OOC:
Here is the recent interaction between Julian and the Planar being he contacted, with most of the OOC items removed.
After venting his frustrations alone in his tower, Julian will prepare himself a meal, take a short rest, and then begin preparations to begin casting Contact Other Plane. Emptying two of my healing word castings as well from my ring.
DM
Finding a spot where you can be comfortable, you begin to cast the ritual spell. You sink within yourself, focusing inward at first before opening yourself up to the vast void of the outer planes. At first, there is darkness. Silence. An empty feeling deep within that draws you into it and threatens to consume your entire being.
Soon, however, you see a spark of light begin to take form on the endless horizon. You feel yourself drawn to it, surging forward like a moth to the promised gratification of a nearby flame...
OOC:
INT saving throw, please...
As you begin to get sucked into the void of the outer planes, things begin to go sideways. No longer can you control your thoughts as your mind is assaulted in 1000 directions at the same time. Unable to fend off the barrage of entities seeking to control you, your mind snaps and creates a barrier of protection, blocking outside influence from doing any damage to your mind.
Resetting your resolve, you slowly release the involuntary blockade. As you do, you allow a single entity of unknown origin into your intellectual sanctum. The strain to hold back the flood gates is difficult, but you know that you have a small amount of time before you succumb.
"Relax, mortal one. You are under no threat from me. Come. Let us discuss the reason for your folly." a deep voice reverberates in your mind.
Julian
Julian pauses for only a brief instant before allowing the entity to briefly touch his surface thoughts enough to understand his first question.
"The woman, the figure who set the trap for my party and dispelled my arcane eye. Is she the one responsible for bringing the giants together under one banner?"
DM
"No." the entity replies to your query.
"Surely you would prefer we speak face-to-face? Think of the riches and power I could grant you." it adds as you feel gentle tendrils of energy probing at your defenses.
Julian
Julian ignores the creature's promise of power. Such a thing would undoubtedly come with more strings attached than a gnomish marionette, and he found little appeal in the prospect of acting a puppet for any entity, god or otherwise.
"Do the giants or any of their allies have the capacity to scry on my allies, or otherwise divine the location of our base-camp?"
DM
"Yes." replies the entity.
"And if you let me come to you, perhaps we can find the power necessary to allow you to overcome them. Don’t be a fool in your company’s eyes.... Again. it adds.
Julian
What a desperate creature, Julian thought to himself.
"Will the hiding place of my allies be discovered before I can ward it tomorrow morning?" Julian had planned to ward their cave shortly after dawn, once his helm had recharged, but if there location was already compromised...
DM
"Only the fates know" the entity answers cryptically.
Though it does not add an additional comment after this question, you can sense that it continues to probe your psychic defenses for any signs of weakness.
Julian
The entity's message was not satisfying, but revealed important information to Julian regardless. Their location had not yet been compromised. Considering the giants had, as far as he knew, never seen the faces of him nor his allies, he found the likelihood of them discovering their location through divination within a single night small. It was true that the giants had wolves they likely used as bloodhounds, Julian had seen as much during his scouting and Ælfrics botched infiltration; however, Ælfrics magic would have prevented him leaving a scent trail for them to follow, and their only other means of transport to and from the steading had been untraceable teleportation. He'd relax, if whatever ungodly creature he was contacting wasn't trying to breach his mental defenses even now.
"Would my spell, Mordenkainen's Private Sanctum, offer sufficient protection from any magical means of detection the giants or their allies possess?"
DM
"Yes." answers the being.
"Though you will not be able to divine out, either. Let me show you how to remedy that weakness. I shall teach you more that you could ever fathom on your own, mortal." it whispers enticingly into your ear.
Julian
Julian thought over everything the otherworldly entity had revealed to him. This sorceress, though powerful, had not brought the giants together. Something more powerful, and likely more sinister, was at play. There were those among their foe who could divine their location, perhaps the sorceress or perhaps others. The entity did not know whether his allies would be discovered by morning, which Julian interpreted to mean their location had not yet been compromised, and the entity was quite clear that one of Julian's spells would be sufficient to protect them from the prying eyes of their enemy. Still, several questions remained unanswered, and Julian's mental defenses were growing week. The connection would soon need to be terminated soon, lest the creature break through his barriers.
"What is the name of the one who dispelled my Arcane Eye inside the hill giant's steading?"
DM
You can sense the entity was amused at your latest question and the assault on your psyche renews with a bit of vigor. Twice you almost felt the being break through, but you manage to hold on until the very end of the spell.
"She remains hidden from me, but know that she serves House Eilserv. It is a shame you do not wish to continue our discussion in person. Imagine the wealth of knowledge you would have at your fingertips, mortal one."
