Quest #21 "Island Hopping"

[ravenn4544]

Alordan offers, "I love seafood, by the way.... but maybe later, I'm not really hungry at the moment. Full actually. How would those things even get here and thrive like that?"

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche

Andronichishche takes a step back, astonished at the teeming school of fish suddenly illuminated by the light stone. He quickly regains his composure and moves closer to peer into the pool's depth. "Indeed, Mr. Alordan! Look at the size of that one," he says, pointing at one of the Maag-arm sized specimens. "The wizard may have seeded the pool with fish, but that was a long, long time ago, judging by the state of the garden. How could a pool of this size sustain such a population ..." His words trail off as he strains to see through the mass of fish. "... unless, there is a much larger body of water connected? Anyone care to take a closer look?" Andron casts a surreptitious glance at Maag.

[Jernau35]

Maag

Maag raises his eyebrows. "Wot? Yer want me to go in der? Yer jokin', right?"

He points at the arm-size fish. " 'e didn't get dat big from eatin' lettuce leaves. Dey are either eatin' sumfin' else nice an' chunky. Or dey are eatin' each other. I don't fancy goin' for a dip wiv 'em. I mean, if der was a pile of treasure down der, maybe. But I'm not gettin' ate just to see where dey live." Maag folds his arms.

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche

"No, of course not, Mr. Maag. I did not consider they would be flesh eating ... however, if they are, this pool would make a suitable place to hide something valuable, yes?" He reaches to take back his bamboo pole. "May I?" He then attempts to maneuver the light near the center of the pool for a better look at the bottom there. "Of course, there is plenty of ... Marquees, left ... to see how they react to flesh", Andron says over his shoulder. "If you would care to obtain a sample?"

[Jernau35]

Maag

Maag nods when Andron suggests recovering
Marquees' remains. "Dat's a good idea. Might as well make 'imself useful. 'Oo's comin' wiv me?"

I can't actually remember where he is.

[Quonundrum]

He's in Melania's bed room, just south of here. Half of him is actually phased into the floor. The head and hands were also cut off. So, mostly a torso and arms.

[Rex]

Tlachtga

Tlachtga studies the fish, "Interesting, if it does connect to a larger body of water it must be all underground as they are clearly adapted to the dark."

[wolfpack]

I'll go with you

[kruk]

Lerrick

The cleric stays behind and waits, curious to see what portion of Marquees body the fighters bring back.

[OGRE MAGE]

The Grotto
Sunday, 21st of Goodmonth
Very Early Morning

As Tlachtga leans in for a closer look at the fish, Andron sticks the bright end of his stick into the center of the pond, causing more of the fish to scatter. The number of blind, white fish in the pond has now been reduced to about half of the amount they saw initially. (I’ll take a Hard Wis check from T, please)

Retrieving some meat from the body of the half encapsulated Marquees in the next room, the cave butchers find nothing disturbed in there since their last visit. They also find that instead of decaying like a human might, the stone creatures skin actually appears to be solidifying.

Tossing the stony chunks into the pool causes little reaction from the fish, though a few of them do eventually swim over the top of the meat, probing it with their alien looking pale sucker whiskers.

Actions?

Gramble 14/16 (Light stone 40'r)
Alordan 18/18
Tlachtga 7/8 3/4 1st
Andronichishche 5/6 3/3 1st / CL, DM, RM 0/1 1st (Light stone 40'r)
Lerrick 10/11 1/4 1st (Light stone 40'r)
Maag 11/12

Deceased
Sir Crestbrook 0/11 LoH (Petrified and Broken in Melania’s bedroom)
Cu AC:3 0/13
Carucenus -5.5/10[/color]
message on tiny decorative box
Mina's note
Notes and other Bookkeeping:

Melania
You have been warned several times now about your unwillingness to remain in your designated location. Since you cannot control your desire to destroy my hard earned collection by turning them into useless statuary, you leave me little other choice but to relocate you somewhere safer.

Melaina
I have decided on a far more suitable spot for you to reside. There is a cave complex on the other side of the island that will suit your needs perfectly. It is an old experiment of mine, that never panned out the way that I had hoped. But there is a fresh water source inside and a magical summoning device of my own creation that should provide you with an endless supply of food. You will be relocated there as soon as I get it ready. I am still working on filling your request for companionship. As I told you before, they are extremely rare and nearly impossible to locate.

Melania
I understand you are not happy with your new accommodations, but it is simply the best I can do for now. I think you will be much more at ease living here once I am able to fill your request for a mate. The reoccurring minotaur should provide you plenty of food and enough sport to keep you preoccupied while I search. Please remember that your captor was also once your savior, and that you wouldn’t be here right now if it weren’t for me. I know this isn’t an easy adjustment for you, but it must be preferable to the horrible death you would have endured without my aid.

Melania
At long last, after several years of searching and burning through countless resources, I have finally found what you seek the most. An unmatched Maedar, one of the rarest of all creatures known to man. And he is all for you. I sincerely hope this will suffice to keep you happy for the rest of your years here. You must stop meddling in my experiments. You of all people should know they can be very dangerous, especially when they are unfinished. Once I have checked him over for myself, I will release him to you. Once that is done, I must insist that you stay put in your area and stop breaking your containment. By the way, his name is Marquees, and he is magnificent.

Melania
Once again you need to learn the hard way that you are no match for my powers. It saddens me greatly that after everything I’ve done to make you happy, you continue to defy me, routinely breaking your pact without remorse. I thought you to be one of the more intelligent of your kind, but you have proven to me that I was mistaken. Since I have invested so much, I will give you one last chance to comply. However, you will now be marked. Breaking the rules of your containment again will result in your termination.

Melania
This last attempt at wreaking havoc on my experiments was all I can take. I have warned you multiple times now and you simply wont listen. Therefore, you have left me no other choice. I cannot allow you or anyone else here to undermine my work as you have. I know you were never really happy here, but with the amount of monies, time, sacrifice, and effort I have put into this place already, finishing my ultimate creation must continue to be my main focus. I will allow Marquees to remain on the island, since he has done nothing that I know of to aid you in your constant meddling. The treasures you were supposed to protect for me will also remain inside the complex, now under the supervision of your lover. However, the next time you see me will be the last. I wish things could have worked out better, but you have only yourself to blame for this outcome.

Bookkeeping:
01-05= The “Key”
06-10= Intact Copper Bowl of Wax Fruit (25gp)
11-15= Solid Copper Decorative Serving Tray (40gp)
16-20= Broken Cartouche
21-25= List of 7 Unknown Items
26-30= Note About the Contacts
31-35= Moldy Sack of 254 Copper Coins
36-40= Melania's Note About Escaping
41-45= Small Locked Chest: (312gp and 18-25gp gems)
46-50= Grey Stone Sphere
51-55= Fancy String of 21 Pearls (yet to be evaluated)
56=60=
61=65= Large Copper Cube: viewtopic.php?p=501032#p501032
66-70= Ornate Latched Scroll Case
71-75= Copper Armband w/ Circular Diagram (20gp)
76-80= Fairy Tale Storybook
81-85= Hand Written Notes
86-90= Notes on Minotaur Summoning Dais
91-95= Small Wooden Puzzle Box
96-100= Magical Golden Ring

This is a list of the items you will be "protecting" for me in here. Please remember the terms of our earlier agreement before you get any ridiculous ideas to use any of these against me.

Chime of Serpent’s Desire

Protecting Egg

Withering Venom

Shedding Strike

Band of Fools

Green Manalishi

Dansden

Marquees

I know you like this place, but I am not about to spend the rest of my days preforming for this pompous bastard. We are getting out of here, and I think I finally figured out how. The ring of glass obelisks have something to do with the mobility of this place, so through them, there must be a way out. I know the colored stone spheres are the keys, all I need to do is figure out how they function. There must be a way to use the spheres to activate the obelisks, since the ones I have investigated don’t seem to do anything yet. Once I can figure out their secrets, I am hoping we will be able to go anywhere we want. I know you want to concentrate on making more eggs and raising new babies, but you cant expect me to be happy about bringing more of our kind into existence while we are all being held here against our will. We must find a way out! We can discuss this further once I've returned.

scrollcase note:

I have used the magic scrolls to find three of them so far. They are a sight to behold, so tall and crystal clear. One is in the jungle near the black cliffs, a second deep in the swamp, and the third by the lake to the northwest. I promise you that I will figure out what they do and how they function. Once I do, we will be free again.

note about the contacts:

Marquees

My love, I know you don't like wearing the contacts, but their use will be quintessential in making our eventual escape from this place. The wizard doesn't know about them, so it is imperative that we keep them secret for now. Please continue to wear them when you can, since they have no affect on us or our young. You must try to get accustomed to them so they can be used to their utmost effectiveness against our foes once the time comes.

It is important that you keep them wet when you are not wearing them. The case is filled with a salty solution of mannish extract and fairy tears, which should keep them crystal clear and usable forever, so take caution not to spill any of it. Since they will allow both you and I to turn our enemies to stone, I cant wait for you to put them to use.

[Rex]

Tlachtga

Hard Wis check (17) [4d6] = 14

[OGRE MAGE]

Tlachtga notices tiny round egg sacks stuck to the mud and rocks along the edge of the pool, realizing that this unthreatened and quiet area might make a suitable place for fish to spawn.

[Rex]

Tlachtga

"It looks like this is a spawning pool for this type of fish. An excellent food source if need be. Otherwise we can probably just leave them alone."

[kruk]

Lerrick

Well, the mystery of the strange fish has been solved. Are there anymore avenues to explore before we leave this wretched place?

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche

Andronichishche studies the reaction of the fish to the chunks 'o Marquees. He nods in agreement with Tlachtga's observation and assessment. "Indeed. However, if this is the spawning pool, as you suggested earlier there must be a larger underground body of water." He removes his bamboo pole from the pool and gently shakes off the water. Turning to Lerrick, he says, "No other avenues to explore ... at least in this complex. The kobolds found a way onto the island and I don't believe it was by boat due to the number we encountered. An underground path was another possibility I considered and this pool suggests the same."

Andron sorts his belongings and frowns when he realizes his torso is still quite exposed. "The carnivorous trees were gathered by the half casks. However the kobolds are making it onto the island, that must be where they emerge. Whether we decide to investigate can wait until we're back in town, though. Speaking of which, it's not quite dawn, but we will need to build a bonfire to send a smoke signal for Pete and Joe."

[Jernau35]

Maag

"So we're off den?" asks Maag. "Might be better to leave 'ere when der sun comes up. I don't fancy runnin' into dem trees in der dark.

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche

"Quite right, Mr. Maag," Andron admits. "I propose we wait in the dais room ... particularly the western half of the chamber. If another minotaur was summoned, he won't be able to fit through that tunnel and surprise us." He then moves into the antechamber of the grotto and waits for the others.

[ravenn4544]

Alordan wonders, "what about the dais? If they are still coming through and there isn't anyone on this side to turn them to stone - the next time anyone comes back it could be overrun with them.."

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche

"That is a possibility, Mr. Alordan. We still don't understand how the magic of the dais works, precisely. All the more reason then to return to town. I will need time to study the diagram we found." He sighs heavily and adds, "We may yet need to return here and address it ... permanently."

[kruk]

Lerrick

Well, if we are going to go back to town can each of us grab a piece of Cresty. Sometime in the future I would like to try to mend him and possibly turn him back into flesh. There is also the issue of the black void. Perhaps we can create a permanent barrier or cave in that blocks the passage to the void so that no-one else fall victim to it.