|
Nilaglade fires into the swarm of rats. The first arrow strikes and kills a few but doesn't seem to damage the swarm as a whole in the slightest. Lokaloka completely flattens them though with a large rolling pin as the small goblin rushes over the rats like a gnomish steamroller.
With the rats defeated, the vault falls silent. Aslynn’s double and her cauldron have vanished for now. The voice calls out to the Pathfinders once more. “Whew, that was close! Hey, could you help me out over here? I’d like to say hello, maybe explain a few things, but these boxes sure are heavy.”
You easily discern that the voice is speaking to you from the box corner.
A disembodied pair of elegant blue gloves busily clears chests off a table. The gloves make a Stop right there! gesture before signaling toward the table. They gently pat its surface, then indicate the boxes on top of it. The voice from earlier says, “I see you’ve met Mr. Glovely! He wants you to help clear those boxes. I’m, uh, underneath them. It’s a bit embarrassing. Help a poor guy out? Many hands are better than two! No offense, Mr. Glovely.”
The gloves wave dismissively, as if to say, None taken.
Rose
Niaglade
Lokaloka
Ysoldt
|
Winded, Ysoldt sits on the nearest box, watching her wounds. "If you don't mind, I would like to look at the scratches first. Don't want an infection. Rose, you look rough as well. Let me take a look at those." she points to Rose's ankles. "And anyone else, I will get to you in a few minutes."
She pulls out her healer kit, and rummages for disinfectants...
|
|
After several minutes of healing Mr. Glovely moves boxes all around as he feigns struggling with some of the lighter ones. Eventually, the table is cleared, and begins changing shape, taking the form of a large, gaudy treasure chest with an enormous, shiny silver chain and padlock. He snorts derisively.
“I’m Biglock, one of the best mimics around! That means I can turn into all kinds of things. Tables, chairs, you name it! And this is Mr. Glovely. He… you know, I’m not sure. He showed up one day and lent me a hand. Or two! Ha! We have what you might call a mutually beneficial arrangement. I do the talking, and Mr. Glovely does everything else.”
|
|
“Now that’s a long story. To be honest, I’ve been in quite a few of the Society’s vaults over the years. I’m good at going unnoticed. Last time I got noticed, it was by that night hag, Aslynn. She saw my potential, and… well, she owns a significant share of my soul. I can barely even remember how I lost it to her in the first place. A bad bet? A worse debt? Can’t rightly say, as I don’t rightly know. Well, for years now, I’ve had to do as she asks. Mostly spying, a bit of stealing. But when I wised up to some of her plans, I made a break for it. She’s been looking for me ever since. I think she fed information to those Onyx Alliance rascals. They captured me, so when the Society got hold of their treasures, I came with!”
“I don’t know the details of her plans, but I know she’s trying to brew some powerful magic in that weird cauldron. She needs a few of the magic items from your stash here.”
Mr. Glovely reveals both the dagger and the “crystal key” to you. Biglock says, “While you were distracting Aslynn, we found these! I think she was looking for them.”
|
|
"I don't know what else she needs. You should take a look around for anything useful." Biglock and Glovey help you search the Vault.
★ -- ★ -- ★ -- ★
1. Talking skull. Please talk to the skull. It doesn’t seem to like me. Maybe one of you will have better luck?
(Skill Check: Arcana, Diplomacy, Occultism, or Religion) 1 Discovery Made!
2. Pile of treasure. We probably shouldn’t leave everything in a pile like that, but we’ve been short-staffed. See what’s in there!
(Skill Check: Arcana, Crafting, or Perception) 1 Discovery Made!
3. Assorted items. There’s all kinds of stuff up in the raised storage areas on the west wall and in the northeast corner. Did we find any magic potions in the vault? Alchemical items? Talismans? You bet we did! I know a healing potion when I see one, but some of this stuff is beyond my experience. See what you can find!
(Skill Check: Arcana, Crafting, or Perception) 2 Discovery Made!
4. Pile of empty chests. I already looked through these. If you find more empty chests, just pile them in the southwest corner of the vault.
5. Danger! These shelves are way up high and piled high with dangerous poisons and possibly cursed items. I think Zarta felt it would be safer if they were out of reach, but we should make sure there’s nothing too dangerous up there.
(Skill Check: Acrobatics, Athletics, Medicine, Thievery, or Underworld Lore) 1 Discovery Made!
6. Weapons. There are lots of magic weapons lying around. See if you can find the most powerful ones. Our field agents sure could use them!
(Skill Check: Arcana, Crafting, Gladiatorial Lore, or Warfare Lore) Major Discovery!
7. Scrolls and such. We sure did find lots of scrolls! Thought I saw some wands in there, too. Might be something useful for the Society’s spellcasters in there.
(Skill Check: Arcana, Nature, Occultism, or Religion) 1 Discovery Made; Mistaken Discovery!
|
|
Ysoldt finishes with the cleaning and bandaging. She keeps a wary eye out on the mimic in the room as she packs her belongings back into the kit.
"I thought you ate pilferers like us. Or are you just not hungry now?" she directs her question at the creature, seemingly a little perturbed.
She starts rummaging through the pile nearby but seems distrustful of the creature and keeps looking in the mimic's direction. Which seems to distract her search.
|
|
Ysoldt rummages around and comes up empty handed while Nilaglade finds the skull to be quiet as it contemplates another bone-headed move. Lokaloka climbs the precarious shelving and nothing more than the demonic horned mask from earlier.
Rose slips on a shelf and skins her shin. Biglock shouts, “It’s too late! She’s here! This is bad!”
The shard, hovering near the amassed treasures, twists and warps, taking on the familiar form of Aslynn and her cauldron. “Your plan to kill me? So brave, so bold. And yet, it matters not. Behold!” She plunges an oozing claw into the pile and brandishes a jeweled chalice. “Boundless wonder called to me. And I respond with nightmares three! Three children of my last thirteen shall join me in an endless dream. A realm where you shall vex me not—a realm where you shall be forgot! Destroy me here, but at what cost? You fight in vain, for all is lost!”
Cackling with glee, Aslynn watches as the chalice brims with swirling magical liquid. She inhales deeply, then empties the chalice into her cauldron. A fuming creature boils forth, and Aslynn commands, “Kill the Pathfinders! And should they survive, let this be the first of their boundless nightmares!”
The smelly, twisted creatures emerging from her cauldron vaguely resembles a large skunk.
The Shard of Aslynn sends a dark sickly ray from her hand at Ysoldt.
──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Shard of Aslynn
➤ Rose
➤ Niaglade
➤ Lokaloka
Giant Skunk
Ysoldt
|
|
Rose rushes down the stairs, hiding around the corner as she sends a bullet into the Shard of Aslynn's side. The shot seems to catch Aslynn off guard as it has devastating effects.
Nilaglade is ready this time and begins to turn the skunk inot a pincushion. Lokaloka summons forth a floating skeletal head. Its teeth quietly chatter as it circles about.
The giant skint skitters towards Ysoldt, turns and sends a noxious mist into her.
──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Shard of Aslynn
Rose
Niaglade
Lokaloka
Giant Skunk
➤ Ysoldt
|
|
Hurting but not out of the game yet Ysoldt sticks the skunk through the ribs, killing it. The Shard of Aslynn raises a hand, sending a wave of jet black missiles into Ysoldt. "You will come to regret it."
──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Shard of Aslynn
➤ Rose
➤ Niaglade
➤ Lokaloka
➤ Ysoldt
Deroff whimpers as Lokaloka's companion goes poof. Nilaglade strokes his furry head. "Don't worry, I'd never tell you to do that, boy. My niece would be so upset!"
|
|
Nilaglade fires off a couple arrows at Aslynn and miss as Lokaloka sends a shrunken head in towards here that explodes!
The image of Aslynn melts away, silently screaming curses as it does so.
Zarta Dralneen rushes into the vault along with Society leaders Ambrus Valsin, Eando Kline, Eliza Petulengro, Fola Barun, and Calisro Benarry. They look ready to fight, and they’re quite impressed by the Pathfinders’ handling of the situation.
"Well, what's been going on here?" Zarta asks.
|
|
"...and make some new friends, I see," adds Zarta, looking at Biglock and Mr. Glovely.
Zarta turns the chalice over multiple times, trying to see if she can get any of the magic liquid to appear. When everyone has finally been debriefed, she says, “Well, I’m still not sure what this is, but all your reports are consistent. It’s obviously a central piece of Aslynn’s plan. In a way, it’s a good thing that shard of her mind infiltrated our vaults, as it’s allowed us to understand a few things we might have otherwise missed! I wish we could’ve learned about this without putting your lives in danger, and for that, I apologize. I hope you’re ready for more adventures. We’ve just scratched the surface of the vault’s contents, and we need to act fast to learn more about some of these items. One thing is certain: we can’t leave everything here and wait around for Aslynn to strike again.”
The faction leaders quickly fall into a heated discussion over the best approach to the items—it’s clear that they don’t see eye to eye, but they all agree that they’ll need to work together for the sake of the Society’s future!
While the Society’s leaders argue, Biglock gives a smug grin to the Pathfinders. “Nice work. Hey—Zarta is pretty great. She says Mr. Glovely and I don’t have to stick around this dusty vault! Don’t worry, though. We’ll be in touch. I’ve got a few schemes in mind. When I’m done making arrangements, Mr. Glovely will come calling!"
|
Deroff enjoys many pickles as the grownups talk and talk and talk.
Nilaglade spends his time chatting and checking his aim. "This skull is quite a talker, ain't it?"
He keeps a straight face when Biglock gives a big grin. "Best of luck to you Biglock. Mr. Glovely, good to see you. Try not to trick too many adventurers, alright?"