Ana, prepared to cast a spell, blinks and hesitates. "Hello?" she manages to voice.
Keeps his sword and shield at the ready. Oh boy he whispers and tries not to appear threatening while the elf maiden starts to talk to the man.
Zynazyr waits to see if the man responds to Ana.
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The party stands around for a moment, not sure what to make of the man in front of them.
The man snaps out of his surprise at the sight of the party.
He jumps up and says, "Stand back, foul rebels! I possess the power of song!"
He then starts playing his concertina again and sings something like "Hey-dee-fiddle-do-riddle-dee-hey / Hi-do-fiddle-dee-ho!" and starts dancing around.
If the song wasn't awful enough, when dancing the strips of his "clothing" bounce around enough to give the players the occasional and unpleasant glimpse of his filthy naked body underneath. The frog mask also has a built-in paper noisemaker that uncoils like a frog's tongue when blown.
Ana raises an eyebrow. "Your power is indeed formidable, mighty one. We humbly beseech thee not to harm our lowly selves. We seek only to parlay."
The man stops dancing. He seems surprised.
"Very well. You came to the right man, actually. I am Fineos, chief minstrel to the court of King Alexander himself."
He bows deeply. Sadly thanks to his torn clothes this exposes his buttocks to the air. Thankfully he does not remain in that pose for long.
He stands again, and puffs out his chest a bit.
"Therefore, if you lay down your arms I will pardon your rebellion - the king will honor such a promise. The king trusts my judgement. I am the most favored of all his servants!"
Looks at the man, Uh, no offense, but if that is the case, why are you in this room and with clothes in such a sad state?
The water must indeed be fouled as those drinking it have surly been afflicted....
"This chamber is the highest in the pyramid, and was granted to me by the king himself! It is a great honor!"
He looks around. "I suppose it has seen better days though. This damned rebellion. Chaos is their only master, and they seek to tear down all! The same for me; I have found myself woefully mistreated by the rebels, despite my station. I have done the best I can with what I have."
He looks the party over.
"You don't look like the typical band of rebels. Who are you anyway? Are you ready to accept King Alexander as your lawful Sovereign?"
A king you say? Sounds like a worthy one to pledge one's sword to. he says with a sideways wink to the dwarf. Tell me more, and who are these rebellious scum!?
Montague, at his best never a really social creature, gets board quickly with the banter, and looks about for anything interesting, as he awaits the inevitable combat or quest.
"We are not rebels, mighty one," Ana says. "We are explorers."
Hearing the group talking to the man in the room, Zynazyr waves Montague over to the statue to have him look at it. He keeps watch down the hall.
We be neither Rebels nor Ghosts you damnable fools. We are caravan guards nothing more or less.
The dwarf grunts obviously losing his patience with the denizens of this place and their bizarre masks.
Does this great King Alexander have plenty of food and water? Because that is what we seek noble Bard-Frog.
"Truly we are from the wastes above lost from a caravan we seek pure water for our group."
Laugh at the dwarf's comments. That we are, but I at least aspire to be greater than a mere caravan guard... and a sworn sword to a King, what greater goal is there?! again said with a wink.
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Montague, at his best never a really social creature, gets board quickly with the banter, and looks about for anything interesting, as he awaits the inevitable combat or quest.
Hearing the group talking to the man in the room, Zynazyr waves Montague over to the statue to have him look at it. He keeps watch down the hall.
While the others speak to the room's resident, Montague and Zynazyr look over the statue at the north end of the hallway.
The statue does not seem to have any interesting features about it. Zynzayr detects no magic, and neither Montague nor Zynazyr detect any traps or secret compartments. It looks like the head was broken off the statue a long time ago.
The mask looks to be worth 10 gp. The statue itself is old and well-crafted, and might be worth a significant amount to a collector, but it weighs at least six hundred pounds and is attached to the floor.
A king you say? Sounds like a worthy one to pledge one's sword to.
"Indeed he is! The finest king Cynidicea has ever had! Or will ever have, I imagine. He and his Queen Zenobia rule the city with benevolence and wisdom. He had this pyramid built to safeguard the culture and history of our great city!"
Tell me more, and who are these rebellious scum!?
"When the demonic horde came from the north and laid waste to the land, many of the people thought that worshipping chaos was the only way to survive, despite the fact that King Alexander in his wisdom had built a safe refuge for the people underground, and thus saved the people. Now only a handful of loyalists remain, and the city is plunged into madness. Even the old faiths have fallen away from their loyal place."
"We are not rebels, mighty one," Ana says. "We are explorers."
We be neither Rebels nor Ghosts you damnable fools. We are caravan guards nothing more or less.
"Truly we are from the wastes above lost from a caravan we seek pure water for our group."
Fineos looks at each of you in turn.
"Caravan guards or explorers? Well, it's rather foolish being a caravan guard now that there are no more caravans."
"But explorers? Were you sent out to see if there was anything left outside? It would explain how your skin got so burnt, but anyone could have told you that it was a fool's errand. The wastes are endless. Though I respect you for trying."
"You must have been away from the city for a long time if you don't know the state of things now."
Does this great King Alexander have plenty of food and water? Because that is what we seek noble Bard-Frog.
"Indeed! In fact, the king's servants have prepared a marvellous supper for me and are on their way now to bring it to my chamber! It should be here any moment. You are welcome to join me! There is always more than enough."
These servants wouldn't happen to be oh about yay tall... he says and gestures to about goblin height, And in goblin masks?
These servants wouldn't happen to be oh about yay tall... he says and gestures to about goblin height, And in goblin masks?
"Oh, gods, no. Who would wear a goblin mask? No loyal citizen, that's for sure."
"The wastes are vast for certain, but in truth I was born in a forest far from here, we have not been away from the city we have yet to tread there, might you show us the way?"
"The wastes are vast for certain, but in truth I was born in a forest far from here, we have not been away from the city we have yet to tread there, might you show us the way?"
"Ah, I understand. They say that if you stay out in the sun long enough it addles your wits. Hmm... the trees you saw are called a mirage. You must have been out there a long time if you thought they were your home. There are no actual trees left in the world, aside from the bleak scrubby things that can survive the hot sun."
"But don't worry... now that you are back home I am sure things will start to come back to you."
"In the meantime, I would be happy to show you around! Perhaps we should go to King Alexander's throne room! You will never see a more wondrous chamber."
Fineos gets up and collects his things. You note that among them is a waterskin that looks partly full. There is also half of the body of a dead giant centipede on a stick, which it looks like he has been cooking with his candle. He throws this in a small sack.
"Shall we go?"
All in good time. he says in response to the frogman's question. He gestures down the hall, What should we expect to find down this hallway, and what do you know of your next door neighbor?. The latter is said while pointing to the next door as he steps ahead of Taklishim.
Taklishim takes a step back. Perhaps powerful magic makes wanderers forget the past...or perhaps all who dwell here have faith in revered lore which is wrong.....
All in good time. he says in response to the frogman's question. He gestures down the hall, What should we expect to find down this hallway, and what do you know of your next door neighbor?. The latter is said while pointing to the next door as he steps ahead of Taklishim.
Fineos shrugs.
"I don't think anyone is in there," he says. "There's certainly been no noise coming from there. I had planned to use that room to house my servants when they arrive."
He looks further down the hall.
"As to down there, bah! More rebels. They have no respect for the law or for the arts. Some of the rebels have even taken to releasing wild creatures into the halls to foment chaos. There's a door on the right down the hall that I managed to block to prevent such creatures from coming this way. It was quite clever of me, actually."
"Perhaps we could help you quell the rebellion?" Ana asks.
Aye I be in the mood for some quelling meself, elf.
The dwarf said and then cleared his throat before speaking.
Fineos, I saw a waterskin there. Might I have a drink? My throat is quite parched and we have no water remaining being outside for so long.
Zynazyr looks dissappointedly at the statue and then surprised when the group walks out with the frog man. "And who is our new friend here?"
When Ferrous points out the waterskin, his eyes widen. "But more importantly, where can we find more?"
"Perhaps we could help you quell the rebellion?" Ana asks.
Aye I be in the mood for some quelling meself, elf.
"Wonderful! I am sure the King will be grateful for any help in this dark time. There is so much trouble though, one would be at a loss as to where to start."
Fineos, I saw a waterskin there. Might I have a drink? My throat is quite parched and we have no water remaining being outside for so long.
Fineos puts his hand on his waterskin for a moment, but hesitates.
"Ah, yes. Well..."
"It has been a while since I filled it... the rebels have cut off my access to water. I have been holding out for the king's servants to arrive with supplies. Perhaps we could trade for some food? Just to tide me over until the king's men arrive, of course. I'll give you half of what I have for a full day's rations?"
When Ferrous points out the waterskin, his eyes widen. "But more importantly, where can we find more?"
"There are many fountains in the courtyard of the King's palace. It is truly a wonder! Once we reach it you can fill your waterskins to your hearts' content. We may have to get by the rebels to reach it though."
"I don't see that beings a problem. Lead on, Mighty One."
"Speak more of these rebels, who leads them? What do they want?"
Bah who cares what the want its my steel they'll get.
Ferrous finds some of the food in his sack and hands over some food to Fineos in exchange for some water.
"Speak more of these rebels, who leads them? What do they want?"
Bah who cares what the want its my steel they'll get.
Fineos nods. "The bearded one has the right of it. They defy the lawful order, that's all that matters. They are all fools and liars and madmen. But there is no leader, or perhaps I should say there are many leaders, and the rebels don't all get along. But they all deny the rule of King Alexander."
I prefer no kings, and let each man rule himself, but at least this is a lead on a sustainable source of water, and perhaps food.
"Lead on. Let's do what we must".
Zynazyr licks his lips when he sees the water being poured from one waterskin to the next. "Yes, let's get moving so we can all fill our waterskins."
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Fineos leads the party a short way south, squeaking out a sort-of-tune on his concertina as he goes.
There is another set of doors, one on either side of the hallway. The hallway continues south, but in the middle of the hall is a pile of trash; wooden furniture, pots and pans, clay jars, and various other things, all broken beyond usefulness. The pile is about three to four feet high, five feet deep, and spans the whole hallway.
Beyond the trash pile the hallway forks. The south end is a dead end, but at the end of the corridor you see a glittering statue. The statue appears to be a smaller version of the bearded man wielding a lightning bolt you saw on top of the pyramid.
A passage leads off to the east just before the alcove with the statue, and you can see a door on the south wall of that passage.
He stops at the door to the west.
"Beyond this door is another, which I jammed shut with a bit of wood. The rebels had released some creatures in there to hunt me and I needed to keep them out of this wing. We need to get past them to get further down in the pyramid."
"Well, then, let's see about clearing them."
No, let us clear the door behind us first... best not to leave any potential rebel scum at our backs He studies the doors, Besides I think this one point to his right, leads back to the room with the tubes. He turns to Fineos A bit of a delay I assure you, but the rebel scum must be dealt with, no?
No, let us clear the door behind us first... best not to leave any potential rebel scum at our backs He studies the doors, Besides I think this one point to his right, leads back to the room with the tubes. He turns to Fineos A bit of a delay I assure you, but the rebel scum must be dealt with, no?
Fineos shrugs.
"Which rebels get it first doesn't matter to me... they are all scum, like you say!"
"Hmmm... that gives me an idea for a song..."
He starts playing the battered concertina again and begins to dance and sing.
"Deal with the rebel scum, / twiddle fiddle foo"
"kick them in the bum! / wibble pibble poo."
"Squash them like little gnats, / riddle middle mee"
"they're no better than filthy rats! / jibble fibble fee "
His singing is just as bad as his playing but he compensates by being loud.
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The door just south of Fineos's room seems unlocked; the party cannot hear anything, nor do they detect any traps.
At the doors that are opposite each other, nobody detects anything untoward about the western door. Ferrous thinks he hears something from the eastern one but it is hard to tell with the racket Fineos is making.
"A through exploration or a quick look?"
Zynazyr frowns at Fistep's suggestion that they search all of the rooms, but nods his head in agreement. "I suppose you are right. All of the water in the world won't do us any good if something sneaks up behind us and kills us. We might as well take a moment to search them so we don't have to back-track," he says responding to Taklishim's question.
Nods to the wizard and comments to the weird one, A quick look is a good suggestion. As nothing was heard, nor any traps, he steps up and opens the door to the room just south of Fineous' door, his shield at the ready.
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Ferrous opens the door.
This room might once have been the quarters of a cleric, but it looks like it has been abandoned for a long time. It contains musty, dust-covered furniture: a sleeping pallet, a writing desk with a wooden stool, a chest, and a wooden holy symbol that looks like a sickle.
A quick search of the room reveals nothing of interest. The chest only contains some moldy old garments.
Shrugs and closes the door, All clear here... and moves to the west door and opens it with his shield at the ready.