As Imedren completes his eavesdrop spell, he can hear the chanting voices from the end of the hall louder now. Above them, another voice speaks bold words. "Stand firm, brothers! You will defend this place with your lives! The Demon Lord sends his favored spawn to aid you. Glory to his name! This will be but a temporary setback. I shall spirit his Eye to safety, that our plans may proceed unhindered. The day of reckoning is yet to come!"
The voice then begins to proclaim a magical incantation...
"We have to hurry, Pentachus is going to move the eye. But there's going to be summoned demons and more cultists in our way. Best ready yourselves however we can, don't hold anything else back."
Joy nods, enchanting a trio of berries.
Once you are ready, you quickly make your way down the cracked corridor. A stepped pit drops 3 yards into the floor of this chamber, and features a blood-red pentagram at its center. Standing on that pentagram, the cult leader Katandramus is in the process of completing his incantation as you arrive. You get a glimpse of a bald human wearing black robes trimmed in red, and the dark orb he clutches in his hand, then he disappears in a puff of foul-smelling smoke, teleporting away.
Of more immediate concern are the creatures in this room. Six cultists stand with sickles raised, ready to fight you off. In their midst is a horrid demon. This fiend seems carved from weathered ivory, and runes and symbols of power cover its pale flesh. Its eyes glow an eerie yellow, and horns curl from its eerie, mouthless head.
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What is that?! Anophth calls out, firing an arrow at it.
NO! I AM IN CONTROL! Anophth yells out upon seeing the demon.
Casting Compel Demon. Anophth takes damage.
The demon locks eyes with Anophth and nods slightly, succumbing to the goblin's will...
"What the... You've got to be kidding!"
Although Tabog retained the contents of his stomach, he broke his body guard character and cursed himself for it.
He swiftly follows his group back down the halls of this glorified basement until they arrive before the summoning chamber. Heeding Imedran's words Tabog steps into the shadows.
He peers around the corner, into the chamber, where the statuesque demon sat perched, and terrifyingly tangible.
F*%%... I, uh, I have to wait until I have a perfect shot. Then I join the battle... I hope to Imedran's god that Anophth knows what he's doing!
The cultists's resolve quickly gives way to terror as Anophth compels the demon to turn on them. It teleports into their midst, tearing apart two of them with its claws, then bounds across the room to eviscerate another pair.
The two survivors scream imprecations and try to fight back in vain, but they don't even scratch the fiend's hide. It rips off one of their heads, then tosses it aside as it teleports across the room again and tears the last cultist into bloody chunks. Then it turns to Anophth, awaiting further instructions.
The charmed cultist cackles with glee. "Yes! Death to all traitors!"
Randolfus's men struggle to keep the contents of their stomach down at the slaughter. The inquisitor raises his staff warily and stares at Anophth. "That is Demonology magic you are wielding. The knowledge of such magics are forbidden..."
Tabog, not so shaken from the nice looking demon friend anymore. Steps between Anophth and Randolfus. He puts on a face of sorrow that slowly turns to one of triumph as he forms his nearly true explanation for his friend's recently acquired abilities.
"Steady, good inquisitor. The demon occult was forced on the poor goblin while we served one of your fellow councilmen. He's done much to quell the presence of evil within his person; so much that he was able to overcome the Demon Lord's will with his own. He's taken control of this horrid creature and commanded it to aide the side of light. That alone is a testament to his loyalty to the people of this city, don't you think?"
"Perhaps," Randolfus rumbles. "I am grateful that he was able to quell the fiend before it could harm us, though I worry how long he can keep it in check. As soon as we have secured this temple, it must be banished or destroyed. And if these powers were forced upon him, we might be able to find a way to free him of their fell influence."
He backs down, though he remains wary.
With the demon under compulsion, it's a simple matter to clear out the rest of the temple. The other rooms include cells used to hold prisoners (currently empty) and a room covered with filthy pillows, the use of which is best left to the imagination. Another half dozen cultists put up feeble resistance before the demon slaughters them. An ogre loyal to the cult puts up more of a fight, but it too proves no match for your demon.
The last room in here is a library loaded with books, scrolls, odd statues, sacriicial knives, goblets, and bones. Most of it is worthless, but you do discover a hidden nook with an enchanted suit of mail, lightweight enough that anybody can wear it regardless of their strength. You also find a scroll with two incantations: frighten (Curse) and brand of doom (Rune).
You are able to gather the shards of the Enigma Stone and safely place them in Randolfus's box. That should end the threat of the plague.
It would seem your task here is complete! There's still that demon, though, and the charmed cultist...
Joy steels herself to battle more bad people and the terrible thing they have aiding them...
...and then her jaw goes slack as she witnesses Anophth *control* the thing!
She recovers her wits enough to take stock of the devastation the controlled demon does to the cultists and winces.
When the Inquisitor speaks out, she is about to reply, but Tabog puts it better - and more safely - than she could, being both shy and using "suspicious" faerie magic.
In one of the relative lulls in combat, she whispers to Imedren when the "allied" cultist is distracted.
"Can you get him to be taken prisoner? It's the only hope he has to be saved."
Dramm fights the instincts in his body telling him to flee. Even with all the group has done together it is hard to maintain composure in the ensuing carnage. Anophth's resolve does not falter, and the demon seems unable to resist him. Dramm cannot help but watch in awe at the Goblin's will being done. A hand rests on Anophth's shoulder.
"Seems fitting. No one can resist the Goblin King."
----
Seeing the remaining dangers of the temple fall easily emboldens Dramm.
"Never seen anything rip off an ogre's arm before. Didn't know it could be done so easily..." He shudders.
Dramm lets out a low whistle seeing the library. He runs his fingers along the book spines, reading here and there. When Uruuna produces the pristine mail, he nod appreciatively.
"That will serve well. High quality." He turns back to the shelves. "There are secrets here. Useful ones. Should take a few. Can't leave them for others." He collects a few of the books and stores them in his bag for later.
----
After clearing all the rooms, Dramm elbows Tabog in one of the hallways.
"Katan got away. There has to be clues, right? He had to have gone somewhere. Any ideas?"
Imedren gasped at seeing the demon.
but he managed to hold himself together and then didn't run away when Anophth took control of the Demon.
He moved to intercept Inquisitor Randolfus but Tabog talked him down sufficiently.
... ...
He looked over at Joy as she whispered to him.
"We have the inquisitor and his men. They'll take the cultist into custody later. I'm not sure how far gone he is but he'll get us information we've been lacking for months. We already know there's a lot more cultists still in the city than we thought."
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I AM IN CONTROL! Anophth screams, his vocal cords burning in defiance. His fists are balled tight, knuckles as white as a sun baked beach. THIS IS MY CITY! MINE! AND YOU WILL NOT HAVE IT!
As Anophth screamed, the demon ripped through flesh and sinew, tearing through skulls, ripping out veins. Blood painted the floors, the walls, the ceiling. DO YOU HEAR ME? YOU SHALL NOT HAVE IT!
As the demons separated the head of the last cultist, the room became quiet. The only sounds were Anophth's heavy breathing and the sound of rain as the blood dripped back down to the floor.
Explain myself? F%%& you, Inquisitor. Anophth sneared that last word. I've done nothing but protect this city. I've risked my f$++ing life, lost my best friend, been turned into a f*#+ing rat, have a good damned demon infest me and whisper dark secrets into my head, and through it all I've f@!!ing sacrificed and protected this f$%~ing city. I've nearly died ten times over for Crossings. And you have the gal to ask me to explain myself?
Where the f!~* were you when I came begging for help from the Martyr? Every good damned priest I've been to has told me the same good damned thing: "Just be a better person." F@%# you! I've got a g!# d*%ned demon inside of me! And the only people who've even listen a f++@ing finger yo help me are right here with me now.
Where you there? F@@~ no! Where the f&%# were you?
Where the f+#@ were you when Father Gregory went missing? Huh? Where the f$@~ were you when the Patchwork Man took his eyes and wore his skin? Where the f$$$ were you while he laid in the hospital barely alive? He's still there, you know! Suffering. Mind f$%#ing gone. And you're here questioning me? ME?!
Where the f~$* were you when the other people went missing? Did you even know? Did you even care? Did you even lift a good damned finger for them? For the downtrodden and the diseased?! For the broken and the damned? No! We did! The f#&%ing six of us, right g~* d#@ned here.
Where the f~$$ were you when the councilman's daughter went missing? Were you laying traps for the Brotherhood, infiltrating their island? Did you eliminate them? No! We did! The f%*#ing six of us right here.
Where the f#!+ were you when some g$@ d#@ned Bloody Bones got loose and slaughtered that farmer? Who f$@*ing took care of that? We did! We diced deep into ancient elven crypts and rid the world of that threat! Where the f#&$ were you?
WHERE THE F%*! WERE YOU?
Anophth raged at the Inquisitor, and as he screamed, the demon charged forward, claws and teeth extended. It moved with unnatural speed. The demon rushed past Anophth straight for the Inquisitor's throat, but stopped just shy, growling and gnashing its teeth.
Anophth stopped screaming.
You want to question someone? Anopth asked, his voice still rough, but his tone was normal. Question that. You have until I wake up tomorrow. Better kill it before then, because after that I can't hold it back anymore.
And if you want to help me, Anophth said over his shoulder as he walked away, then get this f%%+ing demon out of my head.
Randolfus shrinks back a bit in the face of Anophth's fury. He raises his staff to protect himself when the demon charges at him, but luckily for him, the goblin barely keeps it in check. "I can understand your anger and frustration. When this is done, I will send for an exorcist to remove the demon that is possessing you. And moving forward, we will work more closely together to protect this city."
Dramm looks up from the notes he's scribbling into his book.
"No. Told you I don't want to. It can tear me in half." He compares some sketches to the markings on the demon's hide. "It's unsettling. And I think it wants to eat my skin. Doesn't even have a mouth."
The silence in the room was loud has the commotion came to an end and Anophth walked away. Luckily the musical cadence of Tabog's voice interrupted the
"I think this would might be a good time to discuss Mr. Katandramus' property and the need for a base of operation! So I was thinking, since we've been encountering stronger adversaries that a hazard pay should be discussed. My thinking on this is..........."
Joy nods at Imedren's words.
And looks in horror when Anophth has the demon charge at the Inquisitor.
It ends before she can react.
Afterwards, she approaches Anophth.
"I'm glad you're going to get help, Anophth. That power is useful but it's too dangerous. What if that demon got loose? I don't want any more bad things to happen to you, you've had so many."
In the aftermath of your raid on the temple of shadows, the Brown Cloaks and the militia sweep through Purse, eliminating the remaining undead victims of the gibbering fever. In all, perhaps a hundred people succumbed to the plague, but it would have been much worse if not for your efforts to contain it. The council of Crossings recognizes your heroism with a public proclamation and a reward of 2 gold crowns each. At Tabog's insistence, you are given the deed to the ruined Kantradamus House and the structure beneath it as well, though the ruined place is a bit of a fixer-upper, to say the least.
Inquisitor Randolfus thoroughly interrogates the cultist you had charmed, but he has frustratingly little information to provide about where Kantradramus might have fled to or what his ultimate plans might be. Still, what he does divulge leads to the arrest of several dozen more cult members hidden throughout the city. The Brotherhood's presence in the city seems to have been all but wiped out, though Randolfus insists everybody remain vigilant for a possible resurgence.
It's another relatively quiet time in the city, though if previous experience is any indication, the calm will only be a temporary one...
Also, during the downtime, an exorcist visits to remove the demon possessing you. You can narrate this if you'd like or I can if you'd prefer.
It had been a wild few months for Anophth, and he was looking forward to life returning to normal. Back to the shop. Back to the grind.
With Uruuna and Nutmeg pretty much running the shop, they had kind of turned it more into a curiosities for kids. This seriously hurt Anophth's business while he was running it, as every child who came in to his store was immediately afraid and uncomfortable around d him, which in turn made the parents leave without buying anything.
This was going to have to change. He picked up and reorganized his store, bringing in new curiosities and other things to sell. He turned the theme to something darker, more adult, and more risque.
Not long after, Nutmeg stopped showing up to work. And Uruuna seemed to be more absent than usual. This suited Anophth just fine, as he could use some time to himself. But at the same time, he wanted to help fix up the new Manor and didn't like his employees not being around. Anophth poured what little profits he made into the house, and even spent his nights and weekends there.
Studying at the Manor really helped him. After controlling that demon, he focused on the why and how of it, learning as much as he could and trying to see if he could use it in any other fashion. After weeks of study and practice, he finally got it. He couldn't just compel demons - now he could compel anyone. Granted, the additional challenge of it meant he couldn't try it as often as he would like, and it didn't work as long as before, but still, it was a major accomplishment. It was a step forward.
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Constructed by an eccentric wizard named Caribdus almost a century ago, the tower known as Wizard’s Peak displays its maker’s unhinged personality. As crooked as a hag’s finger and capped with a red-shingled roof, the tower features poles jutting out at various points, each of which blooms by night with green flames. The weed-choked lawn is littered with broken statuary, strange machines, and other rubbish, but few people have the courage to confront the often-erratic wizard about the disheveled state of his tower and its grounds.
Caribdus lives here still, though he rarely leaves the tower these days. When he does, he goes about wearing heavy red robes and a wide-brimmed red hat. The wizard takes on apprentices from time to time, but he accepts only worthy pupils who have the courage to knock on his door and the character to withstand his scrutiny.
Dramm notes the emerald glow and begrudgingly admits he rather likes them. Mumbling words that Ezekia had repeatedly tried to tell him to remember in order to be polite, Dramm raps on the door.
"Eh? Whozzat?" comes a voice from somewhere within the tower.
Dramm raps a little more firmly before calling out. "Dramm. I'm here to meet the owner."
"D'Owner? Nope, nobody here by that name."
"Then who is here? Supposed to be a wizard's tower. I was wanting to learn. Anyone left?"
"Oh, aye! There be a wizard here, alright." The door suddenly swings open, nearly smashing Dramm in the face. An old man with a bushy white beard peers out at him with narrowed eyes.
"Dramm Hayle. It is a pleasure to meet you. How are you today?" Dramm says mechanically before immediately resuming his normal tone. "Someone smarter than me said to say that. Your reputation leads me to believe you're the wizard. Am I right?"
"I be A wizard, though I'm not sure if I'm THE wizard. It would depend on which wizard you be looking for. And you, boy? What be you?"
"Dramm. Human. Sorcerer. Learned the word from the city guard. Apparently it's not good." He looks at the old man as keenly as the old man peering back. One might even say evaluatingly. "City is going to s!*@. Can't run, so I need to learn more to help. Outclassed in equipment and power. I was not sure what kind of wizard you are. Not sure who I'd find. Who are you?"
The wizard adjusts his wide-brimmed hat. "Caribdus. Human. Wizard. Don't remember where I learned the word. I've learned a lot of words over the years, probably forgot more than my fair share as well. After you hit the century mark, the mind starts to go a little bit..." He stares off into the middle distance for a few moments before his eyes focus on Dramm again. "A sorcerer, eh? Show me what you can do."
Dramm nods and puts some distance between the two of them, standing in the yard. "Basic arcane knowledge and theory, defensive and offensive. Supportive protection incantations to reduce injury...
Dramm carves glowing energy in the air and chants incantations as he lists his magical breadth. Arcane protection covers him, a dart clips a nearby stone, a force field surrounds Dramm.
"Specialization: Destruction and Life. Unmake and regenerate." With that, Dramm carves a sigil above his left palm. With the tip of the blade, he pierces through the sigil and into his palm. When he presses the bloody hand into a stone, the smear left behind snaps and sizzles corrosively. Dramm's tattoos begin to fill with energy, running lines of power down his arms.
Suddenly the power flares up between the lines. A bent tattoo on his chest sparks and pulses before sending a wave down to the fingertips that touched the rock.
BOOM!
The plants within a yard of Dramm are seared with magical energy, leaving a crisp ring. Dramm appears to have not stopped talking.
"-pens sometimes as well. Conduits don't hold the excess like they're supposed to. Rebuild themselves. If I don't focus, they create new outlets."
He stands up, casting a quick cure on himself to repair the damage to his hand.
Caribdus holds onto his hat as shockwaves from the detonation buffet it. He grunts, seemingly unimpressed. "You've got power, boy. But you don't got finesse. Some problems require a scalpel but all you've got is a hammer."
"That was Ezra. He was the stallion. I'm the plow horse. That's what the family always said. Stubborn. Steady. Not flashy. I get where I want to be, one way or the other." Dramm fiddles absentmindedly with his notebook, as if thinking about something. "It used to be enough. I have learned it is not anymore. The demon below the manner would have butchered all of us if Anophth had not dominated it. The others insist we stay, though. I have learned it will take more to stop whatever is happening. What instrument do you use?"
Caribdus thumps a large tome on his belt. "This grimoire contains all of the spells I have discovered over the years. Not as flashy as explosive dagger casting, perhaps, but it gets the job done."
"Flashy?" Dramm mutters as he looks at the book. "Grimoire. Incredible. Well beyond mine. Many pages beyond. Humbling. I am sorry about your lawn. I do not intend to be flashy. Self taught mostly. Only recently received a small amount of formal instruction. Allowed me to create the ritual to rewrite myself. I am told I am... haphazard. Do you teach?"
The wizard harrumphs. "Don't know if I have the patience or inclination to deal with you. But I've got a lot of books in my tower. You're welcome to come and visit and read them. Mayhaps you can find something to help you in one of them. You just got to promise not to explode my library."
Dramm nods enthusiastically. "Thank you. That is very kind. I have no intention of exploding indoors. What in return?" Dramm stops for a second as if correcting himself mentally. "What do you want in return?"
"A favor, to be determined later."
The two magicians shake hands. "What do you do now?" Dramm looks around the yard.
"Now? Clean up, I suppose." The wizard flips through his grimoire and casts a spell, conjuring a pair of goblinlike creatures dressed as gardeners. They begin to tend to the plants scorched by Dramm's magic...
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Ezekia welcomes Imedren into her home. A contraption of metal wires and lenses holds the chaos shard on her table. "How are you feeling, Imedren? Has your consumption of the shard had any ill effects on you?"
Imedren nodded to Ezekia, eyeing the shard in the strange contraption. "Actually I've been feeling fine... better than fine really. Thank you for asking, Ezekia. Lately I've felt like my head has been clearer than in a long time, I feel more confident. Has your research been fruitful, in regards to the containing the Chaos Shards power. Dramm was worried it would be too unstable."
"Chaos magic is, by its nature, unstable. There's always a risk involved, like the mutation Anophth contracted when he consumed his shard. But I believe a magician of sufficient power could channel the entropic energy to benefit them rather than harm them."
"Fascinating. If one was willing to accept such risks, could it be used soon? Is there perhaps a better way to harness it?"
"I may be able to unlock further secrets, given more time. But I'm not sure if it's worth waiting, with all the dangers that have been cropping up around the region lately. You got lucky with that demon in the temple, but if you come across more monsters of that power level, you'll likely need any edge you can get. It's up to you."
Imedren thought for a moment. "I've been thinking about that. The cultist summoned a demon. What if... what if we could get one of the Fey here? Do you think you could talk to it? Could we make it unlock the secrets of the Chaos Shard?"
Ezekia chews on her bottom lip as she thinks. "It's possible. Dealing with faeries is a dangerous prospect, though. And to conjure one, you'd need to know its true name."
Imedren nodded enthusiastically. "I thought so. Or at least that's what my research had uncovered thus far. You're the most talented spell-caster I could think of." as he spoke he slung a leather bag from off his shoulder and opened it, pulling out an ancient looking book.
Ezekia studies the book curiously. "Where did you find this?"
"Oh, I came across this when I began working as a research assistant for Caribdus in Wizard's Peak. Every other week or so I'm given a stack of books to look through. Most of them are heavy reading, journals, texts but almost none of them have any sort of index. So I make notes on them, look things up, and organize them on a separate piece of parchment into much more digestible fashion. In return I'm given a small stipend payment and allowed to browse through the books at my leisure. This was the last one I was allowed to take. It's got pages of odd materials here. Strange rituals and most of it's been crossed out but there was one name I found that hadn't been. Druxcanor."
"This isn't just any faerie, Imedren. This is a devil. Calling it here would be inviting corruption into your soul. Are you sure you want to do this?"
"A devil... is that different than a demon?" he seemed momentarily hesitant.
Ezekia nods. "According to the annals of witchcraft, mortals leading depraved and monstrous lives find Hell awaits them in the afterlife. There, the twisted faerie known as devils scourge the corruption from their souls, feasting on those dark acts and savoring the memories of them. Once the soul is stripped clean of corruption, it rises from the Underworld and is reborn into this world. The darker the stains, the longer the soul remains in Hell, with some never truly escaping the damnation they earned. Devils thrive on tempting mortals to commit sins to damn them to Hell, in order to slake their own hungers."
"If it only tries to tempt me... and it can help us... I think I can resist it's temptations. Especially given the warning you just gave me. Show me how to summon this thing."
***
Once you are ready, Ezekia begins by inscribing a complex circle on the floor with the chalk. It takes about an hour to complete, after which she nods in satisfaction. "Don't disturb the circle or its power will dissipate and the devil will go free. Are you sure you are ready? Once you start the incantation, there's no going back."
Imedren nods and begins the incantation, chanting and making the appropriate gestures for some time. It takes almost two hours of repetition and concentration. All the while, the sorcerer can feel darkness staining the edges of his soul...
At last, the circle fills with a burst of fire and brimstone. A humanoid shape appears in the smoke, and as it fades the devil stands revealed...
Arising from the circle in complete opposite from what was expected, brilliant light surrounds a dusky skinned woman with flowing brunette hair flowing just over her chest. Two brilliant white wings fan out on either side of her roughly six feet tall. She is dressed in a short white dress trimmed with gold. Her eyes are subtle, defiantly narrowed with orange irises that glow with just a soft touch of an ember.
The woman smiles beatifically at Imedren. "Well done, summoner. Truly you are pious and righteous indeed to be able to call me forth. What is it you desire of me?"
Ezekia whispers, "Remember she is a devil. Don't let your eyes deceive you."
Imedren was at once both astounded and yet felt like he should have expected this. At Ezekia's words he snapped back to focus. "Your assistance is what I require, Druxcanor. Demons and their servants have been running unchecked in this region. I need your help to achieve more power to eradicate them."
"Of course. I am happy to give you what you ask for. What do you offer me in return?"
A trade? I have nothing interesting to trade to her... unless! Imedren glanced around the room. He had never been to Ezekia's before, so his eyes fell on the only thing he could even consider that was worth anything he had any claim to. The Chaos Shard. Dramm doesn't trust the power after what happened to Anophth... So,
"A shard of real power." he said. "It was created by the Fey in nature. Its power is chaos. Like its namesake, the magic is unstable and the effects are... unpredictable. Help me understand how to harness its magic without destroying it completely and it's yours."
Druxcanor's smile widens, and her eyes flash with something. Avarice, perhaps? "I accept your terms summoner. Come into the circle and I will impart the knowledge you seek."
Exhaling, Imedren casts a spell and teleports into the circle. The devil wraps her arms around Imedren's waist and stares into his eyes. The chaos shard shakes and levitates off of the table, glowing with reddish light. The same light fills Druxcanor's eyes, and as Imedren stares into them, the knowledge of how to further harness the energies of chaos begins to tickle at the edges of his mind.
Imedren tensed as the appeared into the circle with Druxcanor. As he stared into her eyes and knowledge flooded his mind he eased his tension. "I see now. So that's how one understands such power. One has to jump into the river to further guide its flow." he grinned.
"Indeed," she whispers, leaning closer. "I can give you more power than this. The knowledge of even greater magics. All you need to do is give yourself to me..."
Imedren thought of her offer. The temptation to give in, to obtain more of what he needed to gain more power. Druxcanor, he had to remind himself, was a devil. It was temptation of power. The very thing he'd easily shrugged off earlier as a mere afterthought, was now being offered to him at this very moment, and it was enticing in more ways than one.
His mind was already running with rationalizations he could give. It would be so easy. but his gaze fell down to his ring finger. The simple silver ring there reminded him of the promise he made to Uruuna, their marriage, and everything good in his life had come from meeting her. He shook his driving lust for power and his simpler desires off of himself.
"N-no." he said quietly. "I've sworn never to give myself to anyone else. I will be faithful to my wife. I got what I needed from you, Druxcanor. You'll have the shard I promised but then you leave."
"Of course, summoner. You have proven yourself most noble indeed. The gods smile upon a faithful man."
She extricates herself from Imedren's embrace and holds her hand out. The chaos shard vanishes, then reappears in her clutches. "If you change your mind, or if you seek another gift, I will happily answer your call. I look forward to our next meeting." Smoke and brimstone fills the circle again, engulfing Imedren. When it fades away, the devil is gone.
Imedren let out a sigh. "I underestimated that offer. I was expecting something more horrific. But I remembered what you said, Ezekia. I think I have to go see Uruuna."
"Devils exist to tempt mortals. What better way to do it than with a pleasing form? I commend you on your strength of will, Imedren, but I'd recommend not trying to summon her again. It's a slippery slope..."
"I can see that now. I gained the power I was looking for right then but I doubt I will be calling on her any time soon."
He starts to leave but stops. " We could have been able to all benefit from the Chaos Shard had you been allowed to study it more but I wasn't prepared to offer Druxcanor anything else. I'm sorry for its loss. I alone benefitted from it. But it's not enough. Dramm mentioned there were other objects of power we might be able to obtain. Could I ask your assistance in helping to locate any for us? There's no telling how long we'll have before the cultists or any other trouble manages to spring back into view."
Ezekia nods. "It's okay. I don't know how much more I could have gotten out of the shard, since it was designed to only be used once. But I've heard some rumors of other objects that I'm trying to substantiate now, in fact. With luck, I'll have something for you soon. Go. Be with your wife."
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Inquisitor Randolfus petitions the council for more resources to bring additional inquisitors of the New God to hunt down the Brotherhood of Shadows. Mayor Edgerton protests increasing the cult's power in the city, supported by Elder Fobb and Master Dreen. But Father Paulus, Jon Crawley, and Commander Rena agree with Randolfus, and Ambrose Quick takes their side as well, if only to spite Katrin. Gundren the Ironmonger abstains.
Thus, a few weeks later, a dozen members of the inqusition arrive in Crossings and take up residence in Randolfus's headquarters. Among these newcomers is a tall orc whose face is a mass of scar tissue, which he usually hides behind his skull mask. Appropriately named Dredface, he is specialized in exorcisms.
Once Anophth is ready, the inquisitors bind him to a stone bier in front of an altar depicting Astrid pierced by swords. As the other priests chant and pray, Dredface anoints the goblin with holy water and paints occult symbols across his furry body with silver dust. The prayers reach a fever pitch as the orc brandishes his holy symbol. "By the grace of Astrid! By the glory of the New God! I compel thee depart, foul demon! Relinquish your hold on this goblin! Return to the Void from whence you came!"
Anophth begins to thrash and foam at the mouth. His single eye turns a baleful red as the demon treis to fight against the exorcist's magic.
"Begone, fiend! You will trouble this wayward soul never more!" Dredface snarls, thrusting the holy symbol into Anophth's chest. The symbol flares with sunlight, scorching a circle into the goblin's fur. Anophth screams and his mouth opens wide as bubbling corruption pours out, coalescing into the twisted form of the demon that had previously possessed Candace Dreen--the very same demon he had eaten while trapped as a rat!
The demon screeches and rails, temporarily stunned, and the inquisitors pounce upon it. They smash and stab it over and over until it falls, a broken, bleeding wreck. Anophth comes back to himself, the dark presence that had plagued his thoughts for months at long last gone.
Dredface unties the goblin and helps him to his feet. "It is done. But I cannot remove the indelible stain on your soul. You must do what you can to make amends for your dark deeds, or face eternal damnation in Hell. Your fate is in your hands now."
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The trip through the checkpoint is long as the entire group is carefully inspected for wounds and infection. Dramm stands next to Imedren as they're being poked and prodded.
"Isn't it a job though?" Dramm says bluntly.
"Remind me, what conversation is this a part of?"
"Before the madman came into the room with Anophth. You said just act like this was a job." Dramm picks at this fingernails. "Isn't what we do just a job though?"
"Ah... it was meant to help make everyone sell the ploy." He frowns as he contemplates what Dramm was getting at. "Guess the fact it was true just made it that much easier to believe."
"Isn't it for all of us? I never really considered why the others do this until now."
Imedren crossed his arms now. "I mean, I suppose we have been working for the city council for a while now. It's easier to find a place to belong when one has relatively gainful and meaningful employment... I certainly haven't had any luck with either of those things in my other profession."
Dramm nods along with Imedren, crossing his arms as well. "We do a lot of work for the city for decent pay. Seems like good work." His face slowly sinks into concern. "It's not enough though. You saw that thing. It would have shredded us. We need more."
"More what exactly, Dramm? Coin? Equipment and weapons? Better contacts in the city?" He frowns for a moment, eyeing the rest of the group. His gaze lingering on Inquisitor Randolfus and then Anophth. Then his gaze narrowed with a glint in his eye.
"Or do you mean power?" he whispered.
"All of it. Katandramus just sacrificed his home and his identity for only a small summoning. He is preparing for something bigger, and this slip only showed part of his plan. We will need more of all of it." Dramm sits down on a bench to wait for the others. "I don't think Ezekia will run from this place like we should."
"Dramm, what do you think one man is going to accomplish exactly? Sure he might have ruined a small district of a city but he can't destroy it entirely. If you're that worried I'm certain there's some sort of magic we can use to help us find him. That's no reason to run. We'll find his allies and route them out. " He sat down next to Dramm on the bench.
"We'll need to be more proactive than we have been in the future, it's true. This isn't a sit back and wait situation.” Imedren continues, ”So if we want coin, influence, and equipment we'll have to start ingratiating ourselves with the city council more than we have been. Power's trickier, but Ezekia's busy studying the Chaos Shard. We can learn something from that."
Dramm lets out a long sigh.
"One man can destroy a city. He just happened to fail today." Dramm resumes picking at his fingers. "The shards are too unstable. Look what they did to Anophth. My amber... it was only a small part of a whole, and it almost tore me apart when I wielded it. There are other objects in the world like it."
"But don't forget what happened when I used it. It filled me with power, if anything I think it pushed me to new heights that I didn't think were possible." he smiled as he recalled the memory but then he closed his eyes and shook his head. "I suppose that can wait though. If you think we might be able to locate other objects like that though, then let's see what we can find. I work part time in a library now as a research assistant. Maybe I can find something there."
"I'll start searching. Relics exist for this cult as much as they do for us." Dramm drums his fingers on the bench. "Ezekia won't let me leave this job. Probably won't run. We have to keep up with our enemy then."
Imedren nodded encouragingly to Dramm as he declared his intention to stay. Then he looked at Dramm. "Uh... You're doing that thing where you talk in the minimal amount of words again."
Dramm looks back at Imedren and his brow furrows in concentration. Then he takes a large breath.
"You're right, we have to be more proactive. We've seen that the Brotherhood has a base and powerful arcane items. Knowing that, we'll find our own to combat them. It will be very frustrating and painful to work with the council or the guard, but it will be our only option if we want to stay employed. Ezekia means too much to me to leave behind, and she won't leave here because she cares about these people for some reason. I want to be paid if I'm going to do the work. Preferably more. Thanks Imedren." He wheezes a lot by the end.
Imedren looks a little worried and waves his hand at him. "Okay, okay. You don't have to try and get everything out in one breath. Have you ever tried speaking in moderation?"
"Isn't what we do just a job though?"
"You're damn right it is..."
"Or do you mean power?"
"You're damn right he does..."
"...sacrificed his home and his identity for only a small summoning..."
I don't know about small. The demon and the giant eye monster. *shudder* Both seemed really powerful, and then he teleported the whole gross eye thing away. He said it was the Demon Lord's "favored spawn", I don't know much about all that but we have to be looking at something pretty big.
"I want to be paid if I'm going to do the work. Preferably more."
Yoooooooooooou're welcome!
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The days and then weeks following the defeat and routing of the cult and beginning to work with Inquisitor Randolfus had caused Imedren to be more forthcoming to the masses with his work. He pushed himself to be the central figure, using the public proclamation and hero status to further the belief in the old and new faiths. That the Old Gods and the Cult of the New God, as well as more mundane folk can in fact work in harmony to route out the evils of cults like the Dark Brotherhood. He does not find his work much different, though he notes that perhaps a few more people take note of him in this regard.
When he can, he turns his attention to his more interesting work as a research assistant for the wizard Caribdus. The hours are long and the research is mostly unhelpful except in the broadest of senses, largely regarding the properties of strange magic rituals and perhaps recognizing the effects of certain kinds of magic. There were some magic relics mentioned of decades if not centuries long past, if the condition of the majority of the books were any indication. But the whereabouts were unknown which frustrated him until he finally went to look for help.
The night he returned from the summoning of the Devil Druxcanor, had left Imedren feeling drained and tested. He needed Uruuna but when he arrived home and found she wasn't there he was confused. She had almost never been late but he supposed it was probably due to her increased training and rank increase within the militia. So that night he took solace in the other thing he loved, drinking at the tavern. He went out and got quite drunk that night.
At some point he decided that they needed to change their living situation, and he decided to surprise her with a new house. So he staggered out to the local notary and pounded on the door until he spoke with the man about purchasing a new house and beginning a new change to his lifestyle.
he argued with the man behind the counter, haggling for prices in his drunken logic for very fine accommodations.
When all was said and done he had himself a fancy title to a new house.
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It was the fifth day of the twelfth month of the year. Tabog's birthday! He woke up in a great mood, the anticipation of the day put all the pep in all of his steps! Going into Nutmeg's room in the morning Tabog was in a great mood. It was his birthday, and he always got himself the same present, a relaxing and fun day with his son; and now his friends as well.
"I-i-i-i-i-t's gonna be a great da-a-a-a-.."
He stopped short when Nutmeg was no where to be found. Not the most unusual thing to happen, this was a normal day of work for him.
I could have sworn I talked to him about taking the day off but... Maybe I didn't. Ah well, I'll go find the others, I'll see him this afternoon at least!
Setting off to run a few errands, Tabog stops by the soon-to-be manor/Strike Force Home Base. He's glad that he got the council to agree to give them... "him"... the land with much less resistance then he anticipated. He certain;y wasn't considering it his, over anyone else, but his name on the deed to land like this was a check off the old bucket list and a nice stroke to the ego. He spoke with Anophth, who he saw at the sight, and made sure he knew about the get together at Imedren's new house. He was certain he asked Nutters to tell him but Anophth seemed to have no idea about it. Very strange.
Evening came quickly and the group was sitting around Imedren's old table in his new house. It was beautiful, and spacious enough fit the six of them with room for Urunna and Nutmeg when they arrived. Tabog was happy to treat kill two birds with one party, for himself and for his friends' new abode. Some drinking went on and the time passed, and more passed. There was plenty of conversation between them all and Tabog was pleased as it seemed that it wasn't uncomfortable with anyone that Delia was present even though they had ended their fling that began in the elven shrine weeks before. Dramm's relationship was a bit of a surprise to Tabog but he took it stride. He knew of Dramm's trials and what they had gone though together but didn't know the extent of it until now.
Imedren started to look worried now and then, and Tabog noticed that Nutmeg should have been home by now, and he was pretty sure Urunna should be as well. He looked at Imedren and they both knew what the other was thinking.
"Nutters should be here by now, right?" Tabog says with concern, it was dark and that wasn't typical for Nutmeg. The rain that just started only compounded his fears of trouble.
"Well, I... Had him grab a treat for us on his way home, maybe it's just taking a bit longer?"
"I... I have an uneasy feeling about this... Shouldn't Urunna be here too?"
"Normally yes, but she's been working very late. The Brown Cloaks have been pushing her really hard..."
Dramm shifts uncomfortably. It became clear early into the party that Ezekia had informed him of the day's significance to Tabog. It is also clear that he still didn't quite grasp that significance and was mostly acting on clues from the others. He had stood rather quietly during the party, occasionally greeting or observing the other attendees.
Now he was fiddling with a string on the parcel he had brought, twisting the brown thread.
"Don't think he'd get lost. Maybe they're together."
I haven't seen him, Anophth says. He didn't show up for work today. It's a shame, because I had a lot planned for him. I'd talk to him about responsibility, but I haven't been the best role model for that.
Ezekia glances at Dramm. Through their link, he can feel her worry and anxiety regarding the situation. She remains quiet for now, though.
"Maybe we ought to turn this party into a search party," Delia says, half-jokingly. Her attempt at humor falls flat, and her smile fades when she sees everybody's worried expressions. "I'm sure he'll be here any minute now."
Joy sits with her hands balled under her chin, slender limbs visible.
She finally pipes up.
"It's not like them, either of them! Something must have happened, maybe the cult is trying to hurt us through them!"
"That's a bit hasty maybe, but you're your right Joy, they're not Nutmeg isn't one to spend time in the rain.
I haven't been spending as much time with him as I should Anophth, so I certainly would be to blame as well. He wasn't around this morning either... Perhaps we can both sit down with him if he's really just slacking off."
Tabog laughs but it fades quickly as he gave Delia's comment more thought.
"...You're probably right let's give them another minute, I'll get some of my stuff ready and if they're not here by then I'll take a walk and see what I can find."
You can hear a horse whinnying outside the house, then a few moments later, the door slams open to reveal a grief-stricken Uruuna. Her armor is scuffed and she has a few bloody claw marks on her arms. "Nutmeg! They... they took him!"
Her eyes dart around the room. She briefly meets Imedren's gaze before she winces and quickly looks away, focusing instead on Tabog. "I was... finishing up my patrol when I saw them. Men in dark robes dragging Nutmeg towards Grievings. I tried to stop them but they summoned some sort of monster! By the time I took care of it, I lost the trail!"
Imedren nodded to the others, he didn't say it out loud, but he was starting to get worried as the mood for both his housewarming and TaBog's birthday with his friends was starting to turn cold and troublesome.
It can't be. The Brotherhood's been routed from the city... haven't they? No, no I shouldn't worry. Certainly not about Uruuna.
As Delia's lighthearted joke was met not just with silence but Joy beginning to worry out loud, Imedren walked over to a table where he'd purchased some fine brandy and poured himself a glass. He swirled it momentarily before he started drinking.
When TaBog mentioned getting ready, Imedren downed the glass he had in his hands.
Why is he getting upset? There's no reason to ruin his... he's worried about his son. Any father would be.
He poured himself another glass. "Really, TaBog. I think you're right to starting to over-" he stopped as he heard the horse whinny outside.
"Well that must be Uruuna, I wonder if she's got Nutmeg with her?" When Uruuna burst in his eyes widened as he looked at her battered form.
As she told them what had happened, the brandy went sailing across the room. "Bastards!" his curse accentuated by the shattering of the glass as it struck the far wall and Imedren stalked across the room to Uruuna where he kneeled down next to her.
"Are you badly hurt Uruuna. We're going to find the ones that took Nutmeg and hurt you and when we do... we're going to kill them."
"I'm fine. I've had much worse," Uruuna says, a tad brusquely. "We have to go after Nutmeg before they get away!"
"Lead." Dramm steps forward. Ezekia feels a wave of murderous fury.
Joy is roiled by emotion, but tries to calm.
"Uruuna, do you need healing quickly?"
Tabog held his glass up in cheers as Imedren poured his own drink. When he heard Uruuna arrive he smiled to himself and turned to the door just in time for her to burst in. Tabog paled and was stricken cold, frozen to his core at the site of her. His eyes became wide and his hands flexed, extending his pointed nails into thick claws. Even after everything he's been through in the last few months, this was the nightmare that shook him to the core. He jumped out of his seat and waved away Joy's concern.
"There's no time! Uruuna, let's go, show me!"
He quickly grabbed his belt and knife. He put it on, awkwardly fumbling as he followed Uruuna outside into the rain. His eyes cut through the darkness as he frantically looked for what he knew was all the way in Grievings. As soon as the halfling begins leading the way Tabog quickly follows on foot, sprinting to keep up with the horse as best he can.
Well, f$*!. Anophth said to himself, as he got up to follow.
On the way, he asks Uruuna, Who are these people? Have you seen them before? What can you tell us going in?
Uruuna accepts Joy's offer, eating a ew healing berries to regain her strength. She leads the way towards Grievings, with the rest of you sprinting beside her horse.
She looks down at Anophth. "I didn't get a good look at them, but they had to be Brotherhood. Who else would have a grudge against us? Come on!"
You soon arrive in the slums of Grievings, and Tabog's sharp eyes spot something gleaming in the muddy street--a brass button from Nutmeg's outfit. Further searching reveals another button several yards away. It seems the boy managed to leave a trail for you after all.
You follow the trail to a disturbingly familiar site--the wrecked Moore House...
"The Moore House? Why what could they possibly have to gain by coming here again?" Imedren was wracked with guilt as he stared at the dilapidated ruin. Memories of them failing to find Father Gregory and the other kidnapped victims inside in time.
But he supposed they had never found the cult at the time. Only their workings with the Patchwork Man and the Rude Boys they had hired to guard the house. It had been months ago then, at the start of all of this. So much had changed since then, they all had.
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Seeing the Moore House flooded Tabog's mind with all his memories of the place, as well as all the things that could be happening to his little boy this very moment. "The Moore House!? NUTMEG! NO!"
Suddenly Tabog's body began to contort and bulge much like Anophth did the night he was taken by his curse. He fell to the ground but he was no longer himself. In his place was a large Lynx, angry and wild. It roared, beckoning the people around him to follow and dashed into the house.
Delia is about to put a hand on Tabog's shoulder, but she yelps and leaps away as he completes his transformation. She stares in shock as the lynx bounds towards the house. "T-tabog? What happened to him?"
Uruuna shakes her head. "Maybe he's a skinwalker like Anophth was? We can ask questions later. Let's go!" She rushes after the big cat.
Imedren shook off his surprise as TaBog changed into a larger form and ran inside, he glanced at Delia. "I was never sure with Tabog. I didn't think he was a magician until recently. But that seems like alteration magic. It could be he was hiding it well all along. Come on." he said, starting to move after the others.
The Moore House seems much as you left it. A few giant rats shriek and scatter quickly as the massive cat barges in, knocking open doors as he heads to the entrance to the secret chamber. A pair of black-robed cultists stand guard here, but their eyes widen as Tabog rushes at them.
Imedren wasn't the same frightened man who had encouraged caution and made everyone to run away like the first time he'd been here. Now he was angry and he wasn't in the mood to hold back on his powers today. He exhaled a breath and waited until TaBog was rushing between the pair of surprised cultists. "Where are you two looking?" he said, with a raised hand that crackled with electricity. There was a number of popping sounds as the air ignited and sharp comet streaked toward them men before striking one in the chest with a compressed explosion of fire.
The cutist shrieks as the comet burns a hole in his chest. He collapses to the ground, robes smoldering, dead eyes staring at the ceiling.
Tabog pounces on the other cultist, pinning him to the ground, claws buried deep into his shoulders. The cat's mouth moves unnaturally as he speaks. "Where is the boy!? Answer me now scum, your life ends in seconds!!!"
"D-d-downstairs!" He shakily points to the wall where the secret door is hidden.
Tabog rips into the man's throat, covering his own face in gore. He roars again, turning to Imedren. "We might save him yet!"
"Go, we'll clear the obstacles in your path!" Imedren said, he held himself back a moment, calling on the newly found powers of Chaos he had learned, before following behind.
Rushing down into the basement, you can see a pentagram has been inscribed around the iron vault in the center of the room. Inside the vault is none other than Katandramus himself, keeping a steady hand on Nutmeg's shoulder! The boy's arms and legs are bound with rope, and he sports several fresh bruises.
"Well, well, this must be the proud papa himself. Your little boy here was sticking his nose where it didn't belong. And you know what they say--curiosity killed the cat!"
"Dad! Help me!" Nutmeg wails.
"Get your hands off my son! Run Nutmeg! Out of sight!"
Katandramus's grip tightens. "Oh, it's far too late for that. I have to say, I'd heard stories of your kind before. Feline shapechangers living among humans. I never thought them to be true until now... Fascinating, really. And now I have one of my own to... dissect at my leisure."
Imedren glanced at TaBog, then at Dramm and Joy. He let out a loud booming laugh. "Was this your grand plan, Katandramus? Return to the Moore House and what... kidnap children? Create another patchwork monster, maybe?"
Katandramus chuckles darkly. "This? Hardly. This is personal. This is me getting leverage over you. I am taking the boy some place you will never find him. Leave me and the Brotherhood to our own devices and he will not be harmed. Continue to meddle in our affairs and I will send him back to you. Piece by little piece..." The cultist draws a curved knife and rakes it across Nutmeg's cheek. The boy whimpers in pain, blood dripping onto the floor.
Tabog looks at Imedren for a moment, then back at Nutmeg. He hisses then pounces toward Katandramus, roaring as he sails through the air. His assault comes to an abrupt end as he hits the magic barrier protecting the high cultist.
Indeed, an invisible barrier prevents the lynx from getting inside the pentagram surrounding the vault. "You have been warned. Should we meet again, you will not find me so magnanimous."
"We will not meet again Katandramus! Your death will come swiftly from the shadows! I will end your life, you will spend an eternity in the void!" Tabog's words morph into a yowl as he claws at the barrier.
Kantadramus begins an incantation while Nutmeg struggles in his grasp. "Dad! I love--" The boy's words are cut off as both of them vanish in a flash of light.
As TaBog's growled his death threats, Imedren steeled his gaze and let the sea of red surround him. Hang on Nutmeg! he thought as he disappeared from view... only to reappear several steps ahead of him. "No!" he shouted. He focused again, letting the sea completely envelope him. He knew it was slower but that he would go further... but then they were gone.
"Nutmeg..." Uruuna says sadly, eyes lowered. Delia simply looks dumbfounded, the whole bizarre encounter far more than anything she's ever experienced.
Tabog caterwauls, a sorrowful yowl, as he nearly instantly turns back into the familiar man you've known all this time. He's crying, sitting on the knees and elbows. "No... No, my poor boy..." The ferren man let out quiet sobs as he repeatedly apologizes to no one in particular. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I... this is all my fault..."
Imedren stared at the circle where the two had been. If his magic had just been more controllable. He hit the barrier. "Damn it! Damn it all! How dare you, Katandruamus you filthy coward!"
Imedren's rage lasted only a short time until the sobs of his friend seemed to get through to him and he found himself drained of all anger. "No TaBog. It's not your fault."
Tabog stands, dejected, he steps toward Imedren and embraces him, tears still in his eyes. "..... I should have told you, all of you. About so many things but I thought... I thought we could... I could hide my secrets. Now my son is headed to his death because of them!"
Imedren was momentarily taken aback by TaBog's weakness but he sighed. "It's alright. Katandramus isn't going to hurt Nutmeg. At least not until he's ready for whatever it is he plans on doing. If he was, he'd have killed him in front of you since he had that magic barrier prepared and then escaped. We have time to figure this out and save him."
Delia recovers from her shock and approaches Tabog. She hesitates before reaching out to touch his arm. "Yeah. We'll get him back." She looks at the empty vault sadly. "Somehow..."
"We will break that man." Dramm stands behind Tabog, his voice icy. "We will return Nutmeg, and we will break Katandramus. There will be nothing left."
A week has past since Katandramus abducted Nutmeg. Since then, you've redoubled your efforts on researching something, anything, that will help you track down the rogue cult leader and Tabog's son. Finally, Dramm has come across a potential lead within the tomes at Wizard's Peak.
Thousands of years ago, the elves discovered a demonic stain on an ancient relic known as the Oracular, a crystal orb within which distant locations could be scryed. Knowing that the demons within the item would be freed if they destroyed it, they sealed the Oracular in a tower resembling the faerie spires in Crossings, then shunted the tower into a pocket dimension where it would stay hidden for all time.
Recent accounts from visitors to the unremarkable hamlet of Carbuncle east of Crossings reveal strange happenings plague the community on nights of the full moon. The odd locals celebrate these events, attributing them to the appearance of a spectral tower that accompanies the moon's rising. It's possible that this is the same tower that houses the Oracular, the magic keeping it apart from this world weakened over the centuries. If so, it's also possible that the relic is still hidden inside.
If you leave today, you can reach Carbuncle the night before this month's full moon...
"... Too many coincidences to ignore. The Oracular can't be ignored either. We've seen what one summoning could do in the city. Imagine two or three at the same time." Dramm directs your attentions to key passages and dates in the pile of notes he's spread on the table. He had rushed everyone to the manor after learning of the tower, dragging them away from whatever activities they may have been engaged in.
"We might make it there in time to see this next tower if we leave quickly. What do you think? Worth looking into?" He glances at Tabog uncomfortably. His friend did not appear well.
Joy is shocked, horrified, numb.
"He's...gone. Nutmeg is gone!"
It is all that she can do to not wail in despair.
***************
Glumly, when the group is together, Joy opens her palm and a small metal ball rises about an inch above it.
"I found it in the soil when I was digging. I was going to give it to Nutmeg, as a present. I still want to give it to him."
***************
Joy looks at Dramm.
"We have to go. Another summoning? It would kill so many people. We *have* to go."
Good discovery, Dramm, Anophth said. Let me grab all my equipment and we'll be off.
Anophth closes his shop and locks all the doors, as he no longer has any employees to look after it while he's gone.