Episode VI: In which a new friend is found and exploration continues

General Summary

Godsday, 4th day of Fireseek, 595 cy

The day promised to be bright and sunny, somewhat at odds with the mood of the party, still mourning the loss of Flopsy. The Cult of the Green Lady's ship arrived at the dilapidated docks, to take Flopsy back to The Cairn of the Green Lady, where he was to be interred.   After watching the ship depart, the party headed back into the centre of town, where they were met by three smirking individuals. Another group of adventures who were in town investigating the Stirge Cairn, on the rumour that a secret chamber had been found. The party recognised Auric, the current champion of The Champion's Games. They didn't recognise the others, though the one in the red robe was wearing a broach that marked him as a member of The Seekers. After the brief exchange the party moved on, and did some shopping, with Bay Leaf leaving the others to order a wooden shield from Osgood Smithy.   Lazuli and Eldrin were standing in the town square (as no one knew where Virgil was) when they see what appears to be a mechanical man step off the stagecoach that arrived from Greyhawk. He made brief eye contact with Lazuli and she realised that he had been touched by the gods as well. He lowered his head and walked out of the town square and up the hill towards a number of houses, possibly Allustan's residence. They set off and to follow him.   The stranger was indeed heading to Allustan's home, though he ducked around the back to enter it. The party approached and knocked on the door, and Allustan invited them in. Lazuli's instinct was correct, the mechanical man, who turned out to be a warforged named Ferdinand, had indeed been visited by if not quite a god, then a powerful entity, and that he had a part to play in the Age or Worms. Allustan released Ferdinand from his apprenticeship and bond, telling him to join the group of adventurers. Wasting no time, they collected Bay Leaf and headed for the hills, bringing Ferdinand up to date on the journey.   Arriving at the Whispering Cairn, the first point of order was to place the red lantern at the end of its chain and then light the lanterns. The room was filled with a bright and dazzling light, that while magnificent at first, maked it hard to concentrate. The second effect was that they heard the sound of grinding stone coming form the passage with the blue lantern. After a quick and somewhat paranoid investigation, they decide that they should take care of the mold first then investigate the noise later.   One by one, they descended down into the Lair of the Architect, via the elevator. With the correct spell memorised, it was pretty easy for Bay Leaf to destroy the mold, especially as they decided not bring fire near it this time. Getting a better look into the complex they saw a room, that appeared to be lit, though no movement was evident. The party cautiously entered what appeared to be a workshop, with the ceiling magically lit, as if it was letting in sun light. Sitting in the corner on a short red metal pedestal. On it was displayed what appeared to be a jet-black stone egg the size of a small boulder. A gold glyph - an equilateral triangle with short hash marks through each leg - marked the face of the egg.   Unable to resist the urge, the party poked it, at which point it morphed into a small stone creature. It looked at them and ground out some sort of demand in a grating, gravelly language. After a couple of attempts at failed communication it attacked. After a short fight that involved a lot of flailing about the creature was eventually subdued.   Returning to the lit chamber above, the party decided [DM- Finally!] to investigate the passageway above the blue lantern. They managed to successfully climb up and are now poised on the edge of the tunnel which dissapears into the darkness.  

Maps

Lair of the Architect Note: the image used to mark north on the map includes the triangle shape used on the earth elemental.   Lair of the Labourers