From Bartholomew's Journals: The Return of Aljadd

 (written by Phil, concerning the recent expedition to the Sixth House, and earning his character Bartholomew Pettibone 100 xp per level)

From the Journals of Bartholomew Pettibone, of the House Pettibone

A Purveyor of Enchanting Sorcery

18 March 2021 – A foray into the 6^th House, and the Return of Aljadd

The Players: Hey-Jo, of the ink-stained hands, Good Friend Durham (with Pako, his trusty Renyu companion), Sesel, a mindful man-at-arms, Avin the Mentalist (accompanied by Vlana, the Bard), Ravna of the Many Minds, Bartholomew Pettibone, of the House Pettibone (accompanied by loyal Gan ad-Din, Bearer of All Things) – and a member from the House al Rashid, Zaida (an NPC negotiator).

Sesel had recently approached the House al Rashid with interest in gaining a boon from them – to provide support for the Survivors in clearing the Klackon 6^th House from the scourge that plagues it (and the rest of the Klackon population). After successfully gaining their confidence, and agreeing to allow one of their House members to accompany us, Sesel dragged us off into an excursion designed to infiltrate the Klackon 6^th House.

Our first stop was at the Klackon court of the Princess of House N'Dorl (the Klackon 5^th House). We determined it would be prudent to negotiate with, and petition the reigning Klackon House in order to gain 'legal', unfettered access to the sealed 6^th House.

We talked with Zatch-atchit, a court attendant and adviser of House N'Dorl. We have had discussions with this august personage previously, and as they recalled our last meeting, they did not hesitate to usher us into the presence of their Princess. Off we were shuttled to have an audience with the Princess – once again! After making pleasant inquiries, Zatch also informed us that the Cothon Under-star chief alchemist, Aljadd (brought to them weeks before), was being kept safe, and as an honored 'hostage' of the House N'Dorl. It appeared to us that Ajadd was being indeed well cared for, but was not allowed to leave – nor was he being allowed to pursue his research into stopping the scourge of the 6^th House. The Klackons are very strange, and direct in their desires.

During our initial discourse, the Princess made it clear that she did not intend to allow us entrance, mostly because she did not expect us to survive, and had no intention of risking the scourge being unleashed upon our failure. At her rebuke, Durham loudly exploded into a grand discourse, describing his and our combined efforts and successes in adventuring – all being faithfully translated to the gathered courtiers by Zatch. And when he finished, there was much clicking and clacking of courtier pincers and mandibles – a sure sign of acceptance and pleasure in his tale! After further negotiations, and promises made, the Princess decided that we actually might be able to help (a small amount) in eradicating the scourge. At the least we would be of some service, and so she allowed us access to the sealed section of the spire. We were escorted to the roof of the spire, and let in through the locked/sealed portals.

Gan, with lantern lit, and stature tall, did enter first – followed by the Great Party. And the doors were closed and sealed behind us. We stood in the ring of lamplight, and listened to the disturbing silence that was like a weighted cloak surrounding us.

Off of the main entrance hall, we searched what appeared to be private chambers and and a small reception chamber for royalty. Sesel and others had been here previously, but still wanted to search the area for new, or previously unobserved items.

We found that two of the eastern doors were shut tight and blocked/barred from the other side. These doors were scored all about with massive scratchings upon them – like a beast had attempted to claw its way through. With Avin's strength, we finally broke through one of the doors; it had been hastily and partially blocked by massive, heavy ingots of a strange greenish metallic alloy. Sesel and Durham both noted that the ingots were of high value, and could be used to fashion remarkably excellent armor, shields, and weapons. Behind this door we found what appeared to be a personal library! It was searched by Avin, Hey-Jo, and Bart, while the remaining party stood watch outside the chamber.

The most valuable appearing of the various Klackon and human writings, books, and scrolls were quickly jammed into our bags.

While searching, Avin noticed a secret door, hidden behind several Klackon tapestry-scrolls that were hanging upon one of the walls. Avin reached out to open the door, but I placed my hand upon his and whispered, “do you think it wise to open, just yet?” There was giggled agreement, and so we entreated the rest of the party to join us. However, before attending to the door, Pako informed us that we were about to be interrupted by an outside force approaching the main entrance hall, coming up the western stairs!

Nine anti-klackons (Aks) entered! They were Klackons in body, but appeared to have had some weird worm-like beast grafted into them. The sight was disturbing. We quickly surmised that the scourge must be some parasite that, once attached to the host, took over its mind and bodily functions. Sesel informed us that it was his experience that the parasites could not truly infect humans – but that they could still kill us! We attempted to hide, and to take them by surprise, but failed. Psy-ops by Sesel and Ravna laid five of the AKs low, but four remained. One spewed acid upon our front line defenders – this was new! We took damage, Zaida especially so! But we gave as much back!

Avin, Gan, and I rushed around and burst forth through an adjoining room, in a flanking maneuver. I tossed a molotov oil flask that I had prepared, but owing to the poor light and not wanting to immolate my companions, I missed my target! However the flaming oil spread and blazed enough to cover the beasts' escape route. Avin literally threw himself upon one of the AKs! Ravna flung a sling bullet so hard that it punched completely through one of the AKs, spewing ichor and gore, and finally bouncing off the wall near me – all the way across the main hallway! Bolstered by their successes, I made a fine, direct hit upon the final AK left standing. My aim was superb, but my strength is such that the damage was almost less than negligible. I am not a fighter. In a second attempt, I again plunked it on the noggin with a well-aimed bullet – but still did almost less than nothing in damage. Then good friend Hey-Jo pounded that AK into oblivion! Squashed it like the bug that it was!

After the scene was cleaned, and our presence concealed, we opened and went through the secret door. Before us lay a long passage, with stairs leading down into darkness. We entered and descended. It was of my considered opinion that someone (a royal House member, or a trusted adviser?) had attempted to escape the AKs by barricading themselves in the upper library, and then further escaping through the secret door in the upper library.

At the bottom of this passage, another large 'library' room opened before us. However, the entrance was blocked by a spore-ejecting fungus. We backed away quickly, suffering no harm. Using their psy-ops, Avin was able to pass by the fungal fronds without being noticed or bothered, and began searching the library. Ravna also used their psy-ops to slowly, but precisely, burn the fungus out of existence. This room was searched, and goodies were claimed – several alchemical codices of the Barcedai were found (they are known to be great alchemical metallurgists)! And we noticed rooms off to the east and west.

To the east was a work-room with shelves (laden with fungus samples) and tables. Clearly this is where biological research and experiments occurred. On one table a largish, many-legged, beetle-like creature lay splayed open and rotting. Sesel noted that it appeared to be one of the creatures that sting their prey and lay 'eggs' inside Klackons (the sting was only paralytic to humans). On a separate table three 'eggs' were noted: two opened and desiccated, but one still closed, and appearing hale.

Durham used his detection device and determined that the egg was alive. While deciding what to do with the still closed 'egg', his device (and Pako) alerted us that strange, four-legged, globular beasts were skittering down from the ceiling toward us. One creature leaped down and landed upon Avin's head, striking with a long proboscis. They were not very hardy, and were easily dispatched – merely a nuisance. However, they were decidedly dangerous if not taken seriously – some form of brain-leeches?

We burned the still living egg. The creature inside popped out flailing, but continued to burn – and it was noted that it was of the same type as the beetle-like beast laying dissected on the other table. It was determined that the beetle-like creature from the large egg likely 'stung' their prey and inserted another form of 'egg' within their intended prey (Klackons), where it would develop into the parasitic worms that took control of their bodies. A decidedly horrendous fate for any Klackon! The room was searched, and loose items were collected.

Within the next chamber, further on to the east, we observed an artifact upon the floor that was very much like a single unit of what we observed on the dais in the room deep inside the Tel, where the electric fern existed. Hmm. A circle was on the floor, and to it were connected various wires and a box with controls of some sort (dials, knobs, levers). Faint lights were noted on the box, and it appeared to harbor some form of power. Durham used his detector and indeed, the device registered as similar to the apparatus located in the bowels of the Tel. I believe we have found some sort of 'communication' device – a connection between this room and that dais. Tests must be performed!

In the chamber off of the western side of the 'library' we found a fully stocked alchemical lab and workspace, and several more ingots of the greenish metal. Again, Durham and others claimed that the ingots were highly valuable. Here, we also discovered a stairway leading down and out of the farther western wall of this room.

We pulled together what loot we could, including four of the massive green-metal ingots (it took two of us each to carry a single ingot), and departed these foul chambers, making sure that all trace of our recent presence was erased. After reporting our findings to the Princess and her court (mostly – some secrets were kept!), we negotiated for the release of Aljadd, the alchemist. Further, owing to our initial success, and in order to continue our cleansing of the spire, we requested unrestricted access to the 6^th House in the future. These things were agreed upon; we left with the N'Dorl's token, and Aljadd, and with all haste returned to Cothon Under-star.