"Come with me. We'll circle around the drake, see if there's another staircase beyond it."
As they walk away Kekkle speaks up:
"Those two seem nice, especially that Kirk fellow. A little thorny maybe. What do we think of them?"
Remembering the room they never really went into during the chase for the Liar, the party heads back through the secret passage, the Hellfire outpost (Matt greets you), down, and through the passage that used to have pools of burning oil.
When they reach that room they see pile of ashes next to a statue. Something is sticking out from the ash.
Before anyone reaches out to the treasure, Tannan stops them, having spotted a trap on the dragon statue, identical to the one that slowed their progress during the fight against the fiend and the mage.
With that foreknowledge, the party is able to successfully retrieve the items in the pile.
Caravan Earring
A star-shaped brass earring. No jewels, cheaper that way. Males usually attach it to a garment, rather than the ear.Lesser talisman of warrior's courage (Occult Adventures). Worth 45 souls.
Superstitious soldiers used to buy mundane versions of these from travelling caravans, which named the trinket. True enough, several were found buried with corpses on the war of flames aftermath, among other wars.
Large Soul of a Fallen Roamer
Large soul of a roamer who has long ago left the existence.Use to acquire souls.
Souls are that which everyone and everything in the Labyrinth desire.
The drake, as Kirk had identified it, pays attention to the party's actions but makes no hostile moves as long as no one enters the great hall.
As they walk away Kekkle speaks up:
"Those two seem nice, especially that Kirk fellow. A little thorny maybe. What do we think of them?"
Ulrich shrugs.
"Thorny is the word. Lea was cordial enough. We should be wary of entanglements like friendship... if the worst should happen and our erstwhile allies join the Hungry, friendship will be a liability.""Now... we should see what the drake is guarding. I'm not certain if Hellfire ever held sway in this cathedral. So I can't say if my covenant would keep it at bay. Do we wish to fight it or simply run for our lives and hope we aren't stranded?"
"Personally, I say we slay it. Something to improve the morale."
"I don't know...that wouldn't really make me any happier. Have we tried speaking with it?"
"If you know the wyrmspeech, by all means. I don't think it will get us very far, given its hostility."
"I mean, I do speak Draconic. Would you like me to try?"
"If you prefer to speak with it, by all means. But I wouldn't get my hopes up about anything in this place."
Kekkle gets to where the creature can see him
"Hello, can you understand me?"
Kekkle positions himself so that he stands outside the hall, facing the drake. The drake eyes Kekkle, a breath of fire emerging from its maw. It responds in the same language. Its loud voice is that of a behemoth's.
"Are you here to make an offering, or do I go straight to the point? I only accept female meat."
Pahleg glances between Kekkle and the drake, sweat on the back of his neck. He clears his throat. "By chance do you speak the common tongue?" He asks.
It appears the drake does not understand Common.
Kekkle looks nervous now
"It's hardly friendly, I'll say that much"
"We're actually searching for our allies, a group called Hellfire, and saw you conspicuously guarding some passage."
"The fire-breathing isn't a gesture of friendship? How odd."
As Ulrich says that the drake draws another fiery breath.
"It doesn't look like you have anything to offer, do you?"
The drake readjusts its position, tensing. It would be difficult to sneak past it by this point.
"The dragon wants an offering of some kind; particularly flesh but I'm holding out that it may take something else. Either way, if we meet its term it'll let us pass."
"I don't know if we have anything that it would value highly enough to let us pass. Perhaps it is best to come back later if we find something of interest."
"We can lure some Hungry bastards in here and feed them to the drake."
"What? They're mindless at this point, there's no way to help them. So instead of just killing them, we give them to the drake and then we can walk by. Otherwise, I say we slay it."
Even Pahleg chuckles. "I actually agree with you Ulrich. If they are beyond help, they don't have to be beyond use." He frowns. "For some reason I highly doubt our ability to take this creature in combat."
"Hopefully we aren't dealing with a picky eater."
"We could bring him options. 'This one was a half-orc while this one really liked his spicy food'..." Pahleg chuckles.
Ulrich marches all the way back to where the Hellfire Hollows stood arrayed before the Vanguard/Nemesis fog wall. He clears his throat.
"COMPANY! FALL IN!", he shouts, doing his best drill instructor impression.
Intimidate:
The army of Hollows in the hallway is largely unshaken and unmoved by Ulrich's command, which is not that surprising considering their abnormal discipline. One soldier breaks out of the formation, and meekly marches to stand in front of Ulrich. Perhaps this one was particularly weak-willed.
To follow orders...
...one is enough.
...always been weak...
While the single meek Hollow was not the catch they had hoped for, the party returns to the drake, the Hollow following Ulrich's lead.
The drake lets out a growl as the Hollow is offered to it.
Ulrich instructs the Hollow to march to the drake. The drake extends its neck, bites the poor Hollow, and chews it, eventually swallowing it. The drake lets out a roar, but dissatisfied one. The offering did not please it.
A troubled expression flits across Ulrich's face, before settling back into the usual dour cast to his features.
"Picky eater, I suppose."
"It'd have something more in the alive department. To bad the prince and the liar aren't around when you need them."
"Don't any of you have magic that can protect us from flames? We can empower ourselves with its soul and remove a threat from our path.", Ulrich mutters, particularly to Kekkle, Pahleg and Elyna.
"I do, but we would need to come back tomorrow so I could have the spells prepared."
What about the crazies from the sanatorium? Are they alive? Is it possible to bring one up here? Granted I don't wanna see the squid faced thing
"They all seemed fairly Hollow if I recall. It probably wants someone with their wits intact, fed as we are on a diet of souls."
The knight shrugs.
"We've reached an impasse here. Our other avenue is beyond that wall of fog in the asylum- mayhap there is something to be found there."
"Honestly, I'd rather attempt another wall then the dragon. Though, I'm beginning to suspect that our only route to hellfire may indeed lie with the imps."
"That may be so, but I want to see if we can work around fighting the imps- on the off chance they still have the General's ear..."
"What of the possibility that the Imps aren't aligned with Hellfire at all? Corporal Matt certainly said nothing of them that I can recall. All we have of it is their word and that's a frail rope indeed."
"Yes, that's true. We could ask the Corporal about them and see what he recalls. It seems he's been out of the loop though, so it may be down to our own judgement."
"There's also the alchemist we met some time ago, she could prove more worldly. We also could attempt to pursue whatever it was that the wall-creature was offering."
Ulrich scratches under his makeshift eyepatch, absorbed in thought.
"Hmmm... Hmmmmmm.... Hm."
"If I recall, we didn't explore very thoroughly around Felisse's laboratory. We can ask her about Hellfire and the Labyrinth Soul that stone voice has spoken of. Though I suppose one of you polite worthies should do the asking..."
The drake is left on its own devices as the party backtracks two floors up, to Felisse's apothecary. Kekkle knocks on the metal door, knowing that the alchemist keeps it locked. Felisse speaks through the door, and after confirming who's on the other side she opens it.
"Welcome, roamers. I hope you forgive me for not remembering the names of all of you. My subpar people skills, face memory included, have been less of an hindurance in the Labyrinth. But never you mind that, what can I do for you?"
She seems to have new wares.
"I recalled that you have an estus shard in your shop- has anyone else bought it?"
Pahleg clears his throat and smiles politely. "Yes, the estus shard is definitely of interest to us."
Estus Flask Shard
A glass shard of an Estus Flask. Resonates with Estus Flasks, melding into them.Increases maximum capacity of Estus Flask by 1. Use Appraise skill to determine the value of this item.
The very existence of these shards suggests that all Estus, and by extension all life, originates from one single cauldron.
Lost 35 souls.
"Pleasure doing business. You can count on being always welcomed here to make more purchases," Felisse repeats verbatim from the last time.
"Is there anything else?"
After a short pause, Araden steps forward to address the alchemist. "Beg pardon, madam, but my allies and I seek answers to some of the strange questions raised in these gloomy halls. Have you any word or knowledge of the group known as Hellfire? It seems something dark has taken hold of their esteemed ranks, and it concerns us to see such danger lurking even in those who should be friends." He pauses and shifts his weight slightly. "Surely a fine merchant like yourself hears rumors."
"And have you heard anything about a 'Labyrinth Soul'?"
"I want little to do with that group," says the alchemist, grabbing a case of concoctions and reorganizing it. "And I'm not the only one. I'm sure they've got what they wanted - rule and order by fear. If they have troubles it is either good news or bad news for people like me who want peace and quiet. Apologies, I'm sure you mean nothing but well, but I must disappoint you in this topic. Excuse me."
On the mentioning of 'Labyrinth Soul', she pauses her work. "Are you mayhaps referring to those who hold the strongest powers in the Labyrinth? They are terribly old, I hear, yet immensely powerful. There are three, of which two I can name. The first one you already know." Felisse goes to sit on the bench, taking a comfortable position, her hand reaching a vial from a shelf. She drinks it before continuing:
"The tyrant general of Hellfire, Kiehinen. Astreath, the mighty dragolich who rests deep down in the necropolis. And the unknown horror that devours men past the miasma."
"All who roam the Labyrinth fear these monsters that cannot be fought. You'll do well to stay clear of such beings."
Kekkle gives a quick, worried look to Ulrich as Felisse reveals more of Hellfire.
"The Labyrinth Soul...we had a collective dream that went along with it. I don't recall anything about the three you mentioned, but in the dream it seemed as if we were being...I don't know, examined? Has anyone else had that sort of experience?"