"You cast your gaze across what must have once been a great and fabulous city. Rotted boardwalks, and tumbledown shacks sqaut over the polluted canals, congested with mud, refuse, and tainted sea-water from the Blood Sea that run through the Styes like cogealed blood in a dead patient.During the month we were in town, Telryn made potions of mana (Miriel, Goldpetal, Telryn), a cloak of resistance (Goldpetal), a broach of shielding (Telryn), gauntlets of ogre power (Paks), and wings of flying (Telryn).The Styes is an apt name, indeed. It is an eyesore, a blot on Scarn, fit for neither animal or man, and yet judging by the people we've seen fighting over the scraps of this midden heap, they might be less than animals.
And yet, an even greater evil stalks this place. Grizly murders and madness have shaken even this embittered populace. The walls of the hut behind you were covered with disturbing drawings that were plainly created by a madman, but yet there must be some meaning there...if only you could piece it together...
Closer to the sea, an abandoned lighthouse casts a long shadow in the weak winter sun. A foul fog, pink with tainted water, gathers over the water. Perhaps you should make our way back up to the safety of the upper city before it gets dark."
It's late afternoon, and Miriel suggests that maybe we should get up to the city before it gets dark. Darmaon asks if we didn't have one more stop we wanted to make, but Chuck says we can come back tomorrow. We head back to the water taxi, asking him to drop us off as near to the stairs as possible.
At the library, they tell us it is time to close. Telryn begs for a few more minutes. As we leave, one of the librarians tells us that the next day is a holiday and the library will be closed, but we're welcome to come back for the guest lecturers. He also says we should make sure to dress in gray. Paks asks where we can get one, and the librarian says "anywhere."
As we ride back to the stairs, we notice people peering out of buildings at us; we obviously don't belong. It feels like it takes an hour to get up the stairs, and we are slowed by the mob of people at the top, but we get through immediately when we show our badges. We all meet back at the mission. Miriel offers to help with the cooking, but dinner is already ready.
Goldpetal casts Circle of Sounds so we can talk undisturbed. We are glad to have food from home, as the food in the bazaars that we've seen looks very bland and uninteresting. We discuss what to do tomorrow to investigate. Since the library is closed, we all plan to go back to the Styes tomorrow. Miriel goes to meditate to learn Commune so she can ask Madriel for advice. The others discuss what questions to ask.
Goldpetal looks at the pictures of the sea monster, but has never seen anything like it. Telryn looks and observes that the pictures actually show two monsters, a tentacled one which is leashed and held by a fish creature.
As Miriel begins her prayers and chanting, which takes about 10 minutes, she suddenly hears this verse:
She asks the first question, "Did Jarmay commit the murders for which we have been told he was executed?" YES. "Was he under magical compulsion to do so?" YES. "Is he truly dead?" YES. "Do we have the ability to speak with him?" NO. "Can we learn anything useful at the asylum?" YES. "Is either of the sea monsters responsible for either the abductions or the murders?" YES. At this point, though we have asked only six questions, Miriel feels somehow that she can ask no more.Madness
A ship in the sky
The dead alive
Fish out of water
The titan forgotten
Darmaon suggests that he'll act crazy to get into the asylum; he asks Goldpetal to tattoo on his lockpicks. Miriel is very tired and wants to sleep. Miriel buys two loaves of bread from the kitchen and casts Bread of Life on them, handing out the pieces, and keeping three. We sleep, waking up a little before dawn. Even though we're out by dawn, the streets are already filled with people heading to the temples to discuss the law, hear lectures, and show their allegiance to Hedrad. It is easy to reach the stairs, and the guards pass us right through. As we start walking down the stairs, the clear winter's day is obscured by the smoke and chemicals and rancid mud. We are all disgusted. Goldpetal considers summoning a storm to clear the air. We get to the bottom of the stairs after about an hour, and make our way to the entrance to the Styes.
We start to make our way to the HopeNe'er asylum, but Paks suggests that perhaps we should visit the garrison first. We make our way to the garrison. The rest of us hang back while Paks and Darmaon go to ask for Constable Jute. We're in luck, he's in. As they pass through the garrison, they see that it's crumbling and not very well maintained. It's built right on the mud, and looks like a few floors might even be under the mud. They are sent to Jute's office - he's just gotten off the night shift. Darmaon starts fast-talking him, trying to find out more about the murders, what Jarmay said, etc. He actually starts talking to Paks, asking her what a nice girl was doing looking into such things. He says he found Jarmay by the Hemlock pit, red-handed, with a lantern in one hand and the knife in the other, standing over the body. Darmaon asks what happened to the lantern, but the Constable ignores him and keeps talking to Paks. He says Jarmay seemed really quiet for someone who had just done a murder. She keeps asking what he said, but he says that he really didn't say anything. He finally says he shouldn't be talking about this and stops Darmaon says we're on an important mission from Vesh, and finally Jute agrees to say more. He asks what Vesh's interest is. He asks Paks to close the door, then tells her about there being another murder, his superiors have told him to let it go, but there has been a lot of money changing hands, and the Chief has a fine new clock. He says we could talk to Emil Trantor, the warden, but he doesn't trust him. He offers to show us the location of the newest murder, and Paks suggests meeting at a bar near the garrison.
Darmaon stops by the rest of us to tell us what is going on, and to get a copy of the drawings. We all go to the bar, but sit at separate tables. He tells Paks that Councilman Dori was hanging out at the garrison until the execution, but hasn't been around yet. He says the councillor gives him the creeps, and is always wearing a lot of perfumes, but still smells awful. Paks asks if they investigated to see if he was under a spell, but he says his superiors told him not to go further. Darmaon asks him if he has heard tales of sea monsters, and shows him the drawing, but he says it's just crazy. Paks asks now to see the scene of the latest murder, which was of a man named Raif. He shows them on the map, but says he is tired and won't go along. Paks gives him three gold. As she slips him the money, he says that perhaps if there is a raid on Dori's house, the garrison will be slow to respond. He heads off and the party rejoins.
We encounter the Hemlock Pit, which is a very large, smelly pit, with
some garbage at the bottom. We reach Dori's place, which is very
noticeable, as it is a three-story stone warehouse, with a huge crane
crane with a wood and iron ship suspended from it in front of it, with
water running into it through a trough from a water tower.
We move back to the warehouse. While we discuss what to do, Darmaon finally drinks an invisibility potion and walks in to the warehouse. There are stacks of crates, mostly marked with alchemy symbols. In one corner is a manager's office, in two other corners are metal spiral staircases going up, and there is a hole in the ceiling where a lift goes up and down. Darmaon looks around to see who is in the manager's office and sees a foreman. He goes outside and looks up at the crane. It looks like a tough climb. He goes back and whispers to Telryn to ask if he can fly. Telryn slips off his cloak and gives it to the invisible Darmaon, who flies up to the ship and tries to look in. He sees a platform around the crane, with a little hut on it. He hears the ship creaking. Steam is coming out from the place where the water goes in. There is a cabin, but the door is shut. He flies back into the warehouse and sees if he can trigger the lift to come down, but it requires cranking, then rejoins the party. Paks asks if he can fly up and see if there are controls for the crane in the cabin, but his invisibility is wearing off, and the windows are smeared so he can't see in.
Miriel suggests making the ship drop, but the rest of the party thinks it's a bad idea. Darmaon wants to raid the warehouse, and suggests that Telryn put everyone to sleep. Paks says to just walk in and ask for the Councilman. As we talk more, Chuck just walks in, followed by Paks and then the rest of us. We ask for the Councilman, and they direct us to Borsk, the foreman. He's a big guy, behind a desk way too small for him, piled with papers. His face is covered in a red rash. Miriel offers to heal him, but he doesn't trust her. Paks asks for the councilman, but he says it'll take a few days to arrange. Paks motions for Darmaon to talk to him. Darmaon is very persuasive, but can't convince him. Darmaon becomes angry and punches him in the face, knocking him out, then searches his files, but doesn't find anything of interest. Darmaon props him up to look like he's sleeping, and we leave the office, closing the door behind us. We go to the staircase in the NE and start to climb. As Darmaon, who is in the lead, pokes his head up into the next level of the warehouse, he sees three manticores slumbering. We notice that the workmen have cleared out of the warehouse. As we are whispering, one of the manticores roars at us.
Looking up, Darmaon sees that the third floor is just a balcony. We keep climbing up. The manticores flick their tails at Darmaon, each launching six spikes at him. Four hit him. Telryn waits for Paks to move. Paks casts Divine Favor on herself. Darmaon drinks a potion of Blur and runs up the stairs, reaching the third floor balcony. Chuck moves up and charges the manticores, drawing and activating Hoarfrost. Miriel casts Divine Power on herself.
Goldpetal casts an Obscuring Mist at the top of the staircase. Telryn flies up to the balcony, casting Shield on himself. The manticore in front of Chuck claws twice and bites at Chuck, hitting with the claws. Paks moves towards the battle, casting Light Blade. Chuck swings twice at the manticore, hitting it both times. He steps back five feet. Miriel climbs past Goldpetal and in towards the fighting.
Goldpetal moves up the stairs and changes into a bear. Telryn flies above the mist. The manticores have flown up to the crates and fire spikes from their tails at him. Four hit him. He casts a Fireball at the manticores, hitting both, though one dodges some of the damage. The crates start to burn. The manticore attacks Goldpetal, hitting with a bite and a claw. Paks swings at the manticore in front of Chuck, killing it. "One down!" Darmaon climbs down to Miriel. Chuck kills the manticore with a coup de grace. Miriel casts a Healing Circle.
Goldpetal starts eating the manticore. The manticores fire spikes at Telryn again. He falls dead to the floor. Paks shouts that the crates are on fire and the manticores are on the third floor. She calls to Miriel that Telryn is dead. Darmaon moves to the edge of the mist and shoots at one of the manticores with his bow, hitting it. Chuck moves to the edge of the mist and up the stairs. Miriel runs up the stairs to the third floor and to Telryn.
Goldpetal moves to the edge of the mist, under the overhand, and casts Create Water to put the fire out. One manticore attacks Darmaon, the other attacks Goldpetal. Both are hit. Paks lays hand on Telryn, bringing him back from the brink of death. Darmaon shoots at a manticore, missing it, then withdraws into the mist. Chuck runs out and hits a manticore. Miriel pulls out her spear and moves to attack a manticore.
Goldpetal changes into panther form and heads up the staircase. The manticore in front of Chuck attacks him, hitting with both claws. The other manticore fires a volley at Miriel and Paks. All three miss Miriel, but three hit Paks. Paks moves up and swings at the manticore, but missies. Darmaon pokes his head out to see what's up, then runs up the stairs. Chuck swings at the manticore twice, hitting once, then steps back. Miriel moves up and attacks the manticore, hitting it.
Goldpetal bites the manticore in front of Chuck, hitting it, and swallowing a mouthful. Paks swings at the manticore twice, hitting it and killing it. Darmaon goes over and feeds Telryn some Bread of Life. Chuck steps up and swings at the last manticore, killing it. Chuck eats his bread.
We all search around. Miriel and Telryn search near the burnt crates and take some alchemy equipment - Miriel gets 3 sun rods and Telryn gets 3 vials of acid. Chuck and Darmaon unlock the door. Chuck admires the lock repeatedly. Chuck listens at the door, and thinks it might lead outside. Miriel steps back beyond where the door would swing open. Paks stands on the opposite side. Darmaon opens the door and sees the crane platform. The fog has rolled in a little, and the platform is quite slippery.
Miriel gives Darmaon some flour to sprinkle on the platform to make it less slippery. Goldpetal moves along the platform; as he rounds the corner a creature bullrushes him, trying to push him off the platform. He pushes Goldpetal back five feet. Chuck swings Hoarfrost at the frog-man, hitting it. Telryn summons a Celestial Lion. Darmaon starts spreading flour, but notices the battle, drops the flour, and pulls out a potion of spider climb. A frog-man drops off the roof and tries to bullrush him. Darmaon falls off the platform, splatting in the mud. He manages to hang on to the potion of spider climb, and drinks it after he lands. Paks moves out and swings at a frog-man, hitting it. Miriel pulls out a scroll of Airwalk and casts it on herself.
Paks swings at one of the frog-men, but misses. Darmaon starts to climb up the wall. A celestial lion appears behind the frog-man and attacks it. Miriel waits for space to attack or calls for aid. The frog man moves over to attack the lion. Miriel moves out to attack him, and he swings at her with his trident, but misses. Miriel stabs at him and hits. He stabs at Miriel and hits her. Three more frog men rush out of the boat, carrying bows. A frog-man stabs Goldpetal with its trident. Two on the deck of the ship fire at Goldpetal. The other shoots at the lion and hits it. Goldpetal attacks the one in front of him. Chuck attacks the one near him, but slips and has to save himself.
Paks swings at a frog-man and misses. Darmaon blows his horn to summon four Fiendish Wolves. The lion moves around the corner, and is attacked by another frog-man, which tries to bullrush it. It misses, and the lion claws it, smiting it. Telryn moves to the door and magic missiles the closest frog-man, killing it. Miriel moves over to Goldpetal and Chuck and casts Bless on everyone. The frog-man in front of Chuck attacks him with a sneak attack. One of the frog-men shoots at the lion, hitting it, two shoot at Goldpetal and one hits. Goldpetal attacks a frog-man with claws and a bit, but misses. Chuck swings at the frog-man in front of him and hits. He swings again and chops its head off - the head flies off in one direction and the body splats into the mud.
Paks steps out onto the platform and casts Protection from Evil on herself. The wolves attack frog-men. One hits, but fails to trip the frog-man. One wolf races around the boat to get to the other side of the platform. Darmaon tries to jump onto the building, but falls onto the platform next to Paks. The frog-man attacks the lion twice, but misses. The lion attacks the frog-man, clawing and biting it. Telryn flies through the door and magic missiles a frog-man. Miriel hands Chuck a piece of bread. A frog-man attacks a wolf, hitting it, but missing with the bite. Another frog-man attacks a wolf, hitting and biting it, and killing it. The last frog-man shoots at Goldpetal, but misses. Goldpetal runs over to the boat, by the door. Chuck attacks a frog-man and kills it. He breaks one of the windows of the building.
Paks moves along the platform. Darmaon gets up and climbs up the building. He shoots at a frog man. The wolves attack a frog-man, but miss. The frog-man kills one wolf and tries to bite the other, but misses. Another frog-man attacks a wolf and hits, but misses with its bite. The lion tries to jump across to the boat, but fails and falls, disappearing. Telryn magic missiles a frog-man. Miriel walks through the air over to the boat to flank a frog-man. Goldpetal steps forward and attacks a frog man, hitting once. Chuck walks over to the gangplank to cross to the boat.
Paks moves cautiously down the platform and across the plank. Darmaon holds on Miriel flanking the frog-man. The wolves attack one the frog-men, hitting and tripping it. It falls. Telryn magic missiles another frog-man. Miriel steps up to attack the frog man and Darmaon shoots at it, but fumbles. Miriel stabs at it twice with her spear, hitting once. A frog-man attacks Goldpetal with a trident and bite, but misses. A frog-man attacks Miriel with trident and bite, but misses. The frog-man that fell stands up. Goldpetal attacks a frog-man, but misses. Chuck attacks a frog-man and hits it.
Paks lays hands on Goldpetal. The wolves attack the frog-men. One hits, killing it. The other misses. Telryn magic missiles a frog-man. Darmaon makes a sneak attack on a frog-man, hitting it. Miriel walks out around the boat to attack the last frog-man on the ship. The frog-man attacks Goldpetal, hitting with the trident. Goldpetal attacks it, hitting with his claws. Chuck climbs over the cabin and swings at a frog-man, hitting it and killing it. The frog-man in the mud runs away. Miriel calls everyone around her and heals them with a Healing Circle.
We notice that the equipment of the frog-men is very good, and plan to
take their chain shirts. Chuck looks through the broken window while
Telryn looks through the hole that water is flowing into the ship
through. Neither can see anything of interest - the crane hardware is
rusty, and the water hole is obscured by steam. The steam is almost
painfully hot. Darmaon searches for traps on the door. Miriel casts
Divine Power on herself. Paks opens the door. Steam billows out.
Darmaon knocks the sluice aside and it falls to the ground. Inside,
we see two roaring boilers.
Miriel steps in, followed by Chuck, Paks, and Darmaon. Chuck moves
past Miriel and listens at the interior door, but he does not hear
anything but the creaking and sloshing of the ship. Darmaon climbs in
across the ceiling, and Chuck asks him to check the door for traps; he
doesn't find any. Chuck opens the door, which opens in towards him.
Chuck draws his bow and shoots at them, but misses. Telryn moves into the ship and Hastes Paks. Paks moves in and they shoot at her, but they miss. She attacks a frog-man with two attacks, hitting hard. Miriel moves in and hits the same one. Goldpetal moves in and opens the door to a boiler. Darmaon climbs in and throws some alchemist's fire at the other frog-man, hitting it.
Chuck shoots at one of the frog-men, but fumbles. Telryn magic missiles a frog-man. The frog-man attacks Miriel with a trident and bite. It hits with the trident. The other shoots at Darmaon, but misses. Paks attacks the frog man twice, but misses. She attacks again and hits, killing it. She moves up. Miriel moves up and attacks the second frog-man, hitting once and missing the second time. Goldpetal casts Create Water to put the first boiler out. Darmaon spider climbs over towards the platform.
Telryn steps in and shoots the frog-man with a magic missile. The frog-man attacks Paks, but fumbles. Paks attacks it again and hits once, misses twice. Miriel hits it twice and kills it. Chuck steps in to the room, but slips and falls down. He stands up again. Darmaon searches for traps, but doesn't find any. Darmaon throws the body of a frog man into the water, after first stripping off the chain shirt.
Paks opens the door, slips, and falls. Scented air, jungle -
Telryn casts a Lightning Bolt at the assassin, frying it. The electric current travels through the water, hitting the golem, which looks stronger. Darmaon moves over to shoot at the golem, but misses. The golem makes two slam attacks on Chuck, hitting once. Goldpetal summons three Dire Bats. Three Fiendish Crocodiles appear and attack the golem, two hit, and one grapples it. Miriel steps over and attacks the Councilor. Chuck steps in and attacks the Councilor, hitting him with Hoarfrost, but missing on the second attack. The Councilor tries to stab Chuck with his rapier, but fails. He says "I surrender! Don't kill me! I promise to tell you everything I know!" Paks drinks a potion of Haste and steps in to attack the golem. Paks swings at the golem, but stumbles and can't swing.
Telryn magic missiles the golem, but they just dissipate on it. Darmaon attacks the golem and hits. The golem tries to grapple the crocodile, and succeeds. It slams the crocodile. Three Dire Bats appear. One flies above the councilor and Chuck. The others fly above the crocodiles and the golem. Those two attack the golem. One hits. Goldpetal casts Cure Moderate Wounds on himself. The three crocodiles attack the golem; one hits. Miriel stabs at the golem, hitting it twice. Chuck takes out the manacles, says "Your surrender is accepted," and attempts to manacle Dory. Dory seems to hesitate. Paks tries to attack the golem again, but slips and falls again. twice.
Telryn drinks a potion of Mana. Darmaon attacks the golem again and scratches it. The golem tries to grapple the crocodile again, but fails. Two Dire Bats bite the golem. The other menaces the Councilor. The crocodiles attack the golem, and two hit. Miriel swings twice at the golem, but misses. Chuck steps back, drinks a potion of Cure Light Wounds, and says "Well, it's the manacles, or THEM." Dory continues to hesitate. Paks stands up and manages to swing at the golem, hitting three times and killing it. Dory slowly drops his sword. Chuck says "I thought so," and puts the manacles on him, though Dory clearly wants to resist.
"Are you responsible for the Lantern Man?" "No, no, not at all, there's this cult that worships this crazy titan, Gulaben. They've made an alliance with some sort of evil sea creature." Goldpetal asks what he is. "I hate this, they killed me and brought me back, my friends brought me back so I could get revenge. They're both dead now." "We could kill you and bring you back as something else." "I'll take my chances in this poor, decrepit body." "I want to know more about this cult." "They're using the fears of the populace to spawn this evil creature under the sea." "Are there members of the government involved in the cult?" "I don't think so, just people in the low city." "Where is the cult based?" "I can give you directions to their temple." He gives us directions. Telryn starts collecting things on his desk. He gets a crumpled-up piece of paper, lots of notes. Paks asks him which ones are explosive runes, but he says he doesn't know how. Lots of notes, ledgers, a book of foul erotica, lots of crude drawings and scribbles of sea monsters, a mahogany box. Paks asks him to open it, which he does. There's a velvet purse and a book of greasy black leather, with a strange symbol on the cover. Paks tells him to hand the book to Telryn. Darmaon asks if the manticores were guarding something. "Yeah, my warehouse." "Who made the golem for you?" "My wizard friend." "Is he dead now?" "Oh, yeah." "What was his name?" "I forget." "Is he undead now?" "No." "Do you know anything about the kidnappings, slave trade, diseased rats?" "I don't know what you're talking about." Chuck sees that he's obviously lying. "Tell me what you really know about the slave trade and the rat men, or you can have many fewer limbs." "Paladin, you're not going to let him chop off my fingers and hands, are you?" "Well, really, I think you should just be killed outright. Not made to suffer, of course." "Okay, okay, I'll tell you everytihng I know, I was kidnapping slaves for house Asuras." "How much were they paying you?" "I was making good money, but then the cultists came and made me sell them to them." Miriel can't take it anymore and turns him, which causes him to dissipate. His clothes and belongings fall to the floor. Chuck catches the manacles before they hit the ground.
He had a lovely rapier, magic bracers, a magic ring, 11 vials of acid, 5 vials of fine perfume, and some disgusting clothing. Also 34 platinum pieces. We decide to take everything, including the chain shirts, to Refrum's house, which excites Telryn no end. Telryn gives Paks his wings of flying and Paks takes all the stuff, flying, to Refrum's.