As Elek reached for the chunk of serpentine, Elek realized the hand appeared to be moveable and able to react to the weight on it. Pausing for a moment, he considered filling a bag with sand and putting it on the hands in exchange for the stone. Shaking his head, he knew the only bag he had was the bag of holding he'd gotten from Breaker. Realizing it's weight would not change, no matter how much sand, he ignored the statue and it's stone for now and saw to the door.
As an estoc's blade is essentially a long spike, it's not well-suited for removing the barrier. Your trident is much more effective, and with a bit of work, you're able to get the door open.
A guiding row of black iron candleholders protrudes from the curving southwestern wall, their candles long since melted into foul-scented, yellowish tallow lumps. Behind the candles, flaking plaster laid in the shape of fish scales exposes a rough stone wall beneath. Within a shallow alcove at the end of the hall stands a serpentine statue carved in the shape of a naked male human being devoured by tiny, flesh-boring eels that wind their hungry way through every part of his body save for an area over the center of his chest.
It appears as though the statue can be slid into an alcove, creating access to a flight of stairs leading downward. You detect a sinister aura on it, though. As far as you can tell, touching the statue will summon something. You also notice that a section in the center of the statue's chest can be slid aside.
Unable to make the estoc work , Elek sighed and told the cursed prosthetic, "Chéngwéi sānchā jǐ" Changing he blade to the trident, he eventually worked the spikes out. As the door open he commanded the cursed prosthetic, " Chéngwéi dàpào" As it returned to the adamantium and mithril cannon, he watched to see if the one that lived was waiting for him there at the door.
Moving between the black iron candleholders, Elek pauses near the shallow alcove. Looking at the statue, he frowns. "Not a good way to die." Looking at the statue's chest, where the works were avoiding, he ponders how to slide aside the section in the center without triggering the summons. Not sure how to proceed, Elek decides that the obvious solutions may not be best but they are simplest. Deciding he wants a little help, he draws out his wand. As he activates the summoning wand, he calls a Hound archon. Pointing at the small section on the statue's chest with his estoc, "I believe a great evil is here, would you open the section on the chest please."
The archon slides aside the chest section, revealing an empty fist-sized chamber over the statue's heart.
Raising an eyebrow at the empty spot in the middle of the statue, Elek looked at the Hound and shrugged, asking "Any idea's?" Not expecting the angelic creature, to answer he looked at the stature then started pacing. Pausing for a moment, as he tucked the wand away, he asks, "So when I summon you, does just one of you show up, or do you take turns?" He furrows his brow, "Or is it just not that simple." Waiving his hand at he hound like helper he continues. "Never mind I have to think."
Pacing through the iron candleholders, he reaches back into his pack he pulls out the chunk of serpentine that he'd found. He didn't have a bag with sand to leave but he did have this. And it was no longer a matter of just having a little more gold to spend, it was a question of moving further along or not.
Heading back into the room with the ugly idol and the large gold disk he looked at the heart in the hands of the thing. Testing the weight of the stone in his hands, he steps closer to the idol. Deciding to move quickly before he changed his mind, he quickly tries to swap the serpentine stone for the missing hearth.
"It's not that simple. I'm technically not real - your spell creates a copy of me out of magical energy. That's why I vanish when the duration expires or if I'm slain. That's also why I don't remember the other times I've been summoned by you - assuming this isn't the first time you've summoned a Hound Archon, that is."
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As soon as the serpentine heart is removed, the eye on the great disc animates and fires a magical ray at...
... the Hound Archon...
... transforming it into a hagfish. Unable to breathe air, it immediately begins to suffocate. You quickly place the other serpentine stone in the statue's hands. When no more magical rays fire, it seems that your 'offering' has been accepted.
Chuckling as the angelic creature declares, 'it's not that simple,' Elek recons things rarely are. Listening to the official explanation, he nods, as he heads back to the idol holding the serpentine heart. "Your right, your kind are able to discern certain things that I am not." nodding the way he'd come. "we need to return to the room before this one."
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"Blast!" Cursing as the golden eye animates and transforms the noble hound into a hag fish. Grasping the serpentine heart in his right hand, he turns to the suffocating, 'hagfish' "Copy or not, you deserved better than that." He stood and watch as the 'Hagfish' died then dissipated, hoping the creature truly dissolved into nothing and ever remembered.
Moving back through the row of black iron candleholders he approached the serpentine statue. Keeping his cursed cannon at the ready, he reached forwards and placed the serpentine heart in the hidden compartment.
With a rumble, the statue slides aside, giving you access to the staircase behind it.
Taking a deep breath, Elek carefully moves towards the stairs. "On we go." Drawing his undead bane estoc, he moves quietly and carefully down the stairs.
Huge, once-lavish tapestries hang from this circular chamber's walls, although the curtains are now sodden and thick with yellowish fungus. The floor in the northwest portion of the chamber has crumbled away into a chamber below, leaving behind a gaping hole and significant cracks and fissures in the remaining mold-encrusted floor. A few furnishings remain, including the moldering remnants of chairs decorated with gold leaf and a wooden table, ornately carved with ichthyic motifs and draped with rotting silken cloth. A tall clay statue sculpted in the image of a bloated, fishlike humanoid stands to the south, also covered with mold. A few feet ahead, another flight of stairs descends deeper into the lower chamber exposed by the collapsed flooring.
You can tell that a large portion of the floor of this room is unstable. Too much weight, and it'll collapse.
You're not alone in this room. Two repulsive creatures float in the chamber, each resembling a mass of intestines coiled around a fanged maw.
Rounding the stairs, Elek takes the dilapidated room in at a glance. Seeing the two intestinal looking creatures floating in the room he snaps the cursed cannon up, Telling it "Bù réncí, Kuàisù pāishè", and fires at the nearest one. As the shot rings out, realizing he needs to even the playing field, he calls on the wind, "Yáncháng tiānqì" using some of his innate magical ability to lengthen the time of the storm. As the wind stirs, he commands the cursed prosthetic again and begins to fly away from the creatures to the other side of the room.
One of the creatures appears to be unable to move closer to you due to the strength of the wind. Instead, it contorts itself in a horrific manner.
The other creature isn't as affected by the wind and floats toward you, toothy maws dripping with acid.
Pleased that at least one of the creatures was not able to maneuver, Elek focuses on the unwounded one that had attempted to bite him. Realizing the cursed cannon had not done as much damage as he thought it should. He points the mithril and adamantium cannon at the vile creature, "Xuējiǎn" telling his weapon to do slashing damage.
Feinting with the estoc towards the creatures eye, He thrusts the cursed weapon towards the creatures center mass, telling it " shèjí, Dàn mù" as he fired once, then a barrage while he thrust the estoc back at it's eye.
The second creature manages to fight through the windstorm and move toward you. Instead of attacking, it uses a tentacle to strike the mold on the wall next to you - which promptly emits a cloud of spores!
The other creature unleashes a flurry of bites at you!
Squinting through the cloud of mold, Elek realizes he'd called to strong of a storm. Commanding the wind storm to become sever, telling his cursed cannon "Xuējiǎn" so his weapon would do slashing damage.
Feinting with the estoc towards the creatures eye, He thrusts the cursed weapon towards the creatures center mass, telling it " shèjí, Dàn mù" as he fired once, then a barrage while he thrust the estoc back at it's eye.
You strike the creature twice, and a spray of acid erupts from the wounds!
Both creatures unleash a flurry of bites at you.
Turning his head so the acid doesn't strike his face, Elek smiles knowing his cannon will be more effective in the lighter wind. But regains his focus when the odd monster bites him.
Refocusing, he feinting with the estoc towards the creatures mouth, pointing the mithril and adamantium cannon at its center mass, telling it " shèjí, Dàn mù" as he fires once, trusting the estoc while firing another barrage.
You slay one of the creatures and turn your cannon to the other.
Pleased that the first of the two monsters had fallen, Elek turns his full attention to the second one. Feinting with the estoc towards the creatures eye, he pointing the mithril and adamantium cannon towards its center mouth telling the cursed weapon " shèjí, Dàn mù." He fires once, trusting the estoc towards it's center mass while firing another barrage.
Acid sprays everywhere as you carve away at the creature. It's extremely injured by now, and you estimate one solid hit will finish it off.
Frowning as so much of the acid is able to penetrate his armor, Elek realizes that the creature must be near deaths door. Feinting with the estoc towards the middle section, pointing the mithril and adamantium cannon towards its eye telling the cursed weapon " shèjí, Dàn mù." He fires once, trusting the estoc towards it's center mass while firing another barrage.
Relieved, as the creature joins it's fellow in death, Elek returns the weapon to his efficiency quiver. Drawing out his wand, he begins to tap himself, as he flies around the room, making sure to avoid the yellow mold which the creature had used as a weapon.
Once he's explored he upper chamber, he'll put away his wand and draw his estoc and fly into the lower chamber.
With one final spray of acid, the creature dies.
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As you fly toward the stairs, you notice the statue's eyes glitter. They're almost entirely crusted over with yellow mold, but they appear to be valuable emeralds.
Pausing near the statues, Elek see's the green eyes peaking through the yellow mold. Being a pirate, from a long line of pirates, he nears the statues, telling the cursed prosthetic, "Biànchéng yú chā shǒu" Sheathing the estoc, he reaches towards the face of the statues, scraping the mold off with his cold iron harpoon hand, then attempting to pry them loose so he can collect them.
Mold spores fly everywhere as you clean off the gems, but you manage to avoid breathing any in.
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Rubble from the collapsed ceiling fills the center of this room, which is shaped like three-quarters of a circle. The walls bear scorch marks, and the plaster shows severe cracks. To the southeast, two eerie ivory statures stand on either side of a closed door. These statues are carved into the forms of handsome men that have been bound, gagged, and blindfolded, both heads turned inward to face the other. The statues seem strangely moist, as if they have just been pulled from the sea.
You notice that the statues' heads can likely be rotated. You also detect a hostile magic aura around both the statues and the space between them. Another trap....
Smiling as he drops the four emeralds into his rucksack, Elek commands the cursed harpoon hand "Chéngwéi dàpào" As it changes back to the mithril and adamantium cannon, he draws his estoc and flies lower into the next room.
Raising and eyebrow at the bound, gagged and blindfolded statues, Elek begins to come the conclusion that whoever built the tower didn't care much for handsome human men. Chuckling at the revelation, he nears the statues.
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You rotate the statues' heads so they face away from each other, and the magic aura vanishes. The room beyond has walls marred by flaking plaster and specks of mold. Faded frescoes portray a strange, crystalline city rising out of a vast ocean beneath a gray sky. In several places, imposing iron hooks protrude from the wall, now rusted with age. To the southwest, a jumble of bones held together by an aged suit of black leather armor slumps against the wall, while in the middle of the room, a huge circular trap door sits in the floor. Three lengths of chain have been hammered over the hatch, bound in place by iron spikes that have been hammered into the floor. A black handprint is on the wall next to the skeleton, along with a few lines of scribbled text.
"The Shrouded Queen yet lives below, bound by Blackfingers' forbiddance and Aiger's Kiss. Seek not entrance for naught but her rotting curse awaits ye - let the slumbering darkness lie!"
Potential Loot
shadow studded leather armor
ring of improved climbing
ring of improved swimming
Pleased that solving the trap was easier than expected, Elek flies into the room, landing near the corpse. Reading the quote outload ""The Shrouded Queen yet lives below, bound by Blackfingers' forbiddance and Aiger's Kiss. Seek not entrance for naught but her rotting curse awaits ye - let the slumbering darkness lie!" He looks down at the corpse, asking, "So I wonder are you Blackfinger?" Kneeling beside the skeleton, he continues. "A fellow with that sort of name will understand why I'll help myself to your armor and jewelry."
Having stripped the skeleton, he tries to lay the bones neatly, untucking the 'bag of holding' from his belt he places the three items inside. Returning the bag to his belt he looks at the three lengths of chain and the iron spikes. Musing to himself. "Looks like the fellow who went after the door upstairs did for this one two." Telling the cursed prosthetic, " Biànchéng yú chā shǒu" He began working the spikes loose with the cold iron harpoon.
It takes several minutes to remove the spikes and chains. Once you're done, you're able to open the trapdoor, revealing a 5ft-wide shaft that drops 50ft into another chamber.
Having removed the spikes and chains, Elek stands dusting off his armor, telling the cursed prosthetic, "Chéngwéi dàpào" As the prosthetic changes to the mithril and adamantium cannon, he lifts the trapdoor, pointing the cursed cannon into it, waiting to see what arises. Seeing the shaft lowers a distance, he speaks the name of the wind, "Fēng" and slowly lowers himself down.
Decorative stone rafters partition the ceiling of this large circular chamber. A frieze between the vaulted ceiling and lower portion of the chamber depicts a chain of intertwining sea creatures and human bones. In the chamber beneath this frieze, a large altar overlooks a fetid, brackish pool of stagnant water. At the bottom of the pool, what appears to be a black-bladed shortsword is impaled in the stone.
Right before you reach the bottom of the shaft, you hear a horrifying shriek as a wave of energy suddenly blasts you, filling your body with a tiredness you haven't felt for quite some time. The source: a hideous elephant-sized creature lurking below. Far too large to fit its body through the shaft, you can tell that it can probably manage to reach you with individual limbs.
Feeling the exhaustion just before he see's the creature, Elek, instinctivly snaps his mithril and adamantium cannon up declairing "shèjí" and fires a blast at the creature. As his eyes take in the creature he realizes this is a very different fight than he's used to; the small room, the shaft, the complete exhaustion. Realizing he can't concentrate on the storm and fight, he creates a strong storm with a downdraft in the shaft, "Fēng Yáncháng tiānqì"
Feinting with the estoc at one of the creatures bat-winged tentacles, Elek lifts the cursed cannon pointing it at the things center mass. " Bù réncí shèjí" as he thrusts the blade at the thing. As quickly as he attacks, he flies back up the shaft, just over halfway, hoping to escape the things tentacles and give himself time to think.
You reflexively fire a shot at the creature before flying back up the shaft. You have to ascend over halfway to the previous floor before you feel safe.
Pausing near the top of the shaft, Elek considers the creature and what he knew. It seemed to have wings attached to it tentacles, or were they legs. Either way wings usually means something can fly. The creature seemed to be huge, and normally tentacles meant it could even reach further than normal. He shook his head not really sure which they had been, legs or tentacles. He considers using his wand to send for one of the dog angels to tell him what it was. But they didn't seem to have wings, so it could only tell him what it knew as it fell to the monster. It seemed a waste. Deciding the thing could reach further than he wanted, and not being sure if the creature would try and climb into the shaft, Elek flew down to the outer limits of his cannon's range.
Hovering there about forty foot above the creature, Elek calls down in a feint. "Hey you interested in parley?" He then commands the cursed prosthetic, ”Kuàisù shèjí Zhìmìng de mùbiāo." Firing repeatedly at the portion of the creature he could see.
Your feint attempt is unsuccessful. To be honest, you're not even sure it can understand what you're saying. You do manage to strike it with two shots, though, dealing a little damage. It snakes a tentacle up the shaft after you, but once it realizes you're out of reach, it drops back to the ground and moves out of sight.
Pausing to think about his options, Elek determines to try the verbal feint again. As he flies to the bottom of the shaft, he assumes the creature will be able to strike at him, so he tries to dodge any attempts as he yells at the thing in a feint, "So do you understand or not?" Giving a light shrug with his shoulders, he lifts the cursed cannon, and tells it "shèjí" quickly telling the cannon " Dàn mù" Firing a quick barrage he flies back towards the shaft.
The creature lashes out with a claw as you fly in, but then receives several blasts to the face.
You get 25ft up the shaft before the creature's able to retaliate.
"Blast!" Cursing as he realizes the creature is moving faster than himself, Elek, get's caught by the first of several claws. Realizing he needs to kill the thing, Elek feints, pointing the cursed cannon at the shaft. "Maybe I should shoot the shaft and bring it down on you." Pointing the mithril and adamantium weapon at the creature he commands "shèjí, Dàn mù" Firing an extended barrage, at the creature. As the barrage ends, he moves up the shaft five foot, hopping to put himself out of it's reach.
The creature lashes out as you open fire...
... but your barrage destroys it.
Seeing the creature fall, Elek hovers in place waiting to see if it rises. While he waits, he tucks his estoc under his arm, drawing out the wand he heals the damage done by the thing. Tucking the wand of healing away he takes out the one for restoration, using it a couple of times. Once he feels close to a hundred percent he tucks the wands away and grips his estoc.
After several seconds watching and healing, he's convinced the creature will not rise. Remembering there should be a sword called Aiger's Kiss he hoped there would be other treasures as well, having promised twenty percent to Avimar. Flying down into the creatures abode, he begins to carefully look around for the sword and whatever other treasure he may find.
A number of valuable items are scattered around the chamber.
Loot
Whalebone and Coral Statuary
Assorted pearls and gold and silver ingots
Crystalline Vial filled with a blood sample from an Azlanti king
Golden Tiara
There's also a jeweled sword embedded in the floor.
Carefully gathering the collection of valuables scattered around he chamber, Elek notices the jeweled sword, embedded in he floor. After collecting everything else he attempts to draw the sword. Realizing he is unable to draw the thing. He pauses and thinks for a moment, then draws out his summon monster wand. Using the wand he summons an earth elemental. As the creature manifests, Elek points at the sword handle, then points at the elemental, and tugs on the sword pommel, then points at the earth elemental; hoping he will understand pulling the thing loose.
The elemental refuses to even approach the sword. It seems utterly repulsed by even the idea of touching it.
Chuckling to himself, Elek realizes the elemental may not be as stupid as he thought it was. Pausing, he moved near the sword and pointed at the ground around it using a circular motion. Then made motions with his hands to crumble up the dirt around it. Hoping the elemental could soften the ground.
The elemental breaks up the ground in a wide circle around the sword but refuses to get within five feet of the weapon. This does weaken the surrounding terrain, but it's still difficult to extract your prize.
Loot
Aiger's Kiss (minor artifact)
shortsword of the planes
3/day cast dimensional anchor on hit as a swift action (on crit, gain +10 to bypass target's spell resistance)
1/year stab an extraplanar rift or portal to seal it (while sealing a rift or portal, sword has antipathy vs all outsiders)
Smiling as the Elemental understood his motions enough to tear up the ground around the sword, Elek nods "Thanks, I can take it from here." Sheathing his estoc he moves towards the sword. Grasping it with his right hand, he gives a tug. Not feeling the sword give at all, he shifts his feet and pulls again. Shaking his head, he tugs a third time. This time losing his grip and falling backwards. Looking at the Elemental he wonders if the fellow is chuckling on the inside. Standing back up, he wraps his fingers around the hilt and pulls a fourth time. Realizing it hasn't moved at all, he looks up at the elemental and asks, "You sure you don't want to pull it up?" Realizing it was pointless to ask, he grips the hilt again and pulls. Feeling the sword begin to work loose he continues pulling until the blade comes clear.
Lifting the blade he smiles and tucks it into his belt, making a mental note to have a scabbard made. Turning to the Elemental he nods. "I realize your just a copy of something from somewhere, but thanks for your help." He then flies back up the shaft, past the two idols, to the one upstairs. Stopping long enough to take the heart shaped serpentine stone from the statues chest. As he flies to the next level, he considers taking the other serpentine stone, but decides to leave it.
Deciding he'd found what he came for, Elek flies back to the 'Revenge' landing on deck he smiles, telling his Helmsman, "Mr Rakkaw, set a course for the port of Ollo on Shark Island."
As you exit the tower, you discover a ship anchored a respectful distance from the Revenge. It flies a Shackles flag and is named the Wanton Wastrel.
Seeing the Shackles ship, Elek flies to the 'Revenge' landing on the upper deck. Nodding towards the ship, he asks, "Who's our visitor?" Taking the Farglass from his rucksack he looks at the ship, officers and crew for a moment. Putting the looking glass away he turns to his Helmsman, "Mr Rakkaw, let's move the 'Banshee's Revenge' close enough to hail them."
Calling on the name of the wind, Elek pushes a light breeze into her sails allowing Mr Rakkaw to steer the ship close. Hailing the other ship, "Ahoy 'Wanton Wastrel' What can we do for you this fine day?"
You've heard of the Wanton Wastrel before. Its captain is the son of Captain Tevenida Aiger - a man known as Valerande "Barracuda" Aiger. Due to the fact that the Aiger name has been utterly dominated by his mother, not much is known about Captain Barracuda.
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"A parley, Captain Kardforgató. I've come to retrieve something of mine, but you appear to have beat me here. Perhaps we can come to an accord?"
Raising an eyebrow at the idea of Captain Barracuda having come to retrieve anything from the Black Tower Elek smiles. "A parley? Certainly! Shall we meet on neutral ground?" He gestures toward the top of the tower, "Since you've come to fetch your mother's blade, you should have no difficulty meeting me at the entrance to the tower?"