Noting Cuetzpalli's bleeding, Tanith channels a bit more of Kord's might into him.
"We're here for information first but treasure's good too", Tanith explains. "Vampires were formerly people. There's a chance this one might know something about what happened here however long ago this place was populated. It might be worth trying to come to some kind of agreement."
"But if that doesn't work out, or it is in league with the giant bugs and worm-eye soldiers, I think a joint attack would be in everyone's best interest. What do you say? We can split whatever treasure it's hoarding down the middle."
The Ossuarite blinks. She looks between the others. "Uh, that sounds rad and all, but just one thing. When did we say it was a vampire leading them?"
"Oh. I guess I kind of assumed... Vampires make vampire spawn, right?"
Astraden shrugs. "Vampire spawn are created by vampires, right? What else can do it?"
"The hullathoin." The goblin's eyes seem to sink further into its skull. Is that a goblin thing? It's weird. "A weeping beast of flies and death. I will make a song of it when I return to the clan."
"It's an undead that creates and masters other undead," the Ossuarite elaborates. "It's a...a big old dragon thing, but without wings. The hullathoin is a behemoth covered in sores, inhabited by a swarm of murderous insects. They're very old, and very clever, and they have a perfect sense of smell, and I told you they were vampire spawn, Estavlin, you never listen to me."
"Looked like wights to me," the half-elf magus mutters.
"Wights don't fear the sun."
"These ones went in the sun."
"It was overcast, moron."
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"Those sound like horrible creatures...and yes cousin, I'm so far from home that I don't even have one anymore. We should handle them regardless of what is in the tower. Such beasts should not be left to wander our Oerth."
"This place is overrun with stuff like that." Zolin scowls. "We haven't even seen whatever's controlling the trolls up north. Yet."
The goblin giggles at something.
"At least I've heard of trolls."
Tanith cocks an eyebrow at the goblin. "Do you know something about them?"
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"Controlling. Trolls. Hee."
Carina listens attentively to the conversation, taking note of the mention of trolls to the north.
"Just how many powerful monsters are in the vicinity of the ziggurat, anyway?" She says, mostly to herself.
"Well...I think we need to rest before confronting the undead. But then we should prepare ourselves, and go destroy them. Whatever is in the ziggurat isn't going anywhere."
"Can you tell us more about the hullathoin. Beyond creating and controlling undead, what else can it do?"
Carina listens attentively to the conversation, taking note of the mention of trolls to the north.
"Just how many powerful monsters are in the vicinity of the ziggurat, anyway?" She says, mostly to herself.
The half-elf counts it off on his fingers. "The trolls and whoever's controlling them, Cuauhtémoc and its servants, a bunch of yuan-ti over to the east, and a whole mess of random monsters just sort of hanging out in the south."
"There was also a demodand," Zolin says, "got in here somehow. I think it came from the west. We killed it without any losses. Turns out, though, the thing was what was keeping Cuauhtémoc out." He frowns at Merca. The druid shrugs again.
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"Wow, it's just a whole monster ecology around here..." Eben says drily. "But the... hullathoin. It's an undead dragon? Is Cuauhtémoc the only name it goes by? Have you ever heard the name 'Dragotha'?"
[dice=Religion]1d20+2
"Can you tell us more about the hullathoin. Beyond creating and controlling undead, what else can it do?"
"Big," Merca says. "It excuses—exudes a swarm of insects that kill folk and bring 'em back as undead. It can blast out a ring of pus that weakens you, and it likes to grab folks with its tentacles. Oh, and it's toxic."
"Wow, it's just a whole monster ecology around here..." Eben says drily. "But the... hullathoin. It's an undead dragon? Is Cuauhtémoc the only name it goes by? Have you ever heard the name 'Dragotha'?"
"Doesn't ring any big bells," Merca says. "And 'dragon' might be gilding the lily a li'l bit. It's dragonlike. It speaks the dragons' tongue. But it's been dead for a while. And without any wings, it might as well be an undead awoken dire komodo dragon."
"So... where did your group encounter the Kyuss worms that... well, required some desperate measures. Were there Kyuss spawn with Cuauhtémoc's minions as well?"
"Oh, yes." The druid blinks. "Worm zombies, a couple spectres, a bunch of li'l deathwebs, and I think he's got a witchfire or two. The deathwebs and spawn are the high-profile ones, but it's the worm zombies and incorporeals that got us. He's had a while to amass a real force." Despite the numbers, Merca seems quite undaunted. "Shouldn't be too hard now that we're prepared, though."
"Okay, then I definitely agree we should work with these people and take out the undead out here first. If there's Kyuss spawn on this side of the obsidian wall, that's got to be bad news. So we should rest up and meet with them in the morning for a raid on this temple."
"Sounds good to me. We'll meet you back here in the morning."
"It's a plan. I've been itching to use positive energy on something that's actually weak enough to hurt," Astraden says.
"Wait, before we go, any chance you four have some holy water and half a pound of silver? I'll compensate you."
Upon retiring to theit own (less swanky) shelter for the evening, Eben uses his second dose of silver weapon blanch and ghost salts to treat another 20 arrows. "Still don't think these'll be enough, but it's something..."
"Sorry, I left all my precious minerals in my other pants."
Astraden watches Eben preparing. "I've got a spell against incorporeal creatures, but if there's more than one that's a good idea."
"It's a plan. I've been itching to use positive energy on something that's actually weak enough to hurt," Astraden says.
[dice=Knowledge (religion) hullathoin]1d20+13
Witchfires are incorporeal undead hags or witches. Their witchflame, fired as a ranged attack or imparted through melee contact, not only burns badly, it makes the target vulnerable to further attacks. They are creatures of mad rage, normally motivated only by basic urges.
Spectres are incorporeal undead powerless in natural sunlight. They drain essence with their attacks , and those slain by specters quickly rise up as spectres themselves. Spectres retain strong senses of identity, and a raise dead or similar effect can automatically kill them.
[spoiler=Astraden and Farrukh]Demodands are a fiendish species imprisoned in the Tarterian Depths of Carceri, a prison world and home of traitors.
"Wait, before we go, any chance you four have some holy water and half a pound of silver? I'll compensate you."
"Holy water, sure." Zolin takes out a bottle and hands it to her. "Supplies are not something we're lacking. Speaking of which, I notice you're using your own healing. We have five wands of minor healing—if you want one, I'm sure these people would sell it to you at a discount. As for silver..." He looks around.
"I have this." The half-elf struggles, then reaches into his pack next to his bed and draws out what looks like it used to be a silver dagger. "Some bastard told me rust monsters couldn't rust precious metals," he says bitterly. He slides it across the floor.
"Thanks a ton. And yeah, a wand would be awesome." Astraden pulls five platinum out of her pouch and hands it to Zolin, then offers seventy-five to whoever has a wand and is willing to sell it.
On the way back to camp, the priestess explains the weaknesses and abilities of the undead whose names she recognized. "Don't know anything about deathwebs, though. Anyone know what 'yuan-ti' are?"
At camp, Astraden also examines the Kyuss Knight's equipment.
The next morning, before setting out for the Ossuarite's shelter, Astraden wanders a little ways away from the shelter and hunkers down behind a crumbling wall. "Prudes," she scoffs, looking back towards the shelter. She then pulls out the drow box of demon offerings and begins praying to Olidammara, holding his mask out in front of her.
"Olidammara, I would like the quasit Niniane," she speaks at the end of the ritual, staring into the distance. "I need a scout."
Eben assumes Astraden is headed out to relieve herself and therefore doesn't offer any passive aggressive criticism on consorting with the forces of darkness.
The following morning, Carina approaches the party with some new extracts. "So, considering Cuetzpalli's been taking more than his share of lumps, I've brewed an additional displacement extract to help him take less hits. Also, it might be a good idea for him to take one of my false life extracts."
"That's awesome, thanks!" Cuetz says. He offers Carina a high-five.
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Carina briefly contemplates leaving Cuetzpalli hanging before returning his high-five.
"I've got a few protections as well. Will cast 'em once we meet up with the others."
Astraden does, however, re-cast her spell to help the group weather the heat as they hike towards the shelter.
"I'm gonna employ my mirror images right away this time. With your extracts and that I should be getting hit less."
"What is inside the ziggurat that is so awful an army of angels sacrificed themselves to keep it contained?"
"Don't ask me--" Carina pulls the Apostolic Scroll out of her haversack. "--ask it. Fair warning--it likes to lick at your ears."
Should Olidammara grant her specific request, and if the quasit consents to her terms (use its ability to contact the relevant higher power and ask Astraden's questions about Kuluth-Mar, then do three hours of invisible scouting, for a total of 1500 gp in demon offerings plus the initial material components of 500 gp worth), Astraden asks the following questions:
- "Was the ring created to seal in monsters as weak as the eviscerator beetles and Kyuss Knights?"
- "Were the angels not powerful enough to completely cleanse Kuluth-Mar?"
- "Did the ring once seal in something more powerful than, say, a nalfeshnee?"
- If yes to the previous question, "Did the ring once seal in Kyuss himself?" If no to the previous question, "Did the ring seal in anything that has since managed to escape?"
- "Has anyone besides Spiny's Six and Merca, Zolin, Estavlin, and the goblin penetrated the barrier in the last 6 months?"
- "Do the Lords of the Abyss agree with Kyuss' goals?"
At camp, Astraden also examines the Kyuss Knight's equipment.
Take 10 on Appraise for a 20.[/ooc]
The next morning, before setting out for the Ossuarite's shelter, Astraden wanders a little ways away from the shelter and hunkers down behind a crumbling wall. "Prudes," she scoffs, looking back towards the shelter. She then pulls out the drow box of demon offerings and begins praying to Olidammara, holding his mask out in front of her.
"Olidammara, I would like the quasit Niniane," she speaks at the end of the ritual, staring into the distance. "I need a scout."
+2 full plate: This full plate is covered in green patterns depicting writhing serpentine (or wormlike) shapes.
+1 heavy steel shield: This shield bears the imprint of a skull and scythe. However, the imprinting occasionally shifts to depict just the skull, with worms spilling from the eyes.
+1 unholy bastard sword: This sword looks largely ordinary. However, Astraden senses that whenever the sword is used to strike a living target, their cries of pain will echo inside the wielder's head for an hour.
The halfling-sized quasit appears before Astraden. Niniane looks around, scowling. "No circle? No chalk? We had half a mind to send a dretch or something just to mess with you.
"A scout, huh? This is Kuluth-Mar, y'know. Even I know this is a dangerous place. Outsiders come here to die. I'll take your paltry deal because I think you might be useful, Limhaare. Next time you want a quasit's help, though, I'll be wanting juicier fare." Niniane licks its lipless face with a long, black tongue. "Larvae, if you can get 'em. You don't want to undervalue your demons, or next time, it will be a dretch."
With the deal made, the quasit begins asking questions. Its eyes burst into violet flames as it speaks in many voices.
Was the ring created to seal in monsters as weak as the eviscerator beetles and Kyuss Knights?
"No."
Were the angels not powerful enough to completely cleanse Kuluth-Mar?
"Yes."
Did the ring once seal in something more powerful than, say, a nalfeshnee?
"Yes."
Did the ring once seal in Kyuss himself?
"Not the ring."
Has anyone besides Spiny's Six and Merca, Zolin, Estavlin, and the goblin penetrated the barrier in the last 6 months?
"Irrelevant."
Do the Lords of the Abyss agree with Kyuss' goals?
"No."
No images flash into Eben's mind, but he feels a sense of painful hunger. IT HAS BEEN LONG SINCE I HAVE BEEN SPOKEN TO. YOU ARE NOT THE HADESBORN. WHY HAVE I BEEN ABANDONED?
Astraden explains the properties of Nezzarin's loot. "The shield's iconography is disturbing. Farrukh and I are the only ones who can safely use the sword, but honestly it's too big for either of us. The armor's quite powerful, but it's also kinda nasty-looking."
"Well, my apologies. I can't guarantee I know where to find larvae, but I'll at least have some more of this s!+~," Astraden says as she hands over the box. "If you can do a full ten hours of scouting, it's a deal."
"Hmm. 'Does the ring still seal in something worse than a nalfeshnee?' And, 'Did the ring once contain Kyuss or a portal to a prison where he was kept, though it did not itself trap him?'"
Once Niniane finishes the communion, Astraden nods her thanks. "I don't need you to go inside the ring to search - we've already done our own scouting there, and it seems hella dangerous. But we've heard about yuan-ti and trolls. I'd like you to find the southern, eastern, and northern extents of the city, and spy on any creatures you find. In the east I think it'll be yuan-ti - get visual on someone who looks like a leader. In the north there's something controlling a group of trolls, which sounds out of your league so fly high and don't take any risks. In the south, uh, we've got 'random monsters' so realistically you're only going to encounter one of them. Get enough information to make a crude map with population centers on it. Meet me at the shelter" - Astraden jabs a thumb over her shoulder - "at the end of your circuit. If it seems like you're not going to have time for all three directions, prioritize the south and east."
Astraden pulls a vial out of her pack and hands it to Niniane. "If you're REALLY f%!#ed, drink this to get into the wind and come back here. Unless you're in mortal danger, I expect to get that back," the priestess says. "Good luck, and see you this afternoon."
The priestess then rises and makes a show of lacing up her breeches as she returns to the party. "Tanith, I got some answers for you. The angels couldn't completely destroy what was trapped in the ring, and it was something considerably more powerful than us. The ring itself did not seal in Kyuss." The priestess starts packing her gear. "So, who wants to bear the magic circle against evil? I'll probably put the anti-law protection on myself."
Does the ring still seal in something worse than a nalfeshnee?
"Yes."
Did the ring once contain Kyuss or a portal to a prison where he was kept, though it did not itself trap him?
"Yes."
Niniane listens patiently to the instructions. "You got it, boss." The quasit buzzes off.
"We'll have to be careful once we're inside. If whatever the angels came here to deal with is still inside that thing, we don't want to get caught off guard. In any case, from what the others told us we've got quite a bit of work ahead of us just clearing out the other monsters outside the ring. We'll worry about preparations for inside later."
"The shield actually bears the symbol of Nerull, but it is sometimes replaced with what looks like the symbol of Kyuss. Makes me think that Nezzarin lived before Kyuss ascended, when folks still revered Nerull, and the shield was then re-enchanted with an image of Kyuss or something."
Astraden stops herself and rewinds a bit as she's talking about spells. "Actually, I should clarify the earlier point. The ring does still contain something considerably more dangerous than us. And while it wasn't the force that bound Kyuss, Kyuss was either kept in the ring in the past, or there is a portal inside the ring leading to his prison. I gotta wonder if the demodand is related to that somehow."
Once the group reaches the shelter, Astraden offers to cast a disguising spell on everyone using her robe's power. "Just tell me what kind of undead you want to look like and I'll make you one. This won't help against the hullathoin, but some of the less intelligent undead might be fooled by our scents. I infer Merca's already been using that tactic."
It is a cool morning as the party reconvenes and makes its preparations. Niniane is off and away, and the goblin can't stop muttering curses under its breath. Apparently, it's getting ready for its "warsong".
As the two groups are talking tactics, Eben hears a rustling outside. Listening closer, he realizes it sounds like many distant footfalls. A large number of humanoids are moving stealthily towards this location. At the rate they seem to be going, he guesses they'll be right on top of the place within seconds.
The goblin's ears prick up, and Zolin cocks his head. "No worries," the goblin says confidently. "Undead can't see this place. Some lingering spellcraftiness."
Nonetheless, Zolin is already drawing his bow.
Cuetzpalli casts his mirror image spell just in case.
He then draws Kelmarchen and gets ready to fight.