Demonhead Island

Miscellaneous

The Red & Black arrive on Demonhead island and search the tropical paradise for Grindstaff's laboratory. They were not prepared for what they would find.

With the help of the Ork spy Axton Therok, the Red & Black managed to board the ferry to Demonhead island used by the elites of the city to travel in secrecy. The S.S. Succubus took only an overnight voyage to reach Demonhead Island, but the revelers onboard wasted no time in beginning the debauchery. Food, drink, mingling, and mind-altering substances, both mundane and magical, filled the central, plush 'dining hall' of the ship.   The R&B took this time to investigate the crew and the passengers, subtly interrogating them for signs of Grindstaff's influence. Finding little, they returned to their cabins until morning. After the ship docked at Shimmersun Bay, the bleary-eyed passengers and retinue of Southton soldiers disembarked and began the short trek to Shimmersun Resort.   At the resort, which was a series of well appointed private huts situated around a central gathering building, the party encounters the hosts and staff of the island: Genasi, Tieflings, and Aasimar. These hosts seemed to be eager to please, but it was unclear how willing they were to be there and serve their 'clients' and 'guests'. After some brief conversations with the hosts, the party discovered that a large mansion in the middle of the island had recently changed ownership and that the new owner matched Grindstaff's description. Their lead found, the R&B decided to make their way there as soon as possible.   Axton decided to stay at the resort, for both reconnaissance and to give the R&B cover stories, just in case anyone came looking for them. With a combination of magical flight and Polymorph spells, the party took a direct route, over the hills and thick jungle that carpeted the interior of Demonhead Island.   After a brief encounter with two of the guardians patrolling the area around Tanglewood Manor, an cold-emanating Zombie Ice Giant, and a Giant skeleton, the party arrived at the overgrown and dilapidated mansion. Once inside, they discovered a maze of advanced and mysterious necrotech machinery, clone vats, miasma refiners, spark engines, and Defiled bodies.   After exploring the mansion and battling its guardians, the Red & Black entered the final room to discover Grindstaff the Gaunt himself. Looking older and more haggard than they expected, they engaged him in conversation, learning that his rage and grief over his murdered family still burned within him, but that he was also being manipulated by some outside force, the likes of which even he couldn't fully describe. The necromancer revealed a few pieces of new information to the R&B... For one, they were cursed by the Hag, Brackish Betty, they had encountered near Greyhook, some weeks before. Grindstaff claimed that they would fail in any goal they attempted while still under this curse, which is why the Undying had suddenly disappeared; they were under a similar curse for crossing Rotten Polly.   The Red & Black offered to find and return the souls of Grindstaff's family that had been stolen by the Thieves Guild, an action they believed might even turn Grindstaff into an ally, or at least get him to cease his goal of killing, and raising, countless innocent people as Defiled under his control. Finally, Grindstaff boldly invited the R&B to visit his last laboratory, located in Aragos, as he thought what they would find there would be enlightening.   Having decided on their course of action, the party took their leave of Grindstaff in his decrepit mansion, to seek out the Hags that had cursed them. According to Grindstaff, the ancient beings could be found in a magical tower between the Vastwood and Cliffport. The party rejoined the HMS Darkwynd and sailed north, towards the suspected location of the hidden entrance to the Marduhk Kuhn. They would sail this undermountain river to the northern side of Terra Main continent, saving many weeks of travel...