Wan eyes the books over once, hunting for anything specific on armour crafting or engineering. Noting the books on occult lore, Wan passes over them and spends ten minutes restoring Proto to its restored state.
Wan makes final preparations before opening the door to the room of Nhakazarin by drawing his last ghost charge from his belongings. Once the room is opened, the tenge replies with revulsion to the invitation of the staff-bearing ghoul.
"Oh dearie me, no no, we won't be accepting anything into our bodies within this place, you poor restless soul. I appreciate your handiwork, to be sure, but it's time for you to take a break from your labours. Permanently."
Before Wan can attack, Nhakazarin snarls out a spell, blasting you all with cacophonous noise!
Success The creature takes 5 sonic damage.
Failure The creature takes 10 sonic damage and is deafened for 1 round.
Critical Failure The creature takes 20 sonic damage and is deafened for 1 minute, and stunned 1.
Zin quickly covers his ears but it is too late. Shuffling forward Zin mumbles a meager prayer to the Gods. "Mawp." He tries to pop his ears to hear once more.
AC 18 (19 w/ shield); Curse Stage: Minor (-1 AC)
HP 20/30 | Resistance Physical 3; Harm 5
Hero Points 1/3
Focus Points 1/3
Spells (1) 2/3 | (2) 1/2
Wand of Heal (1st) 1/1
Curse Benefit: Resistance: All Physical 3
Minor - (Enfeebled 1; -2 to saves, Grapple, Shoved and Forced Movement)
Moderate - (Enfeebled 2; -3 to saves, Grapple, Shoved and Forced Movement)
Mazul claps her hands over her ears as the sound echoes through the room. "What the hell was that?!" (Since she can't hear her own voice over the ringing in her ears, the question is much louder than she realizes.)
Running forward, she tries to stab the creature before it can cast any more spells.
"Ow! Akkaboo likewise claps her hands over her ears. "Stop that!" Racing forward, the goblin conjures a ball of fire and hurls it at the ghoul.
A giggling comes out of Proto.
”Residual sonic dampeners still functioning!” Wan laughs. ”You might as well give up now! Not that I’d accept a surrender from you, ugly.”
Zin blesses those nearby. Mazul moves up and stabs the ghoul. Akkaboo scorches her with flames, then Wan lands a critical hit with his ghost charge! Orgun swings and misses, though.
”Curse you all!” Nhakazarin shouts. She infuses hersefl with negative energy to heal her wounds, then reaches out to touch Orgun with vampiric power!
Zin increases the range on his blessing as it begins to counteract the effect on Orgun. "There will be no curses here tonight."
AC 18 (19 w/ shield); Curse Stage: Minor (-1 AC)
HP 25/30 | Resistance Physical 3; Harm 5
Hero Points 1/3
Focus Points 1/3
Spells (1) 1/3 | (2) 1/2
Wand of Heal (1st) 1/1
Curse Benefit: Resistance: All Physical 3
Minor - (Enfeebled 1; -2 to saves, Grapple, Shoved and Forced Movement)
Moderate - (Enfeebled 2; -3 to saves, Grapple, Shoved and Forced Movement)
Akkaboo moves a bit closer to Zin, flames dancing in her eyes. “Only you get curses!”
"I'm not a fan of these ghouls healing themselves, darlings. We should write a letter to someone to complain."
Wan rushes up and smacks the ghoul with his khakkara.
"Hiiii-yah!"
Mazul stabs wildly, (and mostly inaccurately), at the ghoul. The ringing in her ears has lessened, but she's not in the mood to make quips. She's in the mood to kill this thing as fast as possible.
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Akkaboo burns Nhekazarin again, then Mazul and Wan stab and slice the ghoul. Orgun lands two brutal blows, sending the ghoul reeling!
Shrieking in frustration, the ghoul takes a huge bite out of the flesh statue, consuming the rotten meat and healing herself. She gains a burst of speed, using it to cast a quick harm spell on herself. Then she fires a crackling ray of darkness at Orgun, but he manages to dodge!
"Wait, you're eating that?!" Mazul looks at the rotting meat sculpture, then gags. "Ugh, and here I thought this couldn't get any more disgusting."
Eager to end this so she can throw up in a corner, she continues jabbing at the ghoul priestess.
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Mazul stabs Nhakazarin in the back twice more, and with a final strangled groan, the high priestess of the Cult of the Canker falls!
Wan brings his heavy khakkara down on the inert priestess’ skull for no good reason apart from crushing it.
”That is what you get when you mess with the Cultbusters!” He pops Proto’s helm and looks around for approval. ”No? What about Gaunt-leteers? I’ve been workshopping a few names for our group. If we get a good name, then we can get some good patronage!”
A thorough scouring of the room reveals a secret door! The walls of this small room have built-in shelves. Books line the shelves to the north and south, while a stack of loose scrolls sits on the shelf to the west. A single chair and a small writing desk sit in the middle of the room.
The majority of the books and papers here are written in Aklo. The largest book on the northern shelf is a large journal that focuses largely on Belcorra Haruvex’s hatred of Absalom. It will take several hours to read through the whole thing, but it promises to shed light on the sorceress's family history.
The last several pages of the journal document much of her work in building these dungeons, which she refers to as the Abomination Vaults. While the journal doesn’t offer many specific details, it mentions construction of fleshwarping laboratories, arenas where she pitted enemies against monstrous champions for her amusement, prisons, torture chambers, links to the Darklands, and a great temple where “once the Empty Death herself brushed against this fragile world.” Belcorra’s entries often speak of her minions in the abstract, as if bragging about how many have come to serve her in creating the complex, but she only ever mentions one by name: her “amusingly vain” apprentice, Volluk Azrinae. One of the last entries describes how this apprentice arrived from “a community of upstart and meddlesome drow below” to serve Belcorra. The notes don’t provide any further information about this drow community.
The stack of loose papers and scrolls contain a wealth of information about Gauntlight. With several hours of study, you can learn much about the artifact itself.
A folio containing several esoteric diagrams is sandwiched between several books on teleportation on the north shelf. The folio details Belcorra’s series of linked teleportation circles to quickly move around the Abomination Vaults, and it notes the importance of using the awaken portal ritual to activate them should time or mischance deplete them of power. The awaken portal ritual is included here.
The largest book in the room, on the southern shelf, is a rare text called The Whispering Reeds. This magical book describes 77 supposed encounters with the Outer Goddess Nhimbaloth, and how each encounter left physical or mental scars. The book is heavily annotated in Belcorra’s hand, particularly in areas where themes of Nhimbaloth as an “eater of ghosts” play into the parables and tales.
Wan peruses the journals, his mind awash in horrid occult rituals and fleshwarping rites. His previous experience with the mad practice protects him from the worst of the shock, even inducing a sort of creative fervour as he reads and re-reads passages that might allow him to enhance Proto's all too-non-organic form.
Ultimately, the repeated references to the Outer Goddess Nhimabaloth make Wan realise the nature of this place and the danger to all.
"We should return to Wrin and tell her of what we have found. We will likely then need go deeper, hopefully with the aid of that sweet light that we keep on encountering. We're in danger, baby dolls!"
Zin stars at the book of The Whispering reeds in astonishment. "Indeed, this is by far bigger than we could have imagined." He shuts the book, but continues to hold onto it. He taps his finger on the cover. "We can let Wrin know but we shouldn't turn this book in. It can help us against Belcorra herself."
Mazul does in fact vomit into a corner after the priestess dies. "Blegh. That was the most disgusting thing I've ever seen or smelled, and I've been in the toilets at the Bored Barrel." She's breathes heavily for a moment before giving Wan a shaky thumb's up. "Personally I like the Gaunt-leteers. Has a nice ring to it."
Once her stomach is mercifully empty, she turns her attention to the wounds everyone had received. "Negative energy...I think I've got a salve that should help with that, and some eardrops for the original soundburst..."
It takes a while, but eventually she's able to help search the secret room and gather some of the few texts she can actually read. "Wait, so this place actually does go all the way to the Darklands?! That's ridiculously huge. How did Belcorra even build this? Is there some sort of magic spell that lets you construct massive dungeons? And the ghouls were saying Belcorra's spirit is at the bottom?!" She's shaken by the sheer scope of the problem.
"...I have a feeling we're going to need those teleportation circles. Just to get around this place without spending all day climbing stairs."
"Well, I can help with activating portals," Wan sniffs matter-of-factly as he picks bits of decaying flesh out of his khakkara, "and I'm sure Moony there can be of use with it as well, so I wouldn't worry your sweet cheeks about it, Mazul! I'd worry more about the Empty Death coming to snatch all of our souls."
Wan doesn’t know anything more about Nhimbaloth beyond the cryptic references in the books.
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Orgun takes the vile sights of the ghoul queen well, considering the circumstances. He was worried for his life and suddenly food quality was not in his top priority. He cleans himself and his gear after the fight as the others investigate the room. He places his hand on Mazul's shoulder in thanks.
His focus is brought to the whispering reeds and he says "We should destroy this book. No good can come of reading its words. I can do it if you wish." The dwarf is legitimately worried about it and seems scared to be even in the same vicinity of the book.
"Are we even able to deal with Drow?" Zin had heard all of the tales of the dark elves magic and prowess, making him doubt himself completely. Zin pulls the book away slightly. This may help him find his answers he seeks. "We can destroy it after it helps us drive Belcorra away." he flips through it. "It says here that it has an effect on incorporeal and spirits."
"Well, I can help with activating portals," Wan sniffs matter-of-factly as he picks bits of decaying flesh out of his khakkara, "and I'm sure Moony there can be of use with it as well, so I wouldn't worry your sweet cheeks about it, Mazul! I'd worry more about the Empty Death coming to snatch all of our souls."
"...Thanks. I'd almost managed to forget that part." The look Mazul currently has on her face could be best described as 'withering.'
"So. What we're learning here is that this is about more than just Otari, or even Absalom. If Nhimbaloth is actually involved, this is potentially something that could destroy the whole world." Mazul finds a convenient wall she can casually lean against. "Shouldn't be any problem for the Gauntleteers." It's obvious she's trying to mask how scared she actually is.
"I'd say we keep the book. If there's any chance it could be helpful, that's worth the risk. Although given I'm not the one taking the risk, my vote probably shouldn't matter." She coughs. "Do we want to clear out the rest of this floor before we report to Wrin? We kind of skipped a few rooms while following the green light. Probably more Cultists of the Canker out there who don't realize their high priestess is dead."
"Lead on, chirpling!"
The tengu draws a small vial from the compartments on the inside of Proto's suit and clutches it in his hand.
Mazul opens the next door and leads the way. This room is lined with tables divided up into several narrow carrels, with old wooden chairs pushed in against them. Upon them, old stacks of paper and tattered books sit amid dry inkwells and brittle writing quills. To the south, a skeleton dressed in shiny-looking chainmail lies slumped on the floor, clutching something in its bony hands.
The spectral form of a drow woman floats among the work spaces here, as if looking over the shoulders of unseen scribes to appraise their work. When she sees you, she scowls. "Tardiness will not be tolerated! Now, take your seats and begin your work. These books are not going to transcribe themselves!"
"Crap burgers!" exclaims Wan. "I'm all out of ghost charges!"
Mazul blinks at the ghost, confused. "Transcribe? Transcribe what? I'm pretty sure if I picked up any of those books they'd fall apart." She hesitantly steps into the room. "Any chance you'll let us look around a bit, maybe pick up some things, and continue on our way?" She doubts it, but no harm in asking.
"Silence! I will not tolerate your insolence!" the ghost shrieks, swooping towards Mazul!
"That's what I thought," Mazul sighs. "And because you're a ghost, I doubt stabbing you will do any good. Someone remind me to pick up some ghost charges of my own next time we head to town?"
Despite her prediction of stabbing being useless, Mazul gives it a try anyway. If nothing else maybe she'll serve as a distraction.
Akkaboo gulps, then pulls her floppy edges of her hat tightly around her head and runs into the room. The muffled sounds of happy sloshing can be heard as the goblin furiously sketches a short figure with a very large beard and an equally-large sword in the air. With a slap, she pastes the sigil to the flat of Ogrun’s blade. “Now go smash her - before she smashes Mazul!”
Mazul stabs the ghost with her blade, and as expected, the weapon doesn't seem to do a lot to harm the ghost. Neither does Orgun's weapon.
The ghost begins to wail in despair, a mournful sound that fills you all with sadness over your own missed opportunities. Then she reaches out to touch Orgun, sliding her hand into his chest!
Mazul is readying her blade for another ineffectual stab when she hears the ghost's cry. What am I even doing here? I could have stayed in Absalom, maybe if I'd applied myself more to my studies I could have gotten a scholarship to Oak Park University, Tudala was a nice boy I should have told him I liked him...
Unable to focus, it's all she can do to half-heartedly keep her buckler up.
“Stop that, you mean lady!” Akkaboo looks around at her sad companions, then tries to conjure a gleeful cackle. “Hey everyone, want to see her hair stand on end? That’s funny, right?” The goblin hides behind her trusty shield in case that’s not right and the ghost lady throws something back at her.
A massive amount of tears stream down Zin's face as his shaking hands pull the book free from his pack. He begins to flip to a useful page within to read a passage.
AC 18 (19 w/ shield); Curse Stage: Minor (-1 AC)
HP 25/30 | Resistance Physical 3; Harm 5
Hero Points 1/3
Focus Points 1/3
Spells (1) 1/3 | (2) 1/2
Wand of Heal (1st) 1/1
Curse Benefit: Resistance: All Physical 3
Minor - (Enfeebled 1; -2 to saves, Grapple, Shoved and Forced Movement)
Moderate - (Enfeebled 2; -3 to saves, Grapple, Shoved and Forced Movement)
The ghost completely evades Akkaboo’s lightning and is only mildly inconvenienced by Orgun’s lay on hands. She continues to focus on the paladin, sobbing and wailing as she reaches for him. He barely manages to keep her at bay!
Wan cackles and crows, then swiftly lowers Proto's helm.
"These stupid undead think that they can touch Proto-Wan and the Gaunt-leteers, but what they don't know is....hey, why are you all sobbing? Get a grip!"
Callously, Wan moves past Akkaboo and tosses his prepped alchemist's fire at the ghost. Proto's gears then fire up in a familiar fashion.
The club almost flies loose of the armoured tengu's grip. Wan recovers, swinging with a touch less gusto the second time.
"They're crying tears of joy at our victory, you spiritual simp! Why don't you pick on someone of your own lucency? Is it pronounced 'drow' like 'poor', 'drow' like 'ho', or 'drow' like 'cow'?"
Wan keeps the blistering banter going to draw the ghost his way, with no real skill.
Zin continues to sob uncontrollably as he shuffles forward, trying to to get tears across the pages. "I can do this." He finds a passage and begins to read. The incorporeal form begins to consume itself as patches of seven equally spaced holes form within the spirit.
AC 18 (19 w/ shield); Curse Stage: Minor (-1 AC)
HP 28/30 | Resistance Physical 3; Harm 5
Hero Points 1/3
Focus Points 1/3
Spells (1) 1/3 | (2) 1/2
Wand of Heal (1st) 1/1
Curse Benefit: Resistance: All Physical 3
Minor - (Enfeebled 1; -2 to saves, Grapple, Shoved and Forced Movement)
Moderate - (Enfeebled 2; -3 to saves, Grapple, Shoved and Forced Movement)
Once she manages to stop thinking about crushes previously long since forgotten, Mazul glares at the ghost. "That was dirty. Really dirty. Like, kick below the belt dirty. Only worse, at least for me. Can't speak for the guys." Seeing Zin trying something with their newfound book, Mazul does her best to distract the ghost into looking the other way before once again raising her shield.
Akkaboo tries again to zap the ghost, glad at least that her gambit seemed to have paid off because everyone wasn't just standing there crying anymore. "Is she immune to sparks?" she asks grumpily - but Mister Legs merely wobbles noncommittally atop her head.
The ghost barely manages to resist Zin’s incantation, but the positive damage has full effect on the incorporeal undead! It resists some of Akkaboo’s lightning and Orgun’s lay on hands as well. Neither Wan nor Mazul manage to hit the ghost.
Akkaboo can’t recall all the details about ghosts, but she knows they resist most kinds of damage except for force and positive effects!
The ghost continues to flail at Orgun, landing one hit!
Zin raises the book up in both hands as the positive energy continues to seep from the pages. "It appears that way Akkaboo."
AC 18 (19 w/ shield); Curse Stage: Minor (-1 AC)
HP 30/30 | Resistance Physical 3; Harm 5
Hero Points 1/3
Focus Points 1/3
Spells (1) 1/3 | (2) 0/2
Wand of Heal (1st) 1/1
Curse Benefit: Resistance: All Physical 3
Minor - (Enfeebled 1; -2 to saves, Grapple, Shoved and Forced Movement)
Moderate - (Enfeebled 2; -3 to saves, Grapple, Shoved and Forced Movement)
Zin's healing spell disrupts the ghost's form, then Orgun slices deep into her ectoplasmic body with his enchanted blade! The drow woman lets out a final wail--"Volluk, my love! Why did you forsake me?"--before her ghostly body dissipates.
There are 1 Bulk of books here to gather for Morlibint. In addition to these books, three grim treatises on necromancy are located here: What The Worm Knows, Grave Feasts, and Secrets of the Skull. Morlibint has no interest in these three books, but they can be sold for 8 gp each to someone other than Morlibint.
A search of the skeletal remains reveals that its +1 chain shirt is in good condition. The object the skeleton clutches is a framed portrait of a handsome drow man. The portrait captures the drow’s beauty as well as his imperious, vain smirk. His name appears on a tiny gold plaque at the portrait’s base--Volluk Azrinae. The work of art has endured the passage of time quite well and is worth 10 gp. You also spot a tiny iron key beneath the remains.
A thorough search of the room reveals an empty carrel along the eastern wall, which folds up to provide access to a secret door!