Liberation...

The Crimson Fist slid down the pipes, picking up speed until finally they shoot out of the pipe and are dumped into a sewer, somewhere under the Ashblack region of the Cogs.

The Crimson Fists pick their way carefully through the sewers until they emerge into one of the areas where the industry of the cog occurs. They find a friend of Anvil's and ask if he knows where there is a pool of lava (having been told that is the best way to destroy the Claw and finish the job).

Encouraged by a few gold pieces Anvil's contact leads the Crimson Fist through some of the tunnels to a lava pool. Anvil wastes no time and hurls the Claw into the lava.

The Claw floats gently on the surface of the lava for a second and then slips gently, and anti-climatically, under the surface. Nothing happens, then a small bubble comes up from the depths, followed by another, then a bigger bubble. The Crimson Fist withdraw hastily as more bubbles form.

Finally a large bubble forms and from it emerges a mighty white tiger-headed figure floating serenely over the lava.

This awe-inspiring figure introduces himself as Yshtamar.

He thanks the Crimson Fist for freeing him from and offers them his thanks in the form of information. Though he points out he might be a bit out of touch.

When asked how he might be defeated (as he has already cheerfully warned the Crimnson Fist he is evil) he warns that he can change his shape at will and say's that the power of the gods is an anathema to his flesh. Also when asked about the Cult of the Crawling Below he expalins they worship Ixtchamel'Traa a demon-god of the Abyss. He also warns if the avatar of this god is here it bodes ill for all.

Finally he warns of the return of the thirteenth moon, then he vanishes leaving the Crimson Fist with the disturbing feeling that letting him free was a very bad idea.

*Kapek comments

It also leaves Kapek wondering about the true motivations of their employer, Halais ir'Lantar.

Sharn Inquisitive, Sul 8th Dravago

Skyreach Tower Quarantine

The area surrounding Skyreach Tower, in the Downstairs district of Middle Menthis has be quarantined in the last few days due to prevalent disease. There have reportedly been scores of outbreaks of both Filth Fever and Blinding Sickness. Although there has been no official word on this matter, residents are claiming that the recent outbreaks are caused by the vermin problems that have recently been reported in the area.
The fear of residents in the higher wards of the tower are that this blight will spread to their neighbourhoods unless the City Council does something to investigate this matter. House Jorasco has already reportedly signed dozens of contracts with the wealthier residents of the tower as a precautionary measure, but that is of no help to the poor and needy of Downstairs.

Blinding sickness is known to be spread through tainted water and can weaken the victim to the point of helplessness whilst also causing permanent blindness.
Filth Fever is generally spread by rats and other sewer dwelling creatures, and is thought to be transmitted by bites. This disease can cause weakness, lack of co-ordination and in the worst case, death.

A spokesperson for councillor Savia Potellas gave the following statement:
"We are currently investigating the situation involving Skyreach Tower, however, our resources are stretched to the limit. Teams of sanitation engineers have been despatched into the sewer systems in and around the affected area but so far there have been no definitive conclusions. A relatively recent shift in the foundations occurred and the preventative measures taken at that time have prevented further investigation."

A brief seach through the Sharn Inquisitive archives has revealed the following report from around 85 years ago, detailing the foundation shift mentioned.

Sul 8th Dravago, 923 Y.K.
Cityquake
Menthis Plateau was shaken to its foundations in the early hours of Sar 7th Dravago. Fractures and chasms opened throughout the interior structure of the tower and many people were killed or simply vanished. Investigations drew to a halt as swarms of vermin spilled from the cracks and the old chambers were sealed to prevent further incursions.

The Crimson Fist exit the underground swiftly, emerging into the Blackbones district and they then travel up into the Downstairs district of Middle Menthis, just outside the Iron Gate area. Only to discover that the Iron Gate area was quarantined by the city guard who weren't letting anyone in or out. Apart from Lord Paxor ir'Somera who the sharp-eyed Lorric noticed speaking to the gaurd and passing through the cordon. Lorric calls out to Paxor but he keeps walking.
The Crimson Fist eat (and in Lorric's case drink) a hearty breakfast and then went to report to the ambassador and get paid. They reported what had happened to them and the destruction of the claw. The ambassador was both fascinated and disturbed by what had happened particularly the emergence of Yshtamar. When asked what Yshtamar had told them the Crimson Fist decided this fell outside their original agreement and bargained for a bonus which the ambassador agreed to. They then informed the ambassador of what had been said which seemed to disturb him even more. The Crimson Fist then decided to split up and meet back at their house.

*Kapek comments
The Ambassador's words do much to allay Kapek's suspicions, and he believes Halais was duped. Of course Halais is an Ambassador, and therefore a highly paid professional liar . . . .

Lorric notices a strange, immaterial creature in the corner of the room but as he dives to grab it, it vanishes. From his description Ajax indentifies it, with help of his new Third Eye of Improvisation as an Ether-Gaunt, a strange creature that inhabits the astral plane.

Time passes. Anvil works hard crafting a magical shield for Ajax and a boomerang-creating quiver for Kapek.
Kapek forges a cold iron Sharrash for himself from iron taken during their clash with Wing-Clipper.
Lorric visits his old sensei, Sorewyn of the Long Arm, and greatly impresses him with his Drunken Master style fighting.
Katerina finds a job for Kalen and helps her set herself up in a new home, to which Ajax happily contributes.
Ajax continues his investigation into Kalen's father. He discovers that her father was indeed involved with some dodgy dealings and is advised to consider him dead for both Ajax and Kalen's continued safety.
During this time Lorric again catches an Ether-Gaunt near the child.

*Kapek comments
Kapek is not particularly pleased at Ajax having invited a stranger into their house, but now she's here there seems little option. He suspects some of the others feel the same way.

Once back at home the Crimson Fist are informed that the child that has been entrusted to their care is ill, feverish and muttering. Anvil realised the language was goblin and was able to understand fragments; "of the lost mark", "the 13th scion" and "he's here".

Sharn Inquisitive, Sul 15h Dravago

Sharn Cloaked in Darkness

Ash falls on Sharn. In the depths of the worst rainfall recorded for centuries an inferno has consumed the lower quarters of the city's towers. Like the tainted lungs of a dying dragon, the belly of the city has blasted the lofty spires with a poisonous cloud of ash and soot. To make matters worse the city is locked in a seemingly perpetual cycle of black skies and torrential rain that occasionally fade into thick dirty fog that leaves everything it touches coated with black soot.
The end can not be far behind, it's coming is foretold in the voices of the ravens that feast on the flesh of the dying that lie scattered throughout the region surrounding Skyreach Tower's lowest levels.

It has been a tough week for the residents of Sharn. One week past, a mysterious explosion in the Cogs spawned a fire of unprecedented proportions. Ashblack and Blackbones continue to burn bright, their foundries fuelling the spreading flames. The inferno still rages below the city, and the fire brigade, the watch and most of Sharn's mages battle the blaze night and day. Plumes of smoke choke the sky and heavy rain falls in torrents from tainted clouds. The city is shrouded in grey and black.

The skymages usually see to it that Sharn's spring-times stay a little drier than the surrounding areas. However with the fires raging in the cogs, Sharn's City Council has requisitioned the skymages to help deal with this catastrophe. Without the skymages asserting their power over the elements above the unusual rains have not passed. What's worse, the coal-black smoke rising like an angry shade from the burning Cogs taints the storm with poisonous vapour. Rain, fog and soot fill the air as one, plunging the entire city into darkness. No storm like this has ever been experienced before on Khorvaire, and many residents of Sharn believe it is the sign of an oncoming apocalypse akin to Cyre's day of Mourning.

Mol 16th Dravago
After eight day's of rain and fire Martell Cannith pay's the Crimson Fist a visit. He is deeply worried about the child ,who is growing weaker by the day, but he has a plan. In the Eldeen Reaches dwells Palomino N'ehar, prince of the Oaken Fief. Palomino can enter Thelanis, one of the Fae realms. Time passes differently there, Martell hopes that if the Crimson Fist can persuade Palomino to take the child into the realm he will gain valuable time in which to work out a cure.
However the child has only about a week to live and the Eldeen Reaches are far away, the Crimson Fist must get him there quickly. Martell doesn't mention what happens if the child dies but the threat comes across very clearly to the Crimson Fists.
The cost of getting there in the time will be extortionate and Ajax feels that after all they have done for him the debt they owe Martell is dicharged if they escort the child. Martell offers to pay 15% of their travel expenses and will not be moved to pay anymore. Again he makes it clear the Crimson Fist must do this or else!

*Ajax comments

Ajax was furious about being threatned in his own home but he wasn't ready to fight Martell and his allies just yet. Still he grimly swore to himself Martell had used up his last bit of gratitude and the group would have to look into getting Martell off their collective backs.

As Martell leaves he suggests they call in any favours they may have. Ajax suggests that after liberating the Lighthouse at Bluescar, House Lyander may feel well disposed to them and lacking a better idea it is agreed to try this.
House Lyander are indeed grateful for all the Crimson Fist have done to keep the shipping lanes open and offer to let the Crimson Fist hire an airship to Greenheart in the Eldeen Reaches for a 75% discount.
At noon the next day the Crimson Fist board the airship Skystar for the journey to the Eldeen Reaches.
Anvil headed to the university library to investigate certain things the adventure had brought up and to research what the book ( the Libris Phasmatis Socius) he had found among the Calliginous Dyad's treasure contained.
Katerina went to collect some armour she had ordered some days earlier.
Kapek returned immediately to their house to be re-united with his beloved animals.
Lorric went to the nearest Watch-house to report the man-eating lizards they had just encountered. The Watch were initially interested but when the fact that this occurred in the Khybersgate came up they quickly lost interest. Disapointed Lorric went on to the Deathsgate Adventures Guild where he posted a notice asking for adventurers to join him in exterminating the lizardfolk
Ajax heads to find the elven sisters he had met at the Street-Kind ball so many weeks ago. He is shocked to discover their dwelling is an improvised tent behind a Smithy. He found one of the sisters, Kalen E'ressar, living there in abject poverty.
Ajax buys her a bath, some clothes and then a meal during which she tells her tale. She and her sister had lived happy lives until their father had disapeared. When their money had run out, they had been forced out of their house and reduced to living on the street. Even worse her sister had thought she'd seen their father some days ago and followed him into the area now quarantined.
Ajax offeres her a place at the Crimson Fist's house which she happily accepts. He takes her there and she is accepted by the others, particularly Katerina who takes her under her wing.

The Caliginous Dyad's Prison

The Crimson Fist reform in a darkened room full of strange machinery. Slowly they began to advance across the room. They haven't got far when the great machines stir into life and water spews into the room behind them.

They continue the length of the room until they reach the southern chamber (5).

There coiled on the steps they find the Caliginous Dyad in all his draconic glory. And behind him a glowing crystal that can only be the Claw of Yshtamar.

As it uncoils itself a wave of dragonfear hits the Crimson Fist. They are shaken but none of them are adversely affected (not even Ajax whose decision to hide behind one of the pillars is purely tactical).

The Dragon demands to know why they are here and before anybody can give a sensible answer Lorric yells out "Dragon-Scale armour".

Fortunately the Dragon seems to take this as a joke. The Dragon is intrigued by the knowledge that the group can leave the building and tries to negotiate. However it isn't prepared to hand over the Claw and the Crimson Fist are really not feeling in the mood to trust anything even vaguely lizard-looking at the moment.

It rapidly becomes obvious that the talking is going nowhere (and Ajax is feeling more tactically secure) the Crimson Fist rush the black dragon.

However as they strike at the Dragon, ANOTHER Black Dragon sweeps down from above and breathes acid at the Crimson Fist. Acid that not only burns but that clings to their bodies and continues to burn at them as the combat goes on.

The first Dragon flies away towards a platform positioned high in the northern end of the room.

A few short moments later, circular section of the floor retract to reveal pools of water beneath.

Anvil infuses Ajax and Lorric's armour and clothing with the "Whirlwind" property. Ajax in the grip of rage charges the second Dragon alone (and completely misses it).

Anvil picks up Kapek and flies into battle.

*Kapek comments
With Anvil's assistance, Kapek climbs up onto the warforged's broad adamantine shoulders in order to wield the deadly Desert Blade effectively.

In a vicious aerial battle the first Dragon is slain, the body crashing into an open pool of water.

The second Dragon flies into one of the pools and vanishes into its depths.

Lorric flies up to the platform the Dragon had fled to and finds two empty potion bottles, three full ones and a chest. Also a lever splashed with Draconic ichor.

One of the machines (4) begins to power down in a shower of sparks. A huge water elemental flows out from underneath it.

The other machine (2) begins to smoke and spark as well.

A second elemental begins to form as Ajax, Kapek and Anvil charges the first Elemental.

Lorric pulls the lever (naturally) and the floor slides out to cover over the pool of water the dragon fled into. He then flies over to aid his comrades in the fight with the Elementals.

As the Crimson Fist fight the two Elementals the sound of hammering grows ever louder as the Dragon tries to smash its way out of the pool.

Finally the two Elementals are destroyed. Anvil rushes over and grabs the Claw from out of the steam.

*Ajax comments

Ajax is happy with how the group fought. He and Kapek were the solid wall on the which the enemy battered themselves, Lorric whipped around the battlefield like a drunken dervish ripping into the rear of their distracted opponents and inflicting hideous damage and Katerina's healing magic kept them all standing long after they should have fallen.
But it was Anvil, in his opinion, who really saved the day. When the Dragons floated fifty feet above the group, breathing acid down on them it seemed an unwinnable fight. Without Anvil empowering them to fly Ajax is sure the battle would ahve had a very different outcome.

The Crimson Fist gather at the overflow pipes (5), one of them is wedged half open, creating a space barely big enough for Kapek to fit. As the sound of hammering grows ever loudly and the metal covering the pool begins to groan alarmingly the Crimson Fist quickly down a combination of Reduce Person potions and mushrooms and shrunk to the right size. Quickly they dive into the overflow pipes and slide out of the Caliginous Dyad's prison.

1. Entering the Chamber
As you feel your form beginning to solidify once more you emerge into a chamber. It is utterly dark save for the dimmest of glows emanating from far to the south of the cavern accompanied by a gentle sound of rushing gas.
The air is warm and damp and underfoot three inches of water cover the floor. To each side of the room, behind great support pillars, you can see several great machines, they stand silent. Behind you to the north a giant bulkhead seals the passage, it is flanked by two 10 foot diameter pipes that slowly drip water into the dark silence.
In the centre of this current chamber you see a great machine, some 30 feet long and 20 feet wide, it stands about 7 feet tall and has several large green crystalline domes upon it.
Ahead the room narrows to 50 feet wide with a semicircular arch to the walls and ceiling before opening out again some 100 foot to the south. From this 50 foot wide “corridor”, you can see side passages, two on each side about 20 feet wide and 20 feet apart. In the far chamber you can just make out another great machine sitting silent in the dark.

After a several minutes the machines stir into life. The green orbs begin to glow gently and a beam of green crackling energy shoots between the two creating a jagged path of green light that dances erratically, spitting occasional sparks into the water with a hiss.
The water recedes slightly from around your feet and from the dark recesses ahead the sound of rushing water begins to get stronger and louder. Moments after the machines whir into life the sound of groaning metal gives way to the sudden rush of water as the pipes at the room’s northern end begin to spew water at an alarming rate.

2. The Mezzanine
This area overlooks the water chambers. On the eastern and western walls are panels and levers that seem to regulate water flow, steam pressures and water levels. All are functional but it is unclear as to what they do.

3. The Water Chambers
These are huge circular chambers, when activated water is sent spinning around them at great speed, the walkway goes through the middle of these chambers and it can be quite an unnerving sight to see the water swelling in the chamber above you. A grate crosses these chambers at the central 30 foot of the semicircular tunnel. The chambers have a radius of roughly 90 feet.

4. The Southern Chamber
The southern chamber opens out into an area similar to the northern chamber. A great machine sits in the centre of the room and several other machines stand against the eastern and western walls. Great pillars support the ceiling some 100 foot above. To the south a platform can be seen with a set of steep stairs leading upwards 30 feet. Around the face of this platform are 8 small pipes, 2 in each face. They appear to be blocked with heavy steel plates.

5. The Steam Pipe
At the far end of the room you can see an area that is elevated some 30 feet above the chamber floor. On this raised area stands a pipe that has been broken and had a section removed. Vaporous gas blasts upwards and most of it continues up the section of pipe beyond the missing section, however some is blown out into the room creating a light mist over the entire southern end of the chamber.

Hanging within this flow of gas you can make out a pale white light that seems to be emanating from something suspended there, a crystal perhaps?

Around the base of the pipe you can make out a dark form, coiled serpentine features are wreathed in scales of the blackest night, an occasional twitch reveals leathery wings that lay flat against the great lizards sides, an almost skeletal draconic face turns to look at you with eyes as white as driven snow, horns curve down framing the terrifying visage. A forked tongue licks as sickly green viscous saliva spills from its wicked maw and the creatures form begins to slither from it’s slumbering position. Stretching it huge wings wide it stands before you in all its draconic glory and speaks.

The Blackscale Community

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.

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

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

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.

Night falls and the Sar the 7th becomes Sul the 8th of Dravago.
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.

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.