The group starts where we left off.
They leave Karloff the Alchemist's tomb and house. It is now daytime. They return to the site of Raxalliah's shop to find it, unsurprisingly, not there. They make plans to return that next night to talk to Rax, and each go their separate ways to rest. The each take some of the things they have found. Needing only a small amount of sleep, Debi reads the journal of Karloff's journey into the Fae realm, written in Sylvan. In matters of Fae lore, she will now get a +1 to her rolls.
They meet up again that next foggy night to find Rax's shop once more accessible. They hear singing coming from the fog-shrouded door. Entering, as usual, Magpie is singing for Rax. The shop looks different than it did the previous night, with things moved around and different inventory, as if more than one night has passed. They great them after the song and talk about what they have found. They give them the journal, and Rax inquires of each what they experienced. They show Rax the Manual of Flesh Gollum construction, and Rax tells them it is too dangerous for them to keep. They agree to have it locked in the vault at the Temple of Ahki. Rax and Magpie sing a song together about an extra-planar conflict. Debi thinks Rax may in fact be a bard. Rax bids them fairwell, telling they will likely reappear in the future, and expresses and interest in the career or the bard, Debi, who has inquired if there is a finer lyre in the shop she might purchase. Rax says no, but they will keep an eye out.
A week passes, with each PC going about their business. Debi reads the book she found about the Elf-Dwarf War. Simon studies. Mick continues working to learn some magic, and uses his new flat to spy on Revis Greel's estate next door from the roof of the 3-floor building. He sees Revis and his bodyguard Larsh leave nightly, sees the goblin worg-keeper and gate-keeper letting in the help.
Toward the end of the week, Abbot Lightman gives Simon a new mission. He is impressed by Simon and his friend's skill, and charges Simon with figuring out what is happening with the Sethi cult. The priests they captured has been in custody for two weeks and is ready to talk. The Abbot tells Simon to get his friends together and get to work. He gives Simon 50 gp with which to hire "muscle" if they need it.
Simon and the others convene at the Eye of the Beholder tavern. Debi asks Vern the bartender if he knows any good muscle and he refers her to tavern regulars, the Slash Sisters. Once Debi hears a description she recalls the two tough looking women they have seen there before. Mick procures a fake ruby, to show the priestess should she want to see it (she has indicated it is important).
They meet the Slash Sister, Jewell Kestrel (carries a great sword) and Greta Strongbow (carries a longsword and short bow). They agree to a price of working with the PCs.
The PCs interrogate the priestess, trying a charm spell (which fails) and various social skills. She is ready to get out, and if they take her to the secret temple they found under Demonheads Brewery she'll show them the purpose the cursed ruby they brought back from their first exploration.
The Slash Sisters and the PCs meet again later at the Temple of Ahki, and from there return to the entrance to the secret Temple of Sethi. They make their way through the known parts of the complex without incident. In the small room where they fought the slime snake, the priestess find a secret door they had missed. They all back up, and Debi uses Mage Hand to trigger it.
Beyond it they find stairs leading even further down. Mick checks for traps as they proceed down, Simon's mace emitting light from the Light cantrip he has cast on it.
They explore, finding a massive coliseum style room. The floor is 10' down. A ramp in front of them leads down. The ceiling is 30', with four massive support columns. On the floor is a 10' tall circular platform with stairs leading up. There is a similar one as well, square in shape. There is also a pit 15' across bordered by a 5' wide obsidian ring. There is a mechanism hanging from the ceiling - a boom that hangs currently over the pit, from which hangs a heavy chain with a massive, nasty hook on the end. On the square platform is a big book. Mick examines it, and sees it has the same kind of script that is on the hilt of his magic dagger. Some kind of ritual book.
Most of the group goes down the ramp, while Simon begins ritual casting Detect Magic. As they explore, Debi looks into the pit, which awakens a something down there. She backs off about 15' as 4 massive tentacles begin flailing up and around the pit, blindly try to grasp anything. She fires her crossbow and hits it, as Greta hits a tentacle with an arrow. The priestess laughs. Everyone's attention but Simon's is drawn by the monster, as a crossbow bolt hits Simon in the back ruining his ritual cast. Six armored thugs have followed them down and are now attacking. Simons cast bless on himself and the Slash Sisters. Debi uses Bardic Inspiration no Simon. The PCs exchange ranged attacks with them as Jewell charges up the ramp nearly cutting one of the thugs in two with her great sword. More ranged attacks. (the thugs make TERRIBLE attack rolls). The last two thugs surrender.
Simon attempts to intimidate them into telling who they are working for while the Slash Sisters keep the priestess under control. They are more afraid of their leader. They have Jewell toss one of them in the monster pit, which loosens the other guy's tongue. He shows them a card - about the size of playing card - with a wolf face on it. Apparently they are connected in some way to Rivas Greel. They agree to let him go if he leaves town, but he is afraid the priestess will squeal on him. He begs them to kill her. As they discuss what to do with her, the thug breaks free of Jewell (rolls a natural 20) and slams into the priestess, sending her falling into the monster pit. The screams are incredible. Problem solved!
Simon casts detect magic. They find no other magic around. Thye take the ritual book, pay the Slash Sister the rest of that they agreed to. The sisters are quite happy, having made some money and had some fun.
Before leaving, Simon casts his Sacred Flame on the creature in the pit until it is dead.
End of session. The group is still in the complex.
7 days have passed.
Elapsed time in game: 2 weeks
XP for PCs: 110 each
XP for Slash Sisters: 60 each
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