Week 56
TL;DR - Jaxzon gains new information and a task, Zer0's doom manifests weirdly and the gnomes are dealt with
Zer0 had switched into old memories of the War of the Beard, massive treants and dryads, Alarielle, dwarves and elves - path of war. Mind swapped with sword entity, dark hazy things and smoke, the embodiment of madness - screaming and giggling faces. Switch again, jutting steel forms with glass tops - path of steel. Switch again, magma and lava path, path of brimstone. All paths had a baseline of madness, of his mind and core falling apart and fracturing.
A sharp pain in his chest and switch again to a sea and dunes, then blackness. A feeling that if the count had reached 10 (it got to 4), then the end would have been swift.
Shebrum and Iliqua are resting, Jaxzon feels a slight tug on the stasis chest and considers leaving it behind, but picks it up and heads off to find a church - either for Babylon or his war goddess (Isis). He chats to the barkeep, hoping for information about temples or churches.
Jaxzon is warned against asking for Babylon temples, but it is suggested he look into the Temple of the Hidden Eye. A map is offered for 10 gold, which Jaxzon tries to haggle against. The barkeep offers 7 gold as is, or 10 gold for the map and more information.
Jaxzon pays the 10 gold and receives a map, he finishes his drink and heads off.
Heading into the low district, not a lot of people are around and any he tries to talk to are quick to move on. Getting closer to the main gate, he hears the rasping voice of an old man begging for coin.
Jaxzon throws a couple of copper, the old man thanks him and coughs. “You look lost?” he says. Jaxzon approaches and cures him of many diseases.
“Wow, I can breathe… it’s been so long. Thank you!” the old man says.
Jaxzon asks for directions to a temple to his goddess - the old man says there aren’t any, though a shrine could be found, and gives him directions to a set of shrines. Jaxzon thanks him again and heads off, following the old man’s instructions to avoid the alleyways.
Inside a large building he finds a shrine to Tor, Iais and Kaheeli. He kneels in front of the shrine to Iais and prays. A faint connection is gained, he sees his goddess in his mind, and knows that she’s listening. He tells of his recent battles and his new allegience to Babylon.
“You’ve been connected to Babylon for a while, so do not worry about that. I’ve shielded you a couple of times from breaking your oath. There is something that you’re doing to your soul that is affecting us.”
“Why do you care?”
“A person connected to you is doing bad things… your brother. Baba Yaga is using him to siphon power from us. You will need a larger naval force to take on the sea hags. We suggest you find a meteorite harpoon before some others do - Luther Harken and Lokhir Fellheart are both searching for it. You don’t have much time, but it is not a major hurry.”
The communion ends and Jaxzon continues on to the Church of the Hidden Eye. A large building that might belong to accountants, he enters and sees a woman wearing a black cloak.
A brief conversation and a door opens, he walks through. Another person waits and another conversation is had. “We can tell you where to go, but the cost may be great - a memory is what we require.”
Jaxzon tries to offer the location of Zer0 but it is quickly refused.
“If you offer freely, we can choose one for you.”
Jaxzon agrees to this, and he feels fingers in his mind and the memory of Iais and Babylon being drained is taken.
The location of the temple is given and a side door is opened. Jaxzon enters, noting a dark corridor leading to a similar room.
“Babylon and I have been waiting for a while - you are tasked with destroying your brother.”
“Go there, sever the connection and you’ll get more information - he is currently near the White Tower of Hoeth. You may be able to talk to Baba Yaga and convince her to release your brother, but the far easier way is to just kill him.”
Jaxzon takes a moment to digest everything, then leaves, and heads back to the bar.
Shebrum and Iliqua awaken, Shebrum checks the bonds on Tenser, noting that they are still good. Between the two, they also make sure that it is actually Tenser.
Shebrum mind links to Iliqua and says “Should we give him the Mouthrot poison to keep him from casting spells and make him easier to control.”
Iliqua is uncertain and decides to go looking for Jaxzon. He also hands over a Dagger of Domination to Shebrum.
Jaxzon is sitting at the bar, downing drink after drink. Iliqua asks him to head back up and check on Tenser and figure out what to do with Zer0.
Jaxzon gives Tenser a quick check, noting that he may have just woken up.
Shebrum stays in the room getting attuned to the daggar, while Jaxzon and Iliqua heads back down to do more drinking. A small argument occurs between them about what to drink, then Jaxzon tells his story and what he’s been asked to do, how he’s been feeling and how to handle Zer0.
They both return to the room after an hour, Shebrum is attuned to the daggar and they all plan to release Zer0 from the stasis chest.
Iliqua pokes Zer0 with his sword and asks him how he is. He explains what he was seeing and how he is now feeling. Iliqua heads next door to see if he can gain entrance to the neigbouring room. Zer0 takes a short while to think about everything, then hands over his sword to Iliqua, which returns to its original form, the heads next door to rest.
Iliqua casts identify on the sword - Covenant Phylactory, grows with it’s wielder, officially called Swiftwind Odachi. Has a strong connection to Zer0 having taken some of his essence.
Iliqua returns to a tickle torture of Tenser by Jaxzon, quickly exits and returns the Phylactory to Zer0 (which returns to the sword shape when nearby). He heads off to his room and reads a book about learning Abyssal.
Zer0 awakens and communes with his sword, looking for answers. The path appears in his mind, with hints of the madness. Travelling the path has become harder, the other path options are encroaching. Getting to Adeptus Prime is even more of a priority.
Shebrum and Jaxzon hatch a plan to force alcohol and drugs into Tenser to try and get out of town without raising too much alarm. They knock him out and try to force a tube into his throat, struggling to get anything and causing him to stop breathing. He is healed by Shebrum and he recovers and Jaxzon throws him over a shoulder to carry him out.
The party combine to escort him out of the gate, many eyes following their every move. The gate guard sees them approach and mentions that they should sober up before seeing the Half Father again.
Outside of the gate, Iliqua brings the disc out and everyone jumps on. The disc is connected to Iliqua’s mind and he directs it to head off toward the gnomes. Undead are seen on the way, but the speed of the disc is too fast and the butterfly helps to keep them away.
A few hours later, the sun rises and they continue on. Approaching midday they arrive to where the gnomes are camped. The elderly gnome leader is already waiting.
Tenser is handed over to the gnomes. Iliqua hoped that the money would have been forgotten but apparently the gnomes have long memories.
The barbarian’s club, a bag of tricks, an iron bond robe is offered to pay off the debt, which the gnomes accept.
Food is bought by the party while Tenser is taken away. Zer0 spends some time staring in the direction of where Adeptus Prime resides.
Jaxzon explains what he has to do, and Zer0 explains that his time and the time of Adeptus Prime is very short. Iliqua tries to get information from Shebrum about what he needs to do, but only getting vague hints about needing to kill someone.
More planning about what to do next occurs, the first step is decided to head back to Tor Dranil. Shebrum knocks on the door of the magic shop, a slot opens in the door and closes quickly. He asks if he can obtain an Immovable Rod, and he is told to ask Granny.
He knocks on another door, which opens and she comes out. Shebrum asks for the item, and he is asked how much he is willing to pay to open up the magic shop. 2000 gold is asked for, but Shebrum declines as it is too expensive.
The disc is brought back out, the party climb aboard, extra speed is pumped into it and they head back to Tor Dranil.