Drovya sheathes Black Ivan and shakes his head in response to Kanthuun's query. I have encountered very few beings in this place that I do not wish to destroy, with some obvious exceptions, of course. He smiles warmly at Rohini and the Yamah.
Lowering his voice to a whisper, he looks around. I don't know much about Obiscidaemon's, except that they are extremely powerful, and they tend to deal in genocide on behalf of the Horseman of War. Did you see anything from your flute playing Rohini?
"The only thing I noticed was that one of the hooded figures had a cacodaemon hovering near his head -- presumably a familiar. It did seem more graceful than most cacos."
The remaining walk to the walls of the settlement from which the pillar of light emitted was uneventful, but the true scope of the genocide of the wicked urdhefan become blatantly obvious as the palisades surrounding the camp came into focus. The heads of nearly 150 such creatures were defiled and impaled upon them, bloated tongues lolling out and attracting flies large enough to make one think of stirges back home (provided they were native to your area).
2 guard towers manned by blue-skinned elf-like beings with white hair loomed a full 35 feet in the air, but the gate between the two was left ajar, which ended up being a useful move for the half-orc with massive tusks who dashed right out of it as the party entered, creating a gust of wind in his wake.
The inside of the settlement had been repurposed from hovels, most likely, with the exception of the 35' high light-emitting pyramid in the center.
Cacos flew about without bothering to cloak themselves, and at least three vulnadaemons strode about freely, conversing with and leering lifelessly at the manifold mortals careening about, whether in trade, training (there were a few combat dummies in a visible section), or tactical conversation. Tables made of stone stained with blue blood dotted the area surrounding the central ruins.
"I wonder if we have anything decent to trade," says Kanthuun quietly to Hanethes. "This could be a good place for information."
Haka looks around, struck by the many forms of unpleasantness the place offers - urdhefan heads on display, daemons aplenty, and obvious sacrificial altars, and opines quietly, "Well, it's been a while since I said this, I know - but this place is awful."
Talon chuckles. "It's not all bad." He says looking at the Yamah traveling with the group, his eyes lingering on Nyota a little longer than her sister.
"There's some truth in that, but they'd hardly think of themselves as part of this place. Any guesses what's going on here?"
The dial of the wayfind is now obviously attuned to the pyramid in the center of the encampment, and the buzzing has reached a feverpitch. Perhaps only the movement of the scene around the group has prevented others from noticing.
"Yea, but it's where we met them."
Rohini feels but manages to disguise an enormous revulsion at the scene around her, and at the mortals that would choose to frequent such a place, for profit or whatever motive, present company excepted of course.
Rohini says to the others in a low-voice, "Do any of you know what those blue-skinned creatures are, and who they typically work for?"
Kanthuun says quietly, looking at the wayfinder, "It is here."
Pretty much everything about them on the srd. They're wicked, underground-dwelling elves that hate their surface kin, and regularly schedule hunts for slaves. They often worship demons, though worshipping daemons and devils is not unheard of. They can curb their murderous tendencies for a while, but...
you've got a couple half-elves in your party. The instant you command attention to yourselves in their presence, they will probably single out Drovya and Hanethes in combat. You can also assume, pretty safely, that they'll make poisons from whatever is at hand.
What the SRD won't tell you? Males are typically part of martial classes, and regular elves can spontaneously transform into drow if there is enough wickedness in their hearts... but you might want to keep that on the down-low.
"Those? They're just drow. Evil cousins for Han and Kanthuun. Typical slaver/devil worshippers."
Can you lead us to it, Kanthya? Drovya's excitement is obvious, and his hand twitches excitedly at Black Ivan's hilt.
"Drovya. Do we walk right up to the owners and ask for it? This could be an auction house. Or do we triangulate to determine its location and then ..." Kanthuun makes various spell like gestures and points to Hanethes and shrugs.
Hanethes shrugs. "Might as well follow the custom of the locals."
I say we gather information. First, let us find it, and find who or what possesses it. Then, we can decide the best way to procure it and determine our exit strategy.
He looks around at the throng of daemons and mortals. It may be difficult to gather information. Despite my... urges, I suggest caution and deliberation.
The two yamah remain incredibly tight-lipped, as if fearing their very voices could bring down a piece of the fiendish sun(if you can call it that) upon their companions, but Illyata does stare at a group of three male drow haggling with a group of remarkably fiendish-looking humans.
This other group of 6 merchants sport obvious half-fiend features of the daemonic variety.
The drow and the merchants were almost ready to come to blows over the price of a few protective items, including a ring of protection.
As well they probably should. What the merchants are asking is highway robbery.
"Wonder what they're on about. Yea, let's play this cool."
Best stay clear, Drovya cautions in a low voice, nodding towards the Drow and Half-Fiend Merchants. Looks like they are about to have a very serious argument.
Also in a low voice, "I agree. A dispute over the fairness of pricing. Let's keep moving."
"Either move on or join one side of the fight. Things are about to get bloody." Hanethes whispers.
Drovya stays clear but watches the altercation with hawkish eyes, looking for an opportunity to capitalize on the impending argument.
Surely enough, the drow shared a collective glance and pulled out barbed longswords, focusing on only one of the four merchants in their first go. The largest of them barked out orders as the half-fiends gathered their bearings and tried to retaliate as the first of their number fell to filthy earth of the damned realm, frothing from the mouth and convulsing.
The first merchant to strike used a wicked-looking scythe that cut deep into the back of the leanest of the drow, whilst the second one took a step backwards and let loose a flying shuriken which embedded in the authoritative dark elf's armor, yellow eyes flashing in the dim light. The third let forth a resounding bellow and proceeded to slash at the remaining drow with claws which had grown massive and pulsating; one of which cut into the man's face leaving a hideous gouge.
The yamah turned away from the scene, Illyata's face set in a grim line. Even if the adventurers decided to interfere, the celestials couldn't.
The attention of gawkers in the camp was being gathered, however, and over-excited cacodaemons eager for a meal began to swarm over the brawl.
"We should use this commotion as a distraction and move."
Kanthuun looks to see if the area where the quarry lies is unguarded and not blocked.
Lead us to it. Drovya urges Kanthuun.
The pyramid structure in the center of the settlement certainly wasn't being as interesting for most creatures in the area as the brawl, but there was a different problem entirely with the new plan.
There was no obvious entrance into the structure.
Kanthuun observes the structure.
He nods to Hanethes. "If there's even a crack..." He makes whooshy-whooshy motions to indicate Gaseous Form.
Hanethes studies the structure if they have the time.
Hanethes rolls his eyes at the thought of being squishy-whooshy again. "Alright, if I have to."
Scampering away from the main fight and moving to the other side of the pyramid did grant Kanthuun and Hanethes the cracks they were looking for.
There were large, leonine footprints outside of a mundane portion of the wall about twenty meters away from said cracks. Though an intense search by touch found no hidden doors.
"There was a big cat here, maybe a few."
Rohini studies the structure using detect magic.
"A felinadaemon? Now I've heard everything."
Once Talon points out the footprints, Drovya casts detect magic to examine the walls of the pyramid and the ground nearby, wondering if there might be a trap door or other unorthodox means of entry.
"We should both go in there, Han. You can't exactly re-vaporize on your own."
Kanthuun watches Drovya to see if he picks up anything, keeping an eye on on the milling daemonic creatures.
Despite an incredibly thorough search, no exotic means of entry are identifiable. Clearly, the leonine creature had walked through, and just as clearly, there was no obvious door.
"Maybe it phased through? I've heard of things that do that."
We could try the top, see if there is an entrance at the apex... I don't like the two of you going in alone, not that you can't handle yourselves.
"Are you suggesting someone climb... or fly?" Illyata inquired very quietly.
Would you be willing to, Illyata? Invisibly of course, and we could mask your celestial nature as well with our wand. Drovya smiles encouragingly, admiring the bravery of the tarnished angel, and hoping that the reconnaissance would not prove too dangerous or taxing to her.
"This seems like the best plan at the moment. My thanks to you as well, Illyata. We should move quickly while we still have the advantage of distraction." Rohini stands prepared to cast undetectable alignment from the wand.
Kanthuun starts to object, then remembers that he is essentially a coward. "Our moment of greatness has been delayed, Han," he quips.
"Sister..." Nyota trailed off as Illyata nodded her consent and allowed the spells necessary to be cast upon her before becoming invisible and making her ascent to the top of the tower.
Nyota pressed superficially-bound hands against the side of the pyramid and watched until she could no longer see the auras within a spell of magic detection.
A minute passed, and the sound of combat around the pyramid ceased with a loud, booming, ORDER! that veered through the minds of all present rather than shaking the ground. The voice was incredibly masculine, and both fierce and calming at once. Despite misgivings, there was something fatherly about it, despite an occasional snarl.
Zin-para-jox. You shall not act as ANIMALS! Return to your posts immediately! A house divided FALLS, and we are not a house asunder!
The footsteps that followed did, however.
"We have what we came here for, and your reward shall soon be tangible! Fiz-zehe-yah!"
A loud roar echoed from around the camp, as well as the sound of swords being raised to the air.
"Uz-berei-na! In a show of the waking shift, I call the fallen here to likewise walk again!"
A small explosion of light burst forth from the other side of the pyramid, and the crowd's roar increased to a fever pitch...
masking the return of an invisible celestial.
"There is an opening at the top of the pyramid where this pillar originates, blessed ones." she whispers, barely noticeable above the din.
"And the enormous leonine daemon stands in front of the structure now. He made an opening by magic... I do not know if he intends to return, but for now he is not within and occupied."
It was infuriating to see so little, but the wayfinder's needle never strayed.