After some time rummaging, Torsten came back with a scroll. He explained how it worked and where it was tied to. Should it work as intended, the two of them would return to (or visit for the first time) the city. And then some introductions would be in order, if it turned out that the missive was true. And if it was a trap? Well, hopefully the safe house would allow them to see what they were getting into.
"Honestly, I don't think so. It's tied to a specific location. And me own magic, it's a very different variety than this. Have never touched anything even close to teleportation. If I was to fiddle with it, I'm afraid that it could be...catastrophic. So, unless there's a shoanti lad or lass who can make a different scroll for us, I think that we're either riding all the way or teleporting to the safe house."
|
Nodding, "I understand, give me a moment to say goodbye to Mope, I will send him back to Thousand Bones." Walking out of the camp where Mope was waiting, Usawoti places his head against Mopes, and whispered. As the bone-caster pats the little horse on the neck, Mope whinnies, turning and begins to trot back the way they came.
His head down for a moment Usawoti enters the camp, slipping his hand into his klar. Raising the klar above his head he whistles loudly. Spiraling down out of the sky, a large raven landed on the weapon. Lowering it down, he pets the bird as he turns to Torsten and nods. "Inyoni and I are ready to depart."
Torsten reads his scroll, and a few seconds later, you appear inside a warehouse-turned-hideout. Various weapons, armor, and equipment line the walls - all with a distinctive appearance.
From there, it's a stealthy journey to Korvosa's Dead Warrens. Torsten's been here before - in fact, he recognizes the destination as the very ossuary where he, Macaria, and Yhrrilka once delved to recover the bones of the shaman's grandson so long ago. The complex is quite different now, however. It now contains several chairs arranged around a large wooden table on which a map of Korvosa has been placed. You also detect several magical auras - doubtless to prevent unwanted scrutiny.
Three people await you here. The first is familiar : Cressida Kroft of the Korvosan Guard. The second is Keppira D'Bear, high priestess of Pharasma in Korvosa. The third is a man who introduces himself as Boule, guildmaster of the Cerulean Society.
"Thank you for coming," Cressida greets Torsten. "Before we get into it, who's your companion? Did something happen to Yhrrilka?"
Torsten was pleasantly surprised that there was no an ambush waiting for them. "Kroft!" He said. "Good to see ye. Ril? She's fine. Had to split up when working with the Shoanti. She's busy on her end working towards our goals. Oh! And speaking of which." Torsten waived a hand at his companion. "This here be Usawoti. A shaman he be, and he's damned good with a hammer. Splattered the Red Mantis like they were actual bugs, he did. I trust him. Anything that can be said to me can be said to him as well."
|
|
Arriving at the warehose-turned-hideout, Usawoti asks Torsten, "Is this your place? If so I will ask Inyoni to stay near and watch." As they exit the building, he launches the raven off of his Klar into the air, watching as the bird lands on the buildings roof. As they move, not wanting to draw attention to himself, he returns the weapon to it hanger on his belt.
Following Torsten through the 'Dead Warrens' to the ossuary Usawoti tells his companion, "When this is over you must tell me the story of this place."
Seeing the three people there, Usawoti resist the urge to reach for his hammer. Watching the dwarfs reaction, he politely nods, but continues studying the three individuals. As Torsten introduces him, Usawoti nods, adding, "Thousand Bones sent me. He believes I may be of assistance."
You can tell that Kroft has a good amount of martial skill - although your own abilities surpass her own, she'd likely put up a pretty good fight . As a high priestess of Pharasma, Keppira D'Bear likely possesses extremely powerful magic bestowed from her goddess. Her mastery of life and death should rival your own.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once the introductions have finished, Boule speaks up. "Yes, let me get right to the point. We may operate on different sides of the law, the Field Marshall and I, but we can agree that Ileosa is not good for Korvosa. I want her gone as much as you. And while I feel that neither I nor my ... associates ... are the right ones for the task, you, Master Torsten, have proven time and time again that you are precisely what Korvosa needs. Usawoti, if Torsten vouches for you, that's good enough for me. We don't have the time to be choosy about our allies. In addition, you have the advantage of being unknown to the queen. As you're not from here, it's unlikely that you've attracted her attention."
Cressida Kroft chimes in. "Without the Gray Maidens to police the streets or the Red Mantis to stalk the alleys, Ileosa's grip on Korvosa will slip. Yet in their fortress at the Longacre Building, they are bolstered against attack, and many who work within the building may yet be innocent, forced to comply with the queen against their will. But as it happens, Boule knows of a back door into the chambers below."
"Yes," resumes Boule, "I know the secret to Deathhead Vault. For many years, the Cerulean Society has had an arrangement with a group of derros who operated in a secret network of caverns adjourning the Vault. We provided them with stock for their experiments - vagrants and lowlifes no one missed, I assure you - and they allowed us to use the upper level of their caverns to smuggle prisoners out of the Vault. I've had no contact with the derros for months, but I can confirm that the secret door leading to their warren still operates."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deathhead Vault is a highly secure prison where the most violent of Korvosa's criminals go to be imprisoned and, in many cases, executed.
Torsten's hand twitched at the mention of giving people to derro. He was by no means an expert on them, but he knew that being handed over to them was a fate worse than death. How many innocent people down on their luck had been given over to such a horrific end? But he made himself relax. It was as Boule said, not was not the time to be choosy about allies.
"Deathhead vault? That's a prison, aye? A secure one. Well, it would be if it wasn't for this tunnel. So, what exactly is the plan? We going to go in there and assassinate their leaders, or are we there for a prison break?"
|
|
As Boule began to speak, Usawoti watched the priestess of Pharasma, of the three representatives there, he probably had the most in common with her. Raising an eyebrow as Boule admitted to being on different sides of the law than the priestess and Field Marshal he nodded, understanding the 'enemy of my enemy is my friend.'
Usawoti had recognized Kroft's combat skills by her movement. He assumed, based on her gear, she was part of the Korvosan Guard, and as Field Marshal, she would have knowledge of the Gray Maidens' and the Red Mantis' movement. He wondered if it were 'Red Mantis' he and Torsten had been furtilizing the Cinderlands with.
When Boule began to speak again of the Deathhead Vault, the derros and human 'stock' Usawoti refrained from growling. Instead he reminded himself that they were only working together to bring down the queen; after that Boule would be fair game. As Torsten asked his question, Usawoti watched the other three, wondering the same.
"A little bit of everything would be ideal," Cressida responds. "Anything that weakens their hold on the city will make life easier for all of us. Defeating or capturing those in leadership positions will throw both the Gray Maidens and the Red Mantis into disarray. Also, I've secured reliable intelligence that Marcus Endrin is held within."
High Priestess D'Bear adds a request. "Arbiter Zenobia has publicly shown support for Ileosa - something highly out of character for her. Since you've been gone, she's moved into Longacre Building as well. I'm concerned that she's been compelled - either through magic or threats - to throw in with the queen. If you can find anything that gives insight into her situation, I'd much appreciate it."
Boule has a request as well. "There's bound to be some important paperwork or documents in the building. I'd like to look over anything you can recover, as it might be helpful in the future. To assist with this, I've spent the past week letting the Maidens find some 'coded missives' containing information about a brewing rebellion. The second-in-command, Kordaitra, fancies herself a codebreaker, so I'm certain she'll be ensconced in her quarters below the Longacre Building for the next few days - along with any actual intelligence she's uncovered."
"Not asking for much, are ye?" Torsten said. Looking to Usawoti, he said "This entire thing sounds beyond dangerous. Invading an enemy stronghold like this isn't going to be easy. Ye up for this?" In truth, it sounded like suicide. And the lad at least deserved a chance to say his peace before being dragged into it.
”Right. Right then. Let’s see…we have any more scrolls? Would be useful to have an option to get the fook out of there should things go sideways. That is, can teleportation even work going inside and out?” He asked. ”Also, do we have a map of the place? It would be better to not go in blind.”
Your allies are able to provide detailed maps of the area outside of Deathhead Vault and a key that should unlock at least a few of the doors. Unfortunately, nobody's been inside since the Gray Maidens took it over, so there's no telling how the interior's been modified. As far as you know, teleportation should function normally, but your allies don't have access to such magic.
Torsten stood outside of the Vault and took a deep breath. He closed his eyes and focused on the feeling of the arcane magic coursing through him. It was comforting, in that it made him feel alive. He couldn't imagine being without it, for the magic was a part of him. To be without it would be like being without a limb. And at that moment the power within him was as strong as it could be. He felt his senses sharpen to the point where he could tell when any life was in his immediate vicinity, and in addition he knew that it would let him react to danger faster than normal. His skin had hardened, becoming as impervious as steel, and he knew that his fists were far more dangerous than any hammer. He felt certain that whatever lay in the Vault that he would be able to handle it. And if not, then he would at least give as good as he got. At least, he told himself that. Confidence was key.
"Let's go." He said to Usawoti. "I may not be the quietest of dwarves, but I can sense if living things are around me. So I can at least check doors that way. So...time to get our hands dirty."
|
|
Silently following the dwarf as his familiar flies overhead watching for trouble, Usawoti stops outside Vault. Slipping his left hand into his Klar, he shifts the 'earthbreaker' in its frog, taking comfort in the familiar weight. Nodding as Torsten explains about his abilities, he adds, "Quiet may not matter much, if you desire, I can shroud us in darkness. So anywhere we move, only those with darkvision will be able to see."
"Oh? Huh. Suppose that would be useful. If this place is full of humans then that would blind them. Let's wait on it for a moment though. A moving wall of darkness might alert them more than us just moving, and we wouldn't be able to see colors, right? But if I sense anyone in a room we need to go in, we can drop down the darkness before opening the door. Will give us a real advantage in a fight and we'll have a moment to determine if a fight is needed." He replied, thinking out loud.
A ten-foot-wide trough of murky water fills two-thirds of this wide, brick-lined tunnel. A slimy five-foot-wide walkway runs along the east side of the waterway. A wall of rusty iron bars with an equally rusty gate atop the walkway blocks passage further into the tunnel. Further to the south, the tunnel dead-ends at an ancient collapse.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boule's key unlocks the gate, and after following the information he gave you, you're able to locate an extremely-well-hidden secret door.
The air in the room on the other side smells strongly of frankincense and is hazy with smoke from several incense burners mounted on the walls, yet a slight whiff of the stench from the sewers nonetheless manages to linger faintly in the background. A pair of rickety chairs with moldy cushions sit to the south, while to the north stands a strange incongruity - a wooden bar, complete with shelves filled with bottles and tankards on the walls. A wooden door is set into the northeast corner of the room, amid all the shelves behind the bar.
Sitting on the bar is a goblin! As you enter, he hops up and holds wide his arms. "Welcome to the Sewer Brewer! Congratulations on being my first-ever customers! Drinks are on the house! What'll you be having?"
Tarn looked at Usawoti. He opened his mouth to say something, closed it, and then just stared in confusion. "The...sewer...brewer? Do ye...make yer drinks in the sewer?" He asked, clearly taken aback by what was going on.
|
|
Blinking, finding a goblin-ran 'Sewer Brewer' was not at all what Usawoti expected. He had seen some very strange things in the time he'd spent in Kaer Maga, but nothing quite like this. Hearing Torsten's question, Usawoti wondered which was more unpalatable, making the alcohol in the sewer or selling it there. Causing him to wonder what they made the alcohol from. Shaking his head, he interjects; "Thank you for the offer, but I must keep my head clear. I am Usawoti a Bone Caster of the Skoan-Quah. May I ask your name?" He nods towards the other side of the hall, "And what is beyond your fine establishment."
"I'm Mogmora!" replies the goblin, cheerily. He slides a bottle across the bar to each of you. The handwritten labels read, Gud Booz. "I make it myself. Secret recipe! If you don't like it, I've got other kinds in the back." He gestures at the door behind him.
|
|
Watching the nervous Goblin, Usawoti nods, "A pleasure Mogmora" Reaching out he picks up the bottle. Looking at the label, he reads it aloud, "Good booze' catchy." Reaching over his shoulder he places the bottle in his haversack.
Turning to Torsten, he sighs, "You know my friend, we've not known each other long enough to learn minor details. For instance, I speak a lot of languages, but dwarven isn't one of them and I have no idea what other languages you speak. So, it is impossible for me to tell you secretly that our fine host is a little nervous and hiding something."
Shrugging, he turns back to Momgora, "I've no idea what you are hiding, and unless it's a threat to me and my friend, I'm not extremely concerned about it." He nods back the way they came. "If it's a problem to you, we dealt with the CATOBLEPAS, we may possibly help you with your problem as well." he nods towards the back where the goblin indicated other beverages were. "Otherwise, we're in a bit of a hurry, where is the back door out of your establishment?"
The goblin promptly jumps off the bar and runs out the door behind him. That's ... probably not a good sign.
"Well...fook." Torsten said, blinking in surprise. "Let's catch the bugger before he warns everyone." He added, taking off after the goblin. He was fast, for a dwarf. But that didn't mean that he was fast by human standards. Still, he would do his best.
You chase the goblin down a winding tunnel before it vanishes into a wall of pale yellow glowing fog that makes a loud humming sound and flashes brightly. Torsten senses two creatures beyond.
The tunnel opens into a wide cavern with a high vaulted ceiling that arches up to a height of thirty feet. Two ten-foot-high ledges look out over the wall from the northwest wall, while to the east, the cavern dips down into a pool of dark water. Swaths of softly-glowing blue fungus fill the cave with light; the fungus grows in lumps that bear an eerie resemblance to brains. To the southeast, a 15ft-wide tunnel is bisected by a deep pit. A pair of three-foot-wide planks forms a treacherous-looking bridge over the pit.
The goblin is gone, replaced with a snarling, canine-like beast.
Torsten saw the fog and slowed his step, eying it warily. "Two creatures beyond." He said.
The fog appears to be some sort of magical effect that dispels ongoing magic.
”It removes magical protections. I’d prefer not to be stripped of that. Let’s see if we can disable it before we charge blindly through.”
With a groan Torsten said ”Fine then. We test our craft against the mage who made this.” And with that he strode through.
Usawoti identifies the glowing fungus as brain mold. Long-term exposure can cause brain damage, but it's safe to be around for short periods.
None of you recognize the creature that stands where the goblin once did.
As soon as you pass through the mist, the 'ugly dog' pounces on Torsten!
Damage is magic, cold iron, silver and good
18-20 crit range and x3
The dog like creature latched onto Torsten's arm. The dwarf raised his arm up, causing the creature to come up with it. The thing stubbornly refused to let go, so Torsten began to pummel it with his free hand. Unfortunately for the creature, the mist had not dispelled the enchantments that he had placed upon his fists.
|
|
As they move into the cave Usawoti, seeing the dog-like thing attacking, moves to combat it. Being too slow to keep it from attacking the dwarf, he moves around the creature as Torsten lifts the creature into the air momentarily. Once on the backside of the beast, he feints to the left with his hammer, but fails to fool the willy creature. The momentum of the hammer bringing it back around to attack the dog like creature again as he thrusts the klar's blade at the thing.
The two of you working together are a truly formidable force. The creature doesn't quickly falls beneath your blows. However, the distraction it caused allows more enemies to attack: two winged women whose torsos end in a mass of bloody organs.
Knowing that there was no way he could trip a flying creature, Torsten sought to merely pummel the creature into nothingness. It was a simple tactic, but complexity wasn’t always needed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
You've not heard of this type of undead before. They're quite repulsive and disturbing.
Usawoti's unable to catch his opponent off-guard but still gets a solid blow in with his earthbreaker. While his klar also connects, it fails to penetrate the undead's flesh. Torsten begins hammering away at his own opponent, dealing quite a bit of damage.
|
|
Feeling the satisfying crunch of his second hammer strike hit, Usawoti is unable to avoid one of the claws of the undead creature. Feeling it rake his arm, he jerks loose before it's talons can grab hold. Shifting his feet, he feints again with the hammer, swinging in a downward strike, he let the momentum carry the hammer back around on the real attack as he thrusts with the Klar.
The undead creature's maw came within inches of Torsten's face. But-for his enchantments that increased his reaction time, it would have gotten a hold of his beard. A claw came out, raking at his side. Fortunately, his skin was as hard as steel, thanks to his runic tattoos, and the glancing blow did not draw blood. But it was far too close for comfort. His return blows were not as accurate as he would have liked, given that he was forced to step back to avoid the attacks that had come his way. But he still lashed out with the speed of a seasoned warrior, and the force behind it was enough that even a glancing hit was going to do some serious damage.
Torsten destroys his opponent while Usawoti's earthbreaker creates another dent in the skull of his own.
Usawoti's Opponent: 53pts damage
|
|
Striking the undead creature a second time, Usawoti, from the corner of his eye, notices Torsten has dropped his foe. Distracted by the combat around him he fails to dodge a claw from the undead creature again. The claw raking a wound across his chest, Usawoti steps back. Setting his feet, he feints with the hammer, then swings it in a great arch, as he stabs with the klar.