“The Celestial Song you say?”
Ollysta looks to be thinking hard. “I’ve heard of it. If I remember correctly it is generally in company with a diabolical … or is it a demonic text?”
The copper piece drops. “Wait. The Song’s vile mirror is what you currently possess? The book with the ‘Infernal Legion’ inside it? How is that possible? Last I heard, the Twin Tomes were somewhere in Tian Xia. In the hands of the Lantern Lodge … or maybe the Way of the Kirin?”
“In any event, nobody has brought it to me. Where did you get that information from?”
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Itami pushes Yargos Gill to the front. "He said that he sent an assistant, Nicola, to deliver the book to you," he explains. "Now is the time to start talking." He prods him firmly in the back with a wrinkled finger.
“But I did send Nicola to give the Celestial Song to Sayida Zadrian.”
Gill stumbles as Itami-san pushes him to the front, where he goes down on one knee.
“And she told me she delivered it safely to her.”
He flaps his arms about wailing, “I don’t understand what’s going on.”
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The young fox frowns, "Maybe she was jumped by the poor innocent criminals that attacked us and was too embarrassed to tell you she lost the book? We need to go smite their boss anyway, maybe this mermaid sandwich can tell us more?"
He looks up at the Holy Woman, "Uh... Ma'am, would you like to join us in smiting some evil?" He is quivering with hope.
This lady is someone I can learn a lot from, I hope she comes along!
“No … no.”
Yargos Gill squeaks. “Sayida just means ‘Lady’ in Kelish. There’s only one female paladin buying up black market goods in Gilltown.”
“Maybe she was jumped by the poor innocent criminals that attacked us and was too embarrassed to tell you she lost the book? We need to go smite their boss anyway, maybe this mermaid sandwich can tell us more?”
“I can’t believe Nicola wouldn’t tell me …”
The scholar holds his head in his hands. “But it’s the best theory I’ve heard so far.”
"Uh... Ma'am, would you like to join us in smiting some evil?"
“That depends.”
Ollysta kneels down to comfort Yargos Gill, who has begun to sob. “Who is this ‘Mermaid Sandwich?’ And where do they dwell?”
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"Kellish? Maybe I should learn the language sometime.
Kenta is referring to the 'Sea Witch', some kind of crime boss newly arrived and set up in the flooded gillman tunnels. What did our 'poor innocent criminal' friend say? 'fish eyes, fangs, bat-wings and tentacles'. Sent the hoodlums who ambushed us and tried to take the devil-book, so I think it makes sense that he might have already taken the Celestial Song."
“He must be newly arrived, for I have never heard of this ‘Sea Wit...’”
Standing a short distance behind Ollysta, the gillfolk merchant cuts her off rudely.
“Apologies for interruption. Beriqua familiar with Sea Witch.”
The black marketeer smiles thinly. “Very distinctive fellow, yes. Saw him with own eyes few days back, down in Low Azlanti tunnels. Can draw you map for modest fee. Only 5 gold measures.”
He gestures at Itami-san. “Senior’s discount, yes?”
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“That was 5 gold measures each, Grandfather.”
The hooded rogue sighs. “But this time of year for generosity. Crystalhue not far off, yes?”
The Gillfolk produces quill and papyrus, and draws a detailed map of the route to the Sea Witch’s den, from the entrance in Gilltown to the chamber opening where the Pathfinders’ quarry is supposed to dwell.
“Nobody I know been inside central lair. Also, some of travel-ways partially flooded right now.”
He looks up at the waning moon. “But they should be clear by time you reach on foot. Then you have until dawn to escape before tunnels flood again.”
☥
During this exchange, Yargos Gill has been drifting in and out of consciousness in Ollysta Zadrian’s arms.
“Master Gill is clearly not up for a trip below ground. I shall take him back to the Star of Sarenrae for treatment, and pray to the Dawnflower Kyra is not out with that devil-woman Merisiel.”
The paladin slings her shield onto her back and lifts Gill effortlessly in a Princess carry. “I shall keep him there under observation for a few days, in case you or your Venture-Captain needs to interview him.”
She nods to Kenta. “I shall have to take a rain-check on the smiting expedition, Pathfinder. But I will pray for the success of you and your skulk-mates.”
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"We may have to go underwater, and it's possible that the Sea Witch himself is submerged. If I were him I would be sure to lair where air-breathers would struggle to reach me. I have a scroll with Air Bubble spells upon it, and a potion sponge loaded with a Touch of the Sea potion. Is everyone else prepared?"
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Well, Yargos should be safe, so that is one less thing to worry about. Onna fingers the pouch at her hip. I intended for these to be used in an emergency. Sounds like we may have time to make a purchase or two. Best to save them for now.
As the others discuss what to buy and from where, Onna slides up to her fiancee and gives her a hug. "I certainly have joyous tidings to pass along to my 'Zonzy' this year. Thank you for that my love. I honestly don't know that I have ever been happier." She gives Hiragii a playful kiss on the cheek before whispering in her ear, "Of course, I can't pass along EVERYTHING that makes me happy. Some of the things you do to me are wildly inappropriate and might make the little doll blush."
“Please visit my nieces’ stalls for all your underwater adventuring requirements. Mention Beriqua's name to get 4 valence one potions for 200 gp, or 50 gold measures each.”
“Beriqua wishes you frolicsome fishing, Pathfinders. Good night.”
⚖
While Kenta and Itami-san look over the gillwomen’s wares, Hiiragi and Onna are off in their own little world.
Caught up in haggling, the paladin suddenly notices his pack burning his side, as patches of ground around the group begin to *glow* a vivid red-orange, swiftly scorching the earth to form perfect pentagrams.
A whispering hisssss.. builds into a , like the build-up of atmospheric static before a storm.
ကျွန်ုပ်တို့၏ချည်နှောင်မှုများမကြာမီပြိုကွဲလိမ့်မည်!ယခုတွင်ငရဲ၏အမျက်ကိုခံစာ းပါ။
మా బైండింగ్స్ త్వరలో ముక్కలైపోతాయి! ఇప్పుడు నరకం యొక్క కోపాన్ని అనుభవించండి!
In an instant, twin figures stand where the pentacles appeared, each hunched quadruped bears skeletal features, with wicked living metal spikes breaching out from their necks and along their backs. They SNARL and move to strike, not distinguishing between Pathfinder and innocent bystander.
Itami
Hiiragi
Ikari
Toshiko
Kenta
Onna
--
Green
Red
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"What in the...yeah, right, nevermind." Raising her voice to be heard. "Clear the area so The Pathfinders may deal with this threat!"
She turns towards Hiiragi, "Okay baby, time to show everyone how you really feel about dogs."
Damn! How did I let myself become so distracted? Why didn't we hand the book off to Ollysta when we had the chance? Maybe this is why The Society frowns upon inner-team relationships.
Ikari-san’s prayer *sprays* the skulk with polished rice, like they’re all about to attend a wedding. Everyone feels their spirits lift and their muscles revive, as the savage warrior begins to rage.
Kenta drives his greatsword into Green’s thick neck, like a picador preparing a minotaur for the climax of a Galtan bullfight.
Enter Hiiragi-sensei to end the performance with a solid flog-shot between the Hound’s eyes. As the fiend drops, its pentagram *flashes* and Kenta feels a fiery pang from the Infernal Incantation as the creature’s body disappears.
Onna inspires courage, while Itami-san lands two banderillas of force on the remaining Beast in the ring.
Round #1:
Itami
Hiiragi
Ikari
Toshiko
Kenta
Onna
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Green
Red
Toshiko-san draws a knife and and enters a total defensive stance.
The remaining Hell Hound steps to the north to see how ex-followers of the Midnight Lord feel about barbecued pain.
Round #2:
Itami
Hiiragi
Ikari
Toshiko
Kenta
Onna
--
Green
Red
Kenta double moves to Itami-san’s aid.
Ikari-san maneuvers his fox-brush into position to score the side of the Hound in multiple spots –– and shear off its skeletal tail!
Round #2:
Itami
Hiiragi
Ikari
Toshiko
Kenta
Onna
--
Green
Red
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“That stall is all I have in this world, Grandfather! I will not leave it!”
Itami-san suggests the Gillwoman run, while heroically offering himself as a target for the Hound.
Onna moves out of Hiiragi’s way, allowing the crusader to charge the red-eyed fiend, her flail held high.
One moment the creature is baying at Itami, the next its head *EXPLODES* like a Jack-o’lantern stuffed with goblin fireworks.
With foul yellow smoke wafting from Hiiragi’s weapon, the Hound’s body melts into the broken ground and the Infernal Incantation *flares* once more in Kenta’s pack.
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Hiiragi drags her flailhead along the ground to let the hellhound ichor slough off of it, then hefts it back over her shoulder as she shrinks back down to normal size... and temperament.
"Hellhounds-- it's like they combined all of the things I hate most and sent them after me. I bet they taste like pickled olives, too," she sighs, picking a few grains of rice off of her shoulder. She nibbles one, but finds it a bit toothy and lets the rest fall.
She turns her attention to Itami, and looks thoughtful.
"You have changed, old man-- and I'm happy to see it. ...Actually, do you mind coming over here for a moment?" she asks, walking off a little distance from the rest of the group.
"So, I don't know if you've noticed the rings me and Onna are wearing, but I may have... proposed? And I was wondering if you would do me the honor of walking me down the aisle," she whispers.
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"Consistent and admirable role models," is all Itami has to say in explanation of his behavior, before being led away. Foolhardy and young as well, but these old bones do what they can.
This day is just a barrel of surprises. Perhaps not as shocked as might be expected when asked such a spontaneous question, he feigns surprise. "So you're the farmer that proposed! I was worried for a moment, didn't know how I'd defend a farmer from that flail of yours." Though this IS a predicament. Maybe I could walk them both down one at a time? "You humble me with your request, yet Onna has asked me first! I can make it work and figure out how it will be done, if that suits your vision of the moment. And forgive me for not congratulating you earlier, I'm not entirely certain how public the information is."
Giving Hiiragi space to think, he retreats back to the group. "I've a wand and scrolls to collect, but then I'll be ready."
________
With the aid of Beriqua's map you easily find the entrance to the caverns – an exposed gap concealed behind a large pile of debris at the end of a laneway called Shaker Inlet. Making your way through the undercity, the tunnels are wet but not currently flooded. Old smuggling lanes branch off frequently in a myriad of directions. As the map guides you onwards, you begin to hear the distant sound of chanting, though the winding paths make it hard to figure out what is making the sound and the direction it is coming from.
The sound grows clearer as you follow Beriqua's trail, eventually resolving into a chorus of melodious voices, before the tunnel opens onto a large chamber of crudely cut stone that extends upward sixty feet to a high, cavernous ceiling covered in a tangle of moss-covered pipes.
Eight likely tunnels exit the chamber, four on each side of the room. With the exception of the two southern-most exits, slabs of solid dolerite block the tunnels several feet down the drives.
Offset to the right and firmly anchored to each of these six dolerite slabs is a crude, rusted chain – perhaps four feet long. Beside each of the chains is carved a marking. Each one is different, styled in some ancient script.
You recognize each symbol as a number from the Azlanti language. From left to right, the numbers adorning the slabs are:
Slab ⚡ –– 5
Slab ☀ –– 20
Slab ☾ –– 12
Slab ♡ –– 4
Slab = –– 6
Slab + –– 3
A set of great stairs begins at the halfway point of the room, ascending upward to a sealed metal door in the northern wall. Inexplicably, the stone stairs begin at a height of thirty feet off the ground.
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Hiiragi snorts a bit at the information. She's too fast! And yet, I'm the one that put a ring on her finger...
"It's okay! She beat me to you fair and square. I'm just glad you'll be there."
In a gesture that Itami has to be getting more used to by now, Hiiragi pulls him into a hug.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As they descend into the tunnels, Hiiragi walks arm-in-arm with Onna, grinning.
Upon finding the slabs, however, she screws up her face a little and thinks.
"I'm no good at puzzles, but these are numbers," she says, pointing to each in turn and naming them.
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"Right. But what do the numbers signify? Reaching the stairs shouldn't be a problem, with growth and some rope. But we also need to get that door at the top of the stairs open."
Ikari scrutinises the door with the '20' symbol on it and its associated chain, wondering what would happen if he pulled on the chain?
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Ikari-san suspects yanking the chain will result in a ‘pull my finger’ effect on any Oread or Kuthite in the chamber.
Don’t light a tinder twig!
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Totally misinterpreting the situation, "Go easy on him Hiiragi, he was acting very bravely. Plus, I think he's probably a bit tougher than he looks. He knew what he was doing stepping in front of that demon dog."
Kenta moves over to the Daikitsune Priest Lady waving his fingers and tail, "Here, I have an extra eleven digits to help you count."
"Hmm, it almost looks like a..."
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Kneeling down to get a good look underneath the solid dolerite slabs, Onna notices they pivot on robust, self-sealed bearings. The craftsmanship is of such fine quality that only the merest amount of water seeps from beneath the slabs.
Even so, the weight of the stone blocks implies someone with greater than average strength will be required to yank them open 'like a door'.
Looking up, the Jill-of-All-Trades spies sub-vertical drainage stains from what must be a ring of horizontal holes set into the walls at regular intervals, at an elevation of roughly 10 yards above floor level.
"Hmm, it almost looks like a..."
"… speaker arrangement, where Sankyoku chamber music is piped into the chamber through those tiny holes, to motivate the Sea Witch to do his best as he heads off to earn his salary each day."
Kenta closes his eyes as if imagining a kitsune-geisha trio, playing and singing remotely for his pleasure. “The vixen playing the koto long-zither sounds soooo hot!”
Wait … Did I say that out loud?
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"Maybe it's obvious, I don't know" Ikari offers tentatively. "But I want us to be ready. I suspect that when each of these doors is opened a quantity of water floods into this chamber. We need to be ready to swim, or at least to stay afloat whilst the water lifts us. Perhaps affixing rope to the pipes in the ceiling will help anchor us?"
"Ah, I appear to have forgotten my rope" He hangs his head, embarrassed.