Session 6-13-09

 

Maia 19, 23 CR -- The Demonweb Pits, 66th Layer of the Abyss:

The drow priestess Lissondra stares imperiously at the six companions (still under the glamer of a veil spell, disguised as drow, ogre and goblin) and the bleeding corpses of the Lolthblessed captain and his guards which lie at their feet, unsure of what to make of the scene.  A flicker of annoyance crosses her face, and then she casts true seeing from behind the safety of Altaer's wall of force, revealing the heroes' true countenances to her.  Her bodyguard, the tiefling Bon Amejdoss, stands by wearing a disinterested look.

 

Lissondra's face lacks the fierce sneer of violence and tension that seems perpetually present among the Lolthblessed priestesses.  Her own demeanor is calm and confident, and her eyes gleam with an eager readiness to act, as though she has been waiting long years for this moment to arrive. The six friends know her only as an ally of the githzerai scholar Rule-of-Three and a long-hidden double agent of the Dark Huntress aspect of Irindix.   "Ah, so it is you after all.  You certainly made your way here quickly enough, and it seems your prowess in battle has not been exaggerated.  By now, though, the Spider Queen has certainly been alerted to your presence.  We must make haste.  I see you have acquired an iron pyramid key, so follow me through the circle back to my demense."

 

Lissondra's lair is a shadowed library filled with countless lorebooks and ancient trinkets, but the large demense is now cluttered and chaotic, as though it had recently been gone over and all the truly valuable items stripped out and packed away hastily.  Clearly, Lissondra has no intention of maintaining her cover any longer.  "As you can see, we are planning a journey of our own, far from here. Bon Amejdoss has been busy packing my sundries; all that remains is for you to hand over Rule-of-Three's report, and we can all depart safely before Lolth marks our passing."

 

Acacia rummages around in her haversack and pulls out the sealed sheaf of papers given her by Rule-of-Three.  She hands the report to Jack, who in turn hands it to Lissondra.  The priestess only glances at Rule-of-Three's papers long enough to determine their seal is unbroken, and then stuffs them unceremoniously into her satchel without so much as cracking the seal. 

 

"Very well.  It seems you have fulfilled your part of this bargain, and performed the task set before you.  I have been authorized by one of the inner circle of my order, Matron Hunter Sordemors of Valhgate, to share with you information she has deemed vital to your mission.  I have not seen the words on the scrolls I am about to hand over to you; nor may I see them or hear the words upon them, in your presence or otherwise.  Sordemors had this message: she received a vision -- divine guidance from the Dark Huntress herself.  She knows you are seeking the four elemental aspects of the Wild Hunt of Jenoic, and also seeking answers about the Threefold Sundering.  I hope what I have provided today is of use to you.  Seek out Sordemors in the Lodge of the Huntress at Valhgate when you have the opportunity... and one other thing." 

 

Lissondra smiles and continues.  "If you are feeling particularly brave or foolhardy, know that the Fane of Eclavdra is accessible through the passages in this area.  Yes, she is that Eclavdra: the most notorious Lolthblessed priestess in the Abyss and across the planes, and personal whip of the Spider Goddess. You might be interested in the platinum teleportation key which is guarded by her acolytes and other guards at the Fane, but entering would be a challenge indeed, even for such as you."  She produces a blue crystal cube from her satchel, handing it to Jack and briefly touching his hand with her soft fingers as she turns over the teleportation key.  "This key will get you closer to the Fane than the iron pyramid, if you wish to test your mettle there.  If you can acquire it, the platinum key allows access to all the teleportation portals of the Demonweb... you would have free run of the place, except for the personal demense of the Spider Queen herself, and other such secret chambers."

 

Together, the six friends eagerly examine the two scrolls given them by Lissondra.  Each contains a poem, or at least a fragment of verse.  Heeding Lissondra's wishes, they read the verses silently and do not share their contents with her.  The verses are as follows:

 

First:

 

Complete is my chair in Caer Sidi,

None will be afflicted with disease or old age that may be in it.

It is known to Caunaur and to Haldaraena.

Three utterances, around the fire, will he sing before it,

And around its borders are the streams of the ocean.

And the fruitful fountain is above it,

Sweeter than spun honey the liquor therein.

 

Second:

I will praise the Prince of Thorns and Roses,

Who encompasses the margins of the world.

Complete was the prison of Gaia’s Bane in Caer Sidi,

Through the spite of Star and Swan.

No one before him went into it.

The heavy blue chain held the faithful youth,

And before the spoils of Jenoic woefully he sings,

And till the world’s doom our poet’s prayer shall sound.

Thrice enough to bind the Devourer, we went into it;

Hidden gracious, my eyes bleed tears of sorrow for our loss.

Except seven, none shall return from Caer Sidi.

 

There is little time to consider the meaning of these verses, as the walls of Lissonda's sanctum and the webbing outside throb with a deep shudder and an unearthly hiss echoes throughout the room and beyond.  "Lolth comes now.  We must be quick!  Since you have the proper keys, you may see yourselves out.  Use the iron pyramid and travel to the Hall of the Great Web. From there, you can easily reach a gate which will take you out of the Demonweb.  Its frame is crafted of pure adamantine, and within is nothing but utter blackness. It is a portal to many place, if one but knows the place she is seeking. Passing through the gate will not be so easy as reaching it, for Lolth's guardians will undoubtedly be on alert."  She motions to Bon Amejdoss, who retrieves a stone of recall from his haversack and prepares to activate it.

 

"A moment, lady," Jack asks.  "You spoke of Sordemors and the Lodge of the Huntress at Valhgate.  Are you, yourself Gaian?"  The drow peers through Jack with pupil-less black eyes ringed in white.  Her expression is unreadable.  "It could be said that I am Gaian," she says slowly, "but as with many questions, the answer is not so simple.  I have called many primes home in my lifetime, Jack Dunstan."  The walls shudder again with Lolth's anger and Bon Amejdoss looks at his mistress in alarm.  She calmly gives the order to depart, and the tiefling readily activates his stone.  A complex circle of black and blood-red runes appears beneath their feet, silently pulses twice, and teleports the two away to places unknown.

 

A few moments later, the six companions have left Lissondra's sanctum behind and activated the iron pyramid dais on the teleporter, keeping the Hall of the Great Web in their minds.  The dais pulses with a dark grey aura and they appear in a black hemispherical room with a polished black marble floor marked with silver lines, a junction of at least four webbed passages.  The webbing above makes a dome, which now shudders from time to time with Lolth's anger, as though the billowing mists beyond the webs were trying to push in and asphyxiate all within the Hall.  Taking a downward-sloping passage, the six heroes move quickly, sensing danger on their heels.  They arrive at a wide tunnel which leads into a 50' x 50' octagon-shaped room.  The room's only exit is the portal Lissondra spoke of -- an enormous door standing at the end of the room, with utter, unmoving blackness inside.  Also as Lissondra predicted, the portal's guardians are on alert.

 

"Tremble, mortals, for your doom is at nigh!"  A 16-foot tall Kastighur demon with massive horns snorts steaming fire and lowers its head for a charge.  The demon is cloaked in fire and adamantine, clad in a huge spiked breastplate of the black metal, and its eyes burn like coals behind an adamantine faceplate attached to a deadly spiked helm, accentuating and reinforcing its long horns.  Two dangerous vrock warriors flank the kastighur, screeching their battle-cries as they dive down to engage the party in combat. The vrocks unleash their spores and stunning screeches, but Rockbounder shrugs off their attacks and leaps through the fray to engage the behemoth kastighur.  His bonded blade Quell cuts through the demon's armor and flesh, but several savage blows from the kastighur leave Rockbounder bloodied in turn.  After Kaelin and Altaer weaken one of the vrocks with a barrage of steel and magic, Acacia draws back Thaas and puts and arrow in each of the vulture-demon's eyes, killing it instantly.  The body immediately decays as though 100 years have passed in an instant, leaving nothing but crumbling black dust behind.

 

Jack's scythe decapitates the second vrock, sending its head spinning bloodily while Kaelin and Rockbounder trade blows with the mighty kastighur.  Ayotunde has her work cut out for her, barely keeping her friends on their feet due to the savage blows of Lolth's guardian.  The demon is confident, rumbling paens of death and doom as it fights, while using its quickened greater teleport and quickened greater dispel magic abilities to peel off the heroes' enchantments and lay down punishing charge attacks.  Bereft of its vrock allies, though, the kastighur is worn down by the party's relentless attacks.  Jack, Kaelin and Rockbounder swiftly surround the horned guardian and, after a crushing blow from Rockbounder sends the kastighur sprawling, Jack finishes the job by charging forward and activating his true strike dreambrand.  His scythe rings out as he cuts the kastighur down to size.  As the demon falls, its death throes release a massive wave of necrotic negative energy from its corpse, enveloping the heroes in a miasma of corruption and death.  Several of their number are dropped to death's door by the explosion, leaving them weakened and helpless, unable to act without magical healing.

 

The weblike walls of the chamber then begin to shake, buckle and collapse, allowing a cloud of necrotic vapor to seep into the room.  However, that is the least of the companions' problems, for a terrible Hammer of Lolth -- an aspect of the Demon Goddess herself -- arrives through the wall breach only seconds later.  As the tunnel wall dissolves, unmade, spun back into its maker.  Before them stands a being of ruinous hatred, her jet black, glossy carapace and eight legs moving faster than they can folow.  Her head is not a spider's shell, but rather the white-haired head of a drow female that seems to encompass all the qualities of the dark elves simultaneously. Her face is twisted into a wrathful visage, and she almost grins as her shining fangs elongate and drip venom.  "Your death has come, interlopers.  Fall before my wrath and know the punishment of all who seek to unmake the Threefold Sundering.  You will find no solace in death, for my Demonweb shall bind and devour you!"  Lolth's aspect hisses in barely-controlled rage as she summons forth a skittering ten-thousand spider swarm from the corpse of the kastighur with nothing more than a glance.  The spiders crawl all over the stunned companions, biting and pinching exposed flesh as they envelop them.  Ayotunde barely maintains her concentration long enough to cast a mass cure moderate wounds spell, bringing several of her friends back to consciousness. 

 

Lolth's hammer moves into the party's ranks, visciously targeting only those who have lost their heroes' feast enchantments so that her venom may take effect.  "Suffer for my pleasure," she taunts, hissing with wrath as she punishes these upstart mortals. Her fangs puncture Rockbounder's flesh, her poison sapping his strength, and even he, whose Kord-blessed prowess seems so abundant, feels the strain of his muscles as the venom takes hold.  Lolth's aspect moves on to Altaer, upon whom she inflicts a thrice-cursed bite of greater dispelling, strength-sapping poison and a horrible curse which dampens his charisma to the point where he can only cast the most basic of spells.  The attacks of the Hammer strike without fail, and her potent bite and wrathful visage sends the heroes fleeing with all speed towards the black gate.  Rockbounder, summoning up all his reserves of strength, pulls the helpless Altaer into his arms along with Acacia.  Jack and Kaelin head for the gate as well, reaching it just as the goliath leaps through. 

 

Ayotunde is left exposed and alone for a few desperate seconds, and calls out to her goddess for aid.  "Mother Shandae, protect me!"  Lolth's hammer turns all her attention Ayo, grasping and biting with intent to kill. Ayo suffers a terrible, near-critical bite which only luck, or the divine grace of Shandae prevents from being a lethal blow.  Scrambling away from the ten-thousand spider swarm and the vengeful aspect of Lolth, Ayo barely reaches the black gate ahead of her pursuer.  Holding an image of the Sylvan Glades Inn at Sigil in her mind, Ayo steps through, thankfully leaving the Demonweb behind.

 

Maia 19, 23 CR -- Sigil, City of Doors, the Outlands:

A nauseous feeling of free-fall takes hold over the six friends as they hurtle through time and space back to the City of Doors.  All is utter black and void, until the five who fled first realize they are lying face-down in the fragrant grass carpet of their favorite Sigil hideaway.  Ayotunde arrives about six seconds later, appearing next to the others with her cheek pressed against the grass.  A single fat, glossy spider with a black carapace -- a living reminder of their brush with death in the Demonwebs -- crawls out from beneath Ayo, who turns and smashes the insect with all her remaining strength.  It dies with a satisfying "splat."

 

Acacia looks up to see her half-elf friend Gryfalcon sipping a vanilla coffee at a nearby booth.  He catches her eye and tips his cup in her direction.  "Well, I am a jaunter of course, but it seems you've taken a jaunt that few would have the guts to undertake.  Good show I say, 'Darting Mouse.'  I see your reputation is well-earned."  The friendly jaunter turns back to his drink after flashing an infectious grin at the gnome.

 

The heroes were nearly laid low by Lolth's aspect and her many servants, and they are in a severely weakened state: poisoned, cursed, beaten and cut to the point where their wounds still sting when a soft breeze blows.  Thus far, the prophecy of the eye has held true: the Goddess shook her web, and they fled for their lives.  Desperately in need of an extended rest, the companions hail an elf attendant who helps them into their private suite up in the trees.  Ayotunde administers all the healing magic she can, restoring strength and health to her friends' bodies until exhaustion takes her.  The companions collectively sleep hard, awakening late the following morning after a deservedly long rest.

 

Maia 20, 23CR -- Sigil:

Upon awakening, Ayo prepares the now-typical heroes' feast for her companions: golden sweet pecan rolls, fresh fruit, soft cheese and fragrant, ambrosial hot chocolate with just a hint of spice.  Fresh off their near-lethal raid into the Demonweb, the food tastes especially wonderful this morning, and all are thankful for the gift of their lives in the face of Lolth's fury.  After breakfast, the party agrees to split up and take care of various business in Sigil.

 

Altaer heads over to the Dwarven Ingot in the Merchants' Ward, where he briefly flirts with the idea of selling the location of the rock trolls' marble quarry in the Beastlands to the Ingot's greedy proprietor, Durik.  However, he decides against the idea after considering the logistics more thoroughly.  His contract for workshop space is still in effect, and Altaer spends the rest of the morning and afternoon completing two projects: first, for purely cosmetic effect, he etches a series of new markings and rune patterns into his armor of preparedness, dubbing the new work "dragon-etching."  Upon completion, the new patterns meld seamlessly with his painted, scaly flesh, making him look all the more impressive and exotic. 

 

Further, Altaer undertakes a project for Kaelin, who spends the afternoon in the workshop with him.  In his spare time, Kaelin has been experimenting with a new combat style, featuring a greatsword as his primary weapon rather than the current sword-and-shield setup.  The feytouched crusader feels that he will best serve his friends in a more offensive role, and is now prepared to transfer the enchantments from his bastard sword (claimed in the lair of Tyrgarun at the Fane of Tiamat last year) to a new greatsword.  Perhaps this move to a more traditional weapon of the d'Astrikos house signals a new embracing of his eladrin heritage.  In any case, Altaer completes the enchantment transferral and seals the work with a few crafty embellishments as suggested by Kaelin, even incorporating the blue dragonfang -- a trophy of Tyrgarun's defeat -- into the new blade.  With his new greatsword strapped to his back, Kaelin looks more and more the part of a chaos-touched battle lord of the faerie realms. 

 

Ayo visits her contact Zarchai at the Desert Cornucopia nearby in the Merchants' Ward.  The gith from Athas is most pleased to accept her gift of sporebat seeds, and offers information in exchange.  "I have heard this, my friend: the frost giants loyal to Arbrozzar of Oerth, who dwell in Icestone Hall in Sigil, have been called to task by the Lady herself for fighting openly in the streets.  Something has riled up the giants enough that their behavior has offended the Lady of Pain. They may yet be asked to leave Sigil, but the matter is still being considered, so say the well-informed.  Which now includes you, friend."  Zarchai splays his finger delicately.  "I look forward to your next visit, beautiful woman of Gaia."  Ayotunde smiles and departs gracefully, though she is feeling a little sick to her stomach today, perhaps due to the exotic, sharp scents of the Cornucopia (more likely, she thinks, it's morning sickness).

 

In the late afternoon, the six friends meet near the outskirts of the Lower Ward and walk together to the Styx Oarsman, present as always in its unique shape like the Ferryman's own barge on the River Styx.  They enter and trade banter with the flirty bartender Marilith, who turns Jack and Kaelin on to a new drink she has invented, the Nine Layers of Hell.  "Nine different layered shooterssss, each formulated to ssstay ssseparate when poured," she brags.  Jack and Kaelin drink, and though they are made merry by Marilith's concoction they keep their wits about them.  Acacia slips away to wait for Rule-of-Three's arrival to the private chambers at the back of the Oarsmen, and the others beckon the githzerai from his usual spot in the corner.  Smiling thinly at their arrival but not appearing overeager, Rule-of-Three joins them in the back room numbered 3.

 

The companions report their success, and mention that Lissondra provided no report in exchange for Rule-of-Three.  He frowns briefly, but then shrugs.  "That was a rapid raid, a quick return, and a deed performed with some alacrity, despite Lissondra's lack of cooperation, with me at least," says Rule-of-Three, caressing his everpresent tome of mirror-mephit hide carelessly.  "I am pleased that all of you have returned alive, limbs intact, and relatively unscathed.  Now, as to business: I have, I believe, deciphered more of the meaning of the prophecy of the eye that you were given. The first part... about the bow of beasts, the giant's sword, the Lady's wisdom, and the book of flesh... we seem to have fulfilled that portion.  The book of flesh, I am now quite certain, refers to the tome, the spellbook, the magical writings which I carry, called formally the Book of Flesh and Mirrors.  It says here in the second part of the prophecy: 'A pair of keys: a blackened tongue, a golden word.'  I think that I understand this as well, which leads to your next mission, if you are willing to undertake it on my behalf."

 

The githzerai pauses to gather his thoughts and gazes down longingly at his shimmering hidebound book.  "What I ask of you is dangerous, risky and perilous in the extreme, and so I do not ask it lightly.  I am willing to pay you each 100 pieces of platinum now, and an additional 100 upon return.  Furthermore, I offer you without conditions, strings attached or favors required, the Book of Flesh and Mirrors.  For I believe the prophecy refers to 'a blackened tongue,' which is a word of the Dark Speech, and 'a golden word,' which is the purpose of what I am about to ask.  The golden word, I opine, think, and suggest, is an actual invitation to the Demon Council, the precise date of which we still do not know."

 

"Acquiring such an invitation will be, shall we say, a non-trivial task.  I know of one who can supply it, as well as the date of the party, the shindig, the gathering, if you will.  He is Dawnat Sanp, ambassador to none other than Orcus, Demon Prince of the Undead.  Sanp is a bone naga, a powerful sorcerer in his own right, and well-positioned in Thanatos, the realm of Orcus in the Abyss.  He currently resides, though, at the Sign of the Black Heart in the city of Zelatar in the Abyssal realm of Azzagrat, the domain of Graz'zt, Monarch of the Triple Realm.  You must travel to Zelatar, find Dawnat Sanp, and acquire from him both the exact time of the Abyssal Pact as well as an invitation to the Pact.  Though you have braved the Demonwebs, Zelatar is a three-layered city of demons and is no place for mortals to travel unprotected.  Even such as you would eventually be overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of them.  Fortunately, I have acquired at great expense a Merchant's Charter of Zelatar."

 

With this, Rule-of-Three hands Jack a very official-looking Compulsory and Universal Merchant Charter of the Free City of Zelatar.  It is stamped, sealed and officially issued by a proxy clerk in the name of "His Demonic Majesty the Dark Prince Graz'zt, Lord of Tyrants and Seducers, Dark Prince of Azzagrat, Monarch of the Triple Realm, Patron of Succubi and Lamias, King of the Harpies, Duke of the Chosen, Baron of Spies and Traitors, Black Eye of Knowledge, Master Porter of the Gates of Zelatar, Master of the Argent Palace, and Warden of Adimarchus, May His Reign Continue Glorious and Everlasting (proxy signature, seal, chop)." 

 

Rule-of-Three meets Jack's gaze evenly.  "The document is undoubtedly genuine, and so long as it is in your possession should allow you to navigate the worst of Zelatar's hazards without much harassment.  I would suggest you take on an incorporated charter and travel as planar merchants, as you have something of a reputation now here in Sigil.  Find Sanp quickly, get what you need, and depart quietly if you can.  There are many interested parties involved in the Abyssal Pact, if rumors hold... the Prince of Demons himself, Demogorgon, as well as Orcus, who ever seeks to disrupt Demogorgon's plans and make war upon him.  Too, there is talk of the ancient obyriths, who ruled the Abyss before the rise of the tanar'ri, arising to attend the Pact.  Obox-Ob may be there, and the unknowable Pale Night is rumored to have an interest.  Other less notable demon lords have their own interests as well, including Kostchtchie, who may send a sizeable contingent."

 

Jack snorts then, "What of Graz'zt?  I have heard his plots are deep, and his greed for rulership over the abyss is legendary?  Do you know where he stands, since we are travelling to his own city to find Dawnat Sanp?"  Rule-of-Three thinks for a moment, and shrugs.  "Who can say, when it comes to the Dark Prince?  His plots are deep, and his capacity for deception is legendary.  I believe that since he covets the title which Demogorgon holds, 'Prince of Demons,' and since he covets de facto control over the whole of the Abyss, that Graz'zt would likely oppose Lolth's rapid acquisition of many ripe new material worlds at once.  Remember, my master -- whose identity I may not divulge -- believes that the ultimate goal of Lolth's Pact is to give her the power to ensnare and suck dry many rich prime worlds, including Gaia and Oerth.  Such an upset in the Abyssal power structure in Lolth's favor would collapse the current balance and begin a new power struggle before any of the principals (aside from Lolth) would be truly ready for such a confrontation.  So it is, in the Abyss.  The politics shift and meld,  but never truly change."

 

Lines appear in Jack's brow as he looks to each of his five companions considers the offer before them.  "We will need some time to decide.  May we have until morning to think it over?"  Rule-of-Three agrees, "Certainly, that is more than fair.  If you agree, the payment and the Book of Flesh and Mirrors shall be yours.  I would suggest that if the safety of your worlds is of import, you would decide with all haste, but also with precaution.  I understand the dangers into which I would send you."

 

The group takes its leave of Rule-of-Three and the Lower Ward.  Jack, lacking confidence in both the sincerity of Rule-of-Three's offer and concerned about the hidden identity of the githzerai's master, withdraws a large sum of cash and heads with Acacia and Rockbounder to Sigil's largest and most well-reviewed Temple of Mirael, seeking divination services.  He and the two Oerthers find themselves seated on velvet cushions in a dark, lushly-appointed dome where thousands of twinkling gems have been placed in the black ceiling, forming the constellations of the multiverse.  They are greeted by a mysterious and authoritative androgynous creature who smells of sandalwood, amber and rowan shavings.  The veiled creature, over 7' tall and possessed of a lanky grace, leads them into a private chamber and performs an expensive divination.  "You wish information about the one called Rule-of-Three?  He is well hidden from Mirael's sight, and the ritual necessary will fall within our premium fee structure.  The cost is 5,400 gold pieces, or 540 platinum, if you prefer."  Once the fee is paid by Jack, who takes up a gathering from the others to help with payment, the seer settles into a trance. 

 

"Ask your question, seeker," intones the seer when all is quiet and still.  Jack phrases his query carefully: "Is Rule-of-Three sending us on this mission with the intent to trap or betray us?"  Several moments pass, and the seer gently shakes its head.  "No.  There is no treachery intended.  Your goals and those of Rule-of-Three are the same in this.  Do you have further questions?"  Jack shakes his head in turn, satisfied.  "No, thank you.  This has been most helpful."  The three depart the Temple of Mirael, and Jack's confidence seems to rise a bit. 

 

The three others -- Ayotunde, Kaelin and Altaer -- decide that evening to seek wisdom of a more immediately practical sort at the Library of the Lady.  There they meet their contact Goldfeather, the well-spoken marrash devil who wears gold-rimmed spectacles on his hyena-like face and who is rightfully proud of the beautiful, bright golden plumage for which he is named. "Ah my friends, I am pleased you have returned to grace the halls of the Library of the Lady once again.  How may I be of assistance?"  Altaer, Ayo and Kaelin communicate their interest in studying the two verses given them by Lissondra.  "Let us adjourn, then, to the Extradimensional Reading Room," says Goldfeather.  Once the four are situated comfortably amidst the stacks of scrolls, artifacts, tablets and books, he continues.  "So if I understand correctly, you wish to discover the meaning of some lost verses?"

 

Kaelin speaks.  "My friend Jack and I translated what we could.  He is otherwise occupied, but sends his regards, Goldfeather.  We know the meaning of some words from our own Sylvan tongue, and of its intersections with Elvish, and so we know that 'Caunaur' is translated as 'Sun Prince' or 'Prince of the Sun,' and that the name 'Haldaraena' appears in the first verse and translates as 'Hidden Gracious,' the words which themselves appear in the second.  Jack believes, and I agree, that Hidden Gracious may have been a moniker for our Gaian deity Irindix in ancient times.  The reference we would dearly love to find is this one: the Prince of Thorns and Roses, from the second verse.  Are he and Caunaur the same being?"

 

For well over two hours, Goldfeather diligently directs a search of the Reading Room's most ancient and well-preserved texts.  "Hmm, some of the references seem to lead back to the blackened passages in other works; the same ones that were destroyed and defaced, which you kindly brought to my attention previously," grumbles Goldfeather.  Just as the search appears to come to a dead end, the marrash's eyes light up as he gingerly withdraws an ancient stone tablet from out of its velvet-lined protective shelving.  "This is the only piece remaining in the collection which has any such direct reference.  Look here!  A rare and unique history plate -- masterwork goliath stonecraft, beyond the skill of all but the dwarves -- from a world called Mavortung, the Mountain Cradle as named by the goliath.  Such pieces are very hard to come by, as the goliath keep most historical records strictly through oral traditions.  This piece bears a maker's-mark, here, do you see?  Akala Fishstringer Kulie-Kamana, chieftain of the Kathaal tribe.  Here it references the breaking of their world, and the savior who came to save it, once refused, who came again with an offer of hope and renewal.  He was called Caunaur Ereg-Merillang, literally translated from ancient Sylvan as the Sun Prince of Roses, Thorns and Blades."

 

The eyes of the three heroes grow wide at the mention of the name Akala Fishstringer, who was in recent weeks transported by their own power to the surface of Gaia (see Threefold Sundering Session 3-15-09) so that he and his goliath tribesmen could continue their search for their lost master, a being known as the Exile, whose rune-magic and deceptive dreamweaves the heroes have encountered during their treks across the planes.  Ayotunde speaks now, "Goldfeather, it might interest you to know that we spoke with a goliath by this name, and of this tribe, less than two weeks ago here in Sigil."  She describes Rockbounder's discovery of Fishstringer and his destitute goliath kinsmen, and the tale of their journey to Gaia with the party.  Goldfeather's feathers ruffle in disbelief as his canine jaw drops.  He adjusts his spectacles nervously.  "That is... highly improbable, Lady Taenic.  This history plate is thousands of years old, and in fact its true age was not known when the piece came to our Library; nor is its exact age known now.  For you to claim to have met the author is... but I see that it is true when I look in your eyes."  The marrash shudders, a most disconcerting gesture considering his hellish origins. 

 

"Well, thank you Goldfeather. We have what we came for, and I can ask no more for now, except one thing?  Could you perhaps do me the honor of a feather, for my friend Acacia?  She has so wanted to claim a loose bit of your lumage."  Goldfeather smiles and nods.  "I will go one step further for you, friends."  He plucks out one of his finest, most lustrous gold feathers with a small wince and a bit of a tear in his eye.  "Know that your names have been passed on to the Lady, and that your contributions to the Library are appreciated.  Please return when we can be of service again."  Ayo and the others bow and take their leave of the librarian, certain now that the Exile and the being called Caunaur Ereg-Merillang are the same.  They return from the Library and meet the others back at the Sylvan Glades for rest. 

 

Upon returning to the Glades for the evening and receiving the feather, Acacia lays out all her acquired trinkets and strings them together into a necklace of oddities.  She is somewhat edgy, and handles her strange garnet before falling asleep that night.  Acacia has an odd, disturbing lucid dream, during which the world crawls all over with fat green necrotic worms of Kyuss, and which ends with her hurtling down a triple-mawed worm's mouth clutching the garnet before her as a blade.  It elongates into a razor-sharp arrowhead, and suddenly Acacia is wielding her bow Thaas, and plunging into writhing madness as she lets the garnet-arrow fly... what part will she play in the gnomes' great prank against the Worm-that-Walks?

 

Kaelin spends the later evening at the Shrine of Olidammara at the edge of the Clerks' Ward, as the shrine is also known as a friendly respite for those who call themselves Dissidents, loyal to the teachings of Gwardo (such as they are).  He meets a friendly half-elf girl with bushy brown hair and ruddy cheeks who calls herself simply Basil, and who conveniently is off her watch-shift at the shrine just as Kaelin arrives.  Basil leads Kaelin to a nearby head shop, where the two withdraw behind curtains to share pleasant smoke and other mild aphrodisiacs before tumbling in the cushions together.  Kaelin stumbles home in the early hours having gotten very little sleep indeed in Basil's arms.  He and Jack share another strange lucid dream, in which they stand on a foggy hillside amongst a set of menhir stones set in a circle, not unlike the stone circles that lead to the Ways on Oerth and the ley-line gates on Gaia.  Kaelin seems to have taken Jack's dreambrand onto his own skin somehow, but the two fight a clashing duel of steel and this time Jack wins, taking back his dreambrand as his scythe draws first blood on Kaelin.

 

Before departing the following morning, Rockbounder visits the large, bowled sandpit arena which serves as the Temple of Kord in Sigil.  He meets his friend and occasional wrestling partner Broadsnout there, and the two engage in another friendly match.  Despite Broadsnout's good-natured taunting: "I went too easy on you last time, pal... but look out, 'cuz I ate spicy chili today!" and his acrid flatulence, Rockbounder easily hip-locks, mounts and pins the larger ogre in a matter of twenty seconds.  Grimacing from the stench, eyes watering, he locks arms with his beaten opponent in the traditional gesture of sportsmanship.  "Man, you're too good.  Need some better competition than me, bro," says Broadsnout respectfully.  "Check it out, there... your lithoderms are formin' into the Wheel of Kord!"  The jutting lithoderm patterns on Rockbounder's skin do indeed seem to be forming into a noticeably dark pattern in the shape of a wheel on his chest.  The ogre stomps his right heel in the sound, making a thundering noise as he proclaims, "Blessed of Kord!  This one is mighty, brothers.  Look to him!"  Rockbounder takes in the acknowledgement and respect of the other warriors around him.  He returns to the Glades early in the morning to get a few hours' rest with his friends under the boughs before the next leg of the journey begins.

 

Maia 21, 23CR -- Sigil:

Morning comes to the City of Doors and the six companions awaken and partake of their daily heroes' feast.  They make their way to the Styx Oarsman and Jack informs Rule-of-Three that they are prepared to depart.  "Excellent, farewell, and all speed then," says the scholar.  "I now provide you with the Book of Flesh and Mirrors, a prize indeed for any planar traveller, for it contains spells little known outside of its pages, many of which can be cast directly from the book, if one is willing to expend personal energy in the casting.  It is bound in mirror mephit hide, did you know?  Many of the spells herein pertain to the analysis of planar portals, and to planar travel.  I was lucky, blessed and fortunate to have the book come to me at all, and I have enjoyed my scholarly pursuit of it these past years.  Now I pass it on to you, with hopes that you will use it well."  Along with a silk-wrapped roll of 100 platinum coins per adventurer, Rule-of-Three hands Altaer the Book of Flesh and Mirrors.

 

"It is a simple matter to reach Zelatar, wherein you will find the Sign of the Black Heart, the inn where Dawnat Sanp resides.  To activate the gate, simply climb the ladder outside of the Oarsman up to its hayloft while holding in your mind the image of a single platinum piece. I can think of no better agents for this mission than yourselves, and I hope to see you return soon with all your faculties intact."  The heroes bid Rule-of-Three farewell, and the githzerai watches from beneath his tanned hood as they exit the Oarsman, climb the ladder and vanish once again into the vast reaches of the Abyss.

 

Maia 21, 23CR -- Outskirts, city of Zelatar, Realm of Azzagrat, Fogtown, the 45th Layer of the Abyss:

Eerily, the fog-covered hill on which the six companions appear seems to be the same hill that Jack and Kaelin dreamt of the previous night.  They appear in a circle of weatherworn grey stones atop a shallow, muddy hill that leads down to a wide road below.  The skies above are dark grey and covered in windswept cloud formations containing what look like countless anguished faces.  A gentle, cold rain falls on the heroes, and a subdued and indistinct haze hangs over the gloomy landscape.  This first layer of Azzagrat is known as Fogtown, home to the poorest laborers of Graz'zt's realm and to countless slave gulags and rickety insane asylums.

 

The scythe-topped walls of the Fogtown neighborhood of Zelatar can be seen through the thick grey haze about a half-mile away.  Below the hill of standing stones, an unending stream of demons, prisoners and planar travelers trickles along the wide road towards the gates of the city.  Beyond, shining through the haze with a blinding glare stands a silvery palace, shining with a baleful glare.  This can only be the Argent Palace, Graz'zt's personal home and his seat of power across the 45th, 46th and 47th layers of the Abyss, which together encompass the Triple Realm of Azzagrat.  Demons whose numbers reach beyond the thousands labor ceaselessly on the wide, muddy grey plains below the wide road to the city.  Here and there, hezrou slavers and fiendish centaur-like Armanite cavalry guards herd the teeming manes and dretches into work crews, enjoying random moments of cruelty and violence as the fancy strikes them.  Overwhelming might, it seems, is difficult to argue with for the pathetic dretches and manes, who cringe and flee before even lesser demons such as babau and rutterkin.

 

As the heroes gather their courage and proceed down the hill to the road, they see the city of demons ahead: dozens of vrocks roost on the city walls, their droppings creating fetid sculptures of refuse atop the spires.  Legions of the demonic Armanite cavalry train in formation outside the walls, and merchant caravans (of which the party is one: G.O.A.T. -- Gaian/Oerth Alliance of Trade) approach the city from many directions, including on ships that travel a strangely crystalline river that can only be the infamous River of Salt.  Ahead, quilled beasts of burden haul chests past armanite patrols, and on either side of the road sit or stand maimed and wounded demons -- casualties of the Blood War or outcasts who have failed their masters in various tasks -- ignored by the passerby. 

 

A fat, froglike demon walks among this line of bleeding, dazed demons, slapping shackles on the dretches and manes and whipping the twisted rutterkin into line.  He is a hezrou, though a weak specimen when compared with the mighty General Toargus, whom the heroes fought and destroyed in the Beastlands.  Seeing the mortals arrive, this hezrou croaks in staccato rhythmn, his neck pouch bulging, his folds of fat jiggling as he laughs.  "Ah, excellent!  You have come through the portal from Sigil and are now all my slaves.  If you do not resist, I will not brand you," he croaks, brandishing his whip.

 

Acacia deftly walks down the long arm of Rockbounder, who has put said arm in the face of the hezrou slaver. "We are travelling merchants of the planes, demon, and as you can see our paperwork is quite in order."  The slaver stares at the party's merchant charter, slime dripping from his thick lips as he mutters to himself, reading it quietly aloud.  "Guardsman!  To me!"  A nearby armanite arrives quickly, hooves pounding on the packed mud as he approaches.  The taciturn demon has the lower body of a muscular horse and the torso, head and arms of a sickly but well-muscled human.  Its flesh is pale and festers with sores; heavy horns protrude from its brow and it wears an intricate suit of full plate armor.  Jack smells the cold iron of this armanite's lance and glaive, though he notes that not all the armanites are so armed.  The demon regards the hezrou slaver with a rather disdainful attitude, and then respectfully stands at a distance from Acacia (still perched on Rockbounder's arm) to read the charter she presents.

 

"All appears to be in order.  You may proceed to the gates, mortals of the Gaian-Oerth Alliance of Trade.  Welcome to Fogtown, first layer of the city of Zelatar.  His Demonic Majest, the Dark Prince Graz'zt bids you welcome, and good business.  May you find all that you seek here."  The cavalry-demon stands at attention and then falls in line next to the six members of "G.O.A.T.," leading the towards the gates of Fogtown.  As they approach, they note that the gates are flanked by two huge, leafless 18-foot tall trees with scaly, whitish bark.  Ayo has heard tell of these demonic flora: they are viper trees, intelligent and venemous plant-guardians of gateways throughout certain areas of Graz'zt's realm. 

 

The party has yet to enter the gates of Fogtown, and the huge viper trees guard the gates ahead.  In the interests of protecting their worlds from absorption into the Demonweb, their goal is clear, yet the path ahead is uncertain: they seek a golden word, an invitation to the Abyssal Pact from the Ambassador of Orcus, a bone naga called Dawnat Sanp who resides at the Sign of the Black Heart.They have been escorted onto the road and toward the gates, surrounded by lesser demons and other travelers, blood in the artery of an Abyssal city joining the ranks of the constant trickle of souls into Graz'zt's triple realm. 

 

The Threefold Sundering