Husarq crosses to the other ship and engages the hobgoblin.
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The hobgoblin alchemist reaches for another bomb. His arm goes back for a Hail Mary toss. Everyone can see that he's targeting the Grinning Pixie's sails. Without those, your party and crew might be lost in the storms nearby!
As his arm moves forward, Harrow smashes his gut with a powerful blow from his nodachi. Simultaneously, Husarq's arms strecth impossibly long and the eidolon slashes the hobgoblins quadriceps--forcing the alchemist to his knees.
Still, his arm moves forward to hurl his bomb.
Thankfully, Berosius' magic missiles slam into the bomb a split second before it leaves his fingers.
Bomb and hobgoblin (despite his resist fire) both explode into a cloud of fire and ash.
Combat over!
Benarry explains that she and Captain Faroon have crossed paths numerous times over the years, and that Faroon holds a grudge against Benarry for a heist they both participated in many years ago that didn’t go Faroon’s way. Though Benarry declines to offer further details, she confirms that Faroon is a dangerous arcane spellcaster and a cold-blooded killer who holds a deep animosity for the Pathfinder Society.
Hm. Strange. Nobody can seem to find Captain Faroon aboard either ship.
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he asks as he starts to quickly loot the dead bodies.
The Black Whisper’s treasure hold contains a modest amount of treasure looted from various ships. Benarry claims the contents of the hold for herself and her crew, but allows the PCs to claim the loot from the boarding party.
The Black Whisper suffered only a small amount of damage during the boarding action, but the Grinning Pixie was not so lucky. In addition to the ballista bolt embedded in her hull, she has suffered fire damage. Additionally, the ship to start taking on a great deal of water.
“The situation has changed a bit,” Captain Benarry says, eyeing her crew as they begin making necessary repairs.
“I originally intended to join you for this trip into the tomb. But with the Pixie taking on water and all of this other damage—not to mention the time it will take to thoroughly search the Black Whisper—I’m going to ask you to venture into the tomb on your own. our primary goal is the same: explore Hrethnar’s Throne. I want every inch of the third level of Old Sevenfingers’s tomb thoroughly mapped and documented. Beware, I'll bet Captain Faroon is already there." Benarry pauses for a moment, and then lowers her voice.
“Feristal Faroon’s involvement certainly throws a goose in the rigging. I know you’re not hired killers, but she and her team must be taken out. She knows too much and this tomb holds some dangerous secrets. If she ever decided to sell her secrets to our enemies, the Society could suffer greatly and everything we’ve worked for here would be for naught. Also, find out how Faroon gained access to the tomb. There are only two ways I know of to secure access: wait for the solstice, or use the Orb of Stars, which I have right here. As you can see the Gloomspires are still moving. If Faroon has indeed reached the tomb already, she and her team have somehow figured out a way to reach them safely and accurately, even when the damned things shift. Faroon’s smart—a lot smarter than me—so I’m thinking she’s uncovered a secret way to reach the spires that we don’t know about. I want that information.”
Benarry then hands Berosius the Orb of Stars.
"Oh. Remember the pit of life-draining energy called the Oblivion Shaft that connects the second and third levels of Sevenfingers’s tomb?"
She gives each party member one dose of spectre moss. "Use this to descend the Shaft. It doesn’t last long and ye’d be unwise to squander it."
Lastly, Benarry lets you borrow Old Flotsam, her folding boat.
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"Too bad this Captain Faroon fled the field for I had some insults prepared for the manner of her fighting spirit. A leader leaving her soldiers to perish and die... how very Chelaxian if I do say so myself. " Uthred says after the opposing foe leader is no where to be found. He then listens to the last bit of advice given by Captain Benarry.
Once the folding boat is in the water he tests its seaworthiness before fully getting in it...
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"Harrow... grab an oar and paddle...like this" Uthred shakes his head and shows the half-witorc how to paddle...
Aboard the Grinning Pixie, Harrow's mount, Crypt, whinnies and snorts. You're all pretty sure that he's laughing derisively at the cavalier.
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The party heads out to the Gloomspires. On the way, Berosius activates the Orb of Stars, and the spires cease moving.
Though you all clearly remember everything from last time... The trip to the spire and the disorienting effect of the fog seems much more confounding now that you're in a race against Captain Faroon! Every time that you blink and a landmark suddenly seems 50 more feet away, you know that Faroon is that much closer to her goal.
Upon reaching the base of the spire, the you must ascend the narrow, winding stairs that twist around it. Nearly two-thirds of the way up the stairs, you discover a breach in the wall.
The breach, conveniently enough, brings you to a point in the Labyrinth of Hungry Ghosts which is very near to the Oblivion Shaft. You also realize that this means Captain Faroon somehow knew to break through the Gloomspire at this precise point.
You recognize the room where you faced the spirit the last time you were here. This unfurnished chamber is illuminated by three wall-mounted stone braziers to the north bearing continual flame spells. Long gouges mar the walls, floor, and ceiling, and several piles of rubble and broken stonework litter the floor. A heavy black curtain cordons off the far southwest corner of the chamber. The area within 15 feet of the hole to the spire’s exterior contains a permanent silence effect that extends from the floor to the ceiling. (This is where you faced the allips and then were stuck in the hallway with the possessed paladin.)
This chamber has remained abandoned since its former occupants were destroyed many months ago. Old bloodstains and other signs of the battle are still evident here.
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Harrow glares at Uthred as the slayer mocks him. "Harrow know how to paddle! Harrow not know some things, but Harrow not stupid! Harrow say be careful or Harrow show Uthred how to brown note!"
As they reach the tower, Harrow sees the breach, and after a quick examination, tries to prove a point to Uthred.
"Uthred think Harrow not know anything, but look! Harrow know something important! Ragathiel show Harrow that this hole made on purpose, and not earthquake or natural thing. Uthred know that? Harrow not think so. Somehow other captain know to come right to this place."
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At the Pit of Oblivion: A yawning pit full of crackling black energy dominates the southwestern corner of this otherwise empty chamber. This shaft descends 300 feet. All but the lowest 10 feet of the shaft is infused with crackling negative energy. At the bottom of the shaft is a round door of dark gray stone.
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Berosius also rubs the strange moss on himself.
"Yes," he whispers with a laugh to no one in particular and conspicuously not looking at Harrow. "Yes he does! I wouldn't tell him, though. Stop it! That's not nice. "
He suppresses a snicker and assumes an innocent face before turning around.
"I'm ready!" he agrees.
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"Yes," he whispers with a laugh to no one in particular and conspicuously not looking at Harrow. "Yes he does! I wouldn't tell him, though. Stop it! That's not nice."
He suppresses a snicker and assumes an innocent face before turning around.
At the bottom of the shaft is a round trap door of dark gray stone. Berosius pushes on it, but it won't open.
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Uthred finds no traps, though the door is locked. The half-elf slayer is able to get around the lock with his Disable Device skill.
Beneath the round stone trap door is a large chamber. Its floor is 70 feet below. Dominating one end of the chamber is a massive stone throne, nearly twice as tall as an adult human. Numerous narrow passages lead away from the chamber, as does a much larger hall opposite the great throne.
A brass plaque is affixed to the base of the throne. You cannot read the inscription from where you are. Above this plaque is a shallow cavity.
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"Wait. I shall summon scouts," says Mareq.
Mareq concentrates, unwinding the threads of energy that hold Husarq in place. The efreeti thrall dissipates in a slow puff of smoke that swirls back into his brass lamp.
With his inner eye, Mareq imagines the kaleidoscope of planar energies forming a vortex to the celestial slopes of Heaven.
Three lantern archons answer Mareq's call, passing from Mount Celestia to the room in the Gloomspires.
"Scout the room. No doubt something evil lurks within," says the ifrit to his summoned allies.