"Thar be a couple o' magic auras near the wicked wench--one transmutation, one illusion," Corliss whispers to Jim. "Illusion one could be somethin' invisible."
Corliss focuses a bit more and discerns that the illusion aura is coming from her dirty gray cloak which is a cloak of blending and the transmutation comes from the font.
Zadendi gives Jim a sly smile. Finally, she says, "East. I'll go east, far away."
Jim stands back and sheaths his rapier. "Well, then. Let's have this book; I expect one of the Queen's priests--" He gives Corliss a nod. "--will be able to tell if it's the genuine article."
Corliss quietly relays his findings to Jim.
"As I said, the book is under one of the cairns above with the dead." Zadendi moves past Kaul and Dingus toward the stairs up.
As soon as Zadendi turns away, Jim's blade is in his hand as he lunges forward and strikes.
As Zadendi turns to leave, Jim takes the opportunity to attack. She spins to splash the milk in the font into his face.
The milk hits Jim directly and splashes into his eyes and mouth! But this cannot prevent him from his murderous goal and she dies as he runs her through.
Spitting and choking, the Taldan weakly shoves her body off of his sword. "Let's find that book. And let's make sure we're not leaving anything valuable behind."
Further exploration of the underground cells finds nothing of value beyond the flaming dagger and cloak of blending. When the crew starts removing the stones from the cairns above, they find that the stench of decay wafts from one. They quickly uncover the rotting form of Mazika and a holy book beneath her. There are much older bones buried among the rocks as well.
As the others loot the cairn, Corliss offers up a prayer that the dead may rest in eternal peace. And not rise up to attack the crew. Mostly the latter.
After the dead are tucked back in, Corliss has a chance to look into the Ritual Book. It is entitled Invoking the Sun: Seven Years in the Desert and provides a number of prayers and songs in praise of the sun as well as helpful desert survival tips. The back of the book holds two rituals: restoration and divination.
Jim hawks and spits. "Feck, I need a drink or three to kill that taste of that swill. Let's get back to the guardhouse and be done with this."
Kaul nods and mugs a grin at Jim's words;
"Hur. Now yer talkin' Jimmer."
Lopper's axe head bobs in apparent independent agreement.
Dingus nods his head at the idea of a few drinks.
"It is a shame that these fine garments have been soiled so. Maybe I can figure out how to clean them for future wear... or modify them so the blood stains aren't so obvious".
Dingus sticks the flaming dagger (Assuming it isn't still aflame) in his belt, and follows the others.
The crew navigate back around and over the muddy torrents streaming through Underbridge to the edge of the storm. If anything the wind and sleet have increased and the sailors brace for another freezing plunge. Moving as fast as they can through abandoned streets, they finally reach to towering height of the Arvensoar. The guards at the gates give a questioning glance at their tattered appearance, but let them pass. An officer guides them back to the quarters reserved for them and a basin of hot water, serviceable towels, and clean dry clothes are provided while they wait for their debriefing.
With the likely expiration of Rafe's potion, Jim shucks out of his too-heavy armor and dries off. "Dingus, they probably won't let you keep the robes. Ask, though--worst they can say is no."
Kaul growls his thoughts;
"Hur. Keep 'em DIng. Get 'em cleaned up. Leastways they can pay us fir the eyedentifications o' the stone angel killer."
"Hey, they'll be giving us our strength back, Kaul, and we got a few nice pieces of loot in the offing. That's something, hey?"
It isn't too long before there is a knock at the door and Captain Cassody, Menzir and a pair of Watch members enter. "Any luck?" the Captain asks. "Sounds like it is a rough night out there from what the guards at the gate report."
Bloody, wounded, but no longer dripping wet, the Taldan is a sight. "Well, here's the good news." He takes the book from Corliss' pack and sets it on the table with a thud. "It was interred with Mazika's body in the burial ground for an old Sarenite chapel. That's the first piece of bad news. The second is that Zadendi is also dead. She'd been converted by some sort of lion-woman...she called it a lamia-kin, which I hope means more to you than to me...to follow the Mother of Monsters. She and this flying black statue of an angel attacked us above ground, we drove off the statue and Zadendi fled, we followed, and killed both Zadendi and the lamia-kin in the ensuing fight. I'm sorry."
The captain looks grave as she takes in the information. "That is tough news. I have heard tales that a devil lurks in the guise of one of our many angel statues, but I didn't give it much credit. Are you saying that Zadendi was murdering her fellow priests with the assistance of this monster and a stone angel?"
Menzir looks pale and shaken. "Lamia are manipulative creatures somewhere between human and demon, minions of Lamashtu more foul than the gnolls of the south. I am destroyed to hear Zadendi had fallen to their twisted ways. Was there no way to save her? And Mzika, she was the best of us," he sighs laying his hand up on the text. "Not even the Everlight can illuminate the darkness of Underbridge."
Jim shrugs. "I don't know. Something about how she talked...she was bent, somehow, and I think I know what did it. Just one touch from that lamia thing shook me so much that when I fought her I blocked her hand, not her dagger or her claws. Paid dearly for that--" He indicates his partially healed wounds with a wince. "--but at least my mind is still mostly sound. Too many of those touches could have turned Zadendi to madness. At least the lamia-kin won't do that to anyone else."
He stops, struck by a thought. "It might have been the madness talking, but when Zadendi spoke of the angel statue, she said it brought the lamia-kin here after its mistress Xa-something disappeared. What was that name? Xansha, something like that. As long as the statue is out there, this might happen again.
"Not our problem, though...even if you were to offer us enough to be worth our while, I doubt that 'Dark Angel' would come near us after the beating we gave it. Now, Menzir...we had a deal. We did our part, and it's time for you to do yours."
Menzir shakes. "As long as that Dark Angel haunts the night, I won't be going out at night. As for the restoring your strength, I will try, but as I said, I am less skilled than the others. I will need to prepare myself at dawn and," he grimaces, "it will require that I make an offering of a small diamond to Sarenrae. I don't suppose that you have one handy?"
Corliss shakes his head before turning toward Dingus. The snake-mage had a fabulous and extensive wardrobe; maybe he had a jewelry box or two hidden away somewhere.
Kaul shoots Menzir a hard look;
"Hur. Always finds it funny, 'ow charitable gods like need valuables make things tick. If Ol' Kauly was the cynical type 'ed think its cause they're all on the take."
The brute bosun hacks a laugh then shakes his head;
"Tell ye what. Why don't you do what ye can, and Kauly will see what he can muster fir your coffers eh?"
Menzir shrugs. "If I had the power it wouldn't take the additional component, but the fault is my own, not the Goddess'. I will pray for the spells I need for the ritual in the morning and you come by when you have the gem. Hopefully, the storm will break by the morning and we can conduct the ritual in my quarters."
The Captain breaks in, "I think that I'll be able to requisition one given the service that you all have provided. We can put you up in the barracks until the storm breaks. I wouldn't advise going out again tonight."
"Thank you most kindly, Captain and priest. Could we get something a mite stronger than watered ale here? Zadendi threw some horrendous concoction in my face, and I can still taste it."
"And can I keep these beautiful robes"? Dingus chimes in, twirling in place careful to keep the ripped places from exposing anything controversial.
Menzir looks confused. "You want to keep my robes? Yes, I suppose, but I'll need my chasuble back; it is a symbol of our order."
To Jim's request, the Captain responds, "Sorry, sailor. We're on duty here so you'd have to go to a bar though I'd advise getting some rest and saving it for the morning."
Cots are dragged into the meeting room and the crew left to rest and recover. Once everyone is awake the next morning, a simple meal is provided and a guard tells you that Menzir returned to his quarters before dawn to prepare. The guard offers to lead you there for the ritual.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"That would be friendly, hey? I'd feel a mite foolish if I missed it, after all the trouble we went through." Now, what's going to happen to interfere with it? Old Menzir's goddess is going to decide She doesn't like our faces? The statue got Menzir while we weren't looking? Despite his worries, the Taldan puts a brave face on as he follows the guard, a hint of his old swagger in his stride. Feck, I hope this fixes my head, too...it's embarrassing to think about cats that way.
Kaul's heavy brow furrows then a mako smirk spreads across his scarred features;
"Hur. So we need tae acquire that diamond. Reckon we find somewhere with gems an' jewels an' such. Take what we need, leave no witnesses. Do the ritual. Pass on them stolen goods, then be off an' onto the next voyage."
The brute "clacks" his claw as Loppers eye swivels to stare at the crew;
"We hit 'em now... afore this skithole o' a city is up and risen."
"Kaul, mate...the guard captain's willing to pony up for the ritual. I'm good with letting them pick up the tab, hey? Least they can do after we pulled their a$$es out of a crack."
Kaul glowers and shrugs his no-neck;
"Fine. Take the gem. Ol' Kauly'll find some sport in this city come what may... Let 'em cover the costs then we can 'ave some fun... Hur..."
If given half a chance, Corliss looks over the ritual in the book, realizing that restoration would be a good trick to have in his own arsenal.
The guard leads the crew back toward the dockway and Manzir's apartment building. The simple suite of rooms is on the upper level and has an east facing window with a view of the sun rising over the city. A shrine to Sarenrae is set up in the main room and Menzir rises from a small carpet where he has been praying and meditating. "The dawn brings new light, " he offers as a greeting with a bow. "Thank you for bringing the book, I'll need it for the ritual. Are you ready? Are all in need of healing present?" he asks.
Corliss points out Jim and Kaul as those needing some fixing up. He offers to help Menzir perform the ritual, if any assistance is required.
"Where's Catarro? Thought we were going to have him here, too."
Corliss wanders off in search of Catarro.