(written by Phil, player of Bartholomew, concerning the most recent expedition, and earning Bartholomew 100 xp per level)
From the Journals of Bartholomew Pettibone, of the House Pettibone
A Purveyor of Enchanting Sorcery
24 February 2021 – Up We Go, Into the Basement of the Spire
As good friend Torkul scanned a recent scroll, found in the depths of the Tel, he was enveloped with a hazy smoke. In the silence that followed, all that we heard was a single, hoarse, whispered word escaping the lips of good friend Torkul - “shit”. As of now I am still unable to relate exactly what occurred to Torkul, it was so – strange. But I digress; on to new adventures!
After meeting up with fellow chums Hey-Jo, Durham and Persephone, and being introduced to a new fellow – a rogue by name of Zet Frin (another curious in the arcane arts) – we decided to further investigate the Weirding caves. A bit of pre-trip shopping was completed, and hirelings were procured. Once again I asked if Gan ad-Din would join us, and Persephone rounded up her compatriot, Warda the Rose.
Off we traipsed toward the caves, via the Pallbearer's Way.
At the entrance to the Weirding caves, Gan lit our lantern in preparations for spelunking. I took a moment and twisted my fingers, whispered a few arcane words, and the air shimmered around me as I vanished from view, becoming invisible to the naked eye. We formed ourselves up, and slid quietly into the deep, inky darkness of the caverns. Familiar passages were initially followed, off to the west, but we quickly found ourselves delving down an unfamiliar route.
Through a large, chimney-type room we crept, along a northern ledge. We moved quietly, in order to avoid a group of resting, leathery-winged beasts. We could hear their wings rustling out of sight, in the darkness above us. Durham used his detection device and learned that there was a large, double handful of living beasts above us, out of sight. There seemed to be little reason to antagonize them, as I believed them to be the large, flying reptilian creatures that so recently ripped me to shreds. Unnoticed, we sneaked past them, moving quietly, and with our lanterns hooded.
We continued on. At some point, the natural form of the caverns began to show signs of rough, hand-hewn workmanship. Hmm. A chamber finally opened before us, and in it lay a massive pile of refuse, covered with a netted carpet of what appeared to me to be a living fungus. The area was scanned by Durham, using his interesting device, and generally all that could be detected within the refuse were small bits of metal, of undetermined value.
As we took the time to investigate, Finbar became agitated and reported that something seemed to be approaching through a western passage on the far side of this chamber. A skittering and the clicking of insect-like appendages and jaws faintly reached us through the darkness! We scattered and hid ourselves against the northern wall, near smaller piles of offal. Our lanterns were again hooded, and we waited.
We heard the skittering of the creatures grow louder, but it seemed as if their attention was devoted to the massive refuse pile. Durham whispered that he believed there were no more than three creatures, and we decided to reveal ourselves, prepared for a sudden attack. I whispered for my companions to be ready.
Gan stood tall and removed the lantern's hood! In the blinding unveiling of the light we beheld three large, table-sized crustacean creatures. They were rooting through. and apparently feeding on, the large debris pile. Carrion-beasts? Surprise was on our side, and our crew immediately loosed missile weapons, doing some small amount of damage to one of the beasts. The struggle was on!
The carrion-beasts attempted to close with us, and in an instant Zet Frin produced a small orb and used it to project such a lifelike illusion of a dragon! Our foes stopped and turned in what could only be described as shock and defensive alarm, leaving them vulnerable to another round of missile attacks from my compatriots. I remained steadfast, sword drawn, invisible, ready to strike one of the beasts if they approached Gan. With damage being taken from one side, and an illusory dragon on the other, the carrion-beasts scuttled off in haste down the eastern passage, which we had originally entered from.
We ventured forth from this cess-room, down the northernmost of four passages exiting to the west, away from the carrion crabs. We could tell that this passage had been hand-worked, but still it exhibited some natural bearing. The craftsmanship was lacking, but adequate. As we walked through this passage, we encountered a number of similar, slightly smaller cess-rooms down and off to our right, but finally attended a passage to our left that went up. And that upper path we took.
At distance, it opened into a large circular chamber, formed of better workmanship, bearing much artwork and curious designs on the walls. Our passage entered this chamber from the NE. Three other passages led out, one to NW, one to SW, and one to the SE. An odd 'ribbing', not of natural origin, appeared to have been added to the walls, reaching from floor to ceiling at several locations, perhaps for increased structural support. The most intricate artwork was found on that ribbing.
Finding this chamber empty and barren, we departed, making our way up the NW passage, toward a moldy smell. Finbar reported Klackons ahead. We doused our lanterns, as a dim light was noted ahead, and soon found ourselves entering a massive room with high ceiling, and several armed Klackons and numerous human slaves. Not detecting a malevolent intent, and knowing that Klackons are not exactly uncouth beasts, we interacted with them, attempting a peaceful parlay.
Mounds of vegetable matter were heaped everywhere in this new, large chamber. And a singular type of mold grew on all of it, which was being harvested, bundled, and carried away. A fungus farm! We had intruded upon a Klackon farm being maintained by human slaves. A number of Klackons surrounded us, and we attempted conversation. Two of their group departed, while the others remained to watch over us. They did not appear to be outwardly hostile, but seemed to want us to remain. I had the feeling they were more inquisitive and startled, rather than dangerous. We assumed the two who left had gone to fetch an interpreter. So we waited.
Hey-Jo attempted rudimentary communications, using hand gestures, but had limited success. I whispered to Gan to call a human slave over, hoping we could use them as a communicator. Through some rudimentary translations we learned that we were at the base of the Klackon spire, which can be glimpsed outside, towering near the NW of the Weirding caverns. Interesting.
In time, the Klackons who had left returned with a larger contingent, and with a number of their hive that appeared more 'civilian' in nature. Chax, who we assumed was a royal steward, was the Klackon that finally approached us. And as it did, I dropped my invisibility, boldly stepped forward, and with a grand flourish introduced myself and the party. A parlay was entered into, and it was decided that our presence was disturbing and we must be brought before their Princess for further examination. And so we followed Chax and his entourage of guards to the hall of audiences.
As we waited in the audience hall, the Princess was announced and arrived with a flourish. Her carapace is lighter and seemingly more regal and more beautiful to behold than the darker, more drab carapaces of her common citizens. After being demanded to explain our presence in the 'basement farms' of her hive, I begged the indulgence of the Princess, and introduced myself as Bartholomew of the House Pettibone, and that we professed our deepest apologies – at which moment the Princess interrupted me and slight praise was given for understanding the necessity of 'Houses' and ancestral reverence. At least I understood it to be praise; it is difficult to tell from the stilted, buzzing speech of the Klackons. The Princess further noted, for our education, that we had recklessly trespassed into the hive of the Fifth House, which was certainly the most elevated and important of the Klackon Houses.
After the Princess indicated that I should continue my account, I explained that we were humble professors and students of history, accompanied by protective men-at-arms, studying first-hand the relics often found hidden within the Tel. Unfortunately, during our explorations, we unwisely separated from our larger party, and became lost. As we desperately searched for an egress to the outside, we had accidentally – and quite unintentionally – intruded upon the Fifth House domain. I further offered that we intended no harm or ill will toward the Klackons of the Fifth House, and we begged forgiveness and pardon from the most wise of the Fifth House, the Princess.
Realizing that simply asking forgiveness was a bit impertinent, we further offered to provide a boon to the Fifth House, in order that we could atone for our trespass. The princess considered all of this and after excited conference with her advisers, we were asked to deliver a specific message to the alchemists of Cothon. This seemed reasonable; however, one of our group must be left behind, as security that the message be delivered – and delivered in a timely manner! When, and if, a return reply was delivered unto the Fifth House, only then would the 'guest' be allowed to depart.
The message was for the alchemists of Cothon to cease their investigations into the sixth house – else much evil would be flooded across all the world. It seemed to me that the Klackons of the Fifth House were afraid that a great evil, or plague would be released from the ruined remains of the sixth house, if it were disturbed or breached. This seemed a reasonable request, and Gan and I offered to remain as surety, while the rest of our band were escorted out of the spire, and sent back to Cothon.
Word was carried back and delivered to the chief alchemist at Cothon Under-Star. Initially the alchemist was quite perturbed, but when the situation was explained, he became excited and pleased to learn that we could initiate a parlay and provide an introduction to the Princess of the Fifth House. Apparently, he has been working most diligently on something that would be of great benefit to the Fifth House, as well as all Klackons. His research and hypotheses have been part of the reason the alchemists have been investigating those ruins. He has been researching this evil that the Princess spoke of, and believes he can help eliminate it! And so, the chief alchemist himself returned with our party, under colorful banners of rank and prestige, and was presented unto the Princess of the Fifth House. Intense negotiations were then entered into, and Gan and I were released to our friends. We were thanked for our services, and unceremoniously sent on our way.
Our recent venture to the Weirding Caverns was certainly without monetary gain, and to some might seem without reward. But we had entered the decidedly dangerous underworld once again, and returned unscathed and a bit wiser. And perhaps we had provided a valuable (albeit random) service to both the Klackon species, and the world? Maybe we're not such awful scoundrels, after all.
Upon returning to Cothon Under-Star, we toasted to our success in not having our heads nipped off by the Klackons, and made payment to our hirelings. Before he left, I asked Gan to remain and have repast with me. Over drinks and sup, I proposed to him that I required a working companion – someone who was more familiar with Cothon-Gadeed than myself – someone who could assist me in acquiring knowledge of, and possession of, shall we say, 'resources'. Over the days that followed we met several times, shared ale and table fare, and finally entered into a serviceable relationship and agreement. Gan would become my adjutant (my eyes, ears, and hands in Cothon), and we would become, as Gan put it, “an unstoppable force”!
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