43 - Queen of the stone age (4th)

Nangalore has an ancient beauty despite it run down state. Animals of all types frolic in the gardens totally unafraid about intruders. Hints of past beauty emerge from the ruins of time but little remains of the breathtaking gardens Artus spoke of long ago. Now it is filled with dwarf pines grown to full size, monuments rotted away bu rain and weather. Swings mounted on trees that now stand 40 feet off the ground.

The gardens are filled with fragrances and one such fragrance lures Lindal into the clutches of a mantrap. The party springs into action and prune the shrubbery but it is Lindal who finally skewers the bulb and pinions it to the ground. Some medicinal roots are found and a bit of silver jewelry and Lindal spotted a Chwinga spying on Freya but attempts to deal with it failed after it doffed its cap in an angry manner and Lindal could not understand what it meant.

The rest of the party spooked a bunny-corn better known as an Almeraj and follow it into another even more verdant garden filled with gemlike plants and multihued flowers and ancient graffiti in some long dead tongue. Celedon admires. the stonework stating that it is Old Omuan and the writing is likely of that line as well. DaVeers starts to cast a comprehend languages but the plants turn and start spitting poison darts before he can finish and another battle is started.

Freya and kylorin rush up to aid Eddie who was in the lead with Celadon and the plants are quickly trimmed back to a manageable level. But during the fight a beautiful Chultan lady drifted by smiling enigmatically as the party fought for their lives. Also a set of enormous Herons gathered to watch the party with some interest. Now the party had seen many giant animals but these herons were the first to give an impression of intelligence.

The party mused that maybe the queen had turned people into herons and Eddie cast a comprehension spell but only after the party had moved away from the narcotic fumes of the plants they had so recently fought by. With the spell cast he spoke to the birds who mocked his attempt in common but as the birds gossiped among themselves in another language he gathered that the birds were playing tricks and trying to lead them into danger. The party state they need to clean up to make themselves presentable and go to the one building the birds kept under guard and when knocking are told in an oddly accented voice to enter.

The party finds themselves in a room with the Queen of the ruins who they quickly realize is a medusa. She has spent centuries dabbling in pharmaceutical escape and is thoroughly and uttelry detached from reality as a result. Her prized black Orchid. "A Zalkoré because it is trapped in a beautiful pot but to remove it means it will wither and die." Eddie convinces the queen to partake of some of her hallucinogenic distillations an like a junkie she is soon writhing in ecstasy lost to the world. Kylorin notes that a undead spirit haunts the room but it seems to be possessing her more and more as she slips into a drug induced haze. Zalkoré talks to people the group can not see but now they hear replies and Eddie is able to listen in and get bits and pieces of her tale of betrayal, heartache, pain of loss, and despair. Using the distraction he pockets the black Orchid and leaves a illusionary replacement.

Zalkoré wakes briefly from her stupor though and orders Celadon to kiss her. Keeping his eyes shut he approaches the podium where she lounges and is pulled into her embrasceand his senses are soon overwhelmed by the heady drugs on her lips and the many voices whispering in his ears and the ghost that wants to take over his body. He waves the group away but it is more Thiru-taya than Celadon in the driver's seat as he slowly begins to make love to Zalkoré whispering that he never betrayed her and forgives her for all that she did. He promises to stay with her for the rest of his life.

The rest of the party slip from the room and search the rest of Nangalore finding mostly ruin and a large number of extremely lifelike statues. But many of the things they think are teleportation circles are only illusions cast by the birds. Finally in the grand hall in the shadow of the statue of Thiru-taya they find a working teleport circle. But at this point Celedon realizes he has completely forgotten to keep his eyes closed has ripped off the Queen's feather veil and is slowly turning to stone. In the heat of passion staring into her eyes he watches teh world go grey but as he shudders and climaxes even as he petrifies he somehow manages to shake off the petrification and flees the Queens chamber suddenly free form possession and the petrification. He flees to the main hall following Seraph's guidance and the group jump into the glowing circle appearing once more in Port Nyanzaru.

Facing away form them is Prince Wakanga Otamu saying "There the ritual is complete but they are no longer here on this plane. There is no sense to me casting this anymore since they are not coming back... But Inette looks over his shoulder with and knowing smile and says Welcome back my lords. Prince Celadon you have returned or should I call you father of emperors?"

Inspiration

  • Celadon for flirting with death.

  • Everyone else for reaching 4th level

Defeated

  • 4 trifrond x 100 = 400

  • 1 medusa = 2300

  • 1 Eblis = 200

  • 1 mantrap x 200 = 200

The party earned 3100 xp with 1-2 allies [Azaka, Seraph] (500 each => 3152 cumulative)

Treasure

  • An Almiraj

  • 4 Wildroot

  • A silver bracelet (15 sp)

  • A giant Yahcha beetle

  • Large black Orchid "Zalkoré"

Current Companions (present):

  • Seraph - a Psuedodragon traveling companion and his horde of 4 gp and 3 sp and 1 ep

  • Akaza Stormfang guide - possibly related to an Attestra Stormfang that Artus knows.

Past Companions (not present)

  • Artus Cimber - last surviving knight of Ubtau. Former colleague of Ras Nsi whom he has sworn eternal vengeance against. On way to Oralunga

  • Dragonbait - knight of the Great Dragon. Diminutive man of very few words. Companion of Artus.

  • Oona, Diviya, and Skutcha - Bootleggers and anti-prince makers of bootleg alcohol. Last seen on way to firefinger.

  • Captain and Crew of the Brazen pegasus

    • Captain Ortimay

    • First Mate Grigg

    • Bonnie "Sky Turtle" Skytle

  • Undril Silvertusk - A Lightbringer and member of the Order of the Gauntlet bringing relief supplies to Camp Righteousness.

  • Derrick - former pirate now sworn to Kasisi as temple guardian

  • Lenny - imp with a troubled history with the party

  • Hew Hackenstone (AKA Emperor Norton) - tough as the legend would have you believe

  • Not Kylorin - a clone of Kylorin created by teh Sewn sisters to find out more about the group and their quests.