The statue sits just outside of the prison’s gates, its golden form shining brightly in the sun. It stands just over 7 feet tall and rests atop a 3-foot-tall stone base. The statue depicts a curvy Taldan female with short hair and wearing flowing robes open at the neck. She regards the PCs with a blank, uncaring expression. Faint moons decorate her flowing robes, and she crushes a set of scales beneath her left foot.
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Whistles flies around the statue, examining it closely, poops on its shoulder so any bystanders will think he's a regular bird, then returns to Misaki's shoulder.
He whispers to the aasimar girl, "I think I got a good enough look to tell the crazy painter all the details. All those moons on the robes are probably related to why he's interested, worshiping a moon god and all. Did you notice the 'I' in the left foot? I guess that's how the artist signed his work."
When you return and describe what you say, the man starts painting furiously, splashing paint wildly about his cell. Upon completing the painting, he shows it to the PCs. It shows a twisted perspective. The once-beautiful statue stares back transformed, her visage twisted into a demonic snarl. Short humanoids with large, black eyes torment cowering prisoners in the painting’s background. Brandishing a radiant holy symbol, a lone figure fails to fight them off.
The creatures are derros.
The lone figure is Aroden, as he is depicted in Taldan lore.
The moon iconography is known to signify Groetus' influences.
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"His majesty is correct, Sir Painter. We gave you the information you wanted to make your fine art in exchange for information. It's time for you to hold up your end of the bargain, and tell us what you know. Why are your people kidnapping Cassomir's citizens, where are they taking them, and what forces will we have to overcome to get them back?"
"A bargain struck, yes it was! Why? Why Master needs and army, does he not? And why not use those he wants out of the way? When? Very soon, I think, very soon! Where? Master resides in the Crypt of Fools, hidden deep beneath Old Cassomir."
"Where, oh where? I do not know. Perhaps you should ask an engineer? They built the tunnels, did they not? They must know where they lead. The Hall of Wonders, there they be! The government paid them to hide the shame... oh, the shame!"
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King Hurley giggles, taking an immediate liking to the artist.
"Hee, hee! Speaks cleverly, this one does! Going nowhere he is, if engineers we seek! Inquire about the crypt there, we shall!"
Adjusting his crown, King Hurley turns and heads to the door, trying to remember where the Hall of Wonders happens to be within Cassomir...
The paintings can be purchased from Swift Prison through Hestia’s man, Garver, and each costs 1 gold piece. Should you wish to purchase one of the abstracts stacked on the floor, they cost 5 sp and a dozen of them are for sale.
The hall of wonders is across town from the prison. (See Map)
As you approach, smoke and steam pour through many openings of this misshapen building. Gears and gizmos can be heard clicking against one another in a rhythmic cadence. A loud “chunkchunk” sounds as several pistons churn up and down, powering some unknown machine. A cacophonous symphony of grinding metal plays on. An enormous sign, nearly the entire width of the building, declares it to be the Hall of Wonders.
You can enter the building through the front doors or one of the many windows or by scaling the walls and entering via the skylight. The walls of the hall are 20 feet tall and require a DC 10 Climb check to scale.
It is very smokey (think Obscurring Mist conditions).
Whistles flies up, to find the windows all closed. The smoke is somewhat prevalent on this side of the building, even the upper windows. The skylight is fairly clear, however. Whistles sees a women in clerical robes standing on a catwalk, looking down.
Meanwhile, you try to find the front door. You open it, and more smoke billows out.
The clerical vestments are that of a worshiper of Groetus.
You work your way in, and Misaki stops you as she takes in the situation. She can see the outlines of three great structures piercing the thick mist that chokes nearly the entire western half of the building.
A brass planetarium rotates in the northeastern corner. Next to the celestial model, a clockwork contraption ticks and tocks as it turns on its axis. Finally, a giant metal crab sits with its claws extended on a southwestern platform.
The cleric stands on the catwalk above, watching her cultists torment a poor gnomish engineer and her various engineering guildmates.
Misaki shouts as she moves in, alerting the thugs to your presence.
Misaki rushes in, swinging at green but misses him completely.
King Hurley springs out of the smoke, and dazzles all three of his targets, knocking them out.
Vim casts Bless, which washes over all of you.
The cleric on the catwalk looks angry, as she sees you enter and disable her thugs. She casts a spell at Misaki.
You are blind.
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King Hurley grins as his two-and-an-extra target drop to the ground before turning his gaze upward.
"Oh ho! How they fall, you see? One! Two! Three! After those two, next - who is? What about you?"
The odd gnome begins spinning his left arm in wide circles as the air about it seems to shiver with cold. Finally, with an extended and open palm an icy ball hurls upward at the woman on the catwalk.
for
The cleric is evil.
The snowball smacks the lady right in the face, but she shakes it off.