Legacy of Fire SoP/SoM/PoW IV: With A Vengeance (or 2 if they're on sale)

[digiman619]

The door opened about 3/4th the way through Malak's speech. Turns out that the riddle was rather literal and the password was 'truthfully'. Heading in, the interior of the mausoleum dazzles the eye, almost overwhelming in its intricacy. The floor and ceiling are of polished golden marble tiles, each white-veined tile set off with a framing inlay of lapis lazuli. The cornices and joints of wall, ceiling, and floor inlaid with burnished brass glow in the light of heatless crystal lamps that hang from empty air. Within these brazen borders, each wall holds an enormous mosaic of enchanted tile that moves and flows like a living thing, replaying the triumphs and tragedies of Nex in an endless refrain.

In the center of the vast, silent chamber sits a bier of plain white limestone, simply carved, its lid unadorned but for a single rune. At the bier’s head is a large marble pedestal on which stands a curious statue of a man toppled over. The statue’s head is carved of gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly of bronze, its thighs of iron, and its shattered feet of clay. At the bier’s foot is a smaller platform upon which rests an equally strange trophy: a large reptilian skull as large as a grown man, crested and glinting golden in the lamplight. The cat sits on the tomb in the middle, licking itself idly.

Spoiler: Map; forgive that the best map I could find

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[lostsole31]

"Stay here," says Malak to his friends. "Oddity, with me."

Malak, assisted by Oddity, will check over the place for safety...

Spoiler

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Malak's Perception vs. traps = +21
Oddity automatically adds +2 (and also has trap-finding), so +23 total)

[digiman619]

A through inspection comes up empty; if there are any traps here, you don't see them.

[lostsole31]

Letting the party know that the room appears safe, he and Oddity will approach the bier. He will learn what he can by studying the bier, the skull, and any markings.

Now in the realm of scholarship, he calls up his cohort to assist his study ...

[digiman619]

They note a few things of archaeological note, but more pressingly you discover that the skull is actually a dragon wyrmskull. As soon as you notice, the skull rises from the ground, with trails of fire beneath it. "Please, stay your blade." a cool feminine voice emanates from the skull. "If you are here, you are no doubt aware that you are a prisoner here, like Andrathi before you. If you will, I may know a way for you to escape this realm. Come, let us discuss it as pleasant folk."

[lostsole31]

Malak holds his hand out in a sweep-away motion of Oddity's axe, who in turn puts his blade away. "Go on then. You are our teacher."

[stack]

Akaash follows with interest, standing near Malak. At the sight of the skull, he raises a single eyebrow; such things are not lightly obtained.

Then it starts moving and talking. He listens and follows Malak's lead.

[bcool999]

Rowan

”This place must be truly dreadful,” Rowan says with a smirk, “Everyone we meet attempts to entice us with methods of escape.”

Afterwards Rowan watches on and listens in on the conversation.

[pfm1995]

"Nope. Still don't think that's a cat." Alssariq mutters to himself. The flying, talking skull may be strange, but at least it's apparently not hostile and seems to be worried about their swords, which leaves Alssariq to only leave his hand vaguely near the sheathe of his long-knife instead of drawing it. Still, he's careful to keep the more robust members of the party between himself and the creature.

"Care to give us a name?" He calls out. "It's just, I'm not sure how to address a flying skull."

[digiman619]

She introduces herself as Venema Shodair, who was the companion of the Wizard King Nex in life. She continues with “I have waited for Nex to come to rest here for more centuries than I care to count, yet this is no concern to me. I shall continue to wait. Yet not all who have come before me have shown the same respect as you. Certainly, the one whose spirit suffuses this place respected it—he was known as Andrathi in his day, and he came to this tomb pursued by the warlord Jhavhul. For many days, Andrathi hid here and we shared many conversations, but in the end, Jhavhul found him. It is to Andrathi’s credit that he did not drag the fight in here, that he confronted Jhavhul on the steps outside. It is there that he died, and in his rage to be gone from this place, Jhavhul did not linger, and thus I survive to continue my duties. And Andrathi lingers here as well—he is but a memory and a shade, though, his soul having long passed on from here. Yet enough lingers to advise me, and what lingers is curious—as am I. How is it you have come to be in Kakishon?"

You give her the gist of your situation and she is less than pleased when you mention that Jhavul escaped as you entered; he described his as cruel and she shudders as to what he could be doing on the material plane. She goes on to mention that he was searching for something there before he was imprisoned: a being known as Xotani the Firebleeder who was incredibly powerful but was somehow locked away.

But getting back on track, she admits that she lacks the power to get you off Kakishon, but before he died, Andrathi was convinced that the proteans were the key to getting free. She suggests talking with them to get answers, but to keep your guard up when you do so; as being of primal chaos aren't always the most trustworthy.

[lostsole31]

"What is it that Jhavul seeks? What does he seek to do?" asks Malak to Venema.

[bcool999]

Rowan

Rowan was entertaining himself by observing the iconography around himself when a name popped up in conversation that startled him. "Wait a moment. Did you just say that this Jhavhul character was seeking out Xotani the Firebleeder? Like on purpose?" Rowan asks with a mix of horror and disbelief on his face before continuing, "Is he some sort of Ravogug cultist? Oh of course he is... that was why they were searching for the map so desperately he must have clues as to where Xotani is and they must plan on releasing it!"

Looking to the others Rowan speaks in deadly seriousness as he says, "Xotani is a Spawn of Ravogug which basically makes it a walking cataclysm made of indestructible flesh. If they truly are planning on releasing it we need to stop them or else grab our loved ones and flee overseas."

[stack]

Thinking back to their conversation with the protean, Akaash fishes for information, admittedly a long shot given their host's reclusive nature. "Do you know anything of a shaitan called Ohberak or a protean called Magiyawalla?"

[digiman619]

Venema doesn't nod per se, but you get a sense of understanding from her. "Ah, so you've already been in contact with them. I figure the reason you ask about those two is that the Proteans gave you a story of one of their kind being captured by the shaitan, yes? Well, I can't say how true that statement is, but they have ulterior motives."

You see, I suspect that they wish to unmake Kakishon and return it to the chaos it was formed from. However, they cannot do that as long as there are impurities in the mix. Anything that was not formed here is a hindrance to that plan, living matter or no. I suspect they wish to slay the shaitans, and would do the same to you if you weren’t so eager to leave. Obherak and his followers seek to rule here—they have no wish to leave, and thus the proteans wish them slain. Or at least reduced in strength and number to a point where they can finish them off without undue risk.”

[SwordChucks]

"So we could potentially leave and still have a pocket dimension to come back to in the future?" Goma asks, now a bit more interested than he was a moment ago.

[pfm1995]

"Especially if our primary one is about to be consumed in fire..." Alssariq mulls, his eyes wide with fear. 'Xotani' is not a name he knows, but 'Rovagug' is and it's not a soothing one. How do you handle, how do you barter with someone who wishes only your destruction? The thought is enough to send him searching for the nearest bolt-hole. "But it'd be better still if we didn't have to use it. Venema," he asks, "do you know how Jhavul came to be here? Or Andrathi, for that matter."

[stack]

Akaash weighs the situation for a moment before speaking, And it is your wish that this place be maintained, so that your vigil can continue, yes? It seems you and the proteans have contradictory goals. I believe our goals are simple enough: escape in time to prevent disaster to our world. Is there anything you can do to speed us along, granting you your desired outcome? Also, the proteans claimed that the fabric of this place was weakening; do you contradict them in this?"

[digiman619]

Venema shrugged dismissively. "I actually do not care if the isle gets destroyed; If Nex returns, he can remake me easily enough, so if the isle is to be destroyed and give me oblivion, so be it. I doubt everyone on the isles shares those wishes, but that is not my concern.

As for the damage to Kakishon, the proteans are correct that the imprisonment of Jhovul and his ilk did damage the foundations, but if they gave you the impression that they it was actively deteriorating, then it was at best a miscommunication as they are not. Now, another influx like what happened when Jhovul came might destabilize the place, but until then it's holding together."

[stack]

Other than yourself, the shaitan, and the proteans, who else resides here?"

[digiman619]

"Andrathi actually drew them here. Jhovul and his forces were drawn into the Scroll via a ritual with the Templars of the Five Winds, but it required someone inside the scroll to shut the trap once they were in. As for who else of note is here, well, there's the remnants of Jhavul's hangers-on at the palace, the shaitan as mentioned previously. Oh, there's the azer smith up in Salenax. He was no friend of Jhovul, so he might have something to aid you, if you can get to him."

Spoiler: DC 20 K:History or DC 10 Intelligence check

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You remember hearing about them. In fact, there was a piece of art about it back in the monastery near Kelmarane. They were a group of djinn who worked to free enslaved djinn from the genie binder Kinroth ~2,500 years ago. They showed up over the centuries, but were last seen fighting Jhovul over 400 years ago.

[stack]

"Thank you for the information."

He looks to his companions, The azer may be worth visiting. Do we have any other questions here?"

[lostsole31]

In conferring with each other, Shahrahzad and Malak both recognize the artistic murals from the monastery in Kelmarane, telling the group as such (see spoiler above).

Oddity remains quiet. Where others are fascinated by "history," to them, things were much nearer to "contemporary events" as they knew them.

"Thank you, Venema," says Malak to the wyrmskull. "May your oblivion at the destruction of Kakishon be welcome and not premature when it comes."

Looking to Akaash and the others. "I am ready to depart."

[pfm1995]

Alssariq shakes his head. "Nothing here - thanks for the help."

[bcool999]

Rowan

Seeing that the conversation has come to an end and the group is about to depart, Rowan asks, "Since it seems this demi-plane may cease to exist in the future, you have anything here you wouldn't mind us lugging off to the Prime Material? Preferably anything of monetary or magical value?"

Should the skull not have any such items for them to take (or refuses to answer on principle) Rowan merely shakes his head in disappointment before leaving with the others.

[digiman619]

"Perhaps" she says seriously. "Tell me truthfully. Once you get free of Kakishon, what is your plan? Sure, Jhovul is powerful and dangerous, but he has no quarrel with you. I'm sure that you could get away if you're quick enough."

[SwordChucks]

"People could be hurt and we can prevent that. Why wouldn't we help?" Goma says puzzled by the question.

[bcool999]

Rowan

Hearing the question, Rowan turns serious in contemplation for a moment before answering, "Truthfully... such a bad riddle answer." Rowan says then grins at the joke before turning wistful, "If I am honest, running away sounds like the best idea you know? I have a wife out there and a new born baby girl that I have to protect, so packing up and fleeing is probably the wise choice. Adilade probably won't even let me finish warning her of the danger before smacking me and scolding me for wanting to run though. As a man don't I need to protect my family? And if they can't (or won't in this case) run away."

Rowan gets a fierce glare in his eyes as he grips his staff in one hand and summons arcane fire in the claws of his other hand, "Then I will just need to use flames that can make even the Firebleeder's blood run cold with fear."

[lostsole31]

"I bring Nethys' succor or wrath to where it is needed. Neither is needed in a life of comfort and ease."

[stack]

"Jhovul needs to be stopped. If we can, we must."

[pfm1995]

"Well..." Alssariq drawls. "I admit, I'm not normally one to care what some random ifrit is up to in his own corner of the wold. But, all this talk of letting loose a spawn of Rovagug? That can't be abided - if only because I still have to live in the world afterwards."