The travel through the freezing, abyssal jungle back to the gateway goes surprisingly well, although the noise of things hunting deeper in the verdant scar on the lunar surface echo.
The twenty-four people that were in the shrine don't understand why you want to leave the comfortable shrine, but are happy to do what you want them to, once they think they understand what that is.
Back at the gate the portal is gleaming with a blood-red light but after a moment shifts back to the purple that the group originally saw. Commander Ceroban remembers the portal he was taken through, in the volcano high above Nirmathas shone with a red light.
Moving through the purple portal brings the group back to the pit fiend's bones, marker of his death beneath the ruined mayoral manor in Westcrown.
In total the group saved 42 people from the lunar base: Enlina Charthagnion, Commander Andabar Ceroban, Osprey, Garrin Levoye, Kalistocrat Obenna Sirara, Zembe Utomo, the 24 brainwashed cultists (who will require a bit more looking after, and 12 others that were rescued from the first and fourth ring of the base.
a break of thirty seconds, slightly farther away
Cassian?
another break of thirty seconds, barely heard
Cassian?
All Khaz's mind, reaching out, searching.
Cassian smiles at the group. "Ladies and gentlemen, I need to return to the Walcourt. If anyone needs a place to stay until you can be returned home, I have some space. There are demons, deadly traps, and a few children. So, you know, some downsides." He heads through the city on his way home.
"More demons?" Kalistocrat Sirara looking unhappy about the prospect.
Enlina Charthagnion, "Westcrown?!?" A broad smile that brings life and beauty to the chubby diva's cheeks. "I like Westcrown, you have a number of lovely theaters." She looks around, "However, I must confess I've never been here before."
A pause, I'm assuming you don't actually need assistance.
Right?
"More demons?" Kalistocrat Sirara looking unhappy about the prospect.[/b]
Azhar thinks for a few moments, glances at Amaya, "...and yet it is probably the safest spot in Westcrown on short notice for this many people." he glances at Tarvi for confirmation, then continues, "Tarvi, I think you'd probably be the best one to assist Mz. Sirara, would you mind?" he looks around at the others, "I assume... he pauses and breaks off, "perhaps I should not. Can I get all of you who are going to need assistance getting back to friends and family to walk with us, please. The rest of you, lets just make sure you're at least up to the city proper."
Enlina Charthagnion, "Westcrown?!?" A broad smile that brings life and beauty to the chubby diva's cheeks. "I like Westcrown, you have a number of lovely theaters." She looks around, "However, I must confess I've never been here before."
"There was a bit more, shall we say private production that was run here. Before we found it had to be shut down, that is." He turns to the pale Kellid, "Osprey. If I could have a word with you later, after we've got those in need of assistance on their way. I would appreciate it."
Azhar thinks for a few moments, glances at Amaya, "...and yet it is probably the safest spot in Westcrown on short notice for this many people." he glances at Tarvi for confirmation, then continues, "Tarvi, I think you'd probably be the best one to assist Mz. Sirara, would you mind?" he looks around at the others, "I assume... he pauses and breaks off, "perhaps I should not. Can I get all of you who are going to need assistance getting back to friends and family to walk with us, please. The rest of you, lets just make sure you're at least up to the city proper."
Tarvi, who had watched her older brother with a happy smile she can't quite hide nods. She walks over to the dusky woman, "You'll be able to get cleaned up and more comfortably dressed there."
"There was a bit more, shall we say private production that was run here. Before we found it had to be shut down, that is."
"Well, if one of you would be kind enough to escort me to the theater district there are a number of directors I can throw myself upon for lodgings. Maybe that funny, loud man, Robin... no..." Her forehead wrinkles just the slightest with thought, "Robahl. Robahl Nonon. He has been trying to get me to do one of his awful blood plays for years."
He turns to the pale Kellid, "Osprey. If I could have a word with you later, after we've got those in need of assistance on their way. I would appreciate it."
"If you've got someplace for me to lay low. This country isn't exactly found of my type."
The twenty-four people from the shrine wander around the room with no clear focus, a few shivering in the damp underground drafts.
Cassian gets back to the Walcourt in short order. As he passes through the even-now more abundant undergrowth (although the plant project has only just started with the aid of some out-of-towners that the green-haired Vitti got Cassian in touch with) Cassian feels the large but quiet stalkers. A sharp chirp from Rygel and their presence is lessened although not removed. A few rooms into the building and Cassian hears voices from the kitchen (the favorite haunt of the waifs he adopted) amid them Crosael's. Her careful explanation of how to apply makeup so that one's features are normalized which lets you go unremembered in a crowd.
Although she is hiding it well, Cassian - with his preternatural senses - can hear the strain beneath her otherwise light tone.
"Well, if one of you would be kind enough to escort me to the theater district there are a number of directors I can throw myself upon for lodgings. Maybe that funny, loud man, Robin... no..." Her forehead wrinkles just the slightest with thought, "Robahl. Robahl Nonon. He has been trying to get me to do one of his awful blood plays for years."
Azhar grins, "I would be happy to reintroduce you."
"If you've got someplace for me to lay low. This country isn't exactly fond of my type."
"I think something can be arranged." he catches Amaya's eye, almost as if he's asking permission. "After we pay Herr Direktor a visit, of course. Would you like to come along?"
The twenty-four people from the shrine wander around the room with no clear focus, a few shivering in the damp underground drafts.
"Mathalen, Gravlax, Fiosa..." he looks at Zsz as well, if she is still there, but does not say her name, "the rest of you. Do you think you can get the rest over to Cassian's? Unless you can think of a better place, of course."
"Mathalen, Gravlax, Fiosa..." he looks at Zsz as well, if she is still there, but does not say her name, "the rest of you. Do you think you can get the rest over to Cassian's? Unless you can think of a better place, of course."
"Can do," Gravlax says. "It really is probably the safest option. Although Westcrown is officially a lot safer now, nobody knows it."
"Can do," Gravlax says. "It really is probably the safest option. Although Westcrown is officially a lot safer now, nobody knows it."
"True 'nuff." Azhar responds with a grin and a wave in parting for his friends.
It takes a bit of time to get the cultists organized, just because whenever someone else says something that becomes their top priority, but eventually all of the previous lunar prisoners - with the exceptions of the diva and the pathfinder will find themselves at the gate of the Walcourt.
The kids have an array of 'disguises' ranging from the dye in Clarissa's hair to Nicky's numerous vicious scars (including the belly wound that he is currently applying). The youngest, whose attention had clearly been anywhere but the lesson grins at Cassian, "The apes are SO amazing. Risy said I couldn't go outside, but you can overrule her, right?"
Crosael carefully extracts herself from the table, her hand finding Cassian's, "I wasn't actually worried until I realized that you'd taken Tarvi. Then I figured it must have been a big job." Her body slides next to his, concern tempered by the fact that he is home, and safe.
He pulls Crosael into an embrace. "I missed you too," he says, kissing her gently on the mouth. "Glad to see you've put the rugrats to work on thiefcraft. If we're to retain control of the city, we'll need the help."
Cassian welcomes them in, warning them of the dire apes of course, and gets everyone settled. He spends the next few days getting those who wish it homeward bound, those who want to stay jobs and other places to stay, and those who seem to have an aptitude or desire, a place in the Golden Monkey Syndicate.
Crosael holds on to his kiss just a beat longer, then looks at the kids, "Yep, they are quick studies." She smiles at Clarissa, "Too bad you're still a little young, you've got the basics much better than the other girls I've been training."
Her gold eyes betray the concern, "The dress shop ended up being more complicated than you originally thought?"
"The dress shop... oh, the dress shop. Yeah, there was a gateway into another plane, where a cult of succubi were enslaving people and doing all sorts of horrible things. They're all dead now, except I think Buzz is going to be taking it over. In other, entirely unrelated news, I'm going to seed the gateway with a truly ridiculous amount of traps."
"Well, if one of you would be kind enough to escort me to the theater district there are a number of directors I can throw myself upon for lodgings. Maybe that funny, loud man, Robin... no..." Her forehead wrinkles just the slightest with thought, "Robahl. Robahl Nonon. He has been trying to get me to do one of his awful blood plays for years."Azhar grins, "I would be happy to reintroduce you."
"If you've got someplace for me to lay low. This country isn't exactly fond of my type.""I think something can be arranged." he catches Amaya's eye, almost as if he's asking permission. "After we pay Herr Direktor a visit, of course. Would you like to come along?"
As they head to Robahl's, and after Azhar has made sure Osprey has something to cover himself, if he doesn't already, Azhar turns to Enlina Charthagnion, "Just to be sure, this is something you want to do, right? From my experience, those 'blood plays' can actually be dangerous." there is a twinkle in his eye as he glances at Amaya, "I don't want you feeling like this is something you have to be doing."
"Thank you all for coming. I wanted to talk to everyone about our possibly former companion, and what we're going to do about her. I have already started the construction of traps beneath the mayor's house so any attempt to re-enter Westcrown would be met with... pain."
He pauses, sweeping the assembled people with his gaze, lingering on Azhar and Gravlax. "Should we do anything else? Are we... obligated?"
Gravlax thinks for a minute.
"This includes if you need me to body double for the Mayor so that she can assist you out of the public eye."
He sighs and shakes his head. "In terms of actually going up there to the moon..."
"Would we have to disable the portal from the moon? I'm kind of ignorant on magical matters. I'd be willing to go there again if necessary, but not on a one-way basis."
"I don't have a problem with Zsz per se -- but I don't like having that portal in the middle of Westcrown. Given what all we know is on the moon, and might well come through of its own volition."
"So we need to decide what our concerns are here, separate them as much as we can, and prioritize. Right."
"One," he holds up a finger. "Protection of Westcrown. Traps around portal, investigation into possible destruction of portal. High priority. I think we're all agreed on this one."
"Two," finger two. "Predations of succubus. Either through guilt or honest concern for welfare of fellow man, do we want to stop this? Can we stop this slash end the succubus without catching the unpleasant attention of Z? That's more a question for the subtle amongst us, i.e. Cassian."
"Because, three," finger three, "I think a confrontation between us and Z would do some major damage to us. She ended up with Izm's weapon, didn't she? And I recall her claiming a humanbane dagger a while back. And as a final point, I don't think any of us would be happy as a piglet. This is not a reason to choose otherwise, but something to seriously consider."
Gravlax's eyes start to bounce back and forth, like he is having an internal conversation.
"Four," says. "We blow up the moon. It--"
Gravlax bites 's tongue until stops trying to talk.
Gravlax flushes deep crimson. "Sorry about that," he says, putting his fingers away.
"To each of your points. First point, yes. As far as I'm concerned, the group that brought down the Council of Thieves, minus Buzz, are still a group. Maybe a little looser than before, but we're allies. And yes, I agree."
"Second point, again, yes. I am offering to assassinate the succubus." He sighs, shifts uncomfortably, and glances briefly at Crosael. "I don't think I have a good chance of doing it and getting away with it. And I think if I do it and don't kill Buzz, she'll be after me and everyone in this room."
"And your third point is entirely correct and one of the many reasons I'm bringing this to the group. It's not just my life that I'm playing with, and as it turns out, I accidentally ended up with a lot o live for, as have all of you. If we hit her, we do it as a group. Otherwise, I was planning a whispering campaign to clue in other adventurers to the location of her lair. Doesn't wash our hands of any of the blood, but does keep us out of it."
"I don't think I have a good chance of doing it and getting away with it."
Crosael golden eyes flash up to meet Cassian's blue ones. She shakes her head, "Buzz might be smart enough to kill you outright, but I'd still come looking for you on the off-chance that she decided to torture you instead." She bumps his hand with her own.
Tarvi, "Yeah... I can't put my seal on any plan where the people going in don't have an even chance to get back home."
Janiven watches the interplay between the pair with a smile, although there is a touch of wistfulness in her green eyes. She sighs, "I've kept this mostly to myself, because I didn't want to color any of you with my own view. I'm pretty sure that Zsz would have no problem coming after any of us. The one time I talked to her about my worries on the succubus's feeding she.... seemed unwilling to see why I was concerned. Instead she seemed fixated on making all of us just as vile as her .... cohort. Apparently, everyone who worked for the Council but weren't in the ruling elite were..." she sighs, making air quotes, "innocents."
She waves herself on from that, "The other piece of intel I got from that conversation was that, even then, she was convinced that we would jump her given half a chance. I'd be willing to bet platinum that the first thing she did was start booby-trapping her new lair with all of us specifically in mind."
"I don't like that her succubus has been hunting out of Westcrown." Her smile bitter, "I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop and a group of covert paladins come sailing in to find her after she ate a friend."
Azhar does not look exactly happy at the prospect of hunting a former comrade, and yet it was something he had been expecting to happen sooner or later.
Cassian smiles with real affection at Azhar's words. "I was just about to say that it looks like we stay back and spread rumors and hope someone else cleans up the mess. I knew I was going to get in trouble joining up with a bunch of crusaders!"
He sweeps the assembled people with his gaze. "If we do this, we have to all do this. Together. It has to be unanimous, because if we fail, it's all our asses."
He sighs. Then he rolls his eyes. It's fairly easy to tell that what's coming out of his mouth annoys him to say, possibly because he never thought he'd have to say it. "My decision has to be based on... certain other people... who live here... who are short... and young... and might not be able to provide for themselves. Do we think Buzz or that monster she lives with will come to Westcrown for us or our... um... allies?"
Cassian fingers the amulet around his neck. "There's one thing I'm good at, and that's not being seen. If anyone could assemble a group without her knowing... it's me."
"You are good at what you do. That is indisputable, and your plan has merit. But don't you think we would have a better chance going in now, before she has all the time in the world to get all of her defenses in place and perfected?"
"But some of that is selfishness. Westcrown is safe, or safe-ish. I'd like to live to enjoy that. Azhar's point is solid, and my only counter-point is this: preparation."
"If we're going to walk away from this encounter, we need preparation on our side. We need our prep to be superior to hers."
"Are there any magic items that might specifically be helpful? Other than the ability to fly and any pig or hair resistance? What do we know about the religion she's a part of? Could we find anything useful without extensive research? Is her succubus the sort of magical creature that one could successfully summon?"
"...and I want to know what kind of timeline Cassian had in mind. To the extent that one can predict such things."
She shrugs, looking around, "And the demon observer, the place just seemed stripped..."
Her head ducks down a little, "Or maybe it was just my thinking there should be more..."
"The idea of summoning her succubus is f#!&ing brilliant. If we could figure that out, we could either eliminate her closest ally or use her to draw Buzz out of her lair." Cassian's spreading grin says either he loves this idea or he's a sadistic cuss. Maybe both.
"In terms of magic items, I would recommend caps of the free thinker for everyone." Cassian shows off his brand new hat whose wide brim spreads the shadows over him. "Unfettered tunics would be good to get out of her hair, as would rings of freedom of movement. I'm not certain if anything specifically resists getting turned into a pig, but having access to scrolls of dispel might be helpful. As would cloaks of resistance and belts to make us hardier."
"I have a few new abilities she hasn't seen me use yet. I wouldn't match her spell for spell, but I can enhance what I already do well." He smiles a little, his hand covering Crosael's. "Turns out when the shadows of this city wanted to change me, it was for the better."
Assuming no objections -- feel free to make them -- Cassian calls for Khazrae to join them and will bring her up to speed.
"In terms of magic items, I would recommend caps of the free thinker for everyone." Cassian shows off his brand new hat whose wide brim spreads the shadows over him. "Unfettered tunics would be good to get out of her hair, as would rings of freedom of movement. I'm not certain if anything specifically resists getting turned into a pig, but having access to scrolls of dispel might be helpful. As would cloaks of resistance and belts to make us hardier."
Amaya looks at her new ring (taken from Izmiara), kisses Azhar's shoulder, "I can also cast freedom of movement on people, if we think she is coming."
Khaz comes in, a great big smile about capturing the succubus. "To specifically summon that succubus, we are going to need to research her - her true name, what her weaknesses are." A grin, "And we are going to want a spellcaster that you don't care as much about... and have a back-up containment field for when she kills the summoner."
"What were you anticipating, Fiosa, that we didn't see? What is the hole in the puzzle shaped like?"
"...for that matter, we need a way to get past the prismatic wall."
Gravlax smiles briefly. "For economic reasons, if nothing else."
"In the meantime, Tarvi, Amaya, and Fiosa, you three or some combination are probably the best suited to research Joriavah if we do the summoning. Whoever isn't doing that can look into some form of group teleportation, either item or scroll?"
"In terms of magic items, I would recommend caps of the free thinker for everyone."
"I have a few new abilities she hasn't seen me use yet. I wouldn't match her spell for spell, but I can enhance what I already do well." He smiles a little, his hand covering Crosael's. "Turns out when the shadows of this city wanted to change me, it was for the better."
Azhar nods, "Those would likely be better items for this particular situation than the ones I chose to improve." he touches his headband and cloak briefly, "But what's done is done. I will have to find a way to discover another stash of loot before adding that cap to my current gear." He shrugs, "I need an abundantly larger amount to improve my belt as it is." he pauses, "I to have improved, though apparently not nearly as much as you, my friend." he fixes Cassian with a friendly gaze, "But I figure I am even more likely to take her out given the right opportunity with a full round and hinder her with a chance strike."
"Honestly, one reason I would like to return is to clean out the rest of what has gathered there, including that maralith should she have returned. I do admit that drawing her out here would seem to be the better plan. Assuming we are able to accomplish it."
"And yes, you're our best chance against her. I might be best served as a distraction. If she's too focused on me not getting behind her, she might lose track of you." Cassian waves that away/ "Any plans of those type will go out the window the instant we're engaged. Let's talk about the basic plan. Is everyone on board with summoning the succubus? If so, we need to move on to delegating research responsibilities, first how to summon her, then how to keep her. And we should choose a proper venue. I was initially thinking that basement where we fought those" he shudders "Vampires."
"No reason we can't do both. Summon the succubus out into a trap, possibly getting our primary quarry as well. Then we head back through and clean that place out top to bottom."
Azhar nods in agreement. Those were his thoughts as well.
"Let's talk about the basic plan. Is everyone on board with summoning the succubus? If so, we need to move on to delegating research responsibilities, first how to summon her, then how to keep her. And we should choose a proper venue. I was initially thinking that basement where we fought those" he shudders "Vampires."
Azhar glances at Amaya to check her reaction, but nods again in agreement. "Sounds like a good spot to me."
"Is it wrong of me that the preparation and logistics are my favorite parts of this?"
He focuses. "All right, then here is the plan as I see it. Gravlax, you disguise yourself as me. I know you don't need it, but Crosael can help, and possibly lend her ring to help for the deception."
"First, Tarvi, Amaya, and Fiosa, if you would both research the succubus. Whatever you need to summon her. One or more of you should also look into some way to prevent teleportation away. I trust you three to figure out who is better at researching which, and if you need anyone else from the group to help, don't hesitate to ask."
"Second. Arena. That basement seems to be amenable. I can't remember what the ceiling is like. Preferably we want some place where their flight will be nullified."
"Third, tactics. Gravlax, you're the toughest one of us by a good margin. You do what you can to draw their aggression. Azhar, you're on beatdown. As for me, if it's possible to get a flank I will do so. If not, I have a new trick of wrapping people up in shadows. It only lasts a short time, but that should be long enough for some impromptu surgery."
"First, Tarvi, Amaya, and Fiosa, if you would both research the succubus. Whatever you need to summon her. One or more of you should also look into some way to prevent teleportation away. I trust you three to figure out who is better at researching which, and if you need anyone else from the group to help, don't hesitate to ask."
Tarvi and Amaya nod, although Tarvi's expression gets guarded. Fiosa raises her hand, then quietly, "I think being ready and studying so that we can do something is a good idea." She starts looking at everyone carefully, "But..."
The little halfling pauses, clearly not happy with what she is about to say, "We know that Joriavah killed a bunch of the tieflings who used to be sentenced to work the infernal engine, but since Zsz promised that she would keep her from murdering anyone here there hasn't been anyone murdered by her," she looks at Cassian, "has there?"
"And we don't have any way of knowing if she's murdering people somewhere else or if Zsz has convinced her to stop." She glances at Cassian, then ever so briefly at Khaz, "Which is possible, right?"
"Which is my way of saying... Yes, we should research Joriavah, have all the elements of the plan in place... But I think implementing the plan before we know if they are doing evil is... wrong."
She looks around at the group.
He pauses to let that sink in. "Until then, I'll leave her alone. Thanks, Fi. Never thought I'd appreciate someone keeping me honest."