JJ nods to the cook.
"Our thanks Artus. Come on... Marigold how is that healing stick? Still going well enough to keep us up and running while we get the water wands back?"
Short after your dinner is started, the doors of the Tankard open. A dark skinned half-elf with silver hair enters the tavern. Shensen Tesseril comes to your group immediately with a smile in her face "Ah, Fario and Fellian were correct. So good I find you friends. How are you doing?"
She places a bag over your table "Can I take sit?"
The half-elf female opens the bag and a pair of flexible boots made of green leather appear on the table "I wanted to thank you for your help. This is a present from Meerthan, he gave me the boots for you as thanks for my rescue" she then pushes the boots towards you "It is a magical object named boots of striding and springing. The wearer can move faster and make long jumps with ease"
"It is just a small token for your help" she smiles with kind eyes "Have you found a solution for your missing wands?"
Indicating the chair with a smile. "Welcome Shenson, glad to see are well. Eying the new boots Tell Meerthan thank you, there will be well used." Thinking of JJ with the explanation of the boots.
As the discussion turns towards the wands "Seems we do have a lead on the wands, yet it leads to an evil trinity of gods. Have you heard of any such trinity before?" Ryan comfortable with Shenson from their previous talks offer probably more than he would have to someone else.
JJ also eyes up the boots.
"They would be handy for getting into position" he admits.
To the half elf he adds his thanks. "They are much appreciated."
He eyes her skin, realising that in his fatigue and darkness of their last meeting he had missed that aspect of her heritage. The young man glances at his companions, slightly more wary of her and her gift than he had been initially.
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"I'm sure the boots will serve JJ well."
"They have his name written all over them!"
"Well, come on, JJ. Be a good fellow and be polite. Put them on!"
"I doubt your socks are as wiffy as some of the things we've fought!"
Juraan seems much more interested in chatting up Shensen.
"As Ryan said, we're pursuing a new lead."
"Do you have any ideas about this Triel or who she might work for?"
Shensen looks worried at Ryan "Plenty are the dangers that menace Cauldron. But not. This triad I have never heard before. Those triad cults do sound but though. I can inquiry Meerthan in case he knows more"
Once JJ takes the boots and Juraan starts to encourage him to try them out Shensen smiles amused "Yes JJ, why not to put them on! Came'on do not be shy on showing your feet"
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"And the g-green color g-goes w-well with your hair," Marigold chuckles as Juraan and Shensen encourage JJ to try on the boots. She waves Maxim over as well and scoots aside at the table to make room for him to pull up a chair.
"W-well...we g-got an answer of s-sorts to our q-question," she explains. "This is wh-what the m-mace told us: Below the slope of the caldera, past the stinky and green water. The three gods that are one hide the wands. Some veiled under magic others under lock. The kitchen hand that holds the hand, knows the entrance to the old glory of the waterworm humanoids," she recites. "Th-that l-led us b-back here to the T-Tankard and Artus, one of c-cooks. Apparently he uh...s-sells information, t-too. S-sounds like T-Triel b-belongs to a c-cult called the Ebon Triad that wants to r-ransom the wands b-back to the c-city."
Her expression darkens. "It's a c-cult that b-believes one d-day Asmodeus, R-Rovagug, and Norgorber will b-become one s-single g-god. It's m-madness! B-but n-now we've g-got to d-deal with them, it l-looks like. They've g-got a l-lair s-somewhere under the c-city, accessed b-by an old l-lava tube..."
JJ quickly grabs a lock of his hair and pulls it in front of his eyes.
I still remember the practical tricks they played on my back in Lantern street. Juran more than once turned it green, I'm sure it was him.
He cautiously takes off his boots. To be honest they had seen better days. A close examination might reveal they probably hadn't been cleaned since that close encounter with the green slime, and stains of it are still on them.
"Ohh, very comfortable!"
He does a little leap in the air, making it almost over Marigolds head.
"Be be fair, jumping any height in armour is hard.." he sighs. "I could do better with a running start too."
He smiles at the half elf. "Once again, my thanks."
Maxim nods, then mirrors Marigold's expression with a scowl as she recounts the information gleaned on the Ebon Triad.
"Huh. So a-delvin' we go again eh?"
The dwur grits his teeth before continuing;
"My own line o' investigation got nix. Nothin' concrete on the Alleybashers involvement, save that what occured at the Monkey ain't their usual business..."
The gun-mage continues airing his thoughts;
"Sounds like this cult are makin' waves an' recruiting in all the low places..."
He then flashes a hard smile at Marigold and JJ begins his acrobatic tomfoolery;
"Triad got us to deal with Lil' lady... leastways once Surabar tires o' high-steppin' !!"
Kikinnin waits patiently as the boy puts on his new booties, but says nothing at present.
"Artus, you figuring tonight's another round of the contest, then? I could use a drink. Would taste better if it were several, and on the house."
He puts more food in his belly, in preparation.
Shensen laughs as JJ jumps with the new boots "We have a new bird in Cauldron it seems"
Artus nods to Kikinnin "Sure, tonight is the final between Khyron Bonesworn and Jil"
In fact the Tankard starts to crowd with people. At the height of the meeting, a sensationally handsome and charismatic young man in his twenties with short black hair and creepy yellow eyes reaches the table and greets everybody with a smile.
"Khyron Bonesworn, I would hate a foreigner to win the contest" comments Griffon to some of you.
Short after a five feet tall woman with short black hair and dark brown eyes appear. Although she has not her jester paintings in her face, you do recognize Jil.
She do stop by Kikinnin "A pity you did not show up yesterday night. I would have liked to compete against you in this final" with a smile she passes next to JJ and winks her eye at the young boy "Cute boots, are they new?"
Both of them start to drink tank after tank. The cheers rise in intensity by the fourth tank but both rivals seem still ok. Nevertheless, by the sixth taking Khyron falls from his chair unconscious and Artus brings Jil's hand up. She smiles, clearly happy, by the mixture of success and alcohol.
"Small thing like you, it's probably best you're disappointed not losing to me, than losing to me." He grumbles, more for the lost chance at free drinks, than the purse in winning. He applauds, nonetheless, when Jil takes it all. Well, almost all of it, since Vhalantru will deny her the grand purse.
Kikinnin eventually takes his leave to return for a good night's sleep, readying himself for their journey below, for the umpteenth time.
Juraan calls it a day as well.
"I guess we should all be rested up for tomorrow."
"… that and the fact I'd rather not spend more time around Jill than necessary."
"Eek, JJ! W-watch wh-where you j-jump!" Marigold shrieks, ducking instinctively as JJ begins leaping about. "The l-last thing I n-need is a b-boot to the f-face..." she grumbles.
"Oh! You asked about the healing w-wand...it's almost empty," she continues with a frown. "G-guess we'll have to b-buy another or r-rely on the one J-Juraan has..."
"Oppse, sorry Marigold."
"night all!" he waves to the others as they leave. "Meet up for breakfast tomorrow and head off after then?"
JJ settles in for a long evening watching the crowd in the Tankeard. When it grows late he heads up to his room. Tired as he suddenly is, he knows until the crowd quiets down a bit, he won't sleep from the sound.
Ryan watches the festivities within the Inn for a while, congratulating Jil on her win in this round, knowing tomorrow's would likely be harder to complete. "Sorry we returned too late for you to make this round Kikinnin, perhaps next year will see the reign of Rouradont begin. Juraan's wand will likely see much use but what else might we need to acquire for this delve. Some form of waterbreathing, perhaps?"
"God thinking..." says JJ
"What if they used the wands to lower the water, went past, and then the water came back up. What a great way to hide. Still.. if they want to sell the wands back to Cauldron, you'd think they wouldn't want them all used up.." - JJs train of consciousness out loud can be a little disconcerting at times.
After some hours of talk about how to prepare the group departs to each one's room. The night is dark and the rain falls in craziness. As you walk to your home you can overhear the drops crashing against the lake surface with ire.
You fall sleep worried about the rain outside, but something else makes you twist in your dreams.
You scream in agony as your soul is torn in two. The ritual complete, you stare down in pain at you chest and watch as a six fingered blackened hand rips from your chest clutching a white ball of light.
Holding it aloft Graz’zt, demon prince of the damned, marvels at your soul, as you stumble to your knees in pain.
"What a price you are willing to pay" you hear him laugh, "what hatred you must have to seek my aid"
You attempt to speak but the pain is too much. Instead you just raise your gaze to glare at the demon lord in anger before rolling to the ground once again in agony.
"Rest assured though my white winged friend" Graz’zt sniggers, "my Northern Army is yours and my greatest general Mharah to lead it... but first I have another gift to share"
"Mharah" you hear Graz’zt command, "Come to me" and all around you is suddenly blanketed in smoke and flame burning your skin and eyes.
"Yes my prince" a voice bellows from high above you. You force yourself to look up from the ground to the colossal legs of demon that stands over you.
"Here is the gift I promised you my servant" Graz’zt continues and you see the demon lord holding up the torn piece of your soul.
You feel a loss greater than you thought you could ever imagine and you stare helplessly as Graz’zt flies upward towards the chest of the demon.
"The reward requires a sacrifice though Mharah" the black prince says as he reaches into the demons chests and tears forth a piece of its black soul before pushing your missing piece of soul into the chest to replace it.
Roaring in pain of his own Mharah falls to the ground causing the floor to crack and break.
"And as a special gift to you my angel" Graz'zt laughs as he floats to the ground with the dark piece of Mharah’s soul clutched in his six fingered grasp "you can take a piece of her soul as well". And with that he pushes the dark orb into your chest while you vainly attempt to rise.
A new wave of agony spills over you as you feel your body begins to tear and change. From your back your wings transform into four writhing snakes which glare at you before biting your face and next over and over again...
You wake up to see all your bed full in sweat. The first rays of sunshine filter through the clouds and into your window.
Despite the rain outside, the tremendous fatigue from the past days helps you sleep with ease.
After breakfast you gather together at the northeastern gate of Cauldron as it was pointed by Artus.
"!!!!"
Marigold stared around her room wildly for a moment, trying to get her bearings. At last she realized that she was in her own bed, in her own little living space. She stared at the sunshine streaming in through the window.
And shivered.
The last several weeks had been relatively free of unpleasant dreams, but this...this was even more disturbing than the last one, if such a thing were possible, and not just because of the imagery. No, what made it even worse was that the dreams now seemed to have some sort of narrative to them.
People don't just dream in sequence...these dreams MEAN something, I know they do!
This time she quickly reaches for ink and parchment, to write down what she could remember of her dream before it was forgotten. In a few moments a hasty scribble covers most of a page, with two names circled.
Graz'zt and Mharah...Mharah and Graz'zt...who or what are they?
Graz'zt... that name you have read before, that is one of the names by which Socothbenoth is known, the Silken Sin, the Dark Prince. He is the demon lord of perversion, pride, and taboos. He is the patron of decadence, and sorcerers and wizards often revere him as well, for he is said to be the keeper of innumerable secrets. He is related with all sins of the flesh and the most bizarre sexual depravities. Socothbenoth symbol is that one of an eyeless snake coiled over an staff with six extremities.
Mharah, that is the name of a lesser demon lord, the Lady of Shame. But as far as your knowledge goes she is a dead demon lord.
Gathered at the northeastern gates, you look for the lava tube entrance marked in Artus map. It takes you not that much time to discover an tunnel concealed behind some rocks. The tunnel is six feet wide and quickly descends into the caldera insides. There is no trace of smell or sound, but stepping a bit into the entrance you find out the soft gleaming light of phosphorescent fungus, making the need for an external source of light not relevant.
No...why am I dreaming of these beings!?
She wanted to rush out to Bluecrater immediately or perhaps to the Church of Sarenrae, to see if she could find out even more - but no, she had to get ready to meet the others at the northeastern gates.
And I wanted to buy a few things, too...there's no time for me to make any other side trips...
With a sigh, she pushes the dream to the back of her mind as best as she can, at least until she's got more time to do some proper research on everything. Thankfully, the thought of doing so does bring her some comfort - she'd be in her element, where nearly any answer can be tracked down if one is willing to look hard enough.
After a rather slow start, Marigold finally manages to make herself presentable and pack her gear once more before setting out. On the way to the gates she does make a quick stop at Weer's Elixirs to pick up a few alchemical items.
Alchemist's Fire x2
Holy Water x2
Smokestick x2
Tanglefoot Bag x2
Thunderstone x2
*****************************
Once she's met up with the others and they locate the lava tube, she peers down into the depths with more than a little trepidation. "I'm g-getting tired of b-being underground s-so m-much..." she sighs.
JJ takes the lead. He walks quietly, admiring his nice new green boots as he goes. Before entering the tube though, he carefully checks for tracks, looking for any that might be familiar or show signs of how many people might live within...
It is difficult to find tracks in the hard rock of the caldera. Anyway JJ can spot signs that the tube has seen some traffic and at least one person has passed through recently.
"Interesting fungus, this," Juraan remarks quietly.
"I wonder what other uses it can be put to?"
"And the colour matches your new boots too, JJ!
As they enter, Juraan gets out his bow and has an arrow ready to knock and use.
For the delving they're about to do again, Kikinnin makes his way back to Skie's, seeking to take advantage of her lowered prices.
Ring of Feather Falling- 1760gp
Rope of Climbing- 2400gp
Wand of CLW(25 charges)- 300gp
...
Readying for another descent, Kikinnin can't disagree with Marigold, though the underground feels... more comfortable to him for the stone and the darkness. When they find fluorescence, he worries less for the others.
"So, we know we'll be encountering folk soon enough. Keep your eyes peeled, and ears shucked. If there are those worshipping the three-headed diety, there will be plenty of evil ahead. I gauge we'll not be needing prisoners where we explore, eh?"
"Prisoners? I doubt it."
Weer welcomes you into his shop and sells you all the material you are looking for. He includes a 10% Flood Festival discount "We are still on festivities" he smiles at you and you can feel the smell to sulfur deeply encrusted into the fabric of his tunic.
Skie sells you the articles at the promised prize "Nice! You planning on some climbing?" the retired gnome holds her wide smile while looking at you "It is good thing you are prepared. Still remember someone to cover your back while you climb. You do never know when those nasty bats will swarm at you"
The tunnel results into a long, circular, winding, downhill passage. It takes you around twenty minutes to cover the long distance but eventually you feel it opens into a larger cavern.
The lava tube suddenly ends at a small ledge overlooking a vast cavern. A small pile of wooden planks is stacked on the edge of the ledge. Nearly a hundred feet below, the waters of a lake filled with dimly glowing green algae lap against cave walls encrusted with pallid fungi. A small stone building is built into the side of the ledge wall, and a pair of heavy ropes descend from a winch on the building's side, dangling across the lake to a similar winch attached to a wooden structure on the lake's far shore. Suspended on these ropes is a rickety wood-and-iron cage mounted on a system of pulleys.
The lake's phosphorescence just barely illuminates the vast cavern, and you can see what appear to be the partially melted ruins of several buildings protruding from a sparkling wall of volcanic rock along the far wall of the cave. Several of these buildings have small doorways at ground level, but you see no windows in the ominous dark façades. The air here is thick, warm, and excessively humid.
The cage itself looks rickety, but still quite solid. It can probably support up to three Medium creatures with no problem. Up to six Medium creatures could cram into the cage, but this might run a chance of snapping the ropes that hold the cage.
The distance to the lake is around 90 feet, but it results difficult to determine the depth of the water mass from this distance.
"How many of us do you think would fit into that cage easily?" asks JJ.
"I'm happy to go first, maybe with Maxim. Second trip for Marigold and Juran?"
He gives a tacit nod to Kikinnin about not wanting to leave one of the others alone on the ledge.
Upon seeing this, Juraan speaks quietly:
"Well, this is … interesting."
"Wonder how long this has been here?"
"I guess we should check this first building."
"There might be someone, or something, unwelcoming in there."
Maxim nods at JJ, then opens the cage door with a smile;
"After you Surabar... Would have thought you'd just have bounced yer way down with them fancy boots o' yours! Har!"
Once you attempt to place into work your plan, you do realize about a couple of problems. First of all, the cage is at its closest position, but there are still four feet between the ledge and the cage.
Secondly, you do find no mechanism to manipulate the position of the cage.
Juraan does not overhear anything at the building door and so he opens it. Inside, the room is dominated by the large winch that extends outside of the building. From the interior seems possible to operate the winch. Maxim realizes the system can be operated by a single person. A simple test demonstrates the winch is somehow locked.
You do think a Strength DC 10 in the winch allows to move the cage 10 feet in one round.
You do analyze the mechanism and discover a safety measure halts the cage before arriving to the end of the line. You can remove this safety measure.
The system has also a lock that prevents it from functioning.
A tiny one-foot-square circular window is set into the southern wall. Affixed to the wall next to this window is a protruding stone.
You do hear voices talking coming from the next door.
"I d-don't kn-know...engineering isn't m-my strongest s-suit," Marigold responds to JJ's question with a helpless shrug. "B-but we'll have to c-come up with s-something if we c-can't g-get this thing to w-work..."
Juraan motions everyone to be quiet and whispers
"I think we better silence the voices on the other side of that door."
"They could easily sound an alarm if any of us are in that cage over he lake."
"That would be bad for us, of course."
With that said, Juraan taps himself with a charge from his wand of Mage Armour
JJ draws his swords and then quietly approaches the door, ready to throw it open when the others are ready or strike someone coming through it if it opens of its own accord..
Maxim examines the contraption with a jaundiced eye...
:
... but cannot discern any more on its nature.
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JJ has a quick glance at the mechanism as he waits by the door.
But he is far too distracted by the voices.
Marigold tenses as Juraan draws their attention to nearby voices and she quickly draws a wand, but this one looks different from the healing wands she normally carries. In quick succession she taps each person, including herself.
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As JJ gives the mechanisation scant attention, Maxim scowls and whispers a frustrated curse at young swordsman's whimsical nature.
"God's be damned Surabar! Yer heads in the clouds!"
As the others prepare for potential combat, the gun-mage follows suit, rising and loading his pistol with bullet and powder.
Juraan has his bow at the ready.
When Marigold has touched only two of you, the doors open for you to find a couple hillfolk with their swords drawn and surprised expressions.
Although she can't see who or what is behind the door, Marigold doesn't actually need to see to know that they're in for yet another scrap. She quickly raises her arms and calls on Sarenrae, Abadar, or whoever else might be listening to grant them a blessing.
Kikinnin looks over the edge of the ledge, eyeing the waters below nervously. He plays at his gloves, testing them for dryness. As the others continue to seek out the means of maneuvering the cage, he tries to compose himself. He's seen drops before, deep ones too, but he's never grown used to them. It's the promise of stone, to keep you snug, and grounded. Big spaces, and big falls like this keep the black-beard from making any sudden movements. He digs his heels in, testing the security of the stone beneath his feet.
Inside or outside, less chance to fall to fall off the cliff inside Ryan is thinking to himself as the hillfolk make themselves known. Moving forward, weapons readied, past Juraan, Ryan helps JJ hold the door
JJ immediately buries his swords in the first of the hillmen.
"You'd have Cauldron drown? I think you can drown in your own blood first.
Marigold calls the blessings of all good gods upon the party, and the forces of good respond strengthening the group morale.
While Kikinnin feels his head spinning by looking down the cliff, Ryan advances himself to fight toe to toe along with JJ.
JJ spins with his blades, the first one finding the neck of the first hillman and opening a deep gash on it. The man makes his hand to the neck, barely standing on foot.
"You see Narthus? I told you I have heard someone!" exclaims the hillman not yet injured "For all gods! Can you shut up and help me? They are attacking us!"
The rear hillman steps to the front and attacks JJ through the small place left at the door.
The other one follows suit with a similar attack.
Only the first one is successful, cutting through the arm JJ used to attack.
AC = 22
HP = 44/44
Weapon Equipped = MW Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = Bless
Kikinnin looks around the doorway, trying to see a way through. Seeing none, he holds his position, should the other side of the ravine start to call the cage over. He studies the ravine for ways up and out, should any of them fall to the waters below.
"So, this is where we'll travel the cage, once we're free of vermin?" The black-beard looks over the mechanism in the room.
"Yow! That hurt. You'll bleed too. Murderers. You people have never liked Cauldron have you?"
He redoubles his attack, trying to finish off the wounded one first.
+1 to each of these from bless (not included in rolls below)
As JJ is carving the first bandit to pieces, Juraan fires at the second hillman (black) …
… JJ feels the arrow come close to his locks in the process.
"Just like practice!" says Juraan …
… with a painfully shameless lie.
He immediatly fires again at the same Hillman (black) …
… but only succeeds in hitting the wall opposite