- The heroes get back to Eldolan and things are as they always are
- they park Cloudskimmer in the open-air warehouse
- one of the Silver Shields who have a rotating guard there see the heroes come in and advise the heroes that nothing new has transpired, and there’s nothing out of the ordinary since they departed
- Legion reiterates the instruction that they are to keep record of who (if anyone, even us) come and go, they should implement a sign-in sheet
- Puki brings his money to the bank and ensures nothing else was taken
- he puts this money in a separate account under a different name! 🙂
- Legion returns to the guild of wizardry and calls the handful of apprentices he has been confiding in to see if they have made any progress in devising a way to use the essence of Rasputin to summon/track/influence him somehow
- they say
- they can’t do anything to summon him but
- they do think that combining it with hte known magic of scrying, you may be able to pinpoint him
- even though shadow dragons in particular are excellent at hiding, the essence gives Legion a 1 up
- Legion congratulates them on their progess and asks if anyone has had time/interest in researching the necromantic wand he gave them
- they all look at each other awkardly, and one bravely says, “No, they haven’t”
- Legion: “Continue your efforts and I will bring other items for your research – and soon perhaps, some of you may even be called to join The Undaunted
- A: e who spoke up speaks again to say, “Will the other items be… necromantic in nature as well?”
- L: Grins and says “no, this was just to see if anyone’s interest was piqued – other items will be… conventional
- A: Would you like it back?
- L: No, please keep it – if anyone gets curious, I’ll be interested in your perspective
- Legion sees further evidence that Necromancy still makes them all awkward because of the Cult in Eldolan, and the Mausoleum dragons also – they’re still thinking it’s all in poor taste
- A: Does that mean you’ll be taking the wand back?
- L: If you don’t need it, then yes – I can take it back
- They seemed relieved, and quickly answer “Ok, we’ll bring it back” they promise the next time Legion returns, they hope to have preparations for hte ritual ready, and they’ll return the item without anyone having to touch it
- L: Excellent work, I’ll return looking forward to your results
Meanwhile…
- Nidalru goes back to her usual haunts in the city to see if she ‘feels’ a similar sensation as last time – the awkwardness – even the hint of resentment at her frequenting the areas
- Interested in whether or not people have seen members of the Undaunted at the same time as they’ve been away…
- some of the patrons look at each other, then back at Nidalru:
- Patrons: Nope… haven’t seen all you around for a while… thought you were all on it…
- P: Having said that, why are you asking? Wouldn’t YOU know if YOU’VE been around?
- N: I haven’t seen my friends in a while, I’m looking for them, wondering if anyone’s seen them?
- P: So you WEREN’T on the ship that was flying around?
- Some of the other patrons of The Happy Dolphin have now stood up
- the main guys has a scar down his face covering his left eye, 3 days worth of beard, tough, dock-worker type – wielding a hook
- P: So you WEREN’T on that ship when it was flying?
- N: What’s the problem?
P: Well you say you haven’t seen your friends in a while, so you weren’t on the ship…. - P: What do you think boys? You think this double-speak will pass here?
- Nidalru can tell they’re taking offensive stances
- P: Tell you waht… I don’t think you are who you SAY you are? We’ve heard people have been walking around imitating that golden-eyed friend of yours… wouldn’t YOU have seen your friends? What do you say boys, cut it open and see what it turns into?
- You can try, then you’ll learn who I really am…
- P: I don’t know where your ‘friends’ are, but I do know I see a doppleganger right in front of me!
- Nidalru wastes no time – her instincts and using the flat of her blade, Nidalru renders them all unconscious in no time
- Holding the most suspicious patron by the throat..
- P: Do your worst – no way we’re telling you anything about the Heroes of Eldolan…
- N: Fool – where did you see those dopplegangers? Can’t you see who you’re dealing with here? Alesson to you guys – be careful who you pick your fights with from now on…
- P: there’s gonna be another round, doppleganger!
- N: Hopefully for you, it’ll be the real doppleganger… then you’ll have a chance.
- Nidalru drops him and leaves.
Meanwhile…
- Idris returns to the makeshift headquarters of the golden order where there is a flurry of activity
- Ursel is there with two other young knights looking at maps – they all look extremely worried.
- As Idris enters,
- Ursel suggests with her eyes that something big has happened
- The young knights look extremely relieved as if a great weight has been lifted from them, one saying, “Thank The Gold Wyrm”.
- Ursel dismisses them, and they mutter “Thank you” as they pass Idris who glances as them quizzically
- Idris: Well, this is unusual…
- Ursel: Is it? Well that Hellhole… let’s be honest… the one you and your friends caused… the one you came back from recently? Based on the info you brought last time, we thought we mihg tsent another group in… it was just… for intel gathering, but… Firewing was captured.
- U: That would be bad enough but Firewing knows things…
- I: Such as?
- U: Knows where some of our sacred relics are kept. And has contacts at Axis – he used to be a gladiator there. We’re afraid if the Diabolist has her hands in that hellhole – we don’t think she was involved initialy, but if she gets access to what Firewing knows… well… we already lost things when The Stone Thief destroyed Hildebrande. We’ve managed to bring some here, but…
- I: So, a rescue mission then
- U: I know we’ve asked a lot of you and your friends
- I: I can’t speak for my friends, but I’ll definitely do what I can to save him. What do we know of hte area and the type of forces stationed there. Did anyone come back at all?
- U: Yes, one… one of the “brave” knights who just left us. She rolls her eyes. Whereas the hellhole you went to sounded like it was comprised of living flesh, this one sounds to use like it’s some kind of ‘hive’… and the knight described ‘demonic insects’. Two of those who went and didn’t come back were last seen clasping their ears – they screamed about buzzing – it will likely take the strongest of wills to resist whatever this demon power is…
- Ursel goes on to mention that there is also a contingent of the Crusader‘s dark knights in the area
- U: It worked last time… the Crusader‘s forces go in… attract most of the attention… you and your friends go in…
- I: Would they be willing to support this? Do we have any info of their attack patterns?
- U: The last time you went in, it was without their knowledge – I don’t want to speak out of turn, but – I don’t want to speak out of turn, but you were trying to get something before they did, right?
- I: Yes – Idris shares with her the details
- U: This time – there would be no subterfuge. They’re willing to work with us – as long as you don’t listen to them and their insults – it should be fine.
- Ursel reminds Idris there’s a rivalry – an animosity between the two groups – the theology of the two groups:
- The Golden Knights want to just kill demons
- The Crusaders think of dead demons as a wasted resource – enslaving them is ok
- I: Do you know if one of the leaders there would be a crusader by the name of Othorion?
- U: As a matter of fact, I think he is one of them
- I: Then perhaps we can work something out….
- Idris asks about what the progress is on the Golden Knights finding someone to use a spell to disrupt Pheig‘s influence on the dreamscape
- Ursel apologizes that no progress made yet – that their resources are limited
- whoever it is that can do this – they might need a special component for a spell, etc – The Undaunted are the best to execute
- Thanking her, Idris finishes, “I’ll report to you as soon as we have information on Firewing.”
- Idris informs the other heroes of the situation and asks for their support
- Legion: “If your organization needs help, then it’s the right thing to do to assist you… right?” Legion looks at Nidalru and Puki to verify that’s the ‘right’ thing to do
- Puki: That hellhole was as much our responsibility as yours – we will help you and your order to make this right
- Legion noticed something, “NIdalru – is that blood on your tunic?”
- Nidalru smiles with a sly wink but says nothing
- L: My minions require more time for their research, so I am available
- I: The sooner we leave, the better – Demons are not known to treat their prisoners well
- L: I have the provisions I need, do any of you need to visit an alchemist?
The heroes move towards the warehouse
- The Silver shield guard greets the heroes, “Good to see you again”
- Legion asks, “Have any of us been back since we left earlier today?
- Guard: Well of course sir, you came back to inspect the ship
- IDris: Did you?
- Inspecting the log book – Legion sees his name scrawled in the book – BUT NOT in his handwriting
- Puki goes on the boat to start searching it for traps or hidden things that shouldn’t be there
- The Silver Shield is now looking a bit suspicious of the heroes
- The heroes all start searching the ship, but only Idris with his magical gaze finds what they were searching for…
… shaped in the form of a talon/claw
Nidalru immediately knows – the people that use these – consider themselves The Prince of Shadows‘ enemies.
… It’s a tiger’s claw
- the heroes all recall immediately their interactions with the rakshasa knows as The Alchemist
- Leaving the claw behind so as to prevent whoever might be scrying them from learning more about Cloudskimmer
- The heroes ponder what they’ve learned as they fly towards the hellhole
- The heroes fly towards the hellhole – the air gets thicker and the familiar unpleasant stench greets them
- they see where they existed last time – the pulsating fleshy walls
- there’s a small contingent of knights in gleaming black armor – standing near one hole – an entrance that looks eerily like a mouth
- setting down nearby, the dark-elf Othorion approaches Idris
- Othorion: “Well met – I’m bout to lead these troops in – we’re just oging in for recon ourselves – we understand you’ve lost someone in there?
- Idris: Yes
- O: I wanted to ask if you’d keep an eye out for one of ours? A half-elf – we call him the Iron General
- half-elf with long, shoulder-length strawlike heari – crusader’s fist on breastplate – brown eyes – a bit on smaller side – always good because he was very good at tactics
- O: He’ll only respond to the name Iron General – the more people advance in the ranks of hte Crusader, the more they adopt the identity that HE gives them, it’s one of the reasons I’m still who I am… but I still serve The Queen above all (nods at Nidalru)
- O: we’ll make our first run in here, there’s another entrance that way – we’ll hope to draw a lot of their attention, allowing you to find our missing people
- I: was just about to suggst that
- O: Great minds…
- O: As soon as your people are ready – nods at The Undaunted
- Idris asks Othorion what he knows about the demons in this area.
- Othorion describes what he’s seen – giant wasps with stingers of poison that drive people mad, insects that burrow, and… more that one marilith in here…
Puki, understanding that the plan is set, shares some cotton to deaden the noise in the ears of the heroes – Legion seems stubborn and takes it but does not wear it.
- Just outside the side gate to the hellhole – the walls are high, hard, carapace-like insectoid maws, and death magic
- A horn blares out, signalling the start of their attack
- The heroes look towards the other mouth hellhole opening – the walls turn black at the top and swarms of demon wapss emerge
- the ground crumbles and huge demon-like bugs emerge with roars
ENGAGE!
