As Victor turns to Geoffrey for help he gives the rogue a look that says it all.
Are you kiddin' me?
|
Back at the only semi-water filled room containing the skeletal tiefling, the party boosts Victor's ability to find and negotiate traps. He examines the stout iron door that's covered in complex lock bars carefully, and finds that several razor-sharp disks will shoot out of the door and slice away at a victim if triggered.
"Eeeeeeeh, stupid razor traps... is there any poison on there? I think we all know my current luck with poisons..." Victor sweats a bit as he looks at the others. "Don't let me die to poison here!"
Issil can spam guidance on Victor as much as he needs it.
|
When Victor looks ready to work on the traps, Pádraig Henry begins circling the rogue, twerking and generally getting jiggy with it, no doubt inspiring Victor's trapsmithing competence.
I never meant to start a war
I just wanted you to let me in
And instead of using force
I guess I should’ve let you in
|
|
Further inspired by both Pádraig's song and Issil's magical guidance, Victor begins working on the trap. He tinkers for a few minutes, fumbles momentarily and watches a gear come within millimeters of his index finger... But eventually, he disables the trap!
The lock gives in shortly after, and the iron doors tremble apart. Beyond them, three heavy iron chests sit against the north wall of this otherwise empty room—empty, that is, save for the desiccated corpse of a human woman with eight long spidery legs protruding from her back.
Victor stands up and reracks his tools back into his hidden vest pocket with a happy smirk on his face, at least until he sees the woman on the ground "What the hell... Careful before you step in, let me double check there isn't any more schenanigans inside..."
Victor takes his time to double check they aren't stepping into a trap inside the vault.
Assuming all is well and no one stops him, he picks his way past the corpse to check out the chests with a similar level of care.
"A what from where?" Issil doesn't follow. "But she's dead, right? Vic, what's in the treasure chests? Hopefully the missing gears for that pump. My skin is wrinkling so much I look like a prune!"
|
|
The chests are all untrapped, but quite difficult to pick. It takes a solid hour before Victor defeats the final lock, the lid creaking open horribly. It's well worth his time, though, as the chests contain the ultimate treasure horde.
388 pp, 2,345 gp, 6,590 sp, 14,400 cp, and various art objects, gems, and jewelry.
The second chest is lined with padded velvet.
It contains eight blue potions, four purple potions, four yellow potions, four black potions, four white potions, two vials with an oily black and white mixture, six vials of a sludgy green liquid, a single vial containing a clear liquid with bits of feather floating in it, and a ruby vial containing a bright, glowing liquid.
These are eight potions of cure moderate wounds
These are four potions of lesser restoration
These are four potions of neutralize poison
These are four potions of remove curse
These are four potions of remove disease
There's also a vial made of ruby, definitely of some value, that contains another liquid.
Padraig's eyes light up as several magical auras appear. There's a magical cloak, a magical box, four magical rings, a wand, and a robe.
This is a Folding Boat
This is a wand of alter self, with 23 charges remaining.
____
Geoffrey gives Victor a hearty slap on Victor's back as he disarms the last of the traps, "Well done Marty the Magnificent!"
He shivers slightly as he notes the presence of the corpse, "Must have run out of air. Why would a jorogumo be working for the Spiders?"
As the treasure is revealed he comments laconically, "I think we might...just might be able to repair that pump now!"
"Perhaps she is part of the reason the Spiders had their name," Morvena suggests, staring at the desiccated corpse with obvious disgust and horror. "Hideous...and yet what a sad, lonely death this creature suffered. A pity."
Once all of the chests are eventually breached and their contents uncovered, Morvena's smile stretches from ear to ear. "Why yes Geoffrey, I believe you may be correct. Enough to repair the pump several times over! This is exactly what our coffers needed."
Then she gets down to the task of trying to examine the numerous potions and other magical items that they've uncovered...
"Hmm...the art, gems, and jewelry in this first chest are worth 4,200 gp!"
"The purple potions are Lesser Restoration, the yellow are Neutralize Poison, the black are Remove Curse and the white are Remove Disease. Four of each, how wonderful! But I am afraid the nature of these blue potions eludes me..."
Morvena whistles with wonder when she comes to the ruby vial. "Oh my. This ruby vial is worth 3,500 gold on its own but it holds something much more precious - an Oil of Life!"
"This cloak is a Cloak of Elvenkind - very nice!"
"And...this wand is a wand of Alter Self, with 23 charges remaining," she concludes. "Alas, the box, the ring, and the robe are trickier for me to identify."
"Who Marty? I'm Victor remember?" Victor rolls his eyes at Geoff as he takes a seat to rest his fingers and his nerves after all that hard work.
As Morv starts calling out tallies of very large numbers and magical goods the smile on Victor's face grows. "Looks like maybe a nice celebratory dinner is on the menu? Courtesy of the Spiders?" He asks as he rubs his hungry stomach, not having eaten much in the last few days apparently.
"So what exactly does an oil of life do, it seems like a slippery topic, not sure how good of a grip I can get on its use."
"It can revive someone from the dead," Morvena replies. "Even someone that has been dead for many years and even if you do not have any physical remains - so long as you are able to identify the deceased in some manner, such as by invoking the time and place of their birth or death."
"Oh wow. I think its time to find out just who Thrune has offed that didn't deserve it..." Victor's eyes linger on the gold piles a bit longer.
"The art, gems and jewels is worth... 4200 gold..." Issil loses herself and dives into the gem box, inspecting each and every bauble, trinket and ingot.
Until she sees the Ruby. "3500 gold pieces by itself. That will pay for the pump repairs." She looks up as Morvena identifies the liquid itself. "That's really potent. How many people could I... could we save? I guess just one."
"This is a... Robe of bones? not my style, but it will make some necromancer real happy. I don't know what creatures you can conjure, though."
"Pádraig, do you know what the Blue potion does? And this box, and the ring?"
|
|
Pádraig Henry lends Morvena and Issil a hand, studying the magical items retrieved from the chest. "These eight vials are potions of cure moderate wounds. The box is actually a folding boat. Each of these four rings is a prisoner's dungeon ring. I wonder, where's the jailer's dungeon ring? If we had that, these could be very useful."
|
|
"We should find a 'reliable' fence for these gems and other valuables," Pádraig Henry states the obvious. "Then we can make discrete arrangements to get these pumps fixed."
"I strongly advise you all not to use these rings, at least until we find the jailer's dungeon ring to which they're attuned."
The halfling peers at the two vials with an oily black and white mixture, the six vials of a sludgy green liquid, and the single vial containing a clear liquid with bits of feather floating in it. "Are any of you able to identify the alchemical items here? If not, it would be good to find someone who can."
"Maybe Rexus or another member of the Ravens can identify those Padraig," Geoffrey offers, "It would not be wise to show any of these items openly as who else may know of these!"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Yes, I think that would be wise," Morvena nods. "Let us see if any of our own have an idea as to their properties first and if not, perhaps then we can discretely inquire elsewhere in the city."
As Issil identifies the robe as a Robe of Bones, Morvena wrinkles her nose with distaste. "Necromancy? Euuugh. While some spells of that school are relatively benign, others are...less so."
She pauses, a look of unease briefly flickering across her features.
"I prefer not to engage with it any more than necessary."
"Looks like we have a good enough haul for now." Issil shrugs. "Back to base, then."
|
|
With the Lucky Bones picked clean and all threats (save for perhaps the garbage-eating monster) eliminated, you head back up to the main floor and above to the ruins.
Back out in Kintaro proper, you stop at the The Newt's, which is open until curfew, and sell off many of the goods you found.
Except, The Newt stops when you drop the Robe of Bones on the table. "Really?" He glares at Issil. "You're really trying to sell me a cursed robe? This is a Robe of Powerlessness. Wear this, and you're about as strong and intelligent as a rat. Get this thing out of here before someone gets hurt!" The Newt picks up the robe between his thumb and index finger as if it were a filthy rag and tosses it across the street.
He's happy to take the art, most of the gems, and after carefully pouring the Oil of Life into an ordinary bottle, he takes the ruby vial and puts it on his countertop as a permanent fixture. "First the cubic gate, now this? My shop is easily the most gaudy in all of Kintargo! Thank you!"
The Newt doesn't have the parts for the pump, so you make for The War Cage, and hand over the necessary 3,000 gp to Chuko. Geoffrey gets another glimpse of the tempting +1 frost lucerne hammer still sitting in its display case. Some day...
"Cursed you say? Sorry man, we didn't know. We'll keep it outta your sweet shop." Now sounds like something maybe we could put to use... somehow...
Victor gathers up the tossed away robe, someday it'll prove useful he hopes.
"Well, the robe isn't my style, anyway." Issil shrugs and turns to pick it up, only to watch Victor stuff it... somewhere.
"Hey Newt, two questions. Do you have a mithral shirt lying around there? Also, do you know if anyone will be able to glamer it? I'm still getting the hang of this enchantment stuff."
Turning to her allies afterward, she grins. "By the way, if you need me to enhance your weapons or armor, I think I know a thing or two about it. Give me the raw materials and I'll see what I can do when monsters aren't trying to tear our heads off."
"Actually Issil, let me get back to you on that..." Geoffrey nods as he moves to find Newt. "While you are digging for stuff, how about a Ring of Force Shield? I think I can afford one of those now..."
"Okay Issil, can you work on my Breastplate? It should only take a few days."
"Mm...I believe the scroll will be enough for the moment," Morvena comments as the Newt passes her a scroll of Water Breathing. "I must consider my possessions before I make any additional purchases."
______________
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Pádraig Henry accompanies Geoffrey inside the War Cage and introduces himself to the proprietor. "Say, do you have a halfling-sized mithral rapier and a matching mithral buckler? I've got the coin. 1,525gp, if my math is correct."
He holds up his own rapier and buckler. "I'd be pleased to sell these to you, too. 12gp and 5sp, I believe."
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Thank you, sir. A pleasure doing business with you."
Halfling legs churning and furry feet slapping on the cobblestones, Pádraig Henry races back to catch up with Morvena. "Hiya, Newt. Here's 4000gp for that headband of alluring charisma +2 I've been waiting to buy from you. Thanks."
Victor happily accepts the headband and works to try to loosen the straps so it'll fit his nonhalfling sized head. He slips it on and eyes blaze open "Woah... I know things.. more things! Its like this thing just unlocked all this information on creatures from other planes... nice."
While the others happily spend the day shopping and staring mindlessly at new jewelry, Victor hangs out at the Tooth and Nail for a bit, hoping to score some free lunch and catch up on any gossip. Afterwards he wanders over to Laria's place for some mocha lattes, sweets and more gossip.
"Man what a week. I'm beat up, half starved, sore and most of all bored out of my gourd. Anything fun happening lately?" Victor asks the hosts, as he five finger discounts some unattended sandwiches.
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Dropping by the Tooth and Nail himself later that day, Pádraig Henry hears the regulars sharing tales of a mysterious 'hamburgler' trying to ruin Setrona's business.
Pádraig Henry, suspecting he knows the likely culprit, decides to spread some Silver Ravens propaganda.
"No one would intentionally put the lovely Setrona out of business! I heard the thief is actually a nobleman in disguise, stealing mostly from Thrune sympathizers and donating sandwiches to the poor, oppressed patriots of Kintargo. He probably just took some po' boys from the Tooth and Nail to throw the authorities off the scent."
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
With The Newt much lower on raw coin and his shop now quite possibly as gaudy as it'll ever be, Morvena scribes the magic for Water Breathing into her spellbook, and you rest for the night at the Tooth and Nail.
In the morning, Geoffrey fills his pack with the dozen metal gears, screws, and tools required for the pumps, and he and Morvena depart for the Lucky Bones to begin working on the pumps.
The contraption of intertwined pipes, pumps, gears, and bellows is intimidating at first sight, even moreso when working against the resistance of water. Geoffrey hands the first of the new components to Morvena and she begins on the magical pump, segments of the magical machinery glowing as she works.
The bar is about as full as one would expect on a morning, with most of the Silver Ravens' allies out and about. Behind the bar is Setrona, who polishes a few mugs absentmindedly. "The sandwich thief strikes again, huh?" She smiles. "I can't believe so many bought that load of bologna you sold them last night, Padraig."
She sets down a cup. "On a more serious note, if you're looking for goings-on, a friend of mine came for you this morning. Hetamon Haace is settled over in the cozy corner at the back. Says he wants to speak with you. Go over and see what he wants. He's the guy with the horns."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Issil hands the Newt some of her gear for a custom order. Oh man, it feels great. She snaps her fingers and the Chain Shirt erupts into a frilly red blouse. "Oh man, it works, it works!" Issil is very giddy about her new find.
"So you want me to work on this, Geoff? Okay." She takes the incense, the metal and the breastplate. She heads to the old Silver Raven base. She has a source of water, and an easy source of heat: her hands. She's not that strong, but she's strong enough to lift the hammer. She strikes.
And strikes again.
Then she snaps her fingers to reform her chain shirt into a blacksmith apron. No, too plain. A fancy apron with colorful pockets. Non functioning pockets, but who cares. You look good, you forge good.
It's one long day, but Issil knows the magic is working slowly yet surely. Tired and sweaty, Issil splashes herself with some conjured water and heads back to the The Tooth and Nail.
"Hetamon Haace, is it?" Issil leans back in her seat and drinks some ale. "Sure, I'll ask around a bit."
"Hey Hetamon." Issil walks up to the man. "Setrona said you had some business with me. With us. What's up?"
Victor slides up next the man's table takes a seat, sliding over half a cold sandwich. "Hungry? They make some great sammiches here they do." He pulls out his own other half and takes a bite, tomato juice running down his face.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Bah...the water damage to this mechanism makes this task all the more tedious and time-consuming," Morvena mutters to Geoffrey as she works on the pump. "Not to mention the water damage that the rest of this level has undoubtedly suffered! There will be all manner of cleaning to do and even then the stench is likely to linger for ages..."
Things continue in this vein for some time, but in spite of her grousing she's actually a bit relieved to have some company while she works. The silence of the depths is an eerie one.
"Look at it this way Morv," Geoffrey remarks as he experiments with swimming around wearing the Cloak, I can see why Marty...err...Victor enjoyed wearing this! Be a shame to give it up... "It will keep the Ravens busy for a while. And as for it being quiet down here, I am perfectly happy if nothing interrupts our progress. I worry those skum, or whoever is their master, may send additional reinforcements here soon."
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Nestled in a cozy corner at the back of the bar is a small mahogany table with three chairs. At one sits a horned man with amber, catlike eyes and pointed ears. His features are rough and angular, yet handsome. On the table lies a single rose.
"Thank you for taking the time to meet with me." The tiefling's voice is soft despite what his appearance might imply. He stands and shakes your hands. "You don't know me, but I know you. I lead The Rose of Kintargo, the local cult of Milani. I believe you might recall receiving my present, Silver Ravens."
Padraig thinks back to a time only a few weeks ago, when a bouquet of roses arrived for him, a note folded inside.
Morvena spends days working on the pumps, moving form corner to corner of the room and then back and then checking the tubes that descend down into the other room and ...
It's exhausting and grueling and disgusting and by the time it's all over she.is.a.mess. Her hair is caked in a thick slime of algae. Her clothes have new tears in them from having swam through sharp metal areas of the tubes. Only Geoffrey's help in moving parts around helped the work speed along.
And on day three, when she finally finished and flipped the lever, the pumps whirred to life with a deafening hum. As the pumps glowed, water rushed beyond Morvena and Geoffrey and into the series of tubes, sending the water into the sewers.
It takes a few hours, but soon, nearly all of the bottom floor is filled with breathable air, save for the cavern where you had fought the drowning devil and the room with the garbage-eating monster. The headquarters was looking much more fit to inhabit.
"This. Is. Disgusting!"
Normally Morv would be pleased with her work and take a bit more time to savor the moment but it's rather difficult to savor anything when you're dripping wet and covered in algae and muck.
"Before I do anything else I am procuring a proper wash and some dry clothes," she mutters, wringing what water she can from her current attire and her hair. "Allow me to make myself as presentable as I am able - otherwise my appearance will attract attention - and then let us return to the Tooth and Nail. The others will be expecting us."
|
|
"Ah, the rose is always welcome on a bloody street," Pádraig Henry whispers, a reference to the holy symbol of Milani, to the tiefling seated in a cozy corner at the back of the bar, uncertain of whose ears that might be listening.
The man is either justifiably confident of his security or a bloody fool.
Wagering it's the former, not the latter, the halfing gambles. "Yes, we received your bouquet. I'm Pádraig Henry, a bard of some skill and a devotee of the Everbloom, myself. What shall we call you, sir?"
Issil looks at Pádraig and Hetamon. "While you two get cozy, I'm gonna clean myself up a bit and prepare for tomorrow."
Two more days underground in the old base, just forging away. Hammer pounds metal. The anvil sings a song unknown to anyone but itself. Issil can't make armor from scratch but she can enchant it. It's hard work- a different kind of work she's used to, but her dance lessons help with the incantations.
Two days later, the materials are spent and the magic is finished. Geoff's armor is further fortified against danger.
"Ahh, so you're the local florist, gotcha. I'm Victor." He shakes his hand and winks as he makes the florist comment. "So what brings you to this fine little eatery? Must be more than just the sammiches right?"
Victor retakes his seat and looks the man over, sizing up just who they are dealing with here. Padraig is far too trusting of any Tom, Dick, and Harry they run across, but Victor knows better.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
During the solitary time of keeping an eye on Morvena whilst she works on the pump, he has time to reflect upon where his life has gone so far.
And where it would be in the future...
As always his thoughts turn to his charge. Thoughts of admiration fill his mind as he reflects on how she has matured, not only physically, but emotionally. Whereas before she had been selfish and narcissist (to a degree) now she has blossomed into a beautiful young lady, that no amount of bodily filth could hide.
"Yes, yes of course Morv," Geoffrey chuckles as he guides her out of the Bones, I think we can make it to the Wasp before we need to rejoin our friends. Good job with that pump Morv. I am proud of you."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Cheered to see Morvena and Geoffrey emerge from the lower levels of the Lucky Bones, Pava flutters down towards Morvena's shoulder...but then quickly banks away and comes to rest on Geoffrey's, instead.
"Are you done? Oh, thank goodness! It's been getting so *boring* having nothing to do but sit and keep watch while you all splash around in the water," the little bird chirps. "Now that you're done I can actually come help you again!"
|
|
"Wow!" Pádraig Henry whistles, admiring Issil's work on Geoffrey's breastplate.
"Issil, when you have the time, do you think you could bestow some enchantments on these?" The bard holds up his halfling-sized mithral buckler and mithral rapier for her inspection. "I've got enough saved up to pay for the materials."
|
|
Though it's certainly a little unusual to see a tiefling associated with roses, he doesn't seem dishonest in his words.
Sloshing her way out of the Lucky Bones and through the streets, Morvena stops by the Redroof District, where a large clothing market exists, and replaces her clothes with intact ones.
Afterwards, she and Geoffrey make their way towards the Tooth and Nail to join the others, and Morvena sneaks in behind Geoffrey and makes use of the bath to cleanse herself free of algae and other underwater nasties. She returns soon after.
"Ah, I'd known there were more of you," the tiefling smiles. "I'm Hetamon Haace, as Setrona may have told you. Setrona and I have something of a long history that I'd be glad to tell you about one evening," he casts his eyes down at the table as he says this.
Then he spreads his palms open in front of him. "I'm here to make a request directly. The faithful of Milani are ready to aid the Silver Ravens, and as such, I would like to join you as an ally." The tiefling holds the rose out for someone to take.
"I expect no payment. My colleagues, as servers to Milani, cannot be directly associated with a rebellion. Instead, they will work to keep the government distracted, and when the time to fight is nigh, they'll emerge from their hideouts and aid directly."
"I, however, will be an exception, and will aid you directly. I have great empathy for your cause, as your aims are aligned with my own philosophy and religious faith. If you'll have me, there is a most pressing matter I'd like your help with that will also serve to bolster the Silver Ravens' reputation. What do you say? Will you accept this rose?"
Issil grins sarcastically and accepts the rose. "Sure, I'll work on your stuff. Give me... 3 days?" She takes his buckler and rapier. "I'm gonna work on my own stuff one of these days..."