Hearing nothing Kirana opens the door to reveal a large temple much larger than the one up above. The place appears to have been devastated much is in ruin.
A black hooded figure stands in the ruins.
"Long has it been since the living entered these halls...Who are you?"
He says as you enter. You quickly notice that the man in the cloak is but a skeleton.
Hello, I am Waglinde. It's not every day that we meet someone, well, here in the underdark, who doesn't immediately try to erase our faces. Though there was that temple of goblins who were kind of nice. So, we are from above, as you can obviously see, and we are exploring. Can you tell us something about this place?
"This was a grand temple to lord Charon. It was attacked long ago by the forces of good and all the clerics were killed, but the do-gooders were forced to retreat as the guardians and traps withered them down. They ransacked and destroyed what they could and sealed away what they couldn't. A shame really I haven't had a single customer since...I don't supposes you have a spare soul to trade? Maybe a few years of your life?" says the figure.
"Huh, what?" Kirana stares at the skeleton. "Since when's that a currency?"
"Do you also accept gold? And what are you selling anyway?"
"Everything is currency! Some things are worth more than others of course...but if your willing to trade I access to the interplanetary bazaar which means everything! Anything you could desire!" it respond.
"out of curiosity, what's the going rate for a soul? Or each year of life? Is the soul exchanged immediately, or would the transaction take place at a later date?"
Lilly's eyes narrow, then widen.
Any thing i'd wish for?
"The interplanetary market? My person hasn't heard of such a place thusfar. Is it hazardous to visit?
"
"Lifeforce has to be taken right away but if your offering your soul I can collect at the time of death. For a decade or two I can offer a single item worth up to twenty thousand gold coins, for a soul I can grant a wish." replies the skeletal man.
I don't think I should trust this skeleton man, but I can't help but wonder...
"I'm currently twenty years old. How much would it cost me to have my body look and function like it's twenty years old till I die? I'm not looking forward to the discomfort of old age, like breaking a hip or bad vision. Even if I lose some years in the process, being able to keep a functioning body till I die would allow me to make more of my life."
"Eternal youth? Well of course! I can grant that if you willing to let me claim your soul upon your eventual death."
He might attempt trickery and only give her a painting, eternal youth on canvas only.
"Uhhh, no thanks." Kirana shakes her head firmly.
"I may still need my soul when dead. I'd like to keep it. Just in case, you know."
"How about a game of chance then? I have a special deck of cards here. Draw a random card and the effect could be good or bad. Want to give it a try?"
I strongly advice against selling one's soul
But cards, My this is temping i love to drink and play cards
Lilly looks hesitant and rather looks at the others.
<Wait a minute! What if you died?
I wanna stick around for the ride longer than this.>
"Uhhh, no thanks... again... I'd rather not take huge gambles with my life."
This skeleton's giving me the creeps...
"You sure? He could get you a man ;)
Maybe Gloin desires bigger biceps?
Wagsy, what would you fancy?....aside of our derrieres, you wrote those down already. :o"
"Or he could turn me into a man, which I don't fancy."
"So why don't you try it, Lilly? You look eager to try it out."
I am not going to gamble. As tempting as it sounds.....I will pass.
"Myself? I don't know."
Despite the words, you can see her eyes wide with curiosity.
"Well....OKAY!!! :D"
Lilly walks to the boney figure and will draw a card.
Lol, according to the list, i'd have hardened skin, +2 nat armor and -2 dex.
how about we sweeten the deal. I'll draw a card, and if it is something that works out to my advantage, I'll give you ten years of my life, but if it is something that harms me, you tell my friends, should I not survive, the answers to the questions they are trying to learn about this place?
The boneman sits down and as he does so a chair appears to catch him and a table and another chair opposed to him appear. He takes out a deck of card and puts it on the table. "I accept your proposition" he says to Wags.
"I'll pass on this temptation. The path to enlightenment is mine to follow, and cutting corners is a good way to miss the path altogether. I do wish you the best of luck Waglinde, may Irori guide your hand." With that, Kavakii stands straight, brings his arms in front of him, places an open right palm over his closed left fist, and bows at the waist, then stands straight up again.
Wagsy, you could pick up 5 lvls of reincarnated druid, then this whole giving up decades wouldn't be a bother, if you live long enough for it. ;)
Well i am definitely keeping what is mine. Age and soul and everything in between
"Aw Gloin, picking a piece of game paper did not apply a payment of spirit or lifespan."
Don't remind me Lilly i clearly heard it all to well the first time he says at the mention of "game"
Alight, I'll play. Pour the wine, er, um I mean let me draw a card.
I will draw a card
The skeleton lets you draw a card each watching carefully.
Lilly gets a card with a Unicorn on it and Wags gets a card with a Snake on it.
Kirana takes her distance from Lilly and Wags, and carefully watches them.
"So what happened?" Kirana asks when she doesn't notice a change in neither person. "Lilly, did you become even stronger? Try to lift someone. What about you, miss Bowie? Do you notice anything different?"
"Thank you, ser skeleton man. Unicorns are beautiful."
She turns to Kyrana when she asked if she'd become stronger.
"I have no clue.."
She walks up to Gloin and tries to lift the stout man.
"Oh my what excellent draws! The unicorn will allow you to change a single event in your past and the Snakebite grants you the ability to poison anyone you come in contact with! A wonderful advantage I think! As per our agreement since the card did not harm you I will collect my reward." exclaims the skeleton.
Black energy ages Wags by 10 years.
"Now then you may ask any question you wish about this place and I will answer" he says.
"Where are the missing thrill seekers, the Birds of Prey?"
"The Birds of Prey? They have nothing to do with this place but I don't mind telling you that they are all dead." he replies.
okay, whatever. On second thought since the skeleton is obviously lying, and there is no way this could be considered a boon, and as I can't stand being manipulated, I will attack the skeleton with my sword
how about we sweeten the deal. I'll draw a card, and if it is something that works out to my advantage, I'll give you ten years of my life, but if it is something that harms me, you tell my friends, should I not survive, the answers to the questions they are trying to learn about this place?
The skeleton easily avoids the attack. he steps back and conjures up a staff and a black blade of negative energy appears to form a scythe.
"I do not offer refunds and I would advise against trying that again. This your only warning. If you want to reverse the effects of our deal you will simply need to make a new deal." he says in a smug tone.
I will attack him again
What do the others do? Step in to stop her? Join her in attacking?
Bjorn attempts to disarm Waglinde
I don't think that is a good idea.....
"Wagsy no!!
The skeleton man hasn't assaulted us, contrary to much down here.
Firebeard is skewered, do you truly wish to join him in death?
Stop please!"
"She has lost a friend, losing capability of cuddling was too much for today. Sorry mister skeleton man, please forgive her."
alright then, I give up, let's move one
Bjorn picks up Waglinde's dropped weapon and hands it back to her.
I know you feel cheated....but the best way to lose that feeling is to push through and do what we were sent here to do. there is honour in that....
Ok i have an idea he gets closer to lilly
Lilly looks at Gloin and carefully considers his words before replying in a soft tone.
"The possibility rings true, but we being we, this room would have been visited by us sooner or less sooner.
I would pick a card, yet i reckon Wagsy too, hence ending with her skin condition less sooner or worse. :( "
Can the effect of Waglinde's card be removed by visiting a temple or church?
Lilly ponders a moment before saying more.
"Conditions this strong ask for much stronger magic.
Aside from shatter-enchantment and go-away-curse, nothing short of a wish or miracle dispels this. The former need someone highly skilled. :( "
"What are you whispering about?" Kirana's ears wiggle as she tries to intercept the words being whispered.
"Ah... hmm..." The expression on Kirana's face saddens.
Poor miss Bowie, I wish I could help her...