The following morning, the group notices that sometime during the night, there was a Starbucks kiosk opened.
The White Rabbit is seen furiously providing steaming cups of coffee, trays of tasty dunk'n treats, and he also seems to have picked up a few special superlatives during his new employment.
Theo is seen with The Book on his lap, dozens of cups of emptied coffee, and not a few crumbled napkins.
Dervak looks to CiCi and Allegra.
"The thing in the lake is infecting your dreams?"
The warrior thinks back to the Tatterman, to Bokrug, and to the insanity his comrades suffered. And then to the dark shadow version of himself in the Dreamlands.
"I won't tell you 'It was just a dream.' I know better than that. The danger is real."
He takes hold of his falchion. "This thing could drive you insane and make you one of its pawns. We must do battle with it."
Dervak thinks back once again to Bokrug.
"Kaklatath, you said this thing was dormant? Can we perhaps catch it unawares? Or will it awaken at full power? A Great Old One may be beyond our ability.
You said your people won a victory against the Yellow King’s servants eons ago. Did you face this creature? Do you think its form can be destroyed, so that we may defeat it at least temporarily?"
"I will prepare as best as I am able, and Gorum willing, we will slay it. If not, I hope to face a clean death rather than enslavement."
Kaklatath answers Dervak’s call, she’s clearly monitoring your thoughts, ”Allegra and Cerise’s mind’s are indeed infected with the Inmost Blot’s taint. Their minds are fecund soil for it; they will eventually succumb and become a seeded creature like those Count Lowls brought with him. They might have a chance to fight off its influence but not while they remain within the city; even if their minds are cleansed by potent magic, the Blot will simply take root again, while they remain.”
She goes on to say, ”It is dormant, but you have no chance of defeating it, even in its torpor it will be too much for your frail bodies. Only by erasing all knowledge of it can you hope to stop its spread across Golarion and prevent it from fully awakening.”
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Frail body??
Dervak accepts the GM's nudge calls upon his warrior pride and his faith, resolving to slay the monster.
What does she know? Any foe may be slain in battle through the will of Gorum. And if Gorum does not so will it, then I die a warrior.
Dervak doesn't know if Kaklatath's psychic message went to the others as well. But he simply says, "Let's kill it. We cannot complete our mission with Allegra and Cerise falling prey to this monster."
"Cerise, Allegra, did your dreams show where it is in the lake?"
Ci Ci and Allegra both feel a mental tug leading them to the lake.
"I woke as soon as I was in the water and drowning," Ci Ci replies. "In the lake is about as specific a location as I can tell you from the dream." She looks to Allegra. "Did you see any more than I did?"
A Cold Morning by The Lake
Theophilus wakes up a bit late. A plethora of coffee cups scattered about the ground near him. The Witch rises from his lawn chair. He yawns, scratches his eyes, swigs some mouthwash. He turns to look at the White Rabbit.
You actually allow me to sleep in?
Oh? Anything amazing and new?
Theo doesn't seem to excited after their talk.
He does cast spells, once they are ready to go for a swim.
Ci Ci and Allegra feel their sense of self begin to erode away as they willingly travel towards the Great Old One that haunts this city, it is slight and subtle but still noticeable. You head into the Snarl of Neruzavin, an area where most of the towering buildings erected by the flying polyps millennia ago have been toppled. Following the alien impulse you find entrance through a twisting jumble of low caves connected by cramp passages. After traveling 100ft through these caves it opens up considerably.
From one of the side caves a bronze-skined man in a red and brown nobleman’s robe approaches you. His countenance is proud but his eyes hide a soft fatherly warmth. He speaks in a commanding but reassuring tone as he bows deeply to the party, ”I am Aeptolinu. What brings the children of Azlant to the Cradle of Heaven?”
Mara woke up when Allegra and Ci-Ci cried out from their dreams. She suspected that their nocturnal disturbances were not a good sign.
She meditated, choosing prayers appropriate for the anticipated expolrarion of the depths of the lake.
1st lvl (6): Ant Haul, Liberating Command, Protection from Evil, Unbreakable Heart x2, open slot, Color Spray (spirit)
2nd lvl (6): Barkskin x3, Calm Emotions, Delay Poison, Resist Energy, Hypnotic Pattern (spirit)
3rd lvl (6): Heroism x4, Dispel Magic, open slot, Daylight (spirit)
4th lvl (5): Blessing of Fervor, Freedom of Movement, Restoration, Ride the Waves x3, Rainbow Pattern (spirit)
5th lvl (4): Baleful Polymorph, Breath of Life x2, Overland Flight (spirit)
6th lvl (3): Greater Dispel Magic, Wall of Stone, open slot, Chain Lightning (spirit)
7th lvl (2): Heal x2, Prismatic Spray (spirit).
I may alter this slightly depending on what buffs people need.
Before they set out, she cast a couple of preparatory spells on herself.
Mara greeted the bronze-skinned stranger, "Greetings Aeptolinu, my name is Mara. We come here seeking knowledge." This was true, but not very revealing. She wanted to judge the man's motives before giving away too much; for all she knew, Aeptolinu might be onw of the infected, or a disciple of the Great Old One. She tried to read his reaction.
Theophilus wonders the caverns and caves with barely an idle thought of their soon demise.
The White Rabbit is seen wearing funeral clothes.
...97, 98, 99, 100! Yup; 100 feet exactly!
Theo's blue eyes dart at the newcomer's approach.
The White Rabbit hands him a roll of toilet paper.
Absently, unrolling a bunch, the Gentleman returns the greeting and bow.
Theophilus Carter, Hat maker and Great Old One destroyer. It's a hobby. The Great Old One destroying, I meant. Hat making pays the bills.
The White Rabbit nods in agreement.
Aeptlinu? Cradle of Heaven? Ids that like Billy Idol and his Cradle of Love?
The White Rabbit is seen wearing a komono....
Dervak looks at the man warily.
"Azlant was a very long time ago.
And if this place was once called the Cradle of Heaven, it has seen better days."
He looks between his friends. Mara was being cautious, but Theophilus... Too late now.
The man walks beside you for a time and speaks, ”There is much to learn here. The Ninshabur people discovered this place before their rancid days of ruin. They called it the Cradle of Heaven before this place smoked out their innocence.” He gives you a weathered smile.
You come to a fork in the path, Allegra and Ci Ci feel the call of the lake to the right.
Mara thought that Aeptolinu was leaving out some details, although she didn't think it was out of malice. "What do you know about the thing in the lake?"
She told her companions, "There's something under the rubble ahead on the left. It looks like a rusty greave." She moved over for a closer look.
Theo begins humming a tune at the mention of Rusty Greave.
The White Rabbit is seen wearing a cowboy hat and stringing a banjo....
Dervak will follow Mara. "Be careful. Could be a lure or something."
Mara and Dervak walk forward a little bit...
Aeptonlinu abruptly stops as you approach the greave, he’s watching you more intently than usual. While Neruzavin is normally eerily quiet, that fact bothers you here especially.
"Something is wrong!"
Dervak will Dex-Rage (free action) and use Total Defense.
Saves are +19/+20/+17, and AC is 38 (touch 28, CMD 48). He doesn't have Shield or Barkskin at the moment, but Total Defense helps a lot.
"Aeptonlinu, what is it?"
Her sixth sense telling her that something was about to happen, Mara cast a spell on Dervak as a precaution.
Theo--not entirely certain what the White Rabbit is happening--decides that bravery and courage are foolish virtues!
He rants and screams!
What now! Here we are on a nice walk about this marvelous city; and, what! I dare you to interrupt this fine morning!
Ci Ci calls upon her power to open her eyes to the truth of the situation.
Rovagug does not answer her and she turns to walk away. But as she does so the sky blazes with fire, and something crashes into the ground. In a flash all of the towers collapse as one as a searing wave of fire and debris obliterates the woman and the area you now stand. You feel as though you can’t breathe and a great weight presses down on you, you see only darkness as a ton of stone crushes down on you.
Aeptolinu’s face winces slightly at Dervak’s question, ”You must learn eventually. I cannot shield you forever.” Dervak’s lips begin to turn blue.
The Bloodrager quickly overcomes the effect.
He looks to Aeoptolinu. "Who says I need you to shield me?" There is a hint of scorn in his voice at the insinuation.
"I don't mind having trustworthy allies who will do their part, but I'm not going to hide behind anyone."
"Offering your knowledge about the dangers of this place would be useful, if you have any. But if you wish us to fail, just say so."
Not actually seeing an enemy, Theo turns to pay attention to what Dervak seems to be lecturing?
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Not actually seeing an enemy, Theo turns to pay attention to what Dervak seems to be lecturing?
The man does not waver from Dervak’s rebuke, ”Did you not come here for knowledge? Do you not now know viscerally how the Snarl came to be? How the Inmost Blot came to doom this world? And how a knight of destruction gave herself entirely to her god’s service? There are neither allies nor enemies here, only truths that few are strong enough to endure. I can guide you and assist but only if you desire it. Even if you aspire to be something more than mere beasts, you will be crushed for your hubris.”
Dervak softens his tone.
"We may well be crushed. I do understand that risk. The risk seems necessary.
The Inmost Blot may doom our world, but there is a chance to stop it. We must take the chance.
Is it bravery to fight against annihilation in the face of impossible odds, or simple desperation since you have nothing to lose? Or are they one and the same?
I do not know the answers to such questions. But in the name of Gorum I will fight to my last breath. And I have good regard for Sarenrae, goddess of hope, as well. Hope still lives."
Mara fought off the vision and said defiantly, "The Rough Beast will not silence me!" She searched her religious knowledge to understand what just happened.
She spoke to Aeptolinu, "We have seen much — perhaps too much even — but as my friend says, we cannot do nothing in the face of the threat facing the world."
Theophilus nods to Dervak and Mara. The Witch wondering what brought on such discourse.
The strange man gives Dervak and Mara a patient smile, "Of course. You must do what you must."
Theophilus looks at both paths. He then takes out a two-headed coin, flips it and looks to the others.
Which way do we want to go?
The White Rabbit is seen setting up a mini casino.
Ci Ci looks down the right hand path towards the lake, a look of barely suppressed anxiety on her face.
Mara suggested, "I wonder if it's time to confront the evil in the lake. I think there may be a dangerous haunt the other way, in any case. There was a terrifying vision that tried to suck the air out of my lungs."
"A vision of the fate of that Rovagug worshipper, I think. But we defeated the haunt, did we not? Or do we need to do more?"
"But, yes, to the lake. Let us go fight the unbeatable foe."
Aeptolinu answers, "At midnight it will return. Only truly destroying the knight of destruction will its energies cease. I pity Kakishari, all she wants is destruction but she can never die."
Taking the right hand path: Hundreds of boulders are piled here, creating a crude, twenty-foot-tall altar that leans against the east wall like a crumbling ziggurat. Expired candles and a variety of skulls perch atop the stones, and designs of fearsome red ochre decorate the facade. A top a small pile of boar ribs sits a bastard sword, fashioned from hardened bronze.
Theophilus takes out a clean handkerchief from a jacket pocket. He covers his mouth at the sight of such untidiness!
This place could use a fresh maid servicing!
The White Rabbit is seen wearing a sexy maids outfit; complete with duster.
The two take a closer look at the bastard sword.
I believe this is the sword Upianshe asked us to recover. Dervak, can you train The White Rabbit with it? He really wants to become a knight.
The White Rabbit is seen wearing a squire outfit now.
"Well, I could try, but he lacks the, uh, posable thumbs.
Should we return it to Upianshe?
Or do you think her spirit would prefer that we first take it into battle and bathe it in the blood of the abomination in the lake?"
"She said 'My blade must be recovered and set to its purpose again. The evil that blights this city must be removed. One in the undercity and one in the lake.' That sounds like its purpose and ours align.
Allegra, do you wish to use it?"
"Or maybe we ask Upianshe what she thinks."
Dervak will take hold of the sword and see what happens.
He calls out, "Upianshe, I will use this sword to strike down the abomination in the lake!"
If nothing bad immediately transpires, then he will focus on aligning his power with that of the sword.
Theophilus--and the White Rabbit--walk up to Dervak. They both give him a hug.
Upianshe would be proud! I say let's go to the lake now. We made sandwiches!
The White Rabbit is seen using a napkin to get some mustard off Dervak's shirt.
"Yes, let us end this as quickly as we can."
As Dervak makes his oath the sword begins to glow a soft blue. The spectral image of Upianshe appears before you and nods solemnly, her spirit then enters the blade.
TERALINDAR’S HONOR
SLOT none CL 13th WEIGHT 6 lbs.
AURA strong conjuration and divination
ALIGNMENT chaotic neutral
SENSES 60 ft., darkvision, read magic
Intelligence 20 Wisdom 13 Charisma 14 Ego 17
Language Aklo, Azlanti, Draconic, Kelish, Vudrani
This aberration-bane bastard sword is made of magically hardened bronze and has the special purpose of killing aberrations and creatures intrinsically tied to Xhamen-Dor (including seeded undead and the dormant Star Seed). Upianshe’s spirit can sense such foes within 60 feet, her bane enchantment applies to them, and against them her critical hit multiplier increases to ×3. Finally, she can attempt Knowledge (dungeoneering) checks as though she had 5 ranks in the
skill (total +13 bonus).
You travel on:
More than a dozen immense stone towers crisscross messily above, forming a manner of roof for this large cavern. Broken basalt scree creates a beach that slopes gently into the water to the north. A nearly cylindrical pillar stands near the shore, the Star Stelae. The lake beckons Ci Ci and Allegra to drown themselves in its unnaturally clear depths.
As the lake is now in sight, Dervak casts the following spells:
Shield, Longarm
See Invisibility
Tactical Adaptation (Aquatic Combatant)
Ride the Waves
Since the water does not seem murky, he does not cast Echolocation. Instead, he casts Keen Edge on Teralindar's Honor.
Remaining spell slots: 3 1st, 2 2nd, 0 3rd, 1 4th.
He has Heroism from Mara, probably at a +2 since it was cast in a surprise round without the Encouraging Metamagic Rod.
He also has Feather Step and Lucky Number (4) from Theo.
"Allegra, Cerise, are you okay? Can you find this thing?"
Theophilus approaches the lake. He smiles.
The White Rabbit is seen wearing a scuba outfit and waterwings.
"I can move towards where I am being pulled," Ci Ci replies. As she approaches the water, she reaches for her own necklace, as if seeking reassurance from it that its magic will not fail her.
"Allegra, do you wish to be a giant?"
"I would appreciate that Dervak, it will help far more than it hurts."
Mara asked for a few minutes to meditate to memorize a few final spells. After she finished, she prayed for a success in their journey into the lake to fight the evil lurking there. "Sarenrae, we're about to do battle with a terrible unspeakable creature. Lend your protection to us!"