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The Man with the Ebony Skull, Part 2
Lotho
Sensing an opportunity that he could take advantage of, Lotho decided to allow Dacien to remain alive for now. He made a proposal: for Dacien to earn Lotho’s trust, he would perform a task for him. Lotoh claimed he was about to gain some information that would provide a fitting job for Dacien. Until then, Dacien would be allowed to go about the base, as long he was kept under guard. Lotho’s troops would find him when he was ready.
Dacien agreed, and, trying to avoid the spoiling of his plan, he revealed that he had an accomplice who may be making an appearance. While unhappy at this news, Lotho still maintained his offer, as long as Dacien collected this accomplice and refrained from any more “surprises.”
Meanwhile, Kona and Lagûn entered the base through the secret door in the warehouse. Creeping around, they scouted out a First Flame shrine where cultists appeared to be performing some kind of ritual, as well as a training area of some kind, where some grey dwarves tended to small steeders. Unable to find Song, nor Dacien, they doubled back to the warehouse entrance.
A group of grey dwarves led by a dwarf named Seaver escorted Dacien toward the warehouse entrance, where Dacien guessed that Kona and Lagûn may be. By the time they reached the warehouse, Kona and Lagûn had already made their way into the base. The grey dwarves searched the now-vacant warehouse, only to find the unconscious dwarf that Kona and Lagûn had knocked out. Alarmed and suspicious that this “accomplice” was now in the base, Seaver sent one of the dwarves back in to do a search. The dwarf re-entered the base, and ran into Kona and Lagûn just as they were making their way back.
Acting quickly, Kona rushed the grey dwarf and quickly disabled him. Seaver and the other grey dwarves followed the commotion and began engaging Kona. Just as Kona and Lagûn knocked out another dwarf in a mech suit, Dacien attempted to get the situation under control without blowing his cover, calling for everyone to stop fighting.
He quickly pulled Kona aside to whisper that he believed the grey dwarves could help them accomplish their goals. Kona remained suspicious, but paused the battle. Seaver, too, remained distrustful, annoyed at the treatment of his troops, and demanded that the party help them bring the unconscious dwarves to the barracks. Dacien agreed.
As they carried the bodies back into the base, the tenuous truce quickly unraveled when the dwarves demanded that the party march under their guard. Kona and Lagûn chose to make a break for it, charging deeper into the base. Seaver pursued him, leaving a single dwarf alongside Dacien.
Unfortunately, Kona and Lagûn ran through a mess hall and gambling room where groups of surprised grey dwarves started joining the chase. They eventually barricaded themselves in a short hallway, preparing for a drawn out battle.
Meanwhile, Dacien took advantage of the distraction and cast a spell of suggestion on his lone escort. He convinced the dwarf that he didn’t need to join the fight, and instead could continue giving him a tour of the base. The ensorceled dwarf agreed, and started out by leading Dacien through the First Flame shrine. Curious about the ritual that Kona had glimpsed earlier, Dacien inquired about it with his guide. The dwarf revealed that the cultists were conducting a ritual of revival, bringing someone back to life. This surprised Dacien who had assumed that the First Flame was lying about their restorative powers.
Back in the halls, Kona and Lagûn fought for their lives as a small army of grey dwarves descended upon their position. A few of the dwarves used their innate powers of size alteration and invisibility, but the pair were able to hold them back using the narrow doorways to their advantage. Lagûn used his aquatic healing magic to keep both of them alive.
On the other side of the base, Dacien had the dwarf walk him through more areas, going through the training hall and barracks, eventually coming to a private room of the gambling hall (not far from where Kona and Lagûn did battle). Dacien decided to take the time to play a game with the dwarves, and was able to use his insight to win at an unfamiliar game.
Finally, he asked the dwarf to take him to where prisoners might be held. The dwarf led him all the way back the way they came before arriving at a small cell, where they found Song Li, at last. Unfortunately, the captured ranger was being psychically tortured for information by a group of grey dwarves as Dacien came in. Not liking his odds, Dacien backed out with his host, planning on returning later for the captured ranger.
The battle between Kona, Lagûn, and the grey dwarves continued, with the paladin slowly whittling down the dwarves’ numbers. Lagûn downed the potion of frost giant strength they had received from Tongar to aid in the battle. Eventually, Lotho was alerted of the fight and emerged from his private office just in time to encounter Dacien as he returned from the prison cells. Lotho demanded that Dacien help him put down the threat of Kona. But as they approached the battle, Dacien turned on Lotho and joined the fight.
Song Li
To be continued...
-Potion of Frost Giant Strength
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