Session 54 – Through a Glass Darkly

General Summary

Following the confrontation with Whooshdooplink, Miletus decides that the time has come to try to break out of their grotto prison. He and Brandon take a day to rest up from their debacle, but in the meantime, he discusses the matter with Blossia and Eraf Eglandath. The human is in favor of trying to leave, though she is concerned about being separated from her spellbook. Eglandath asserts that despite being out of favor, he is still a loyal subject of Xibalba, and hopes to be useful to the city again once conditions change. Enkidu suddenly joins the discussion, indicating that he is bored being trapped here, and pointing out to Eglandath that his loyalty to Xibalba has gotten him nothing. Enkidu seems to have picked up sufficient elvish to converse during his captivity, though perhaps he knew more of the language from his time with the Company, or even his years in Neverwinter. Eglandath responds that he would have no place on the surface, and in any event, has little faith that the party can find its way out Xibalba even if it manages to fight its way through the maze. Miletus recounts their previous trip, and the way out by way of the elevator at the other end of the cavern. He also indicates that he knows which way the party made its way toward the cavern before they were captured by Lhingril’s people. Lastly, Brandon adds that the mushroom pentagram is actually quite nearby, and it offers instantaneous transport to the surface. Eglandath says that getting out the way they came in is impossible, because getting to that tunnel involves going through the city. Nevertheless, he appears convinced that Miletus and his companions do have plans for getting out, and he stills his opposition, though he never explicitly acquiesces, either.
Ultimately, it is decided that Miletus should make a last ditch effort to speak to his captors before attempting an escape. He succeeds in summoning the elevator and riding it to the surface, where he confronts the captain of the ingoeth scouting party. The wood elf requests to speak to Lhingril, in order to negotiate his release, and that of his companions. The head ingoeth smiles, and says that he will pass the request along to Lhingril, who is in the city. Afterward, Miletus is lowered back down into the tunnel leading to the grotto.
As no response is forthcoming for roughly a day, Miletus makes the decision to rally the troops. He is assisted by Enkidu, who has suddenly found his voice again. A boar – is it Goltur? – runs into the grotto from the tunnel, indicating that Enkidu has summoned his companion, and is ready for action. For their efforts, they gain the acquiescence of nearly all present. Brandon says he has things to do on the surface. Minocquanee and Meriadar don’t expect to survive their captivity. Kek indicates telepathically that he will also accompany the group. Blossia is game, as it seems everyone else is. Eglandath says nothing, but follows behind the rest at a discreet distance.
After continuing past the elevator, Brandon summons a light, but soon, the group finds the passage blocked. Set into the rock is a large, dark, reflective circle, apparently made of obsidian. It is bound in a copper-colored ring, probably made of orichalchum. The ring is set into the stone. Enkidu and some of the others push on the circle, but it does not budge. When Goltur nudges it on the side with his snout, however, it swivels open – apparently it is attached only at the top and bottom. The way is now open, and everyone passes through. Enkidu and Goltur lead the way, and they are followed by Blossia, Miletus, Brandon, Minocquanee, Meriadar, and Kek. Eglandath brings up the rear.
Enkidu looks for a passage heading up, but the tunnels here are flat. They do appear to be more or less regular, and artificially carved with tools or magic. They are windy, however, and soon, the group finds itself apparently heading in the wrong direction, back toward the lake. The group turns left, but upon entering a chamber, Goltur is assaulted by a tall, thin monstrosity with warty, scabrous skin. It looks not entirely dissimilar to the troll creature Miletus and Enkidu encountered on the other side of the lake months ago.
The troll makes short work of Goltur, and starts laying into Enkidu, who has only a dagger and a sling with which to defend himself. His companions come to his aid and push into the room. Miletus is more effective with his sword, and Brandon manages to open lesions in the creature’s skin with necromancy after saving the boar from bleeding out. Blossia grows tentacles, but they make little headway against the creature, whose wounds soon begin to close. Minocquanee yells “fire! fire!”, and then he runs into the room, and succeeds in temporarily blinding the creature. Eglandath comes up when it is surrounded, and commands it to flee. The troll stumbles on its way out, and is subdued by sword and dagger blows, as well as magic. Brandon blasts it with fire, and it stops moving. At this point, the group decides to take a break and decide where to head next, while Brandon and Enkidu heal the wounded (primarily, the half-orc and his boar).

* * *

After the end of the public assembly, the ambassadors take refreshment, and in the evening, reconvene in the Shining arsenal, for a private meeting, involving only the representatives of the five colonies present – Bright Colony (the hosts – Shining Kenebenak Colony (Sanctuary Hool Colony (Saltmarsh Naquilan Colony (Waterdeep and New Wyrmmoors Colony (Neverwinter). Three representatives sit in for each colony. For Bright colony, it includes the Shining Mayor, Continent Pertwee, along with Predicant Lorenz, and Adrie. For New Wyrmmoors colony, it includes the Acting Director, Willem Huysmans, along with Tain Beyert, and Theobald. Adrie also notices that the Hool Delegation includes Eustace Osgood, the lord Reeve, as well as the dwarf Ferdous Crugg and Alston Salley, both of whom she knows well. The two rivals are whispering to one another.
The meeting begins with some general proposals for cooperation, and the cessation of strife among the various factions and religious groups. There is also talk about holding out until the arrival of reinforcements from overseas in the spring. There is little doubt in the minds of any of the speakers that the colonists will launch a counteroffensive.
Theobald then makes a presentation concerning the horse-pelican. He conjures up a lifelike image of the creature, talks about its origins in the Summer Isles, and discusses its last known habitat on Arame pond. He relates its capture by the Brotherhood, and its imprisonment by the Sons of Alurax. He also advances a hypothesis, to counter the previous claims made by Lorenz, that the orcs have not been able to use the horse-pelican’s blood to raise the dead, because the creature was imprisoned by kobolds, and because as far as he knows, the blood was not used to raise Hursag – perhaps the second most important orc after Humbaba himself. Nor has he heard of any orcs being raised after the Battle of Triboar, which was costly. He suggests that it would be important to seek out Balint Vosberg – a member of the Company of the Horse-Pelican who has dedicated his life to the study of the creature.
In response, Lorenz raises a few questions of his own. He relates the story of Balint’s escape, and suggests that the latter was an important mole in Claymore, receiving messages from Glitterstem, who has gone native, as well as the orcs, and destabilizing the town. He also questions how much Balint actually knows about the horse-pelican, considering he is a member of the Frond – a utopian secret society. With regard to the latter point, he finds general approval, including from Theobald. Lorenz also suggests that no one knows if the orcs were able to tap the creature’s blood or not. The notion that the blood can only be used only if given freely derives from Balint, and from the creature itself – though it, according to Theobald’s testimony, is not too bright. Finally, Lorenz asks what the horse-pelican was doing on Arame pond, and suggests it was likely nesting, which means that there is a chance that it has young, and that the young were taken by the orcs. Lorenz does not push the council into trying to find the creature, however.
In other developments, Huysmans raises the question of Bester’s whereabouts. He says that the Director received a substantial amount of knowledge from Theobald, and that it would behoove someone to spy on the orcs, to see if they are still holding him, because if the orcs learn what he knows, the colonies would be threatened.
At the conclusion of the meeting, a mutual defense pact is struck among the five colonies. Each pledge to come to one another’s aid if any are attacked by the Brotherhood. They also pledge to refuse to trade with the natives, especially in iron and weapons. Theobald expresses a desire to spy on the orcs, and on the ingoeth, who are the ones manipulating the natives. Lorenz says that he has no objections, but he does not want Adrie to accompany him, as she is too valuable to risk. He agrees to send her to Neverwinter, to discuss the disease with its physicians, though he would like a group of bodyguards to accompany her. He also proposes that after the consultation in Neverwinter is over, it might be a good idea for Adrie and Theobald to mount an expedition to Avandra or Yartar, neither of which sent representatives to the council, and both of which are selling weapons to the orcs and probably conniving with the ingoeth through the agency of the White Hand (also known as the Firehands, and the Five Flames). Adrie is elven, while Theobald is subject to a king who accepts the Erlkönig’s suzerainty, so they might not be suspected. Theobald and Adrie accept this proposal, in principle, though no concrete plans are yet made.
At the end, Adrie has a short talk with Crugg and Salley. She asks Salley about the house, and he indicates that everything is going well there. She also suggests that if he continues to run weapons to the natives, she will keep mum about it. Salley says that he is of course engaged in nothing of the sort, though he wordlessly indicates that he is continuing to do what he was doing.
After the meeting concludes, Adrie and Theobald travel by ship with the New Wyrmmoors delegation back to Neverwinter, reaching that city in two days.

Report Date

07 Oct 2018