"Hm. No signs saying 'Exit to Sigil This way'. Remind me to file a complaint."
Justin shakes his head.
"Without a clue, one direction is as likely as the other. We need some sort of a search pattern. And a guarantee that the Vamps aren't sending out a search party for their missing prisoners."
The wizard points to the various branches.
"Right or Left? OR Upwards vs. Downwards. Take your pick!"
"WHERE is a Planar Ranger when you NEED one?!
Alessia can see that there is more wear patterns in the left-hand branch of the tunnel. It could be from foot traffic.
Justin looks at where Alessia points.
"Ah. Right. So we either go Right, and AVOID where more traffic goes, OR we count on the more-used path being where the Portal is anchored?"
"A-HEM!" The crystal skull manages to make even that brief noise sound sarcastic.
"IF I may?"
(Justin wonders how an inexpressive Carved bit of Crystal manages to express certain emotions, like disdain, so clearly?!?)
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Justin looks at where Alessia points.
"Ah. Right. So we either go Right, and AVOID where more traffic goes, OR we count on the more-used path being where the Portal is anchored?"
Memnon twirls about, his orange hat tassel bobbing out
“Judging from the lay of the land, the tracks Alessia noted, and the statistics of portal placement mentioned in Drubbish’s Legidarium Locus Portalaie, I think statistically the left path is our best bet”
Justin: …I can deduce that more danger lies in more tracks so I obviously cannot take the left hand path. However, the other way leads downwards, and all good adventurers know that going downwards leads to greater danger, so CLEARLY I cannot take the right-hand path. . However, I have studied the origins of language, and I know that sinister is an ancient word meaning left, so clearly I cannot take the left path. However, I have also studied the works of great adventurers, and in studying I have learned that on should always go left in a maze, so I cannot take the right handed path! Karrin: Now you are just stalling. Justin: YOU’D LIKE TO THINK THAT, WOULDN’T YOU?!?Justin looks at where Alessia points.
"Ah. Right. So we either go Right, and AVOID where more traffic goes, OR we count on the more-used path being where the Portal is anchored?"
Memnon twirls about, his orange hat tassel bobbing out
“Judging from the lay of the land, the tracks Alessia noted, and the statistics of portal placement mentioned in Drubbish’s Legidarium Locus Portalaie, I think statistically the left path is our best bet”
Justin nods. "Hmph. Thanks Memnon. Well, you can't argue with statistics. Actually, I despise statistics, because they are the ONE branch of Math that you CAN make lie. But we're gonna roll with it."
Justin smiles at Karrin.
"Well, you heard the paperweight. Left it is! Um, Ladies first?" he smiles.
Karrin scratches her head.
"I thought the right was always right?"
Karrin scratches her head.
"I thought the right was always right?"
"The Right IS always right. Unless it's a Left. Remember, Two Wrongs don't make a right. BUT three Lefts do!"
Justin picks the left fork three times. He heads out, escorted by the larger members as backup.
The party follows, and they move warily up the slope of the fissure. They arrive at a massive cave at the end of the third fork. The cave seems empty, a flat floor with a ceiling that reaches above the darkvision limits of the party.
Justin sends an flicker of Will through his mystic tattoo, and the now-familiar half-a-dozen (or so) magical, colored, candle-lights pop into being. Justin points silently, and the lights spread out and rise slowly upwards.
"Check the walls. Carefully."
Karrin scratches her head.
"I thought the right was always right?"
"The Right IS always right. Unless it's a Left. Remember, Two Wrongs don't make a right. BUT three Lefts do!"
"Wait that actually worked?" Merle as they came to the cavern
The magical candle lights swoop up the verdegrised walls. As they illuminate the upper reaches of the cave, they reveal two immense black spiders clinging to the wall! The spiders are the size of elephants, and their eyes glow red in the magical light. The two rear and scuttle quickly down the walls towards the group!
"Oh, BUGGER. Literally."
"Spiders. Why'd it have to be Spiders,...?!?"
You can use this skill to identify monsters and their special powers or vulnerabilities.
Check: In general, the DC of such a check equals 10 + the monster’s CR. For common monsters, such as goblins, the DC of this check equals 5 + the monster’s CR. For particularly rare monsters, such as the tarrasque, the DC of this check equals 15 + the monster’s CR or more. A successful check allows you to remember a bit of useful information about that monster. For every 5 points by which your check result exceeds the DC, you recall another piece of useful information.
Justin has read of these things before. They are Retreivers, creatures fashioned from the very stuff of the Abyssal plane by demons to hunt down their foes. Although they don't particularly look like it, they are artificial constructs, like Warforged
"Boss, these things have four eye rays! Fire, cold, electricity and petrification!"
23 Merle
23 Alessia
15 Avrahim
12 Retreivers
Crookshanks
Swire
Murphy
Martin
7 Karrin
7 Mel
6 Justin
"Boss, these things have four eye rays! Fire, cold, electricity and petrification!"
"Oh no. Retreivers. They're Abyssmal Constructs! If we run, they'll come after us, but we'll be able to fight them one at a time in the tunnel. Here we have more room & can all concentrate attacks, but they have the movement advantage."
"They're tough. Like those Constructs in the Vamp base. Don't waste energy on anything fancy, they're probably immune. Hit them the standard THREE ways. Hard, Fast and Continuously!"
It's hard to tell if Justin if giving directions, or just thinking out loud. The wizard's fingers twitch as he speaks, as if unable to decide which spell to start.
Merle goes for a haste/quikend grease combo attempting to slip up the closest retriever
As this thing is still out of range (I assume that's what the 100+ feet means) Karrin will cast true strike and wait for it to get closer
Party is >Hasted< for 1/12 RDS
23 Merle [Haste/Grease]
23 Alessia PENDING
17 Crookshanks PENDING
18 Swire PENDING
15 Avrahim PENDING
14 Martin PENDING
12 Retreivers PENDING
11 Murphy PENDING
7 Karrin [True strike]
7 Mel PENDING
6 Justin PENDING
Merle casts a grease spell under the nearest spider as it scuttles down the wall
The Retreiver seems unaffected by the slippery patch on the wall.
Alessia lets out an enraged shriek and charges directly at the nearest retriever.
Alessia’s first stroke wounds the creature. The other clangs off its ebon chitinous armor. She doesn’t feel the flowing of energy into her soul that she expected
Party is >Hasted< for 1/12 RDS
23 Merle [Haste/Grease]
23 Alessia [ATK~hit]
17 Crookshanks [ATK~hit]
18 Swire PENDING
15 Avrahim PENDING
14 Martin PENDING
12 Retreivers PENDING
11 Murphy PENDING
7 Karrin [True strike]
7 Mel PENDING
6 Justin PENDING
The burly ugly tiefling steps to one of the spiders
17-20
The blow hits home, and black ichor squirts from the rent in one of the retriever’s armor plates
Swire ghosts up swift and noiseless, suddenly fading from view as he flips his cloak’s hood over his head. He reappears as his blade sinks into one of the spider’s faceted eyes
The fight is brief, but brutal. the two spider things lie dead and twitching. Loooking around, Justin spies a star-shaped depression in the wall, much like the one described by O.L.l.I in his note
"Everyone OK?" The wizard asks.
Justin glances at the now-battered and broken spider-things on the ground.
"Memnon, Unless you tell me there's something on the bodies of immense mystical and/or alchemical value,... Nope. I mean, I'm interested in unusual constructs. BUT other-planer, Abyssmal Constructs? THAT'S a bit much, even for me."
Justin walks over to the star-shaped depression in the wall. He turns to the others.
"Everyone OK?" He asks again.
"Buckle up boys and girls. We're going home! Before anything else on this rusty-hind-end cube tries to eat us!"
Justin reaches over his shoulder to his haversack, and pulls out a flask of lamp oil. He dribbles a drop or two of oil into his palm, and slaps it onto the center of the star.
As soon as the oil hits the stone, there is an audible *snap* sound, and the star depression enlarges and deepens. A greyish shimmer fills the hollow. Beyond it can faintly be seen the belching towers of the Great Foundry.
Murph strides forward and enters. Justin gets the feeling she wants off this plane posthaste. The others file through as well.
The other side is indeed Sigil. The sulfuric smog of the Foundry District enfolds them like a familiar friend. The party heads towards the nearby taverns of Alehouse Row to find somewhere to grab a hot meal and a drink.
At a small quiet snug, they sip homebrew ale and munch a surprisingly delicious sampler of small dishes. The waiters keep bringing trays to the hungry crew. There are chicken, pork, beef, rothé, and all sorts of vegetables and seafood all cooked in various methods - most wrapped in dumpling or pastry shells.
After a celebratory meal, the various party members slip away. Justin recalls that they will be headed off to find the being known as Pando next peak. Martin makes his goodbyes, as does Avrahim, Crookshanks, and Mr Swire. The merchant Braxton Sha’Vander V thanks them all again, and tells them that he owes them a favor, not a bad thing to have from a merchant who deals in rare magical items
Sha’Vander’s backstory :
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.
Finally, replete and tired, the remainder of the party makes it back to the Copper Cauldron for a nights sleep before the next adventure!
;P
Justin chats with Murphy about going forward. She expresses doubt about what the Hardheads will do to assist her. She explains in between ravenously scarfing plate after plate of the small dish meals.
“You have to understand, Justin, that you are thinking of the Harmonium as a typical town constabulary. We are not. We fulfill similar duties, but for different purposes. The Harmonium believes law and order are the ultimate aim of the multiverse. We work tirelessly to safeguard law, and establish law where none exists. I personally believe that law must be tempered with mercy and justice. I am by no means in a majority with this viewpoint. “
She sighs and takes a break to polish off another three dishes. Justin is impressed in spite of himself, but it’s not surprising that a starving halfling would eat like this. She continues, wiping hot sauce from her chin.
“What I did, investigating on my own personal recognizance is anathema to the Harmonium philosophy. If I am lucky, I can find excuses for my absence. I have enough pull to hopefully do that. But the Harmonium will need evidence that the Scarlet Circle is a threat to its concept of order to act. And the Dustmen are at least half-heartedly protecting them”.
Memnon discusses the carboy full of Beholder juice
“Well boss, the container has a glammer on it, some sort of specialized gentle repose spell I’m thinking. Some magewrights make containers like that when dealing with substances that spoil easily. However, the clock IS ticking. My advice? Find an alchemist and sell/trade it. It won’t maintain its properties long”
The group discusses the gold, and the consensus is that only those involved in battling the beast should get a cut. Mr Swire, Crookshanks, Avrahim, and Martin are part of that. Braxton Sha’Vander declines gracefully
“You folks did the work. I merely was along for the ride”
Murph also declines
“You all split my share as thanks for the rescue”
Justin replies to Murphy.
"Well. That figures. Let me know if you need a good excuse. I'm sure I can come up with something. I'll tell them I needed YOU for a consultation for a change." Justin smirks.
"So, what you're saying is, Even if we had hard and indisputable evidence that the Scarlet Circle was kidnapping Sigilites, which I would HOPE is against the law, It would have to be more than 'mugging someone in an alley' to get them involved enough to take the Circle down?"
"Sheesh. I KNOW they're nicknamed 'Hardheads', but still, Sheesh. No Offense Murph."
"Kinda makes me wish I had pushed for a more 'finish what we started' approach. But I was just glad to find you still alive and kicking. And I'm TRYING to keep the whole 'Burning everything I touch to the ground' to a bare minimum. Seemed like a good idea at the time. I might need to re-think that strategy again."
Memnon discusses the carboy full of Beholder juice
“Well boss, the container has a glammer on it, some sort of specialized gentle repose spell I’m thinking. Some magewrights make containers like that when dealing with substances that spoil easily. However, the clock IS ticking. My advice? Find an alchemist and sell/trade it. It won’t maintain its properties long”
Justin scribbles notes into his small leather-bound traveling notebook.
"Makes sense. Let me know if we, and by 'WE' I mean 'YOU', need to save any of it for any specialty potions. Or if it can be used in any alchemical or magic items we can make use of. Otherwise,... I know a couple of people that might be interested."
'No WAY am I giving that fat tiefling alchemist-wannabe anything like THIS. But I'll bet that, yeah. They'll be interested.'
The group discusses the gold, and the consensus is that only those involved in battling the beast should get a cut. Mr Swire, Crookshanks, Avrahim, and Martin are part of that. Braxton Sha’Vander declines gracefully
“You folks did the work. I merely was along for the ride”
Murph also declines
“You all split my share as thanks for the rescue”