1,000 XP
The next day Order members lead the assembled group into the sewers. With worried looks from the newcomers they finally come to the sewer chamber where they witness a massive group of goblins pissing into the sewers collecting it and transforming into the base for Wonder Ale.
They are immediately taken aback.
They discuss.
They decide as long as the money continues to flow....they're ok with this.
A Newly Forming City
After the battle with the tarrasuq, H is installed as marshall and a few of the tarrasque heroes stay behind to aid him in keeping law and order in the town which has just discovered a new resource, the endless meat from the tarrasuqe. H and the others swear that no criminal element will thrive under their watch.
The others return to Baldur's Gate. They use the permanent portal that links them with the plane of Netir Vale, the original home of the Order Of The Obisidian Dagger. Back in the Netir Vale, in the city of Diapthora, below the Order's keep is the Vault. A seemingly endless warehouse of vaults protected by massive arcane locks and glyphs of warding. They walk down long marbled corridors, lined with vault after vault, until they arrive at a vault number 1138. After unlocking the series of locks and glyphs they place the tarrasque's pituitary gland and the book that has been fought over for so long, within. The vault is locked and the group returns to Baldur's Gate.
Maddox sets to fixing and growing the Order in Baldur's Gate. All members are now sworn in with the Order's oath immediately, to avoid corruption. The Order begins demanding more taxes from the populace and they begin actively recruiting new members.
One Year Later
DM Note: also known as a bag full of adventure hooks
Absinthe has set up her "mansion" behind the doorway to a local tavern. As patrons enter what they think is their local tavern, they are portaled to Absinthe's Mordenkainen’s Magnificent Mansion. There they enjoy a supremely luxurious mansion and it's accouterments. There is entertainment by Absinthe herself and business has begun to bloom. The tavern owner of the original tavern, whose door is now a portal to Absitnthe's, constantly wonders why no one comes in anymore. She does a thriving business....and sells no wonder ale.
Araxie has set off to sail the clouds and look for treasure. She eventually gains a reputation for being a very efficient pirate, earning the Order much money. Each time she returns to Baldur's Gate with treasure hoards people notice she is becoming very forgetful.
Baldur's Gate has to have rumors of a cursed section of the city. Rumors of diseases and crumbling buildings have made it so that this quarter of the city is avoided by most of the populace. Stories of wells drying up and sewers no longer working have made it so that even the people living in the area are asking for help from the city. Maintenance workers have been dispatched to fix the problems but they did not return. Two Order soldiers were then sent to investigate but they have not yet reported back.
The guards from the city walls have been reporting troll sightings at an ever increasing frequency. They often come during the night but there have been a few incidents during the day and even one where a commoner was grabbed off the wall and killed. The trolls always retreat back into the forests before anyone can do anything..
Meanwhile in the now rapidly expanding city of Salt In The Wounds, H, the marshal of the city, has been sending back reports to The Order in Baldur's Gate. He tells of religious factions growing in response to the tarrasque. There were the Enders who had vowed to destroy the tarrasque but that was creating a riot between the Enders and the rest of the city. The economic machine that has been built around the tarraque will not be so simply ended. There is the Circle of Release who worship the tarrasque as a god. They see it as a source of immortality.
Then there is also the Church Of The Monad who are a collection of alchemists, arcanists and academics who study the properties of the tarrasque's flesh. They have recently come up with a way to create a flesh golem made from the flesh and meat of the tarrasque and which has now become a thriving and growing slave industry.
Then there is the odd way that some of the marrow miners are treated. Those that seem resistant to the mutating effects of the tarrasque are quickly recruited into a semi-religious semi-military order called the God Butchers. They have taken it on themselves to protect and ward the tarrasque against all others. Access to the tarrasque is closely watched and guarded at all times by these white robe wearing knights. They speak little and kill those who they deem a threat.
DM Note: Speaking of mutating effects, it would seem that H has acquired the ability of blindsight. He also has acquired a growth that randomly appears on various spots on his body which periodically has to be removed by the local surgeons.
Descent Into The Sewers
They enter the section of the lower city that the main populace has come to avoid. The streets are abandoned and deserted. The streets collect windswept garbage as this area has become no longer maintained. Shops are closed and there is no movement, except the vines which wrap around most building blowing in the wind.
They enter the sewers via a large street drain and descend into darkness. Casting light on Guy's staff for those unfortunate enough not to have darkvision, they move through the sewer tunnels. The moving is slow though due to the massive growth of vines which almost entirely block the tunnels in one direction. They use spells, weapons and claws to hack their way through the vines.
Guy and Katya both become covered in multiple scrapes and have to pull thorns out of their flesh before long. Guy is a little worried about what weird diseases or poisons these vines hold but it is of little concern to Katya, who never has to worry about such things.
DM Note A: Please note....multiple scrapes with multiple con saving rolls
The sewer river now only flows as a slight trickle along the murky and muddy channel. The soft bottom clings to their feet as they try to walk. As they move through the sewers they encounter several emaciated and filth covered corpses entangled and hidden within the vines. Judging by their clothing they surmise that these must be the missing sewer workers as well as a couple of Order members.
Finally, they make their way far enough to find the Wonder Ale production facility once more. There are just a handful of goblins who are lazily producing a small batch of their ale. The demand for the drink now since dwindled due to Absinthe's new tavern and her ban of Wonder Ale.
The Clan's New Matriarch
They ask one of the goblins for Gug, the matriarch of the clan, only to find she has recently died. But they are told that a "pretty lady" has come to be their mother now and she takes care of them. The group then looks down the large sewer chamber to see a black robed figure of a woman with a beautiful face and long soft hair. Indeed she is a "pretty lady", in fact Guy thinks that she is perhaps the most beautiful woman he has ever seen.
This woman is talking to Kof Megkag, the Order's representative, who is supposed to be responsible for overseeing the production of Wonder Ale and making sure the Order receives their due profit. She seems surprised at the groups arrival.
During the continued conversation with some of the goblins, it is learned that after Gug's demise, some of the other goblins, notably Gothmork and Peegz, set off to start their own ale business in a a new thriving town, which features a captured tarrasque as it's attraction. They hope their brothers are doing fine. They should be Peegz is very smart...he wears glasses.
DM Note: He actually wears branches formed into the shape of glasses with no lenses....but yes....they make him smart.
DM Note: they no longer use goblin piss as a base but based it on worms growing in the rotting
tarrasque meat
As they question the beautiful woman, and find she has taken charge of the clan. She is draped in a long cape with large sleeves.
Guy hits on her and soon convinces her to have sex with him. They move to another room in the sewer (eww) and after a longish while they both return. The woman no longer completely covered by her robe...exposing the body of a multi-legged cockroach while still having a beautiful human head. She holds on to Guy lovingly.
Absinth uses Geas to befriend the woman/cockroach. She tells them her name is Teratashia. She has been using Kof Megkag, the druid from the Order, to help her restore the city back to nature. The world needs less of stone and man and more flora and insects.
Hearing their conversation....the druid, Kof, uses this distraction to leave the area.
Slimy Sewer Zombies
19,200 XP
The group learns that the vine infestation and diseases are related to the activities of both Teratashia and Kof Megkag. As the group discusses possible actions, with Teratshia being very forthcoming and helpful, Kof returns and summons several slime covered zombies that emerge from within the vines. The zombies attack as well as Kof Megkag.
There is little room to maneuver in the sewers. The zombies are tough.
Absinth throws pillars of the earth to pin several zombies against the ceiling of the sewer
Guy is protected by Teratashia who throws herself in front of her lover to shield him from the attacks.
Katya is grabbed by zombies and repeatedly pummeled.
Deshanie tries to battle the zombies but soon is dropped unconscious into the slimy floor of the sewer. Absinth briefly debates whether or not to come to Deshanie's aid....but Deshanie had been rude to Absinthe....so no.
Asbsynth attempts to save herself from attacks by going invisible.
As the tide of the battle turns finally to the adventurers, Kof Megkag takes a fast retreat into the depths of the sewers. Absinthe orders her new "friend" to pursue and capture the druid. Teratashia runs off in pursuit while the others clean up the remaining zombies.
Long fought battle finally done.
Teratashia returns and tells the group that the druid lost her in the sewer tunnels. Absinthe chastises her and tells her to continue the pursuit until she finds Kof and brings her back to the group. Teratashia runs off, again, in a vain attempt to find Kof.
The others return to the Order's keep. Covered in filth and battle worn, they clean up and rest.
The Return To The Sewer
They enter the infected area of the city. Maddox uses blight to try and kill off the vines which now cover the houses and streets but it only seems to affect a small portion of the vine. They need to find it's main root.
Maddox covered in plate mail catches himself on the many vines covering blocking the well. He tries to free himself and ends up plunging down the well into the water 60 feet below. He feels relief as he realizes that between the water and his armor the fall was not that bad.....then he starts to sink under the weight of his armor. As he continues to descend into deeper and darker water...he reaches into his backpack and grabs the only thing he can think of....the origami gift the old wizard, Armaka Amun-Ra, had given him for helping free the wizard.
With darkness quickly enveloping him, he unfolds the paper until it begins to unfold itself. It soon takes the shape of a large round ball with several arms surrounding it. A huge eye in the middle of the body blinks open and stares at Maddox. He gestures up, and the creature begins to ascend. Maddox quickly grabs onto one of the many eye stalks and travels up and out of the water with the origami beholder.
As Maddox is set down on a safe ledge within the well, he and the others stare at the unusual sight of a paper beholder, now covered in sewer filth and falling apart from the soaking it has taken. Sad that he never got to use his magical gift but glad it at least was able to save his life....Maddox and the group continue on.
An ArchDruid's Twisted Mission
10,650 XP
Katya shows Maddox and Smallfang where she and the others had last seen Kof Megkag. They discover Kof within a large room in the sewer system. She is in the midst of performing a ritual over a large pool of water which glows with orange energy. A huge vine root pulses with energy and
She is guarded by several of the zombies they had encountered earlier except for a larger zombie who stands much taller and has a huge belly which stands near Kof protecting her. The group moves as quietly as they can nearing the druid while Smallfang summons a large octopus which grabs a zombie and immobilizes it.
Maddox rushes out in the open and casts banish upon the druid and she is sucked down a portal into a flaming and smoking plane. While he is holding his concentration holding the banishment the group makes easy work of the remaining zombies. When that is done, they assemble back where the druid was banished and prepare for her return.
Maddox releases the banishment spell and Kof returns. She returns smoking and covered in small burns and bits of her hair are on fire. She doesn't suffer long as the group cuts her down before she even has a chance to realize that she has returned to the plane she was trying to return to nature.
Maddox casts blight again but this time on the large root which, now that the magical pool is no longer pulsing with magical energy, is no longer growing. The root turns grey and begins to shrivel and desiccate. The crackling sound of the plant drying and cracking spreads throughout the room and travels down the sewer tunnels as the vines begin to shrivel and die.
The group decides to return to the surface. As they move through the tunnels they witness the vines die and shrink and they hear the sound of rushing water as the vines no longer hold back the massive amount of sewer water which previously was blocked from flowing. They hurry as they hear the sound of water approaching. Katya is able to climb quickly with no difficulty while Smallfang simply misty steps out of the sewer. Maddox on the other hand is left to climb out using a rope and he has trouble as the water comes rushing into the well and begins to threaten to wash Maddox away until the other two help pull him out.
Laying dripping filth upon the cobblestones of the street, the group sees a figure shambling towards them making an odd noise. They draw their weapons. Another zombie? As the figure gets closer they put their weapons away as they see it is a frail man who is clearly sick. Maddox uses lay on hands and the man is able to speak. He feels better thank you but his family is dying. He directs them to a small house and a bed upon which a frail young boy lies.
Mass Curing
4,000 XP
As they pull the covers off of the boy, they see his body is slightly translucent. Some of his organs are just visible through his skin. His skin is also covered in a thick clear slime. They together cast healing spells and realize that he has been infected with more than one disease.
As they finally leave the house, with the family fully healed, they are surrounded by other citizens of this area who are all presenting themselves and loved ones to be healed. The adventurers do not have enough healing between them to heal everyone here, especially since they have learned that many people are infected with multiple diseases.
Multiple diseases. Something twigs Smallfangs memory. This is important. Oh well....carrying on they heal as many as they can promising to return. They order guards at all entrance/exit points of this district with strict quarantine instructions. They will get a handle on this before it gets worse.
They return to the Order's keep. They find several of the Order in a panic as they have not been able to rouse Guy. They have knocked on the door to his quarters with no answer. They know he was sick but none dared entered without having the authority. Maddox has no problem with this as he strides to Guy's quarters and knocks. No answer. He walks in.
A Smily Demise
DM Note: Please see DM Note A....again. Since Guy only was cured of ONE disease state
The room is dark with it's curtains drawn and it smells like a sick room. Close and sickly warm. He moves to open the curtains letting the sun in. He sees the form of Guy under the covers making labored breathing sounds. He pulls the covers back and sees nothing familiar.
It is a large blob of jelly. Small flecks of skin and organs remain within the blob but the body of Guy has been almost entirely turned into a slime creature. A pseudopod darts out of the creature and smacks Maddox upon the armor with a sizzling of acid.
Maddox and Smallfang slash and pummel the creature until it is dead. Not a glorious end to the brave and glorious Guy.
DM Note: safe sex....it's more important than you can imagine!
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