"They call themselves the Cagewrights. They are the source of the unrest in your city. Their agents were involved in the kidnappings and thefts that plagued Cauldron. Yet I fear their true goals are much more sinister."
"I have been looking for anyone who might be able to pass the Test of the Smoking Eye and your groups exploits caught my attention. I needed to make sure you were good people, ready for and worthy of the challenge. It's not like I could have asked the Stormblades."
"To my friends' questions I would add my own: On which side of the battle do you stand in Occipitus: good or evil? And to that another question: what do we and our city stand to gain from helping you? And another: are you an agent of the Smoking Eye?" The deva said to follow the Smoking Eye. Then again, she told us not to come back to Cauldron. How reliable can she be?
Dyrant waits and listens, wanting to hear the answers to Dr. Toffitt's questions before adding his own.
"The smoking eye doesn't have agents any more than the sun or the moon. I'm a traveler, and I've wandered the planes for hundreds of years. Because I was born of an illicit dalliance between fiend and human, I'm welcome nowhere. Perhaps my heritage is the reason I want to help someone pass the Test of the Smoking Eye and purify Occipitus. It is part of the Abyss right now, but if the right person passes the test, the plane could be separated from the Lower Planes. Perhaps it would become a demiplane, or perhaps it would again be part of Celestia. If I had a role in bringing order to this chaos, perhaps I would have a place I would finally be welcome."
"As for Cauldron, if the Cagewrights gain power on Occipitus then it can surely be bad news for the city. I don't know of their exact plans, but it has something to do with a planar ritual."
Kaurophon finishes his juice and scone. He eyes another one, but then changes his mind.
Dyrant senses an opening to ask his questions.
"You ask a lot. How will we get there? And return? And the abyss? That's a dangerous place! We are ill equipped for such travails." Dyrant eyes Finn's sword and Glim's non-magical armor. "We are no match for the hordes of the Abyss with our current resources and have little coin to buy it. What aid can you offer?"
Dyrant is happy to provide a list of needed provisions.
"Am I to infer correctly, then, that you side with the forces of good in this war? How are we to know you are not, yourself in league with the Cagewrights?"
Atol nudges a scone just a hairs closer to Kaurophon and takes another himself to be a good host.
Planar Travel! Yowzer! What would Alexander think of that!
From his sleeve Kaurophon produces three scrolls. "I have some scrolls of plane shift here. They will you get you safely there. They can also be used to escape if you feel the need. What else would you need? I'm afraid I don't have much else up my sleeve."
He holds them out for inspection.
"Little coin? Do you mean to say all those coins you have, each one is little?"
Kaurophon changes his mind and takes another scone.
"The hordes of the Abyss do not reside there. True, there are some demons there, but not hordes. Time might be running short and I suspect some rivals are close to locating the first test. There are demons who would remake Occipitus into a plane of pure evil."
"I believe there are weapons of great power to be found on Occipitus and I know of a place where healing is easier."
"Am I to infer correctly, then, that you side with the forces of good in this war? How are we to know you are not, yourself in league with the Cagewrights?"
"I can assure you I am not in league with the Cagewrights. My research into the nature of Occipitus brought us into contact with each other. I went along with them for a time, hoping to use them to further my own goals. Yet soon, I came to realize the simple fact that they were all mad, and I left them to their lunacies."
Kaurophon continues to tell the truth as far as Toffitt can tell.
"Do you stand with the forces of good, or do you not? You dance around the question, sir, when we require directness and honesty."
Atol casts Read Magic and examines the scrolls.
"With a bit of luck I should be able to use these successfully."
He turns to Kaurophon, happy he's eating and taking that as a good sign. [i]I wonder, is food created by St. Cuthbert holy food? Could he eat it if evil? Hrm. I suppose he could. Seems unlikely though.
After he answers Toffitt, Atol will ask, "So if we take you up on your offer, what is the first task? Or at least where is it? Plane Shifting is inexact and will not put us exactly where we need to be."
Dyrant is more reserved on the matter.
"Come back in a week. As I said, we are ill equipped for this. I would do more research on what you have said."
Perhaps some of our allies would be willing to help us in this endeavor...or guide us for or against. The Chisel? The Church? The Striders?
"Maybe we can find more substantive aid from them," Dyrant says aloud, unaware that the others could not read his thoughts.
Finneas grumbles as the uninvited guest continues to eat the food.
"You'd better not try for a third, you'll be missing a hand."
I don't trust him.
"I stand on neither the side of good nor evil. My evil is in my blood, not my intentions. My birthright as an outsider only exacerbates the situation. I stand on my own side. We might each benefit from this. I only hope for your success and the preservation of Cauldron."
Toffitt senses he has his secrets, but has continued to tell the truth.
Kaupheron reaches for more juice. "Might I have something to wash this down?"
"Perhaps you would like some time to think it over. A day? A week? A month? Whenever the Cagewrights have finished their plans or Occipitus has become a plane of evil? Or do things outside of Caouldron not concern you?"
Kaurophon takes a third scone and heads for the door.
"When you are ready leave a plate of these fine scones outside your front door. I promise not to scry anywhere else until I hear from you. I leave the scrolls with you as a sign of my good will."
"I hear in your words an urgency, yes? The Cagewrights begin the test as we speak, or approach the beginning? Still, you've found us fresh returned from other battles in the war against these Cagewrights. To hasten into this test would make our success much less certain. We will require the week that Dyrant requests. Perhaps a bit less, if all goes well. Tell me, what do you look like under those robes?"
Dyrant asks the 'man' to stay for another moment.
"Why did you say you chose us again? Why not do it yourself? It's clear that you have power. Why not take the test yourself? You are familiar with the Abyss."
Glimmil watches the newcomer carefully, ready to grab his hook-hammer if necessary.
"Why do we need to go to the Abyss?" Glimmil wonders aloud.
"Can't we protect Cauldron better here? And what do these Cagewrights even want with Cauldron?"
Glimmil waits, thinking about these Cagewrights.
"We saw a giant making magic cages. He's kind of a cagesmith isn't he? What does it mean to be a Cagewright? What are they trying to cage? Really big birds?"
"Interesting," says Toffitt after listening to Glimmil's words. He's making a kind of sense...? "So these Cagewrights have ambitions for power in other dimensions. Interesting. We should find out what we can about them while we prepare. Too bad Aralynn's asked her questions of Cuthbert for the week. But perhaps Atol can divine some other insights for us."
The robed figure stops at the door, takes a bite of scone, chews, swallows. "I took the first part of the test when I was younger and escaped with my life. I may not take the test again. My knowledge of how to even begin the test, that it even exists, is the only advantage I have for now."
"Since you've begun the test, perhaps you can tell us what we'll need to accelerate its first steps, and whatever lessons you gleaned from your failure. Planning now yields haste later."
"You must enter a hidden chamber within a ruined Celestial cathedral. There you must choose one of two doors: one with a bebilith demon behind it and one with an avoral guardian."
"That's the entire first part? Surely there's more." Toffitt huffs, then catches himself. "Pardon me. I've been of late more impatient than usual."
Dyrant has heard enough, he thinks silently.
"We shall leave scones when we are ready. It may be a week, give or take some days. I may wish some purchases to come in before we voluntarily visit the Abyss."
* * * After the yahoo has gone...* * *
Dyrant slumps in his chair, drained of energy for what has happened over the last few days.
I wish a good long sleep...but moreso I wish to think.
Dyrant spends a few minutes collecting his thoughts before he speaks again. Rubbing his face, he begins to suggest a plan of action.
"I don't think I need to say that we should not trust that one. Still, his messages echoes the words of Nidrama, so we must consider them. Apparently, this Smoking Eye is intertwined in our fates," Dyrants rubs his eyes wearily.
"It is still early his day and I hope to make good use of some of it. Firstly, with some gristle stew. My mind works better when I slurp. Secondly, I shall head to the fancy library for some additional research on that one, the Abyss, and the battle of which he spoke...as as well as other hints, like Alakast, the Cagewrights, and Nidrama."
There is so much we don't know or understand. St. Cuthbert forgive my ignorance.
"Where I could use help is with contacting our friends who might be willing to help us."
Dyrant turns to Atol. "We must see if Jenya and the Church might aid us."
"Finn, do your Kordites know anything? Would they be able to help?"
Dyrant only quasi addresses the Doctor, knowing that it might be too much to ask, "We should reach out to the Chisel to both tell them what happened and if they might help."
Dyrant puts his head in his hands.
"We have much to do if we are going to succeed. Glim, might you sell our hard earned treasures for us and place orders for goods before we go down? We'll need quick turnaround, and I'll hate to go on while unprepared."
Dyrant sits and things for a few moments longer, happy to hear the thoughts of others.
"Aye, we've had a long journey. Rest is in order." And recreation...
"Let's send word to Redgorge. I'll confirm with Skellerang whether it's safe for Maavu and his fellows to travel here. I've no desire to look at a horse for a couple of days, let alone ride one."
"Finneas. Glimmil. Let's spend a bit of time practicing flying the next few days. Perhaps I could also brew up some potions that you can keep on hand, in case of random erinyes attacks..."
Finneas heads back to his room and grabs his sword before preparing to chop the strangers arm off at the neck. He finds that by the time he returns there are too many between him and the scone stealing cryptomancer.
"I'll leave him some scones all right."
***************************
After the stranger leaves and the half-orc has had a chance to cool off he nods at Dyrant and Toffitt's words.
"I'll check with the temple, if we're going into the Abyss I'll see about getting my sword made holy, and fast. I didn't have enough before but they might give me a discount, and we have some additional treasures recovered. We'll see."
"Flying? Uh...sure. When I get back."
"uh...er... yeah."
Atol shuffles his feet.
"We should really offer the church the Paladins things. Many of them may have been donated by the church in the first place. I'd like to take them back when I appeal for funds for the trip to the Abyss."
Atol begins gathering up the Paladins possessions and heads to the church. He requests and audience with Jenya Urikas.
- - -
"My lord Hight Priest, here are Alek's things - the things we found on him when he died." Shuffle. Shuffle. "I, uh, wonder if the church wants them back. Doesn't seem right somehow for us to keep them if you have another purpose for them."
"That said, I am also here to request funds for a trip to the Abyss on behalf of Cauldron. It has come to our attention that the forces we face here are in fact there and we would attack this problem at the root rather than fight off all the thorns here."
"I'm not sure I completely understand it, but Dyrant is figuring it out for sure, and I plan to pray on it tomorrow asking our lord for guidance. Still, we are ill equipped, according to Dyrant, for a trip to the Abyss. I know I'm way behind on my scrolls, and there's a staff or two I've been eyeing by way of a new cudgel."
Atol wanders a bit, "I think I might craft staves - short ones that could be used as cudgels. I particularly like the idea of my own Staff of Courage. Though if I were to craft my own, I think I might replace a few of the spells."
"Anyway, I'm sorry, er, can the church help us in this matter?"
Atol finds Jenya preparing Alek's body for burial. He lies on a table, naked except for a loin cloth, as she washes his body.
"Thank you for bringing his items back. The church will find another holy warrior worthy of them. You have the gratitude of the church, and me, for bringing Alek home."
"The church will support you in your travels." She has Alexander bring in a small chest filled with gold bars
"Crafting would be good for you since working with your hands seemed to bring you peace. I believe you would be able to craft such an item."
Pleased with the church's largess, Atol nearly forgets to pick up his new Phylactery. But not quite...
"If we're to leave, I should also pick up my Phylactery of Channelling. It will be a great boost to us in battle. Thank you for getting it so quickly!"
On his way out of the church, Atol puts 400gp in the donation coffers by way of tithe. He remembers to do it out of his own personal funds and not out of the gold bars he carries to the party.
- - -
Once back at the house, Atol will spend the day scribing scrolls and tending the garden. Today he will scribe:
Calm Emotions (3)(75gp)
Delay Poison (3)(75gp)
Invisibility Purge (5)(188gp)
Remove Paralysis (3)(75gp)
He does his best to get ahead of the gardening all week so it can settle over the days... weeks? that he'll be gone. While working the soil he dreams of the staff he will make when he returns.
What spells to put into it? Something to heal wounds of course, and Bless and Prayer. Something very much like the staff of Courage, just a little different. What to call it?
Atol smiles in the warm sun, and returns inside to continue scribing.
Glimmil, happy with any excuse to visit Skie, rides off with the items that they will need sold, an added spring to his and Cog's step as they depart.
Upon arriving, he showers her with a hug (enhanced at least for as long as he is wearing his magic belt of strength) and begins to jabber away, recounting the tales of their heroic bravery.
"... and then I spiked the big glabrezu and when he picked up his foot, he leaned every so slightly forward and Finneas chopped off his head! It was amazing!"
Glimmil pants with all the chattering he's done and then blushes, embarrassed.
"Um, and how have you been? Business good?"
"You want it when?" Asfelkir Hranleurt asks Finneas.
"Hmmm. Well, it could be done. Three priests working in concert for 6 days straight. As I said before, you would need to take part in the rituals with each priest. Three visits to the temple at exactly 6 am, 2 pm, and 10 pm. An hour or two each time. No nights of drinking. No mornings of sleeping in. No excursions outside the city walls that might keep you from missing the afternoon. Can you meet these commitments?"
Oh, while Atol is at the church, he buys several (6) holy candles or other religious accoutrement worth 25gp each. He needs them as sacrifices for his Divination spell.
"I will do better than that Father, for the next 6 days I will stay here, that no time should be missed and nothing go wrong."
Uh..
Fifth: I mean it.
But...
Fifth: No.
Dyrant eventually rises from his chair to get himself cleaned off.
I smell worse than Gristle Too. A few more days of not-bathing, I'd smell like Finn. Ugh.
Before leaving, he will give Glim a shopping list for Skie along with some goods to sell.
After bathing, Dyrant will go out for a bowl of gristle (or two) while he continues to mull the events of the last few weeks.
Arg. We know little and what we suspect is still wrong.
While eating, Dyrant will keep his ears open for happenings about Cauldron over the last week.
Diplomacy
* * *
When he finishes eating, he will head to the Cusp of Sunrise to peruse the library there, seeking additional background and hoping to see Lady Celeste (aka Lady Cleavage).
The Cagewrights
The Smoking Eye (and Test of...)
Kaurophon
Celestia
Occiptus
Nidrama
Alakast
The Demon who Attacked Us (who/why?)
Protections for the Abyss
Demons and demonology in general
Occupants of Celestia/Occiptus (if different or confirming from what Kaurophon said)
The Chisel
The Hags/Archons--and back history
"Um, and how have you been? Business good?"
Skie smiles as Glimmil rambles, rubs his back, oohs and ahhs. She tries to suggest the rest of the story can wait, but can't get a word in. However, she almost cries at the news of Cog's almost death and the back rubbing and moaning stops. "Have you thought about letting Cog retire? I'm not sure he signed up for fighting demons."
She composes herself as she picks through the items Glimmil brought for sale. "Gnoll gear. Great. I can toss that directly into the discount pile. Some of this other stuff is nice, though. The mercenary camp will likely break up soon and business will be brisk. Soldiers buying new gear or soldiers selling gear because they spent all their earnings and then some."
"Will you be staying long this time? Will we have a chance for some dinners? I'd even let you take me to Jzadirune."
Atol spends much of his week gardening, preparing scrolls, and making a few purchases at Skies. He will also help the others in whatever preparations they need to make.
Scrolls
Remove Fear (1) (12.5gp) x2
Restoration, Lessor (3)(75gp) x4
Sound Burst (3)(75gp)
Suppress Charms and Compulsions (3)(75gp) x4
Water Breathing (5)(187.5)
Delay Poison (3) (75) x2
Remove Blindness/Deafness (5) (187.5)
Skies
three alchemy fires (60gp total)
Church (or Skies if it is unavailable)
+1 Cudgel (2,300gp)
At some point, in a quiet hour of the day, Atol will walk down to the church and pray. Getting up off his knees he'll approach the alter where he will take some time and cast Divination.
"We are travelling in a few days time to Occiptus to take the test of the Smoking Eye. Will our actions there, if we are successful, help save Cauldron or is this another farce?"
He waits patiently for the answer, lying prostrate in front of the alter in prayer.
Toffitt spends the week checking in with patients and confirming what they already know — he cannot provide a consistent level of care for their bodies, so long as the larger body of Cauldron needs his protection.
Carts takes similar news quite well, not being terribly fixated on Toffitt to begin with. Some narcotic that he's been taking has him talking endlessly about the stars.
He wanders the city, and eventually finds himself seeking out whatever sacred byways the followers of Fharlanghn keep in Cauldron.
"Excuse me. I've met your Striders and would know more about your works in this world."
Glimmil gives Skie a long look, before glances at Cog who has fallen asleep on a nearby run.
"I... ummm. I mean, a knight needs his mount. I'm not sure else I'd find someone as brave, intelligent and loyal as ol' Cog."
Glimmil removes his breastplate and sets it nearby, his intentions only being to polish it to a high shine later.
He then leans forward to discuss the matter further with Skie in a hushed tone, as if he were taking part in some grand conspiracy.
"I gave some thought to a bear. Or maybe a giant badger. I think we're going to one of the Hells next. Or a Heaven that fell into a Hell demi-plane sort of place. But Cog likes it warm, but that might be too warm?"
Atol will also take a day to make a fresh Wand of Cure Light Wounds (-375gp).
After his first day of research, Dyrant will return to home, happy again to sleep in his own bed.
* * *
On the morning, Dyrant will share his learnings with those who are around before returning to the Cusp for another day of research.
I will spend another day here...and then find other avenues of research tomorrow.
"We are travelling in a few days time to Occiptus to take the test of the Smoking Eye. Will our actions there, if we are successful, help save Cauldron or is this another farce?"
St. Cuthbert's voice booms throughout the church, "Cauldron cannot be saved unless the test of the Smoking Eye is passed."
While eating, Dyrant will keep his ears open for happenings about Cauldron over the last week.
Thought it seems like weeks, it's only been four days. Not much has changed. Little is seen of the Mayor or Lord Vhalantru and things are fairly quiet.
Dyrant visits the Cusp of Sunrise and no one has seen Lady Celeste about.
Dyrant's research confirms most of what's he's learned already. He finds out the most ruler of Occipitus has been missing for half a century. The Test of the Smoking Eye appears to have been left by him to determine the next ruler or ensure it's safekeeping until he returns.
It appears the demon that attacked the party was Nabthatoron, the self-appointed ruler of the Demonskar. With him gone, who know who will rise to power there.
Traveling in the Abyss, a mildly evil-aligned and mildly chaos-aligned realm, will affect the party. Lawful or good characters take a -2 penalty on all Charisma based checks. Lawful good characters take a -4 penalty.
He wanders the city, and eventually finds himself seeking out whatever sacred byways the followers of Fharlanghn keep in Cauldron. "Excuse me. I've met your Striders and would know more about your works in this world."
It doesn't take Toffitt long to find Fario and Fellian. They invite Toffitt to lunch at the Drowning Morkoth Inn where Shensen from the Lucky Monkey Inn along with a dwarf already sit at the table. The dwarf speaks for them all.
"You and your party have proven time and again that you have Cauldron's best interests in mind. We have come to Caulrdon seeking the Cagewrights. We know they worship powerful extraplanar fiends living in Carceri. Years ago, with the help of other adventurers, the Striders attacked a cabal of Cagewrights in a city far to the north. One of the Cagewrights was able to call forth one of their vile masters from the prison plane. Several Striders perished in the battle, but the fiend was eventually banished back to Carceri and the surving Cagewrights routed. It appears they have chosen Cauldron to regroup and pursue a new agenda, but we have been unable to discover what it is."
St. Cuthbert's voice booms throughout the church, "Cauldron cannot be saved unless the test of the Smoking Eye is passed.""We are travelling in a few days time to Occiptus to take the test of the Smoking Eye. Will our actions there, if we are successful, help save Cauldron or is this another farce?"
Atol lays prostrate for what seems an age, partly in fear at the power of the spell he just cast and partly in the joy of hearing his masters voice. Eventually he rises, comforted that the party is on the right and righteous path. It does not even occur to him that they may succeed or fail - what matters is that they're doing the right thing.
He walks out into the sunshine, and everything is a little brighter, a little more pleasant.
Time for lunch I think. And soon... scones.
Traveling in the Abyss, a mildly evil-aligned and mildly chaos-aligned realm, will affect the party. Lawful or good characters take a -2 penalty on all Charisma based checks. Lawful good characters take a -4 penalty.
Finneas spends the week working out, praying, and helping the priests work on his sword.
Toffitt toasts to the health of the Striders, and makes pleasant conversation with them. He listens to their report of the Cagewrights and nods gravely. He weighs their words, and takes their measure . Assuming he finds them trustworthy, he says, "Have you means to veil us from scrying? My friends and I may have some news for you."
If they do, Toffitt waits to continue. He continues, in any case. "It seems the Cagewrights seek to bring a great inferno upon Cauldron. We have not yet ascertained whether they mean to reactivate the volcano, or have some other designs."
"We have also learned that they mean to take control of Occipitus, a realm within the Abyss. I know little of such matters, but we mean to travel there and take the Test of the Smoking Eye. We were told of the test and the Cagewrights' plans by a traveler named Kaurophon. Have you heard of him? Do you know of this test?"
Toffitt toasts to the health of the Striders, and makes pleasant conversation with them.
"Protecting yourselves from scrying for limited times is fairly easy. One of you should be able to cast Nondetection (Wizard 3, hours/level, 1 creature/object). In the meantime, I could stop by once a day and cast Mage's Private Sanctum (Wizard 3, 24 hours) on your home to prevent scrying. In time, one of your priests should be able to cast Forbiddance (Cleric 6) to block the teleportation and even intrusion into your home. In terms of non-magical means, an inch of lead sheeting also blocks scrying and teleportation It doesn't have to be airtight, but it does have to enclose the space, like a vault."
"I have heard of Occipitus, but not of the test or Kaurophon. "
"Your help with our offices would be most appreciated. Nondetection is certainly an option for me, but I would need to give thought to how and when it's most useful. A lead-lined room also sounds wise, though I've noted that too much lead can produce plegmatic temperaments..."