PREVIOUSLY - CAMPAIGN DIARIES 64 - IN SEARCH OF A NIMBLEWRIGHT 

04 Nightal - Day 157 - Fourthday 11:20PM - Mistshore

Two drow were escaping upon some sort of submersible craft in Waterdeep Harbor just dropped the Stone of Golorr into the frigid winter waters. They seemed to be heading back to the ships of Zardoz Zord, but now the drow begin banging loudly on the body of the vessel, not seeming to have a way to communicate within. The Stone is the drow dropped into the sea is apparently the key to a million gold coin embezzled by Dagult Neverember, and the Owlbear League wants the Stone to get Renaer Neverember and themselves out of a war between the Zhentarim, The Eye, and now these drow.

The League stands at the end of the dock, considering what to do. A squad of kenku thugs from The Eye, and some mostly human thugs from The Zhents come near The League and form clusters figuring out what to do next. The drow have run off.  Nowhere considers stealing a boat from one of the locals, but K'ronk and Immeral don't want to commit any criminal acts as they want to stay in good standing in the city.  Dain offers to kill anyone who gets in their way.

Some of the kenku start pounding on the door of a nearby building, yelling "Grinda...  Grinda...   We need the crab!" in their high-pitched voices. The Zhents look on but don't attack, as the Eye forms a blockade of the building. The League sees something odd about the building they are pounding on and moves to the end of the boat they are thinking of stealing for a better view.  From the very tip, they can see the building has some sort of mechanical crab mechanism the size of a large carriage.

K'ronk casts alter self and grows gills and webbing between his fingers. He drops his pack and dives into the icy waters, nearly taking his breath away, but he moves quickly to where the stone dropped. Swimming with his Staff of Frost he has resistance to the cold, but it is still painful. As the Drow mechanical turtle-ship turns back towards his position, K'ronk searches hurriedly for the stone, but he struggles to find it.

The agents of The Eye climb onto and into the mechanical crab apparently owned by Grinda as The League watches from the docked boat.  Grinda yells at them "It's 20 gold this time for waking me up so late!" The kenku caws agreement.

The boat stolen by the Zhentarim is getting close to K'ronk's position as Grinda charges the crab in her dockhouse with a spell, and it starts moving. Seraphina tries to glimpse the driver and cast a spell, but cannot see within the tiny ports and the crab marches down a ramp into the water.

Dain asks "why aren't we stealing this boat?"

Atlas says "we might get in trouble."  Nowhere stomps, but nods. "We might be pardoned if we just borrowed it."

Atlas says "it might look pretty bad if we don't get the stone."

Immeral adds "We're not exactly deputized either."

The drow dive off submerged steaming ship and swim downward towards K'ronk some forty feet below. They spasm, fighting the cold, but swim on.

Reverberations in the water carry a mechanical clunking sound, and it gets louder and louder.

The Zhent boat arrives and the leader yells "get in that water or Manshoon will skin you alive!" and the cutthroats tie ropes to their ankles and dive in the water. Some pop up immediately and scream from the cold, but some ten or twelve dive below.

K'ronk is nearly surrounded - crab in one direction, humans in another, drow getting close.  Looking down, he sees his goal, the teal Stone of Golorr. Another ship arrives! A manta-ray shaped ship fires a harpoon at K'ronk, but it zips by.

The crab immediately turns back towards the dock and K'ronk is dragged through the water back towards the dock by the strap of his magical bag. He tries an eldrich blast and the crab ship shutters, but seems to gain speed from the magic. The humans and drow, being outmanuevered, swim back up to their respective ships as the crazed shark eats another one, this time a drow.

K'ronk tries to use his cone of cold against the crab, but it merely freezes the water around the claw and quickly the ice floats away. Within seconds the crab is ascending a ramp and they break the surface of the water, dragging K'ronk along.

The zhents starts screaming to save them from the shark and climb back into the boat as more get eaten.

Grinda sees K'ronk has accompanied the crab, and she casts suggestion at the dragonborn, and says "swim far away from here".

K'ronk starts to move, but fights the suggestion and shakes off the command. The kenku pile out of the apparatus and swing swords at K'ronk, and one strikes true, drawing blood from his ribs.

Atlas rushes in to K'ronk's defense, and pounds on a kenku with a flurry of blows, knocking him out.

Dain swings at the last kenku in the foyer, slicking of his arm, and the bird-man falls dead to the floor, bleeding out from the missing limb. Dain  jumps over the fallen opponent and races to fight the kenku in the enclosed dock near K'ronk. 

Immeral misty steps towards Nowhere and Grinda and hurries towards the running wizard, casting ray of frost. A beam of cold slams into Grinda and she cries out, shivering and slowing. The street starts to clear, but some look on from corners and ships nearby. She turns around and puts her hands up "this is not my fight!" and she throws the stone at Nowhere, who catches it deftly. Immeral says "A likely story." and the mage says "No, I am out, I don't even know what this thing is. Only that The Eye wants it. I only run people down to Skullport for them."

Stone in hand, Nowhere looks at Immeral, then stuffs the stone in her vest and keeps running deeper into the city.

CAPTURE 1:00:00

She runs through the streets as whistles of the city watch blow, thankfully too late for the action on the docks. The Owlbear League leaves their mostly unconscious competitors behind and walks casually away from the scene of the fighting. They know that Nowhere will return to the League townhouse and will meet her there.

Nowhere hustles along, staying nearly invisible in the shadows and moving quickly to stay ahead of The Eye, The Zhents, The Drow and any other groups that are after the teal stone she possesses, heading back to the former Trollskull.

04 Nightal - Day 157 - Fourthday 11:50PM - Mistshore

When Nowhere finally arrives at the former Trollskull, she mounts the stairs to the townhouse and find the front door open. Jidjack and two of the security team are battered and unconscious, Jiddy nearly dead. Nowhere casts cure wounds on the sellsword and revives him.  

"They overpowered us, there were too many of them. They took the kids," he tells her.

"Who?" Nowhere asks.

"Not sure, but there were several kenku among the dozen that attacked us. They must have had a magic-user because all of a sudden it became silent and the door flew open magically." 

"Damn" Nowhere responds, thinking about how to get to the kids and that it is likely the organization known as The Eye.  She puts it aside for a moment and gives goodberries to the two unconscious fighters from her security team. Shortly thereafter, the rest of The League arrives. Seeing the beat up guards they quickly realize and K'ronk says "They have the kids."  Nowhere nods in fury.  Dain asks "Can I kill the kidnappers, like all of them?"  Nowhere nods again.

Immeral says "First we have to ensure that we all are who we say we are."  He pulls out the wand of aberration detection and it immediately informs him that there are two aberrations nearby. The first is in Nowhere's vest - the Stone of Golorr!  Immeral tells them "There's one in your vest!"  Nowhere scrambles to pull out the stone and as they look upon the teal-colored loaf, its eyes open!

K'ronk looks up from examining the Stone on the floor and says "the mind flayer could be breeding them."

Atlas says "I am going to pound the baker into dog shit!"

Dain asks "Can I kill him too?"

Nowhere asks "is there a way to save the baker from the devourer?"

Immeral looks to K'ronk for validation "I don't think anything less than wish could do it - their brain is gone.  Maybe regenerate, but I think their memories would all be lost - they would be like an infant.  Maybe we could find a powerful enough wizard.  Might cost 500 gold."

K'ronk nods.  "That is way above our level of ability, or anyone we know."

Seraphina "Perhaps raise dead, or reincarnation, but those are not trivial spells either." 

Nowhere says "we have to worry about the kids first. How are we going to find them?"

Suddenly, there is a knock at the door and Seraphina opens it.  It is a page, delivering a message, he hands the message, sees the angry-looking League and makes haste down the street.  "No reply needed!"

05 Nightal - Day 158 - Fifthday 12:40AM - Southern Ward

It is well after midnight when The League gets down to the southern ward.

There is an old tower on the corner of Coach and the High Road, and there is a large number of men and women of varied races that look to be dressed for a huge funeral procession dressed in white robes.  They are eerily quiet, and the local city watch seems to have disappeared. There are kenku and other races, maybe a hundred of them, and there is a coffin and carriage. 

Priest Immago says "You have my word they are safe, but they are not nearby in case you tried something funny."

"Bring them here, and you will get your stone." Nowhere counters.

"How about this, " the priest replies, "you put the stone into the coffin, and we bring you and the stone to where the children are."

"We need to see the children before you get the stone."  

Nowhere says "Then we will follow you to the children."

Immago nods "That is what we are asking, just put the stone in the coffin for protection."

Nowhere turns to look at her people.  She whispers "I think it is fine." but they scowl.  

"Is there anyone in the coffin?" Nowhere asks.

"It is empty" he replies.  

"Can one of us be in the coffin with the stone?" She asks - looking at Seraphina.

Immago frowns, but says "Very well." 

"We will carry the coffin too." Immeral says.

Exacerbated, the priest pauses for a moment, but says "Very well. My task is to get that stone to its new owner." 

"Our job is to get the children back." Nowhere replies.  She marches over to the coffin and The League follows.

Seraphina places a hand on her belt and confirms the rod of security is there as she enters the coffin.

They pick up the coffin and leave the carriage behind.

05 Nightal - Day 158 - Fifthday 12:50AM - Coach Street

As the League marches in the strange silent funeral procession down Coach Street, through the twisted alleys towards the western end of the southern ward, another large group, this one all in black, blocks the street.  The League notices everyone wears swords and here and there tattoos of a winged snake can be seen peeking out of their garb.

Several immediately open fire on the white-clothed Eye, releasing several magic missiles which take down the priest of the white-clothed group. While the members of The Eye draw weapons, screams as they wildly race across the cobbles to attack the onrushing horde. The League stands still holding the coffin while blood starts flowing in the street. Fingers and limbs are lost, and men of all races and sides fall to the pavement as the massive battle of maybe two hundred beings fills the alley. The clang of swords draws some to peak out their windows, but most close their shutters in fear.

Seraphina yells from inside the coffin, "What in the nine hells is going on!"  

Immeral shouts "Get to an alley!"   

They start shuffling, but each direction they move gets blocked off by fighting black and white dressed thugs.

Suddenly a portal in the ground opens up. Several bodies fall into the hole, as do some active combatants, screaming. Out of the hole rises three monsterous devils.  One looks of flesh, one of bone, the other of fire. 

CAPTURE 24:47

The devils start destroying the agents of both groups and the alley descends into blood and chaos.  Body parts start flying and a symphony of screams start and end like instruments in an orchestra of torment added to by the far off whistles of the City Watch.

The League drops the coffin, clambering to get Seraphina out of it as K'ronk yells "We have to get out of here!" and Nowhere points in one direction as a path forward emerges.  "That way!" But the coffin lid seems stuck and their path out suddenly closes...

On the only clear path, a whisp of thick smoke rises, and slowly becoming visible in the midst of the chaos is a strangely charismatic and captivating being. He is slim, red-skinned and over 13- feet tall with a horned head, glowing red eyes and a perfectly trimmed beard. He wears red and black clothing that looks of the richest garb a man could possess, but from underneath blood constantly drips from perhaps some unseen wounds. 

He smiles, unconcerned with the blood and looks directly at Nowhere, winking at her - and it is as if for the first time in her life that Nowhere feels cold. The goosebumps on her arms stand fiercely on her skin and she says in infernal without thinking "it is Asmodeus, Lord of the Nessus, Lord of the Ninth, Lord of the Ruby Rod, The Prince of Evil and Supreme Master of the Nine Hells - it would be wise to bow." And although they do not speak infernal, all somehow understand her perfectly.  Her knees shake, but she stands her ground.  The others bow.

With all the combatants run off or dead, the remaining devils fly into the hole beside.

"My apologies for this mess" he says to The League, and he waives his hand and the blood and bodies and weapons of the dead suck back into the hole from which the devils came, whisps of steam still escaping from it.

K'ronk whispers to Immeral "I think he just used a wish to clean up after himself."

Immeral stands wide-eyed and terrified.

The League notices the griffon rider seems to slow down in the sky and the beats of the griffon wings appear more leisurely than possible to keep it in flight.

Asmodeus smells the air and turns back to Nowhere. "You smell of brimstone, of one of my brood, but I do not recognize you. Your mother must have been unremarkable, a vessel for my seed, did she survive your birth?  Did your father kill her when he saw she gave her womb to me?"

Nowhere stands speechless for a moment. She manages to whisper "I never knew my real parents."

The deity replies "This is good, mothers taint their children with compassion. But you carry yourself armored from fear, like tragedy has clawed your heart. Maybe your life is not a waste, though you travel with swine."

A raven lands on a nearby rain gutter and caws. Asmodeus looks and raises an eyebrow.

"My apologies for ending the family reunion, but I do have an appointment with some of my worshippers. They seem to think they can get out of killing a hundred pitiful souls to save their hides. Good evening." and the king of hell steps back into the hole and with a further wisp of steam, disappears along with all evidence of a problem.

The griffon and rider starts moving in real time and descends into the alley, looking around and appearing a bit confused.  Seraphina sits up in the coffin.

Dain says to the griffon rider, "It's OK, she's alive! The funeral is canceled!"

The griffon rider considers this a moment, and seeing nothing out of the ordinary and flies off as The City Watch enters the street, looking around for signs of a problems.

"Clear the streets" they order The League.

"You got it." says Atlas. "And you're kind of cute."  The watchman looks at her funny.

As The League walks off, they discuss what to do next, Nowhere says "How do we find the kids now, we don't know where they're being held."

Atlas say "They Eye won't give us the kids until we get the stone."

Nowhere says "I think we need a long rest."

K'ronk says "I don't think I could cast another spell."  

"Me either!" says Seraphina and Immeral simultaneously.

K'ronk adds "But I really feel bad waiting to save the kids."

Immeral says "There were enough fighters that got away so that word will get to The Eye that the lord of hell visited Waterdeep and grabbed the stone. That should buy us some time."

"Maybe The Eye will sacrifice the kids to Asmodeus." The rest of The League stops walking and looks at Dain.

"Maybe not!" the barbarian says, and they return to walking the streets of Waterdeep back to the Owlbear Townhouse. 

Seraphina recalls "Aren't the Cassalantars having their big party tomorrow night to feed the poor?" 

Kronk says "I think we should go to Blackstaff tower right now and wake up Vajra. We can't accuse the Cassalantar's of murder, before they murder anyone, but the Blackstaff will know how to put a stop to it before 100 people die."

Immeral says "Do you realize all of this happened due to Volo and his job with Renear?"

Dain asks "Can I kill him?"

Nowhere says "But we never would have met the kids without his shitty deal."

Seraphina casts a locate object spell and remarks that "The kids are not within 1,000 feet of us.  At least Jenks' cloak is not."

05 Nightal - Day 158 - Fifthday 2:00AM - Coach Street

When The League arrives at the Blackstaff tower, they freeze in the street outside the gates.  Within the gates, the entire tower is gone. There is a healthy plot of green grass where the tower once was, which is certainly odd for early winter. 

"Looking for the tower?" someone calls, and she turns to see it is a homeless person in a nearby alley.

She walks over and nods, and the man says.  "It disappears all the time.  Might be gone a day, maybe a month, who is to say. But usually just a day.  When it's gone it cuts down on passers by, and those handouts to us poor." and the scruffy man holds out his hand.  K'ronk hands him a platinum coin and moves on.

Nowhere says "Let's get some sleep, we need to recharge."

Dain says on the walk back, maybe we could start a riot to help find them."

K'ronk says "we don't need any more chaos."

They get back to their townhouse around 3 bells and collapse into their beds.

05 Nightal - Day 158 - Fifthday 10:00AM - The Owlbear Townhouse

The League rises and gets right to work. Jiddy and team are on high alert, and inform The League that the City Watch wants to talk to them about the intruders and the kidnapped children, but says they are obviously not suspects. Barnabus Blastwind and Seth Cromley told JidJack they will be back, and that they are on the case.

Immeral says "What do you want to do about the Intellect Devourer across the street?"

Nowhere responds "Let's have a conversation with him."  They nod and cross the street.

The young elf Roekin is working there, with a sad face, and so is his father Dierre, but the bakery is otherwise. The League asks if Dierre can join them for a few moments over in the Trollskull regarding an urgent manner.  He is curious, but he agrees and follows.

Across at the Three Urchins Alehouse, Nowhere sits the form of Dierre Silvermoon down and says "I am going to tell you some things, and would prefer if you didn't respond. Just listen to everything I have to say, there is no need for interruption or argument."

He is confused, but the curious elf nods. Nowhere begins.  "We know you are an intellect devourer working for The Eye. You have kidnapped our children..."

"I don't know what you are talking about!" the elf exclaims. He starts moving, but The League circles round.

"As I said, please don't interrupt me. We know that The Eye has our children, that they were taken from the tavern last night, and that The Eye wants the stone. We no longer have an interest in the stone. We only got involved because of Renaer and he does not want it. We know who has the stone currently, and we are not interested. We will share after our children are returned, minds intact and unharmed." 

"Is that all?" he asks sheepishly.

"Leave with that message." Nowhere states.

"Allright." and he rushes out, back across the street.  Nowhere says "I'm not sure if that will do much. I wish we could teleport the whole building however and wherever the Blackstaff tower went and get out of this crazy town.

Immeral adds "Be careful what you wish for." and the others nod.

CAPTURE p2 1:11:30

"Maybe the chitine caves." Nowhere mumbles.  

"Mizar's valley" says Atlas.  "Whatever" says Nowhere, but adds "What about your Order of the Gauntlet lady Savra?" 

"I could send her a message."  They are all about retribution Atlas adds.

Immeral adds "Kidnapping of children certainly falls under that, plus maybe the Lord of Hell appearing in the streets of Waterdeep and massacring a hundred thugs."

K'ronk says "What other help could we get?"

Seraphina "I will pray to the Raven Queen, perhaps some guidance will be delivered."  Atlas says "I will pray to Mizar."  They both take some time to pray, but no answer comes from their deities.

"We're going to have to see what's going on at the Cassalantars." Nowhere says, and the others agree.  "Let's walk. Immeral, bring your Robe of Stars." and they go.

05 Nightal - Day 158 - Fifthday 10:00AM - The Cassalantar Villa

The League watches the hustle and bustle of deliveries at the Cassalantar estate from a nearby doorway when they notice several fine carriages pull up, and people who look like local nobility based on their apparent wealth. When they pull, up the visitors leave their carriage and are ushered into the main entrance. The League looks at each other curiously, Immeral offers "should I investigate?" meaning his Robe of Stars.

The others nod, Nowhere saying "if we know what we are up against, we can maybe get some fresh weapons from Sumat Pol."

The Lord and Lady descends\ down a spiral stair that takes them into some sort of deep dungeon complex. They step off into a side room and change into red robes, unconcerned with their momentary nakedness, and they proceed down a passage to the west where a huge temple is revealed and the sound of chanting can be heard. Dozens of followers of some deity chant facing a statue in the far west, a statue of Asmodeus, or at least a version of him, this one with cloven feet and a long tail. In front of the statue is a 3' wide stone bowl filled with something producing crackling flames and braziers to either side of the statue light the room even further. Within the middle room, there are pillars and balconies to the north and south, but nobody appears up there.

There are maybe thirty worshippers already there, chanting and prostate before the statue room.  As Immeral secretly watches, a servant arrives and announces "Victorio and Ammelia will be arriving in about 20 minutes.  At that time the ceremony to call Lord Asmodeus will begin. Thank you for your patience.  Be assured that we have the stone that will pay our debt to our Lord."

Waiting a few more minutes and seeing more and more cultists arrive, seeing there is little interesting in nearby rooms - an underground stream, a room for rest with cots, and an old nearby crypt.  Immeral decides to go back to the team and inform them of the situation, removing his robe of stars and appearing back across the street.

Immeral quickly informs them of the situation, and that the Cassalantars are hosting and entire cult of Asmodeus in a temple below the estate and they are going to call the Lord of Hell himself in short order.

Nowhere asks "If this is a cult to Asmodeus, and Ammelia has shown a strange reaction to Squiddly, could it be that Ammelia is Squidly's mother?" 

Immeral nods.  "That might make Squiddly your half-brother!"

Nowhere sheds a tear and seems to hold back more. "Before we do anything else, we should communicate to them and let them know we're trying to get them back."

K'ronk casts sending and says "Where are you?"

Jenks responds. "We've been kidnapped - we're in a dungeon somewhere. I think they killed JidJack!"

K'ronk responds.  "JidJack is alright. What was the last thing you saw."

Jenks says "They covered our heads at the townhouse."

K'ronk replies.  "Are you OK?"

Jenks signs off with the end of the spell "We're OK for now."

NEXT - CAMPAIGN JOURNAL 66 - BENEFIT FROM HELL