Forth and back and back forth with the planar gnome. What are they looking for? Forge find the restricted part of the shop. More to and fro, turn out Kelso is an “Athar” (which he said when met) who are some kind of religious sceptics…and more….Nar realizes that Kelso sells rituals…a bit more…that he sells one interesting ritual in particular, the legendary “contact other plane” used by arcanist to contact powers beyond, without some pesky cleric being involved. That seems to be what they are looking for.
Skeptical, but not so much that they don’t return to the Temple of Knowledge. Buckthorn finds his fellow Thraeyan Halfling, who is relieved her own divined guess worked out and they found the scroll after all (she really thinks they need some high level help). As usual, she remains prepared for them, and has a well packed box of holy water and other elixirs waiting for the right donation. They trust this.
Sim is collected, his tattoo finally ready. The strange dabus again uses his picture language to imply he would like to meet later at the Flame Pits. (tattoo of the lich queen: 35k, paid, resist 10 psychic or necrotic when action point spent, but not on back to back encounters (this is to make up for the houserule that you get an action point per encounter instead of per milestone)).
They return to the inn. A note has been waiting for them, and it seems to mean that they have about 30 hours before the big rumble with the githyanki begins.
The ritual is begun. Actually two are. One is by the artificer to artifice an item of the rangers. The other is to reach out and contact that higher power. As it reaches its terminus, another note arrives, this one slipped under their door.
“I am downstairs”.
Within minutes they meet Simon Amber, of the infamous family and former possessor of the shadow tome to which Nar has become so attached. Amber apologizes that Melkar (of the also infamous Melkar house) cannot make it in person, that he is a “petitioner”, the spirit of someone who died, and wonders if they have any questions.
They have a few and the discussion covers familiar ground, with a few new bits of novel information. The sorted history of the book and the Githanki Lich Queen’s desire for it. The more general danger it represents, and Nars seeming lack of concern regarding that. The Bends. The alleged middle of Sigil. The busyness of the higher powers—“What are Melkar and Pathar doing…” and the aid they give “…I (Simon) am here”. Pluton and Acererak? A mythic “dead gods tomb” may lie there. And getting there…you will, you will. Aid will come from strange places. As it has.
Amber closes with these final words
Through the maze to the center one must dare
Serve both dark and light, its only fair
But in the end, only one way you can choose
Otherwise, all can loose
Sometime later they as they leave the Fortune’s Wheel, they run right into an alluring Tiefling. Who is soon joined by another alluring Tiefling.
Its obviously too good to be true. When they take their Githyanki form, 3 of the party recognize the assassin from Watercross that tricked them before (albeit for longer last time). The other is a mindslicer and two warriors jump in for good measure. Their mind assaults and silver swords tear into the party. Forge is almost cut down in one single blow by said sword—again. Sim is particularly disturbed and disabled by the repeated mental assault. But they give better then they get, and only 1 warrior survives to telekinetically leap away.
…….
They find there way to the Flame Pits. They are pretty sure it’s the right place, with the satisfied looking magma-men coming out through its bronze doors.
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