"Ha, you're right. That does sound pretty strange," Gig admits. "Let me take a step back. We're looking for a drathnelar named Jirelga; she has information we need about certain dangers in the Darklands."
Tuom's scowl deepens. "Ah. Well, I've got nothing to say about that. I've got work to do. Leave me be!"
"We'd be happy to be out of your hair, but we know that Jirelga was seen in this location, and we'd be happy to...ugh...leave your to your own devices," Gig negotiates. "If you can't help us, we'll have to poke around, and who knows what will find if we do that!"
"Yiri would probably be interested to learn she is still in Highhelm," Brijetta points out to her forge spirits, or perhaps to Gig and Tuom.
Tuom curses as she hefts her hammer. "I will not let you spoil everything I am working towards here," she growls menacingly.
Uhe coughs!
This is quite a sudden turn of conversation.
The Investigator begins to size her up!
Uhe frowns at any of his combat ideas. The dwarf waggles his finger at her before He decides to attempt to Trip the boisterous blow hard!
All of Uhe's efforts fail! Tuom casts a spell and hurls a fireball into your midst! It explodes with a big boom! The tattoo on the smith's arm glows and begins to move slightly, preparing to interpose itself between any attack heading Tuom's way.
Gig chokes out a puff of smoke and starts performing. He waves a hand at the smith's tools and they jump up and batter at the hostile dwarf.
Uhe screams!
The flexible dwarf evades some of the fire surrounding them, although it does look like his pants are on fire.
Barely even felt a thing....
The Investigator then gives her the eye stare!
There appears to be soot in his eye.
Uhe decides to attempt his Trip maneuver!
The deflated dwarf pathetically attempts to...not weep at his continued ineptitude.
Uhe closes both eyes!
Mal gets knocked tusks over teakettle by the fiery blast, but then just springs up, and hops forward among the quench barrels to give Tuom a vicious tongue-lashing!
HP 51/60
AC 20
Fort +120, Ref +10, Will +9
Hero points: 3
Infused regents: 4
Thermal nimbus: fire resistance 4 in kinetic aura (10-foot emanation); enemies take 2 fire damage
Effects:
"Oh," Brijetta squeaks, but she's used to the forge's fire, and the blast barely hurts her. Instead, she pulls the heat from the air, wrapping it around herself as the forge spirits come to her call.
"Serving Droskar didn't get us anywhere," she criticizes her fellow dwarf's craftsmanship, not that it's really even worthy of that phrase.
Tuom easily dodges Mal's sticky tongue. She ducks Brijetta's fire blast and is only lightly grazed by the shard blast and Gig's animated assault. Strangely, she doesn't seem to take as much damage from the effects, but the tattoo on her arm seems to shrink slightly. She easily sidesteps Uhe's whip and moves in with a smirk. "You're in for a shock!" she declares as she reaches for the investigator, lightning crackling on her fingertips.
The smell of ozone and burnt hair rises from Uhe's smoking form! The tattoo on Tuom's arm lashes out, its ink sharpening into a blade to slice Uhe!
AC 20
Fort +120, Ref +10, Will +9
Hero points: 3
Infused regents: 4
Thermal nimbus: fire resistance 4 in kinetic aura (10-foot emanation); enemies take 2 fire damage
Effects:
"Stop, we don't want to fight!" Brijetta cries, though her actions don't match her words as she continues to defend herself and her friends.
She moves around behind her and lashes out with a long metal blade.
Gig continues performing, letting his animated assault drop so that he can sooth Uhe's wounds.
Mal hops forward and tackles the terrifying blacksmith, trying to keep her from slinging quite so many spells.
Uhe's blue eyes go a bit wide at the sudden attention given by Tuom!
That seems a bit forwarrrrrrrrrrrrrd!
Uhe is seen smoking a cigar with every hair straight at attention!
The shocked dwarf evades some of the sparks surrounding them, although it does look like his pants are on still on fire.
I fear that I can truly say thhaaaaat I Barely even felt a thing....
The Investigator then gives her the eye stare!
Uhe decides to attempt his Trip maneuver!
The hopeful dwarf pathetically attempts to Strike her while prone!
[dice=Using DaS, prone, MAP Scorpion Whip]14 +10-5 ; 1d4+1d6]
Uhe closes both eyes!
Brijetta moves into melee, slicing Tuom with a metal blade. In response, the tattoo on her arm retaliates, slashing the kineticist with sharpened ink!
Uhe fails to trip Tuom, but Mal manages to grab a hold of her with her sharp jaws!
"Argh! Get off me!" Tuom curses, swinging her hammer at Mal. The weapon connects with devastating force, and the druid goes down! The tattoo slashes Brijetta again!
"We just wanted a chat!" Gig protests as he channels healing energy Mal's way.
HP 22/60
AC 20
Fort +120, Ref +10, Will +9
Hero points: 2
Infused regents: 4
Thermal nimbus: fire resistance 4 in kinetic aura (10-foot emanation); enemies take 2 fire damage
Effects:
"Ow! Mal!" Brijetta's eyes flash with a sudden, unaccustomed anger as she bleeds profusely. She channels her power, sending three metal bolts flashing toward Tuom the sparks and clangs rushing alongside the projectiles. One slams home in the evil dwarf's chest.
Mal ribbits dazedly, hauling herself back up behind a barrel and chomping loosely in the direction of the distressingly potent dwarf.
The Investigator gives her the eye stare!
Uhe decides to attempt his Trip maneuver!
The hopeful dwarf pathetically attempts to Strike her while prone!
Uhe begins to weep...
Neither Mal nor Uhe seem to be able to make headway in the fight, but Brijetta is holding her own. While Tuom dodges the kineticist's metal pinions, Brijetta scores a hit on the tattoo itself! The tattoo disperses into ink before reforming on a nearby diagram, removing its protections from Tuom.
Tuom whirls on Brijetta in anger, swinging her hammer!
HP 19/60
AC 20
Fort +120, Ref +10, Will +9
Hero points: 2
Infused regents: 4
Thermal nimbus: fire resistance 4 in kinetic aura (10-foot emanation); enemies take 2 fire damage
Effects:
Brijetta reels under the blow, blinking furiously as the sparks around her seem to multiply thanks to the stars in her eyes. Barely conscious, she retreats before summoning her forge spirits and blasting fire at Tuom again and again! Stil, as she struggles to maintain consciousness, she doesn't seem to put as much fire as usual behind the blows.
Gig continues to hang back, providing encouragement and healing.
Uhe races to Brjetta, waving his hands in the air....but it actually looks like he does cares!
The dwarf places a hand on her shoulders.
Don't let them Frightened you, Brjetta! Hold on for one more day...hold on...
The dwarven Investigator then suddenly breaks out in song!
While activating this Word of Faith !
Uhe winks at Brainiac and friends ....
Mal wraps her tongue around the burly dwarf's legs and hauls her to the ground, snapping her tusky jaws tight if she tries to escape after Brij again!
Tuom is unfazed by Brijetta's fire blasts, the smith resisting the damage from the flames. Mal manages to tug her off of her feet, however, and then bite down on her as she gets back to her feet.
Tuom switches her focus back to Mal, bashing the transformed druid with her hammer.
Uhe breaths heavily. The dwarf turns his blue eyes to Tuom to properly study his next move....
A bit surprised by the tactical attack he has conjured, the Investigator Strides to within 10' of Tuom and Strikes!
The dwarf actually smiles...a bit.
Gig takes an opportunity to attack with a barrage of metal shards while still dispensing advice.
for
The sac in Mal's throat inflates and deflates raggedly as even the oaken resilience of her already thick skull begins to flag. Still she presses on, using her threat display to knock the vicious dwarf off balance again!
HP 43/60
AC 20
Fort +120, Ref +10, Will +9
Hero points: 2
Infused regents: 4
Thermal nimbus: fire resistance 4 in kinetic aura (10-foot emanation); enemies take 2 fire damage
Effects:
Brijetta frowns as she realizes Tuom is used to fire, just like her. She still can't quite figure out why they're fighting -- is Tuom that invested in her fakes -- but maybe metal will be more effective. She sprays shards at the other dwarf.
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Mal trips Tuom again but can't find a chink in her armor. Uhe whips her and Gig peppers her with needle darts. "Argh! Alright, alright, I yield!" the wounded smith shouts, dropping her hammer and raising her hands over her head.
"Are you ready to answer our questions? There was really no need for violence," Gig demands. "Where's Jirelga?"
Uhe just shakes his beard face in disgust.
Wat all that stupid fighting for! Someone could have been kilt!
"Where's Jirelga? In jail," Tuom grunts. She remains surly and uncooperative, but luckily a search of the workshop reveals more. The treasures here consist almost entirely of documents. Several dozen Clan Molgrade blueprints detail secret techniques for various crafts. Below those is a steel stamp that designates goods of Molgrade quality, used to imprint metalwork before its final quenching. Loose papers are sandwiched inside Tuom’s spellbook, including lists of potential smugglers, written correspondence from criminal contacts, and even several receipts from Baelim’s Broch for posting and redeeming bounties for some of the smugglers—evidence that Tuom and Baelim collaborated to use and then eliminate intermediaries like Jirelga.
The evidence here demonstrates a far larger plot by Tuom that overshadows Jirelga’s limited role as a smuggler. Between Clan Molgrade’s fury at the forgeries, the Blacknoon outrage at Tuom going rogue with unsanctioned schemes, and evidence of the Broch’s profiteering through the criminal justice system, you should be able to readily secure Jirelga's freedom.
Additionally, the strange animated tattoo willing goes wherever you want to take it. It seems to possess a spark of intelligence and has taken a liking to you!
UNIQUE CONJURATION INVESTED MAGICAL RELIC SHADOW TATTOO
Aspects forge, shadow
Usage tattoo
The geometric designs of this warding tattoo extend the length of your arm, resembling an armored sleeve. The crimson ink sometimes glows softly like warm coals when you’re excited or building something new.
Forming the Bond: Defeat Tuom Molgrade and befriend her tattoo guardian with Clan Molgrade’s blessing.
Advancing the Bond: Create extraordinary objects that earn renown. Protect innocents and your companions despite great personal risk.
Minor Gifts: create spark, obscure, shadow smith
Major Gifts: dancing shadow, elements of creation; dancing shadow Strikes use the relic’s spell attack modifier.
Gig tucks away the spellbook for further perusal and organizes all of the contraband to hand over to Clan Molgrade.
As he's paging through it, he notes, "Jirelga had a very limited roll here. We should talk to Baelim at the prison before we turn things over to the Clan."
Brijetta nods. Despite her own uncle's similar style of conduct in Alkenstar, she's still a little shocked to see this type of corruption in Highhelm.
Uhe picks up the magical Warhammer with a bit of longing on his bearded face. The Investigator proceeds to inventory the bad Dwarf's stuff. He seems to purposefully display each item as if he were an auctioneer...
"Huh. I've had a lot of friends with tattoos, but I've never made friends with a tattoo before."
"I'm sure she can do it," Brijetta says in what might be encouragement if it were louder and directed to Mal instead of the spirits the young smith sees.
You confront Baelim with the evidence you procured, and it isn't long before Jirelga has been released from the prison. The deep gnome is grateful for the rescue. "Thanks, friends. You've done an awful lot of legwork to spring me from the joint. Let's go somewhere to talk."
***
Part 2: Cult of the Cave Worm
Chapter 1: Candlestone Cult
Over several rounds of drinks, Jirelga tells you what she knows. It was she who discovered King Taargick's clan dagger after Krohan lost it in the Darklands. While foraging in the depths, she found the beautiful blade and brought it to her sister, Thenur, an accomplished artificer who coveted the dagger’s pommel jewel. Jirelga kept the dagger, and Thenur kept the gem, believing she could transform it into a soul focus to power one of her magical constructs.
Too soon, she discovered that she was right—but breaking the blade awoke the slumbering worm Zogototaru, better known in the region as the Avernal Worm. The enraged Avernal Worm tunneled toward the umbral gnome settlement seeking retribution, crushing buildings in her rampage and killing most of the inhabitants. Thenur was among them, her soul becoming trapped in the clan dagger’s jewel while the dagger itself was lost again, buried beneath the rubble.
Jirelga fared better, being swallowed whole before Zogototaru felt her painful rage subside and tunneled back the way she came. Luck was on Jirelga’s side; lodged within the cave worm’s stomach was a shard of Taargick’s ancient armor, swallowed millennia ago. Jirelga tore it free, used the sharp edge to cut her way out of the Avernal Worm, and spilled out into an unfamiliar tunnel. Before she eventually found her way to Highhelm to begin a new life, she sold the adamantine armor shard to a surface-bound merchant, neither aware of its true origin.
Jirelga has listened for cave worm rumors ever since. That same rampage that destroyed her village drew the Avernal Worm to the Court of Ether, a city of evil fey built among stalactites. Though its ruler, the imperious nymph Queen Frilogarma, eventually chased Zogototaru off, inhabitants marveled at the beast’s strength. Never in recent memory had any force seriously challenged the untouchable ruler, and as a result dissidents began questioning Frilogarma’s hegemony and even revering the cave worm as a divine liberator. Years of infighting and failed coups eventually drove the cult into hiding. It’s now just local trivia-dangerous trivia that few dare mention aloud. Jirelga heard about the cult, though she’s not dared infiltrate the unfriendly city alone.
"The Court of Ether is a two-week journey from here," Jirelga says as she finishes off her latest round. "I can take you there, if you're willing to make the trip."
Day got un frickin Cave...Worm!
Uhe sighs.
Best be git'n new underwear.
"The Court of Ether?! I've never heard aything good about it. Do you think it will be safe for us to visit?" Gig gulps.
"I doubt it," Jirelga says. "Fey are notoriously tricksy creatures, and those in the Court of Ether are cruel and sadistic to boot. You'd do well to be prepared for a fight. Cold iron weapons are effective against them, though most fey will react unkindly to those openly wielding such weapons.
"I suggest you prepare for the journey by purchasing lightweight, flexible armor and small thrusting weapons for use in the many narrow tunnels, enough food for the trip, water for three days, rope, climbing gear, antitoxin in case of attack by venomous creatures, and lots of healing resources. The Darklands coddle nobody. It's likely we might come across threats that we'd be better off fleeing from rather than trying to fight."
Brijetta frowns, not sure she's suited for the Darklands ... but also not wanting to leave her new friends. They seem to care for her, and that's unusual in her life.
"Thank you for that excellent advice. I'll stock up before we go!"
Gig goes poking around the markets of Highhelm and buys a small chunk of cold iron. "Not much of a weapon, but good enough for a little spellwork."
"Just wish Crick was still with us. No one better in the deeps."
Once you are prepared, Jirelga leads you into a twisting network of narrow tunnels that snake downwards beneath Highhelm. After leaving Highhelm, the days quickly settle into a routine of silent marching through the dark, punctuated by occasional detours or stealthy retreats from dangers that Jirelga detects. Camp food is cold, since fire would attract too much attention, and bedding and clothing are often damp from the ceaseless dripping of water from the walls and ceilings of most caverns.
With Jirelga as your guide, you make good time. However, 10 days into the journey, you enter a morlock colony’s territory that wasn’t here when Jirelga last used this route. By the time she realizes this, you are too deep into the territory to backtrack safely. Jirelga urges caution and quiet, hoping that you can sneak through without incident.
Her plan mostly works. However, the morlocks eventually catch wise to your presence. You can hear their hissing and snarling in the distance as they begin to pursue you! Jiregla curses under her breath. "Let's move! We have to stay ahead of them so we don't get overwhelmed!"
MORLOCK SCOUTS
Threshold 4; Overcome DC 18 Stealth, DC 20 Athletics, DC 22 Deception
Jirelga realizes a morlock patrol is nearby. She shepherds you through a jagged detour, hoping to avoid notice long enough to get a head start on pursuers.
Gig casts ghost sound, and sends his magic down side passages, hoping to distract the scouts.
"Oh no," Brijetta cries quietly as she begins to rush through the caves.
Enough time being mocked as a strange child means she's exceedingly good at avoiding notice, however, a trait that serves her well here.