OH ho! There seems to be an overlooked book here in the broken remains of this desk
The Horn Level 1
Area 1 - 13 -- Clyde
As Clyde briefly peruses the book, he discovers that it is a journal from an acolyte named Brother Zander Trask.
Area 1 - 21 -- Elliaria
You see that the name plate does not detect as magic. Removing the plate, you find that it contains a safe!
Mephistopheles simply smiles as the group is granted a tour of places previously investigated. The Wizard does seem intrigued by the golem chamber. He places the Manual into his haversack before continuing the tour....
"Look at what we have here." she says, revealing the hidden safe. "So who has the nimblest fingers among you?"
Clyde will read through the found book
"Well I'll be damned. Definitely missed that the first time through," Grumblejack said with a wry, approving grin. "Lemme take a poke at it."
Grumble's scorched armor had a layered brigandine leather fauld that protected his groin and thighs. He untied a cord at his hip pulled it across to the opposite hip, and wound the cord around a button. The leather skirt unfolded with the cord, revealing a collection of tools sheathed into the fauld, like a craftman's apron.
He eyed the safe, pulled a couple tools free, tapped them against the inverted pentagram on his chest, and got to work.
The Horn Level 1
Grumble takes his time and manages to pick the tough safe lock. Hidden within is 55 platinum, the make of the coin is from a country whose symbols are unfamiliar to you. A ruby which appears quite valuable. Also contained within are a pair of manacles. Upon detection it is clear they are magical manacles of cooperation.
---
Clyde finds the journal is frankly rather dull and poorly written. Brother Trask was no great thinker and mostly it is a repetitive and boring record of the day to day drudgery of being a lowly acolyte of the temple. Three interesting items though do stand out.
1. Trask believed there to be something unusual about the south eastern pillar in the lower temple.
2. Trask knew by rumor that two powerful daemons named Hexor and Vexor guarded the upper levels. He didn’t know precisely where they were stationed, but he desperately wanted to get a look at them some day.
3. Trask had seen a priest (who thought no one was present) sit upon the throne and mysteriously vanish. He didn’t know where the priest went but thought it very interesting.
A diary! Hmm..Perhaps a magic throne that transports people to other places and guardian daemons of the upper areas.
Grumble gestured the other direction from where they'd turned to get to the fountain. "There's a throne over there. It's there's somethin' carved into it, but it ain't a word I know."
Mephistopheles simply waves along Clyde, as the suddenly dressed as a tour guide Tiefling shuffles the Chef towards the Throne Room.
Perhaps we can read it! Probably best to find out if it's still active. We wouldn't want wayward daemons parading about.
The devil then laughs.
Wasn't there a word etched on the throne? So speaking that word could transport the sitter to another place in the Horn.
Clyde glances at the wizard. Perhaps you would be able to enlighten us on the nature of daemons? Especially since we will no doubt be facing them.
She looks over the manacles. "An uppity commoner could resist this more often than not. Still, they are good quality steel. Anybody particularly want to carry them?"
As for the Throne, "I'm not much of a linguist. I expect if it were elven or infernal somebody would have already read it."
The Horn Level 1
Meph detects that the Throne is indeed magical, Conjuration magic, quite potent.
Clyde finds small script on the base of the throne, the word is "Yah".
Mephistopheles simply smiles at the throne.
The Wizard casts Detect Magic and he begins studying the throne for a minute.
Mephistopheles takes out his writing implements and begins translation methods...
The Horn Level 1
The language is Abyssal, based on the script but it's a gibberish word having no meaning on its own.
It's absolutely a Teleportation device, but to where it leads, you cannot say. You would wager that this word is the trigger word to bring someone to this location.
To get elsewhere, you would need to now those trigger words, if there is still a somewhere to go.
Mephistopheles nods in understanding.
An Abyssal script but gibberish. It denotes this particular location. Yes, Clyde it teleports. Probably want to set a guard station here
As the continue the tour, Meph gives Clyde a lecture on daemons.
Harbingers of ruin and embodiments of the worst ways to die, daemons epitomize painful death, the all-consuming hunger of evil, and the utter annihilation of life. While demons seek to pervert and destroy in endless unholy rampages, and devils vex and enslave in hopes of corrupting mortals, daemons seek only to consume mortal life itself. While some use brute force to despoil life or prey upon vulnerable souls, others wage campaigns of deceit to draw whole realms into ruin. With each life claimed and each atrocity meted out, daemons spread fear, mistrust, and despair, tarnishing the luster of existence and drawing the planes ever closer to their final, ultimate ruin.
The devil grins.
"Well, I for one am glad we figured this out early. I'd hate to be confronted with a fight from a side I did not know even existed" he nods towards the throne "Till we know the full extent, I agree, a guard or hidden eyes on the throne would be best"
The Horn Level 1
Havelyn nods to Malleck, "brian and I can set ourselves up on this level with a handful of the Boggard's to keep an eye on the Throne among other entrances in and out of this level".
My goodness, those daemons seem like they would be poor dinner guests. I do wonder if we are properly armed to fight them, I very much doubt we will be able to call upon blessed spells and weapons like heroes of old would.
The Horn Level 1
Brian chimes in, "Well Lord Clyde, remember that the idea is to align with them to accomplish the goals of Cardinal Thorn so in theory, they will be a problem for the Mitrans, not for us".
Mephistopheles laughs.
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"Oh, with some time I could learn some Holy magic." offers Elliaria. "The trick is that the deception has to go deep into the soul."
"But of course that won't be necessary. I'll tempt them with an alliance. I'll play up the common enemy, our mutual hate of Mitra. Working together gets us both what we want."
So, what area will we next be examining? Or perhaps we can meet the two guardians.
So, what area will we next be examining? Or perhaps we can meet the two guardians.
Havelyn sighs, "The Blue Ooze, let's get that over with".
Cavern Beneath the Horn
You wade into the cavern from the outside following Grumble's lead. This broad open cave is the only visible entrance to the lower caverns. The many stalactites, stalagmites, and columns of wet living stone resemble nothing so much as fangs contained inside a large loathsome grin. The cave is covered by countless pools of standing fetid water and ubiquitous slicks of mud that make the entire surface of the maw count as difficult terrain from the entrance to the dotted-line more than forty feet in.
Two sentries eye you warily as you pass through the cavern entrance but say nothing as you head to the west. You enter an empty nondescript wet cavern.
From here Brian breaks off to the northwest check in on the Boggard Shaman while the rest of you head to the southwest blue slime cave.
You walk around a seemingly wet empty cavern notable only for its very distinctive blue slime mold that covers the western wall. After a thorough inspection, you determine that the vibrant blue slime is neither poisonous nor dangerous but is visually striking. Otherwise, at first glance, this cavern appears uninteresting.
Clyde
Elliaria +15 vs. Humans.
Malleck
Mephistopheles
Tih
Sir Balin/Grumble
As you all wander about inspecting the blue slime, Clyde notices an almost imperceptible tunnel in the base of the southern wall. However, no creature bigger than tiny (or gaseous or incorporeal) can pass through this small passage to what lies beyond.
Clyde points. Small tunnel there. Looks like a rat tunnel to its nest no doubt
Mephistopheles nods frowning at the endearing Blue Slime.
Weren't we under the impression that this was a threat? Seems neither poisonous nor dangerous but is visually striking.
The Wizard simply pantomimes getting smaller to Clyde's discovery.
Could smoke whatever is in there out, stoop really, really really well, or collapse it.
The Wizard then begins inspecting the area about the tiny tunnel.
Perhaps, an Unseen Servant with a shovel?
"Well that's disappointing," Grumble mutters when the infamous blue slime turned out to be glowy stuff on the wall.
"Raaven, check it."
The floating Cacodaemon squirmed and turned herself inside out, emerging as a black and red serpent. She dropped into the water and turned invisible. The ripples she left behind disappeared into the hole Clyde had spotted.
Cavern Beneath the Horn
Raaven finds herself in yet another small cavern. However this time, there is only one way out, back the way you came.
A lime encrusted human skeleton leans against the south wall clutching a heavy leather bound book. How this human, if you are observing the remains correctly, came to be here must have been through magic means.
Beside that corpse, still glittering amongst the muck, is an immensely valuable emerald.
There is nothing else present here.
A humanoid corpse, a large tome, and a sizable emerald, Raaven said telepathically to her master
"She found a dead guy with a book an' a gem," Jack relayed to the group.
"Can you get 'em back here?"
The emerald, yes. The book is too large for my serpentine form, and my true form is too large for the hole. That said, I know better than to be handling unknown books and gems in a place like this. Have the new fodder do it.
Grumblejack looked exasperated. "Mouthy f*+~in' snake. Meph, how's that invisible servant thing of yours work? Can it get in there? Could Raaven give it orders?"
"Oh hey, can any of you talk corpses? Might be worth pulling the bones out."
Clyde shakes his head. Necromancy is not one of my skills.
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Mephistopheles simply smiles at Grumble Jack and his pet's discussion about its discovery.
A book, you say. Please elaborate on its design, dimensions and size.
Assuming that information is granted, the Wizard casts Searching Shadows to retrieve the Book.
And the gem and skeleton too...
"The gem, your little inside out friend can probably just grab it in its mouth and slink it back out? The book I have zero suggestions if we have little info on its dimensions. And as for the other stuff, I'm sure we can work our way into their proverbial good graces, just enough to get them working along side us, till their inevitable betrayal"
"I can't communicate with the dead either. If Mephistopheles has the correct magic for this, let him use it." she says calmly.
Cavern Beneath the Horn
The gem is indeed magical and gives off strong divination magic. The book is not magical in and of itself but may well be a spellbook of some sort.
Meph is able to utilize his spell to retrieve the skeleton, the book, and the emerald.
Havelyn narrows his eyes, "Interesting, Brian may well be able to speak with this corpse, I am sure that Zikomo can as well, but I'd prefer that we not share such information with that one".
He pauses and looks to Meph, "Perhaps you should take time to review this tome, if it was hidden, perhaps it was hidden on purpose".
Jack leaned against the rough wall and scowled in thought. "Lotsa options. What'da we got? This book and a magic gem. The busted golem. Whatever's goin' on with the throne. An' we still gotta check out the rest of the second floor."
"How 'bout we head up there while we're still fresh and ready for a fight. Later Meph can do his wizard thing while the rest of us make base camp a bit more livable?"
He snorted derisively at himself. "Spent too much time with the f&*!in' Baron. Roughin' it ain't no fun no more."
Cavern Beneath the Horn
Grumble can feel Havelyn grin beneath his helm, "Civilization is a hard thing to give up when one sees just what it has to offer".
He pauses, "I agree, we are fresh, but we should retrieve our healer before we enter the upper levels, should our investigations free those daemons Clyde mentioned, they may be of ill humor no matter how much we try and convince them we're 'on the same side' and I would want someone close by to either stitch us together or banish them outright, if he has the means to do the latter of course".
Mephistopheles simply smiles as he takes the Book, places it inside his Haversack and readies for further exploration.
Cavern Beneath the Horn
Grumble can feel Havelyn grin beneath his helm, "Civilization is a hard thing to give up when one sees just what it has to offer".
Grumblejack lead them back out of the humid caves, and towards the second staircase on the other side of the Horn.
"Where I grew up, I could see Ballentyne on a clear day. Didn't even know what civilization was until Sakkarot sent me across the river to gather intel. That's how I ended up in Branderscar."
"Turns out, civilization ain't that bad. Only real problem are the idiots in charge. Who coulda guessed I'd be tryin' to tear down the old civilization and rebuild a new one with the Lord Marshal hisself, after sacking his old fortress. Life's funny that way."
Clyde shoulders his pack and heads up with the others.
"Oh, a proper civilization is a wonderful thing. I look forward to imposing one across the land." There is a genuine enthusiasm for spreading the word.
"Time to reestablish such things will come. But we need to make sure the foundation is rocked, crumbled and removed before we even consider remaking a house. And I plan to make sure every piece of of stone is removed from play" he bangs his fist on his Armor
"And if my plan comes to fruition, I will have more time than most to do it"
The Horn Level 2
Elliaria +15 vs. Humans.
Malleck
Mephistopheles
Tih
Sir Balin/Grumble
As the Party climbs the stairs to the second level of the Horn, and step across the pit trap, the Elliaria and Clyde hears whispers from down the hallway...
Grumble knows that on the other side of the wall to the north is the second floor temple with its own throne. The doors to the south he did not inspect in his first go round.
Straight ahead from there is another fountain and two rooms that were inspected before the encounter with the Boggards, one was quarters for someone who must have been important as an impressive oak four-poster bed was still present there and intact, the other room was one that must have housed some sort of beastmaster.
The whispers though, Grumble doesn't remember hearing whispers...
Elliaria will tap her ear and point with her Rapier to indicate that she hears something. She seems ready to move forward and deal with this. She whispers, "Stealth or Shock?" to Jack.