Day 19--Late Evening
The group spells the rest of the day at the bottom of the mine shaft. Fortunately, or not, the time is uneventful. While Kushnak and Eskard practice with their swords, Bazrim studies a new spell and Nethezar wanders about the lairs of the three factions and peruses some of the writings you've found. The scholar hums and mumbles to himself, fascinated with this place and the things you've found.
The next morning, the spellcasters regain their spells, and Bazrim has found himself now able to understand the spell he studied. The wizard now needs only to procure the supplies to copy the spell.
Nethezar, with a smirk on his face, turns to Eskard. "You're not feeling yourself, are you? Let me help. We need you to have every bit of your faculties." With a couple of prayers, the half-orc feels the traces of madness clouding his mind since the allip touched it finally fade away.
The cleric also looks through the treasure you've found and grabs the cloak. An hour later he returns with it. "It is a personality-enhancing device. Makes it easier to curry favor, and probably helps with attracting women."
But Nethezar is still not yet done. He returns to pouring over the books he studied yesterday, and this time uses some magic to help. While looking at the materials after casting his spell, the cleric begins to quickly scrawl notes down. Then he turns to one of the books found earlier, and starts to reference it. After awhile, he shows the group the fruits of his work.
"First, we have this book. I read through most of it. It is a journal, and I think it was written by one of the Hextorite clerics before the previous group attacked them. The thing is mostly garbage, but I marked two passages of note."
The first marked passage reads:
Praise Be to the Scourge of Battle,
The Faceless One grows increasingly concerned. that addled beast Grallak Kur has yet to provide new insights into the Overgod's nature. The crude missives he sends speak of the worms, of a slumbering power that must be awoken, but nothing more. I wish he would go back to the black pit that spawned him if he has nothing more to offer.
The Faceless One tells me this ties into an ancient figure, a being of great power. Of course, he tells me little else. He enjoys keeping his secrets, but he forgets that they flourish only behind the protection of Hextor. His latest taunt is a scroll that he tells me contains all the answers I seek. Of course, the fool wrote it in a cipher. Were it not for the dictates of the Ebon Triad, I would lead my troops into their damnable labyrinth and kill every last bird and wizard within it.
Grallak is the key. Thank the Scourge that he trusts me and not the Faceless One. Otherwise, I doubt the Faceless One would bother imparting anything to us. We cannot trust these mages. When the Overgod arises, I think it will be time to settle some old scores.
And the second:
Under the Herald's Watchful Eye We Conquer,
Grallak Kur has finally yielded a useful clue. I personally delivered it to the labyrinth, and the Faceless one giggled like a blood addled berserker when he saw the message. Grallak spoke of the worms again, of course. He says that even now they stir and writhe. The world is like an apple infested with them. All seems well for now, but soon they burst through the skin and swarm across the land. Stil, part of this vision troubles me. Grallak spoke of a great power behind them, but the Ebon Triad teaches that these worms will awaken the Overgod. Is there some other power at hand here that we cannot see? Is it friend or foe?
The Faceless One knows more, but he of course has little to say. Perhaps Grallak has invented everything. His monstrous kin are few in number and battered after their pilgrimage through the Underdark. If he is an imposter or trickster, we may need to root him out of this place. In that case, our agents must make another supply run. Six coils of rope, and perhaps bows and more arrows, should do the trick. With the petitioners leading the way we can uncover any ambushes they have within the cliffs.
"But that's not the end of it. The blank scroll we found... It radiated magic. I found a code on it, and, after copying it down, I managed to break it, using one of the books we found in that wizard's lab. I wrote it down."
The secrets of this page are most holy. Know ye heretics who invade them that the eye of Vecna is upon you. If you read this, Theldrick, you have either slain me and doomed our cause, or the time is nigh for our final victory.
At last the riddle of this place is solved. In ages past, a great being known as Kyuss rose above the petty warlords who fought and struggled for material gain. Mighty Kyuss is the herald of the Overgod. Soon, he will sound the clarion call to the faithful. The three sundered faiths shall be made whole.
The undead our agents spotted must be located and captured. If they bear the worms of Kyuss then they perhaps hold the final answer to our research. The Ebon Aspect stirs within the pool, but it is still not ready to emerge. Perhaps a traumatic event--an invasion by heretics, a great battle fought within these halls--could awaken it. But even then it will attain only a minor form. The Way of the Ebon Triad speaks of the danger of awakening the aspect too soon. Our work will be for naught.
We must find the worms and the undead hosts that carry them. If they are not here, then we must send agents to the Rift. If Kyuss himself, or his agents, cannot shepherd in the Age of Worms, then we shall do it ourselves so that the Overgod may live.
Our course is clear, my dear Theldrick. Smenk is no longer useful to us and must die. Kill him, then send agents to the Mistmarsh, across the southern hills. I believe that we will find what we are looking for there, among the lizardfolk. Summon more of your warriors. If the calculations and portents are correct, the time for covert action is at an end. As the Age of Worms begins, we must strike hard and fast to prepare the coming of the Overgod.
Of course, dear Theldrick, if you were so rash as to slay my followers and I, then you, soon, shall join me in the afterlife. Doubtless your treachery has already stirred the Overgod. Our mission has failed, and you will die at his hands.
[sblock=OOC]Bazrim studies: spellcraft 17+ success
Nethezar uses lesser restoration to heal Eskard's ability drain: 3 with the 1st spell; the second spell finishes it
Nethezar ID's the cloak: CHA +2
Nethezar casts read magic on the "blank" scroll[/sblock]
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