A12- Pawns in the Great Plan

[Brian/Tulkir, Duane/Dargo absent]

Skeggi/Endeavors: Ranulf studied dwarven and elven languages, Lemmy crafted potions, Rufus gathered supplies, while Kruger passed his level-up exams. To complete the lizardman Anomoq’s task (which involved sailing south to the lizard city of Tlaxtlan to speak to a Slann who has a map to the lost city of Quetta)), 

we spent our party funds on a new Carrack-size ship: which meant hiring extra crew. Our final destination: New Bechafen to meet up with the city’s emperor Luther Harkon who has a broken sword needed to battle evil that has taken over the lost city. But to collect the sword, we’d need to do Luther a favor. Great! Nothing is ever easy in this new world.

Cast Off: It would be a 2-week sail to New Bechafen, but first we had to stop in Tlaxtlan to seek an audience with the Slann. We anchored our ship and took to rowboats to sail up the river, fighting its currents. We recognized the landscape of our vision where the cow was devoured by piranha. From there we forged inland thru the dense jungle. Ranulf guided with the aid of Lemmy reading the magical ley-lines.

Tlaxtlan: We knew we were near when we came upon 3 Kroxagor hefting large stone blocks. A skink foreman (fore-lizard, foreskin?) named Talaxitotal appeared. Ranulf & Rufus spoke their language, mentioning Anomog’s task while describing the murals of destiny seen at the lizard ziggarut on the island of Zarmuda. We were led beyond a wall of vines, thru large stone doors, into the massive city of Tlaxtlan and its huge ziggarut.

Thankfully we only had to climb 2/3rds of the way up where we entered a chamber to prepare for our audience with an old one who floated over a dais in silence with closed eyes. Hours upon hours passed, testing our cool. Talaxitotal advised “Patience” which did little to ease our bladders. Finally, the Slann’s eyes opened, and the skink presented Lord Tecciztec. His story was just as slow if not slower in his reveal, “The lost city was constructed with the aid of short/stout/warm-blooded creatures (dwarves?). We thrived in its grandness before it was captured by our enemies. It is now being repopulated by evil. I have seen the vision of your involvement in The Great Plan.”

He slowly retrieved a scroll-case imbedded with gems and decorated in gold filigree. Lemmy pondered its worth in gold while Kruger considered what magical lore it held. The Slann continued, “Seek the mine of the Bearded Skull and the elves at the Citadel of Dusk.” We realized the elven Citadel of Dusk must be where the 2 great oceans meet: at the southern end of the world below Lustria. Ranulf opened the case and found not a map, but cryptic directions written in dwarfish. While he could read some words, he knew they needed dwarven help. The Slann added, “Evil came from the stars in ships to poison the world. They come in many shapes: furry man-size with small & large pustules.” And with that, the Slann’s eyes closed as Talaxitotal revealed, “You must be part of the plan as Slann rarely wake every 10-15 years.”

Lure of the Siren: Kruger cast Blessed Voyage to speed our journey around the next peninsula as we sailed for New Bechafen, but we still had to anchor at night as we were unfamiliar with the coastline. The next day, too late for Kruger to warn the crew to plug their ears, we heard singing from the shoreline. Rufus & Ranulf and 6 of the crew were enthralled by the Siren’s song and thus began to lower both rowboats. Kruger’s pleads to his god Manna saved a few, others were thumped on their head knocked unconscious, Rufus captured and restrained. But Ranulf jumped overboard and swam towards the shoreline rock where the siren waited.

Kruger cast Water-Walk and tried to save the fool but soon confronted the siren, “Release my man!” She only agreed if we promised to return her mirror, “It has my name Ketterlan etched on the frame. Pirates sank my ship, and the mirror was stolen from me by the emperor of New Bechhafen. It was stolen during the time of the 3 emperors (which we did not understand). Return it and your man is free. I’ll even tell you how to best the fool of an emperor.” She touched Ranulf’s forehead to ‘mark’ her property, removing her charm spell.

New Bechafen: Lemmy held his telescope to study the city: a mixed population of 2500 composed of dwarves/halflings/humans. After docking, which meant paying the crew, Kruger paid the harbormaster the docking fees but soon learned this was a haunted city of undead! “Stay the night in an inn or sail far out to sea to avoid the undead pirates who ply these waters. Stolen mirror? Emperor Luther Harkon forbids such items.” Kruger nixed the crew shore leave, “Two drinks then back aboard ship. You’ll sail the ship to safety while we check out the town.”

A large temple decorated with skulls was seen as not quite Morr/death but still cast an ill omen. Thoughts of vampire pirates directed us to seek a local blacksmith to silver our weapons, but we had to do it ourselves instead. At the Graves Inn, the barkeep Diago Mendez sold rooms for the night, “Stay in your rooms after sunset. The emperor? He arrived long ago from Marianberg; moved into the castle that was built by the Slann long ago. He and his pirates believe they will rule the continent soon. Best to stay away from his estate as ghouls work the fields. Ah, you came per his notice about the broken sword and his task. Then speak with his steward Therador. Make sure you have something to offer.”

Sunset: A dark-skinned man (Therador) knocked at their door, “I understand you wish to speak to my master. Any words from the old world and Marianberg if they are ready to give in to my master’s demands? Ah, you came about the sword. My master requires you to capture a siren and bring her to him. There is a cave on Spiting Serpent Island south of here where if you sacrifice a siren, answers will be revealed. Shall I pencil you in to meet the emperor tomorrow, at 10am (4 bells)?”

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