Tortuga goes looking for their guide.
Uh, Tik, you know this Aslynn lady? What sort of things does she like?
Tik nods his masked head. "Quite an interesting peddler of all sorts of curious baubles. Something provocative will catch her interest. Your Material Plane money will be of no value here, as the vendors prefer to deal with things of more ephemeral and esoteric natures. While many of them would attempt to take advantage of visitors such as yourselves, there are a handful of peddlers who might offer you a fair deal."
"First, there are the caulborn. They are mostly interested in knowledge, history, recollections, memories, and other such things. Mr Null prefers to trade in favors. It is hard to predict what he will want today, but he always deals fairly. Finally there is Beleth, a phase spider who is generally agreeable to newcomers."
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Bizzle almost seems relieved to know that he won't be spending any of his own gold in the bazaar but then realizes he likely can't gamble with it either. Favors? Well, that can't be too disagreeable. And memories! Hmm, my memory isn't as good as I'd like it to me so maybe one of you would be more valuable there, haha!
At Aldaris' suggestion, Tik nods in agreement. "Follow me to the caulborn then."
A group of hairless humanoid creatures with no eyes and large, fleshy, hood-like growths on their heads stand behind a table that displays a number of cracked pieces of rock. When approached, these caulborn merchants seem to confer silently with one another for a moment before one of them steps forward. Its split jaws open momentarily, and a thin string of saliva drips out. Just as it seems like it is content to merely drool at you, it speaks to you telepathically in an emotionless tone.
“We are the caulborn. Each of these stones you see before you is a piece of calcified emotion separated from the pure fact of the memories gleaned from ones such like yourself. Do you wish to purchase one?”
The caulborn drools at you for several moments before it answers telepathically:
"Memories and emotions have been categorized and distilled into these gems, each according to a particular theme. If one of you would submit to sharing your memories with us to add to our knowledge, we would gladly trade one of the gems to you. The procedure is quite painless, or so we have been told by other non-caulborns who have partaken of it."
The caulborn only drools at Tortuga but luckily Bizzle volunteers before the caulborn is able to craft its complex thoughts into words.
Come here, little one. This will not hurt.
The caulborn reaches out its long-clawed fingers and takes Bizzle's head in its hands. It presses its bulbous head against Bizzle's and painlessly extracts some of his thoughts.
All of the caulborn let out an audible sigh when their representative finishes siphoning Bizzle's memories. The caulborn then gives Bizzle a lumpy hunk of pumice.
You have given us many interesting memories and recollections to consider. This gem contains the distilled envy a minor lord felt while watching his greatest rival earn a position of power that was his own by right.
Indeed, as Bizzle takes the gem in his hand he feels a momentary surge of jealousy for Rogar, although the sensation is fleeing.
"An interesting item, for sure," Tik says, "and a very fair trade, as I assured you. The caulborn are always very good to their customers. But if you are to interest Ashlynn I really think you ought to bring something more exotic, or at least be prepared to offer several items."
A brightly colored wagon positioned in a large archway boasts its offerings in flowing script painted on the side: “A Plethora of Priceless Peculiarities.” Beside the wagon stands a humanoid figure seemingly made from pure darkness, with no apparent facial features, who is wearing a flamboyant suit and hat. The creature telepathically introduces himself as you near:
Greetings, greetings, one and all! I am Mr. Null! Please, come and look at my collection of curiosities unrivaled on this or any other plane. I am always open to a trade!
Numerous objects, ranging from crystal figurines to a silver pair of scissors, are on display within the wagon.
"Pumice?" Mr. Null responds in your heads. "Interesting, but I am looking for something else. I think we can do each other a favor on this fine day. It just so happens that I am in the market for a breath of magic—an arcane whisper if you will. A simple jot of mysticism, be it from the gods, from a book, or from the very depths of one’s core, will do the trick! For such a trifle, I would gladly trade you a small trinket from my stockpile."
Aldaris pipes up from the back
"I think or patron here is looking for something more personal - and that i shall provide. "
He takes a deep breath
"Alone I am nothing. I am bone shrouded in weakness, the not yet dust. But if I were to live a moment more I would humbly request your aid."
Orange light spills out of the summoner's hands. He is unsure where to direct it.
" I assume this will suffice good sir?"
Aldaris volunteers first and Mr. Null claps his hands together delightedly and pulls a twisted apparatus of brass and rubber the general size and shape of a sheep’s stomach from his wagon. Pointing at one end, which is shaped like the mouthpiece of a musical instrument, he asks Aldaris to blow gently into it.
As a bulb on the opposite end of the device begins to inflate, Aldaris can feel some of his magical reserves leaving his body.
Once the bulb is inflated, Mr. Null capers excitedly and hides the apparatus back in his wagon. With a sweeping gesture, he retrieves another item from his stash—a rolled-up piece of canvas—and hands it to Aldaris. Unrolling it, Aldaris discovers that the item is a lavishly detailed painting of himself in his lowest moment, a time when all light had fled from his life. "Remarkable!" Tik comments.
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Aldaris takes a deep breath and blows- hard.
He gives the sack a little squeeze, hoping to give less magic than he originally intended to
He releases the bag, coughing.
"ugh. That took more than I thought it would."
He peers at the artwork and shrugs
" I suppose it was worth it. My thanks to you good sir."
Tik clicks his beak at Rogar's question. "These are interesting items and good trades, to be sure, but you are trading for a soul and Ashlynn is a tough negotiator. I think it best to come with as many resources as possible. Come, I will lead you to Beleth, she usually has something good to trade."
A large, gauzy web stretches between two pillars, with several pieces of merchandise—twisted blades, wands that resemble elongated human fingers, and shiny metal discs, to name a few—hanging from the strands. A blonde-haired phase spider crouches at the base of the web, waving you closer with one of her front legs. In halting Common, she introduces herself as Beleth. After discovering that some of you speak Aklo, she only speaks in Aklo, as it is more comfortable for her.
Pointing to a xill across the bazaar, Beleth says, “See her? That is Kysh. She has a book that I wish to be mine. Though I have many fine items to trade, she will not deal with me due to the unfortunate—let’s call it history—between our two races.”
between phase spiders and xills, as the latter relish in
using the former as incubators for their spawn.
Beleth continues, “Normally, I would be loath to even speak with one of her kind, but the book she holds is a great treasure, and this place,” her gesture encompasses the surrounding marketplace, “is a place of business, yes?” The phase spider promises you, "I will, of course, provide a reward if you can convince Kysh to trade with me or, at least, if you act as a mediator between the two of us."
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Oh? Oh! Yes, of course! Say no more! So, what is this book? Does it matter? I'd love to try and help you! I say, this reward is going to be worth my efforts, right? I've been looking all day for that perfect thing, if you know what I mean! Haha!
Bizzle will approach the xill and hope that they speak a common language. Hello, good day and such! My name is Bizzle Goodwager and I would like to mediate a deal between you, of course, as this fine fella over here. Now I'm sure that some type of arrangement can be made. Right? Of course I'm right! Hoho!
Kysh the Xill is brusque when Bizzle approaches. "You mean you want to broker a deal between myself and the enemy? I don't think a trade with her would be in my people's best interest."
He eyes Tortuga a bit suspiciously at first but Bizzle seems to be calming the Xill down. "But perhaps if the trade went through you, it wouldn't be so bad. There is only one thing worthy of trade though; the pair of evil-aligned short swords I know Beleth is carrying."
Revisiting Beleth, you find her reluctant to part with the weapons, noting that the xill might use them to attack innocent people, especially other phase spiders. Beleth counteroffers with a chain whose links come detached and allow holders to remain in constant empathic contact with one another.
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Bizzle nods, understanding the situation. If you are fearful of giving up the swords, we'll try your counter-offer. However, failing that, you'll likely need to give up said swords if you really want that book. Its a matter of which you would rather have, right?
Bizzle will talk to the xill about the counteroffer. He said that the swords are part of a deal he has been working on and, well, merchant's honor and all that. I'm sure someone of your position you would understand that. However, I believe you would be more interested in the counteroffer anyway. Bizzle describes the item in question. Emaphic contact! Hoho! Wow, if you don't take them, I just might! Haha! Even if you do not use them yourself, imagine what you might be able to swap them for with someone else! Let me tell you, a lot of us other races would pay a pretty price for something like that, especially humans, they get all touchy-feely ya know!
If Bizzle is permitted to show the chain he'll dazzle them up with Prestidigitation, making sure they shine and sparkle in a marvelous fashion.
The xill Kysh is uncertain at first but Bizzle is quite the salesman and he is won over by the idea of how powerful the chain might be. "Ok, ok. Here's the book. Bring back the chain."
Beleth is all too happy to exchange her magical chain for the book and as reward she happily gives you a clay ewer that echoes with the sound of a hundred individuals’ sobbing. Any liquid placed in the receptacle comes out tasting of sea water and renders the drinker melancholy for several minutes.
Kysh is likewise pleased with the deal and gives you a cold, thin metal rod in payment of your service. She claims that is the shaft of an arrow pulled from the queen of a planet that was destroyed thousands of years ago.
Tik nods along, happy that your transactions have been going so well. At this moment though, the elf from the Ashlynn's tent comes looking for you with a concerned look on her face. “Aslynn has some news for you. Please return with me to her tent.”
Following the elf, you find a placard that reads “closed”
floating in front of the doorway into Aslynn’s tent. The elf pushes it to one side, steps in, and gestures for you to follow. Inside, many of the merchandise tables have been pushed to one side to make room for a single chair, to which a wild-haired woman is bound with glowing ropes. Before you can ask any questions, something-presumably the mysteriously absent Ashlynn-takes control of the elf's body and speaks through her.
"Hello again, my dears. I hope you have been enjoying your time here. Unfortunately, there has been a regrettable development. Someone discovered the extradimensional space in which I keep my special treasures, infiltrated it, and stole the soulstone that holds your precious Aram Zey. I arrived in time only to kill a few straggling intruders and take this one captive." She points to the restrained woman. “I have my suspicions about who did this, but perhaps we can get more information out of her, eh?”
Bizzle works his wand on the woman and asks for some answers. After a bit, she starts to cooperate. The prisoner is a maenad named Euril. The maenad reveals that she works for Muzthari, a pakalchi sahkil. With a chuckle, Aslynn (through the elf woman) admits that Muzthari “has been a thorn in my side for a few years.” Euril discloses that Muzthari took the Zey’s soul to her hideout in Galt.
Aslynn then makes an offer. “I’m sure you’d like to chase down this Muzthari, but it will take you weeks to travel to Galt on your own. But we can make a deal: give me whatever items you were going to trade for Zey’s soul and I will instantly transport you to this thief’s den. Depending on what you have, I might even sweeten the deal with some things you’ll find useful.” She adds, “If you wish to bring your Master of Spells back to life, I would avoid breaking the stone in which I placed his soul. Doing so will not send Zey to his great reward but will destroy his soul utterly.”
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Bizzle contemplates the offer, trying to judge the message and any expressions either have made.
Looking to his new friends Bizzle shrugs his shoulders. Well, do we have a better course of action? Perhaps this, umm, Euril could act as a guide or font of knowledge about where we're going.
Any other questions? If you do, ask away! Otherwise, lets get going! Haha!
Maenads can live for thousands of years. They insinuate themselves into normal society before attempting to inf luence the community. They travel their entire lives in search of creatures to influence into debauchery, cannibalism, and gluttony.
They're basically extraplanar humanoid creatures with vines from the description though.
[spoiler=DC 24 Knowledge (planes)]
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Euril discloses that Muzthari took the Zey’s soul to her hideout in Galt.
Ashlynn answers Rogar, "Friends? Merely allies of convenience. Zey's soul was to go to the highest bidder, whether that was them or you or anyone else. I have gotten what I needed from it, after all. And now, let me see what you've brought me."
After the elf looks them over, she answers in Ashlynn's voice, "Oh yes, these are quite nice. I'll throw in a few extras, just to sweeten the deal."
She gives you three potions of cure moderate wounds two potions of lesser restoration, a coin of the untrodden road, and an eversmoking bottle.
Ashlynn speaks through the elf again. "Not free your beloved Zey? Why, that's out of my hands now, I've told you! I don't have his puny soul anymore and I have no interest it now. You can go get it yourselves and that's that. Now be gone!"
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Although you did not retrieve the soul as you had hoped, you at least now have a lead on where it is and a reasonable chance of recovering it if you are quick. Having made the deal with Ashlynn to hand over the items you acquired in the market, she instantly transports you away.
Situated a few hours east of Dabril in Galt, the two-story villa before you commands an excellent view of the edge of the Southern Hymbrian Forest. The villa is now in poor repair, with sections of the wall crumbling and the surrounding plant life encroaching upon the premises.
When you arrive you are standing before the great double doors of the villa but are still on the Ethereal Plane....
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"We're dealing with dangerous outsiders here.The Pakalchi Sahkil are Resistant to good,cold,electricity and sonic damage. Magic doesn't seem to affect these creatures either. They're immune to disease,fear,death and poison, plus they have spell resistance and true seeing and an entangling vines ability."
Aldaris rattles off all the information on the creatures he collected with encyclopedic precision.he pauses
"no idea on the other names though. Pardon my shoddy knowledge."