Session 27: Making a Date with the Rats

General Summary

The inside of the Rusted Pump was bustling with activity, a motley mix of patrons that matched the patchwork construction of the inn’s interior. Behind the bar a one-eyed goliath limped from customer to customer and poured whiskey into empty cups.   Kylen pointed a gnarled, webbed finger toward the bartender. “Flitch.”   “Blessed of the Deep One” replied Aatavi.   With a pitiful nod, Kylen shrank back towards the entrance.   Wasting no time, Aatavi made straight for the bar, introduced the Shore’s Light and explained that they wanted to help remove the blight beneath the city. Piqued by their sudden introductions, Flitch abruptly held up a hand and urged them to stop. He was accustomed to strangers in The Rusted Pump but the force of their introductions caused him to glare at these new guests suspiciously.   After a bit more discussion, Flitch brusquely explained the heart of the problem lay in a secret place, forbidden to strangers. Merely showing up and declaring their intentions wasn’t going to gain them access to the watery sanctum.   Instead, he proposed a deal. If the Shore’s Light could prove themselves worthy, he could arrange a meeting with the exalted broodling, Yith-Tula. With Yith-Tula’s blessing, the heroes would be shown the watery sanctum of almighty Lith-Cyak, where the blight had found its strongest purchase.   Flitch went on to explain that a few months back, a new faction had found a home underneath Damarask. This group had quickly upset the balance of power and continued to cause problems for Lith-Cyak’s chosen. With their attentions further turned to the blight, Flitch and the rest of the Shantymen had been unable to fend off their advances and now found themselves struggling against two fronts at once.   “The rats” continued Flitch, “follow the orders of two – a priest and a minstrel. Bring me proof that they have been dealt with, and I will give you an audience.”   Still weakened from the wererat ambush, the party decided to rent a room for the night. The dilapidated furnishings and mildew smell did not please Adockus who conjured a dome of energy within the room he called his “tiny hut.” The interior of the hut was comfortable and dry, lacking the dank and moldy smells they had noticed since entering the inn.   While on watch that night Keokan noticed the Arcanum Mage behaving strangely. Not only was the air around Adockus’ body unnaturally cold, but Keokan woke to see him performing a ritual of some sort. Remembering how Adockus put himself on the line during the ambush the goliath decided not to interrupt, but kept a wary eye on the mage the next morning.   -------   Following Flitch’s directions, the Shore’s Light exited the Shanty’s Market through a red arch on the periphery. Soon they found themselves walking through long hallways where the sound of gnomish pump rooms clamored thunderously. Navigating the pipes, drips, and pools of machine runoff, they continued into a hallway plated with rusted iron. The hall ended at a metal door and three levers. With some quick thinking from Shadow and the dual use of mage hand cantrips from Aaura and Faelyn they managed to avoid a trap and open the heavy door.   Moving deeper into the rusted hallways the Shore’s Light approached another metal door, emblazoned with a relief of a face with no eyes and a grinning mouth. As they slowly approached the face became animated, whispering out, “Who keeps the stories?”   Recalling their earlier interactions with Father Decroux  and the Melody, Keokan remembered their patron goddess, Shakahn, the Keeper of Song and Story. He quickly relayed the message to Shadow who stood near the magic mouth. Soon after she uttered the goddess’ name, the heavy iron door slid down to reveal a small, 10’x10’ chamber with another pair of levers within.   This time, however, Aaura and Faelyn were unable to use their mage hands to operate the levers. Following a bit of a discussion it was decided that Faelyn and Aatavi would enter the chamber to investigate. After entering and pulling the levers, the door slid up behind them and the entire chamber began to shake and squeal with the sound of gears and pulleys.   Alone together, Aatavi noticed Faelyn get a faraway look in his eyes. His hands fell loosely at his sides. The barbarian called to his friend and waved a hand before his eyes to no response. He then slapped Faelyn’s cheek to rouse him but again got no response. Getting desperate to awaken Faelyn, Aatavi kissed him hard on the mouth and pushed him against the walls of the chamber.   Faelyn came to as Aatavi was kissing him, and in his confusion put a hand up to stop Aatavi.   “Aatavi! What are you doing?” he asked.   “You were gone. Far away. You did not respond.”   “Aatavi, I think coming down here is a mistake. I think there’s more here we don’t understand. We should turn around my friend.”   The barbarian looked at his friend, whose sudden change of attitude worried him. The rumbling in the chamber stopped and the metal door opened once more exposing a different hallway than the one they had left. Burning torches illuminated a short passsage. Through a set of iron bars another iron door could be seen.   “Faelyn, what has happened to you? Why are you saying this?”   “I just think that we should turn back, mate. Coming here is a mistake.”   Aatavi sensed something not quite right behind Faelyn’s eyes.   “WHO ARE YOU?” Aatavi asked, pulling out his javelin and holding Faelyn back.   “Easy mate, I’m Faelyn. Faelyn Dundrathorn of Blueshade.”   “Who are we? Who are your friends?”   Faelyn’s brow furrowed, “We’re the North Lights… errr… the Light… the Shorelights.”   Aatavi leveled the javelin at his friend’s breast and backed him out of the lift. “I will go, you will stay here!” Leaving Faelyn outside, Aatavi pulled the lever, closed the door, and began to ascend upwards.   When the door opened again the rest of the company saw Aatavi, his face red and his teeth set. “Something is wrong. With Faelyn. They have Faelyn. He is lost in his mind. He is not Faelyn!”   Aaura tried to calm Aatavi as the rest of the Shore’s Light attempted to figure out what had happened. Though ultimately perplexed one thing was certain, their friend was in danger. They quickly entered the lift and began to descend.   As the chamber rumbled and squealed Aaura began to hear a sound, the soft and sad melody of a pipe.