Session 15: Devilish Deals

General Summary

The party awoke and gathered themselves after the events of the previous night. Before they had gone to bed Jeanne had talked with the captain about what to be done the next day. Events that would have to be postponed. Kazagal was the first to awake, and he made his way up on deck to await his son and his friends. Nakor soon joined him, walking up to the edge of the ship to take in the dawning sun. They were soon joined by Jeanne who wanted to speak with Nakor. After some conversation, the two went down under deck to speak privately. There Jeanne confronted him about being a current representative of his native land. A discussion that would end in a mutual understanding of being honest with each other.   Meanwhile, Dormaruk had awoken and walked up on deck, as well as the students. Kazagal confronted his son to ask him how they had ended up there. Timmy explained that they had been approached by a man with dark brown hair, dressed in a large red coat with frankonian and zimean embroidery. A description that sounded familiar to Kazagal, and when Nakor and Jeanne joined them, the prince confirmed it to be Gorick the Devil.   As they discussed what to do about this, the devil himself stepped aboard. He revealed that he had given the students the information about the Hydra and convinced them to try and kill it. The deal had been that they wouldn't have to pay him until the hydra had died following their entry into its cave. Which had been fulfilled the night before. He told them that he had now come to collect what was his, their souls. As Dormaruk ordered him to leave his ship, he snapped his fingers and the students became catatonic as they followed the devil off the ship.   The distraught Kazagal prepared to follow him to fight for his son, but Jeanne convinced them to allow her to discuss on their behalf. She talked to him for quite some time before she was given a deal. They would slay the dragon Vurvayssun for him, and he would release the youngsters. This didn't seem like an agreeable deal and the party planned on attacking the devil instead. But as they approached he simply moved his hand, revealing a teleportation circle underneath him. In a burst of flames, he disappeared along with the students.   Kazagal fell to his knees, broken and apathetic. As the rest of the party tried to gather themselves, the goliath noticed a note in the charred remains of the teleportation circle. It said that he would get another chance to parley, at the Rotten Pen tavern within the hour. Kazagal made it clear for his companions that this was where he was headed now. Nakor followed soon after. Jeanne and Dormaruk discussed their options before they too followed suit.   When they arrived Kazagal entered the tavern as the rest waited outside. He was given a deal, a mission that would save the four students in exchange for Kazagals soul upon his death as well as an item that he would have to retrieve. After discussing details, Kazagal signed the contract with the devil. The deal would mean that he would have to find a temple on the bottom of the sea north of Nova Aera, where he would have to find a treasure trove containing a golden rod with a ruby tip. He would also sign away his soul to the Nine Hells upon his death.   When he joined the others outside and told them what had happened. Nakor instantly disapproved of his sacrifice and tried to make a deal of his own. He challenged the devil through a message spell. When the devil showed himself, he spoke cryptically before revealing himself to be an illusion who carried a fireball spell, detonating at Nakors touch. This left the party injured and angry, as Dormaruk and Nakor stormed into the tavern. This almost made the devil cancel the contract with Kazagal and the party retreated.    They gathered at the Gilded Mermaid to discuss how to proceed. They decided that they would make preparations, get magical artefacts, and build their strength with the money from the hydra mission before deciding on a course of action. They then went back to the ship to sleep. During the night Kazagal was haunted by visions of his son in hell being relentlessly tortured to insanity. Time was running out.