22 - 1/24/22 : The Main Monkey Business

In-game date: 23rd of Freyrmond, 3521

“They compensate in vain, for no one has a bigger dick than Duhlark Maleficarius!” - Duhlark Maleficarius

The Red Spirits fought Manafret Cherryport and the other Black Network thugs. After killing them, the party recovered Cherryport's portal ring as well as several vials of potent and expensive poison. Proceeding upwards, the party discovered that the tower was connected via invisible stairs and walkways. Travel between the two main towers was restricted via a wooden bridge on the second floor.

After braving a few minor traps and defeating a mimic, the party encountered a trio of wizards apprenticed to Veszaltyrr attempting to summon and bind a barlgura. The party interrupted this and freed the barlgura, and Yilani's telepathic prodding prompted the demon to turn on its summoners and proceed to wreak havoc on the tower.

With careful observation of the summoning ring, the party realized that it was a permanent magical anchor where the barriers between the planes were weaker, allowing for easier summoning and interplanar travel. In particular, Reilly detected that there was an extraplanar sanctum on the other side, accessible by the portal ring they had recovered; likely to be Veszaltyrr's private sanctum, and the reason he was inaccurately tracked by the bloodstone.
On the fifth floor, the party discovered an elaborate trap designed to cause the floor to rush up towards the ceiling above, crushing anyone on it. The party carefully avoided triggering it or the animated armors lying dormant on the ground and proceeded to the sixth floor.
Using Brooke's elaborate magical lighting, the party lured a flesh golem standing guard and defeated it. They then followed the sound of maniacal laughter through a hidden door, discovering a hostile flameskull floating within. The flameskull revealed himself to be the previous master of the tower, Duhlark Maleficarius. Duhlark was a powerful wizard from decades past, as well as the grandfather of Spite Maleficarius and father of Jackass Maleficarius. The party dispatched the flameskull after distracting it with an illusion of its beloved flesh golem, freeing the spirit within.
Duhlark proved to be the spitting image of his grandson, having many of the same odd personality quirks. He let it slip that a red slaad was held as a summonable deterrent in the next room. After the party assured him that his grandson was adequately carrying on the family tradition of malevolance and do-baddery, Duhlark prepared to depart peacefully to the afterlife in Hades, but was abruptly dragged to the plane of Carceri for his evil ways.
The Red Spirits took a brief respite in Duhlark's sealed room, during which they heard a crushing sound as the barlgura triggered the trap floor below, destroying it in a gruesome manner.
After their rest, the party cautiously examined the next room, finding an enchanted rune that was not only made to summon a red slaad, but was also responsible for holding fast the shield surrounding Maleficarius towers; the slaad would be released if the shields were dispelled. They elected to leave it alone for the time being and continue their exploration.

Portraits

The Red Spirits

Reilly Springs - A young, anxious satyr artificer and inventor, who has fashioned for herself a magic suit of armor that grants her impressive combat capabilities. Now free of the debt that hounded her, Reilly is committed to supporting her friends as she sets down roots in Revelmoore. She has taken to spending time with Fala Lefaliir, the serene gardener and proprietor of Aelbwynn’s Crown.

Brooke Acropora - A charming water genasi and a native of Revelmoore, who supports the party with his keen intuition concerning the fanciful and fascinating goings-on of the city. Brooke moonlights as a contributor to The Targe, a broadsheets publication that seeks out the most interesting and sauciest news scoops of the day. Currently, Brooke is focused on ensuring that Troll Skull Manor becomes an unforgettable spectacle to its visitors, but part of his mind continues to be occupied by his tryst with the mysterious Zelem Corvo.

Yilani Deniz - A severe, perceptive Yuan-ti Pureblood druid who once masqueraded as a human refugee from Khemit in order to gather information on the wealthy and powerful of Revelmoore on behalf of a Yuan-ti cult of Aapep. After coming to love the city and her new friends, Yilani has turned her back on her people and helped to drive them out of the city before their nefarious plans could be enacted. Yilani met Zelem’s offer for cooperation with paranoia and has taken measures to keep herself and her friends from the thief lord’s spying.

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Violet - A strange purple cat that was purchased by Brooke at the Old Xoblob Shop. For all intents and purposes, she seems to be a completely normal cat; save for the fact that her fur is a deep shade of violet. She told Brooke her story, revealing that she was once a human adventurer that was polymorphed into a purple cat by Halaster Blackcloak, the Mad Mage of the Undermountain. She appears to be more than happy with this situation.

Róisín - A homunculus created by Reilly out of a mechanical skeleton, an enchanted crystal, and plants grown from feywild seeds. Róisín resembles a winged rabbit composed of plant matter, and is unfailingly loyal to her creator.

Renaer Ambermantle - The estranged son of Dagult Ambermantle, the previous Open Lord of Revelmoore. A skilled fighter, an agent of the Masquerade, and a man of noble standing. Renaer faces scrutiny because of his father’s legacy, but still retains friends in high places. He has befriended the party and spends most of his time fraternizing with them. He was grievously wounded by a fireball aimed at a spy working for his father, but he managed to survive with only burn scars on his face, and has returned to the field with the rest of the party.

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Manafret Cherryport - A gnome wearing mage’s clothing that was spotted through the windows of Maleficarius Towers, where he was seen cooking in the towers’ kitchen on the first floor. He was killed by the party following brief combat, and his portal ring was taken.

Duhlark Maleficarius - The builder and former master of Maleficarius Towers, and grandfather to the infamous Spite Maleficarius. He was presumably locked away or killed by Veszaltyrr's henchmen some time ago before their takeover of the tower. After his flameskull incarnation was slain by the party, his spirit greeted them and spoke of his legacy; his son Jackass and grandson Spite, as well as his allegedly gargantuan private endowments. After being assured his grandson was carrying on the family tradition of contemptible and vile behavior, he allowed himself to go in peace to the afterlife of Baator, only to be dragged away to Carceri instead.

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The Stone of Golorr - A greyish-green ovular stone, about six inches long from end to end, with three recesses running vertically down its length. It is covered in a thin layer of ever-present mucus. With its first eye restored, it is now capable of speaking to whoever attunes to it, and promises knowledge if its remaining two eyes are returned.