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Green? Interesting. We never confirmed zat.
She stands up and turns to her companions.
And Yes, I zink we can assume zat the Green Dragon can cast spells. When we last saw it, ze Dragon made an Illusion of ze great black Dragon Aeteperax come back from ze dead.
It was a good Illusion. According to our tea drinking companion at ze time, ze spell was more then what a minor practitioner of magic could cast.
So we can assume zat it can cast spells and may well be quite cunning.
Green? Interesting. We never confirmed zat.
"Green dragon? The only type of dragon I fought in the past was a red. What can you tell us about green dragons, especially this Aeteperax. Any special preparation we can take to protect ourselves from it? Can it cast spells?"
"Well, much of what we know of Aeteperax is actually based on local history. With what we've learned from local reports, Aeteperax was actually an ancient black dragon that was defeated by a dragonslayer who became something of a local legend," Kreighton replies as he goes into didactic mode. "Its bones were said to be coiled around the dragonslayer's tomb, which we confirmed from group that ventured there earlier. The likelihood that this current 'Aeteperax' is something posturing under the disguise of grandeur is high; or a less likely alternative is that the dragon's spirit is reincarnated perhaps..." the elf starts to trail off into conjecture before Aram clears his throat loudly to startle him out of his reverie.
"Anyways, green dragons. Yes. I wouldn't advise using acidic weapons or magics. They breath out that nasty stuff," Kreighton proffers helpfully while Aram snorts. "It is highly likely that it could use magic, especially given what has happened earlier in Belhaim."
What sort of knowledge check should I make to know more about the 'Secrets of the Dreaming Dark'?
"Do we know anything about this book that we do have the title for?
The elf actually blushes slightly. "I am hesitant to say this, but I am actually unfamiliar with the book," he replies. "My collection is extensive, and I was unable to cross-reference anything to this particular work. It must be extremely valuable, or a very niche-oriented book."
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Zere may also be other Drakes around. Zis Green somehow convinced a flame drake to attack us right before ze illusion showed up. So we need to be ready for most anything.
I can protect most of us from Acid, but zat will expend a good amount of my magic for the day. Can anyone else protect some of us from ze breath? Or does the lodge have anything that can help us with zis?
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Depending on the age of the green, we need magical weapons to penetrate their hide. Many can breathe water and move through flora without impediment. Older greens will have nature or enchantment focused sorcerous abilities.
I've never heard of the book either. My knowledge is not as extensive as Kreighton's. She considers Tereze's comment. I don't have the ability to cast a spell to resist the energy damage myself, but could use a scroll or a wand if we were to pick one up.
Or does the lodge have anything that can help us with zis?
"We do sell scrolls and potions that may help..." Kreighton begins to offer helpfully, until Aram Zey finishes his preparations at that exact moment.
"Later, Shaine. My coffee is done percolating in two minutes, they're gone in one. Gather in the center of the room...yes, next to that ominous scorch mark on the floor-" the wizard begins ushering the group together in begin his casting. He will delay (barely and with much annoyance) in the event of any hurried purchases, but will immediately cast teleportation magic at the slightest sign of readiness.
With a twisting lurch and a pop of displaced air, the group appears instantly on a grassy knoll leading up to what appears to be the Monastery of St. Kyerixus; a massive, sprawling building of weathered stone illuminated by the morning sun. A 12-foot high wrought-iron fence surrounds the entire property of the monastery. Eight weather-worn statues in various martial poses flank a tiled patio leading up to the monastery’s gate. The weathered, iron gate is ajar. A guardhouse lies to the north, and three narrow arrow slits face ominously southward from its facade. The path leading to the monastery proper curves past the guardhouse to the east and then north again out of visible sight. To the east of the guardhouse appears to be the monastery grounds, consisting of manicured lawns, well-trimmed trees, and a serene reflecting pool in the distance. At the moment, there does not seem to be anyone within visible sight beyond the group itself.
LET US NOT DILLY DALLY! THERE ARE DRAGONS TO BE DEALT WITH! FORWARD MY NOBLE STEED!
Testudo's booming voice rolls out over the empty grounds, echoing back at him with eerie acoustics from the monastery building itself. Faint chittering can be heard coming from arrowslits in the guardhouse ahead, while shortly afterwards the sound of large bells tolling from a belfry high above wash through the air.
"-Got any threessss?" a hissing, chittering voice asks.
"Go fisssssh...What'sss that loud racket? Go take a look!" a similar, but slightly higher pitched voice responds.
After the cacophany dies down, a chittering voice calls out in very badly accented common from one of the guardhouse arrow slits.
"“You there! Yesss...the one with the turtle! You here with money? Ransssom money? Where isss it? Show usss! Lord Aeteperax is impatient!”
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Tereze reaches into her backpack and pulls out a handful of platinum coins.
She holds them up so the (likely Kobolds) can see the sun glinting off of them.
Then she calls out loudly:
We have ze first downpayment to show we come with good faith. But we need to negotiate with your Master before we bring all ze coin. Ze town needs assurances zey will be safe if zey pay
.
Then after a bit she puts the coins back in her pack.
Tell me good sirs, you speak for Aeteperax? We would like to have words with him.
Three distinct set of voices chitter furiously and more distinctly for a brief moment.
"Do we ssspeak for the massster? I feelsss that he would eatsss usss for presssuming..." One voice asks.
"Oh yesss, the lieutenantsss have earsss everywhere. Have to be careful..." responds the second.
"Never been called 'sssir' before. Isss that a pink-ssskin euphemisssm?" muses the third. "Anywaysss, jussst sssay sssomething intimidating. That usssually worksss."
"No-one ssspeakss to the great Aeteperax, oh yesss!" responds one of the voices loudly. "Leave messsage, we will passs it on!"
We have ze first downpayment to show we come with good faith. But we need to negotiate with your Master before we bring all ze coin. Ze town needs assurances zey will be safe if zey pay
There is a brief pause as Tereze shows the coins. Eventually, one of the sibilant voices respond.
"Good, good, oh yesss! You can talk to Aeteperax'sss pet human about down payment. Just follow the tiled path eassst passst
the fountain and you’ll sssee him." There is another brief pause before it continues. "But no funny business or we’ll come and shoot you all, oh yesss!”
"Fortunately for you we are not jesters." Kegan tells the voices.
"Pentosh used it last week when she was insulting Skrex. It is one of their ways to call someone egg-shelled. Umm...like 'ofopy.'"
"Ohhh....that makes no sense. I'll just pretend to be angry."
"Yesss...keep walking and don't even try to sssneak off. Oh yesss!"
"O'f nr vstrgia ejp ytu jofr upit eptfd gtpz. Mrbrt lmpe ejp zohjy nr aodyrmomh, aoyyar aoxstfd."
"...Thank Dahak! Common is just so...awkward. They should just make everyone speak our language instead, its so much easier. Skrex, tell them what you said before; we all know your Common is terrible."
"Ahem...talk to Aeteperax's human about the down payment!" the voice now says loudly to Melisande. "Follow the tiled path east past the fountain and you'll see him. We will be watching if you decide to do anything else!"
The monastery grounds are exquisitely sculpted. Manicured lawns, well trimmed trees, and a serene reflecting pool all give the place a peaceful air. A tiled path continues to the east, where a single sycamore tree grows in an idyllic courtyard, and a wooden veranda along the courtyard’s edges provides shade and shelter from the elements. Sitting on a rock there is a tired-looking man wearing a red hat with a blue feather. He looks up sharply as you approach the courtyard, as if he was deep in a reverie or thought of some kind. The man tenses, but does not move or take any action, as if waiting to see what you do first.
The monastery grounds are exquisitely sculpted. Manicured lawns, well trimmed trees, and a serene reflecting pool all give the place a peaceful air. A tiled path continues to the east, where a single sycamore tree grows in an idyllic courtyard, and a wooden veranda along the courtyard’s edges provides shade and shelter from the elements. Sitting on a rock there is a tired-looking man wearing a red hat with a blue feather. While the man's hair/beard and clothing is different, you recognize his face and hat as matching the man named Clausyre from the auction.
He looks up sharply as you approach the courtyard, as if he was deep in a reverie or thought of some kind. The man tenses, but does not move or take any action, as if waiting to see what you do first.
“Hello!” he calls out as he gets close enough that he doesn’t have to shout. “So, who cares for the lawn here? They really do a nice job.”
"I do, when not running errands for the dragon," the man replies cautiously. He glances at Tereze and Locke, his eyes widening slightly with recognition. "You! The ones from the auction. I had a feeling you’d be the ones coming here. Did the baroness manage it? Have you brought the ransom? Gozreh’s bones, where is it? I pray the beast will be satisfied—my wife’s life depends on it!” He looks over the rest of the group, and his face falls serious for a moment. "You...do have the ransom, right?"
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Forsooth! A damsel in distress?!
Testudo speaks at a normal, even for a normal person, voice level, his seriousness clear as he restrains himself from shouting. This is... probably his version of a whisper.
How dare that dragon put a Maiden's life at risk! My lance cannot find his heart soon enough.
Looking back and forth, Kegan states the obvious. “Evidently you know each other.”
"In a manner of speaking, perhaps."
Now what is this about your wife’s life depending on the ransom?
"I am not at liberty to discuss that," the man says shortly. "Our ears are not the only ones listening at the moment. I am sure you understand my position."
Clauson, we are not saying anything more until you tell us what happened after you left ze auction?
"Clausyre is perhaps what you might know me by, but my name is Azmur Kell. When I returned without those texts to Aeteperax, he almost killed me on the spot in rage. He would have, if not for my knowledge of the healing arts being still valuable to him. What happened after that in town, I am sure you remember."
How dare that dragon put a Maiden's life at risk! My lance cannot find his heart soon enough.
Azmur stills, his face growing ashen as his visage blanches visibly. “Are you mad? The beast is enormous! You have neither the skill nor the numbers to face a dragon of his size...all you’ll accomplish is an agonizing death, and then Aeteperax will raze Belhaim to the ground!” The man begins pacing back and forth with agitation as he wrings his hands. "You all...don't have the ransom...do you? This is bad, completely and utterly bad..."
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Hearing about his wife, Tereze softens up a bit with her tone. Trying to be a bit comforting.
As I told your watchers, we have ze downpayment and after we get to speak to ze dragon we will decide what we will do. Ze dragon will not get what it wants until the town has safety. But if everyone is willing to work together we can make sure zis turns out well. If not zen the dragon will never find the rest of ransom.
Have you seen the beast? Anything you can tell us about him would help, as we want to make sure zat everyone here gets exactly what zey deserve. I want everyone to get out of here safely and happy, but without knowing more about this new Aeteperax we will not be successful.
Azmur continues pacing for several moments, before sighing heavily. “Fine, fine! I’ll help you, but if it costs my wife and unborn child their lives, a dragon’s wrath will be nothing compared to mine!” He looks around at the stained glass windows dotting the walls of the courtyard, as well as back towards the gatehouse near the entrance to the grounds. "We can talk more freely inside away from those who would listen. There is a private place that I retreat to occasionally for reflection, that would be best. Please, follow me," he says as he shoulders his pack. "Do not stray too far from me until we arrive, I won't be able to cover for your presence unless I am nearby."
The next room has a blue mosaic dominating the floor of this chamber. The ceiling rises to several domes twenty-five feet above. A large marble statue of a robed man with hair braided in a loop and worn like a necklace looks down on the chamber serenely from the east. Azmur does not pause in this room, moving to pass through another door to the south. He continues through a hallway on the other side of the door, making a turn to the west and continuing past several doors further down.
The man stops at another set of double doors, opening them to enter a shrine of some kind. Narrow pillars painted blue and gold support the ceiling in this room. At its west end is a large statue in a mother-of-pearl-lined niche. The figure sits in the lotus position, hands clasped and eyes closed in prayer. Once the group is all in the room, Azmur firmly closes the doors behind them.
"No one enters this room except me, most of the time. For how spiritual this place is, much of Aeteperax's minions are not religious at all; so they think this shrine is empty and useless. We are free to talk here, as long as you are not overly boisterous. I will attempt to answer whatever questions you may have."
Have you seen the beast?
"Oh, yes I have. Aeteperax is a young green dragon, with greater aspirations that plague much of his kind. He possesses a staff of some kind that allows him to use powerful illusions, that is how he appeared to you all in Belhaim without endangering himself or revealing his identity." Azmur sets his pack down next to a bench, sitting down heavily with a grunt.
"I have read much of the tomes and documents in the libraries here when not out running errands for the dragon. The monks here were tinkering with the Dark Tapestry, based off what I have managed to read. I believe that Aeteperax is also interested for some reason, and that is why I believe his has come here...to learn the dark secrets that the monks discovered many years ago. That might even be the reason why he was obsessed with that book, for it contained lore about the Dark Tapestry that could have aided him in his desire."
"According to my research, the monks managed to construct an aperture into the Dark Tapestry that allowed them to observe and communicate with alien beings on the far side of the universe. They were using this 'Dark Window' to identify aspects of chaos and madness, so as to know what to 'purge' from themselves in their quest for perfection. However, when they activated it for the first time, the being they contacted manifested here in the monastery and slaughtered all the monks except the abbot named 'Kanjougas.' The abbot managed to banish the creature back to the Dark Tapestry, but I have not been able to ascertain from the records what truly befell the man afterwards."
"The Dark Window still exists, as I know that Aeteperax frequently ascends to the third floor lectern library to view it. The room is locked somehow, but the dragon manages to enter and leave thanks to some kind of potion brewed by one of his lieutenants. I know that from the records that Kanjougas had that key to the room; if you manage to find his body, that would allow you enter and see what Aeteperax is doing in there. I know that the grioths, those bat-creatures you saw earlier, are conjured here through the Dark Window and are under his control due to his use of the aperture. If you can manage to disrupt it somehow, you might be able to free the creature from his control and either send them back to the Dark Tapestry or have them turn on the dragon and attack him instead. I believe disruptive magics, like dispel magic, might cause enough of a flux in the Dark Window to at least cause loss of his control over the grioths." Azmur strokes his beard for a second with a thoughtful pause. "Based on my research, force magic can permanently close the aperture...but it has to be enhanced somehow before using it on the Window. Hopefully, studying the window will provide some clues. I can aid you in that matter later, if you need help."
"As for Aeteperax himself, his lair lies in a cavern to the north of the monastery. Reaching it is difficult if you can't fly, but the kobolds have built a tunnel between the monastery's dungeons and his lair for easier access. Using that route may be safer than attempting to fly in from above."
"Finally, you may want to search through the monastery before attempting to interact or deal with the dragon. There is much of this place that has not been explored yet by Aeteperax's agents, so you may be able to salvage supplies here that could aid you in the future." Azmur pauses briefly again. "Is this information useful? Or do you perhaps have other questions that I can answer for you?"
As Azmur leads you through the room with the blue mosaic and the marble statue, you notice an odd bump under a prayer rug in front of the marble statue. You believe there may be something hidden underneath.
You identify the bat-like creatures as 'grioths,' denizens of the Dark Tapestry that infest rogue planets that have been cast away from the stars. They are immune to cold and have a sensitivity to bright light. You know one additional piece of information for every 5 points above the DC.
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“Do you have any idea where your wife is being kept?”
“Can the dragon cast spells itself, or is it dependent on items to perform magic?”
“Other than the kobolds and the Grioths, what allies does the dragon have? Any others who are being coerced to serve?”
“Where does the lieutenant create this potion the dragon uses? Do you know of any others it creates for the dragon or itself?”
“How long do you think you can stall the dragon? I assume the kobolds will report our visit.”
-Immune to Acid effects
-Has spell-casting or spell-like abilities, blend of nature/enchant
-DR/magic
-Potentially Water-breathing
-Potentially woodland stride
May ask 1 additional question as desired.
Your idea to look around zis place. Can you direct us to places where ze dragon's minions have not explored yet?
"To a degree. I can sketch out the layout of the ground and second floor of the monastery; as well as Aeteperax's cavern, if desired. I am unfamiliar with the dungeons below or anything on the third floor or higher; those areas were considered not relevant to my responsibilities to the dragon."
“Do you have any idea where your wife is being kept?”
"Aeteperax keeps her constantly at his side in his cavern, constantly under his control. I am assuming much of it is magical, as Rima always seems off when he taunts me with her presence. To free her, you will have to address Aeteperax first."
“Can the dragon cast spells itself, or is it dependent on items to perform magic?”
"Yes. Well, to be more specific, it can cast magical spells...though his breadth of ability does seem rather fixed when I think about it. The more powerful and variable magics he seems to draw from items out of his treasure hoard, but that is not surprising given his age as a dragon."
“Other than the kobolds and the Grioths, what allies does the dragon have? Any others who are being coerced to serve?"
"He entertains three lieutenants at the moment. The first is an enormous grioth called Goladryth, he frequents the Saint's Library on the second floor." "The alchemist Pentosh is the second, she sets up her lab in the belfry at the height of the monastery. Finally, there is a naga who goes by Thaena...she is somewhere on the third floor. I suspect the grioth might be compelled by Aeteperax's control of the Dark Window; but the other two serve the dragon voluntarily. Thaena's been with him the longest out of them all."
“Where does the lieutenant create this potion the dragon uses? Do you know of any others it creates for the dragon or itself?”
"I am presuming up in the belfry. Pentosh is a bit...eccentric, so I try not to interact with her much if I can help it. I am unfamiliar with whether or not she has ancillary labs, or her repertoire of other recipes."
“How long do you think you can stall the dragon? I assume the kobolds will report our visit.”
Azmur stops to ponder this question for a moment, before brightening slightly. "I could possibly spin something to Aeteperax...like maybe some of the townsfolk came up to plead for an extension on the payment. The most I am certain I could do is give you two weeks. Beyond that, there is not much I can do."
You mentioned there might be supplies here in the monastery. Are there any particular areas we should investigate?
"Much of the areas that I sketched have already been heavily picked through by Aeteperax's minions; you may find things there with a keen eye that others have missed. I suspect that there might be more valuable things in the third floor that I am unfamiliar with, or in the dungeons even. I am sorry that I can't be more helpful in that regard."
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I've read about Grioths, but never seen one before. They can channel psychic energy through weapons of glass, inflicting additional damage and sometimes confusion. Their bite is poisonous, and they can directly assault your mind, again causing confusion. She considers them for a moment. I'm not sure there is much we can do directly if we need to face them other than taking an antitoxin. She quickly rifles through her haversack. It seems I've used my last antitoxin and forgotten to replenish my supply. I'm not normally so careless. She sighs and closes it up. Shall we investigate the dungeons or the third floor first?
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Testudo nods along as his friends interrogate. Best to leave them to what they where good at.
I make no judgment or expectations of a man and his wife's marriage bed. He remarks. So I will not assume to her status as a maiden. But as you say, it is merely a turn of phrase. Be she be older than the dragon or a babe in the cradle, all I care about is that she is danger, and I will aid in her rescue.
As to were to go next, Testudo muses.
Best to start at the dungeons and work up so we are not surprised from behind while we are cleaning out this den of evil.
Azmur nods upon seeing the group wrap up in their questions. "One more thing. I am sure this might not surprise some of you, but 'Aeteperax' was not the dragon's original name. One of the previous lieutenants, a half-orc named Hapscot, knew the dragon's true name and used it off-handedly; this caused the creature to react violently and resulted in him putting Hapscot to death. It is possible that one of the remaining lieutenants might know it." The man strokes his beard thoughtfully. "If you are able to pry that information from them, you could potentially use the name to infuriate the dragon and disrupt his tactics."
"I will remain in this shrine for the hour, before returning to my duties. I possess some skill as a druid, should you need it, in the event you may need supplemental spellcasting that you do not already have. If I am not here, cast a handful of dead leaves into the reflecting pool near where we met; I will meet you there as soon as I see the signal. I wish you luck in your endeavor."
Best to start at the dungeons and work up so we are not surprised from behind while we are cleaning out this den of evil.
"If you wish to descend to the dungeons, head down the hallway to the east we passed through. Continue through the door there and make a right at the end. The stairs down will be the first door on the left."
If Locke saw something on the way in, we should investigate before we head down.
The group leaves Azmur and returns back up the hallway. Locke indicates the bump under the prayer rug under the statue, and after determining that there are no traps, the rug is lifted to reveal an unlocked trap door. If opened, a ten-foot hole descends downwards with a ladder present to assist with moving between the two areas.
"Who enters this place?" a cracked voice asks, coming from the body's mouth like wind rushing through a tomb as the corpse slowly rises from the chair.