"Just out of curiosity, Sir, how long have you been here?"
Dugobras raises an eyebrow at Marigold's question "I try not to mingle with them. They unnerve me. I found Vaprak's Voice following the rumors of some giants serving in the old halls of our people when our kind were just slaves of the spell weavers. They talked of an ancient forge I decided to explore. Guess what, when I arrived I found the haags have made the place their lair and gathered some of my kin"
"It was just easy to convince them of letting me use this part of their lair they were not making use of" he looks at Juraan to answer his question "That was just a few months ago now"
"I have to say it is a pleasure to have someone with whom to talk after so long. The other giants are dumb and I try to avoid the haags as much as I can"
A sudden insight strikes your head. You have previously come to the name of Dugobras, it was written in Skaven Umbermead's journal!
:
If there is more to the jotunn's words they are lost on Maxim, who sees an opportunity for the future;
"Iffen yer starved fer conversation Master Smith, might be I'll seek you out down the line? Worked the forge myself in the past, no doubt do so again."
The gun-mage flashes a hard smile at the fire-giant;
"Might be I have some business propositions fer yer skills..."
"Who are these cagewrights?" asks JJ.
"Remember we found parts for a cage back in Cauldron..." he says, trying to remember exactly when that was.
"Hang on, we have seen your name before somewhere too.. That [url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B84mdBH7vTJ3T2J6QWZ2UTN3MzQ/view]journal[url] we found when we were looking for the wands."
JJ fishes about... "The cages you made... how many were there? And how big are they?"
And then, as is his want, he quickly changes tact "And the forge...what is so special about it? And who are the spellweavers? The hags?"
Although Marigold doesn't recall having seen the giant's name previously, JJ is quick to remind them they'd found it some time back in a journal of interest.
"S-so you are the one that's b-been m-making these strange c-cages we k-keep finding! I r-remember now th-thanks to JJ!" Marigold gasps. "Wh-what do the C-Cagewrights want with your w-work? D-did they ever s-say???"
The giant seems to feel proud under Maxim's proposition "You are free to come back of course. It would be interesting to exchange knowledge and craft"
Dugobras looks at JJ surprised by the interest "The Cagewrights are a secretive cult associated with the prison plane of Carceri. For what I have seen I think they are just demodands worshipers, and may even be led by these foul fiends, but I made sure to keep my questions as little and focused on my task as I could while I was working on their project"
"The request was thirteen cages" he points to the cage near the flames, which has the size of a person "That one is the fourteen and all were just like that one. I made it to have a souvenir of my outstanding forging capacity, so people like you can admire my fine art"
He seems frustrated as more questions are coming "I am still surprised how humans are so seriously unknowledgeable of history and the nature of the world they inhabit. The spell-weavers are the race that built the first great civilization in Cauldron's region. With their six-arms and knowledge of magic, they were like gods for our kin, who were enslaved by them and worked in the construction of their cities and great pyramids." he points to the walls "This here is an example of the greatness my kin achieved to build under their command"
You remember Jzadirune was built in a Spell Weaver's vault as confirmed by Skaven's research.
Tygot also offered you a spell weaver statuette recovered form the Demonskar.
You also remember about the creatures on the Hegemonic Plate.
Dugobras shrugs at Marigold's question "Who knows. They requested me to hand the cages to the Ebon Triad for them to enchant them with magic. For what I came to understand from what Fetor and Grehila talked in front of me, they are part of a ritual to achieve a great and World changing deed they have been preparing during several decades that span various human generations"
Ryan looks back and forth between Kikinnin, the others and the giant. it was apparent that he had great pride in his craft, however it was also apparent that the reasoning behind what he made played little in his decisions.
Putting the giant into place in this mess, "Seems we have crossed you path before, the cages you built below Jadrizune caused no little trouble as members of our town were abducted to fill them. The gnome city was built on a Spell Weaver's vault much as this forge here is. What kind of ritual do they prepare for? There is something you should know about Jadrizune that I'll gladly tell you in return for usable information about what Fetor and Grehila discussed. Not vague generalities."
"That is right... The gnomish village under Cauldron was based around a spellweaver vault... But these Cagewrights... You think they worship demodands? And what of this prison plane?"
JJ struggles to remember what he can of Carceri.
:
Maxim nods to himself as pieces of the puzzle begin to drop into place, though he is mindful not to press the giant smithy on the morality of his work;
Smith makes a sword... takes no responsibility for who wields it... Nor should they.
As Ryan and JJ confirm the group's knowledge, the gun-mage listens intently, briefly raising a bushy eyebrow at JJ's description of Jzadirune as a "gnomish village".
Canny play Taskerhill. What, I wonder will Dugobras fashion a deal..?
:
"F-finally seems like we're g-getting enough pieces of the p-puzzle for things to start f-falling into place a little b-bit..." Marigold mutters, frowning as she tries to recall if she's heard anything of this plane called Carceri. "S-some b-big conspiracy to c-cause a s-supposedly world-ch-changing event...and the m-more we d-dig the m-more it s-seems like f-folks from all levels of s-society are in on it, in one w-way or another."
Marigold looks up from her pondering, expression grim but determined.
"S-seems we sh-should go p-pay the hags a v-visit."
Maxim looks to Marigold cautiously;
"Hags... Plural... Anyone got any notion o' what we're gettin' ourselves into pickin' a fight with such creatures? If they're the string pullers best we go in eyes wide."
You do now recall the workroom in the Kopru mines that clued you back then, but you now link to Dugobras work.
"Jzidirune? It was a Spell Weaver's Vault, not much differently as this place is. As about the ritual, I never heard and never wanted to know anyway." the giant starts to show signs of wanting to come back to his work.
JJ and Marigold recall they have read before the name of Carceri, but just remember generalities and no real detail that might be of use now as they did not pay much attention at the time. The Tarterian Depths of Carceri, also known as Tarterus or The Red Prison is one of the neutral evil-aligned planes of existence based in the Outer Planes. Perhaps some large library might hold more information about it.
"Sounds like I may have to do some more reading." sighs JJ.
He offers a small bow to the giant. "Our thanks good smith...." he eyes up the cage. "Were you keeping that as a memento? I'm wondering if we might learn something by studying it further... either ourselves or more knowledgeable people we have met."
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The giant looks at the cage then to JJ "If that is your desire... and you keep bringing delicacies" the giant strokes Maxim's gems "You can keep coming back to study my great crafting. I plan to stay here at least for some more weeks"
After the group finishes talking, Dugobras resumes his work on the forge. A loud tinkering filling the halls.
With a final bow out, JJ leaves the forge and heads toward the closest door, which he listens at carefully before trying to open.
"G-good...I'm r-ready to p-press on," Marigold whispers to the others once they get moving again and move out of earshot of the strange giant. "He was st-strange...like he didn't c-care about anything b-but his s-smithing. But I'm g-glad we didn't have to f-fight with him."
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"Jzidirune? It was a Spell Weaver's Vault, not much differently as this place is. As about the ritual, I never heard and never wanted to know anyway."
With a slight shake of his head and a wry grin Ryan nods as he turns to leave. "Yes... it was a vault like this one, and all those who worked within it are gone. The spell weaver magic affects stuff different, beware should you start to fade, but then, perhaps you'll be able to see those gone before. I'm sure they will have need of another good smith."
Ryan didn't intend to say anything further to the giant, he leaves the forge area so the craftsman can return to his work. Crossing the hallway Ryan joins JJ at the single doorway.
JJ opens the door, just to find a collapsed room. The rubble fills the small corridor that once gave entry to the room.
After removing a small part of the most recent collapse, you find out the skeleton of a gnome. It wears a +3 mithral chain shirt. At his hand, he still holds a fine +1 magical warhammer and wears an ornate ring forged of hard iron. Engraved behind the ring, it reads the name Dzariel.
At his waist there is a wooden magical stick.
A wand of displacement still loaded with 14 charges.
"Nothing to see ..... wait a moment, there is a foot here.."
JJ digs a little. "Looks like gnomes had a thing for spellweaver locations. This one didn't end up any better than those that faded. Alas poor Dzariel. Marigold, this shirt is really nice. And it looks like it would fit you to a "T""
Maxim stoops to admire the quality of the shirt;
:
"Mighty fine workmanship and enchantment. Lil' Miss - this'll indeed protect you a darn sight better than the breastplate yer wearin' now..."
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"Huh. An this here is a Wand O' Displacement. Reckon I might just hang onto this fer safe keepin'..."
The rogue grins as he examines the wooden wand.
Kikinnin doesn't act, for now, though something deep within him moans of injustice, and the events in which Dugobras had a hand. He's worked to support an evil cause, and we've seen the suffering he's wreaked, upon those near and dear to us. Cagemaker, you've much to do to tip the scales back into a favorable light.
While Dugobras is no Dhorlot, Kikinnin feels ill at ease with turning his back on the fire giant, and wandering away. He wonders to himself what Abadar thinks of evil, in its whole. Are there parts of evil which are necessary, or parts which are tolerable? He understands he'd walk away with more than a chipped tooth, fighting Dugobras, and, like Muggo, Dugobras seems to be contained for now. Then again, a fire giant with a completed set of armor, in a special forge... that could be an evil harder to stop. Stepping on a cave turtle when it's young, and you do more damage. An adult cave turtle? Pretty much destined for a long, snapping life...
The black beard looks ahead, and waits for the pickers to see doors cleared. There aren't too many places left to look to find a way forward, he gathers.
Juraan also casts a spell on the end of hallway: « აღმოაჩინე ჯადოსნური » . .
"Hullo! You missed ring of the ram, Maxim.
"Not too surprising, since it looks so plain. This could be very handy!
"If nobody objects, I'll hold on to, in case we meet more giants or need another big door knocked down.
"The name inside, Dzariel, is either the maker or the Gnome who owned it.
"Does that name sound familiar to anyone? I don't recognise it."
Maxim's attention is piqued as Juraan identifies the ring;
"I ain't got no complaints on you holdin' it Professor."
He looks to his fellow dwur, noting the melancholy countenance of Kikinnin as the holy warrior waits;
"Bror. Reckon leavin' jotunn standin' ain't sittin' well with you huh? Reckon we got to accept that sometimes all that's evil ain't bad, just as all that's good ain't right neither... Shades o' grey is my reckonin'..."
At Juraan's question, the philosophy takes a back seat as the gun-mage tries to recollect any gnomiz by that name...
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"And who is to say the giant is evil? I'm sure the rat thinks all cats are evil. Is the smith who forged your axe evil? We shouldn't mistake the tool maker for the tool wielder." chimes in JJ.
"Uh-hum...if you d-don't think K-Kikinnin could use it m-more then I'd be happy to t-take it," Marigold admits, staring at the enchanted mithral with wonder. "It'd b-be lighter than this b-breastplate for sure...and, um...p-prettier..." she says, blushing just a bit.
Then she feels a rush of guilt. The armor had belonged to someone else, once.
I wonder who you were, Dzariel?
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"Bror. Reckon leavin' jotunn standin' ain't sittin' well with you huh? Reckon we got to accept that sometimes all that's evil ain't bad, just as all that's good ain't right neither... Shades o' grey is my reckonin'..."
Kikinnin snorts, waits a moment, then responds. "Evil feels more like an avalanche. You can stay to the side, and try and smash rocks to pebbles, but you'll only get a few of 'em. You try and stand in the path of the avalanche, and you'll find yourself gasping for breath within your rock coffin. Gotta pick the battles that sees evil lose more than good loses."
"And who is to say the giant is evil? I'm sure the rat thinks all cats are evil. Is the smith who forged your axe evil? We shouldn't mistake the tool maker for the tool wielder."
"Abadar says that Dugobras walks an evil path, and marks him with the aura. The creature is not neutral here. He's moved from working with jailors, to working with hags." Kikinnin turns a slow eye on JJ.
"I'd have engaged the giant here and now, if I knew we'd overcome him, was certain we'd best him, but we just fought a slew of lessers, and were made weak from it. When we fight Dugobras, we'll need to be well rested."
"Uh-hum...if you d-don't think K-Kikinnin could use it m-more then I'd be happy to t-take it. It'd b-be lighter than this b-breastplate for sure...and, um...p-prettier..."
Kikinnin turns from JJ at the sound of his name. "I'll always prefer my plate, miss Marigold. If it keeps you safe, it's a good decision to wear it."
"O-okay then," Marigold nods as she begins the work of extricating herself from her old armor and putting the new on. "H-hopefully I can put it to g-good use...it m-might make Dzariel's spirit r-rest a bit easier."
__________
JJ sighs, realizing a particular moment had come.
"Kikinnin, what I have learned is that while your Abdar granted sight is useful, it is not perfect. Turn it on me. Kikinnin. You know me and my ancestry. You know there is no evil in me. But check."
JJ waits a moment for Kikinnin to confirm there is no evil in him.
The name Dzariel seems like an old known reference to the group.
Once the corridor is clear, the Watchers advance to the doors. Although JJ was not able to force it open before, Maxim attempts this time. The dwarf requires all his tools and patience to force open the strong ironbound wood doors, but finally succeeds and the massive obstacle cedes under his cunning skill.
The walls of this circular, domed chamber are carved and polished with exceptional precision and skill to look like cascades of petrified liquid.
Several metal disks on the ceiling sixty feet above provide a pearly illumination as bright as torch light. The center of the room is occupied by a bizarre, thirty-foot-wide, seven-foot-tall metal and stone sculpture made of truncated pillars, short ramps, suspended slabs of stone, and a total of twenty chairs with triple arm-rests.
A few seconds after stepping into the room, three celestial creatures accompanied by the sound of a heavenly choir and wisps of pleasing floral scents enter the chamber from the western corridor. The creatures are lithe and beautiful, with skins the color of marble, this being hovers upon powerful, white wings and radiate a sense of serenity.
They smile heavenly at you and speak in Common "Thank you for cleansing this ancient and sacred site from the taint of those terrible giants"
These are trumpet archons. Celestial entities from a lawful good plane, with multiple sacred powers, spell resistance and damage reduction to weapons not evil, immune to electricity and petrification.
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"O-oh...I r-remember now!" Marigold exclaims. "The d-diary we f-found in J-Jzadirune...D-Dzariel was the p-person who w-wrote the last p-part..."
She sighs, looking down sadly at the skeleton. "G-guess he m-met his end b-before he could figure out how to s-solve the V-Vanishing. B-but maybe that's b-better than d-disappearing?"
__________
When they breach the next room and the white-winged beings appear, Marigold's eyes grow nearly as big as saucers. "Y-you're...you're...a-archons!" she gasps. "C-come from H-Heaven itself!"
She quickly bows her head, feeling overwhelmed at being in the presence of such powerful beings. "Um...w-we just d-did what we had to d-do..." she mumbles shyly. "B-but...why are you h-here?"
"Wow, Trumpet Archons...." mutters JJ
Somewhat suspicious, having been told of hags, he asks "Aren't you worried about upsetting the balance of the area?"
Well that is unexpected Ryan thinks to himself as he enters the room and the archons make their presence known and both JJ and Marigold recognize them.
Bowing he waits to hear the answer to the already posed question.
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When Marigold offers up the chain shirt to his bror, Maxim stifles a chuckle;
"Lil' Miss... Know my bror here is a might leaner and meaner than my good self... but even he ain't fittin' into gnomiz sized armour!"
As they identify the ill-fated gnome, the gun-mage looks grimly at the remains before reverently replacing the rubble over the bones;
"Reckon its best we leave him where he lay... He was tryin' to save his people, do some good.. so wearin' his chain would be apt and fittin' Lil' Miss."
When the group enter the hall and are met by the angelic beings his eyes narrow in suspicion;
Hags or angels... Good or ill... Still gettin' the feelin' we're being played like patsies.
:
"Kikinnin, what I have learned is that while your Abadar- granted sight is useful, it is not perfect. Turn it on me, Kikinnin. You know me and my ancestry. You know there is no evil in me. But check."
Kikinnin's black eyebrows both descend slowly, as the boy responds. "If you ever give me reason to Look upon you, I will. I've never been steered wrong by Abadar, and won't take His gifts for granted." There are deeper words in the black beard's throat, but he taps them down like green tabacco, curing them for another time.
...
For the circumstance, Kikinnin immediately begins to walk towards the angels, judging their mannerisms, and giving them a stern Look. He also distances himself from the others, hoping they'll take a cue to spread out a little, as clusters tend to invite mass afflictions.
"You'll forgive us, but your timing is horrible. Say your peace, and leave us be. We're not out of the woods, here, and we're still looking for our friend, who is likely ahead, and past you."
For JJ's recent criticism, Kikinnin's tone is gruff, and impatient.
"Do you know of uncle Alek?"
"We have been trapped by the demons who set the giants to guard us" offer the archons "We were forced to remain here, so we have no chance. Thanks for your help"
The archons look at each other like taken by surprise by the question. They also answer nervously and feel like they do not deeply rely on what they are saying.
When Kikinnin approaches the front archon raises a chalice she is carrying and offers it to the dwarf "Your heroism against the giants have aearned you the right to drink the nectar of the Gods"
You feel your eye pierces through some magic resistance and sense a moderate evil aura in the front archon.
When JJ asks about Alek the archons look at each other "He must be the one that came here some weeks ago and walked into the Starry Mirror. Is him the reason you came to save us all?"
Maxim continues to warily watch the angels whilst hissing an aside to any and all nearby him;
"Didn't that Nidrama mention sumthin' bout findin' Alek in the lair o' her false sisters?..."
The gun-mage's hand hovers near his holster as the parley continues...
"How were you captured? And how did the demons bind you to this place? " asks the surprised JJ.
Then after a moment or two longer he adds "And what is the Starry Mirror?" He continues to slowly close the distance with the angels - as much because shouting from 30' away rather than talking face to face seems rude, as because of any suspicion about their true intentions.
Something niggles in the back of Marigold's mind at the archons' reply and she finally raises her eyes to gaze on them properly. "Ok-kay..." she responds slowly, "b-but why would d0demons want you imp-p-prisoned here? D-don't they usually just k-kill ones like y-you?"
She glances at her companions.
Something's off here, but I'm not sure what...
Whatever it was, you feel nothing.
"We were binded here the same way the demons got trapped to the Material Plane" the archons point behind "The Starry Mirror is a device the Spellweavers constructed in ancient times. It is supposed to let you see and understand things far away from mortal hands"
"We do not know, we think it is some kind of curse or magical effect that binded them here, and they made it to us somehow" explains the front archon while holding the chalice in front of Kikinnin "But do not worry, we are now free thanks to your intervention. Take a well deserved reward. The nectar of the Gods"
Kikinnin steps forward to take the chalice, nodding his head slightly, before he beseeches Abadar's holy might, and raises his weapon to strike at the front archon.
If he manages to swing with a surprise, the black beard simply states- "They're evil. Deceivers."
JJ looks further confused. "Our intervention? What was it we did to free you? And are there more of you captured and chained here somehwere?" he asks, closing to a casual conversational distance to the beautiful angels.
His ears perk up at the mention of the Nectar of The Gods however.
"Nectar of the Gods? What is that? "
The archons smile as Kikinnin picks up the chalice convinced of his decision to drink the nectar. But the dwarf has different plans for them. He surprises everybody swinging his axe, but Marigold and Ryan who quickly spot the real intentions of the ratcatcher.
His surprising first swing opens the archon's chest in a wide bleeding gash!
On your second interaction with the archon you suddenly realize it reacts strange to your slash. All of a sudden the illusion breaks letting you see the creature in front for its real form, a sickly, thin, green-skinned crone, with knots of dark, moldering hair spilled over her features.
"Oooooh, JJ, how lucky you were not to kiss on these... things..."
You disbelief in the other archons as well, and all of a sudden they become to your eyes the crones they are.
"Nooooo!" shouts JJ, surprised by his colleague.
"I've told you that sight is not perfect!"
Something doesn't feel right about the archons, yet Ryan remains on guard despite the supposed celestial nature of their new 'friends'. Having come to trust Kikinnin's instincts granted by Abadar, the priest watches as Kikinnin approaches .
The surprise of his action is quickly drown by the words "They're evil. Deceivers."
"JJ, look to the heart of them what do you see?" Inspiring word - +2 attack/skill/ability/saving rolls fr 4 rounds (cleric level/2)
Moving forward and to the side and knowing divine help will likely be needed "Abadar grant me thy favor" Cast Divine Favor +2 attack/damage for 1 minute
AC = 25, 28 v Green
HP = 84/84
Weapon Equipped = +2 Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = Shield Other, Smite
Kikinnin realizes that his surprise attack has done its job, pulling back his Axe head with a wet hiss. "There you are." Kikinnin looks at all three of the angels, and barks back at Green.
"A Reckoning's come. Your time's run out."
As his Axe does its work, Kikinnin allows the momentum of his one and only swing to push him forward, not giving the creatures time to react, positioning himself in the rear, where he can punish them if they retreat.