As the group stands upon the platform they see a creature flying across the gap from the city. As it approaches they can see it is some sort of sphinx-like creature. When it lands at the end of the platform it addresses them. It tells them that in order to cross to the city they must prove themselves worthy. The sphinx's body is a mass of ancient injuries that seem to have been mended using mechanical and metallic components. It's eyes no longer natural but from within their sockets emanates a bluish glow. Around it's head float a number of spinning metallic devices.
Riddles Of The Sphinx
It tells them that over the centuries it has amassed a vast knowledge of the world and craves to challenge its intellectual powers. It asks that each of the party pose it a riddle that it cannot answer or they can answer one that the sphinx poses. Surprisingly, Messick stands forward and poses a riddle that the group immediately knows the answer to...only because they know of his recent injury to his genitals. This somehow impresses the sphinx and Messick is allowed to step forward. One by one, each of the group is able to answer the sphinx's riddles and the creature somehow is able to summon a ferry which glides up towards the platform.
The ferry is guided by a tall hooded figure and the group is silent as they see the city loom closer and closer as the ferry finally docks with a similar platform from the one they departed from. As they disembark, a few hooded figures approach and ask if they wish to come meet the Grandmaster. The group declines, saying they wish to look around first. The hooded figures seem to accept this answer with, "All who come here, find their way to the Grandmaster....eventually."
No Past, No Crimes
The group explores the floating city, eventually coming to what would seem the barracks for those that live here. A few monks are here eating but leave soon after the group enters, all except for one. An elderly man who is missing a leg, a stump taking its place and horrible scars covering his face. He introduces himself as Axel. He inquires as to what kinds of crimes the group is leaving behind. All who come here are here to gain a fresh start. "No Past. No Crimes."
The group makes vague statements until they can distract him as they begin to experiment with the odd looking panels on the walls. An unknown script appears on the device and has variously colored buttons. They find that pressing certain combinations will bring about sweet drink and delicious food. But just as often as not, some of the group abuse the wondrous device until flames begin shooting out from behind the panel until several devices embedded in the ceiling begin to release water dowsing the flames and flooding the room.
They decide to leave.
Meeting The Grandmaster
They finally find there way to the largest building situated in the of the floating city. It towering doors open to vast citadel. Its long central abbey leading up to a dais, behind which is an enormous stained glass window. Its multi-hued light illuminating the creature sitting upon an odd throne upon the dais. The Grandmaster looks to be massive demon sitting upon a chair, out of which various wires and conduits trail out and connect to various stations and panels around the abbey. The Grandmaster is flanked nearby by two other smaller demons.
The Grandmaster rises from his throne, the floor shuddering with each of his massive footfalls. He stands a good 6 feet above even the massive Messick. It is then he welcomes his new guests to his temple....in a most inconsistent voice. His voice is small and slightly effeminate. He is so excited that they are here. But it seems he is most displeased about having a group of fully armed adventurers enter his abbey without anyone stopping them or removing their weapons. He gestures to one of the hooded monks and beckons them forward. With a single swipe of his fingers the monk is decapitated and two of the other monks quickly remove the body. It is then the group sees that it looks like several broken pieces of a sword have been somehow melded to the demons own claws.
The Grandmaster gives the group a choice of either offering their strength to the city or their intellect. Either way he will ask for a service of 1 year. If they can do that they can share in the glory of their city and their eventual dominance of the world and its riches.
The group makes a series of excuses and begs that the Grandmaster give them a while to decide. With an indifferent shrug, he allows it. After all, where can they go. All submit to the will of the Grandmaster eventually.
Leaving they continue to explore the city.
The Leatherworks & Jay Harris
They discover an entrance to a underground area. The stairs leading down are metal with long perforated slots. The corridor beneath is of the same metal, slots allowing for both grip and drainage of any water. The corridor is sporadically lit by softly glowing orbs embedded into the walls. The creation of such a city is beyond what any of the group have ever seen. Immediately, they hear muffled screams of pain. The carefully follow the sounds, Azula's demon going ahead while still invisible. In a large open metal room, they find a group of figures standing around a smooth metal table. There are several of these tables within the room. They are shaped such that fluids collect along the edges are are directed to a drain at the end. On the table that is surrounded by 4 creatures there is a human male. He is strapped down with a gag in his mouth.
It is Jay Harris. The Jay Harris that had betrayed the convoy that the group was hired to protect all those many months ago. He had tried to kidnap one of the members of the convoy, Lady Mara. But his plans were foiled and he had fled. And here he is. The creatures surrounding him cutting into his flesh with tiny but incredibly sharp knives. Along one side of the room lay various patches of flesh. Each from a different body section and some are stitched together in the beginnings of a suit of flesh.
The creatures surrounding him where head to toe coverings. The original color long ago lost to the many layers of blood and gore covering them. Over their eyes are odd looking goggles. It is easy work to kill all of them. Once it is just the group and Jay Harris, they confront him as he is still strapped to the table.
They use zone of truth upon him and find that he truly wishes to restart his life. He has been a horrible person. He thought this was his chance to start over again. Back in Waterdeep he was going to be sentenced to death but a guard saved his life. He told Jay to head to these mountains and gave him secret passageways and keywords to come here. He told him that he would have a fresh new wonderful life once he got here. But this is not what he wished for. Each member of this cult must surrender more and more of their flesh, as well as their labor to the horrific demon in order to remain alive. He will do whatever the group asks of him.They decide to free him.
Looking around the room they find that the goggles that the foul cultist were wearing are incredible devices. Fritz cannot determine their magic but they seem to be able to change your vision to focus on either the incredibly tiny or the very far away. The script that seems to float in your vision is indecipherable. Off in the corner of the room they find a completed leather golem armor. If Jay Harris is to be able to make it out of here alive, he will need some protection. They allow him to don the golem armor. Jay Harris immediately loves his new found strength.
The Engine Room
That is when they hear someone coming. All are prepared for a fight but it is simply the aged Axel come looking for them. He tells them that they are perfectly suited for the contribution of strength to the city. He tells them to follow him.
Leaving the underground facility he leads them to a large fortified structure. Inside are massive engines that are being tended to by tired and sweaty individuals. Trudging back and forth from a pile of scrap metal and other materials, likely scavenged from around the structures of the city, as many structures seemed cannibalized. They throw all of the material into the fiery hot engines. Axel tells them that the monks here have the honor of keeping the city aloft.
After a bit of looking around, the group finds panels with a multitude of buttons and displays of incomprehensible script. They eventually ask that the modron, Gear-Box, try to make sense of it. A small metal arm extrudes out of Gear-box's body which connects to a hidden slot in the panel. Gear-box immediately begins telling them of various states of the city. The facts are mostly relating to the state of the engines and other infrastructure information. They ask Gear-box if they have access to engine control. With that, for a moment each of the group thinks themselves deaf, as silence crashes down around them as the constant roar of the engines immediately stops.
The ground underneath their feet begins to slant and they tell Gear-box to restart the engines. He does so and the floor rights itself.
They make note of this important skill of Gear-box.
Off To Prison
As they leave the engine room they can see a very large group of monks approaching, along with the two demons who they saw with the Grandmaster. They prepare to fight, but Azula decides to approach the mob.
They are immediately arrested.
Finding themselves imprisoned in separate cells, the doors some sort of force barrier. Azula is able to magically kill the guards only to raise them as zombies. Commanding the zombies to access the controls to allow the group to exit their cells.
They leave the prison and head to the back of the floating city. They have heard that there is a treasury where all the magical items and money that individuals have brought here have been collected. They come to the edge of the city and across an expanse of open air there floats another small island upon which sits a sturdy structure. The treasury.
It would seem the path to get there are several floating disks, each floating apart from each other by various distances. Some short hops, others longer jumps.
This does not concern the group though. They have ways of flying, either magically or physically. But as Messick approaches with only 20 or 30 feet left to fly, the magic of the fly spell instantly disappears. He plummets down below the floating bridge and into the clouds. But before he can hit the ground far below a circular ring flies towards him at high speed and at the last second it rotates, Messick's body passing through the ring and he finds himself back in the prison cell.
As Messick is getting his bearings, with a sharp popping sound Eda shows up in a prison cell as well. A victim of the anti-magic field surrounding the treasury. The zombies are command to release them and they leave to try again.The Treasury
It takes a couple of tries, the zombies releasing the one who failed to get across but eventually they find success in flying and giving themselves a collision trajectory into the closed door of the treasury.
Once inside, they find a plethora of items both magical and technological. They find the notes left behind by the wizard Kwalish and they find a large cylindrical canister filled with a greenish fluid. Inside floats a brain. After a bit of experimentation, they find they can communicate with the brain and it tells them that it is the Grandmaster. Somehow a small and vile demon was able to use some of Kwalish's magic to remove his brain from its body and is somehow now in control of his body.He will give the group whatever they wish, if they are able to return him to his body. They take the canister, unsure of what they might do.
Returning to the engine room, with plans of destroying the floating island city, they are met by the Grandmaster and his two henchdemons. After only seconds of fighting it might seem the group is not guaranteed to make it out of this alive. Azula yells to Gear-Box. "Now!"
Gear-box responds to the vague command, "Now?"
Now
Azula commands Gear-box to cut power to the engines. The silence slams down once again and everyone in the room slowly floats up as the city begins to plummet towards the ground. The fight is awkward in the city's descent. Messick finds that the two smaller demons each wield a magical sword. The group yells at Gear-Box to restart the engines, but Gear-Box is unsure if the engines will restart with enough time and force in order to avoid a collision with the ground below.
Seconds pass and it looks as if the city is destined to crash into the ground below, with them inside it. Each prepares. Eda takes a second to dowse herself in oil of etherealness, Messick and Azula have death ward and the others scramble for protection. Messick grabs a hold of Anaxie, shielding him with his body.
The impact of the city into the ground, shatters the city and it crumbles into the caldera below.
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