Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer Creatures
Frozen Sick
D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Basic Rules (2014)
Sign in to view your library & saved favorites.
Sign in- Marketplace
Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer CreaturesFrozen SickD&D Beyond Basic RulesBasic Rules (2014)Sign in to view your library & saved favorites.
Sign in
Caldwin nodded as Banzo spoke.
" So the Rock Demon you banished was Pelucidus....spawned by the Night Demon Shakor one of the Seven Demon Princes of The Pit. Now Night Demons are second only to the Trio of Serpent Princes."
" To remove a Demon Princes brand is difficult...almost beyond my knowledge. Almost..."
" I believe I know a ritual which should be able to remove the mark."
" I will need the following items to conduct it:- 500 gold worth of diamonds, Demon Ichor and Elemental Essences of Air, Earth, Water and Fire. I have the oils and incense necessary. Can you procur the rest?"
"Demon what, sir dwarf?"
" Hmm, I suppose 'blood' would be an inexact but equivalent term."
((Do we remember if the blood from the demon disappeared with him? If not, my question would be))
"Even cold stains of demon blood from the ground would do?""
( Pelucidis didn't really bleed much if at all.)
" Um....as fresh as possible would be best..."
"Not easy to find in the weekly marketplace, I guess"
Herman rubs his head
"But in which way these tattoos affect us now? What may happen before we find these ingredients?"
" Now? Nothing....but over time they will draw agents of the Night Demons to you, then Agents of all the Princes, then...at last all the forces of the Pit itself. And if you should die while wearing it you will not pass on to your intended rest but rather be drawn down to the Plane of Blood...or Rust...well it depends which Night Demon marked you..."
"How can we get ichor, or blood, or whatever from a demon we have already slain?"
Banzo stares absently at the demon tattoo marking before adding, "And we also need the essences of the 4 different elements, maybe we should start there?"
The old priest screwed up his face, " Hmmm...I'm not sure. I suppose warlocks and the like just summon them and bind them to hand it over...you could likely gather it during or immediately after combat with such a fiend.."
" Elemental Essence can be found in places that are very high concentrations of the corresponding element or from the remains of Elemental creatures such as sprites, devlins elementals and the like."
Enwynn produces a battered-looking notebook, an ink vial and a quill from her belt pouch and proceeds to make notes as Caldwyn explains the curse will not be an easy one to remove. As the maker of the demon marks is likely one of the seven most dangerous denizens of the Pit, she searches out the earlier page of notes she made after discussing the matter with Madam Girior and Master Wizard Yaztromo for a name.
She offers the snippet of information at a convenient moment as she says "The tattoo sigil appears to be that of the night demon Shakor, according to the sages consulted in Chalice."
Quill poised to record any further information, the elf asks "Stoneshaper Caldwyn, in your wisdom, can you tell us how might we gather and contain Elemental Essences until we can bring them back here?"
" Shakor? Ah! "
The old priest went to the desk and pulled out a thick metal bound tome and began reading from it.
" The Palace of Shakor lies within the Plane of Bile. This is a sprawling, anarchic series of palatial towers; one may be a gleaming golden pyramid, another, a corpse-studded
battlement topped with an immense all-seeing eye.
It is the abode of the Night Demon Shakor, and she is served by Venom Demons ruling over savage, ancient clans of Acid Demons. Shakor is a follower of the Snake Demon Ishtra, and as such other palace inhabitants include the dread Angaroc, who stalk the hallways and corridors feasting on the life-forces of those unfortunate enough to encounter them."
" Oh....I would suggest sealed containers of inert metal or very strong glass to contain such substances."
He looked confused for a moment then brightened, " I believe there were rumors recently that Zagor was collecting similar essences as well..."
"Hmm... Why would Zagor also be collecting elemental essences?" Banzo wonders aloud before directing his next question at Stoneshaper Caldwyn.
"Do you know of any other purpose that the essences can be used for?"
" They can be used to power any powerful ritual. And he has recently returned from the dead......perhaps he still needs to make his return permanent? Or he is binding another dragon? Or building a new body for himself? You never know with warlocks..."
Garet had taken a back seat during the discussions with the King and the priest, but had been taking all in, in his mind the threat of Zagor had become even more pressing and now was resolved the best way to go about it.
"Father do you know where such vessels could be obtained perhaps you may have some to spare?"
" The smithy might have some? Or the apothecary would have some solid glass jars."
Enwynn listens closely as Stoneshaper Caldwyn shares further lore of a certain demon prince's myriad abodes and infernal servitors, and adds it to her notebook, all be it in a slightly less neatly written script than the earlier pages.
"Plane of Bile..." the elf mutters, racking her memory for a scrap of knowledge learned from the arcane library of Salamonis "...A conjunction of Elemental Water and Earth?" but keeps writing even as she considers what Erillia has imparted to her to ward against the corrosive hate of demons for anything that does not serve the Pit's rulers, or venoms beyond the lethality delivered by any natural serpent's fangs.
When Zagor's name is mentioned, she offers "We were informed by another reliable source that the rumours of the warlock's return may be more than mere campfire tales, but as yet, we have no solid evidence to go on."
Enwynn looks about the chamber at her new found comrades, then concludes in a deceptively calm tone "The curse may have been a contributing factor to that lack." She tactfully looks back down to her notes, even as the terrifying implications of the tattoos effects are rapidly dawning on her.
After Garet inquires about study containers, the elf suggests gently "Then we had best obtain them now and depart with haste."
She turns to the priest of earth and rock and explains "If these tattoos draw demonic foes to their bearers as you say they will, Stoneshaper, then anyone near the bearers will also be in great danger, demon marked or not. I will not tarry here and put the citizens of Stonebridge in unasked for peril."
Corwyn caws ominously as the druidess gathers her notes and muses on the future. Enwynn nods at his croaking as she agrees "If Zargor has returned, then there's a murder awaiting him."
"Ok then, I guess we're off to the forge to collect some containers for the elemental essences before we depart?"
Banzo stops and looks around at the others before further inquiring, "Are we still leading the dwarven expedition back to the ruins of the academy first?"
Herman nods to the proposal of his companions:
"now more than ever this returned warlock is a threat and must be dealt with for many a reason but first" , looking at the priest "I wonder, do you have some healing or other potions to spare or to buy?"
((OOC: if yes: @DM could you please tell us which potions the priest have and their prices?))
Enwynn pauses in her packing away of notebook and writing gear and suggests "That seems wise to me, if we are quick about it. There is a task I would do before leaving the sacred cavern if Stoneshaper Caldwyn is willing to find an empty niche. It would be unwise to depart without leaving an offering for Kerellim."
The elf offers a tentative answer to the second question after a little thought "It may take a few days to assemble the people King Gillibran intends to send on that expedition, or a but few hours if he deems it necessary to advance swiftly. If it is the first, then we have a little time to investigate the warlock further before we depart for the ruins. If the second, we should find what we need for the underground ruin trip as quickly as possible."
((Ooc @shankhil am I forgetting something? Didn't we tell the king where the ruins are? I was implying they meant to go there by themselves...))