat for quite a time, gazing off into the distance and enjoying the lush foliage so alien to this gnarled and twisted landscape. Somewhere amidst the giggling and exclamations of disbelief of the size of his hands, Elwoz claimed to have made direct contact with the spirit world. He described at length his experience, but I feel the ceremonial herb we inhaled dulled our memories, for the rest of our visit with the centaurs is a complete, though pleasant, blur of fragmented images. One such image, mentioned again and again by Elwoz is that of a barren wasteland covering a distant plain.
After our commune with nature, our band elected to venture out in search of the Lady's Library, which Estevan suggested as a lead on our quest to find the Luminous Body. It was, after all, the path of least resistance, as our other two leads seemed to suggest inevitable contention. The library was not to be paid. The library was not to be convinced. It simply offered all that it had to anyone with the time to sift through the sea of tomes contained within.
The library was staggeringly large for such a cramped city. We learned that the Luminous Body was a mystical world, floating alone somehow within the elemental chaos. Its location, however, is ever changing. As I poured over a series of notes written by a Torhana Inksoul, I learned that there existed a magical compass which, imbued with arcane energy, linked to the pointed out the location of the Luminous Body as a compass would point north. Unfortunately, the library had little information on this subject, so we were forced to continue our search. Oh, how I'd love to spend a century in this place discovering what in the nine hells Sigil is. Who or what made this place? Who or what is the Lady of Pain? What happens when you dig straight down, or can you? I'm afraid these questions would have to wait, for once we had exhausted the material by Ms. Inksoul and the other relevant books, we still needed more information.
Opting to seek out one of two contacts Estevan, we decided to head to the Stick's Oarsman where we were told to find The Rule of Three. As we walked the streets, a voice beckoned to us in our minds, drawing us to a dimly-lit alleyway. As Sigil's ubiquitous rain fell around us, rats scurried out from every nook and crevice to assemble into a form of a brain. A voice emitted from this form into our minds, warning of the rise of Orcus and pleading with us to ride to the task of defeating him and keeping his army of undead in the abyss. Little more was said before the entity scattered into the sewers. Alyana followed silently for a while, but returned, fearing dangers which may lie in the dark depths of the sewer systems. The entire ordeal was quite confusing, but I suppose it's a noble quest given to us by the brain-rat-creature. First, though, we must destroy this damned Tear of Ioun.
We explained to the Githzerai that we were seeking the Luminous Body, and mentioned the information we dug up in the Lady's Library. It was clear that he was already well-versed in the knowledge we had just recently accumulated. At first, The Rule of Three's smirk widened and he refused to help. Getting impatient, we explained the dangers of the Tear of Ioun, and how, in the wrong hands, this could be used as a tool to shake the planes to their very cores. Such chaos would inevitably spead to Sigil, beckoning the wrath of the Lady of Pain.
At the invocation of that name, the tavern went silent and all eyes turned to us. With a wave of his hand, The Rule of Three dismissed the stares and sent the patrons back to their boisterous conversations. He pulled from his pockets a compass, saying he would be willing to part with it if we were to complete three tasks for him. The needle of the compass just spun and spun, emitting a slight hum. As he explained his requests, he pocketed the compass and stood before us. It was obvious he felt very safe in this establishment.
After his explanation, Alyana, who had until now remained silent, refused his requests, grabbed us by the arms, and left the tavern hastily. Once outside with the others, she confessed that she had picked the pockets of the cunning and quizzical Rule of Three. Our key to the Luminous Body was in our possession! How proud I was of our brave thief! I shudder to think of the disaster that would have ensued had she been caught in the act.
With that, we made haste to Estevan's office, for it wouldn't be long until The Rule of Three discovered his loss and took action. He was excited to hear of our
acquisition, and promised to talk to his contacts within the city to keep The Rule of Three off our tails. Estevan asked for the compass and took us to a room adjacent to his office where a neatly etched runic circle was drawn upon the floor. He claims he would like to go to one of his favorite surveying points near most of Sigil's portals to the elemental chaos. Elwoz elected to remain in the office as we went through to accompany Estevan and see what wonders the elemental chaos held.
What wonders, indeed.
As Estevan activated his portal, we again found ourselves flung through the ether, appearing upon a floating chunk of rock during the most vicious and turbulent storms I have ever witnessed. Estevan held strong as he squinted and watched the compass needle as it slowed. All the while, we gazed out at crackling clouds and floating chunks of stone and dirt, some almost stationary, others flinging in and out of sight amidst the surrounding storm clouds.
Winds assailed us, knocking several of us off our feet. Lighting crashed upon our floating island, and severe bolts of cold energy slammed into us. Truly we were humbled by the incredible power held within the elemental chaos. Just as we were nearing exhausting from our constant dance to avoid the barrage of ice and lighting, Estevan shouted that he knew where the compass pointed and gathered us back to the safety of his offices where he returned the compass and offered his help in the coming day.
I feel this is it, Journal. We are to stay again tonight at the Battlements, care of Estevan's coin, and guaranteed the safety his reputation offers. Tomorrow he will show us the way to the region of the elemental chaos which will lead us to the Luminous Body. Here we shall encounter the entity or tools needed to destroy this damned tear once and for all. Who knows, perhaps this is the wretched implement needed to bring about the reign of the Demon Prince we are being continuously warned about. It then should be a good thing that we destroy it and thwart his alleged plans. I can feel the voice of the Tear of Ioun quiet, its hold on my mind and body weakening significantly. By His grace, Journal, we shall bring about an end to this evil relic which has plagued me all these days. Then, we shall return to our homes triumphant and hailed as heroes, or chosen again to cleanse another land of its evil stain!
