As the huge cavern opens before you, some 200 feet wide, you can see several massive light emitting crystals in the ceiling over 100 feet above you, they are growing dim as though they are reflecting the daylight on the surface world. A humid heat permeates the air and the sounds of buzzing insects and occasional birdsong drifts on the warm air. Ahead of you, you can see several pipes spewing water from high in the walls of the cavern, their flow splashes into the shallow waters that cover the entire floor. Along the edges and to some degree dotted about the walls and floor of this place are thick shrubs and plants, creating what seems to be some kind of unnatural swamp. Further into the area you can see signs of civilisation, structures cling to the walls at varying heights, accessing the ground via crude ladders and ropes. The ground rises somewhat, creating an island of sorts and upon this island a series of huts are clustered around an open fire. Even further beyond this island the floor rises and more huts can be seen filling the entire far end of the cavern some 500 feet away.
The group is amazed to discover the swamp that exists under their city. As they advance down the corridor to this lush environment Kapek identifies the bird calls as being from animals native to Q’barra, a land thousands of miles away.
As they examine this lush environment Lorric notices a lone blackscale trying to sneak away. The Crimson Fists open fire but despite being hit the creature escapes.
The Crimson Fists debate what they should do next, more than a little worried by the number of huts they can see and how many lizardfolk this implies there are.
From the buildings at the end of the swamp eight flying half-dragons emerge as do twenty riders mounted on giant draconic monitor lizards. They approach the group slowly.
Short of the Crimson Fist one of the half-dragons hails them. He asks them to move to the platform in the middle and surrender their weapons so they can parley. Needless to say the Crimson Fist are not keen on giving up their weapons and try to persuade the half-dragon to allow them to keep their weapons but he won’t be moved. He demands they either give up their weapons or leave.
The Crimson Fist asks him to swear to their safety and he swears by his god, Rhashaak.
Somewhat convinced of his sincerity the Crimson Fist agree.
In the platform in the centre of the swamp the Crimson Fists reluctantly give up their weapons.
They are taken to the cluster of buildings at the end of the swamp. There they are taken into a building which contains four furnaces and are informed that they must be locked in these until the lizardfolk’s leader is ready to see them. The Crimson Fist are not happy at this at all but as Kapek points out, it’s too late to back out now and they are locked up.
The Crimson Fist are left in boredom for several hours, or as they realize until all spells on them have worn off. Finally one by one they are taken out to meet the leader of the community.
As they examine this lush environment Lorric notices a lone blackscale trying to sneak away. The Crimson Fists open fire but despite being hit the creature escapes.
The Crimson Fists debate what they should do next, more than a little worried by the number of huts they can see and how many lizardfolk this implies there are.
From the buildings at the end of the swamp eight flying half-dragons emerge as do twenty riders mounted on giant draconic monitor lizards. They approach the group slowly.
Short of the Crimson Fist one of the half-dragons hails them. He asks them to move to the platform in the middle and surrender their weapons so they can parley. Needless to say the Crimson Fist are not keen on giving up their weapons and try to persuade the half-dragon to allow them to keep their weapons but he won’t be moved. He demands they either give up their weapons or leave.
The Crimson Fist asks him to swear to their safety and he swears by his god, Rhashaak.
Somewhat convinced of his sincerity the Crimson Fist agree.
In the platform in the centre of the swamp the Crimson Fists reluctantly give up their weapons.
They are taken to the cluster of buildings at the end of the swamp. There they are taken into a building which contains four furnaces and are informed that they must be locked in these until the lizardfolk’s leader is ready to see them. The Crimson Fist are not happy at this at all but as Kapek points out, it’s too late to back out now and they are locked up.
The Crimson Fist are left in boredom for several hours, or as they realize until all spells on them have worn off. Finally one by one they are taken out to meet the leader of the community.
The community is lead by a Blackscale Half-dragon sorcerer known as Ssythlaar, a cunning and devious leader with a great strategic mind. His second in command is a mighty creature, called Kethrek, a barbaric Blackscale Half-dragon.
One by one the group are brought before Ssythlaar for questioning.
He will ask the following questions of each:
What is your name?
What is your chosen path in life?
Who sent you?
Who do you worship?
When did you become aware of the claw?
How much are you being paid?
Are you aware of The Cult of the Crawler Below?
What do you know of the claw?
What do you know of the Ashen Covenant?
The Crimson Fists answer the questions of the leader honestly but refuse to tell Ssythlaar what he really wants to know: Who employed them to recover the claw ?
Though the eagle-eyed Lorric notices Kalesh ir’Semhal (last seen by the group at the Street-Kind Charity Ball and believed dead) lurking at the back of the room in which they are being interrogated and in his drunkenly cheerful manner points this out. To which Kalesh hisses loudly and a very reptilian tongue flickers from his mouth.
After they have been interrogated the Crimson Fists are returned to the furnaces and given food and water (and alcohol in Loric’s case).
Time passes and again the group is brought out to see Ssythlaar one by one. He offers to each of them to answer one question in a spirit of co-operation. He also tries once again to get them to reveal their employer.
Again they all refuse and are returned to their cells.
Kapek asked about the "Claw" and was told that it was a key of sorts integral to the imprisonment of an enemy of Rhashaak.
Katerina asked where the "Claw" is, she was told that it lies around 500 feet due south of their current location.
Lorric asked about the Caliginous Dyad and the reply was vague, he was told that they were their elders but Ssythlaar would not give any more detail as he was bound by the same ties as the group are to their employer.
*Ajax Comments
Though the eagle-eyed Lorric notices Kalesh ir’Semhal (last seen by the group at the Street-Kind Charity Ball and believed dead) lurking at the back of the room in which they are being interrogated and in his drunkenly cheerful manner points this out. To which Kalesh hisses loudly and a very reptilian tongue flickers from his mouth.
After they have been interrogated the Crimson Fists are returned to the furnaces and given food and water (and alcohol in Loric’s case).
Time passes and again the group is brought out to see Ssythlaar one by one. He offers to each of them to answer one question in a spirit of co-operation. He also tries once again to get them to reveal their employer.
Again they all refuse and are returned to their cells.
Kapek asked about the "Claw" and was told that it was a key of sorts integral to the imprisonment of an enemy of Rhashaak.
Katerina asked where the "Claw" is, she was told that it lies around 500 feet due south of their current location.
Lorric asked about the Caliginous Dyad and the reply was vague, he was told that they were their elders but Ssythlaar would not give any more detail as he was bound by the same ties as the group are to their employer.
*Ajax Comments
Ajax considers the question he has as carefully as he he can (so not very much).
Finally he asks why the lizardfolk are talking with them. He is told it is because they want to know who hired the Crimson Fist to recover the claw. There are hints that their employer is in league with dark forces but Ajax still refuses to reveal thier employer.
Escaping the Lizards
Finally he asks why the lizardfolk are talking with them. He is told it is because they want to know who hired the Crimson Fist to recover the claw. There are hints that their employer is in league with dark forces but Ajax still refuses to reveal thier employer.
Escaping the Lizards
Time passes slowly, the Crimson Fist discuss escape plans in Elvish so the guards will not understand them but come up with none that are very good.
Then they hear the guards turning away the lizardfolk bringing them food and water. Apparently they are to receive no more sustenance. Things look bleak.
Then they hear the guards turning away the lizardfolk bringing them food and water. Apparently they are to receive no more sustenance. Things look bleak.
From outside the chamber, beyond the doors to the furnace room you hear gentle song rising slightly above the sound of the night-time insects, you hear the furnace room door open, a short pause then the door closes, a slight humming carries the same melody that could be heard outside.
A moment later you see a female human figure shrouded in a hooded robe carrying a lantern on a pole that emits almost no light. She approaches each chamber in turn looking through the hatch and gesturing to be quiet.
As you peer into almost unearthly beauty of the woman’s face you are sure that you see something move across her cheek.
(Anvil also sees)
At first you think it is a trick of the light but then you realise there are more of them moving in the shadows of her hooded robe. As you peer deeper into the shadows of her robe you see myriad vermin crawling over her skin, centipedes, cockroaches, spiders etc..
Once she reaches the person she deems to be most responsible she speaks.
“Please listen very carefully, I do not have long, you must follow my instructions to the letter if you wish to attain your goal.”
“Tomorrow night, at approximately midnight these doors will be opened, you must work to achieve separate goals. You will have approximately five minutes before the guard notice that something is amiss”
“Firstly, your belongings are within the chieftain’s hut, you will need these to defeat the Dyad.”
“Secondly, one of you must make you way to the southern exit, seventy-five feet above this exit on the wall is a broken pipe, it has been marked with a red rune. Above this rune you will find a valve, this valve must be activated as quietly as possible.”
“Thirdly, the northern door must be sealed shut; a control panel just within the tunnel must be adjusted so that the safety mechanisms become active preventing passage through this tunnel.”
“Fourth, outside the largest hut in the centre of the chamber there is a large set of chimes. Should these sound then the guard will be alerted. Silence them and you will buy yourself at least three more minutes. Otherwise if anyone makes a mistake then expect the full force of the creatures here to come down upon you like the fist of Dol Dorn….”
“….And lastly, there will be a package hidden at the base of the third southern pillar from the east wall. This will contain five potions, one for each of you, when each of you has achieved your goal these potions must be drank and you must all make your way to the broken pipe where valve has been activated. From there head upwards along the pipe following it with all speed for you will not have long.”
“You will emerge where the Dyad are trapped, and there you will find what you seek. In order to escape their prison you will find an open pipeline in the far wall, however it is too small for all but your halfling companion to squeeze through. This overflow pipe is the only exit from the chamber.” “I must leave you now. Good luck”
Sul 8th Dravago, 998 Y.K.
The following day there is a stir in the lizardman camp. The doors to the furnace room are left open, allowing you to watch as the lizardfolk go about their business. They are obviously at work for something out of the ordinary as you see them gathering plants and debris from the swampy undergrowth outside. The sickly sweet smell of foodstuffs being cooked drifts on the air and the sounds of what you assume must be amusement accompanies the sound of hammering and breaking of wood. It is difficult to tell what they are doing….
But none of the Crimson Fist feel it's going to be very nice for them !
Once again the Crimson Fist are brought in to face Ssythlaar.
Ajax is brought in first and offered a drink, he tastes it and decides it's drugged (but drinks it anyway). Ssythlaar offers him anything he wants if he will reveal the name of his employer. But Ajax has no faith in the lizardfolk by now and refuses.
One-by-one the Crimson Fist are brought in. All refuse to speak.
Loric accepts the drink and is unaffected like Ajax.
*Kapek comments
Kapek will accept no "hospitality" from those who have acted so dishonourably. He also intends to drink no poison.
Katerina accepts and is brought back to their prison convulsed in pain.
The day slowly passes and the mysterious structure grows. First a huge bonfire, then four pillars surrounding it, then a nest of ropes connecting the pillars. When large pots start to be hung from the pillars the Crimson Fist get a horrible feeling as to what their hosts intend their final fate to be.
At mid-day they are brought poor food and murky water. They eat it to keep their strength up but can't help feeling they are being fattened up.
*Kapek comments
Parched, Kapek grudgingly takes the water but will not touch the suspicious meat.
*Ajax comments
The group, assuming their guards will be rendered unconcious, debate whether to kill them. Ajax votes against partially because he feels it unecessary but mainly because he hopes it will impress Katerina.
It does...
Midnight...
Out in the darkness beyond the doors to the furnace you see a flickering light which soon grows into what could possibly be the light from a huge fire. The sound of steady drum beats drift on the air along with the sickly sweet smell of burning vegetable matter. Sounds of what could be described as revelry soon follow.
As promised, just before midnight on the 8th Dravago, a gently song can just be discerned under the din of the lizardfolk. The two guards tilt their heads slightly and leave the furnace room, a moment later the hooded woman enters with quiet caution.
She heads to one of the cells and quietly opens the latch. Without a word she simply vanishes leaving you alone in the furnace room with the hectic sounds of activity outside.
The Crimson Fist swing swiftly in to action. Ajax uses his boots to give everybody water-walking then hands the boots to Kapek. Anvil renders Ajax invisible, then casts 'Silence' on the group.Carefully they enter the Chief's hut. They suprise Lord Kalesh there, he desperately attempts to raise the alarm but is foiled by the 'Silence' spell. With their bare hands the Crimson Fist bludgeon Kalesh to death. His human skin splitting under the assault to reveal Lizard scales beneath.
Re-equipped the Crimson Fist seperate to accomplish the tasks they've been assigned.But none of the Crimson Fist feel it's going to be very nice for them !
Once again the Crimson Fist are brought in to face Ssythlaar.
Ajax is brought in first and offered a drink, he tastes it and decides it's drugged (but drinks it anyway). Ssythlaar offers him anything he wants if he will reveal the name of his employer. But Ajax has no faith in the lizardfolk by now and refuses.
One-by-one the Crimson Fist are brought in. All refuse to speak.
Loric accepts the drink and is unaffected like Ajax.
*Kapek comments
Kapek will accept no "hospitality" from those who have acted so dishonourably. He also intends to drink no poison.
Katerina accepts and is brought back to their prison convulsed in pain.
At mid-day they are brought poor food and murky water. They eat it to keep their strength up but can't help feeling they are being fattened up.
*Kapek comments
Parched, Kapek grudgingly takes the water but will not touch the suspicious meat.
*Ajax comments
The group, assuming their guards will be rendered unconcious, debate whether to kill them. Ajax votes against partially because he feels it unecessary but mainly because he hopes it will impress Katerina.
It does...
Midnight...
Out in the darkness beyond the doors to the furnace you see a flickering light which soon grows into what could possibly be the light from a huge fire. The sound of steady drum beats drift on the air along with the sickly sweet smell of burning vegetable matter. Sounds of what could be described as revelry soon follow.
As promised, just before midnight on the 8th Dravago, a gently song can just be discerned under the din of the lizardfolk. The two guards tilt their heads slightly and leave the furnace room, a moment later the hooded woman enters with quiet caution.
She heads to one of the cells and quietly opens the latch. Without a word she simply vanishes leaving you alone in the furnace room with the hectic sounds of activity outside.
The Crimson Fist swing swiftly in to action. Ajax uses his boots to give everybody water-walking then hands the boots to Kapek. Anvil renders Ajax invisible, then casts 'Silence' on the group.
Lorric stealthily heads off to disable the alarm chimes.
Kapek moves off to the pillar to recover the potion bottles they'd been told were buried there.
Anvil moved off to secure the Northern door.
Ajax started to climb the wall to reach the valve.
While Loric and Anvil quickly accomplish their tasks. Kapek and Ajax find they can't find the potions or the valve.
Lorric joins Kapek and together they find the potions.
Anvil has rejoined the group and they have all gathered under the Southern exit before Ajax finally finds the valve.
Ajax lowers a rope but embarrasingly it comes loose so Anvil has to infuse his composite plating with the 'Whirlwind' property and fly it back up. Ajax succeds the second time and the rest of the Crimson Fist climb up.
As Ssythlaar begins a speech to honour their recent fallen the Crimson Fist quaff the potions and turn to gas and seep through the pipe into the Caliginous Dyad's prison.
Anvil opens the chest where their gear is hidden while Kapek leaves a message for Ssythlaar in Draconic (roughly translated as "you lied, bitch" - literally translated as "You have failed to act with honour, broodmother").
*Ajax comments
Ajax also takes the opportunity to 'mark' the throne as his territory.
Looking outside they see the lizardfolk have gathered around the bonfire and are chanting and dancing in its light. Their attention seems occupied for now.
