Post by hubertbartels on Jan 25, 2020 15:35:50 GMT -5
It was late evening when the party returned to their magnificent mansion buried in the wreckage of Dark-Mok’s tenement building. The first thing they did once inside was cast ‘Speak with Dead’ and use it to communicate with The Shade. They learned that the former Technic League Captain did not know much about the layout of the Palace of the Stars; that was Ghartone’s command. There was a rumored tunnel between the palace and the compound of the Technic League but no one ever used it because it was supposed to be haunted. And the party learned that the Shade didn’t know anything more. While Istovar chopped up the body for disposal around the city, the rest of the party relaxed.
In the morning, the party left the magnificent mansion to find Drak-Mok in the company of another man. The other man turned around and introduced himself as Barnaby Cutler – the uncle of Erasmus. He had gone undercover as an artificer to avoid the Technic League’s search for known Pathfinder agents. His goal was to track down a possible lead to the long-missing copy of Vol 5 of the Pathfinder Chronicle – almost all of which was recalled and destroyed soon after publication. As part of this search – he had been up to the Palace of Fallen Stars and toured the public areas.
Barnaby reported that everyone in the palace was in an uproar – the Numerian fluids that the Black Sovereign had been getting was failing to give the desired effect. Dr. Hellbroth had been sent for to explain why Kevoth-Kul was experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
Barnaby had been to the temporary slave holding area near the Silvermount Gate. The Technic League was using slaves to clear access to the wreck of the space ship. Barnaby reported that around 200 slaves were being kept in an open area, guarded by a Technic League Captain and 10 or so guards.
After some discussion, it was decide to take Drak-Mol’s suggestion, free and arm the slaves and use them to create a massive distraction – then use the cover of the slave revolt to get into the Palace of the Fallen Stars.
The party waited until evening and set forth. They used a seeming and a charm person spell to get the guard to open the compound gates, then proceeded to kill the guards and their captain. Among the slaves freed, Obin found his father’s younger brother and several cousins.
Baern Musdaerg told how they were overrun by the Technic League forces a few years ago. Obin’s father and mother and another group of dwarves were taken south to work on a separate digging project while he and the cousins were taken here. Now, they armed them selves with pickaxes and shovels, eager to strike a blow at the Technic League.
The party watched the former slaves leave the compound in small groups, then headed up to the Palace of Fallen Stars. The slave uprising was having the desired effect – Technic League guards and the palace guards were being sent out across Starfall to deal with the problem.
Using a seeming of Technic League personnel, the party entered the Lower Hall. The sight sickened them as they saw dead and dying slaves hanging from the hall’s columns. Wolfhounds were tearing at the slaves, feeding on their flesh as hill giants and palace guards watched. Calling the guards and hill giants over to them, Eramus threw down a prismatic spray. Most of the wolfhounds died right away while the rest of the hill giants and guards were badly injured. Astovel followed up with another area spell that dropped more of the enemy. A third area of effect spell dropped the remainder. A door to the left opened and two more palace guards entered the fight, supported by 3 of the Black Seers – priestess serving Zyphus, the god of accidental death. The party killed them and entered their chapel. Inside the chapel, they found a stairway leading up to the 2nd floor. The way was barred but an adamantite great sword cut the door open.
The party found themselves in Ghartone’s quarters and the place where the Technic League was stationed. Everyone was out – either with the Black Sovereign or out in the city. Leaving the rooms, the party followed a long curving corridor toward the grand staircase to the 3rd floor. But a door on the outside wall made them pause. When they opened the door, a handmaiden gave a little shriek. A tall, handsome woman rose from from her books and introduced herself. She was Inkit-Kul, the Consort of the Black Sovereign.
Inkit-Kul wanted to know what the party was planning to do to her husband. When told that they were there to try and remove his addiction, she sighed. “You can try,” she said, “but it’d be better if he was killed.” Inkit-Kul explained that Kevoth-Kul hadn’t been to her chambers in years – and didn’t age a bit in all the years they’d been married. She was 14 when she entered the palace, now she’s in her middle 30’s.
Proceeding up the stairs to the throne room, the party used a seeming to look like Dr. Hellbroth and a troop of palace guards. They entered the massive chamber and announced that Dr. Hellbroth was here with a fresh supply of Numerian fluids for the Black Sovereign.
The Black Sovereign, on his throne of black iron, looked to be stupefied. On one side, Ghartone and a pair of Gearsman looked shocked. Then the real Dr. Hellbroth stood up.
Eramus, in the guise of Dr. Hellbroth, immediately shouted, “That’s an imposter!”
Ghartone signaled to another Black Seer to cast ‘Dispel Magic’ on the real Dr. Hellbroth. When there was no effect, Astrovel quickly threw up a Force Wall across the room, blocking Ghartone and the Technic League from taking action. Istovar ran up and started casting ‘Heal’ on the Black Sovereign to remove the addiction. Tek-Makul, the captain of the palace guard pulled out his sword.
Eramus tossed out a quick ‘Otto’s Irresistible Dance’ on Kevoth-Kul while Obin and Amerlina and Grigroro fought Tek-Makul. Istovar was able to complete the ‘Heal’ spell and Eramus dropped his spell.
Kevoth-Kul raised his voice to order the palace guards to stand down. Tek-Makul finally dies and Ghartone and the Gearsman found out that they were trapped and unable to stop the curing of the Black Sovereign’s addiction.
[To be concluded in next week’s session!]