STATIC 19: Icky Sticky in Zosfari Territory

General Summary

Wherein the Blinkertons battle the acolytes of the goddess of misfortune

To the Zosfari Lair

After much hardship navigating through the cavernous labrintyh beneath the Dhib’ma’qulm mountains, the The Interdimensional Blinkerton Detective Agency emerged into a clearing, somehow present in the heart of these mountains. At the far side of the clearing was a deep pool. Above that pool was writing rendered in a language unfamiliar to our heroes. It seems, however, that everything has led them to this, and to this pool.
Luckily, two other figures were also present in this clearing. Sardor Gliv and his steadfast bicorn companion stood ready to help our adventurers. Sardor, it appears, is also a wanderer through the mysteries of The Displacement, and happens to be from Gavros himself. How fortunate! He informed the Blinkies that he is here to "render aid" to their quest. The specific "aid" meant to be "rendered," however, was unclear. After a brief back and forth, it was revealed that Sardor could read the language above the pool--which was enscribed in something called Maefridian Truth--and provided a rough translation to our explorers: "Blood is required for entry." With that, Sardor and Wishwyn were caught up once again in the Displacement. Tridge volunteered her own blood, cutting her hand deeply and plunging it into the pool. She was rewarded with the telltale sounds of a door opening deep in the pool. Now all that remained was a quick swim through the pool to emerge, hopefully, in the Zosfari compound. Easy!
Some of the Blinkertons, however, accomplished this feat easier than others. Fritz Himmelswander and Hypatia had no difficulty with the swim. Nero Rubicant and Tridge, on the other hand, did not fare so well, as each emerged from the water in various stages of exhaustion.
There was, however, no time to rest as the lair of Zosfari Lizardfolk lay before them, and certain battle lay within those chambers.

Battle!

Having survived their swimming ordeal, it was determined that sneaking up on the Zosfari might be advantageous. So the Blinkertons did just that, successfully ambushing some unsuspecting guards.
This event triggered a massive battle, as the Blinkertons fought through the entirety of the Zosfari sect, culminating in a pitched battle with the Zosfari chief, a fearsome Lizardfolk named Jhass. Midway through that battle, Jhass turned into a massive shadow-drenched entity, presumably a champion of Zosfar. Troubling, but the Blinkertons had no time to consider those implications as the fight did not stop. It was a brutal affair, as our heroes were already rather wounded and tired, but they eventually destroyed Jhass, and, with that destruction, fulfilled their promise to the Lizardfolk Queen.

They also found a Blast Ooze and 120 gold among Jhass' treasures. Nice!

Having come what they came to do, it was time for the Blinkertons to depart.

Back Through the Caves

Slugort needed more than just the word of the Blinkertons that the Zosfar sect was no more--she required proof. That proof turned out to be the Idol of Zosfar--a skull suffused with a malevolent energy. Nero Rubicant, feeling brave and bold, took posession of the Idol and was rewarded with some significant psychic damage as it buffeted him with visions of his own demise.

Our adventurers managed to navigate safety away from the Zosfari compound and decided to set up camp for the night, certain that they'll need to be rested to deal with whatever dangers, threats, and complications may ensue as they make their way back to Slugort's court.

And That's Where We Left It

We'll see what the skein of fate has woven for the Blinkertons as they return to the Lizardfolk during our next session.

Varied & Sundry Details

The lair of the Zosfari also contained a strangely bright fungus that attacked the Blinkertons. They dispatched this entity and then decided to consume its inticing mushrooms. They experienced the following effects:

• Electrical energy coursed through Tyrant's body, delivering elecetrical damage to whomever would do it harm for the next minute
  
  
• Tridge felt refreshed, regaining the use of a spell slot
• Hypatia felt armored, gaining resistance to damage for the next minute
• Nero felt the satisfaction of knowing himself, as he knows he is not about to eat strange dungeon mushrooms

Hypatia was also able to grab a strange green ring from what was almost certainly a trap. The ring turned out to be a Ravenous Ring. Nice!

Rewards Granted

• Ravenous Ring
• Blast Ooze

Character(s) interacted with

• Sardor Gliv--erstwhile Waterspeaker of Holapo, now traveler in The Displacement
• Wishwyn--rainbow bicorn, companion of Sardor

Report Date

19 Mar 2023

Primary Location

Dhib’ma’qulm