Terana seems much less fussed about camping near a lich than Simon does, but she makes no fuss about Simon's choice of campsite.
You make your way into the forest and find a spot to camp. As you rest, it becomes clear that time passes differently in this demiplane. The sunlight filtering through the leaves never wavers, and you don't find yourselves getting hungry or thirsty. Still, you rest peacefully, and the next morning, you prepare to confront Auberon...
As you step into the foyer of Auberon's lodge, you can see four clockwork mages standing motionless. All have crystalline heads carved to resemble Auberon's face. One of the faces suddenly animates as Auberon uses an enter image spell to converse with you again.
"I will give you this one final chance, interlopers. Depart now, and I will let you leave with your lives intact! Even though you have destroyed nearly all of my guardians and stolen my treasures, I hold no animosity towards you. If you leave my tower forever, you will have nothing to fear from me!"
Ema looked at the clockwork mage that Auberon's mind had taken over and said, "Had you been willing to listen to us from the beginning none of this would have happened." Her expression softened a bit as she said, "I understand the pain of betrayal," hurt washed across her face as she remembered the last betrayal in particular and what it had cost her, "I saw what your guest, or was he an apprentice did, that he stole something of value from you." There was anger in her voice at that last bit and continued as she said, "the arrogant little bastard deserves to suffer for that but that would be hard since he is gone and likely worked for the Veiled Masters that brought down our home land so violently."
Despite knowing it would come to it Ema still didn't want to have to destroy Auberon if they could avoid it. If they did she would be the only Azlanti left and she feared being that alone. She knew it would likely come to that as what Auberon made was of interest to their mutual enemy and the lich was becoming unhinged by what had happened before with the traitorous apprentice. "Please Auberon, tell us what they would be after and what your betrayer took from you, we want to stop them as much as you do."
Terana waits, her glaive thrumming with holy power, to see if peace will win out or not. The clockwork mages are a fabulous blending of craft and art - destroying them would be a shame.
"My so-called apprentice," Auberon says bitterly. "Only later did I realize his true nature. He does not work for the veiled masters. He is a veiled master! He tricked me, and now he is long gone, along with my greatest treasure. If you are genuinely interested in helping me, then come inside, and let us parlay."
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Simon glances between the construct mages and Ema, glad that she has convinced the lich to talk finally, yet still committed to the attempt to destroy the evil before them.
His greatest treasure?! What would a lich prize more than his phylactery? Could Ema have been right? Looking down from his giant height, he nods a respectful acknowledgement of her intuition while gripping his longspear and clenching the rest of his fists.
Not entirely convinced that Auberon's offer is genuine, Victrix stays ready.
Ema blanched at Auberon's admission at the apprentice was a Veiled Master and nodded in agreement. She didn't trust Auberon either, and she knew they likely would have to put him down, but she also knew they needed to know what he could tell them. From what they knew of the demi-plane Ema knew that Auberon might well be trying to move them into circumstances where he was better able to defeat them but she nodded anyway and said, "Thank you Auberon, a parlay it is." With that she took the next move and stepped inside.
The interior of Auberon’s lodge is ornately furnished with marble tables, carved bookshelves filled with tomes, and fine jeweled sconces burning with continual flame. A few small alcoves hold supplies such as ink, paper, spare chairs, and spell components. Several volumes are spread out on the tables here.
The room’s rear wall bears an enormous map densely covered with colored symbols and arrows. The map is not a cohesive whole, but rather a hodgepodge jumble of pieces of other maps—some predating Earthfall and some from long after—making it difficult to decipher whether or how the individual pieces fit together. The map presents locations in Arcadia, Azlant, Thassilon, undersea kingdoms, and other nations, all at different scales and from different times.
Here, at last, you come face to face with Auberon the Drowned. The undead wizard studies you appraisingly for a few moments, then bows. "Welcome to my sanctum. I will be frank with you. I have but two goals: to recover the treasure that was stolen from me--my phylactery, if you haven't guessed it yet--and to enact revenge upon the veiled master that deceived me and stole it. I am well aware that neither of these goals is served by fighting you. I have observed your combat prowess as you have battled through my tower to reach me, and I believe you have the ability to aid me in achieving my goals.
"No doubt you have questions. Ask, and I shall answer."
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Simon remains surprised and confused by the congenial reception after all of the roadblocks and suspicion they had encountered previously.
He blurts out. "What would he want with your phylactery?!"
Realizing that he is letting his nervousness show, but unable to rein it in, he grits his teeth as he continues, "Can you scry on it to determine its location? Do you know the veiled master's plans?
Auberon cranes his neck to regard Simon. "The monster's name is Ochymua. It principally wanted to learn the location of the Compass, the Spindle Solution’s research and development branch, likely to get its tentacles on any of the several doomsday devices stored there from before Earthfall. Ochymua might not have initially intended to get my phylactery; I think it might have simply seized on that opportunity to demand my compliance later—although I have no intention of assisting a hated enemy, no matter the threat!
"Alas, I protected my phylactery by making it undetectable to divination spells. Although this once seemed to be a wise precaution, it now makes locating my phylactery virtually impossible. I have been working for several days to find a way around my own protections, but I have come up with no solutions. I am fairly certain Ochymua took my phylactery to the Spindle Solution’s base and probably put it into a prison or holding chamber there—I am not eager to find out by being destroyed and re-forming next to it."
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Simon grunts, as if punched in the gut, and his arms slump.
"I think we should assume that anything Ochymua does has a purpose. He knows that we are following him and has been throwing obstacles in our path. Here, I think that he assumed you would force a confrontation and either destroy us or be become another layer of defense after rematerializing in his prison."
He looks around at the others and gives a sheepish look to the divas. "I am glad that you did not force such a battle. Show us where this structure is and tell us what you know of its defenses and contents. We will deal with this Ochymua. In return, I ask that you release the cyclopses here from their enslavement."
Auberon gestures to the chaotic map on the wall. The symbols depict creatures: aboleths (in the watery places on or near the map fragments), Azlanti humans, and elves. Some of the elf and human symbols are labeled as named individuals (such as “Triellien Boughweaver” or “High Governor Ellidren Vortessic”), while other symbols are groups (such as “The Star Sages Council” or “The Coastal Confederacy”). The symbols come in several different colors, although their implications are indecipherable. Some points bear circles, even if there is nothing within the circle, possibly indicating something that isn’t on that particular map. Arrows represent influence or control of one individual or group over another, with different types and degrees of control reflected through several styles and colors. The arrows cover the map like a complicated spider web, crossing over and through individuals and groups to show an extensive network of conspiracy and influence that all, ultimately, trace back to the aboleth symbols (which have arrows of influence between each other as well). The resulting image is one of obsessively researched paranoia.
The only recent mark on the map is a square located on an island several days to the south of the Alabaster Trident, just southwest of Talmandor’s Bounty. This square is marked with an elongated spindle. "This is the location of the Compass. You will almost certainly find Ochymua there. I fear not whatever doomsday devices it might get its tentacles on. I am sure I can weather whatever catastrophe Ochymua unleashes, secure in the Omen Dominion, so long as I get my phylactery back first. Unfortunately, I cannot tell you what to expect when you get there. But if you could survive the guardians of my tower, I am sure you will be strong enough to survive the dangers there.
"And you may take the cyclopes with you when you leave. Whatever you require, so long as you return my phylactery and destroy Ochymua!"
Ema was somewhat surprised at Auberon's willingness to engage with them and she listened to what he said intently while examining the map. It seemed Auberon had done far better than her at collating the Veiled Masters' influence. That made sense though as she'd spent much time rebuilding civilization, living, than Auberon had. That the Compass had survived all this time shocked Ema, she'd heard of the place, her father had mentioned it once before the end, but she was still surprised to hear it mentioned.
"So the Compass survived all this time? I didn't think it would have. I must say that I'm surprised you haven't raided it for weapons to use against the Veiled Masters before now Auberon." Ema was thoughtful about the whole thing as she continued to look at the map. After a moment or two more of consideration Ema asked, "Do you know what weapons would be stored in the Compass Auberon?"
Her tone turned wispy as Ema looked back over the centuries and asked, "Do you still remember the City of Golden Gates in it's glory Auberon? The great canals and the endless flowing spring?" Her words were distant as she remembered the past. "I remember as a little girl looking up at the Imperial Palace while my father, Jazradan, stood on the balcony with me and explained what I was seeing. I always wanted to see the Throne of Glass but I never got the chance before everything came crashing down..." her voice trailed off in sorrow at what was lost to the dim reaches of time.
"Weapons of mass destruction," Auberon says with a shrug. "Beyond that, I couldn't begin to tell you what sort of devices the Spindle Solution was working on."
The lich gets a faraway look as Ema begins to wax poetic about the glory days of Azlant. But when she mentions Jazradan, he startles and gives the arcanist a sharp look. "Your father was Jazradan? Well, then, you should know more about the Compass than I! After all, he was the Grand Arcanist in charge of the Spindle Solution!"
Ema was amused to hear Auberon's surprise at who her father was and smiled slightly as she said, "Yes, he was, and I did try to tell you that earlier but you weren't listening Auberon." Ema sighed and said, "I know about the Compass but not most of what went on there. I was still young and didn't have the clearance for most of the projects, only the one I was involved in. Jazradan couldn't tell me about many of the projects, I only knew of his own because I helped him with some of the work on it. I believe the code name was the Serpents Slumber. We were attempting to find a way to put our people into a suspended state through a highly modified Sepia Snake Sigil so that they could simply sleep through the devastation and emerge later on. Unfortunately we couldn't complete the project in time and only one capsule was made when Earthfall happened."
Ema's eyes were distant as she remembered that awful day and the terror that pervaded everything and one. She remembered her father saying good bye and felt a tear fall from her eye and trace its way down to her cheek before she wiped it away. "He put me in the chamber and activated it shortly before Earthfall and when I woke up it had been quite some time since that day and I found myself apparently immortal." She remembered everything still but found, in some ways, that she was glad she no longer would live forever and added, "I am almost grateful to the Veiled Masters for capturing and torturing me in a way. What they did neutralized my immortality, I have noticed subtle signs that I am actually aging again, it is rather pleasant if I must be honest Auberon. As long as we can take out this Veiled Master I will be content to grow old and die for once. It will be a new experience and I have grown so very tired of my life being one massive funereal."
Terana just waits quietly. This is well out of her realm of expertise, but it seems that they will not have to fight today.
Auberon seems nonplussed by Ema's tale. "Very well. If you want to die, I certainly won't get in your way. But death... That is not for me. I intend to exist forever, and so far, so good!
"Now then, if there is nothing further, I would suggest you be on your way. You'll no doubt want to stop Ochymua before it unleashes those weapons!"
Simon and Valentin back out of the lodge.
When the others join him, he apologizes to the Deva. "It appears we were too hasty. There is no reason for us to battle the lich if we do not have access to his phylactery.
I apologize for the inconvenience, but may call upon you at a later time."
Rushing over to the cyclops, Valentin excitedly tells them, "We were able to secure an agreement with Auberon to release you. Will you come with us to Ancorato? There are several locations that I think would make a good home for you, but I think the observatory where our other cyclops friend was once imprisoned makes the most sense."
Valentin is ready to Plane Shift then entire party.
The devas nod and return your offerings since their services were not required. They then return to the heavens.
The cylcopes agree to come with you, and you depart the Omen Dominion, shifting back to the Material Plane before Ema teleports you, in shifts, back to Talmandor's Bounty on the island of Ancorato.
The colony appears to be doing quite well. More structures have been built, and those that were extant when you first arrived have been spruced up and in some cases expanded. The crops have not only taken off, but there are now more plots in the colony that are growing strong with a wider range of produce.
Additionally, the Peregrine completed another return trip to Talmandor’s Bounty while you explored Auberon's tower. This time, the vessel brought more than resources and a few new settlers—it also brought a group of soldiers employed by the Bountiful Venture Company to assist in securing the settlement against the growing tide of hostile forces.
Soon, the time will come to finally take the fight to Ochymua. But for now, you look forward to some downtime before you set off to the Compass...
Everything that's transpired so far has driven Victrix into a bit of a worried funk. The colony's growth does little to lift her spirits--if anything, the thought of having more lives at risk seems to trouble her more.
If these people only knew just what we're up against...
She finds herself walking along the beach in contemplation, staring out across the water and listening to the waves. It was good to be home... and yet, the aasimar can't seem to shake the feeling of finality that's settling on her shoulders like a blanket.
Are they going to be alright when we're gone? Are Antona and Gary going to be okay?
Victrix looks down at her axe and snorts. You've been here by my side this whole time... and only now do I think you're not going to be enough. Not as you are. You need to be sharper--your blades need a good blessing.
She sits down in the sand in thought.
Victrix soon finds herself with company, as a tall figure with long black hair strides out of the ocean in front of her. Stripped of her armor Terana remains an imposing sight, muscled all over and impressively scarred. In particular a thick and ropey white line across her throat which must have nearly killed her.
"Do you mind if I sit?" The gillwoman asks. "You look as though you need company."
The two women sit peaceably for a while, the only sounds the rhythm of the waves and the dripping of Terana's hair into the sand.
"You have built a good thing here." Terana says eventually. "It is very different from where I grew up, but everyone here seems... excited. Happy. That is a worthy thing to fight for."
"Yeah, but the only reason they're so happy is because they don't know just what we're up against..." Victrix sighs.
"...I mean, from the looks of you, you've got more first-hand experience of that than almost everyone else here." She chuckles. "I thought I was the only one who took a lot of scars."
"I've been fighting the sahuagin since I was a child." Terana replies. "The war with the aboleths never ended - you surface dwellers just don't see it because we fight beneath the ocean, but it is as real as it ever has been. My people hold Azlant's legacy - the legacy of resistance. It's not the power of ioun stones, or the stories that Ema can tell of the marvels she saw, but its something and its ours."
She reaches out to take Victrix's hand. "What matters is that they have a reason to live. Not everyone needs to know what lies beneath the waves. Some people live and love and swim on the surface. Some of us dive into the deep and face down the monsters so that the rest don't have to. That is a good thing - to fight for beauty and a better world."
She gently traces the scar across her throat. "A skum got me with a twisted wire, sawed my throat just about to the bone before my brother could kill him." She nudges the aasimar's leg, where a white, star-shaped scar shows. "What about that one? We can go scar story for scar story."
Victrix looks down at her leg--and notices that the leg of her trousers rode up enough to expose the star-scar. "That one? S@*&, I don't even remember... I think that was from the chuul?"
"I mean, I've taken so many hits I don't quite remember which scar went with which. All I really care about is that someone else didn't take the hit."
"A brave attitude." Terana says with a smile. "Well, I've never seen anyone who can take a hit like you. I've got the armor but you just get hit and keep going. That's quite something. Still, when we face Ochyma I want his head. It's important to me, to all of us."
Victrix shrugs. "You won't be the only one who wants it."
"Maybe once the fish is dead, I can maybe take some actual time off..." She stares out at the sea with a contemplative smile on her face. "...with Antona and Gary and the others..."
"Antona and Gary, eh?" Terana says with a smile. "Impressive! Love comes in all shapes and sizes, Shelyn doesn't judge so neither do I. I wouldn't pass on some gossip though."
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Simon sighs... "Once we deal with Ochymua, we'll still need to take care of Auberon. After that.... I just want to travel. No research, no missions, just experiencing life. I honestly don't think I have ever just enjoyed life.
People talk about smelling the roses. I'm not sure that I even know what a rose smells like."
Simon sighs again, his shoulders drooping. "Well, we're not done yet." He turns to the cyclops. "Come, let me introduce you to Aeroclyse and then I can show you some maps of the island. I am not sure how you feel about living near a human settlement. If you would like to live close by, I am sure we can work out some type of arrangement, but there is an observatory dedicated to Desna and Pharasma in the center of the island that also might make a good residence for you."
"Uh..." Victrix's cheeks turn slightly pink.
"...well, what would you like to hear about?"
The cyclopes nod and follow Simon to where Aeroclyse has made his home. Aeroclyse is ecstatic to meet more of his kind, and the four of them spend a long time conversing in their native tongue.
"We have decided to make our home in the observatory," Aeroclyse says. "Even though I was held captive there for years, with enough work, I feel I can overcome my trauma and turn my focus towards recovering the ancient soothsaying arts of my people. Thank you for all you have done for me. I will not forget your kindness."
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Simon is overjoyed to hear that the cyclops have decided to help each other overcome their collective trauma.
"I know that the situation must be difficult, but you are with friends now, and you can each help the others. The observatory seemed like an obvious choice now that the hag has been removed.
I entreat you all to form relationships with the other nearby cultures. With time, you all can build this island into a thriving beacon of inclusion and diversity. At the very least, if you can form mutual trade agreements, everyone will be less likely to try to kill everyone else."
Simon and Valentin set about arranging introductions with Ramona, the Locathah, the Strix, and Vriskirsa, if she is still nearby. They also assist in leading the cyclops to the observatory and making sure they have what they need to get started.
Ema was still houlding Baucrade in her arms when they arrived back in the Ancorato and gave a sigh of relief. It was good to be back even if they would have to go back to that dmnable tower to get their submarine back. She watched the others take off and headed for her tower to see how Baeldwin and Medrinnah were doing.
As she went Ema told Baucrade "We're going to my tower for now Baucrade. I have some people to introduce you to and between us we might be able to give you a way to move around on land since I can't carry you everywhere," she lifted the mechanical familiar slightly so her breasts rubbed against him where her clothing didn't cover them, "even though I have a feeling you like being carried like this."
When they reached the tower Ema went right in and climbed the stairs as she called out, "Baeldwin! I'm back you hideous bastard! You better not be messing up my tower!"
"Uh..." Victrix's cheeks turn slightly pink.
"...well, what would you like to hear about?"
"Whatever you like." Terana replies. "But two lovers at the same time? Do they know about each other?"
Victrix glances around to see if anyone else is possibly listening in on the conversation.
"Well, they do. In fact, we all share a house." The aasimar nods, her blush fading. "Antona's one of the town guards--came all the way here from Andoran with us as part of the same wave of colonists. We met when she was expressing doubts about the success of the colony--I helped her overcome those doubts." She smiles and giggles.
"Gary, on the other hand..." Her smile fades. "...it's a long story, but there was a time when Talmandor's Bounty was being attacked and infiltrated by ugothols. Gary was one of those ugothols, and we took him prisoner in the wake of the battle for interrogation. He was convinced that he would be executed once we were done with him..." Her eyes take on a faraway look. "...but, that's not how I do things."
"We came to an understanding--" She absently rubs her neck. "--and at the end, I took him to the edge of town and set him free. Once we rescued the first wave of colonists from his aboleth boss, Onthooth, he came back--and he told me he wanted to join the colony. Turns out, I made quite an impression on him when I let him go free."
"Took some convincing, but Antona, Ramona, Simon and Ema eventually agreed to let him stay. He does construction work around the colony, putting his strength to good use."
Victrix's heart skips a beat. "...you're not going to say anything, right? I mean, the rest of the colony hasn't had good experiences with ugothols, so I'm afraid of what'll happen if people find out."
"We're going to my tower for now Baucrade. I have some people to introduce you to and between us we might be able to give you a way to move around on land since I can't carry you everywhere," she lifted the mechanical familiar slightly so her breasts rubbed against him where her clothing didn't cover them, "even though I have a feeling you like being carried like this."
"So cozy..." Baucrade says, his voice muffled by Ema's chest.
When they reached the tower Ema went right in and climbed the stairs as she called out, "Baeldwin! I'm back you hideous bastard! You better not be messing up my tower!"
"Ema, you odious crone!" Baeldwin calls back. "With all the time you're away adventuring, this is more my tower now than yours! I'll do with it as I see fit!"
"Ema, you odious crone!" Baeldwin calls back. "With all the time you're away adventuring, this is more my tower now than yours! I'll do with it as I see fit!"
There was a smile in Ema's voice as she snarked back, "You're just lucky I let you live here at all, I could have left you to sleep in the nearest pigsty, you'd probably smell cleaner afterwards." Once Ema reached the top of the stairs and saw Baeldwin she went up to him, shifting her hold on Baucrade, and hugged him with one arm as she said, "It's good to hear you again Baeldwin, we have a lot to talk about, particularly when it comes to what I we discovered in Auberon's tower." Ema smiled and said, "First though I should introduce you to my newest friend who needs our help."
Ema released Baucrade and turned him to face Baeldwin as she said, "Baeldwin, this is Baucrade, Baucrade, this is my sometime mentor Baeldwin." Ema let the two speak to each other and then said, "We need to find a way to help Baucrade get around on his own because, while I don't mind carrying him, I can't do it all the time."
Victrix tilts her head at Terana. "...er, I haven't lost you, have I?"
Terana shakes her head, inadvertently covering Victrix in flying seawater. "I'm sorry. Mother always said I had the attention span of a guppy."
"I'm wary of ugothols. They have served the aboleths as long as my people have fought them - but if you trust him then I am willing to trust you. Since you ask I will say nothing on the subject."
She nods and then returns to the sea with long strides, disappearing under the water and only reappearing a long minute later to wave back at the barbarian on the shore.
"Nice to meet you, Baucrade," Baeldwin says, shaking the fish's fin.
"Likewise!" the familiar replies.
"Hmm... It shouldn't be too much effort to add a pair of clockwork wings to his chassis. Then he'd be a flying fish!"
"Ooh, that sounds like fun!"
Victrix waves back as Terana disappears back under the waves.
Then she gets up and goes off to find Antona, a wave of anxiety roiling through her.
Antona greets Victrix with a fierce hug and a passionate kiss. "Welcome back, love. I missed you."
Victrix practically clings to Antona, her entire body shaking. "...missed ya too..."
A few tears are starting to roll down her cheeks.
Antona wipes at Victrix's cheeks. "Hey, what's up? Talk to me..."