"Deeper, that's where you want to go, yes? Every visitor wants to go deeper. We don't go there, so can't tell you what's there."
The troglodyte replies to Jirah's questions, "Oh, some others here and there. We don't keep count. Godbox is merciful if he doesn't like your sacrifice. He just doesn't let you go beyond here."
"Please follow, one more room on the tour before you can see Godbox for yourselves!" With that, Slaagh leads the group down a short passage to the south into another room.
A stone tub filled with water stands against this chamber’s western wall. Three glowing light-sticks illuminate the room. A door of copper-colored metal stands in the western wall, and passages exit the room to the north and south. In the south three other troglodytes ignore the group as they enter, engaged in some sort of ritualistic burbling and hissing.
"This is the sacred water the Godbox fills every day!" Slaagh explains with some excitement, "Now, only Godbox remains! Are you ready to make your sacrifices?"
With no objections, Slaagh opens the coppery door and enters. A hexagonal, metallic structure about ten feet wide and almost twenty five feet tall looms in the center of this high-ceilinged room, emanating a greenish-white light. All kinds of gears and armaments are stuck to its silvery sides, including dozens of weapons, shields, and pieces of armor, as well as lanterns, buckles, and tools. To the north and south of the object stand two large stone statues, each depicting a troglodyte with its arms upraised in adulation. Four copper-colored metal doors lead out of this chamber, one from each corner of the room.
With the door opened, everyone feels all of their metal weapons, armor, and any metal equipment being slightly tugged toward the Godbox. The force seems to be stronger for those closer to the structure.
"Behold the glory of the the Godbox! It is ready for your sacrifice!" Slaagh declares with religious fervor in his voice.
With all the metal items transferred to Xakon's shield, the halfling rogue cautiously steps inside. Without any effort from Xakon, all the sling bullets, the pitons, and Mudk's ranseur fly off the shield and stick to the side of the metal box. Indeed, Xakon feels himself being pulled towards it, but he has little trouble resisting it for the moment. It also tugs at his rapier, but he manages to keep it in its sheath.
As the last items adheres to the Godbox, it begins to emit an eerie hum that permeates the room. Afterwards, two loud metallic clicks can be heard from the northeast.
"The Godbox has found your sacrifice worthy! The way forward has been opened!" Slaagh announces with perhaps too much excitement.
Mudk suspects Slaagh is just relieved that things are going smoothly, perhaps he's afraid of what a group of armed warriors might do to his people if they cause trouble.
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"I guess that's that. Have we completed our obligation to explore if we don't get a more complete tour?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
Slaagh continues to escort the group after the sacrifice has been made, perhaps in a hurry to get you out of here, "No more to see, the rest are just living areas. Our homes, not exciting." He replies to Frēodwēn as he leads the group to the door he previously indicated as being the exit and opens it.
A tall troglodyte statue stands in the center of this otherwise featureless square room, its arms outstretched. Light-sticks are mounted on the east and west walls, providing dim green illumination, augmenting the stronger glow from the door. In the northeast corner, a section of the stone floor is cut away perfectly, revealing a stairway that descends into darkness.
"There is the way down. Since the Godbox has found your sacrifice worthy, it will let you pass whenever you come through here. I will escort you each time or my friend Kargh." Slaagh explains quickly. After waiting a few moments for any other questions or comments, he moves out of your way and waits in the previous room.
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The donation needs to be made only once? I'd be a more pious if Besmara was as easily pleased.
Xakon decides to reconsider his plan to remove the door.
You have peacefully given us passage through your home although most troglodytes has a predisposition for butchery and savagery. But you are not on trial for misdeeds of your forefathers. Thank you and good day.
The halfling rogue looks inquisitively to the human paladin to bless this arrangement.
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Sugar was simply following along trying to keep Truffles from getting into things. she finally got him calmed down as she considers the situation.
ahh, Xak? what about other pathfinders, we best make sure that they are informed. right? and what about those Hellknight guys, I think they will just barge right in and kill everyone. they like that kind of stuff don't they?
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Mudk frowns thoughtfully.
"The Hellknights are a concern..."
Turning to Slaagh, he bows.
"Sir, you have not offered us battle and have acted with grace in your dealings with us. I propose a pact between you and us, a written accord if one of my companions can provide paper."
"We will pass on word of the sacrifice required by the 'God box' so that others who come may bring appropriate gifts and not unduly waste your time or pause on your doorstep. We will treat you with the same respect you gave us and shall not interfere in your business here. Additionally, in gratitude for the peace with which you greeted us we will present this agreement to the other above as the guidelines and rules for dealing with you in hopes that they will abide by law and leave you be."
"Will you join in this pact with me?"
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"I think Jirah is right. However, I suspect they will attempt to make a peaceful agreement with the current residents."
-Posted with Wayfinder
"I will speak with the others first, but if more come peacefully to sacrifice iron the Godbox we will welcome them. I go speak with the others now while you write up the peace papers." Slaagh replies to Mudk's offer, waiting a moment for anything else before scurrying off.
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Jirah looks around for a moment and leans in close to Xakon.
I was thinking, what if we came back with some of the offerings that are attached to the Godbox thing? Maybe that would make up for not slaughtering everything in sight, since we'd be gathering artifacts or some official sounding bs like that? Venture Captains usually eat that up... Think you can grab some without looking?
Just for kicks, she starts looking around with a Detect Magic spell, trying to be discreet.
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Mudk sighs.
"It will have to be informal then. With us as honored witnesses."
As he says that his self focused thought is interrupted and he realizes what Jirah has been saying.
"My friend Jirah, I agree the society won't reward us for this. Perhaps we can have a peaceful tour with Slaagh of the rest of the area? To learn about the ways of his people so that later, when we have proper writing utensils, we can record them for posterity? If he doesn't agree I don't see a way where we can justly take from their god or their tribe."
Jirah finds nothing magical in the room with the stairs leading down, nor in the antechamber before it.
Slaagh returns shortly with the news that the troglodytes do indeed agree to your terms, signed treaty or not. If pressed, he does eventually let you peacefully look into the living areas. As promised, the sleeping areas and latrines for troglodytes are not exciting stuff. Although the group does catch sight of the Spire itself in the south side of the caverns, allowing those interested to scribe down the rune for this level.
Returning back to Valandrel on the top level of the Emerald Spire, he seems surprised at both the presence of a group of peaceable troglodytes and the agreement you've worked out with them. He isn't displeased by your performance overall, however, and gives grudging congratulations for exploring the level without shedding a drop of blood.
Gathering together to tackle another section of the Emerald Spire, the group finds itself again on the first level of the dungeon, in an antechamber now fully converted to Valandrel's office. As you enter, the elf is carefully examining two maps hanging from the walls, which you recognize as the layouts of both the Cellars and the Splinterden. Pulling his attention away from the maps, he seems a little startled to see you, ”Oh good, you've finally arrived. The time has come to continue your mission of exploration, this time to the level below your beloved troglodytes. I should warned you, our talks with those fanatics suggest that the next section is probably flooded in parts. You should prepare accordingly, if you haven't already been informed. You know the rest, I expect full reports from everyone when you're done.”
With no questions for Valandrel, the group makes its way to Godhome where they are met with a helpful troglodyte acolyte who escorts them to the stairs leading below the lizard folk's home. The stairs terminate into a winding, ramp-like passageway that descends 100 feet over a half-mile walk.
The ramp itself ends in a flight of stairs leading to a dank, low-ceilinged room. The curved surface of the Emerald Spire takes up the northwest corner, and to the east is a broad stairway leading down to a dark passage from which the soft sound of lapping of water emanates. A small, closed door stands in the south wall. Several toad-sized crabs skitter about.
Standing near the stairs are three strange creatures. The first is a blue-skinned, blue-haired humanoid clad in silvery mail. He’s guarded by a hideous, four-legged orange crab monster with a small, blue, winged creature sitting on its back.
The humanoid first addresses the group in a language no one understands. With a look of annoyance, he then switches to Common and says in a superior, demanding tone, "You must all leave now, your presence is disruptive to my research into the Spire's magic."
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"We are here to explore the Spire. Surely we can reach an arrangement that will be beneficial to both of us."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Frēodwēn recognizes the six-legged crab as a Summoner's eidolon. Such creature's can vary greatly from one another, but this one appears to have obvious crab-like attacks and abilities.
The smaller, blue, winged creature appears to be a water mephit. The only information the ranger/bard can recall at the moment is that they have acid-based range attacks.