Manzorian says to Trevor, "Your father was a good man, never doubt that. I cannot speak of his choice to leave you, but knowing the man I would say he did it to protect you. Hopefully you can find him and speak with him."
When Quintus mentions the rod, "I have been thinking about this and I believe that Visciannix does indeed have the at least one other piece and greatly desires this piece. This artifact will help you on your journey, but its true value lies in the potential of the completed Rod. I fear that Visciannix will continue to send his nearly unlimited forces against you until he obtains this piece. I have a solution however. Come walk with me, we can talk a little more while I have a few more things to show you."
He leads you deeper into the fortress down below ground level and what seems an endless amount of stairs. He stops what seems like randomly and touches the wall and that section of wall disappears.
Beyond is another large room filled with all sorts of magical items. The vast amount of wealth these items had are immeasurable. He turns to you and says, "I would like to take this fragment of the Rod off your hands and store it here in my vault where it will be protected. Also, owning a piece of the Rod of Seven Parts appeals to me greatly. I guess that is the adventurer's greed that has never left me. In return, I will let you choose some items from my vault, which is quite extensive."
He leads you to the center of the room where there is a round pool of clear clean water framed by stained and cracked marble. Although it must have once been noble and pure, the fountain is now strangely ominous. Small symbols of occluded are scratched into the surface and some of the stains looked mysteriously like blood. Sitting at the base of the fountain are a pair of cups. One is elegantly carved out of ivory while the other is crudely forged iron with spots of rust. Manzorian addresses you once again, "This is a curious magic item I found inside this tower. I have named it The Fountain of Fortune's Folly. Drinking from the pool with one of the cups will grant you a magical boon and a magical misfortune. I have seen many people drink from this pool and I have learned that if one drinks out of the ivory cup, the boon tends to be favorable for the drinker, but the misfortune may not be. While I have seen people drink from the iron cup and the misfortune is not as bad for the drinker, but the fortune may not be as beneficial. I offer you each a drink from this pool with your cup of choice. No other cup works and the fountain will not work for anyone more than once."
Enhanced Vigor: Gain 3 Hps permanently.
Sharpened Senses: Gain a +1 competence bonus on Perception checks.
Deep Understanding: Gain a +2 competence bonus on a Knowledge skill of your choice.
Athletic Skill: Gain a +2 competence bonus on a Strength based skill of your choice.
Nimble Moves: Gain a +2 competence bonus on a Dexterity based skill of your choice.
Smooth Talker: Gain a +2 competence bonus on a Charisma based skill of your choice.
Discovered Skill: Gain 2 ranks in a class skill that you have the fewest ranks in (If a tie you choose)
Lesser Gift: Gain 1d4 random minor potions and 1 minor scroll.
Improved Fortitude: Gain a +1 luck bonus on Fortitude Saves.
Improved Reflexes: Gain a +1 luck bonus on Reflex Saves.
Improved Will: Gain a +1 luck bonus on Will Saves.
Quick Feet: Gain a +2 insight bonus on initiative checks.
Ability Boost: Gain a +1 inherent bonus to an ability score of your choice.
Moderate Gift: Gain a random minor magic items (except potions or scrolls)
Small Riches: Gain a random gemstone and 1d6x10 gps.
Weapon Talent: Gain a proficiency of a martial or exotic weapon of your choice.
Undeveloped Ability: Gain a +2 inherent bonus to a random ability score.
Divine Boon: You can cast a 1st level divine spell once per day. Once the spell is chosen it cannot be changed. Your caster level equals your total character level. (Save DC = 11 + Cha Bonus)
Arcane Boon: You can cast a 1st level arcane spell once per day. Once the spell is chosen it cannot be changed. Your caster level equals your total character level. (Save DC = 11 + Cha Bonus)
Life Anchor: The next time you take enough damage to die, you automatically stabilize at 1 hp before death. This fortune works only once.
Greater Gift: Gain a random medium magic item.
Major Riches: Gain 1d6 gemstones and 1d10x10pp.
Boon of Luck: You may avoid any situation or negative occurance, even one that has just occurred. This fortune functions only once and does not help those around you.
Patron: A powerful outsider takes notice of you and may help you in your time of need. The nature of the outsider is up to the DM. This fortune works only once and cannot be chosen it must be rolled.
Ailment: Lose 3 hps permanently.
Dulled Senses: Take a -2 penalty on Perception Checks.
Weakling: Take a -1 penalty on all Strength based skill checks.
Clumsy: Take a -1 penalty on all Dexterity based skill checks.
Rude: Take a -1 penalty on all Charisma based skill checks.
Lost Focus: Take a -2 penalty on a the skill you posses the most ranks in. If there is a tie roll randomly. Once set, the penalty does not change.
Potion Resistance: Gain SR 10 to all potions you consume.
Poor Fortitude: Take a -1 penalty on all Fortitude Saves.
Sluggish Reflexes: Take a -1 penalty on all Reflex Saves.
Weak Will: Take a -1 penalty on all Will Saves.
Slow to React: Take a -2 penalty on initiative checks.
Ability Weakening: One of your ability scores is permanently reduced by one, rolled randomly.
Lesser Curse: Your most expensive magic item gains a permanent drawback. The drawback is randomly determined. Removing your items before drinking from the fountain will not avoid this effect.
Lost Wealth: Lose 2d6 x 1,000 gps. This loss comes first from coins and gems, then from magic items. Removing your items before drinking from the fountain will not avoid this effect.
Withering: Your offhand becomes withered and useless. a regenerate spell repairs this damage for 2d6 hours before it returns.
Ability Drain: One of your ability scores is reduced by 2 of your choice.
Divine Curse: You do not heal naturally and any attempt to magically heal you must first succeed at a DC 15 caster check.
Arcane Curse: Whenever you take damage from a spell or spell-like ability you are also dazed for 1 round if you fail your spell. Spells and Spell-like ability that do not give a save does not cause you to be dazed.
Grave Touch: Whenever you are below 0 hps you lose 2 hps per round and cannot stabilize without aid from another.
Moral Shift: You alignment changes to the opposite. Only neutral remains unchanged. You cannot choose this folly if you are neutral in either alignment axis.
Magical Drain:[/b] Choose two items you possess. All other magical items you own are permanently rendered non magical. Removing your items before drinking from the fountain will not avoid this effect. Artifacts are unaffected.
Unlucky: Once per day you must re-roll twice on a d20 roll taking the worst of two choices. The DM decides when you must do this and has to choose before you roll.
Enmity: You have offended a powerful outsider who might try and destroy you in the future. The nature of the outsider is up to the DM. The folly cannot be chosen it must be rolled.
Is he willing to trade magic items for market value?
Quintus considers the wizard's proposal, rubbing along the circlet he wears with one finger. "Your offer is more than fair, but it was plain from the start that there were Powers beyond us who wanted to see us succeed. The great battle between the Wind Dukes and Chaos touches on this somehow, and it may be that we were intended to take up that piece of the Rod. If we need to, can we get it back from you?"
So we couldn't also trade in a +1 weapon and apply that value to a +3 weapon, for example?
Manzorian smiles, "Of course I would always be willing to trade again for it. However I believe that trading it to me would aid in the success of your mission."
Having recovered from hearing about his father, aaaaaaand Rowena grabbing his hand, Trevor curls his lip in painful thoughts as he takes in Manzorian's offer: "I don't know... It's not like we are the guardian of this rod, but I am reluctant to part with it..."
"This vault is the safest place on Golarion, and I don't think you will want wave after wave of devils appearing. Maybe next time they will appear at a time when you are fighting another foe. Think of the end goal, finding out how to stop the Age of Worms by following Trevor's father's footsteps and learning more about Kyuss and just maybe finding Balakarde himself. I would very much like to talk to my friend once again."
Kelkzar wants to trust, but with an artifact so powerful, he also wants to be really sure. He brings all of his talents to bear to make sure things are on the up and up.
Kelkzar detects no lies, but as a power wizard he definitely has his own agenda, but in this fight against Kyuss you are positive he is on your side.
"Its all right Trevor. I'm reluctant too, but I think he has our best interests and the best interests of our quest in mind. We're better off turning it over to him."
After you decide what items you would like after you trade in the Rod, Manzorian tells you he has one more way he can help you.
He leads you back up the stairs, although is seems like more stairs walked up than you took down yet nothing looks familiar. He once again stops at a section of wall, waves his hand, and a door appears. He leads you inside to room large room full of paintings.
These paintings are all of various places that seem to be on Golarion. Everyone recognizes Magnimar having been there, but other cities all over Golarion also seem to be shown here. In addition to major cities are a number of rural locations, ancient temples, strongholds, mountains, etc. Manzorian stops at one painting in particular and says, "This is a painting of Kuluth-Mar, far to the south in the Mwangi Expanse. All these painting depict location in Golarion of importance, both ancient and modern. They are all imbued with divination magic that aid in teleportation. Rauno, by concentrating on this painting you can take your group there without ever having been there, like a greater teleportation spell. Once you are done there, I assume you can teleport back to a spot just outside Magepoint."
"This is a much as I dare in directly helping you. I've made powerful enemies in my life, and if I actively join in this search for the truth behind the Age of Worms, my enemies would likely be moved to join the opposition. So for now I am keeping my involvement in this as secret as possible. I will however support Agath, Eligos, and Celeste in their intense research into the Ebon Triad, Kyuss, and the cause of Balakarde's disappearance. We will have this information ready for you after you come back with more information from the site of Kyuss' divine apotheosis."
"Take what time you need to get ready and tell the Inn's tavern keeper when you will be ready and you will have access to this painting. Good luck to you all."
With that he leads you back up the the foyer to head back to the inn.
Trevor mostly keeps to himself after voicing his doubts. His mind wanders repeatedly to his father, and to Rowena's hand holding his.
After a good long rest, the party is ready to continue their adventure. You return to Manzorian's tower and to the picture room. Rauno casts teleport while concentrating on the picture and appears at Kuluth-Mar like he had known this place forever.
The air is thick with heat, moisture, and the cacophonous din of the jungle. Chirping birds, cries of hunting predators, and the incessant whir of insects combine to create an exotic song. The plants of the jungle press in, a wall of color and plantlife interrupted only by a twenty-foot gap in the undergrowth that looks out over an immense, bowl-shaped valley.
In this valley sits a ruined city. The buildings are in most cases little more than crumbling foundations overgrown with vines. In places, small copses of exotic trees have reclaimed the ruins, while elsewhere, some buildings still stand. The city’s streets are visible only as faint lines where the undergrowth hasn’t grown as thick. Yet as incredible the spectacle of this forgotten city is, it is dwarfed by what dominates its center.
Here, a giant ring of black rock circles the heart of the city, runes graven upon its surface. Within this ring rises an ancient stone ziggurat. Two openings into chambers within beckon on opposite sides of its base. Atop the ziggurat rises an unbelievable sight, a towering spire of stone shaped almost like a stylized tree or cactus. Arms project from the sides of the stone spire in mocking defiance of gravity, either a feat of divine engineering or the product of powerful magic. The apex of the spire is missing. Whatever rested at this forgotten peak is long gone.
From their vantage point, Trevor takes in the incredible view. That such a place existed, and forgotten, at all was such a wonder. He looked back at the long path that had sinuously but inexorably led them to this spot and all he could come up with was: "Well Dang..." arms akimbo, thinking to himself My dad was here. Might still be...
Rowena slaps her neck seconds after materializing. "It's like breathing through a wet rag, filled with bugs," she says, grimacing at the bloody remains of the insect on her hand.
Poor bug... thinks Trevor, having witnessed the devastating power of Rowena's slaps.
As you begin to approach your vision blurs for a moment and when it clears the ruins of Kuluth-Mar seem to be suffused with a strange taint that hovers just beyond the edges of reality. Like an oily stain spreading over a pool, a vision wavers in the air. Within the tainted energy is a man seated on a great throne made of green stone. He wears ornate plate armor, and a black circlet rests on his brow. Both the circlet and armor are adorned with silver symbols.
The vision expands, widening its scope to reveal that the throne is located at the apex of the large ziggurat and in the shadow of the spire. The spire itself gleams with flashes of white light, and at its peak is balanced a fifteen-foot-tall black stone monolith shaped like a trapezoid. Around the ziggurat spreads a thriving city, its streets paved in white stone, its buildings painted and whole.
Thousands of figures have gathered in the large open plaza that surrounds the ziggurat, all facing the figure seated at its center. Their cries are a rhythmic chant, surging like waves on the monolith’s shore. As these cries rise in volume, threatening to shake the jungle apart, the vision fades and is replaced by the ruined city of today.
As Rauno places the spell on Rowena, her hand quickly comes up to slap what she had first thought was another insect bite. Depending on Rauno's reflexes, his hand probably stings a bit. Of course, Rowena is deeply apologetic and can't look Rauno in the eye for quite some time.
As the vision fades, Rowena looks grim. "That was not your run-of-the-mill haunting. Something powerful and nasty is waiting for us here."
Trevor gives Rauno a knowing smirk as he rubs his bruised hand.
Then, as they are visited by the strange vision, all traces of happiness withdraw from his face, replaced by stern resolve: "How can a whole city be misled into such evil ways!? Surely this is why this great city fell..."
Quintus shudders at the vision, then nods. "Let's go. Trevor, is there anything particularly evil about?"
You cautiously approach the black ring that surrounds the ziggurat and much of the ruins. It is 5-foot-thick, 30-foot-high wall of obsidian. On closer inspection, it becomes apparent that this ring was made from a single giant block of obsidian. It is obviously not natural, being perfectly circular and utterly smooth on the surface. Even without detecting magic, it is obvious the wall is an artifact of great power. It is featureless except for eldritch symbols that cover the upper rim, each of which glows as if lit from within by molten rock.
The runes on the surface of the ring are in draconic and is read by Rauno as "Kyuss forever bound." Rauno studies the runes.
Trevor lets out an admiring whistle as he looks at the ring: "What a thing! Hey Rauno, do you think it works for creatures coming but also coming out? I mean, is this a prison, or a fortress, a sanctuary?"
"Ah prison... Well, let's make sure we don't mess things up and open its gates!" he mentions, more to himself really.
As Rauno depicts the purging of worms, Trevor turns slightly green, but otherwise remains stern.
"I'll climb first. This could be some sort of trap..."
and he flails and clunks loudly against the barrier, unable to get over it.
"Can someone make some kind of foothold for me?" he asks, sweating under his heavy armour and equipment.
Ok so getting over the 30' high wall is a minor issue to get over
Once on the other side you can feel the taint of evil in the air. Looking at the ground, you see it is infested with Kyuss Worms. They are harmless to you as long as you don't stay in one place long enough (like sleeping, walking you will be fine). Normally Kyuss worms that you have seen die quickly without a host, but here they are in the open.
Approaching the ziggurat and the spire you get to about 30' away from it when you have another vision.
The strange dark stain in the air wavers and then grows solid. The peak of the Spire of Long Shadows is restored, and affixed to this peak is a fifteen-foot-tall, three-foot thick trapezoid-shaped pinnacle of black rock, ten feet wide at the base and five at the peak. The monolith of stone shimmers and vibrates with waves of energy, and something strange and horrible writhes inside its nearly opaque interior.
Suddenly, a brilliant red wall of scales fills the view, and there’s a terrible sound of crumbling stone. In an instant, an enormous red dragon is winging away to the north. The spire’s peak is in ruins, and clutched in the dragon’s talons is the monolith. The vision fades, and the dragon and its prize are gone.
You vision returns as if a moment never passed. You are 30' away from the entrance to the ziggurat.
Rowena stands next to the wall. "I'll see what's inside," she says, and turns to the wall. With a flick of one wrist, a long pole appears in her hand. Gripping it to either side, she bends her knees and vaults upwards.
With a jump of only 25 feet, she isn't able to clear the top of the wall. "This isn't good," she says, "from the glimpse I got."
She coils again, and this time clears the wall with 3 feet to spare, and lightly land on top.
She calls down a description.
"I saw it too, Rauno. Like a face in the monolith. Maybe the dragon wasn't one of Kyuss' creatures? Evil powers often don't ally with each other."
"How- How long ago do you think that was? Was that a dracolich? It looked quite nimble...
Trevor casts a warning glance at Rauno: "You can always ask after we slay it..."
As Trevor walks effortlessly up the wall, he grins at Rowena with her pole in her hand atop the wall: "Anyway, nice jumping Rowena..."
You approach the Ziggurat from the western side with a sense of unease. After decending a 20ft wide staircae, you come into 30' by 60' room. The walls of this chamber are carved to depict an army of armored soldiers engaged in the ruin and destruction of a city of helpless men, women, and children. Buildings burn, blood washes the streets, and dark thunderclouds boil in the skies above. Above them all, directing the army, is an enormous figure dressed in plate mail. His face is cold and cruel, but also quite handsome. He wields an exotic polearm that combines the features of a pick, an axe, and a mace.
Before you have long to absorb this, a creature steps out from the shadows. The figure wears dark armor that hides much of its form from view, but its skeletal visage and horrible stench reveals it has to be some form of undead. Small green worms, their mouths filled with row upon row of jagged teeth, writhe along his armor, crawling under its plates and panes. Its most gruesome feature are its eyes, which have been replaced by the ravenous mouths of two bloated worms.
From behind, two bloated beetles move down the stairs with unnatural speed, their mandibles clicking and clicking in a maddening rhythm. Their rotted and pitted shell evokes thoughts of ancient decay and and unfathomable corruption, and tiny green worms, each a wriggling abomination in their own right, squirm through those holes in its exoskeleton.
or be unable to take an action next round (This must be made by everyone in every round until you succeed. This is from the chittering of beetles.[/ooc]
The undead figure raisies his sword in salute of battle and moves up to Trevor and takes a deadly swing.
The beetles move from out of nowhere and down the stairs at incredible speed and one attack Rowena and one Quintus.
- Kyuss Knight, Beetles, Rauno, Kelkzar, Trevor, Quintus, Rowena
AC 30 T 10 FF 30 CMD 31
AC 27 T 12 FF 24 CMD 38