Terexaltherin continues to provide overwatch while the rest of the party go about their activities.
Azzim naturally mostly used magic to spread the word, using illusions to publicize the event with obscure references such as, 'Planes of order, an untapped resource.' and 'A promising new source of Orichalcum!'
Disguised as a faceless denizen of Leng he started a number of rumours suggesting that something BIG was going to be revealed and that this was an opportunity not to be missed.
Over the link he speculated, ::It will be interesting to see who turns up. We might catch some big fish in this dragnet.::
Snobarny says "I think the rumors are building excitement. I am crafting luxurious binders of gin-floss bark specially for the occasion, along with other small touches" (gin-floss bark is a nearly perfect substitute for elf-skin)
I haven't triggered the spider yet, do we think it's about time? So far I haven't thought our 'sellers' have been up to anything we'd want to hide.
Lyra waits as well, she had on her a small N-space pouch from which she pulled a Android wafer, and a parcel wrapped in brown paper. He handed the latter to Arlo. Inside was large Dwarven brown bread, honey and ripe Cheese sandwich. The Android wafer she nibbled on.
"best have something to eat dear, this may be a long one"
The dwarf takes the parcel and unwraps it. "Thank you, dear." Arlo begins to eat the sandwich.
As the day approaches, rumors fly across The Fall Of Sarokin. Many factions vie for invitations and at least one fight breaks out within a faction... The Castellan even sends the Black Watch to calm the most unruly... The party takes the approaching event cautiously, essentially going into hiding with only a mail-drop with plans to approach the seminar stealthily.
That that said, such excitement is not unheard of in Sarokin and occurs at a rate of once per twenty lunar cycles, according to the local astrologers that party also paid to spread further excitement. And Azzim chose Sarokin as a hub of interplanar rumors, after all. A variety of wizards, demon, dragons, psychopomps and so-forth pop in and out of the major cafes on a regular basis...
And so, on a dark night three days before the event, there is an explosion of silver light centered in the darkest daemon slum. It momentarily the illuminates the entire city and ceases.
In the morning, you hear rumors of an entire blocked turned suddenly to tin with the transformed beings within sporting horiffied expressions. But moreover, at your maildrop, a note materializes. Written in gnomish with formal, shinny silver letters "Rumor has it (ha, ha), that you thengalnot kalsmants and suckers of Angel's [deletes] are proffering for sale some access codes that are most likely by rights mine. Well, ha, ha, well played. A plan so twisted I could have done it. Still, I demand we meet within the span day so I can be the one who 'buys' these 'goods' before your exciting 'seminar'. And yes, I plan to pay, I will reward you appropriately, I promise, cross my black heart and hope to die. Name the location... Fentor Fizzlebrow"
They had time, so she went out and crafted a new suit with what’s was local. Lyra had the tools needed in her n space pouch.
Okay, so we've got a bite. Probably we don't want to seem too eager, but also recognize how dangerous he is... and we shouldn't be seen involved at all.
She showed off her suit to her husband,
"Most of its a Wrecked killbot from the arina, impervious reinforced Adamantium with an internal inertia damping force field. The tail I got from a Mecha parts shop, said it came from a scorpion war Robot. It has its own sub-AI slaved."
Then long wolverine like blades spring out of her hands.
"I will not tell you where I got these, but they have singer wire cutting edges. So what do you think, I call it my dice and slice outfit."
She did a spin for him, her tail swinging out and cutting throw a steel table leg like butter.
"So let's get ready, Terexa, talking to our new chum now"
The dwarf squints at the mecha-warrior before him. "Dear. You have an uncanny ability to make any armor you wear sexy!"
She spins again, then leans over and kisses him on his forehead.
"As do you my little warhammer"
She then takes on a seruses look.
"I just hope all this helps us find out what has happened to our daughter."
"It's always difficult to find understanding in the universe, love. Even if you know who made the universe", Alo sighed. "Gotta have faith in our 'little girl'."
Responding to Terex, Azzim replied ::You know what a shell game is right? I'm wondering if we should run something on those lines, you're right we shouldn't seem too eager. We should make Fentor work for this, make it seem like several groups are increasingly eager to outbid him. Make him feel this is a race against time. Dangle what he wants to see in front of his nose, give him a win where he thinks he outsmarted everyone but what he actually won was, well Gift's Gift...::
Yeah, we just need to make sure not to push it too far. Fentor would *probably* not do anything immediately here, but if we make him mad enough he might do something... *messy*. So let's have them respond, asking for some specifics on how he's going to pay and name a place to meet he's not likely to try anything.
Snobarny nods, "Shell game, yes. I can imagine the shells. If we can make mechanical duplicates of the pirates to bargain with Fentor, he might open them up and feel disappointed (chuckle). And we could spread the rumor of dealings with other buyers at the same time... Lyra, could you craft such a thing? I myself can make crude magically animated scarecrows but something that wouldn't with true sight would be better. That would enrage the evil gnome most likely but my guess is he controls himself while he's seeking a goal. We're treading on thin ice but that's our business".
In your secluded working headquarters, you see Snobarny's eyes moving and you feel his mind thinking through the implications of the game...
That would be safer than sending them themselves, for sure... I could probably look up some enchantments to help with it...
If no one stops him, Terexaltherin disappears into his library to study.
Terex working with Azzim creates some quick and dirty proto-type simulacrums. They're fairly impressive but probably wouldn't fool someone of Fentor's caliber unless he was somehow distracted...
Azzim sent over the link, ::It's not something I can cast yet, but if I had a scroll I'd be sorely tempted to cast a sympathy spell on some of these or perhaps Gift's Gift keyed to Fentor. As for distracting Fentor does anyone have any smart ideas? I'll have a think too.::
Azzim considered what things might throw Fentor off his game.
We can also leave some notes inside them saying basically 'we knew you'd notice, but this is a sign of your respect, knowing you're so dangerous to meet in person' inside them so if he notices and takes them apart it at least stokes his ego, Terexaltherin suggests.
The "day" in The Fall Of Sarokin is eerie. The Sun is naturally fixed in position at 11:07 am but through various magics it fades in the "evening" and then reappears slowly at "dawn", after after which day continues at the same "moment" for twelve hours, trading, gambling and work continuing in the palaces, terraces and cafes of this doomed demiplane at the edge of time...
Rising before this dawn, the party and the pirates continue their preparations and brainstorming... Andreesha now seem reconciled to anything and tosses interesting but impractical ideas... When Azzim mentions Sympathy, Snobarny goes to work... and five hours later returns with a sympathy scroll. "I happen to have substantial funds from The Organization when we left and much is available here... "
During Snobarny's absence, Azzim Considers the lore concerning Fentor, from both the organization as well as much common lore. One quality that stands out about the infamous gnome is he seems loathes waiting, he loathes being on the defensive... And indeed, soon after Snobarny appears, the contact network that the party (quickly) set-up in the past few days reports that strange creatures seem to be wandering the city - something like zombie-clowns. They are seem fixated on finding pirates, following various leads...
(One thought occurs to Azzim. Could the strange temporal properties of this plane be themselves used to advantage?)
Zombie-Clowns:
The dwarf draws The Arlosword. "Poor bastards.."
Lyra nods, she felt the same way.
Terexaltherin is eager for excuses for more research.
Terex considers temporal forces set up but feels stymied. The Fall of Sarokin - this small city lives in something like a permanent time-stop seconds before the planet and galaxy it was on was destroyed. Altering or ending the magical effect would be extremely difficult and would likely result in the destruction of all concerned.
Considering the Zombie-Clowns; they range through the humanoid and even demi-humanoid races, their mind wrecked and their bodies strangely twisted. They wander through the Sarokin muttering strange things and describing the pirates... Their madness seem to grant them great strength and an ability to paralyze others...
But their madness is also something of a clue a clue to the nature of Fentor's frightening powers. The realm he accesses may be something like a realm of the dark side of the multiverse's collective unconscious. Certainly, he has the reputation of summoning creatures terrifying to the highest circles of summoners.
Snobarny brainstorms and researches frantically along side Azzim and Terex. "Remember, we are not attempting to challenging the hideous gnome ourselves, just convince him to upload Gift's package, her gift, without checking it. Simply frustrating him for a bit might be enough. Send out armies of our duplicates... and then our 'real thing'. Maybe"
Talking to Snobarny, Azzim asked, "You mentioned significant funds, do you think it would be possible to arrange for a courier from Sigil (or elsewhere) to deliver a scroll of Sympathy? We could really seal the deal with that one, make Gift's Gift really sing out to the gnome to be used..."
Terexaltherin tilts his head slightly. We might not want to chance it, if Fentor resisted the magic he might get suspicious about it. Giving him the run-around while talking it up might be the best we can do. If we make sure he has to wait until after the auction after having all his attempts to track it down beforehand lead nowhere he'll probably be impatient to use it.
Expressionlessly, Snobarny hands a scroll to Azzim "Courtesy of Hazin, first court wizard of the Castallen. Everything here is for sale and no questions are asked" stops. "Terex may be right. Perhaps save this for whatever final effort we make..."
All right, let's see... if we want to frustrate Fentor, we could disable some of his clowns. We need to not be seen doing it, though... I can probably be unnoticed while I do some sabotaging and such. How about the rest of you?
As Azzim and Terex brainstorm how to deal with the zombie-clowns searching the decadence city state of Sarokin for Andreesha and the pirates, Arlo feels restless and wanders out of the makeshift headquarters onto the neighborhood of Stone Twist, an area of narrow alleys and small cafes. Here he suddenly comes upon the very thing; three zombie-clowns threatening an elderly tiefling - a uniformed croupier apparently on break, in fact. Two of the clowns were apparent once ogres, now even more horribly bloated while is skeletally thin humanoid of unknown origin - all dressed in jester's suits with patterns that twist and confuse the eyes. As one ogre holds the man, the thin one says "Tell me where Andreesha is, I heard you and her were doing the nasty only yesterday... " and cackles. The croupier look terrified, clearly having no idea what they are talking about...
Reflexively, the dwarf sends the info over the hive mind...
"Oh GOOD! You're intelligent!" The armored dwarf calls down to the clown zombies, The Arlosword in hand.
"I don't know who this 'Ann-dresha' is, but you will put that man down, or I'll start hacking off limbs. And most undead need limbs to walk away."
Lyra gets herself ready, the razer shape tail of her suit lashes from side to side. He bladelike claws ready to dice and slice.
Terexaltherin hears Arlo's message and closes on the area, trying to stay hidden and keep watch for any other threats.
Over the link, Azzim listened in to the chatter and asked ::What if I was to spread a rumor that these zombies clowns were powered by enchanted gemstones. Would be funny if random punters started taking them out. Pretty sure that would aggravate Fentor. What do you think, should I give that a try?::
I'd say I'd be worried for the people attacking them, but given where we are the universe is probably better off either way, Terexaltherin replies.
The Zombie clowns shriek and fall back 20', releasing the croupier. Then the skinny one pulls himself up to his full height and hisses "Ha, ha, ha, dismember us ha, ha, not a new experience." Stares at Arlo with a deranged look. "But not worth a fight now, I'll remember you and we'll find out if you know anything. Watch your back, shorty... and the creatures begin to jump and somersault away through the narrow, crowded streets...
As Azzim brainstorms, Snobarny comments, "Yesss, no necessarily random folks but the city is full of adventurers, folks who could take these creatures apart. We could get things moving... "
Terexaltherin tails the retreating creatures warily (if he arrives in time), making sure to say more than 60' back just in case they have unusual senses as well as staying stealthy and even changing animal forms a couple of times.
Lyra flicks a micro tracker at one of the clowns,
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Azzim nodded to Snobarny and Terex and swapped forms, this time into that of a powerful Memitim Psychopomp. A black winged angel with a legionnaire’s helmet and flinty onyx eyes. He set off visiting the gambling halls and the black markets spreading a tale to anyone who would listen, "You know those annoying Zombie Clowns that have popped up everywhere? They're an anathema right, but you know what the really interesting thing is?"
He pulled out a large diamond, "I found this inside the skull of the one I killed earlier!"
He then found somewhere discrete and shifted form, this time into an enormous spider like thing, a Augnagar Qlippoth with three clawed tails and eight legs connected by leathery webs of flesh. In this new form he spread another rumour, "I heard a juicy one today. You know all this hoo-ha about opportunities to compromise the Data Mines. Well one of the bidders is that silly little gnome Fentor Fizzlebrow and I heard the true reason why he's so keen. Why? It's because the Data Mines contain recording of his most recent visit to a Callistria Temple. For a gnome who professes to hate larger races he sure likes being told what to do by big busty half-orcs with riding crops! Hah Ha Can you imagine!"
So, aided by Lyra's microtracker, Terex begins following the three clowns and this continues for several hours...
Meanwhile, Azzim's rumor spreading seems to work quite well as Terex' target start having dodge a number of adventurers, including an intelligent scorpion in black plate armor and a green and purple striped beholder.
Finally, the trio steps into a carefully hidden copper tube and seem to be instantly transported down... The microtracker shows them suddenly 300' below ground... One has to assume this is Fentor and indeed, there is feeling from the pipe of something horrific. Judge by distance, it seems an eldritch as potent as anything he has felt... (one assumes this is Fentor's lair).
And as this is happen, Azzim and the others note the clowns seem less amused and more desperate...
Terexaltherin returns to the others once he's seen where the clouds go. I'm pretty sure I located Fentor's hideout. If we have a good way to set up some surveillance without him detecting it, we could really frustrate him by watching the comings and goings and intervening occasionally.
Hour 14: So, Snobarny and others of party begin keeping track of the zombie-clowns leaving Fentor Fizzlebrow lair in the outlying Mahogany District (it's a gambling and restaurant district but so is most of 'Sarokin) - only a few are returning.
Hour 15: Azzim is hearing more report now of several clowns being dismembered - these usually do have some modest jewels or other wealth with them. But they also mention offers of greater wealth for those who find "Andreesha and the pirates"... so some portion of the city's bounty hunters now seem to be looking for this group too, though they only have a rough description... From hiding, Snobarny sends ::Surely we can use Gift's gift and Fentor's eagerness somehow...
::How about this, we announce an early investor preview where the pirates will accept early bids. My hope is Fentor will feel the need to be in on this and by fair means or foul secure the merchandise.:: suggested Azzim after thinking about this for a while.
The announcements, the zombie-clowns and the zombie-clown hunters have the cafes and bistros of The Fall Of Sarokin buzzing almost as much as the supposed upcoming visit of Fey Queen Lartifallia...
A multitude of suppose "investors", 34 in fact, seek out Zzas Arass to claim a space at the preview. About a third of these seem to honest investors, a third are bounty hunters hoping to claim the reward Fentor is offering and a third seem to be Zombie-clowns or other agents of Fentor and ... one, appearing at the door an hour before the event, is rather terrifying. The traditional shapeless hooded figure only barely masks a eldritch horror... magical sight reveals the purple gelatinous entity, something like a compressed, inactive shoggoth but possibly with electronic implants... This is clearly an immediate minion of Fentor...
She works tracking the clowns then to the others
”what are we missing about Gifts gift”
Well, I suspect if we can get *that* thing to try using Gift's code it'll destroy it, but we probably want to be careful about it. Make it seem like we don't want it to try, so it'll do it thinking to spite us, something like that. We're going to have to be particularly careful about it with how many minions Fentor has here... As usual, I'll stay hidden in case I need to ambush something, and keep my eyes out for any of them trying something funny.
Terexaltherin (currently in fiendish microraptor form) stays hidden some distance from the entrance.
Over the link Azzim replied to Lyra, ::Well we don't really know what it does, not all of it. Sure we've got a general idea but there's layers upon encrypted layers in her code, who knows what it all does? What kind of secondary and tertiary functionality does it have? How far did she go?::
To Terex Azzim sent, ::I would say be careful, but you're darnibly hard to spot, you could probably get away with more.::
Snobarny replies on the link, ::Yes, it feels like we're still missing something, the plan is here but some tweak is needed...