You see the gnoll collapse bonelessly as Syl gives you a small smile. The Elemental dodges all but one of your attacks and retaliates in kind.
Skaar smirks at Syl only to be caught off guard and practically spins in place as the elemental slams him again and again. Refusing to yield, the Unfailing Pillar strikes back with a vengeance. "It's time for you to go down you damned bag of hot air!"
Next Round:
The Elemental gets off another set of blows before you finish it off.
Skaar motions for Syl to search the guard while he stands watch. While the duo work the big orc's bruises from the elemental's attacks begin to fade.
"How the hell did these gnolls get their hands on a trinket like that?" he asks aloud.
Syl's search turns up nothing of particular value . She shrugs in response to your question. All you know is there are multiple ways the gnolls could have acquired an Elemental Gem - none of them good.
The chamber you're currently in has several closed rooms in addition to double doors leading west and a smaller door leading back to the north.
"Let's see what they're hidin' around here", Skaar suggests as he moves toward the smaller doors.
H4 - A wide archway opens into a large square room. Along the room's outer walls, statues of robed, morbidly-obese humans sit cross-legged, perhaps in some sort of praying position. The heads of all the statues have been smashed off. In their place rest small piles of humanoid skulls. In the center of the room, four iron braziers surround a marble fount half-full of brownish, stagnant-looking water.
H5 - These rooms each contain six or so cramped, nest-like beds cluttered with bits of rotten meat, bone, and matted gnoll fur. These rooms reek particularly strongly of gnoll urine. There's also a flight of stairs leading downward.
Skaar considers the statues as he searches the area.
Faced with the blocked passage, the Unfailing Pillar roars as he channels his godly might and smashes into it like a living battering ram.
The statues are of Rovagug - although they've been badly defaced.
--------------------------
You bulldoze straight through the wall and find yourself in a clean, well-organized study. In the center of the room, two long wooden tables are arranged into an L-shaped work area. Atop one table sits a collection of measuring tools, a small hourglass, a compass, and an abacus. The other holds a wooden stand fitted with an oversized magnifying lens suspended above several pieces of yellowed parchment with tiny calligraphic writing. Nearby, a small handwritten notebook lies open face-down on the table.
Skaar picks through the valuables, tossing some of the larger gemstones to Syl. "What do you make of all of this? You think someone's been livin' down here?"
Making his way to the notebook, the Unfailing Pillar browses through its contents.
As you pick up the notebook, Syl clears her throat quietly and holds up a well-used copy of The Birth of Light and Truth, the holy book of the church of Sarenrae. It's filled with hand-written notes in Terran, and their contents are troubling. It quickly becomes clear that the owner of this book was preparing to pose as a priest of Sarenrae in order to trick individuals into raiding the House of the Beast. Apparently the unnamed author plans to step in and take control of the place once the Carrion King is dead.
Examining the notebook, you find it's written in Terran as well and is filled with prayers to Rovagug. These seem to have been transcribed from another source and are heavily analyzed, dissected, and examined. The focus seems to be a search for an entrance to a place called "The Pit of Screaming Ghosts" - a place the unnamed author believes to be in the crypts of the House of the Beast. The last page of the notebook mentions something called The Scroll of Kakishon, said to be an item of great power lost ages ago.
Surprised by the information, Skaar shakes his head. "Someone's playin' this Carrion King for a fool. Maybe if we can show him this we can bring this whole thing to an end."
"Let's see where those double doors west of here lead", the hulking orc suggests after tucking the journal away.
Interestingly, there's absolutely no mention of Lamashtan rituals or abductions in the notebook. The mysterious author clearly doesn't deem the Carrion King's doings worthy of note - seeing him only as a means to an end.
The western doors open to a long passageway that gradually slopes upward. The far end of the passage, however, is a solid slab of stone - and you can recognize the lingering traces of powerful shaping magic. You realize that you're currently in the approximate area of the Troglodyte lair.
"This is the wrong direction", Skaar explains. "Let's try those stairs down."
Six granite columns, badly chipped and damaged, encircle a large room swept clean of debris and dust. Metal rungs riveted into the columns suspend a humanoid-shaped cage-like structure from fitted iron chains. Before the cage, a complex device set in a weighted metal base extends a swiveling, jointed appendage of unfinished iron inscribed with jagged runes. Mounted to the end of the appendage is a burnished steel facemask with clamps and bands that appear as if they were meant to be strapped over someone's head. At the other side of the cage, a similar device holds a syringe spear inscribed with more runes.
To the east, a large stone door sealed with chains and iron bars stands in the wall. A smaller door with no obvious lock stands to the southwest.
As soon as Syl sees this room, she collapses to the ground, whimpering in complete and utter terror. She attempts to speak, but the only decipherable word is "Here ..."
Skaar snorts in disgust but doesn't take his eyes off the cruel implements. He crouches to wrap a massive arm around Syl's shoulders in comfort but doesn't pick her up - that was something she had to do on her own.
"These bastards are sick alright", the Unfailing Pillar offers. "Nobody should have to go through what you did, but remember why we're here. We're gunna make sure they pay in f!$&in' kind and that nobody else has to suffer like that. You've got to get on your feet and help me finish this. Come on girl, stand up, grab those knives, and fight."
As you comfort Syl, the western door opens, and a grotesque specimen of a human steps out. Bald and wiry, with a slight stoop, he wears a thick leather work smock, heavy gloves, and a leather doctor's mask. He also carries a tool belt filled with chisels, scalpels, and other sharp quasi-surgical implements draped over his shoulder like a bandoleer.
Syl's terror intensifies as he pulls a rusty saw from his belt and begins to approach. "Ah, the prodigal daughter has returned. I'm so glad - you were my most promising patient. And you, sir. Have you come to be transformed, too?" He drinks from a small vial and grins nastily at you.
"The only thing gettin' transformed around here is your f$&!in' ass for what you've been doin' down here. I don't know what kinda deal you've worked with the Carrion King but it ends. Now", Skaar snarls as he charges at the newcomer and slams into him with a huge fist.
The man narrowly sidesteps your fist and retaliates with a slash of his saw. "Such strength! Such fury! You will make a fine patient."
After batting the jagged implement aside Skaar brings his fists to bear again with a pair of pummeling blows. "I'll show you strength and fury!"
Your punches collide solidly with the man's head, but he continues his attack without appearing to be significantly hindered. Behind you, Syl has reached deep within herself and stood back up. Your straightforward determination seems to be inspiring her.
Noting Syl's slow recovery, Skaar gives a nod of encouragement and then throws two more crushing punches.
The man bats aside your first blow, but your second connects solidly, giving him a bloody nose. Based on his clumsy return swing, it's clear that he's not a trained warrior - although his ability to take a beating is impressive.
With a cold light in her eyes, Syl slowly advances toward her former torturer, daggers drawn.
With Syl joining the fight Skaar adjusts his tactics slightly. He throws a quick punch to knock that saw from the monster's grip and then barrels into him knocking him to the ground.
The next time the man slashes at you, your block knocks the saw completely out of his hand. You follow that up with a well-placed leg sweep that drops him flat on the ground. Syl's on him in a flash, her daggers slicing madly.
She slits his throat hard enough to nearly sever his head, before stabbing him in the chest over and over in a mad frenzy.
Skaar stands guard while Syl works out her anger and pain on the foul doctor's corpse. After a minute he puts a hand on her shoulder.
"It's over girl. You did good. He can't hurt you or anyone else ever again."
Syl bursts into tears at your words, deep sobs coming from deep within her. After another minute, she calms herself and looks up at you. She seems different, stronger, more whole. "Thank you. For everything. You've reminded me of something I've long forgotten - that I'm strong. It's coming back to me now: this place. What happened. Where they kept me. There are others..."
"That's right and as long as you remember it nobody can ever take that from you", Skaar explains to the newly confident Syl.
"You say there's others down here? We should set 'em free before we go down any further. Which way?"
She points to the doors to the east. "In there. That's where they kept us while they waited to see if their experiments would ... take."
Both doors are constructed from thick iron and have a half-dozen linked locks. However, on the corpse of the 'doctor,' you find a single key. Upon closer examination, you also find a concealed lever on each door, although pulling it doesn't seem to produce any results beyond a *click*.
Skaar tries the key in the locks. "You ready to see this?"
It takes several attempts, but you eventually find the correct lock. Although turning the key doesn't seem to do anything at first, when combined with pressing the hidden lever, the door opens.
Jagged chunks of stonework and rotten carcasses smeared with putrid slime and excrement create a vile terrain and a pungent stench in this cavernous chamber. A large hole in the ceiling thirty feet above opens into the upper level. More importantly, though, are the dozen women chained to the wall of the room. Most of them are in various stages of pregnancy, and all of them look up in abject terror when you open the door.
The Unfailing Pillar frowns in disgust at what he sees. The sight was an unwelcome reminder of the path his brothers and sisters were leading his own people down generations ago.
"We're here to see you freed", the hulking orc explains in an even tone. "Which of you are strong enough to move on your own? Are there any others kept down here like this?"
Not wanting to panic the victims if he doesn't have to, Skaar hands Syl the keys. "See if these with work on those chains."
They tearfully respond, "There were others like us, but they escaped through the ceiling days ago. We don't know what happened to them. We were too weak to make the climb, but if you're saying we can walk out of here, we'll do anything!"
The keys, unfortunately, don't work on the chains. Perhaps it lies elsewhere.
”Back up girl. Looks like we’re doin’ this the hard way”, Skaar explains as he rears back to pulverize the metal links with his fists. Freedom’s Bond, dangling between his pectorals, glows softly with each blow.
With powerful strikes, you smash the locks with brute force. Within half a minute, the woman are free.
Once all the chains are shattered, Skaar wipes the fragments of rusted iron from his knuckles and makes sure all the girls can at least stand under their own power. He gestures for Syl to offer them a couple of her spare knives.
"The way's clear if you head back the way we came. Look for the temple of Sarenrae, the priests and priestess there will take good care of you and they know you're comin'. If you run into any trogs, tell 'em Skaar sent you and they'll stay outta your way."
"What do you mean some of the girls escaped through the ceiling?"
"The hole above us. When we were first captured, they used rope bonds. We worked together to free ourselves and made a long rope so some of us could climb out. When it was discovered, they put us in chains instead."
Skaar looks up and studies the ceiling.
”We’ll follow up and make sure they made it out okay later. For now the lot of you need to get outta here”, the big orc explains. ”What can you tell me ‘bout the monsters that have been keepin’ you down here? The girl and I just killed the bald one with the saw in the other room. Have you seen the ‘Carrion King’?”
The hole leads to the previous level of the building. While you haven't explored that specific area, it's somewhat south of the sand pit where the gnolls kept the hyaenodons.
"All we've seen are gnolls. One of them is much larger than the others and always carries a huge axe. We've never seen anything outside this room and the one outside with the ... machine." The speaker blanches at a memory as she concludes.
"What machine?" Skaar asks with growing concern. "I had a feelin' there was something else goin' on down here. The gnolls aren't the types for complicated gadgets."
Syl speaks up quietly. "The doctor's contraption. We called it 'the machine.' When we're done here, will you destroy it?"
One of the captive women adds to this. "One of the other gnolls mentioned something else in passing once. Some kind of ritual or something. He's the one who helped the 'doctor' build the device."
Skaar gives Syl a solemn nod. "You've got it girl. We'll smash it to bits before we're done down here."
"Hrm. I'll keep an eye out but I didn't see any signs of a ritual. Anyway, I think the group of you have been down here damn long enough. It's time for you to see the sun again."
It takes the rest of the day to return to the city. Along the way, you're joined by five more women who were hiding elsewhere in the ruined temple complex. By the time you locate the Temple of Sarenrae, it's almost nightfall.
Despite the grimness of the situation, Skaar greets the priestess with a smile that shows off his tusks.
”It’s probably best I leave out the details but I found ‘em deep within a cell of Lamashtu worshippin’ gnolls. I was told the Dawnflower’s servants would look after these poor girls. I don’t have much in the way of coin but we collected some goods that you could sell off to help pay for their care”, the hulking greenskin explains while gesturing for Syl to dump out the haul. ”I don’t know how many of ‘em have families that’re lookin’ for ‘em.”
The priestess nods in thanks. "The blessing of the Dawnflower be upon you. We will attend to them now. Would you care to stay the night? Extending hospitality to you is the least we can do."
”I appreciate it but the girl and I have already got a room in town”, Skaar explains. ”I’ll try to come by again in a day or two to see how they’re doin’.”
”How’re you feelin’ Syl, about what happened today and what happened to you last time you were down here?” the big orc asks firmly but with sympathy plain in his expressive eyes. ”I mean to try to set things right without killin’ off half of the gnolls down there but I’m gunna do whatever it takes to put an end to the kidnapping in Katapesh. You think you’re gunna be ready to help me again tomorrow?”
Syl nods. "I'm not going to let them hurt anyone else. I've let myself lie in the dark for too long. It's time to take control of myself and be free from fear." She pauses. "Why are you doing this? You were stuck on a rock in the middle of the ocean with nothing. No memory, even. And you've been doing nothing but help people. Don't you have more important things to do?"
”Helpin’ people is important”, Skaar explains with a smirk. ”Or teachin’ them how to help themselves at least. I remember that much at least. Some parts of you never leave no matter how much things change. I’m still workin’ on getting my memory back but I’ve got a feelin’ that’s gunna take a while and there’s no sense worryin’ over it in the meantime.”
”Besides, it’s not like I haven’t got nothin’ to show for all the fightin’ and helping people. These scraps are workin’ to help me build up my strength again”, he adds with a flex of one enormous bicep. ”I’m not sure how long I was trapped on that rock.”