Wisps accepts the basket. "We'll do it. And we'll even buy a round for the house when we get back."
"But we don't know what the currency exchange in the Shadow Place is," Chimwemwe comments.
You're taken down twisting and turning allwyays choked with shadow and strange stars. At times, they seem to warp reality — the walls close in on you, then expand outwards. Finally, another knock at another door. The snout of a Great Gnoll sticks out and sniffs the air. Muscular arms reach out for the basket.
Booze! What flavor this week? Gimmee. I'm so bored!
Another diplomacy check. Gully crunches some unidentified bones and swigs some pungent juniper-scented gin as he talks. I'd love to stick a dirty old pike in Abjal's gut and watch him scream, but before I die I need to taste the ultimate forbidden fruit! Well… tooth. He looks to the Nameless Tower, which looms over the alleyway in a rather disconcerting fashion. I wanna taste one of them teeth that exude oblivion. Just a taste. Just one tooth. I never made my way there because the tower's hard to find, and then there's the whole "cultural sensitivity" bit about extruding bits of beloved cultural artifacts and then eating them. He shrugs. Get a tooth for me, give me a taste, and I'll gladly kill a whole bunch of those Brutes to help free Shadow-Jula.
You head towards the tower… it's difficult to find, the streets seem to constantly bend away from it. However, Chim's astrology and Akoril's Ley-Line expertise untangle the shadowy web and you find yourself at the foot of a cumbling efifice. Towereing above you is the eyeless skeleton.
There is an opening to the tower; black within. A sense of foreboding radiates from that space, as if something is watching you.
High above the skull hangs, with the spinal cord of the terrible beast coiling down to just above the ground. Chains quietly clink in the still air.
To get a tooth, you can ascend to the tower's roof from within — surely there are old stone stairs inside — or from without, if you can climb or somehow get there otherwise.
Chimwemwe eyes the tower and its outer walls as he considers the ascent. The lens in his mask displays illusory schematics that form and disappear in front of him as his fingers draw in the air and wipes them away to start over.
"I believe that I can free climb the wall," he tells the others. "Does anyone have a rope that I coulf lower down?'
Chim scales the ancient walls, finding handhgolds among the old iron chains. From inside the tower you hear a strange, forlorn cry. Perhaps it's better you're goin this way.
Once you're near the top you can see out over the ciry, winding below like a spiderweb.
The unnatural quiet hanging over the city is broken by cruel laughter echoing up from the direction of the alehouse. On the other side of the city, someone screams.
The bottom of the jawbone hangs just above you. You scuttle over the edge of the roof and into the hollow skull. You could look out from the hole in the forehead to get a view into Xovaikain, or grab a tooth from the jaw.
The old teeth radiate darkness and cold.
Kiri creeps forward, placing paws carefully, and probes at the nearest tooth with a claw to find a weak point at which to pry it loose.
Kiri probes, but is unable to do so. They feel negative energy radiating from the tooth, and know that if they mess it up they might get blasted!
Kiri takes a step back for a moment, calming themself after a close call. They cast a spell to fortify themself, then try again.
Akoril keeps watch while Alrinkiri works on disabling.
Kiri gets the tooth out! Its very touch begins to sap heat. Best get it back to your gnoll friend as soon as possible.
The gnoll takes the tooth with glee. Yes! Tell Coal-Hearth I'll be there! Gully slams the door. How the big gnoll will consume that tooth is a mystery perhaps best left unsolved.
"After we let Imara know that we have convinced Gully to the cause, we should seek out Eight Thorny Moons," Chimwemwe suggests.
Akoril nods "Sounds good."
Having secured coal-hearth's support, you turn your attention to Eight Thorny Moons.
Father Heveril shakes his had sadly as he takes you to a residential district.
Eight Thorny Moons was the captain of the guard. When the Knights came into town he thought to find some peaceful resolution. More pity him. He met with Ajbal Kimon about a year ago, and Ajbal just stabbed hinm in the face with no warning.
That was the last time Eight Thorny Moons was seen in piublic. At first he hid his face, but not it's full-fledged agoraphobia.
If you can get him to make an appearance, the guards would rally. We'd have a disciplined fighting force.
You approach a home whose windows are boarded up. The door cracks open; an older fetchling with a disfigured face peers out. Well, what do you want? Come in, Father Heveril.
All the windows have been nailed shut from the inside, and makeshift insulation—mostly torn clothing—has been placed all around the house to mute sound. Stepping in here feels like leaving shadow-Jula behind.
What brings you to my home?
Akoril starts to speak but then thinks better of it and looks to Wisps to explain their purpose.
"Hello, honored friend. We are from the Magaambya. We have come to seek your help in putting an end to this conflict once and for all. Your presence would be an inspiration to all of those who admire and respect you."
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I appreciate you calling me honored, but I simply cannot go outside. He starts trembling at the thought. I haven't been right in the head since I was stabbed. I never was afraid of anything before.
"Is there any way that we can help you? Even if you don't help us, we don't want you to live in fear?"
Father Heveil shakes his head. I've tried helping Captain Moons through various kinds of therapy. Nothing seems to break through.
Akoril asks Wisps "Do I remember right that you learned Remove Curse awhile back? We should investigate more to be sure, but that might come in handy."
Critical
Chimwemwe's fingers begin to fidget in the air. A translucent, monochromatic replica of the scarred portion of Eight Thorny Moons hovers in front of the inventor. Several runic shapes rotate in and out of existence around the holographic face. Some flash a remain in place.
"The scar bears a curse, indeed, Akoril," he confirms. "Quite an evil one."
With his permission, Wisps gently touches the scar on his face.
"May I try to heal this? Not the injury, but the magic of it?"
She focuses all of her magical energy onto the scar, willing the evil magic to dissipate.
The captain's eyes light up. He touches his face, laughing, runs out the front door. He looks up at the sky and grins.
So, Ajbal cursed me did he? Wait till my old friends hear about this underhanded trick. He'll pay. He stands tall, displaying the horrible scar. A scar can be healed with magic, but I will wear this as a reminder to everyone who sees me: they will know what sort of vile creature Ajbal truly is… and that he can be bested! I'm in.
Father Heveril sighs sadly. Perhaps if I didn't force Erastil to abandon me, I could have seen this sooner and helped my friend… so much needless suffering could have been avoided. I suppose everyone I love must pay for my follies.
Moons gives his friend a hug. It was meant to be, father. Your therapy helped me too. Perhaps everything had to line up for this to happen.
The depressive ex-cleric wipes a tear from his eye. Where will we go next? The thieves guild or weaponsmith?
"Perhaps to the thieves guild next?" Wisps says, dabbing a tear away from her eye.
"Yes, amassing allies seems like the right priority."
On the way to an old warehouse Fatehr Heveril gives you some background. Shadow Jula’s thieves’ guild is a loose affiliation of almost twenty pickpockets and ruffians. They used to swindle traveling merchants and start the occasional tavern brawl for fun, but the town guard mostly left them alone as long as they avoided causing any serious harm to locals. While they lack discipline, Heveril believes their skills will make a big difference in the coming battle. Combat abilities aside, the guild members know every dark alley and secret byway in Jula. With a little direction, their particular expertise makes them excellent guerilla fighters. Their unofficial leader, taken over after the previous one was killed by the knights, goes by the name "Grinning Lex."
As you walk down an alleyway a wiry person appears seemingly out of nowhere, casually talking with Father Heveril.
Old father, who're you bringing this way? Grinning Lex don't want visitors.
The fetchling, who must be Grinning Lex, grins at you with razor-sharp teeth.
Kiri returns the razor-sharp grin with an ice-cold glare of their own.
Grinning Lex is not fazed.
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Wisps puts her mask on, with huge spider eyes and flames rippling at the edges.
"I think you want to hear what we have to say."
Alright alright. How can I say no that that!?
The guild is in an old warehouse by the docks. Mingling wit them, you find out that the thieves old leader, barrister Indeg, was killed by the Knights. Lex wants payback but will only tie the guild's fate to a strong leader (or group) who has a fightin chance.
You can try to convince the thieves with a DC 26 check, or a DC 28 attack roll by clobbering one of the thieves who Lex thinks deserves a little bruising.
"Look, we all want the same thing here. The status quo is not working for anyone. This is the time to take a big stand: all of us, together. You can join us, or spend the rest of your life wishing you had."
When in Rome...
Akoril gives a bit o' bruisin'.
Kiri thinks of their training with the Tempest-Sun Mages, slips on their bomber jacket , and says "Let's do this" before diving into the fray. They take care to keep their fist closed, so as not to do any lasting damage.
Chimwemwe touches a pair of runes on his arm and then strikes a plate on his chest. His shield unleashes a roaring lightning bolt that Chimwemwe weaves between milling rogues. And nothing even breaks on his armor.
"Is that an adequate demonstration of power?" he asks Lex.
Grinning Lex laughs, especially when you clobber deserving underlings. HA! Done and done, Dust River be there when you call, withj bloody kvives.
Last up is the Blacksmith. Zihara Shadowsteele.
You find her in her show, with her wife and two children frantically working. Whaddya want? asks the sweating fetchling. Ajbal's got me working so hard I've had to conscript my family. The kids don;t even have time for school these days… but betyter to deliver Abjal's orers on time than face his wrath.
"What if you didn't have to face his wrath alone? We can help you if you help us. We're all going to take a stand together, and we have many people on board."
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The son locks the door. The daughter closes the windows. The wife gets ac crowbar out.
Zihara smiled at wisps. What, are you tryin' to convince us or something!? PAH!
Zihara's wife levers a board off the floor. Inside, piles of swords, shields, and weapons glitter. We've been preparing to slice up Abjal for months now, You tell me who to give these to, and we're there.
Wih that, you're ready to lead the Shadow-Jula rebellion against the Knights of the Gloaming Heart and the Lore-Takers in the alehouse. When the rebellion is happening, you should be able to access the alehouse and strike at the hear of the knights! Let me know if you want to prep, otherwise we'll move tou there the next day so you can have all your spells.[/ooc]
The following morning, dozens of townspeople gather at the smithy, with still more spread out in key locations throughout town: the city hall, the markets, the tenple district, and even the slums. Father Heveril changes out of his usual robes and into a suit of armor emblazoned with Erastil’s religious symbol. He attempts to string an old, well-crafted bow, but his hands are shaking too much.
Then he shakes his head. If that little one can sweep my temple, I can strong a bow.
His hands steady. He strings a cracked, old longbow bow and faces his flock.
People of Shadow-Jula! History will remember this in the annals alongside the battle against the Urveth. Like then, we must band together to save ourselves — not from a creature from the outer planes, but something far more insidious: evil humanoids and bullies who would enslave our bodies and minds!
He points at Eight Thorny Moons. Our guard captain was scarred by the Knights, but he has returned, pride unbowed, and ready to fight! Shadowsteele and her wife have given us the tools for the work, and — someone in the shadows chuckles — Grinning Lex laughs in the darkest dark places, ready to strike. Imara Coal-Hearth has given us the intelligence where to strike, and she has found us powerful friends like the gnoll warrior Gully, who is ready to die for the cause. If he does, he'll drag some of these bullies to the afterlife with him. Are you?
As he speaks father Heveril holds aloft his old bow. It begins to glow with a vibrant green light that hasn't been seen in the shadowlands for a long time.
I swear by Erastil, I'll protect this community and the people I love! To seal his oath he draws the bow and fires an arrow aloft. The bowstring whispers, a voice among the leaves… And so it shall be. Death to the Knights of the Gloaming Heart!
The people of Jula shout, and rush away, ready to take back their town!
As the you make your way from the to the alehouse, the city descends into blood and chaos.
Father Heveril fires steadily at the Knights with his white wood bow. Zihara and her wife smashes through the enemies in their path wielding twin warhammers. Lex bears a big grin as they flee from a group of Knights, drawing them into an alley full of knives. Eight Thorny Moons and four people wearing matching uniforms have turned old market stalls into an impromptu barricade to keep the Knights at a distance.
Residents fight from homes and shops, directed by Imara Coal-Hearth.
The Knights seem beset by this sudden revolution, but unless you can cut the head off this snake they will rally and crush the town. The gamble lies with you and your abilities. Not to mention saving your missing friends!
Four knights try to rush to the alehouse, no doubt intending to barricade it from within, but they're dragged down by the mob and chopped to bits.
You barge into the alehouse to find — nothing?
This lofty common room is made of old wood weathered by generations of smoke and damp. It's a dark and gloomy place, as many windows are broken and covered by wooden boards. The floor is stained with spilled drink and old bits of food. It looks like the Knights of the Gloaming Heart haven't respected their new home.
There is a bar on one side, and a service area behind doors to your right.
Kiri's eyes rotate, mechanical shutters irising closed for a moment before they reopen. As they reopen, their normal glow takes on a faint purple hue as they peer around.
They wait until their allies are ready, then gesture to the right before gesturing ahead toward the corner jutting out into the room ahead and sneaking forward, as quietly as they can.
Kiri continues up to the corner, peeking around and listening at the door for any sounds within.
Kiri turns and silently signals to their allies that they neither see nor hear anything.