"Orc priest may be appropriate sacrifice. Stand up."
Ranalfus assist with helping the priest up.
"Yes priest will come with us."
Trussing up the orc priest and with Ranalfus close by to ensure no mischief is forthcoming, you wend your way through several empty barren rooms before finally reaching one room at the far end of this complex.
Inside this otherwise barren room is a small pentagram inscribed on the floor with a human skull in the center. As you approach closer, it rises into midair and the eye sockets glow with an eerie red flame. It then speaks: “I am the Oracle, possessor of all knowledge. Ask what you wish and you shall learn the answer you seek.”
The shadowy man watches the floating skull with suspicion - he'd seen enough parlor tricks to know not everything is what it seems. Being led to this thing by one of the group's more recent captives doesn't exactly lend the skull thing credit either; for all Keil knows, this is some kind of magical trap. The fetchling scoffs, "Hmph, how do we know you are what you say you are?"
The human skull turns to face the fetchling, gazing at Keil impassively. It repeats the words, "I am the Oracle, possessor of all knowledge. Ask what you wish and you shall learn the answer you seek.”
"Yer Oracleness, we 'unz come to ask you a question. What path leads to the resting place of the sword called DemonbBane?" Brok asks the floating skull.
The Oracle turns its red gaze upon the goblin, yet does not speak for a moment. Finally it addresses the goblin in the same monotone voice. "Your question is difficult hence the sacrifice is greater. The currency is your lifeforce, or if you wish, powerful magic items."
"Give 'em the orc for starters."
Ranalfus pushes the orc forward.
"Take what you need of this ones life."
The Oracle turns to face the orc priest, who quails under its gaze. "That one has already sacrificed. It is not suitable for sacrifice."
"What about this 'ere shiny breastplate?" Brok asks as he offers the spare magic breastplate.
The Oracle gazes at the proffered sacrifice, "Yes, this is an acceptable sacrifice. Place it in the pentagram." Once you have done so there is a bright flash of light and the breastplate vanishes!
Once you turn your attention back to the Oracle it intones,
Down below,
In cavern great,
through falling water,
down the stone path.
To the door you must address,
the one beyond.
Speak his name,
"Slavish"
and Enter.
"Thank you, yer oracleness....." Brok responds to the floating skull.
to the others he says:
"Sounds like the sword is in some big cave down deep. Could be the falling water is one of the rivers we've seen."
"Never heard of anyone named Slavish, but maybe Devil Komm can find out more information on that one."
"Now we go back to Mitchrod and talk to Komm?"
Ranalfus just nods and pulls at the bound priest.
"I will keep you for a road snack."
"I still have my doubts." The shadowy man continues to eye the oracle thing suspiciously before turning on Brok. The fetchling has visibly cringed at the sound of both Komm's name and the devil's headquarters uttered in the presence of an enemy, "We were tasked with finding and returning the bane. The job is only half done." Keil's eye's narrow slowly, "But without Arlok to wield it...it is moot."
As the others prepare, Keil retreats to a corner and unfolds a worn piece of parchment. The shadowy man quickly makes a few notations in an obscure form of shorthand then returns the document to its place somewhere beneath his cloak.
"Pretty sure Devil Komm just asked us to find out where it is."
"Anyway, when we find sword, Brok can swing it." the goblin gestures to the ridiculously over-large human-sized longsword he has slung over his back.
"Our task is done. We can leave." Grey said simply.
Following the orc witchdoctor's words you take your leave of the Oracle and backtrack the way you came. Sadly it does not take long for the orc priest to make a break for it. Realizing he is privvy to your plans you decide he is far too dangerous to allow to live, and once Ranalfus subdues him a quick slit of his throat and a fiery blast from Grezzor turns his corpse into something the other priests won't be able to recognize (or raise).
Sending the corpse's ashes down the underwater river you make your way past the purple worms remains and up the stairs. Consulting your notes you realize the next level up is nearby leading up to where the S*** Monster lurks. While you do indeed smell it nearby you all manage to avoid it.
After wending your way back to the tunnel leading back to the mauseleum you make it inside bypassing the remains of the black skeleton you defeated here. Moving to the doors you see the green statues stationed around the Mauseleum. As you climb out of the depression that holds the Mauseleum, you all feel a chill up your spine as one of the green stone gargoyles animates and flies off to the skies in the pre dawn air.
With that image in your mind you do not tarry here, pushing your bodies to the limit trying to get as far way from there as possible. Crossing the Old Coast Road before reaching the bridge you take a circuitous route finally making your way back to Mitchrod.
Yet despite the fact your bodies are aching and tired you are summoned to meet with Komm in his office. Silently cursing the devil's lack of need for rest you hurriedly comply. Fortunately an old friend Raaz al' Zuul managed to help dispel your exhaustion by providing some potions. "Courtesy of Malzii." The tiefling intones. "Komm awaits."
Feeling refreshed you go to meet Komm and deliver your report. The briefing takes many hours as the bearded devil quizzes you on every detail of your venture into the depths of Rappan Athuk. As you describe each area you visited he marks up his huge map of the dungeons below Rappan Athuk. Finally he waves you to sit.
"Well done. You have learned much of what we face here. While the loss of Arlok is a serious blow to our cause, the existence of one of the Demon Prince's major shrines in the dungeon is a valuable piece of intelligence. The fact such powerful guardians like the vrock and the spectre exist tell me this is the case. Now onto Demonbane..."
When you tell him what the Oracle says he is silent for a long while before speaking. "Slavish...a name I have not heard of before yet he...or it...must hold the blade we seek. We must learn more of that one, yet it is good to see the blade does still lie where we believe." He grins in a terrifying manner, "Of course something must be done to recover its destined wielder...if for nothing else he reveal the existence of Mitchrod to his captors..." He abruptly rises to his feet. "You are dismissed...until I call upon you again. I have plans to make..." He then raises his clawed arms and with a billow of brimstone smoke, vanishes from the room.