Keygan points to the North "The palace is there. I can bring you, I think I remember the way"
The gnome feels comforted by your soothing words "Thanks, I appreciate your intentions. I fear I had doomed myself and my family. It was stupid, I see now... but I am desperate. I don't know how else I can earn my own way of living..."
And turning to Marigold "She... she was tall... had wings and horns, but was otherwise showing her almost naked humanoid body" the gnome blushes.
By the descriptions of the palace by the gnome, you realize it has nothing to do with Occipitus skull. It is just different, ¿coincidence?, one.
Maxim's brow furrows;
"Keygen I'll not see your skills nor intent subjugated for ill intent. The Malachite will give you work, as will I - rest assure'd o' that."
As he speaks the gun-mage mulls the glamour that his friend is under;
:
"This magicks'll hold ye under their sway longer than the Protections 'gainst Evil. Requires somethin' a mite more potent... Hang fire my friend..."
Maxim grips the shoulders of his gnome friend and attempts to counter the effects with his own magicks;
"Verdrijf Magie"
:
"S-sounds like some sort of s-s-succubus," Marigold scowls at Keygan's description of the 'beautiful' demon. "Or w-worse. We'd b-best be mindful."
To Keygan himself, she adds, "I'm s-sure you can c-come up with s-something a lot safer than hunting for t-treasure in d-demon territory - if c-coming out here was r-really your idea t-to begin with."
When Maxim points out that whatever domination effect the gnome is under will outlast Kythel's spell she watches and waits anxiously to see if his attempt to dispel it will work.
"If th-that doesn't work I m-might be able to t-try it..."
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Maxim feels the domination effect to finally fall under his arcane power. The gnome is permanently free now.
Keygan looks with hope when a job in Malachite is promised.
"While I am for hunting these Fiends, I do not think at our current state of readiness we should pass through any portals to other dimensions, especially ones that are obvious traps".
JJ blushes at the mention of a succubus. Shuffling his feet he says nothing. Nothing.
"K-Kythel has a p-point..." Marigold agrees reluctantly. "We're n-not at our f-fullest strength and it s-sounds like we'd want to b-be rested and pre-p-p-pared before we investigate the p-portal or maybe even the p-palace. What do the r-r-rest of you think?"
Kikinnin gives the gnome a hard look, before responding to Marigold's prompt. "It couldn't be worse for the timing. Our mission targets Ka..." The black beard decides not to speak too plainly in front of Keygan. "We're headed somewhere other than a palace in the Worldwound. Are we risking losing time to see to this? This feels like a kind of rockslide, trying to derail us from our course."
Your current location is a paradise for demons, but not that a calm and secure place for a long nap. Securing a quiet and defensible location will most likely mean undoing some miles until you get out of the Demonskar and back to the core of the jungle.
"S-so we'd leave his w-wife to her fate? I...I kn-know time matters, b-but that d-doesn't seem f-fair or right to l-let her suffer for s-someone else's f-foolishness," Marigold offers quietly, clearly torn on the matter.
"Either way, we are in no state to press onward further. We need to rest. I'm thinking a tactical withdrawl for the night, and now we have eliminated the alpha-demon in the area, we might make easier progress tomorrow..."
Maxim listens, paw still set upon his gnome friend's shoulder;
"To where Surabar? We ain't got the facilities to travel far... an' like Lil' Miss says Ghelve's wife is imprisoned sumwhere."
He frowns, the creases in his brow accentuated;
"Now all this sounds like a trap. I said they'd target them that's close to us. Keygen here is a good friend, an' confidante o' mine... Hell all o' us. I ain't fir lettin' him nor his kin down."
The gun-mage grimaces, as if tasting a beverage that had seen better days;
"Yet this succubus'll likely lie in wait. Its glamour could turn friend to foe... Watcher 'gainst Watcher. We need to canny when the fight comes. What do we know o' succubus? Anythin' worth an edge?"
"If we are going to confront this Succubus, we should do so before my magical protection circle runs its course.
I vote for resting but as I am the newcomer here I shall go with what your decision is.
I live on borrowed time in any case".
"My own blood runs thin" admits JJ.
"I'll be needing to rely on the rest of you for healing if this turns into a third battle today. Maybe the stone and belt will keep me safe."
He looks round to gauge the resolve of the Watchers. "But you are right, we can't let a friend down. We rescued his rat, we should do better by his wife."
"I h-have most of my m-magics intact st-still," Marigold points out. "If we d-don't feel that we have the t-time to rest now then I'm g-good to press on. B-but I understand if K-Kythel or M-Maxim or anyone else feels d-differently."
"Th-that said, if we r-rest, we'll have to f-fall back out of this p-place. That'll take t-time too, so we n-need to get moving if th-that's what we're going to d-do."
She tries to ponder the nature of succubi and other such demons, wondering if there might be any useful weaknesses to exploit.
Marigold knows succubus generally have a strength on charming and dominating others, as the group witnessed during their battle at the Cathedral of Feathers. She also knows cold iron or good aligned blade is required to properly damage her. They are resistant to spells and immune to both electricity and fire, and despite their inner will is strong, their bodies lack a bit of fortitude.
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Kikinnin doesn't have the same affection for Keygan and his kin, but he knows when he's outvoted.
It troubles him that they've been delayed. It troubles him more deeply that they'll risk losing an opportunity, or their lives, to find true intelligence against much greater foes, over a gnome and his wife, fighting with a succubus in her own palace.
When Maxim speaks on glamour, Kikinnin gives him a granite gaze, but says nothing. He sees no way to convince those who have made up their minds.
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Maxim listens as he busies himself loading pistols with cold iron bullets.
As he mulls the rights and wrongs of this course, the gun-mage catches Kikinnin's hard stare. He walks to the warrior, holding his gaze with his own furrowed brow;
"Bror. Jeg ved, at du er bekymret over denne sti, og ved, at mens det føles rigtigt, kan du anerkende, at det kan være forkert, og endnu mere trække vores strenge i denne skygge-mumring"
"Brother. I know you have misgivings over this path, and know that while it feels right, recognise it may be wrong and yet more pulling of our strings in this shadow mummery."
Maxim sighs, stroking his beard with a wistful look, then continues;
"Gnomen har tjent os godt, og jeg frygter, at han er lige så meget en bonde som resten af os. Indrømmet, at han ikke har stålet i sin sjæl som dig eller min stædighed, men alligevel er hans intention god, så meget som en ydmyg håndværker kan være. Vi søger den hårde vej. Andre finder sig selv på det uden nogen skyld andre deres egne falibler. Jeg beder dig om at gå denne vej igen bror, lige så meget for mig som for Keygen."
"The gnome has served us well and I fear he is as much a pawn as the rest of us. Granted he has not the steel in his soul as you, nor my stubborness, yet his intent is good, as much as a humble tradesman can be. We seek the hard path. Others find themselves on it through no fault other their own fallibles. I ask you to walk this road again brother, as much for me as for Keygen."
With a proud nod to himself Blonde beard then turns his gaze groundward ands awaits the recourse from Black...
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Kikinnin returns his bror's attention, hearing Maxim out. Then he answers.
"Jeg mener ingen respektløshet overfor Keygan. Jeg sørger for hans vanskeligheter, det gjør jeg virkelig. Den harde banen har funnet oss, bror. Jeg har kommet til å godta den harde sannheten - de vi kaller venner, vi kaller familie, de er alle i faresonen. Og vi kan ikke beskytte dem alle. Hvis vi er forpliktet til banen, kan vi miste oss selv fra å gå av den. Vi vil hedre dødsfallene deres ved å sørge for at vi er ferdige med det Cagewrights startet. Så de dør ikke forgjeves."
"I mean no disrespect towards Keygan. I mourn for his predicament, I truly do. The Hard Path has found us, Brother. I've come to accept the Hard Truth- those we call Friends, we call Family, they're all at risk. And we can't protect them all. If we're committed to the Path, we might lose ourselves stepping off it. We will honor their deaths by making sure we finish what the Cagewrights started. So they don't die in vain."
The black beard clasps the blond beard's shoulder, patting it twice, following.
"I haven't laid eyes on the Palace, nor the demoness. Perhaps it's a sound course. I only ask that if the odds stack against us, we recognize it quickly, and resign ourselves to her loss."
Kikinnin prepares to march in whichever direction his Watchers take.
"Come on Kikinnin. This is his wife... his family we are talking about here. If it were your sister that was in strife, you'd be in boots and all. I'm as tired as you, but we can't just leave her to the demons."
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Kikinnin feels like he's spoken his piece, then turns to hear JJ speak his own. "Don't mark me for weariness, boy. Regarding my sister, don't presume to know my mind." The black beard's free hand quietly crks and pops, leather and knuckle. He gives himself two bellow's pumps of his lungs, to exhale sharper words through his nostrils, before they form on his tongue.
"In my mind's eye, a Great Stone Wheel is turning. It may be slow, but it doesn't stop. Its purpose, however smoky, is to grind under its millstone the Shackleborn. To spit out cages. To crack the earth, and create a sinkhole that leads to Carceri. The Cagewrights have their hands on that Wheel, and their backs and shoulders are straining to their own ends. We're here, doing our best to push back, with what little strength we have."
"What I'm trying to say plain here is the deep trouble if we fail in our opposition. When you want to step away from the Wheel to rescue a lone grain, you risk losing a whole hand's toss, or more. I don't know how long we have to see our oaths filled. The deep shame that will fall on my name, if we find ourselves a day late... it will be too much to bear."
Kikinnin is done answering the boy. He turns to Maxim, speaks briefly, and goes quiet.
"Zenith forlot stillingen sin til forsvar for Malachite, og løp av gårde til et froskepalass, og det var nesten vår ruin. Når seerne bestemmer seg for å løpe til et annet palass, vet du tankene mine om det. Keygan kan være kål, men han er ikke det hele."
"Zenith abandoned his post in defense of the Malachite, running off to a frog palace, and it was almost our ruin. When the Watchers decide to run off to another palace, you know my mind on it. Keygan might be Cauldron, but he's not the whole of it."
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Keygan frowns, his face endures as he listens Kikinnin, the tone of the dwarf enough to convey the hardness of his words. The gnome is only reassured by Maxim's own words and JJ's empathy. Before the balance might change Keygan speaks up "I know I ask you too much once more. You know, I cannot repay you enough for putting yourself and your quest in danger, but my life will be indebted to you. I do understand. I do fear my wife will be in danger once the defeat of the giant is discovered. Time, I fear, is at limit"
Without waiting for more hesitation, the gnome signals the route to take. With his help it takes less than half an hour to make the way to Nabthatoron's Palace.
The group resist energy and Kikinnin's true seeing come to an end.
After your well directed walk, Keygan stops and points up to your final destination. A huge skull with demon horns protrudes from one of the slopes of the Demonskar crater. An ethereal burning light glints from the eye sockets and the open mouth. A set of high stairs are the only way to reach the mouth entrance and the stairs themselves, as well as the palace, are surrounded by a moat of steaming water. A poisonous river pools in the tarry moat.
The shadows of large fishes swim in the depths of the moat.
Everyone but the dwarves are able to spot the Bar Lgura demons, hiding at your back, behind the rocks barely 60 feet from you.
"Those things in the water... best not to go in with them. They might slow you down a little while you are close to them as well, like when you are on the stairs.." warns JJ.
"I hope there are no more when we are forced into the water ourselves." he adds glumly.
Taking out his bow, he fires volley of shots into the Bar Lgura's that have ventured close, trying to aim for the one he hurt earlier first.
"Hopefully that will encourage them to keep their distance and not bother us while we go in."
JJ casually readies his bow and suddenly turns launching a volley of arrows that mortally wound the already damaged Bar-lgura.
As the deadly ammunition rains over his companion, the other Bar-lgura quickly jumps back and from there to another rock, quickly looking to take a large distance from the group.
"Hmph! S-seems like no m-matter what, we've g-got eyes on us," Marigold scowls as JJ shoots one of the previously-injured bar-lguras and the other quickly begins scrambling up and away.
"If those f-fish-things are going to s-slow us down on the stairs that'd b-be a p-perfect time for anything else w-watching to attack," she adds, glumly. "B-but there's not m-much else for it, I th-think. We'll j-just have to hustle as b-best as we can."
JJ's arrows pierce easily the demon spy who falls to the ground dead while the other retreats.
The Cleric certainly agrees with Kikinnin but as the die has been cast, he remains silent. Better to go along with a decision and swiftly than to waste time with debates, especially when timing is important. At least that is how Kythel has always approached group dynamics.
Kythel casts a spell on the group, "This will allow me to keep apprised of the condition of everyone".
"JJ, when the fighting begins, stay close to me for a minute that I may increase your fortitude temporarily. After that, I have perhaps one more trick up my sleeve but not much more for this fight".
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Kikinnin tries his best to keep pace, as the Watchers persevere with their rescue mission. He sets his guard against the fish first, then the apes, when they're pointed out. None of this will be on their terms. This is Ball Hamtuggin all over again, and his mind takes him to dark places. The Worldwound is starting to take a toll on the black beard.
He sees JJ dropping his weapon, as a female demon wraps her tail around his waist. He sees Maxim being born into the black skies by his wrists, torn in twain screaming, by two winged and muscular demons. He sees Kythel pulled into the shadows, forever lost to sight. He sees Marigold... he... sees her... sitting on a throne, stroking the fur of a hell hound, both of her eyes smoking, and glowing red...
Kikinnin shakes his head, and takes to the stairs, hoping he can maintain his balance to avoid the moat, and arrive at the mouth of the Palace unchallenged. In this domain, he resigns himself to seeing JJ take the lead, as the boy seems comfortable with the terrain.
Putting his bow back on his shoulder, JJ once again grasps Alakast, hoping the holy staff of his forefather might be proof against the terrors that lurk within.
Quickly he climbs the steps, using his speed advantage to the maximum, trying to get away from the supernaturally slowing aura of the non-fish below.
Maxim feels the "appretension" from his doughty Bror.
As JJ makes ready to scout ahead, the gun-mage retrieves a wand and imbues the young warrior with its magics;
"Hold Surabar. This enchantment'll allow you to see any foes ethereal or invisible."
He then offers up the same to anyone else in the group...
The group takes some resolve from Kikinnin and finally ventures into Nabthatoron's Palace climbing up the stairs over the moat. As they do JJ quickly surpasses the black dwarf thanks to his speed, but Marigold and Maxim suddenly fall behind as they are hit by the slowness aura of the skulvyns.
Good enough the group reaches the top of the stairs without more surprises and soon the world around ceases going to speed for both Marigold and Maxim.
Again, armored with resolve the Cauldron Watchers step into the skull's mouth.
Entering the demonic skull you soon discover the source of the fire glimmering: a stone bridge extends over a lava river that bubbles 20 feet below the bridge. At the other side an iron gate with an intricate symbol engraved closes the pass deeper into the Palace. Born amidst the lava four stone platforms rise to the same height of the bridge. On three of them a beautifully crafted iron statue of a human stands in a defensive pose. The heat in this area is specially unbearable for those not used to it.
You recognise the symbols on the gate are those of Nabthatoron himself.
At the other side of the bridge stands a creature with curling ram’s horns, metallic flesh that bears coiling ribbons of rust, and wings covered with rusty metallic feathers, each resembling a weathered dagger.
Their wings are deadly, able to produce deep bleeding bounds at the same time that give them the ability to fly. They have an extensive magic able to produce all kind of metallic objects, they are able to teleport and detect good.
They also have the ability to use vainglorious whispers on their victims, making them overconfident in their abilities while actually lowering their skill.
“Hold there mortals. This is Urdihax, guardian to the gates of Nabthatoron’s Palace” the devil smiles with mischievous eyes “Such a sweet visit to break the monotony of my ancient bond. I have it that you wish to cross the gates, but that goes against the duty of my contract with Nabthatoron. It would be a pity to lose such an opportunity of entertainment by descending into a rapid resolution of fire and metal.” she points at one of the iron statues over the lava “Would you like to hear me for an alternative proposal or are you the kind of shortly witted that only looks for carnage against the ones like me?”
Their position is dynamic and natural, like that one of a real person.
:
The gun-mage points out the fell symbols;
"Hell's Teeth. Those are the sigils o' Nabthatoron hissel'..."
At the creature Maxim baulks, unsure of its nature....
:
... nor can he discern naught about the statues it draws attention to.
Drawing his pistol instinctively the dwur looks to his companions;
"Reckon we should hear it out..? Might be we can pay it off or circumnavigate without bloodshed? Time bein' o' the essence an' such..."
Kythel yells across, "Speak. We will hear your proposal Urdihax".
"That is no demon, but a devil. A creature of law as much as evil. While I doubt we will like to hear his words, they are likely to do us no direct harm.." summises JJ>
"But beware his whispers, that will speak of our glory, for they will provide false confidence and lead to our undermining. As you might have guesses from the environment, fire will do them no harm, and they are resistant acid and fire as well..."
The devil smiles mischievously as he is prompted to keep talking "Good. Good... there might still be some wise adventurers. Somewhere"
"It has been just too long I have been serving in these gates and with just so few entertainment. There is nothing I look for the most but to be free from my bond here. Yet I have no interest to suffer any kind of death" Urdihax stares at you and smiles once more "I challenge you to an artistic contest. If you defeat me, I will be free from my bond and you will have the pass free. If you lose though, I will have the claim in one of you, so at the least I have some entertainment with which to decorate my ancient lair"
"You see the excellence of my crafting" the devil points again to the statues "If you are able to create a piece of work able to stand the greatness of my creation. You win. It does not need to be long or complex. Just awfully inspiring. The touch of someone able to demonstrate being a better artist than me. What can you demonstrate in less than a quarter hour?"
Marigold flinches as Maxim and Kythel, then JJ, vote in favor of hearing the devil out and glances nervously at Kikinnin.
Kikinnin won't truck with a creature like this, not without a fight. Kythel's new but the others ought to know better by now.
"They're also r-r--resistant to c-cold, acid, and m-magic in general," Marigold whispers softly. "P-p-poison won't d-do anything at all. And their w-w-wings can c-cut."
And he wants...a battle of the arts? Maybe if Dandarrion or Ruben were still with us...
JJ shakes his head. "I think not. You are a distraction. We defeated Nabthatoron himself, so a simple servant of his should be no problem. What I find curious is that your bonds still stand even though your master is defeated. Why would that be do you think?"
"Maybe N-Nabthatoron h-had some sort of c-c-contingency plan in c-case he was ever def-f-feated or...he s-simply never put in any sort of c-clause about his m-minions being able to return h-home in the event of his de-f-f-feat," Marigold answers, now speaking more loudly to where Urdihax can also hear but not really addressing the devil himself; it's more as though she's thinking out loud.
JJ thinks a bit more.
"I've done a fair amount of reading about the lower planes... " he starts.
"While I used to think of devils and demons as just different names for the same things... they are very different. I can't imagine a demon like Nabthatoron summoning a devil like... " he turns to the creature.
"What was your name again?"
"Defeated?" the devil sniffs the air "Well, very typical of the damned glabrezu. He first disappears, then this. If only that would break my contract with him..."
"Urdihax, mortal. Pay respects" the devil stares one and another of you "So whom will accept the challenge? The hafling with the patched eye? Or some one of the dwarves perhaps? You sure won't use that staff to craft a delicious wine pigtails, isn't it?"
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"Do you have to try your best at the challenge?" asks JJ?
"I mean, if you were challenged and then lost, would that not free you from your service? And are there any flexibility in the terms?I'm thinking there may be a win-win here."
"The contract is explicit. I must challenge you" he points again at the statues "My work is set. You just have to beat it. No tricks, respect the contract"
Kikinnin gives a good long look over the statues, made of iron. For their precious metal, the black beard begins to understand their value, and what it might take to best the devil at his crafting. The pits of lava are uncomfortably close, with a lurking, winged opponent. He keeps up his thinking.
"Alright, Urdihax. If you're seeking something that will rival your creation, in terms of expertise, I might be up to the task. I'm no sculptor, of course."
Kikinnin reaches into his backpack, and produces his Manacles, his Superior Lock, and his Rope of Climbing. He spends a moment or four, leveraging the mechanical bits of both metal works, and manages to craft a Pulley, though simple.
For effect, he threads the Rope of Climbing through it, then instructs the Rope to rise over the arch above their heads, where it secures itself and the Pulley, allowing the black beard to bring the end of the 60' rope back down. When it arrives, he attaches his cooking pot, and proceeds to demonstate to the devil the Pulley's ability to redirect his pulling to lift the cooking pot in the air, smoothly.
"Will that do, devil?"
Marigold's jaw drops when Kikinnin not only accepts the devil's offer...but proceeds to take up the challenge of besting the beast himself.
"I...I f-f-forgot that he's a c-c-crafter too," she murmurs, more to herself than to her companions. "We're always so b-b-busy, it seems like there's never m-much time for any of us to...w-w-work like everyone else d-does..."
He must really be worried about us taking too long on this rescue mission...
Urdihax smiles as Kikinnin decides to take the challenge "Let's see what you can do dwarf. You can otherwise make a good statue I suppose"
The devil raises a hand and the rock of the bridge breaks giving birth to a piece of metal that slowly crafts into an anvil and a hammer "What else do you need?" the devil raises his other hand and a piece of rock shapes into a set of tongs and multiple other crafting tools.
Urdihax observes attentively while the dwarf creates his pulley. Only when he ends and demonstrates its use the devil laughs "An ingenious piece of engineering, but is this real art?"
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"ARt!" states JJ, somewhat pompously. "Is in the eye of the beholder. Others see a sword as a hunk or metal, or a tool. But I see it as a work of art. To one needing to lift, Kikinnin's work is art and functional. No reason something cannot be both."
I'm sure I read that somewhere... I think it may have been in that book about succubi... there was certainly some good art in that...
Kikinnin considers speaking more elaborately, but hears JJ's words containing the conviction he would himself convey. He only adds a little more, to strengthen their arguing position.
"I saw your excellence in crafting, sure. I offer the demonstration of crafting. If you call the process art, we've got no truck with you. If you need a painting, or a statue, I'll have to let one of my companions accept the challenge."
The black beard looks at the doors barred to them, and sighs. Keygan's wife is in there somewhere. There's only one devil barring our way, what's to say there aren't minions sitting and waiting for something like us to storm the gates. Granted, the Nab is dead, but that hasn't helped us here, at his doors...
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Kythel laughs, his laugh is hollow and ringing and quite frankly, a bit eerie, "You believe your statues to be Art that compare to the marvels of Dwarven engineering?
Have you seen Dwarven engineering and the labyrinthine cities they create? With no tools and only a few moments my friend has created an object you could not have conceived of until you laid your Devilish eyes upon it!
I say his Art is Craft that more than rivals the nothing that you have created. And how do we know these are even statues you created and not just something you brought here? Or victims of some sort of petrification magic of yours?
Allow us passage, in the meantime begin a new work of Art and we shall return once we have completed our task to judge whether what you have created even rivals that which stands near you now".
"I th-think feats of engineering or st-stonework or even w-weapon crafting can b-be art to the r-right audience," Marigold chimes in. "They t-take just as m-much care and p-patience as any p-painting or sculpture. As m-much skill, each in their own w-way. N-not only do some engineers and archit-t-tects build their structures to b-be functional b-but also p-pleasing to the eye. S-same for weapons."