Brash jogs back to pick up his crossbow, before striding over to where Kullen lies, reloading the weapon as he goes. Upon reaching the downed thug, he stoops down and checks for a pulse.
Boland’s arrow falls short of the fleeing mage.
Brashen stalks over to Kullen, where Harrigan is in the process of trying to subdue the struggling Bird Man. The half-orc is clearly dead – it appears that Boland’s second lightning blast would have pretty much felled him, it was only adrenaline and rage keeping him standing.
Realising the fight is well and truly over, Boland lowers his crossbow and glances down at the jagged axe wound running along his torso, soaking his robes in his own blood. His knees suddenly go weak at the sight and he hurries over to a fallen log not far from Brashen and Andolphas stand. He collapses onto the log, gasping at the pain that floods through him in the absence of the adrenalin of battle.
"My magic took his sight and he won't regain it without further magical intervention," Boland gasps of the Birdman. "With Kullen and Todrik gone, I think the stranglehold they's had over the vein has been broken. If we hurry after Bask and Rastophan in town, we might be able to catch them at their hideout though?" Though he voices the suggestion, Boland doesn't look particularly keen at the prospect of moving.
He also gestures to the spot just beyond where his companions stand. "Remember there are a couple of bear traps over there to, so be careful if you plan to retrieve Kullen's axe."
Andolphas joins the others by Kullen's fallen body. "Hmmm... Who would have thought the wizardling and the priest would be the one's to bring the half-orc down? Well done, my friends." He can barely conceal a smirk... but his expression becomes more grave as he notes the wounds that his companions have sustained.
The somber cleric waits a few moments to ensure that Kullen is truly dead, and the Bird Man tightly bound, before closing his eyes in concentration and invoking the powers of his goddess. Soon, everyone in the party feels a surge of benevolent energy washing over them, miraculously healing the worst of their wounds.
"It's a shame Rastophan and Bask got away... that could spell more trouble down the line... But I'm not sure what our best course of action would be, going forward. We know that Smenk has some knowledge of the green worms, so it's likely we'll need to deal with him and his remaining goons in the not too distant future."
"Listen up Birdman. You might be blind, but you are alive. That's more than can be said for that bald son of a b*&*& or your buddy with the glaive. Kullen killed the elf and he got what's his as far as I'm concerned. That doesn't have to carryover to you unless you go and do something stupid. I'm gonna tie you up for now, but we aren't going to hurt you if you tell us what we need to know."
"So start talking. What was your deal with Smenk?"
“Smenk? Smenk? It was Kullen! The half-orc, the albino, he talked to Smenk, but now he is dead, oh! You have killed him most surely. The darkness … it waits …”
It seems like the Bird Man is more than half addled.
"What of Bask and Rastophan? Did they have any direct dealings with Smenk, or did they only work under Kullen?"
"Worked for Kullen eh? So you're telling me Kullen was doling out the payroll? How much was he paying you then and what did you do to earn it?"
Brash shakes his head as the Harrigan and Andolphas start to question their captive. 'Why'd we capture the crazy one?' he mutters to himself as he moves over to search Todrik and then Kullen, being mindful of bear traps and keeping an eye out for the 2 members of Kullens squad that fled.
“Oh, they were all part of the old gang, the old boys, weren’t they? The swamper, the bad tempered wizard, oh, if I could see him now, but no, I see nothing ... Smenk gave them their freedom, yes, so they say, they all share a bond, a brand. Did they talk? They gabbed, they squawked. But the poor Bird Man, no, not me, my home is the hills, Kullen and his boys, his scared little boys, terrified of him they were, oh he had a temper, a glorious temper! Violent, smash, he did, smash and slash and kill. I liked him, Pazuzu liked him, liked his violence, for violence, its the way, the way of nature, red in tooth and claw and wing. So Kullen and those, they would come to me when they needed to be patched, stitched, soothed, and I did it, I did it because I liked him, and Pazuzu approved, and he paid in shiny coin. One, two, three, a hundred, oh, it didn’t matter. But then, then, one of them did not come back, died, sacrificed, sacrificed to Pazuzu I think ... that’s it! Three! Three! I said it, but you did not come for me, how cruel you are, oh how I love you, but I cannot see ... it is dark in here ... dark in there, with the owlbear, it did it, tore him up. They can’t fly you know, they can’t soar, but they have beaks, cruel beaks and feathers, and they’re violent and cruel, so I think Pazuzu would approve, he would like them. Maybe they can, maybe they can fly over there, in the Palace of a Thousand Closets, do you think? So dead he was, dead and gone, and Kullen said he needed another and he asked me, so yes, I said. Some killing there was, he said, some killing, and maybe some more patching. Killing I can do, it’s easy, knife under the rips, sharp rock to the head, kill them and offer their hearts to Pazuzu, but we didn’t kill, you killed him, Kullen, he’s dead and I can’t see, I can’t see to patch him, and his blood soaks into the ground, down, down, where it is dark...”
The Bird Man rambles on and on, nuggets of actual information perhaps nestled amongst the dross.
Todrik and Kullen are dead, that’s for certain. Kullen wears a well made suit of studded leather armour, though its dirty and ill-kept, and will need a bit of patching and cleaning of scorch marks after the lightning rays. He has a few coins (3gp and 11sp) in a belt pouch, and three padded potion bottles in another. His big, two handed axe is a weapon of war, sharp, well balanced and deadly.
Todrik’s banded mail is functional, torn by Brashen’s axe. His shortsword is somewhat shabby looking, but his guisarme is a well made and well maintained weapon. He wears a fine blue cloak that appears to have escaped any significant damage in the battle. He too has coins, 41gp and 1sp, in a pouch and three potion bottles.
"So what do we do with this mad fool?" grumbles Andolphas, trying to find the logic in the Bird man's rambling thoughts. "And what of those that got away? Even with Kullen dead, I bet they'll run to Smenk and tell him what happened, in the hopes of getting paid by him for their next job?"
As the others retrieve the potion bottles, Andolphas suggests that at least a few of them are likely to be healing potions.
Harrigan shakes his head. "Might of known I'd grab the bat s$*% insane one." The dwarf scratches his short beard and begins brushing off grass and dirt accumulated while laying in the field then grabs a couple of branches to set off the bear traps.
Brash takes an old cloth from his backpack and cleans of his blade, and then starts to wipe the worst of Todriks guts and gore off his face and chest.
'What do we think about the other two? Part of me thinks that without Kullen, and after getting their butts kicked by us twice they wont be comming back... but at the same time, I dont like leaving lose ends to come and bit me in the ass. I guess its possible they have better information than this bastard on Smenks operations too.'
Andolphas, you gather that the Bird Man is a priest of sorts … a priest of Pazuzu, demon lord of the Lower Aerial Kingdoms. In fact, you notice that a twisted bird’s talon hangs on a leather strap around the man’s neck – such an items is often used as a holy symbol of Pazuzu.
As far as you know, Kullen’s gang had no fixed abode, but moved around, using various abandoned buildings (or buildings whose owners they forcibly evicted) in and around Diamond Lake as their lair for a time before moving on. You are not sure where they were currently staying.
From what you know of Merrovin Bask, he’s quite an intelligent man, if cruel and thoroughly unlikable. He’ll be smart enough not to want to tangle with you again, unless the odds are in his favour … with Kullen out of the picture, he’s likely to either go straight to Smenk for protection, or else get as far away from Diamond Lake (and you) as possible.
Rastophan never seemed entirely comfortable in Diamond Lake, but was intensely loyal to Kullen. He is a loner, and never seemed to care much for the rest of the gang – especially not the sour Bask. There’s every chance that with Kullen dead, he’ll head out of town, back to his home somewhere in the Mist Marshes … although his loyalty to Kullen might see him seek revenge. In this case, he’s the sort who’s likely to act alone, setting ambushes or traps.
Andolphas relays what he knows of Bask and Rastophan to his companions.
"I have no interest in hunting them... and truth is, we may cross paths again before long. Since there is a connection between the green worms and Smenk's mine, we may need to pay the mine a visit... and if either of those gentlemen should stand in our way, we can deal with them then. If Bask is intent on reaching Smenk, I'm sure he will do so before we can catch him. Either way, if we do decide to investigate the mine, we should probably do so as soon as possible, and before Smenk has time to replace a substitute for Kullen."
The priest looks at the potion bottles that the others have recovered from Kullen and Todrik's corpses. "What have we here?"
He turns his attention towards the blind priest and starts to search him for magic, rings, scrolls, potions, weapons, and anything else of interest.
The Bird Man’s gear is in poor condition. He carries a crude wooden club and a rusty dagger, wears a twisted bird talon as a holy symbol and a ratty feathered cloak over tattered clothing. He carries 9 gold coins, 7 silver and a potion.
Andolphas discards all of the bird man's possessions with a look of disgust on his face, retaining only the potion and the coins. He gives the blind man a shove, then calls to his companions.
"Brashen, Harrigan, bring what you have found on Todrik and Kullen here. Let's see if any of the goods have magical properties that I might identify. Boland, perhaps you can give me a hand with this?"
Once the various potions and sundry items have been identified, Andolphas muses over what to do next. "Before we investigate the Dourstone Mines, I think it would be wise to check in with Allustan to see if his research has uncovered more information about the items we brought him from the Whispering Cairn. I think we should burn Kullen's body -- he was no follower of the Dark-Eyed Lady, and I feel no obligation to grant a thug like him a dignified send off into the Great Beyond. But what do we do with the Bird Man"?
Brash casts a hopefull eye over the loot from the skirmish, hopping there will be some useful items for the group.
'sounds like a plan, head back to Allustan's before we move on. Maybe we could toss the birdman on the pyre with kullen and Todrik' Brash makes sure his voice carries to where the birdman sits, but speaks with a smirk, knowing that this will not be the mans fate, as much as he may deserve it.
'Is he up for any charges with the law? Maybe without Kullens protection they would be more likely to stick. Sounds as if he was employed by Kullen rather than Smenk.'
"Whoa now son," Harrigan cautions, "That's a tricky road. You want to explain how we happened to capture him in a fight where we killed two residents of Diamond Lake who were working for one of the most powerful businessmen in the city? In the eyes of the law murder tends to be murder and I have no intention of being dragged into a court room where Smenk's deep pockets may have rigged the whole thing."
"Now this might be crazy talk, but listen... We know Smenk was not at happy about these worms under one of his mines. 'Robes' over here," he gestures to Andolphas, "is obviously keen on digging up these worms. I'll tell you right now, I'm not excited about tromping around in some infested mine shafts for s@@$s and giggles. Why don't we confront Smenk head on- tell him we know about the worm thing and we're willing to take care of his little problem for a fee. He can say his peace about Kullen and we'll say ours. Then any way about it we know where everyone stands. We might be able to get any charges dropped and get paid at the same time. We get some decent pay lined up and I'm all in."
"Far as the Birdman goes, I say cut him loose. I don't think he's coherent enough to pose much of a threat and being blind to boot? He's going to be that mad blind guy living out in the hills. Take his claw there. He can try to find himself another one later."
"You all think you're up to to a late night trek through the hills back to Allustan's place then? Got your torches and all that business?"
Harrigan:
Harrigan looks out into the dark fields of the farm while Brashen goes over the recovered gear then reaches down to grab Birdman by the arm and drag him away from the group. The dwarf walks back over to the others while keeping an eye on Birdman. "Listen- I gotta come clean here. Dourstone Mining Company... that isn't Smenk's operation. One of the few in town he hasn't forced out or bought out. It's my uncle's business. Ragnolian Dourstone. What Smenk had someone doing down there I don't know. Scouting or sabotage I imagine. What those worms are doing down there I have even less of an idea. My Uncle and I aren't particularly close, but he was kind enough to offer me a place when I needed it to get back on my feet. I try to stay out of his hair mostly, but he's a little... off-kilter you might say. If we approach Smenk at all, Uncle Rags can't know anything about it or he will lose his mind. Lately the old man's more paranoid than a blind man taking a wank."
Lately the old man's more paranoid than a blind man taking a wank.
"'Robes'???" repeats Andolphas with a raised eyebrow as Harrigan utters his new and unlikely nickname for the priest.
"I can think of no better way of handling the bird man than letting him go, as 'beard' suggests. Let nature take its course with the blind man. As for Smenk, I have only hatred for the man, and would like nothing better than to see him meet an untimely end alone in one of his mine shafts... The Lady forgive my dark desires. Does Smenk know of your ties to Dourstone, Harrigan? If he doesn't, then your plan to confront Smenk directly--and then feign collaboration--may be our best option. I think we may be better off resting here for the night, then head off to see Allustan in the morning, and Smenk after that. I don't care too much for hiking through the dark. Boland, Brashen, what say you?"
Andolphas can't help but Smirk at Harrigan's remark regarding his uncle's paranoia. "Maybe if we stay with the bird man long enough, he can show us what that kind of paranoia might look like..."
It’s late afternoon, but the Land farm is only about an hour out of town ... you can probably make town / Allustan’s place before night falls if you prefer, although staying here for the night is certainly an option.
It’s late afternoon, but the Land farm is only about an hour out of town ... you can probably make town / Allustan’s place before night falls if you prefer, although staying here for the night is certainly an option.
"Well- he shouldn't know about Rags being my uncle, but if he's got spies watching the old man's mines who's to say what else they've been digging up." Harrigan shrugs, "A weak point in my plan I have to admit." The dwarf walks back over to the birdman and cuts the cord on his claw necklace, stuffs it in his pocket and then unties the rope binding his hands. "Run for the hills you creepy old bastard! If I see you in town, and we both know I'm gonna see you first, it's your balls next time! I think we both know Pazuzu would approve so don't be expecting any help from below if you cross me."
Brash nods thoughtfully. 'I certainly like the idea of getting the bastard to pay us while we work this out. And as far as taking him out, which robes here seems to want, (Brash smirks at the priests obvious dislike of the name) surley it would be much eaiser to do that if we've got a good reason to be around him? Could certainly be risky though, but im happy to take the chance. Lets go back to town now though, I dont fancy camping out or staying in that stinking house. I've got to give my folks the all clear too.'
The Bird Man is cut loose – he stumbles away muttering and wailing – and the group take a few moments to examine their treasures, Boland and Andolphas using their magic and knowledge of spells to determine the magical properties of some of the gear.
Once searched, the two bodies are moved into a pile of loose timbers and dead grass and set alight.
Though the worst of Bolands wounds heals at Andolphas' spell, the healing magic does nothing for his shock of the battle and his role in it. He stammers his thanks, but remains sitting on his perch, somewhat dazed and only half taking in the discussion. Belatedly, he joins Andolphas in identifying the items and this seems to finally snap him out of his stupor.
"I'd be wary of, but not adverse to talking to Smenk. He probably is interested in buying the mine, but doesn't want to make a bad investment if it is indeed infested with the worms. If he bought in Filge to check it out, then it's probable that he is looking for someone else to fulfill that role."
"If we hurry we can make it back to town. I'd prefer to spend the night there than out here again."
The group hikes back to Diamond Lake, arriving on the outskirts of town just as night is beginning to fall. A shift at one or more of the local mines has ended, and The Vein is flooding with miners seeking food, drink or entertainment.
"Boland... is it too late to pay Allustan a visit?"
Brash looks at Kullen's great axe in admiration, feeling the balance of the weapon as he twirls it through the air.
'This ain't half bad... Anyone mind if I hang on to this?'
"By all means, take it as your own... I can't imagine Boland or myself wielding that giant meat cleaver..."
Brash looks at Kullen's great axe in admiration, feeling the balance of the weapon as he twirls it through the air.
'This ain't half bad... Anyone mind if I hang on to this?'
"No problems," Boland says absently, studying the potions. He holds up one of them. "This potion of Mage Armour would come in handy. Do you mind if I take it?"
"Boland... is it too late to pay Allustan a visit?"
"He probably hasn't even eaten yet, lost in some book or another. I think he wouldn't mind us dropping in. Why don't we stop and buy something to eat to take along; I'm keen to hear what he has uncovered, but starving!"
Boland stops at a store front along The Vein to purchase some spiced potatoes and garlic bread to bring along, then leads the way to Allustan’s home as the setting sun casts long shadows over the town and lamps are lit in windows and at street corners.
The young wizard unlatches the gate in the hedge surrounding Allustan’s yard and leads the way through the neat meditation garden – incorporating vertical stones and small pools of concentric circles – towards the small blue walled, red roofed tower.
Allustan himself answers Boland’s knock, the sage’s impressive black and grey beard braided over the top of his red robe.
“Boland! Ah, come in, come in … my, have you been in another scrape lad? All intact I hope? Hello again Andolphas.”
“Is that dinner I smell? Good! Just in time. Boland, you know where the kitchen is, if you would be so kind as to organize some plates and drinks and such, we’ll set up in the dining room.”
Over dinner, the dining room well lit by candles and lanterns, and warmed by a large fireplace, Allustan enquires after the group’s recent adventures and talks of various theories regarding the histories of the cairns scattered throughout these hills, and the Wind Dukes of Aaqa, thought by some sages to be the first culture to build cairns in the region.
As dinner winds up he gets down to business. “Now,” he says, looking at Boland and Andolphas. “You asked me if I could shed any light on some of the items you found in the Whispering Cairn. The first was this book; it is written in Vaati glyphs. I am familiar with, but not proficient in that ancient tongue – I’m not sure that anyone in this world and time is … still, I recognize some of the better known name glyphs, such as Icosiol’s glyph that you found in the Cairn, and some reference books I own suggest translations of certain other glyphs. As near as I can tell, the book is something akin to a diary or a personal history – a biography if you will – of the Wind Duke Zosiel, whose tomb you uncovered. I would love to study this book further, when time permits – if you will allow me to, I will buy it from you – I can offer 300 gold pieces, or 500 gold pieces worth of arcane scrolls. If you would prefer to keep it to study yourselves, I understand.”
“The second item was this box,” Allustan holds up the long, partially melted pewter box – he has broken the seal on the lid. “The writing on the box I cannot read as such, but I have identified it as being written in an extremely ancient form of Abyssal, prior to that language adopting the Infernal alphabet for its written form. This glyph here,” he points to one of the strange symbols that seems almost to writhe and shift as you look at it, “I was able to identify as the symbol of an entity called the Queen of Chaos. Inside the box was this.”
Allustan removes the lid to reveal a strange object – a loop of dark metal attached to a rod of some different metal. “This is known as a Talisman of the Sphere. It is an extremely powerful magical item, but has a very singular use. One of the weapons said to have been employed by the forces of Chaos during the ancient planar war between the forces of law – including the Wind Dukes of Aaqa – and the armies of chaos – led by the Queen of Chaos – were the Spheres of Annihilation; holes in the continuity of the multiverse that would destroy utterly anything they touched. Legend holds that after their victory at the Battle of Pesh, the Wind Dukes scattered the remaining Spheres to the far corners of the Great Wheel. These talismans,” Andolphas takes the object from the box, holding the rod with the looped end held before him, “were said to grant their owners some measure of control over the Spheres … and as far as I know they have no use beyond that. If I were you, I’d hang on to it; one should always be prepared,” he adds with a smile and a wink.
“Lastly, you asked me what I knew of this green worm,” Allustan takes out the jar where the worm you found in the observatory floats suspended in brine. It looks somewhat smaller than it did before. “It is, as Filge told you and I was able to confirm when we spoke before, a worm taken from the body of a rare type of undead creature known as a Spawn or Son of Kyuss. Spawn of Kyuss superficially resemble zombies, but are much more difficult to kill. They are able to regenerate damage done to them, and can turn the living into creatures like themselves by infesting them with these worms. As far as I have been able to determine with my research, they are, unlike zombies, at least somewhat intelligent and free willed. I tried to examine the worm more closely, but unfortunately when I drew it forth from this preserving solution it began to decompose rapidly. I’m afraid there is little more I can tell you about it.”
Brash looks at Kullen's great axe in admiration, feeling the balance of the weapon as he twirls it through the air.
'This ain't half bad... Anyone mind if I hang on to this?'"No problems," Boland says absently, studying the potions. He holds up one of them. "This potion of Mage Armour would come in handy. Do you mind if I take it?"
"Sounds reasonable," Andolphas says as he dons the blue cloak and tucks away one of the healing potions and the potion of shield of faith. "Hmmm... does this blue clash with my green robes? What do you think, Boland?"
Andolphas ponders the information Allustan has given them for a moment while devouring his garlic bread and potatoes with great enthusiasm. "Mmmm... that really hit the spot," he says at last, contended.
"Thank you for your wisdom, old one. Do you know of any connection between the Wind Dukes, the Queen of Chaos, and these sons of Kyuss? The Lady Amariss had dreamed of an impending, writhing doom that would threaten the world, and that I might play in part in averting or..." The somber cleric hesitates for a moment and avoids looking anyone in the eye before continuing -- "even ushering this writhing doom into the world (though I assure you, I have no wish to bring the world to its end). I wonder if the emergence of these worms may be a harbinger of this writhing doom. And when, shortly after the Lady bade me be alert to the call of destiny, Boland asked me to investigate the Whispering Cairn with him, I also could not help but wonder if I was being pulled there too by destiny. What think ye, Allustan?"
Brash enters the grand house wearily, looking uncomfortable, and stepping very carefully to make sure he doesn't knock anything. He remains fairly quiet throughout the meal and subsequent discussion, though perks up when payment is discussed for the book, and once again at the mention of the 'extremely powerful magical item.'
'Mr ... err... Allustan Sir... umm...' Brash laspes into an uncomfortable silence, not sure how to address the man, and looking more uncomfortable then the others have ever seen him. He tries again.
'How would we go about killing these super zombies. Is there any special method, or is the traditional approach the best?' He pats his newly acquired great axe as he speaks the last.
“References in books of history and myth refer to Kyuss and his spawn at a period of time several thousand years before our own,” Allustan answers Andolphas. “The Battle of Pesh, which is said to have brought to a close the war between the Wind Dukes and the Queen of Chaos happened an order of magnitude earlier than that – tens of thousands of years at least. I am not aware of any connection between the two.”
Allustan also responds to Brashen. “Unfortunately, necromancy and the undead are outside my areas of expertise. Perhaps they are susceptible to magical weapons, or a certain material such as silver or cold iron, or a particular element or energy type such as fire or acid ... but that is all pure speculation on my part.”