"How goes our efforts to remove Baron Astor?" Henrika asks, apropos of nothing, as she enters the manor and seats herself again in one of the large, overstuffed chairs.
Oaca replies, ”Things go well, Master Jeroth. Here, this is a map of the fortress. We are still working on the routes and positions of the guards but we will have more to add in the coming weeks.”
"Oh, you remember these good-looking ruffians, of course? I apologize for darkening my door with their faces again, but I need them to visit our friends at the Seven Forms of Sin. Dear Oaca, would you mind terribly showing them to the tunnel before you and I catch up on business?"
”Yes, of course. Please follow me.” Oaca leads the group to the basement, briefly stopping in the kitchen along the way to grab a whole chicken.
9. Basement
The kitchen stairs end in an unfinished basement stacked with dusty crates and broken furniture. A chest devoid of dust rests in an alcove by the stairs. The room is noticeably warmer than the kitchen above.
Oaca ignores the chest and takes out a key which he sticks in a barely noticeable indent in the wall, unlocking a hidden door. The door opens to a large tropical enclosure and it becomes apparent that the heat you felt in the basement is radiating from this area.
10. Enclosure
A tropical jungle fills this large room, complete with thick plants, loamy soil, and a large pool. The stone walls are painted to appear as more jungle. Strange, white pebbles are scattered across the soil.
Laying in the pool is the largest snake you’ve ever seen. A gargantuan anaconda basks in the room’s warmth. Upon a closer look, the strange white pebbles on the floor are the ground and crushes shards of bones of the snake’s previous meals. The snake raises its head slightly when the group enters and Oaca throws the chicken to the snake which catches the meal in its mouth.
”Down, Falak. It’s just Master Jeroth and I.” says Oaca. Oaca walks past the snake and starts walking towards another down at the far end of the room.
However, when Henrika tries to pass, the anaconda, Falak, leans its head in close sniffing her with flaring nostrils. Then it rears back in surprise and before anyone can react, it strikes.
Surprise Round
Falak grabs Henrika in its fangs and then pulls her in close, wrapping its immense body around her and squeezing the life out of her.
Oaca spins around and his jaw hits the ground. He stands stunned while he tries to make sense of what happened.
Round 1
Initiative
27 – Henrika (22/93 hp) (Grappled)
17 – Tychus (97/79 hp)
17 – Oaca
15 – Icabhod (93/75 hp)
09 – Falak (Grappling)
08 – Xallis (101/83 hp)
02 – Trevor (97/79 hp)
Active Spells/Effects
Henrika: ▲Glibness (95 min), ▲Heroism (95 min), ▲Message (95 min), ▲Hermean Potential (1 roll, 5 min), ▲Fearsome Guise
Icabhod: ▲Blessing of Cayden Cailean (18 hp, 5 days), ▲Heroism (95 min)
Trevor: ▲Blessing of Cayden Cailean (18 hp, 5 days)
Tychus: ▲Blessing of Cayden Cailean (18 hp, 5 days), ▲Fearsome Guise
Xallis: ▲Blessing of Cayden Cailean (18 hp, 5 days), ▲Heroism (95 min), ▲Fearsome Guise
Henrika, Tychus, and Icabhod go. Oaca is going to miss his first turn because it is confused and doesn’t understand why the snake attacked Milon Jeroth.
Lore on Falak the anaconda
•This is a giant anaconda.
•A giant anaconda’s type is animal.
•Of the multitude of slithering predators that infest jungles, forests, and swamps, few inspire such terror as the giant anaconda. Incredibly strong, fearless hunters, these creatures are capable of taking down and eating elephants, dinosaurs, and giants. Their olive green and black mottled scales afford them exceptional camouflage in the murky waters they call home.
Henrika gasps and struggles but desperately tries to maintain her disguise. "No! Falak! No! It's me! It's me!" She suspects it's no use trying to convince the snake, so she turns to the rakshasa. "Oaca!" she calls desperately, "Falak's been enchanted! Help me put the damned creature down, urgh!" She spins her head to take in the others. "Don't just stand there you fools, help him! I can raise it-- ahurgh-- I can raise it later!"
Icabhod steps south and slashes at the snakes
Tychus pops out his crossbow and readies it for combat. His aim sways around as he tries to take a shot that doesn't endanger Henrika.
Round 1
”But how?” Oaca curses but he turns to face the snake.
Tychus scores a critical hit, strikes the anaconda right in one of its bulbous eyes. The snake flails its head wildly in the air in pain.
Then Icabhod steps in and starts stabbing at the snake’s body, puncturing two holes that ooze crimson blood. The giant anaconda shudders then falls limp. Its grip around Henrika loosens and she can escape. Falak dies.
Combat Over
Oaca rushes over to Henrika to help her up. ”I apologize master. Falak has never done that before. I have no idea why he would behave that way.”
Henrika stands still for several moments, her mind racing to come up with a way to cover what just happened. She is shaking inside, her brush with mortality affecting her on a deep level, but she appears unflappable regardless. Then she turns toward Oaca, all bravado and bluster, as Milon behaved in the coffee house. "I will determine how this betrayal happened. But mark my words: this was an assassination attempt. An enemy has infiltrated my sanctum! And Oaca, it must be noted, you did nothing when Falak turned on me. If not for the quick thinking of Zenobius and Snabjorn, I would be dead."
She stares menacingly at Oaca for several more moments until he looks uncomfortable, then relents. "But let us assume that you were not responsible, Oaca. After all, you had no advance notice that I would be coming through here." She looks around at Xallis, Icabhod, Tychus, and Trevor. "I think your actions during the attack exonerate two of you. I am not ungrateful. As for you, Procleto, and you Toni, I cannot see how either of you could have prepared this trap. I did not see you casting any spells and I do not think you could have gotten down here earlier without me or my agents knowing." She grits her teeth as if contemplating something awful. "But there is one here within the manor whom I know was aware of my plans: Joneius. Procleto met her in town and told her we intended to come through here during my next visit. She had warning and opportunity; she is the only one whom I think could have dominated and defiled my loyal creature in this way."
Turning abruptly, Henrika points at Icabhod. "Snabjorn! That mask you wear has the power to detect magical residue of spells cast, yes? Examine the snake's remains and tell me if there are any lingering signs of Enchantment magic present. If you can confirm that there is, then we will go and confront Joneius. Let us deal with her before we continue on our mission to the monastery. Yes? The rest of you, be ready. We must be prepared for the possibility that both Joneius and Chandar are compromised, since I think it is unlikely that only one of them would betray me. If it comes to a fight, remember that like me, they are both tough and devious. For this purpose, Toni, I will need to borrow one of your hateful holy weapons-- the spear I think. It makes my skin crawl, but your access to them is one of the reasons why I hired you in the first place."
Toni knelt before Henrika. "As you say, Master Jeroth."
Henrika takes the holy spear and places it and its scabbard on her back. "We must act without delay. Toni, won't you please use your magic to bring me back to full strength before we go?"
Toni looks around, trying to portray feeling exposed. "Master. Must we. Out in the open?!" The aasimar tries to look like reluctant acceptance, then touch something under his shirt and casts cure critical wounds on Jeroth.
Icabhod licks the snakes blood from his blade, hoping that it would not out of place. He then kneels down next to the snake and begins eexamining it.
hrzz hmmm huh... hmmmmm. He then looks at Henrika. I am detecting the now unraveling presence of a dominating enchantment.
Oaca looks shocked. ”O-of course I was not responsible. I am your most trusted ally. You know that. I only didn’t act because these new allies of yours are more capable than they look and they slew Falak before I could properly respond. You think Joneius is behind this? Joneius isn’t capable of casting domination magic… But I trust your intuition. I will summon Joneius at once. Where should I bring her? Your interrogation room is still occupied. You told us not to kill our current guest, remember.”
Xallis bows slightly, bearing a grin. "That you'd even classify me as a potential threat to you is among the highest of complements, master. And the fact that you still allow me to live is a testament to my service."
Xallis considers what 'Milon' has planned. His eyes quickly glance over Oaca, and his hands in particular, and the summoner suppresses a sigh.
Henrika frowns. "If she is in my bedroom as usual, we will go and confront her there immediately. I do not want her to have any additional time to prepare. Once she realizes her attempt failed, she will try to wriggle out of the net. We must ensure that she cannot escape. I will attempt to read her thoughts when she first sees that I am unscathed; perhaps by doing so I will learn more about who she is working with."
”Of course, master. Joneius should be there. I will leave you to it.” Oaca remains downstairs while you go up to the bedroom.
In the bedroom, Joneius and Chandar are lounging on the bed as usual. When it becomes clear that you are here for Joneius, Chandar makes a hasty retreat into an adjacent room. (Unless you stop her from doing so.)
Joneius crosses her arms. ”What is this about, Jeroth? I have done nothing but follow your orders.”
Henrika pauses before entering, so that everyone can cast spells if they wish. After Chandar leaves, she glares at Joneius, placing the rakshasa under her hypnotic stare. "You can drop the act, Joneius. I know everything! All I want to know is who put you up to it. Yes, your thoughts betray you! You are consumed with fear and guilt because of your secret alliance with... Baron Astor? Really?" She does her best to look disappointed and disgusted. "You know what must happen next. Farewell." She draws the holy spear and prepares to attack.
Icabhod drinks his Shield and Barksin extracts since things are about to go pear shaped.
Joneius gives Xallis a death stare. ”What did he say to you? I didn’t betray you. That new ally of yours must have!”
Xallis feels Joneius in his mind, reading his thoughts, learning his identity. She points at him accusatorily. ”I-I just read his mind. He’s an imposter. But…you aren’t reading my thoughts. I would feel it. You must be an imposter too! I won’t go down without a fight!”
Round 1
Initiative
24 – Icabhod (93/75 hp)
22 – Tychus (97/79 hp)
19 – Joneius
10 – Henrika (93/93 hp)
05 – Xallis (101/83 hp)
04 – Trevor (97/79 hp)
Active Spells/Effects
Henrika: ▲Glibness (90 min), ▲Heroism (90 min), ▲Message (90 min), ▲Fearsome Guise
Icabhod: ▲Blessing of Cayden Cailean (18 hp, 5 days), ▲Barkskin (+4, 100 min), ▲Heroism (90 min), ▲Shield (10 min)
Trevor: ▲Blessing of Cayden Cailean (18 hp, 5 days)
Tychus: ▲Blessing of Cayden Cailean (18 hp, 5 days), ▲Fearsome Guise
Xallis: ▲Blessing of Cayden Cailean (18 hp, 5 days), ▲Heroism (90 min), ▲Fearsome Guise
Icabhod and Tychus act first.
Icabhod applies an oil of Bless Weapon to his rapier.
Round 1
Tychus draws his crossbow, shaking his head in fake disappointment. He mutters a quick prayer under his breath, ready to take down the fiend.
Round 1
Joneius rolls over to the other side of the bed and fires a lightning bolt through Icabhod and Xallis. ”Die!”
Round 1
Initiative
10 – Henrika (93/93 hp)
05 – Xallis (88/83 hp)
04 – Trevor (97/79 hp)
Round 2
Initiative
24 – Icabhod (66/75 hp)
22 – Tychus (97/79 hp)
19 – Joneius
Active Spells/Effects
Henrika: ▲Glibness (90 min), ▲Heroism (90 min), ▲Message (90 min), ▲Fearsome Guise
Icabhod: ▲Barkskin (+4, 100 min), ▲Heroism (90 min), ▲Shield (10 min), ▲Bless Weapon (1 min)
Trevor: ▲Blessing of Cayden Cailean (18 hp, 5 days)
Tychus: ▲Blessing of Cayden Cailean (18 hp, 5 days), ▲Align Weapon (5 min), ▲Fearsome Guise
Xallis: ▲Blessing of Cayden Cailean (5 hp, 5 days), ▲Heroism (90 min), ▲Fearsome Guise
Joneius: ▼Hypnotic Stare (-3 Will)
Everyone goes.
Round 1
Henrika strides forward and imperiously stabs at the rakshasa.
Round 1
Xallis weaves his magic to hasten his party. Better to finish this one quick. He may as well put some effort into their ruse just in case another bestial outsider is within earshot. "Say what you will, traitor, they'll be your last words!"
Round 1
Toni draws Godspike and rushes to stab the rakshasa.
Round 2
Opting not to add any comments of his own, Tychus instead leans into the quickening magic Xallis cast upon them to turn the rakshasa into a pincushion.
Round 1
Joneius bats away Henrika and Trevor’s blades with her hardened claws.
Round 2
Icabhod moves up to the enemy and strikes. Joneius flesh sizzles as if burned by the holy weapon.
Tychus unleashes on Joneius. With his good-aligned bolts, he pierces through her magical skin as if it were normal flesh. When he finally stops shooting, Joneius’ eyes roll up in her head and collapses forward onto the bed. Her crimson blood seeps into the fine bed sheets underneath her body.
Combat over
Afterwards, you see the other rakshasa, Chandar standing outside the bedroom door to the north staring hateful daggers at you but doesn’t say a word.
Hit Points
Henrika (93/93 hp)
Icabhod (66/75 hp)
Trevor (97/79 hp)
Tychus (97/79 hp)
Xallis (88/83 hp)
Active Spells/Effects
Henrika: ▲Glibness (90 min), ▲Heroism (90 min), ▲Message (90 min), ▲Haste (10 rd), ▲Fearsome Guise
Icabhod: ▲Barkskin (+4, 100 min), ▲Heroism (90 min), ▲Shield (10 min), ▲Bless Weapon (10 rd), ▲Haste (9 rd)
Trevor: ▲Blessing of Cayden Cailean (18 hp, 5 days), ▲Haste (9 rd)
Tychus: ▲Blessing of Cayden Cailean (18 hp, 5 days), ▲Align Weapon (5 min), ▲Haste (9 rd), ▲Dignity’s Barb Crit. (3, 19-20), ▲Fearsome Guise
Xallis: ▲Blessing of Cayden Cailean (5 hp, 5 days), ▲Heroism (90 min), ▲Haste (9 rd), ▲Fearsome Guise
Joneius: ▼Hypnotic Stare (-3 Will)
Henrika searches the fallen rakshasa's body, ostensibly looking for clues about her betrayal. When they depart, she meets Chandar's gaze and does not flinch. "Joneius's actions have endangered us all," she says simply. "I hope you were not involved in her plot to assassinate me. Fortunately her thoughts were not of you as she died, for I will have need of your talents now more than ever."
She returns to the sitting room to inform Oaca what has transpired. "It is confirmed that Joneius was behind the attempt on my life. I believe she used a scroll to dominate Falak, but I cannot be sure. Based on her thoughts when I confronted her, I believe she had an arrangement of some kind with Baron Astor, though I do not know if she informed him of our intentions. We must accelerate our plans to remove him before he can plant another agent among us. I advise you to watch Chandar carefully-- she and Joneius were close, and desire for revenge might lead her to seek out our enemies in a similar fashion."
She shakes her head. "It infuriates me, but what else is to be done? I must escort our new allies to the Monastery of the Seven Sins. However, in light of these revelations, it occurs to me that since we have another worm still wriggling on our hook, we should check on our prisoner in the interrogation room and see if we can obtain any new information before we go."
”I never trusted Joneius. She should have known any attempt against you would fail. If you believe the Baron is on to us, we can accelerate our plans as you say. I will go personally. The next time you return, the deed will be done.”
”Of course you can check on the prisoner. He is in the same condition as you left him, just as you instructed.”
Oaca takes you to the locked door in the hallway to the right of the living room. He unlocks the door and pushes it open to let you in. Then he moves away to another room.
The walls and stone floor of this room are marred with dark stains from various body fluids. The only furniture in the room is a simple wooden chair. Bound to the chair is a man who is clearly starved, beaten, and covered in shallow cuts. He looks like the Lion Blade Gannaius based on the disguise Milon Jeroth used when he first met you.
Gannaius lifts his head slightly. Having been left in darkness, he squints his eyes against the light from the hallway. He begs, ”No! No more! Please cease your cruelty. Please let me go or simply kill me. I’ve told you everything I know.”
Henrika shakes her head, still surprised at the cruelty of the evil creature she is impersonating, despite everything she knows about him.
"It's Gannaius!" she whispers through her message spell to the others in her party. "Though it is complicated, I feel we must rescue him. Do you agree? If so, perhaps we can use magic to transport him out of here? I cannot cast such a spell myself, but I believe Sir Xallis can. What do you think, my friend?"
To occupy the time while they discuss the situation in almost imperceptible whispers, she slowly speaks to the prisoner. "I know, Gannaius," she says soothingly. "You are clearly of no further use to me here in Zimar. But rather than torture you further or kill you, I have decided that you should carry a message from me to the Lion Blades through your former contacts in Oppara. Tell Kathann that their mission has failed, and that I know everything. Their misguided attempt to infiltrate my forces has brought me the new allies you see here, and together we will ensure that my willing puppet, The High Strategos Maxillar Pythareus, will bring about the ruin of Taldor. They must cease all operations and cede control of the city to me. To thank you for your help in luring them here, I am happy to treat you as my agent in this. And I do not worry that you will betray me, for I do not believe you have anywhere else to go."
She begins to untie Gannaius. "I will even pay for your passage out of the city," she chuckles. "Here: take this pouch with a hundred gold-- much higher than the going postal rate, I know, but it includes a generous tip for your 'loyal' service. You will need to find some appropriate clothing as well as something to eat so you do not collapse before you finish your journey. I suggest you return to your old warehouse to recover before you set off. My agents here will help you escape if you should encounter any trouble with the sentinels or templars." She glares at the man, hating that she must maintain this ruse in case any of the fiends are listening. "But I warn you, Gannaius: I will be watching you. If you attempt to talk to anyone besides the people that are in this room, I will know about it. You are living on borrowed time that I have bought from you, and so you owe me your life. Do not think that you can outwit me, for you do not know anything about me. I am inside your head."
Gannaius expression turns to confusion. "You are just going to let me go? No. It's another trick isn't it?"
Henrika successfully passes the message to Gannaius who seems to understand but remains wary. He grabs the money from Henrika and whispers. "If you aren't enemies, I will wait at the warehouse until morning. But then I'm leaving this accursed city and never returning."
Xallis uses dimension door to teleport Gannaius out of the building.
When you leave the interrogation room, Oaca comes by to lock the door again for you and sees that it is empty. ”Are you sure that was wise, master? He knows too much. Or are we planning a hunt tonight? It has been a while since our last one. I suppose you are going to continue back through the undercity now. Don’t worry. I will clean up the messes here by the time you come back.”
You return back to basement. Without Oaca with you, you can check the prominent treasure chest in the room.
Tychus points out some notches in the opposite wall where a hail of arrows trap would trigger if the chest is disturbed. Icabhod finds the triggering mechanism on the chest’s lid and safety disarms it. The lock on the chest, however, is another matter. The quality of the lock is extremely good and it takes Icabhod several tries over the course of a minute to finally disable the lock and open the chest.
Inside the chest you find a pile of 4,929 gold coins and a magical flask inside. Disappointingly, with Icabhod’s Appraise skill, he discerns that the coins are actually just copper coins painted gold. Still, if you remove the coins, you find a magical scimitar buried underneath the coins at the bottom of the chest.
Xallis identifies the flask as an iron flask. However, no one is able to determine the properties of the scimitar without further study.
From there, you continue on.
11. Secret Sinkhole
This room is an empty old sinkhole Milon discovered while attempting to tunnel from his basement to the undercity. The rocky floor is largely backfill extracted while creating Falak’s enclosure. This part of the basement is no longer illuminated and you will need to provide your own light to see. The tunnel continues on further to the west.
12. Crusader Crypt
Twenty‑six human‑sized niches run the perimeter of this dark, sandstone chamber in thirteen stacked pairs, between defaced carvings of the sun and a winged, feminine form. Nineteen forms wrapped in muslin cloth sit quietly, largely faded and covered in dust, but one is wrapped in colorful fabric and less dusty than the others. A double door seals the passage to the west.
Three spectral paladins rise from the graves and stand before you. When they see Henrika, as Milon Jeroth, among the group, they bow and step aside. ”Master, you are free to pass.”
•These ghostly paladins are fallen.
•A fallen’s type is undead (incorporeal).
•When a righteous crusader is denied the path to the afterlife in death, its spirit can rise as one of the fallen—undead driven to enact a crusade against all life in a frustrated corruption of their beliefs. The undead creature’s fall in battle remains the greatest disappointment vexing its soul. Driven by hatred and shame, the fallen wander battlefields and wildlands in constant search of someone to end their misery by performing last rites.
•A fallen is resistant to acid and fire.
•A fallen has light sensitivity.
•A creature that takes damage from a fallen’s attacks must succeed at a Will save or take a penalty on saving throws against fear. If a creature that has immunity to fear fails this saving throw, its immunity is temporarily suppressed. This effect lasts as long as a creature still has damage taken from a fallen’s attacks.
•A fallen can curse a good-aligned cleric, paladin, or warpriest whose deity is opposed to the creation of undead to locate the fallen’s remains and perform a funeral for it.
•A fallen is tied to the place where it died. A fallen is permanently destroyed and its soul is released when funeral rites are performed at the site where it perished or over its earthly remains. Otherwise, a fallen reforms a few days after its destruction at the site where it first died.
•All of a fallen’s attacks deal additional negative energy damage to living targets.
•Its spell-like abilities include: deeper darkness and telekinesis.
•Fallen speak Common.
•Immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms).
•Immunity to bleed, death effects, disease, paralysis, poison, sleep effects, and stunning.
•Not subject to nonlethal damage, ability drain, or energy drain. Immune to damage to its physical ability
scores (Constitution, Dexterity, and Strength), as well as to exhaustion and fatigue effects.
•Immunity to any effect that requires a Fortitude save (unless the effect also works on objects or is
harmless).
•An incorporeal creature is immune to critical hits and precision-based damage (such as sneak attack damage) unless the attacks are made using a weapon with the ghost touch special weapon quality.
•An incorporeal creature has no physical body. It can be harmed only by other incorporeal creatures, magic weapons or creatures that strike as magic weapons, and spells, spell-like abilities, or supernatural abilities. It is immune to all nonmagical attack forms. Even when hit by spells or magic weapons, it takes only half damage from a corporeal source (except for channel energy). Although it is not a magical attack, holy water can affect incorporeal undead. Corporeal spells and effects that do not cause damage only have a 50% chance of affecting an incorporeal creature. Force spells and effects, such as from a magic missile, affect an incorporeal creature normally.
Now out of sight from the rakshasas, Tychus takes his holy symbol of Abadar from within his clothes and casts Light upon it.
He stops dead in his tracks as the spectral warriors rise to block their path. His breath gets caught in his throat as the crucial seconds pass by agonizingly slow. He lets out a deep sigh of relief as they let the group pass.
This is odd...
Henrika tries desperately to avoid shaking with fear as she realizes what they have discovered. The best she can do is nod curtly and continue past them at a steady pace, for she doesn't trust her voice not to shake and give away her disguise. She moves across the room with her head resolutely set, and with darting eyes she quickly examines the area for anything that looks like a latch or trap, to ensure she doesn't look a fool as she tries to open the door.
When Xallis sends Gannaius on his way the summoner also uses his 3rd level scroll of mount to ensure that he has a means of getting around swiftly. Upon his return, he gives Henrika a nod of approval. "We should probably ensure he won't reach his destination unannounced, yes?"
[dice=Bluff for secret message "Casting Sending to our contact]1d20+18[/dice]
When Xallis identifies the Iron Flask, his eyes go wide. The possibilities of what might be in there race through his mind, and the potential power frightens him slightly. Nevermind its monetary value.
So strong is his fascination with this particular item that it takes the ghostly paladins to shake him out of it. He wonders what happened to these poor souls, and what might be used to possibly free them, but he doesn't bother asking for fear of breaking character.
Toni's mouth dries up, when staring at the undead paladins. "Yes.." [cough] "Um, Master Jeroth. Let us leave."
The cleric silently thanks Cayden for not flashing his holy symbol just now.
Casting Sending to our contact
Kathann replies, ”Good work. Gainaius is resourceful. As long as he escapes Zimar, he should be fine. I will speak with him if he returns to Oppara.”
Does he know the command word? Possibly what's in it?
Henrika checks the large double doors. They are not trapped and push open with a little effect. Beyond are the undercity tunnels. These old tunnels weave in and out of old city ruins now long buried, and make up a part of the city’s sewer system. Milon and many of his agents use the tunnels to come and go unseen, and most notable is the well‑trodden path leading to the secret Monastery of the Seven Forms of Sin, a half mile away.
The spirits do not hinder you and following the path is easy. Soon you arrive. New map.
1. Sewer Tunnel
A four‑foot-wide stream of stinking effluent flows through a deep channel in this ten‑foot‑wide tunnel, leaving a one‑foot ledge to one side and a five‑foot‑wide walkway on the other. Side tunnels—one a hand‑carved tunnel and the other resulting from a collapsed wall—release more liquid from two tunnels leading north, while moldering water drips from the rough sandstone roof.
The sewage is 3 feet deep, and most likely disease-ridden.
When you get to the first side tunnel, dim-light just barely illuminates the room beyond.
2. Cesspool
A huge pool of burbling, semisolid sludge fills most of the collapsed basement, fed by water trickling in from broken pipes. A mildew‑coated chest sits in the northeast corner.
You can see a large serpentine creature rearing its head out of the filthy pool. This creature’s green scales are covered in a thick slime and instead of a snake’s head, it has a humanoid head resembling that of an old woman.
The creature beckons out to you. ”Light? Visitors? Have you come to see Squelch? Squelch knows many things. Come closer and we can talk.”
There is no walkway in the side tunnel. If you wish to transverse that way, you will need to enter the sewage or come up with a way to avoid it.
Monster Lore on Squelch
•This is a slime naga.
•A slime naga’s type is aberration.
•At home in the muck and filth of the sewers beneath large cities, slime nagas prey upon the weak and dejected of urban society. They lurk beneath the surface, and carve out their domains in the darkened tunnels, fighting with other subterranean denizens for territory. Though they live below-ground for security and safety, they have no aversion to light and occasionally sun themselves in rancid cesspools. Their scales range in color from green to brown, and are often a mottled combination of various shades that is difficult to discern beneath a thick coating of putrid slime.
A slime naga is resistant to acid.
A slime naga can control any ooze around it.
A slime naga’s bite inflicts poison.
A slime naga can spit a glob of goo at enemies.
A slime naga casts spells as a sorcerer.
Slime nagas speak Aklo, Common, and Undercommon.
Tychus wrinkles his nose as the stench gets worse. The slums in Oppara were bad, but this was a whole other level.
"Anyone have any ideas? Doesn't look like we can continue without getting a little wet..."
I can climb on walls with my boots, perhaps shuttling us past?
Henrika frowns. "I am guessing we do not go that way, since there is no walkway. Assuming that what Tychus remembers about the creature is correct, it sounds more like a predator than something inclined to be helpful. I do not think we should go closer. It may be that it will come to us, in which case we should be prepared for it to attack. Some of us may be able to jump or fly over the flow of sewage here."
Testing her thought, Henrika backs up and makes a running start to jump across.
Xallis considers. "Are we... going to move on, or take up the offer? Either way, I can make this easier for us."
"Just a moment, friend Squelch! I'm ensuring we can more easily cross this minor gap."
Xallis waves a hand dismissively and gives it simple orders in Aquan to ferry his friends one at a time across the gap. "Well, not the most elegant ride, and it will be a tight squeeze, but if anything can get through it should be a pure liquid being."
Henrika easily leaps the gap then Xallis summons an earth elemental to create a bridge for the rest of the group to walk over.
On the other side of the path, Henrika spots a trigger plate before she accidentally steps on it. Icabhod moves up to the front and disables the trap to make the pathway safe for everyone to traverse. While Icabhod is disabling the device, he can see that the trigger plate is connected to a number of concealed blades in both sides of the hallway.
Squelch beckons from his cesspool. ”Leaving so soon? Eventually you will need Squelch. Squelch will be here when you come back.” The naga remains in the room and does not follow you.
You walk down the tunnel to the other side entrance.
4. Cistern
Sturdy pillars support the arched ceiling twenty feet above the mirror‑blue waters of this quiet cistern. Doors exit to the north and east, while a gaping hole in the southern wall slopes down to the reeking sewer tunnels beyond.
Guarding this room are four men and women. However, these guards bear insectile features as if they are human-insect hybrids.
One of the guards says, ”Milon Jeroth. It has been awhile since you paid us a visit. Come with me and I will fetch Sister Dismaal.”
The guard leads you through the door to the north then into a large circular room.
7. Training Hall
Worn, red rugs crisscross this circular chamber, broken up by wooden pillars wrapped in heavy padding. A pair of weapon racks to the east hold a well‑used collection of unusual and deadly weapons.
Four human monks are training in this room, sparring with the various weapons. When they see you enter, they bow and step to the sides of the room.
The insect-hybrid goes to fetch Sister Dismaal and returns a minute later. Sister Dismaal is an elven female.
For your deception, Henrika needs to make a Disguise DC 32 and a Bluff DC 27. Everyone else needs to make one or the other.
The elf says, ”Master Jeroth, what good timing. We have two new students amongst our flock.” She gives Henrika a wicked grin. ”Before we get down to business, why don’t you demonstrate your prowess by utterly humiliating them.”
Two of the monks in the room step forward and stand before Henrika.
The summoenr crosses his arms and smirks. "Well, master, make sure not to kill them. A proper humiliation is an indulgence in its own right."
He then shoots Sister Dismaal a wink.
Henrika rolls her eyes. "Must we do this every time we meet?” she sighs. ”Very well, I suppose it is an opportunity to demonstrate the skills of my new allies. Also, I have obtained a new weapon that I am eager to test out." To punctuate her words, she draws Koriana’s blade.
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Sister Dismaal raises an eyebrow suspiciously at some of Milon’s allies but doesn’t say anything more about it.
She puts a hand on Henrika’s sword arm. ”No. You will fight unarmed and the fight will be nonlethal. I trust that won’t be a problem for someone as formidable as you. Spells are allowed as long as they are also nonlethal. And so that your agents aren’t bored, they can fight the two advanced students. The same rules apply. I will not intervene unless you break the rules.”
Round 1
Initiative
27 – Henrika (93/93 hp)
23 – Seven Forms of Sin Devotee (Red)
23 – Seven Forms of Sin Devotee (Blue)
22 – Icabhod (66/75 hp)
20 – Tychus (97/79 hp)
19 – Trevor (97/79 hp)
14 – Seven Forms of Sin Devotee (Yellow)
14 – Seven Forms of Sin Devotee (Orange)
07 – Xallis (88/83 hp)
Active Spells/Effects
Henrika: ▲Glibness (60 min), ▲Heroism (60 min), ▲Message (60 min), ▲Fearsome Guise
Icabhod: ▲Barkskin (+4, 70 min), ▲Heroism (60 min)
Trevor: ▲Blessing of Cayden Cailean (18 hp, 5 days)
Tychus: ▲Blessing of Cayden Cailean (18 hp, 5 days), ▲Dignity’s Barb Crit. (3, 19-20), ▲Fearsome Guise
Xallis: ▲Blessing of Cayden Cailean (5 hp, 5 days), ▲Heroism (60 min), ▲Fearsome Guise
Henrika starts
Henrika frowns. "A great deal of my legendary prowess is getting others to fight for me, as you well know." Then she allows a gleam to appear in her eye and she smiles fiendishly. "But perhaps that is still a viable strategy."
She gazes at her leftmost enemy with her hypnotic stare, and then suddenly lashes out to her right with a punch that does not seem designed to hit, but rather to startle and put them off-balance.
She steps back quickly after her distracting lunge and silently casts a confusion spell.