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*click* Once again, the trap is disabled with ease. And once again, in the darkness, leads the group into the unknown. The second level of the fair is stripped of nearly everything metal, leaving what was once a tangle of dank, solitary confinement cages transformed into a tumbled mess of furniture and prisoner odds and ends. A collection of broken furniture in the southeast corner suggests a struggle had happened.
A man is unaware of Flyn's entrance, and stands before the south wall contentedly painting a large mural. The mural depicts two large snakes carrying a bell into Cassomir’s sewers and portrays in great detail a singing Tengu leading on two half orc's on one end, one looks to be born of the wilderness, and another less wild but strong chasing after the snakes. On the other end of the mural, an elf in green prepares to fire an arrow over a raging older looking man, with a female man holding a whip exquisitely. They look ready to behead the snake.
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Flyn can only think of one man who might be painting in a place like this, the crazed painter they met from Swift Prison...and the painting is undoubtedly portraying Flyn and his friends. He decides it's worth the risk to call out...
"Hail, Painter, is that you? Is that us you paint? Where is your Master now?"
As Flyn awaits an answer, he notices the blood in the northeast corner, leading him ask yet another question of the crazed painter. "Do you know what caused blood to be shed here?"
"Haaarrrr???!"
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Hearing the commotion below, Kramac will venture down the stairs and join the conversation.
Truly, this is a masterpiece good painter! You have a great talent. If you help us find the slaves and defeat the derro, throwing off your allegiance to this wicked cult and their underworld masters, we can surely help secure your release from this awful prison so you may share your gift with the world!
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Flyn scowls in disgust. "The devil we know, indeed...Kramac was right, the Aspis were involved all along. No wonder Nefti 'evaded' capture...that little nosepicker...he better hope we never get our hands on him again..."
Turning back to the painter, he asks more questions. "Did you paint us because you knew we were coming here? Do you know where the derros are taking the rest of the prisoners?"
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Paicho stands there beak agape, First off that is lovely work, painter. He scratches his head.
That bell upstairs, it was a damn good forgery, had me completely fooled. I'm guessing a strong illusion. Those Aspis are tricky. The question is will the same path leads us to the Aspis and the derros or will the paths diverge.
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"Paicho, I think the bell we saw was the Bell of Obedience...Kiboko detected magic upon it and you identified it as a relic. Since Nefti knew we were going to catalogue the bell, I'm sure he informed the Aspis...they probably waited till we left to secure it...with all the chaos the derro's incursion created, I doubt they had much trouble making off with it...
One thing at a time though, we need to catch the derro first..."
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“Groetus told me you would come, and he asks that you rid his shrine of the derros. But I warn you, do not interfere with his shrine or Groetus’s anger will be swift.”
The Crazed Painter immediately points to the door in the southeast corner of the room following the question about the Derros and says, “Down, down, deeper, and down, follow my map to the underground.”
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Flyn nods to the painter. "Thank you...may your brush never dry out..."
Turning to the others, he says, "He may be crazy, but he seems to know quite a bit...maybe Groetus talks to him after all. Shall we be on our way?"
Flyn will look over the crazed painter's map and checkout the area around the southeast door. Then he'll continue on, looking for the pieces of paper, looking out for traps and hidden foes, and traveling as quietly and as concealed as he can...
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Thank you for your help. After we resolve this, I will do what I can to get you released. You must promise to stay out of trouble! No more doomsday cults! If you insist on continuing to worship the wicked Groetus, see that you do not harm any people while you do so! However, if you'd like a less wicked god to worship, I can provide you with several recommendations! We will talk when the slaves are safe!
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"Brother Kramac, you have got god in a strange way. You sound like a fish merchant, hawking wares at the city docks. Kiboko does not think a person finds god like he finds his dinner, or his choice of weapon. The gods speak to us in what they do, in what we see and feel. Faith is not choosing, as if from a menu of pastries in a bakery. Faith chooses you. Groetus chose the Painter. Groetus inspires him, sends him visions. Perhaps Groetus also chose the other cultists. Perhaps not. Perhaps their faith is not true faith, but only a preference for a particular pastry, offered by a corrupt baker."
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Some Gods choose individuals they speak to yes, but most people are left to find their own path. You should know this - there are plenty in your homeland, the Mwangi, who worship the most wicked of Demons. How many of those, if rescued from those evil tribes, would choose to continue worshiping Demons given other choices? I wish to give those who have chosen wickedness a chance to pursue better ideals. If they choose to continue their ways... well those of us who value good in the world will do what we must. But I rest easier knowing I have at least tried to turn someone from the evil path. The gods we worship should embody the highest ideals of what we value. There are many gods who embody good values, worth fighting for, and I am not so arrogant to believe the things that I value most highly will be the same for everybody.
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"Kiboko did not mean to offend, Brother Kramac. You are a good man, trying to help. Kiboko knows this. Remove people from evil influences, and they might no longer do evil. But Kiboko thinks it would take more than an opportunity for redemption to save the cursed Bekyar!
Release people from malign influence, yes. Kiboko will always help you to achieve that. Always. But those whom we release must be free to find their own good, to look to their own fates. To offer them an abundance of new gods is to tell them they need not seek their own truth, that there is someone else who will provide truth for them. Do not release a person from one god's bondage, only to deliver him to another."
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The painter looks thoroughly confused at the conversation at hand, but continues to be somewhat helpful. He passes Flyn a paper, which he referred to as the map, upon it, is scribbles beyond your wildest imagination. Scribbles of all sorts of colours, but nothing coherent that you can understand.
However, it doesn't take much to find the paper trail scattered around the room. Following the trail, it leads to an open trap door and a ladder hidden behind the door in the southeast corner of the room.
The ladder leads to the sewerage tunnels below, refuse rushes by in a stream of garbage carried swiftly through the sewer proper. A five-foot-wide dry ledge sits a foot above the refuse and provides a walkway on both the east and west sides of the sewer. On the west wall, a massive iron door blocks passage beyond. An image carved into the door is of a dispassionate figure holding a gibbous moon.
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Kiboko switches Mvumbu's animal focus to Bat (Darkvision 60'). He strips off his breastplate, before following the graceful hippo over the stones. (Both take 10 on acrobatics for 15 total).
Kiboko checks that his earplugs are in, now that it seems that the Bell of Obedience may still be in play. He puts his armour back on, then casts Heightened Awareness from his wand before studying the door.
"An image of Groetus. This must be the shrine. Heed the Painter's words!"
Kiboko places the silver holy symbol of Groetus around his neck, clear for all to see.
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Deyno, soon however, feels the effects of the filth that washes through him.
Kramac is able to hear vague noises from inside the room, audible enough that he knows that are movements of some sort, but not enough to know what the sounds are suppose to be.
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Paicho has his flag at the ready in case of possible trouble ahead. He waits for those in front to make there move.
Okay thanks -- I was thinking no one would babysit the bell in anticipation of the Aspis stealing it, especially when Derros were making off with prisoners. Glad to see that was out of our hands and we didn't screw up. LOL
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Kramac opens two sets of doors to reveal what looks to be a chamber of horror. A purple radiance washes over this cold chamber from a variety of lichens and fungi that grow on the walls and ceiling creating an otherworldly sheen. Straw-filled cages line the north and south walls. In the room’s center, a strange pedestal, carved in the likeness of dozens of grasping tentacles, sits fixed into the stone floor.
In the cells, that you are able to see, are a bunch of prisoners. They seem to be barely alive and in a very sickly state.
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Out of the corner of Qatala's eyes, she immediately notices a foul looking creature! Before Qatala can react, he steps out and blocks the path into the room. He seemed to be waiting all along anticipating your entry. And what seems to be something against all odds, the creature easily sinks a bite into Qatala.