Faelar looks over the strange script with some excitement and confusion. The foul demonic words that appear here and there are jarring and the strange Kelish throws him. In fact, Kzrira's follows the text more easily than the bookish elf. Her experience trading in Qadira informs her translation work. Faelar's knowledge of history and religion helps fill in the blanks as they skim the rambling script of the labyrinth.
It appears to start on the northern passage with the beginning of time in the Age of Creation and the caging of Rovagug at the world's core. The familiar story of how the Rough Beast was imprisoned is recounted with dark curses hurled at Sarenrae and Asmodeus for their role in the deed.
The script continues down the corridor and next becomes a series of perverted prayers to the Spawn of Rovagug which have followed in their progenitors wake. Six Great Spawn are celebrated over the walls: the Ulunat which stymied the rise of humanity until the God Kings of Ancient Osirion finally defeated it, the Chemnosit that gnaws at the world's heart, the infamous Tarrasque that laid waste to nations, the Kothogaz that remains a crime to speak of in Vudra, and the Volnugar whose wailing wings bring madness. The walls gleefully proclaim the destruction wrought upon the world by each monster, but the list is long and somewhat nauseating so you pass quickly through.
By the time you finish skimming this infamous list, the labyrinth has brought you back to the hall through the middle passage. The third passage begins with Xotani, the Firebleeder.
Xotani followed in Ulunat's path of destruction across Garund. It is described as a great clawed worm that radiated the heat of a thousand volcanoes. It dwelled below the ground scorching the ground above it and only crawled forth at night to call fire and lightning from the sky.
The wall recounts that the living holocaust was only stopped by a legion of wizards gathered from all over Garund some 2500 years ago. This structure is a shrine to the Spawn of Rovagug called The House of the Beast built above the grave of Xotani deep within Pale Mountain.
By this time, you have come to a central corridor in the labyrinth that again runs north and south lit by magical fires and ending in double doors at each end. The labyrinth looks to continue through a passage in the east wall, but you are interrupted in your reading by a stranger.
A short, ugly Garundi man watches you from near the northern doors. He is thin and bald, dressed in a heavy leather work-smock covered in pockets which hold tools and vials. He seems unconcerned as he bends to pick up a shaggy white cat and begins stroking its fur.
"Ah, I was wondering when you would show up. I assume that you are the ones who killed my pets. Do not be concerned, I hold no grudge. They were an experiment, admittedly a bit too difficult to control and as much a danger to myself as you."
Holding the bow which is becoming more and more a part of her being, Kzrira watches the man suspiciously.
Sense Motive: <-- +2 of Gnolls
She also watches for any other "pets".
I listen to the short man talking, thinking carefully about what he is saying before replying to him.
"Ah, good day sir, how are you on this refreshing day? I am sorry for your pets but I must ask, if your pets were a danger to you, why did you train them, in such a way?" It is obvious to everyone that I do not mean any offense by this, just my natural curiosity and the fact that the word pets doesn't help me realise what his pets are.
The ugly man raises an eyebrow at the elf. "Train them?" he chuckles. "Have you ever tried to train a cat?" he asks stroking the sleek white hair of his cat. "It cannot be done with much success. It is not in their nature. They are solitary hunters. They do not require or need to please anyone or anything other than their hunger."
"So it was with the Unchosen. They were once gnolls with what little society that savage race practices, but the Carrion King demanded I make them something more. Something that more closely resembled him and was worthy to serve him. Through my arts, I harnessed my subjects' fury and hatred to increase their size and power. Unfortunately, all reason and control were stripped away by the process leaving only madness and destructive impulses. It was all I could do to keep them from destroying themselves and each other. In the end they were more like the Carrion King's patron deity than the Chosen One himself."
"Your research seems fascinating, if somewhat extreme. It sounds as if you do not follow the Carrion King's deity and thus his eventual goals. Why do you follow him then?"
Misaligned eyes turn to Karethas and a broken smile is displayed beneath the prominent nose. "When the alternative is to be dismembered and tossed in the Carrion Pit, one tends to do as one is told. You look to be an intelligent fellow, what would you do? "
"But to be honest, I rather prefer the brutal directness of gnolls to the lies and betrayals of the markets of the city. You look to have known some privilege, Sayyid. Perhaps you actually had the benefit of schooling. My own wretched mother tossed me onto the streets when I was still a child. I followed the market dogs until they accepted me as one of their own until I caught the attention of a half-mad Lamashtan priestess. She saw glory in my monstrous appearance and gave me the opportunity to make something of myself. At least until the Carrion gnolls offered her the right price."
Karethas frowns slightly, pensively looking at the floor . "Yes, I suppose acceptance would be a powerful motivator to someone who has been told their very appearance is monstrous. To fall in with those who worship the misshapen would seem very natural. The shame is that those who accepted you also led you to twisting the very nature of their kin. Was being "unchosen" a punishment or a reward?"
The bent man shrugs boney shoulders, "Only the strongest can undergo the process. Their strength and size are increased greatly though their minds are enfeebled and twisted. I think most gnolls would consider the transformation a success."
"I was not able to entirely emulate the Carrion King's transformation however. He was somehow blessed by the creature in the pit." The man gestures to the words etched in the walls of the labyrinth. "I have studied these walls with every free moment I have using formulas to aid my comprehension."
"The way to the Great Hall tells of the history of this temple. It says that the high priest who built the House of the Beast was able to grant the wishes of the dark pilgrims that came here. "Blessings of the Beast", it says, at least until an army of jealous djinn drove him away. I can only assume the Carrion King has benefited from some long echoing wish from the past to become the Chosen One of the Beast."
"Hmmm, so a lingering Wish spell is still in effect here? The possibilities that could uncover ..." I seem to stare at the walls, thinking about all the wishes that would be nice to have come true. A thought then occurs to me, "I wonder what the price is for a wish?"
Kzrira looks over at the scholarly bard: More than we can afford unless the Carrion King has a boatload of unused treasure hidden away.
The strange man smiles at the elf and then glares suspiciously at Kzrira. Seeming to reach a decision, he strokes the cat as he speaks, "I do not think that wishing in this place would be a good idea, friend elf. Certainly, the hundreds of wishes granted here in the past seem to have had a destabilizing effect on magic cast in the House of the Beast."
"Something else might remain from all those wishes, however. I am certain some of the pilgrims wished for wealth and powerful magic items. If so, there just might be a 'boatload' of treasure hidden in the catacombs beneath the House of the Beast. I have been searching for a location called the Pit of Screaming Ghosts. The catacombs are said to be near there."
And so now have we come to why you talk to us instead of going back the gnolls? You stated a preference for them over the markets, and clearly we are here to disrupt that which you have come to know. Would you have us help you find these catacombs or do you speak to us for some other purpose?
The stranger surveys the cagey rogue. "I have not left the gnolls nor do I ask anything of you. The Halls of Contemplation are my domain. The Carrion King tasks me to provide certain services, but I am allowed time to pursue my own interests. Of course, should the King no longer require my services, I would certainly be at liberty to pursue any possible treasure within the Temple. I am quite comfortable in my current circumstances, but I will not hinder you."
Amir makes no attempt to cover his utter lack of belief as he looks at Kzrira, You are telling us that you are fine for us to explore this place, go attempt to confront the Carrion King and his minions and you will not interfere in any way?
Kzrira also looks at the man with more than a little distrust while waiting for his response to the elderly rogues inquiry.
The man shrugs, "If you can defeat the Carrion King, you certainly have nothing to fear from me. Believe what you wish. If I am to be honest with myself, I am but a slave though not poorly treated enough to risk my life to change my situation." The man bows and retreats, cat in arms, to the northern doors.
I watch the man walk off and look to the others, "Well he seemed like a nice gentleman, apart from the experimenting on live creatures. Shall we continue on our merry way?"
"I think he seemed sincere in his indifference to our success or failure. Should we follow the passage he indicated to get to the Carrion King?"
Kzrira looks at the elvish bard and simply shakes her head in bewilderment. She then turns and looks to Amir to lead on toward the Carrion King.
One day we might discuss the cosmological implications of polite worshipers of such a ghastly deity. For now, however, I am content to consider the matter closed. We have more important things to attend to.
Amir nods at the wizard and moves forward to the indicated passage, eager to move on.
Karethas shrugs at Amir and Kzrira's reactions, "Is his reaction really such a surprise at this point? In any case, in this case deception seems unlikely. Let's move forward."
Amir remains suspicious, but begrudgingly takes the lead through the labyrinth. Karethas idly eyes the writings that cover the walls of the continuing passages, but he hasn't the time to truly study their meaning. He does note something confirming the strange man's description. Prayers for the "Blessings of the Beast" appear quite frequently along with wishes to bring the "blood of fire into Our Lord Jhavhul". This seems to be the name of the high priest that built the temple.
A nauseating stench grows as you continue until the reek of rot and purifying flesh threatens to overcome you. By the time you reach the pair of double doors at the end of the labyrinth, you feel the bile rising in your throat.
Amir lists slightly from the stench, fighting to keep his stomach's contents. Horrid.
The rogue does his best to look three door over but struggles. He waves.at it as.though to say "just open it".
Fort:
Kzrira gags at the stench.
We might want to hold up for a minute, I don't feel good.
I cover my mouth with my hand and rush to a corner of the room and squat, while vomiting. "Ugh!"
A pale Karethas wipes his mouth after losing his breakfast. "Let's wait a mom...." He bends over retching once more.
The stench from beyond the door proves overwhelming and everyone is afflicted with severe gastric distress from the foul odors. Thankfully, once breakfast has been thoroughly voided, the nausea subsides and you can do more than grab your guts and retch. The horrible stink persists however and you feel shaky and weak from the experience.
Karethas finally recovers his composure and casts a spell. He looks at the others, "Shall we continue?"
Feeling rather under the weather, Kzrira does not think that this is the best time to proceed forward until the party has recovered, but will move forward if the others wish to do so.
Karethas:
Amir:
Kzrira:
Karethas chants as he circles the group sowing a thin trail of silver dist. Thus warded, Amir checks the door and finds it in working order with no evident traps. Bracing himself for more stink to come, Amir pushes open the doors.
Beyond is a great room with just a few sputtering torches to break the gloom. The stench of death fill this hot chamber, but you've already inured yourself to it as best you can. A wide staircase circumscribes the east side of the room leading up. The northern wall is a series of arches mounted on columns that divide this room from an equally large chamber beyond. From what you can see of the walls, they are stamped in a repeating pattern of paw prints, skulls and crude symbols in what appears to be blood, clay and dung.
In the center of the room, two large hyenadons and almost a dozen gnolls turn and rise as if they were expecting you.
Amir
Karethas
Faelar
Kzrira
foe
Karethas chants a quick incantation and an impossible amount of smoke begins billowing out of one of the sputtering torches. It very quickly fills almost half of the room. He takes a step back."I'm going to summon help for you Amir!
Amir nods still unsteady on his feet from the rank stench of carrion.
Faelar starts his battle rat-tat-tat and a nearby cook fire belches a thick black cloud at Karethas' request and two gnolls are engulfed. One leaps out of the cloud with a bow and fires two rapid shots at Kzrira before she can move. Both shots hit and she feels a burning from the envenomed tips. The other archer yells at a giant hyena to stay and takes cover firing two more shots at the enemy archer.
The rest of the cackling mob rushes forward, but the giant hyena arrives first and bites Amir with monstrous jaws tearing flesh.
Fort:
Everyone, retreat, we need to get around a corner to stop these archers. They are using poison.
HP: 33/61
Still sickened but now racing with adrenaline the rogue nods at the archer.
Karethas! Faelar! Back!
Amir works the door (or both if he can manage it) to close off the hallway and get some cover. Whatever other movement he can manage in a few short seconds he will attempt to withdraw.
Karethas gasps at the sudden onrush of arrows and flesh and takes another step back. "The allies will have to wait, my apologies. Faelar, help heal Kzrira!" He pulls out a small spade and casts another spell. A deep pit opens underneath the hindquarters of the large hyena. Karethas pulls out a potion of Cure Moderate Wounds and holds it out to Kzrira.
The front line yells for everyone to fall back as Amir scrambles to try and close the door with an enormous foul smelling hyena biting at him. Karethas shouts a magical phrase and suddenly the hyena and closest gnolls tumble into a pit allowing Amir to shut the doors.
Kzrira moves back with the others:
Karethas, do you have something that will slow them down? We can open the door and I can shoot at them, but if I get hit much more, then you all are without an archer.
I think we are better moving back to the last turn in the passage and holding a position there where their archers cannot see us.
Not what I had in mind! Amir braces himself against the door for a moment. What next?
Karethas grins wildly, "This will do fine. Gnolls are not known for their patience, no? Amir, block the door open with some pitons in the hinge or something. Kill any that venture around the pit, it is why I left space for them to come around one at a time. Kzrira, stand on the right of the hallway back a few steps and kill whatever shows itself, AND TAKE THIS POTION!"