Late in the afternoon you hear the sound of wind chimes outside and Aengus, Bill, Sighanna and her Griffon are outside the door covered in snow.
He gives Erazire and Florr a small pouch containing 500 platinum each. "This is for the successful rescue mission. Guldar told me what happened on your trip there, and back. That tribe of Elves were very formidable. You were each very brave. That forest..maybe good will come back to it."
After hearing about the second book with similar writing, Bill becomes serious. "It would seem that more are involved with this tablet and the efforts to bring evil to our plane than I realized. I think that tablet is a portal to the Abyss, specifically the Shadowsea. The two headed ape creature you described is a common aspect of the Demon Prince Demogorgon who lives on the 85th layer of the Abyss. It seems there's some sort of dark alliance. We need to read these books if we have hope of unraveling this plot. The good news is that demons and extraplanar beings can't act in the material plane without help of natives. We've already uncovered three, there's likely many more."
Bill shakes his head and smiles "Adventuring is serious work! Anyway.."
He goes outside and uses the bottom of his staff to clear away snow outside the Manor, near where the stable ones stood. Underneath is a series of flagstones arranged in a circle like a small patio. Each is etched with letters. "What you need to do to activate the portal is press firmly on the letters in sequence to spell the name of the family that once occupied this manor and then whisper a command phrase. That phrase will be given to Florr, Olias, Oleksandr and Thravum, they're free to share it with those they feel are trustworthy. This circle is linked to one I've build in the guild yard."
I think we should try to have a restful and thoughtful winter. Hopefully Oleksandr has made progress with learning Deep Speech and the team in Blasingdell returns soon. Lord Haven told me they're dealing with a dragon.
"Unless there is protest, I'll store this damaged book in my library."
"Has Olek been in here? If he saw a book on some dead language I'm sure it caught his eye. Always has his nose in a book and learning another language just lets him read more and more. Wouldn't be surprised if he borrowed it. Spent the whole trip here reading some book about goblins. Who would want to talk to a goblin?"
"Olek has, yes..perhaps you're right."
"Well, I'm confident these two wont be stupid enough to return here to recover these items, though they may target you later. They seem to have powerful allies if theyre the ones behind the killing of Karl and the tablet.."
"Oleksandre went on and on about Karl. Have you heard any news from him? Seems like he's a key to this puzzle too. Nikolai knows him," Florr says. "I'm not much with books, but you said you had a book on deep speech? Maybe we could work together and translate the book."
She wrinkles her nose at the mention of the bone. "Like a straw for sucking brains? So gross."
"I really think Olek would want to know of these developments... I wonder when he'll be back? I guess I could try to send a message to him at Blasingdell. I'll keep an ear out for someone travelling that way."
"Hm, no, I don't believe I have a book on Deep Speech, but I've forgotten far more books that sit on the shelves than I remember.
No, I don't think this is for removing brains. The anatomy of the illithid does that just fine on it's own.
I can send magical messages if you'd like. We could also use a pigeon from the roof. We have a few that call Blasingdell home. It'll be there tomorrow."
"This is... really deep information. We have these powerful magical objects and a mind controlling creature is on the loose."
Florr motions to the book. "Mr. Bill, is there a way to destroy the grimoire, or at least to disable the 'gifts' or void the contracts a warlock has made? If this is what Mallark has done, perhaps we can weaken the creature or at least weaken their bond, and then destroy it. This creature - this illithid - sounds like something that should NOT be in this world."
She points to the clawlike object tied to the top of the staff. "Do you know what animal this is from? Could this be used to summon an illithid? Maybe we could destroy this object. Is the staff inherently evil? Can you keep it safe?"
She leans back and thinks. "Is there a connection between Umberlee and this hidden city? The tablet we found, this grimoire, this creature. I'm wondering if there is a common something that links it all together."
[dice=Knowledge History]1d20
"Hm, an interesting idea Florr, but these books are like a spellbook or a familiar. Losing one is VERY inconvenient but a new one can be made. If we could figure out how to read it, it could definitely give us a view into these two.."
He looks to what you've pointed out on the staff and his eyes widen and he looks at each of you.
"I'll admit I wasn't paying much attention. I assumed it was some silly fetish to some sort of dark power but... it seems to have a tiny hollow...channel in the middle..like a straw."
"I'm certain there's a connection. I believe it's likely one of these two were the rival that Karl was speaking of."
"Mallark Buckman," Florr adds, "It was Mallark Buckman. We had met him when we first visited the Guild. Oleksandre had an interaction with him, I think. I was at the temple to deliver incense from the herbalist who lives in the western swamplands, and I was knocking on a door in the back of the temple, hoping to find the high priest and give it to him. I heard someone on the other side of the closed door, saying things that didn't quite make sense. That's where Nikolai's tale picks up," she says.
"We took this grimoire and staff from him. I've kept them safe for a couple days. Thought you'd want to have them."
"Mallark? Hm."
He reaches and takes the staff and Grimoire from you.
"This staff is made from a glassy amethyst stone I'm unfamiliar with, but it's very powerful. I do find it unlikely that this creature is stupid enough to come try and retrieve it here."
"This grimoire is something used by particular arcanists known as witches and warlocks. The keep their spells inside, but they also keep....gifts granted to them by a powerful beings. In a way, they're a hybrid . They make pacts and contracts and need to provide for these patrons or be punished harshly. I've heard of warlocks making pacts with devils and demons...perhaps this creature is Mallark's patron...this grimoire is written in language I'm unfamiliar with. Deep speech I believe...I used to have a book on it here somewhere..."
Nikolai begins immediately spewing word after word out of his mouth the moment they reach his thoughts:
"Some mud ploughing acolyte is what this is all about! Blonde kid knows some powerful illusions and I've seen a few in my day. Paralyzed me and Florr here. Pulled me into the basement to meet the ugliest sodding creature I've ever seen. Sounds like it was interested in drinking my brain. Mouth was surrounded with tentacles and filled with sharp teeth. He had a forked tongue like a snake. It's face was flat, not much of a nose on him. We were almost done for-"
Nikolai stops abruptly, somewhat frozen. Without facing her he looks at the girl playing with the dolls out of the corner of his eye, trying to see if she picked up on anything he said.
He makes a face that looks a cross between "sorry about that" and "but it's the truth."
Bill's eyes go from calm to surprised.
"I don't understand, where did this happen? The basement of where?"
He stops to ponder "tentacles...brain..."
He get's up and rummages through books and finally settles on a very old tome.
"I believe we may be dealing with an 'Illithid'..."
He reads to himself quietly while scanning pages.
"I don't think these have been seen in centuries. They come from a plane far beyond all the others. They once infiltrated our planet and built a great underground city but that was definitively destroyed by an alliance of great heroes almost 900 years ago."
"I'm not sure how that creature go here, but it's a powerful foe. It's capable of reading thoughts and attacking your mind directly. I'd imagine it's controlling the mind of this other sorcerer you've mentioned. Where is this creature now?"
"Come up to my library. I'd like anyone invovled to come to."
He carried the small girl upstairs. She tugs on his beard playfully.
"Ouch!" he cries, playing along.
They arrive at the top of the tower, unlock the door and she runs inside, going straight for a pair of dolls on a low shelf she can reach. She whispers a practiced phrase "Let's play!" The dolls begin to dance and she mimics them laughing.
Bill sits, smiling at her. Then he turns to look at you.
"Hm. South then. Tharvum, if yours went the same direction, it's worth noting. Though they may have just been trying to get out of sight as quickly as possible.
"The puzzle cube...er puzzle compass? Compass box? Yes I remember that..don't remember where I got it. Or why. Or what to do with it. It's not magical but it seems like an awful lot of effort went into it. I seem to have acquired a great many things in my time. I'm sorry I can't recall more about it."
" I've been thinking...there's certainly evil in all this. This creature was either the source of the evil or from it's source. It's different than the other things you encounter. It may have been trapped in the tile by good intent. Maybe is a portal to another realm. I'm not really sure. There's so little evidence. As frustrating as it is we just need more information. As silly as it seems it maybe we need to wait for this rival to show themselves again. Like the instigation of a crime, we've examined all the evidence. Unless we have a spontaneous revelation about things we already know, we must gather more evidence. Wait for the killer to strike again I suppose. Why was the Rival, the acolyte there? To take the artifact? To create the creature? The connection to the Slaad certainly complicates things.
It's fair to assume there are now two of these creatures somewhere. Parasitic and virus like. Did you happen to at least see what direction they went?
If this thing is evil, Rurik has been known to literally smell evil and it's intent. He's also able to harness the purity necessary. Guldar has regained his divine gifts as well. You could also visit the Blind God's Temple they use cleansing divine magic competently as well.
I know it's frustrating, but adventuring is like this. Often the true causes for things like these take a lifetime or more to reveal."
Bill's in a semi-euphoric state and smells like a mix of pine tree sap and skunk.
He and it vigorously write down everything you say, asking for clarifications, showing you sketches."
"No, no. The crabby guy needs to look more dwarfy."
Wiseman wrote:
"So the creature is dead, without a doubt?"
"Stuck me spear right through, like it was cooked on a stick n being sold by one of those guys on the street"
"Youre right Thravum. That's a very fine spear. "
" I've never heard of a creature such as this, but I can say it's a good thing it doesn't breath life anymore. It would seem it was able to steal essence from some of you, allowing it to improve and adapt. Many organisms have been known to do this, but over generations, not hours. It's fascinating, terrifying and with many implications. It's essentially moot at this point. The acolyte remains our primary dander. "
"Oh, thanks for the tip. Could you direct us to someone who could manage the reconstruction in town?"
"Due to the festival, most craftsman in the area come to sell their crafts. I'm positive you'll be able to find a number of carpenters, masons and laborers if you have money to spend. The more you spend the quicker and more quality the job you'll get. You could also assist them through magical means or through your own labors and abilities. It may be helpful to find someone to act as a central supervisor with a plan. I'd offer my services due to the former owner, but I have more pressing matters. I'm confident we could build something to increase your travel speed between here and there if necessary. It would cost quite a bit in components though.
Thravum Grimrock wrote:
"It were some sort of big, red, glowing eye. First time we saw it there was some sort of swimming snake thing. Ate part of me leg. I stabbed it with my new spear until it let go. It's a good spear. Then this Big Eye thing appeared, and took off into the water. Didn't want to go after it. Part of me leg missing and all."
"Later, after we stuck yon watery rock in that sack you got so werked up about, we went back in to clear that critter outta the basement. Black op, no witnesses and all. Heh. This time there was this big crabby lookin fella, kinda handsome, really. Instead of a beard, he had all these things...Whaddya call em? Tenta...? Testi...? well whatever. They were grabby. He had a big red eye under his big fat crab head in the middle of his dwarfy face. Had a big snakey thing coming out the top of his head with teeth on the end. Tried to eat us. Bastard."
"I stabbed him with my spear too. I think they were shootin it with spells or somethin. Some of em picked a bad time to take a nap. Daft, you ask me. Anyhow, I stabbed it real good with my spear and that big eye thing flew out of it and tried to get away. I stabbed that with my spear too. Didn't get away this time. Heh."
"Gonna have to hurry on that, girl. All that water like as not wash out the foundation, cause a whole bunch of mold. Probably be the kind that grows teeth, knowing that damn place. If that water's still in there in the winter. Forget about it. Foundation crack apart, whole place come down around yer ears."
Bill draws a second quill from his sleeve to assist the one writing on it's own. He and it vigorously write down everything you say, asking for clarifications, showing you sketches.
"So the creature is dead, without a doubt?"
_____________________________________________________________________
"Thravum is right about the house. I'll be here by sundown each day. If you need me, come and see me then."
"Yes, I agree, but we did not feel comfortable leaving it out of our sight. This is why I brought it to your attention immediately before recounting the rest of our journey."
"It wasn't without wisdom."
Quote:
"I was hoping the guild would be a place we could relax our guard slightly but I understand the importance of which you speak. If we see anything unusual or anyone starts asking suspicious questions we will seek your counsel immediately."
"In some ways. But the guild is full of people. Any number of those people could tell other people, without malice but eventually that information could reach those we don't want it to. Demogorgon is a master of deception."
Quote:
"It is a great relief that you knew Karl. I hope with your help we can uncover the truth behind what happened to him. This is quite an impressive library and I'd hope to be able to study here frequently."
"I'm trying to stay optimistic."
Quote:
"I feel as if the wagon full of valuables we are transporting are a danger to us. Does the guild maintain a vault with a trustworthy ledger?"
"Our clerk downstairs will stow small valuables, like coins gems and jewelry. There's a 10% fee when the value is first deposited but it's guaranteed."
Olias is disturbed by what he has learned and wants to retire to his room and think about what he has heard. "Thanks, Wiseman. I think I'll start resting, now."
Olias finds his room and plops down on the bed. He changes his clothes into something more relaxed and comfortable. Before settling in completely, he remembers the cart outside. He decides to wait for his companions there to decide what to do about it.
"Olias. I'm concerned you're not realizing the weight of this situation. A more serious outlook on such things would keep you safer."
Florr wrote:
Florr nods as Bill says not to say anything.
"Mr. Bill," she says before leaving, "You might see that we brought back a large wagon, as I said. We took several valuable things from the mansion. We also found the deed, and were considering living there after fixing it up." She ignores anything her companions say or do until she's done.
"You said to tell you everything, and if we ended up making that a base you'd surely want to know if we were allowed to do so! Don't worry. We have the lady's blessing! When Olias spoke with her using the potion, she said if we restored the manor to its previous reputation then we could be welcome to be at the manor." She pauses for a breath. "Part of the reason we buried the bodies was to address that. We haven't talked about it extensively," now she looks around to her companions, "but I'd like to honor her request and fix it up and we have the means to do so. I mean, she told us where the deed and the fortune of the manor was." She sits back. "There. Now I think you know everything, Mr. Bill."
A smile cross Bill's face. "As your contracts state, you're entitled to anything acquired as part of Guild duties assuming no reasonable claim to these items can be made. I think this applies. Your mission was far more than I would as of any initiate. I'm glad your reward is able to reflect that. If you're going to restore the mansion, you'll have to take certain steps quickly, it's possible they could be aided by magic, but winter and the wilds will devour that house almost as quickly as the tablet was."
"Keep in mind, this acolyte may return as well as the fact that these lands are dangerous. Jessica was an accomplished warrior and sorceress who kept a small force of guards. There's a reason Haven's cross is surrounded by walls."
"As we were moving from room to room trying to piece together what was happening and how to get out of there my familiar, a raven, began acting strangely. She was sputtering nonsense and pulling out her feathers. I tried to gaze into her mind but all I saw was darkness. But there was something there. It was constricting. Like I was being squeezed by a sea serpent. I heard a deep voice. It spoke 'Morkathul.'"
"I dismissed her. She was in distress. The most I could make from 'Morkathul' was perhaps some sort of combination of languages meaning 'Eater of the Deep'"
Often the minds of simpler creatures are the first to succumb to possession...I've never heard of 'Morkathul' in my readings...Your familiar should be perfectly fine now, save a bit of trauma.
Oleksandr Blackwind wrote:
"In the room leading to the basement we found a book of scrolls. On the cover was a message written in a cipher which I immediately recognized. My master, Karl Vaidur, had been there."
Oleksandr reads the message to Bill and hands it too him:
“I’ve been afflicted. Chaosphage. Not long.
Acolyte Demogorgon. Met me here.
Couldn’t stop the flood, didn’t have enough time. Ritual too long.
Tablet is a Portal. Realm. Queen of Depths.
Unholy Aliance.
Dropped Crystal.
Trust Bill. I’m in Library.”
Oleksandr pauses and motions towards the books behind Bill.
"While you were gone I came to realize what he meant by being in the library. Please understand that you do not need that candle to get the truth from me."
"You? You are the boy Karl raised? The last I saw you, you were very young. We once spent quite a bit of time together. Life has a funny way of bringing people back together. You've grown into a gifted mage. You being here is a comfort. Karl made me promise that if any harm befell him that I would make sure you were safe and your studies continued. I have every intention of keeping that promise."
He places his hand on your shoulder.
"Unfortunately, that is all the time we have for sentiments for the time being."
Oleksandr wrote:
"The mention of chaosphage was quite alarming. Were we to encounter a Slaad while trapped inside the house we would certainly be killed. Or worse. So Olias drank a potion of gaseous form to investigate the rest of the rooms of the house while I read through the scrolls that Karl left behind."
"You're right. Slaad are some of the most formitable foes in all the planes. But they're not the type to plot or scheme. They're motivated by havoc and instinct. What's happening here is more complex."
His eyes scan through the books that hover in a circle around him.
"If Karl fell to the chaosphage he's grown into a Green Slaad with Karl's gifts of magic. He'd be a dangerous foe. His mind and personality would be lost. We're can approach this a number of ways: 1) If he has been lost, there's nothing we can do about it. 2) Karl may very well have figured something out but whatever his solution was has prevented him from reaching out to either of us. 3) We can somehow, through miraculous means, recover Karl's soul. At this point we don't know which of those to pursue. For the time being, we'll have to wait if there are no clues."
Oleksandr wrote:
"The lady of the house mentioned she was going to try to trap the tablet in a bag of holding. We were able to retrieve that from inside of the shark she was fighting. It did seem dangerous to me, but the water was getting quite high and I was sure we were to drown if no action were taken."
"Based on the choices you had available to you, it certainly was a novel idea. I don't question that decision, just your decision to bring it into town. Though that doesn't matter now. You were successful. This mission was far beyond anything a guild initiate has ever tackled. You should all be extremely proud. You're impressed me beyond words. You'll receive payment from our clerk in the sum of 1200 gold pieces each in addition to anything you recovered from the mansion. Unfortunately it would seem that the mansion has been lost to these forces. I can't justify using guild resources to restore it and without a way to finance it's repair, it'll likely be taken by the elements of the wild soon if the winter doesn't destroy it first. You'll each also be promoted to the rank of 'member'. Usually this is reserved for initiates that have completed no less than 3 missions successfully and have portrayed the Guild in a positive manner. Based on the circumstances you've gone far above and beyond. We'll have a ceremony in one week before the festival begins. In the meantime I suggest you get some rest. As guild members you may take living quarters within this tower and you have access to any of our resources, including this library. Your living expenses will be covered within reason. I'll be speaking with Lord Haven about our next course of action. As frustrating as it is, waiting might be the wisest option. I know nothing of this acolyte your master speaks of, but he's no Slaad. Slaad do not become acolytes. My working hypothesis is that this tablet attracted this acolyte to the mansion and somehow Karl also knew of it's presence. I believe this unholy alliance he speaks of is between Umberlee and the Demogorgon based on what you've told me. A powerful Daemon Prince and a Lesser Diety. I shouldn't have to tell you how serious that it. Finding and vanquishing this acolyte is my utmost priority. The acolyte is likely the only foothold these powers have to this realm. What their ultimate goals are remains a mystery but they certainly can't be good. "
"One last thing. It's imperative you tell no one of this tablet or it's location. I fear that this Acolyte may be hiding within the town trying to find out it's location. The Demogorgon wears two faces, one of destruction but also deception. Do nothing to show to others that you know anything about Karl or the tablet. Do you understand? "
I was able to speak to the deceased, who turned out to be the owner of the manor. She claimed responsibility for the events at the manor, having returned many treasures from a recent odyssey to a sunken temple, the name of which she could not recall. After returning, the animals and the guests of the manor started acting strangely, and they were sealed in the house. Her husband..
"Jessica was one of the very first Guild initiates we had. She was one of the bravest and kindest souls I ever had the pleasure of knowing. Her husband was a weak willed buffoon. Her death is a huge loss to the adventuring world. But she died doing what she loved."
He pauses with a faraway look.
Olias Anaran wrote:
"She also reported trapping a creature in the basement, which we found much later and fought. After it had taken a bite out of Thravum, our Dwarven friend here, it appeared later changed. It was part sea creature, part dwarf? It's hard to describe, but still, that was later. Immediately after speaking to Lady Adonis
Books fly from shelves and hover in front of him. You catch a few titles fly past you: The unabridged guide to the deities of Yoldur:volume 4", "Planar Travel and You: A mage's guide' Where to visit and where to avoid.",
"We can do this the easy way or the hard way. I do not understand why each of you insists on being so uncooperative. I realize this mission turned out to be far more than myself, Samuel or each of you could have imagined. Had we known, we would have gone ourselves. Your employment is contingent on the fulfillment of a mission to the best of your ability. Your mission was to go to the Rubrum Grima and report on what happened. With the stakes being as high as they are with the nature of what was found you need to tell me from the beginning, in sequence what happened. If you continue to refuse to do this I'll have no choice but to assume you're intentionally speaking in roundabout ways to avoid being truthful."
He tries to calm himself down.
"Tell me now. 'We arrived at the house. We saw *blank*. Then we....' "
He sighs and opens the book. The quill stands at the top of the page without being held. Bill looks at you waiting.
"Alright." he says with a relaxed look on his face "It was a very poor decision to bring that bag into town. You're walking around with a bomb. I have no idea ,other than divine intervention, that could explain how your O.R. Sphere lasted as long as it did, especially without constant concentration. Either you're a far more competant arcanist than I or we're dealing with something much different."
He leans back down for the book, opens it and says "Now please. Start from the begining."
A clean, polished cherrywood staff appears in his hand. It has a large cut Amethyst in it's top.
His bestaffed hand stabs towards the bag.
Arcana DC 15:
(Arcana DC 15 shows it's a quickened telekinesis)
the bag slaps into his empty hand as the book . The staffed hand points to the ground. He's surrounded by magical glyphs, he strikes 4 in quick sequence with the butt of his staff. He shouts: "Neeee'ralth fearrUS." And in a flash, he's gone.
Oleksandr follows Florr's lead with the wine but pours himself a much more generous glass. He takes a long sip and sets the glass back down. Its level matches Florr's now. He leans forward, closer to Bill, and stares at him calmly but sternly.
"We have it with us."
He pauses, gathering his thoughts.
"I imagine you may already have an idea of what "it" is. You may even be concerned that it is in our possession. I certainly am. Someone opened a portal to another realm. A black ocean poured into that house along with a complete cast of grotesque sea life. We managed to get it closed temporarily and put it in a bag of holding."
His calm fades slightly.
"Do you know who opened this portal? How did you know Karl Vaidur? Who is responsible for his death?"
She points up to the painting. "Hey is that you? Who are the others?" She pours herself a half glass of wine then plops on a squishy chair, spilling some of the drink on the carpet. "Whoops," she mutters, hoping Bill didn't see.
"We saw so many things up at the manor. So many evil things."
He makes a slightly exasperated noise and a wry smile.
"Yes. That's me, Lord Haven and Gilda in our younger years."
He pauses and closes the book for emphasis.
"I need to know what happened at the Rubrum Grima. It's important. Please be thorough. Don't leave out details. Together, we should be able to figure this out."
After knocking you hear the raspy voice of a older male call out. "I'll be right there." Theirs the sound of footsteps down a long hallway. You hear the sound of deadbolts sliding and some muttering and then a humming noise. The door swings open and you see a relatively sprightly human male in his late 50s. He glaces you up and down quickly.
"Hm, I don't recognize you. Must be new initiates. I suppose. Were you the folks that investigated what was going on at the Rubrum Grima? I'm Bill. Folks around here call me Bill Wiseman. I'm the resident crusty old mage of Haven's cross."
The room is a long hallway lined from ceiling to floor with bookshelves. At the end of the hall is a larger square room with a higher ceiling also covered ceiling to floor with books. There's a pedestal in the center with a book, surrounded by tables covered in papers, scrolls and open books. A good portion of which are magical. Some of the shelves have empty spaces filled with various knicknacks, orbs and other trinkets. High above you in front of a few of the topmost shelves hangs a painting. You see a young man in robes, a short dwarf bedecked in armor and priestly vestments bearing a sigil of two overlapping rings) and a noble looking handsome male with a sword on his shoulder. They're all smiling and leaning on each other.
He motions to a small living room area surrounded by comfy looking chairs and a small squat table. On it is a large magical candle, a long pipe, a jar of herbs, a bottle of wine and some cups.
"Help yourself to a drink. I'd also recommend a bath in your near futures."
He leans over the table, packs his pipe, lights the candle with a flick of his fingers and has a seat and opens a book that was tucked into his robe along with a quill.
"Tell me, what did you find? Tell me everything."
Everyone needs to make Charisma saves (DC 20), if you fail you find yourself unable to lie. You're fully aware of this effect. (see the spell 'Zone of Truth'.)
