"We should kill it."
Since Alessia is standing behind Justin as he peers into the cell to examine the strange creature, she cannot see when the wizard rolls his eyes.
(Other wise he probably wouldn't have done it!)
"Maybe. But, not right this moment please." Justin says, holding up a hand.
(As if that would stop the warrior if she decided to go ahead.)
"Think about what all we've seen in this place. Combined Abberations, Intelligent Clockworks, Intelligent Flesh Golems with Clockwork enhancements. IF this IS a Vamp stronghold, it isn't you're run-of-the-mill Vamp nest. At the gates I thought they were just hiring really unusual muscle from various Primes."
Justin continues to examine the creature, from the doorway.
"Mel. You've seen a lot of strange stuff. You ever seen anything like this in the Blood Wars?"
Justin has read widely in his excursions to Ragpicker’s Square. He recalls a book dealing with the Alchemical tradition of chemical-based magic. One strain of magic the alchemists specialize in mutagenics. Basically, using chemicals they are able to reshape the body and mind. This doesn’t look like common polymorphic magic, so Justin posits that this goblin has gone through some chemical-based transformation. Also, the plane they travel on, Avalas, has a different set of physical and magical constants then he is used to. The mechanical is much more powerful than the magical.
Mel looks in at the goblin
“No, I can not remember anything quite like THAT”
He addresses the goblin
“You there, do you wish your freedom?”
The goblin starts, then its main head nods jerkily
Mel looks at the others
“Might as well let him go. He obviously isn’t a minion of whomever runs this place”
"Eh fine with me." Merle although she makes no move to be the one to free them
"Kill it," Alessia hisses.
Justin mutters aloud, more-or-less explaining what he has read about, mumbling about "Mutagenics" and "Shifting Magical Constants".
"Kill it," Alessia hisses.
"OR,..." Justin says, once again holding up a finger, (as if he expects that to actually pause the undead warrior).
"We can just, let him go. Maybe a few more distractions running around will actually help us get out of here."
Justin claps Mel on the armored pauldron as thanks, and steps out of the door way to the goblin's cell. He moves to the next door in the hall and searches the keyring once again.
The wizard finds the right key, and looks over his shoulder to make sure someone is ready to back him up in case this occupant is not as, compliant, as the goblin, before opening the door,...
The goblin abberation edges out the door as far from Alessia as he can. He makes for the landing, his additional head screeching and hissing loudly. The sound fades as Justin finds another door to open.
Justin opens the door and is greeted with a sight that is even more grotesque than the first. A beholder floats in the cell, its body chained by a dozen stout chains bolted to the floor, walls, and ceiling. The creature is mutilated. Its many eyestalks are severed where the eyes should be. Its central eye is a ruined mass. A complicated structure of alchemical tubes and spigots siphon ichor slowly from the thing, depositing it into a large carboy. Its fanged mouth croaks out a few words of Common
“Kill me”
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“Kill me”
"Perhaps you wish to spare this one also," Alessia deadpans.
“Kill me”"Perhaps you wish to spare this one also," Alessia deadpans.
Justin makes a slight gagging sound.
"Ah, I think that granting this one's wish WOULD be merciful."
"What in the nine levels of the Underworld is going ON in this insane asylum?!?
Justin slowly steps out of the doorway, throwing a brief, searching glance at his stalwart Paladin friend.
Martin nods to Justin, grimacing
"I will take care of this"
He walks into the room, Trueheart drawn
"You know, Beholder ichor is a prized ingredient in a lot of magical consumables. I mean ..."
He looks at the large glass carboy, which looks to be holding a good couple of gallons in it
"It's not like WE sucked it out of him"
"...................Yeah lets just go with the Mercy kill with this one.." Merle from where she seems to be half hiding in the doorway making sure Seph cant see the gory mess.
A sickening crunch sound issues from within the cell, like someone stepping on a Hive cockroach, and a low groan. Martin emerges from the cell, wiping Trueheart clean
“That was unpleasant. Let us hope there is few of those situations left”
"Agreed". Justin adds, Giving his friend a grateful look. The wizard claps his friend on the shoulder as he exits the cell.
Justin looks at Memnon, but doesn't say anything until Martin is a couple of steps away. He slides off his pack.
"OK. Fine. Stop twisting my arm. You know I hate to let a valuable resources go to waste. And it might give us a better idea what's going on here. See if that container can be sealed tight. I DONT want beholder ichor all over the interior of my haversack! It should fit in one of the side pockets."
Justin leaves the pack with Memnon, and goes to the next cell door, searching for the correct key.
3,5,8
Justin fiddles with the key ring, and this time picks a door where he can hear a voice shouting to be free. He unlocks it and a short human man is revealed. The man is dressed in a shapeless tunic and pants of rough fabric. Justin blinks as his brain suddenly recognizes the face behind the dirt and privation ...
"Oh thank Abadar! Thank you for ..."
The man halts, squinting
"You have got to be kidding me..."
"Agreed". Justin adds, Giving his friend a grateful look. The wizard claps his friend on the shoulder as he exits the cell.
Justin looks at Memnon, but doesn't say anything until Martin is a couple of steps away. He slides off his pack.
"Agreed". Justin adds, Giving his friend a grateful look. The wizard claps his friend on the shoulder as he exits the cell.
Justin looks at Memnon, but doesn't say anything until Martin is a couple of steps away. He slides off his pack.
:)
"Oh thank Abadar! Thank you for ..."
The man halts, squinting
"You have got to be kidding me..."
"Oh, You have GOT to be kidding me!" Justin echoes a split second behind the man.
Justin blinks, and his old familiar smirk creeps across his features.
"You know, IF we weren't in QUITE the hurry, THIS would make for a very interesting tale. I confess to being quite curious as to how, exactly, YOU ended up HERE of all places in the Planescape."
"Hey, Karrin, Merle! Look who I found! It's old reunion week around here."
The wizard's face turns serious.
"Swire. DO you know anything about a Halfling woman being held here? Names Murphy, she's a hardhead from Sigil."
Martin looks back at Justin as he sends Memnon to try and recover the carboy.
“Justin. I know what you are after. Think on it for a moment. I know that that creature is an abberation and evil. I had no qualms in ending its misery. However …”
He looks at the purple skull peering from the doorway
“That ichor was wrested from it unwillingly under conditions that qualify as torture. I will say no more, you do as you see fit”
He turns his back and walks off
The wizard's face turns serious.
"Swire. DO you know anything about a Halfling woman being held here? Names Murphy, she's a hardhead from Sigil."
Swire shrugs
“I’ve nowt heard of any hardheads in the place, but there is a woman in here. I’m not sure which cell. I hope you have a plan to get out of here. “
Martin looks back at Justin as he sends Memnon to try and recover the carboy.
“Justin. I know what you are after. Think on it for a moment. I know that that creature is an abberation and evil. I had no qualms in ending its misery. However …”
He looks at the purple skull peering from the doorway
“That ichor was wrested from it unwillingly under conditions that qualify as torture. I will say no more, you do as you see fit”
He turns his back and walks off
Justin squints his eyes shut. Tight. He feels the beginning of another of his Epic headaches starting. Right behind his eyes.
"DoRassinFrassinPaladinsHaveToBeRightAllaTime?!?"
"He's right." Justin admits aloud.
"BUT, We didn't torture the Thing. AND I'm CERTAINLY not going to leave a valuable resource like that lying around for proven Psychopathic Flesh-Warpers to use in their Powers-Cursed experiments."
Justin looks the Mimir in the eyes.
"Get the carboy. And, JUST this once, please don't rub it in. I've been enough of a disappointment to my friends in the last 24 hours."
The wizard turns and heads to the next cell,... :)
The wizard's face turns serious.
"Swire. DO you know anything about a Halfling woman being held here? Names Murphy, she's a hardhead from Sigil."
Swire shrugs
“I’ve nowt heard of any hardheads in the place, but there is a woman in here. I’m not sure which cell. I hope you have a plan to get out of here. “
Justin nods. "We have a plan. And an exit. We just need to find it."
The wizard pulls out an ordinary belt dagger. "Do you need a loaner? Or did you manage to hold onto one of yours?" He smirks.
"Stay close. I want you to survive. I REELY want to hear this story."
Justin turns and moves to the next door.
Merle takes a peek into the cell
"What the hell's are you doing here?"
Merle takes a peek into the cell
"What the hell's are you doing here?"
Swire smiles sourly
“Why I was taking in the sights at this lovely vacation spot. Delightful, innit?”
The wizard pulls out an ordinary belt dagger. "Do you need a loaner? Or did you manage to hold onto one of yours?" He smirks.
Swire plucks the dagger out of Justin’s hands and flips it expertly several times to test its balance, then he looks around
“I had gear with me. Including Kidneythief. I’m going to go looking for it while you find your missing bint “
He makes his way towards the large door at the end of the hallway
3,5,8,10
Justin opens another door. This one holds an ordinary-looking man. He is dressed much like Mr Swire, in a shapeless tunic and pants. He begins to babble in a Cager-accented Planar Common
“Oh thank you sir! Thank you!”
He looks to be in better condition than most others, in fact he is rather well-fed and looks as if he lives a soft life. His hair, though mussed, is cut expertly, and his skin is smooth and scar free
"Mr Swine!" Karrin exclaims, "We haven't seen you in ages!"
Justin's relief at finding a victim that has not yet been altered, tortured, or otherwise maligned is visible.
Sadly, it takes only a moment for his well-bred (and well-earned) suspicions to get triggered.
"Hello. And Whom do I have the pleasure of rescuing today?" He asks professionally & coolly, but politely.
"Wasting time. We should kill them both."
"Hello. And Whom do I have the pleasure of rescuing today?" He asks professionally & coolly, but politely.
Justin doesn't notice anything out of the ordinary. The man extends a hand to Justin
"My name is Braxton Sha'Vander V, my dear sir. I am a delegate in the Hall of Speakers for the Lady's Ward. I also am the proprietor of Auspicious Oddments"
K(Local) DC 15
"Mr Swine!" Karrin exclaims, "We haven't seen you in ages!"
“Not long enough, sadly,” Swire calls over his shoulder as he enters the far room
"Me and Mr Swill go way back," Karrin says to Alessia and Hamar, "He worked for our company a while back but then he quit for some reason? I think he got better money somewhere else or something, but Swill and I are professionals so I don't think it matters who we're currently working for because business comes first and we're here to get the job done."
"Hello. And Whom do I have the pleasure of rescuing today?" He asks professionally & coolly, but politely.Justin doesn't notice anything out of the ordinary. The man extends a hand to Justin
"My name is Braxton Sha'Vander V, my dear sir. I am a delegate in the Hall of Speakers for the Lady's Ward. I also am the proprietor of Auspicious Oddments"
K(Local) DC 15 ** spoiler omitted **
Justin relaxes. A little. He reaches out and takes the man's hand in a firm handshake.
"Ah. Pleasure Ser. I am familiar with the establishment. Nice place. Sadly I'm not a regular. A little out of my usual weekly budget." Justin says with a wry smirk.
"May I ask how you ended up Here Mr. Sha'Vander? It's a far cry from Razorvine-On-Hiddleston."
Justin’s memory is sharp on that store. It is actually well known in wizarding circles as one of the premier consignment/auction houses of niche magic from around the planes. Justin has window shopped there before, and also knows that Thomas is Braxtons barber. They have never met formally, but Justin has seen him at the store. If this isn’t him, it is a doppelgänger level mimicry
Sha’Vander looks vaguely uncomfortable
“I was not quite sure. I work in a very strange trade, as you intimate you know. We make enemies. I have not been here very long.”
"Magical accident maybe? Terrible way to travel. I can vouch for that."
Justin tilts his head to the side slightly, thinking. The 'enemies' comment got him thinking about the Vamp gang they were supposed to be facing. And their Nasty street drug.
"By any chance have any patrons been asking to enter into a 'partnership' of sorts with you? Allow them to use your shop to pass along their own goods? The kind of people who don't take kindly to 'no'? It would explain your sudden awakening in this vacation paradise for Mutants and misfits."
Sha’Vander looks a bit more uncomfortable. Justin can tell the gentleman isn’t happy with the topic
“Well, they nabbed me off the street, despite my own entourage of guards. They obviously mean business whoever they are”
Justin nods slowly, trying to project sympathy and understanding.
Justin decides to try ONE more subtle question, just to satisfy his paranoia. (Although, WHY these people would lock one of their own in a cell, just in case a rescue might be attempted, is beyond even his wizardly paranoia to justify.)
"Well, stick with us Ser Braxton, and we'll have you back in Thomas' tender mercies soon enough."
Sha'Vander looks puzzled
"Thomas?"
He recognizes the name, Justin can see, although it is obvious he finds it kind of a non sequitur to be discussing his barber.
"Oh yes, Thomas Saunders. Well, I certainly will need a touch up once I get back to the Cage. How did you know he was my barber?"
Justin smiles and sticks to the truth. Just not sharing details.
"He's my barber too. Not that you can tell currently." Justin runs fingertips through his currently unruly mane.
"I don't get to visit HIM often either." The wizard smiles ruefully.
"Come Ser. Stay with us. We have a paladin and cleric in our group who can tend to you if your wounded. Once we find who we came for, we are returning to Sigil Post-Haste. How long have you been here?" Justin asks, gesturing for Sha'Vander to exit the cell.
Sha’Vander nods
“If you have a way out of this nightmare I would be very grateful “
He ponders Justin’s question
“I’m not entirely certain. It seems like it was a very long time, but it couldn’t have been more that a Peak or two. “
He rubs the thick stubble on his face
“Yes, I’d say two peaks at the most”
Swire returns from the far room with leather armor and weapons on. A haversack sits on his back. He looks over the party
“Look, the past is the past. It’s no secret we rubbed each other the wrong way, but we worked together before and I fancy we can do it again. I’m ready to beat leather out of this Hardhead’s wet dream”
'Huh? I can't remember you ever upsetting me, but I'm that sort of happy go lucky sort that can get along with everyone"
Sha’Vander nods
“If you have a way out of this nightmare I would be very grateful “
He ponders Justin’s question
“I’m not entirely certain. It seems like it was a very long time, but it couldn’t have been more that a Peak or two. “
He rubs the thick stubble on his face
“Yes, I’d say two peaks at the most”
Justin nods.
"Thank you Ser. I'm glad we came along when we did. We actually made the trip to rescue a friend of mine, but I'm happy we were able to help you too."
"And we do have a way out. A couple, actually. But one is far more convenient." Justin gives one of his patented, endearing, (and infuriating) smirks, then briefly introduces the merchant to the others outside the cell.
Swire returns from the far room with leather armor and weapons on. A haversack sits on his back. He looks over the party
“Look, the past is the past. It’s no secret we rubbed each other the wrong way, but we worked together before and I fancy we can do it again. I’m ready to beat leather out of this Hardhead’s wet dream”
Justin hides a smirk at Karrin's reply. The wizard nods to Swire as he heads to the next cell door, already looking for the key.
"Hey Swire, Like Karrin said, You're a professional. We can work with that. And I think we've ALL had enough of this lower-planar vacation spot."
Justin stops, and pulls out his letter of notes from Marconius. He folds it so the sketch of the symbol they are looking for is showing. He holds it up so Swire can see it, and then shows it to Sha'Vander as well before returning it to his pocket.
"We're looking for THIS symbol. It's the mark on a gate directly back to Sigil. That's our exit. Keep an eye open for it."
Justin goes to the next cell and finds the right key. He takes a deep breath, and opens the door,...
in the flawless hand of his Modron friend:Friend and fellow adventuring unit designated Justin Case:
Greetings. This unit received your request and spent 6 hours, 31 minutes and 22 seconds researching the particulars within the library. The following is a summation of the unit’s discoveries.
The Citadel of Ruin is a large fortress located within a rust cave on Avalas known as Gormoth-Moktor. The Citadel of Ruin is an ancient stronghold that frequently changes owners. The last reported owner was a Petitioner goblin warlord known as Gunthum Gorespitter. This information is at least 500 cycles old, so is not reliable. Gormoth-Moktor is a depository of many ruined items, what is known as a ‘junkyard’. The junkyard surrounds the Citadel of Ruin, and poses a difficult terrain to traverse. There are several paths to the surface of the cube, and one known as the Verdigris Seam is known to have a portal to Sigil somewhere along its passage. The portal reportedly is a star-shaped depression in the wall, and requires a drop of oil to activate. It only goes in one direction - from Avalas to Sigil, ending up somewhere in the Great Foundry District.
The fee for this research is 367 GP, 4 SP, and 2 CP. As this unit has had prior beneficial dealings with you, the fee will be interest free for a period of one cycle. Afterwards a late fee of 10% will compound per cycle unpaid.
This unit hopes that the information provided proves helpful
Assistant Librarian and Harmonium Notary 3 unit designated O.L.L.I
Swire looks the guano-smeared note over
“I don’t know where this depression is, but I’ve heard of the Verdigris seam. It’s a big thread of copper that runs through Gormoth-Moktor. We need to find a green cave entrance . Likely along the wall of this place.”
Swire looks the guano-smeared note over
[dice=K(Planar)]1d20+15
“I don’t know where this depression is, but I’ve heard of the Verdigris seam. It’s a big thread of copper that runs through Gormoth-Moktor. We need to find a green cave entrance . Likely along the wall of this place.”
Justin winks at the Knight of the Post as he tucks the note back into an inside coat pocket.
"Perfect. Thanks Mr Swire. See? We're getting along famously already." Justin grins.
Then the wizard turns back to the cells, and begins going through the keys as he approaches the next door.
"HOW many prisoners have these guys got anyway?!?" Justin mutters as he finds and fits the correct key into the next door.
After a swift look over his shoulder to ensure at least ONE meat shield, erm, 'Big Strong Fighter' is ready to back him up, he opens the door,...