Gate-Towns Alchemy
Berks say that jink doesn’t stink – but it always is suspicious if a body is paying lots of it for surprisingly easy tasks. Running around the Outlands, picking up flowers or gathering bugs should not be paying a Sigil Möbius for each one brought back. Then again, the offer has been on the post for a turn or two already…
Coming back a week later, our crew was surprised to learn that the Watch actually did apprehend Granny Nocturne. What is more, a courier informed that once all the proceedings are over with and the legal cogs of Sigilan law will, figuratively, grind the culprit into dust, the Aarakocra judge will have a small token of his appreciation for their help. That certainly put them in high spirits. Until the second messenger came, straight from Zav, indicating that the orcish cambion intended to cash in that favour the group owed her…
When they arrived at the Missing Eye, she explained that she would like them to actually repay an old favour she owed someone else, a friend of hers who actually called in a favour of his quite recently. The messenger was even one of his clan, though Zav told Ydwin and the rest that this was just the way this particular gnome handled delicate matters. Said messenger was somewhere around the Clerk’s Ward and she should take them back to Erben Shortlaugh, a Xaos-based gnomish arcanist.
Not wanting to waste any time, the group made their way to find “Dodo”, or at least that’s what Zav remembered from the name of the messenger. A few quarters later, Ydwin was able to locate Dodoma, as she was called and make her way to Irsa. She in turn, was at a local cafe, diffusing a situation that Milo brewed up, trying to show Zorin what a good coffee is. Complaining about the service and wanting to leave without pay, might have had something to do with the staff being slightly irritated…
Once the situation was settled, Dodoma led them to a portal to the Outlands and from there they made their way to Soax, Axos or whatever the gate-town to Limbo was called on this particular day.
Travelling through the Outlands is a rather peculiar experience. The landscapes can change quite quickly, the weather can be fickle and day and night cycles exist, but not necessarily everywhere in the same time-frame. Still, you will get to where you are going in two days and that’s a fact.
In the middle of their mountain trek, our adventurers spotted an upcoming patrol of githyanki of all the possible folks to encounter in the Outlands. Still, wanting to play it calm and peaceful, they made their way into a very shallow cave and decided to wait till the patrol passes. A sound idea by all accounts. It does remain a matter of debate to this day, why did Ydwin decide to take out her recently raised skeleton out of her bag and send him on they path of the gith, waving its hands around.
One psionic thrust and a shattered skeleton deep in the chasm later, a very tense conversation took place, between the leader of the patrol and Milo and Irsa trying to explain that it was just a very weird misunderstanding. Somehow managing to talk their way out of a potentially unpleasant situation, our group waited for the githyanki to pass and continued promptly on their journey.
Having reached Xaos on the evening of the second day, the merry band was flabbergasted, to say the least. Everyone has heard that Aoxs is a gate-town to Limbo and as such might be on the more “eccentric” side of things, even by the planar standards. Seeing people running around whilst aflame and reciting poetry, builders taking down parts of a construction which is being built at the same time by a group on the other side of it...think of everything that a Slaad would consider a good idea and here it was.
In all that chaos, Dodoma guided everyone to a house which looked like a giant Quadron, albeit rather dead. Entering through the door in a part of its mouth, they found themselves in a very cluttered alchemical laboratory somehow connected with a very small forge. The group was rather relieved that the outwards appearance of the house did not match the interior and the materials used inside were not parts of a dead modron.
A smartly dressed gnome greeted them coming down by the stairs from the second floor of the house. He greeted Dodoma with a hug and introduced himself as Erben Shortlaugh, a truly insane person who decided to further his study into the axiomatic nature of transmutational aspects of matter and aether in one of the most counter-productive places for in the planes.
After a brief talk, it seemed that Erben’s task was rather simple. All that needed to be done was to gather three ingredients: a weed called the Deva’s Feather, a Mindcap mushroom and a five-leaf clover. When they heard that he is willing to pay more than a couple of thousands per head for all three, the group quickly realized that there might more to this. Erben was very open about the dangers involved here and the fact that this has been undertaken by quite a few mercenary bands earlier.
While the Deva’s Feather was relatively easy to obtain on the Outlands, around portals to Celestia or in Excelsior, the problem was with the other two ingredients. Mindcaps grew only in the Caverns of Thought, the domain of the illithid power Ilsensine. Five-leaf clovers could be found in Tír na nÓg or in the Feywild. Either Zav did not know what she was getting them into, or she chose to omit these few details...
After a long talk with Erben and the brief history of the previous group, the gang decided to give this a try. Worst case scenario, they would wrap up after the first ingredient, should things prove too complicated. Dodoma got a travel bag with adventuring essentials, as Erben put it, and they were on their way to Excelsior to gather some Deva’s Feather.
On their way back through the same mountain pass, they’ve spotted a fang dragon in a small chasm that was slowly devouring what seems to have been left of the githyanki patrol they encountered earlier. With a few quick spells Milo and Ydwin drew its attention away from the last living gith and the drake quickly charged them. Dodoma panicked a bit and quickly polymorphed the wyrm into a harmless sheep, much to hers and everyone else's surprise. Milo used his magic to slow down it’s fall so that the transmutation would hold. Ydwin made her way down, while Irsa and Zorin remained on the lookout for more potential dangers. Dodoma was in a mild shock as it was apparently the first time she’s tried that spell out and by her own admission, they rarely work on the first try.
The githyanki warrior Ydwin managed to save thanked them begrudgingly for the rescue. In return, he offered to take care of the polymorphed dragon. After inscribing a teleportation circle he caught the sheep and left the group to their own devices, stepping through the runes. Ydwin then proceeded to bundle up one of the corpses into her bag of holding to reanimate a skeleton later. Before doing that though, she lit the candle she had from Snorpu and decided to ask the dead body what was the name of the githyanki that just left with a sheep-dragon in tow. Apparently, the gith was named Vash’Noth and was some sort of a warrior.
After that little endeavour, they continued onwards to Excelsior. While travelling, they discussed their plans on how to get into the city and gather the herb or rather weed that they need. They were concerned that because of Irsa’s bloodline, she might not exactly be welcomed into the town and may cause a bit of a stir. Surprisingly enough, none of that happened, and while they were getting longer stares from some of the inhabitants, they weren’t bothered by anyone. In the local tavern they managed to establish that trying to simply pick some of off the area around the established portals to Mount Celestia might have legal repercussions in town. That being the case, the group opted for trying their luck on one of the natural portals in the Outlands.
After a day or two of searching, they’ve found a portal and seeing as Dodoma was the most “innocent” of them all, they’ve tasked her with talking to an actual Deva that was guarding the portal. Not particularly fond of the idea, but not actively against, the sorceress agreed and went on to talk with the celestial. Not even a minute later, she returned, herb in hand. Apparently the being agreed to her request, with the clause that should the deva learn that the herb was used for vile purposes, the whole group will be found and subjected to heaven’s wrath. Pretty sure that Erben had no vile purpose in mind, there were no complaints from anyone, even Milo. With the first ingredient down quickly, quite optimistic, they made their way to the Caverns of Thought, hoping for an equally fast grab and go.
Two days later, the group arrived at a small, rather ominous looking, cave entrance. During their trek, Dodoma mentioned that she has been to the caverns once, but she could not remember much, just a splitting headache. She was able to confirm though, that it was the same entrance she used last time.
Upon entering the cave, it quickly became apparent that they’ve made it to the dreaded realm of Ilsensine, more commonly known as the god of the Mind Flayers. The entrance was nowhere to be found and they could only see a vast cavern corridor, which seemed to be covered in a fleshy membrane that throbbed. Not unlike a brain, as Ydwin remarked out loud. With Milo’s arcane wisp of light illuminating the way, the group made their way deeper into the caverns of thought.
It seemed as if they had been here forever. Each tunnel and intersection looked the same, they could feel the weight of a psyche much stronger than theirs pressing against their skulls. Each step required much more effort than it should, literally having to force themselves to press onwards, both physically and mentally. Then, just like that it all stopped and voice appeared in their heads. It introduced itself as part of the cavern’s host psychic image, one of four tasked to look over this part of the realm. Try as it might, using honeyed words, could not change the feeling the group got when talking with it. The voice was cold, calculating and void of any shred of empathy. As our adventurers declined its request to help leave this place in return for the location of a mindcap, it laughed and informed them that a “shepherd” with its flock is headed their way. A very euphemistic way to call a mind flayer and a few intellect devourers indeed.
While the first encounter went quickly and in favour of our scavenging adventurers the second one included a close encounter with an intellect devourer for Zorin, which almost cost him his head. Or brain. Either way, from that moment onwards, the young barbarians’ mental capacity was significantly diminished. Luckily he was still able to tell friend from foe and help with next battle. Quickly realizing that prolonged stay is not an option, the group doubled their efforts in searching for the mushroom they came here to find. Surprising, Zorin’s state helped him tap into some inner connection with mycelium of this place and he found the mindcap. Or he was just lucky. Either way, Dodoma rummaged through the bag her uncle supplied her with and found a scroll which should get them back to the Outlands2. Having read out the spell, they found themselves transported back on the way to Xaos.
From there, they made their way to a portal which would lead to Tir na Og. Knowing that the realm borders with the Feywild, they relished the chance to visit a place much more cheerful than the realm they just left behind. Well, everyone apart from Milo, who did not enjoy he prospect of going back home for some reason. Still, they passed through a gateway they’d found and went on to find the five-leaf clover. The whole thing took them two weeks as far as they could tell, and what they could remember was a hazy, pleasantly spent time. When they came back through the portal, they were surprised to find, when contacting their friends and family, that about five years had passed...
They made their way back to Sigil, stopping by for a few days at the estate where Iras’s father worked as a blacksmith to check up on him. Everyone there was relieved to see her alive and well and happy to meet her travel companions. In the Cage, Tem has been running Ydwin’s shop for the past years, making quite a profit and turning the Hive-based shop half decent. Apparently, that was due to a hefty amount of money one Vash’Noth left in Tem’s care for Ydwin, as thanks for saving her life. That’s also when Ydwin realized that she’d sort agreed to meet the gith in the Styx Oarsman for drinks, but that was before her visit to Tir na Og…
After catching up with those close to them, the group made their way over to Saox once more. Two days later, they crossed the threshold of the Modron house and delivered all the ingredients to Erben. On their way, they joked about what else might he want from them, because in cases like these there is usually something else required, but is revealed later. Milo complained about the trope being present in almost every fair tale on the prime materials and hoped this would not be the case. As such they were not surprised at all when Erben told them that he would pay extra, should they fetch for him one last ingredient.
Turned out that he needed something that he called “essence of water”, water from a specific source, attuned to the Great Wheel so that he could use it help extract the pigments he needed from they had already brought him. Milo quickly remember that Erben mentioned he would be making some sort of paint and given his knowledge of the arcane, the artificer surmised that the gnome must be making some form of the fabled Nolzur’s Marvelous Pigments.
Erben confirmed Milo’s suspicion and told them that he would need either water from the root of the Styx or Oceanus, small amounts would do, but still. Ydwin jokingly said, that they would surely do it, if he throws in a ship with a literal skeleton crew for her to captain. Surprisingly, the alchemist agreed to the deal. Comparing what they knew on both planar rivers, everyone agreed that it would be easier to go to Elysium and try there, rather than risk a visit to Pandemonium. On to the gate-town of Ecstasy they went!
The rule governing travel through the Outlands did not change, as such two days later they arrived at the gate-town of Ecstasy. Having little knowledge of the inner workings of the city, they decided to ask around for directions to Thalasia, where they knew Oceanus stems from. Quite quickly they were directed to the World Serpent Inn for specifics.
Milo heard a few things about the Inn and explained to the rest of the group that its one of the few places that might exist in few places in the multiverse at the same time. This explained why the place was so crowded. While sampling what the place had to offer, they noticed Mimir, accompanied by a fire genasi who later turned out to be his wife, Moxie. While sharing drinks and talking about their what the group had currently been up to, the two suggested that maybe going to Portico would be the place to start their search. A few bottles of wine later, everyone agreed to that idea and decided to ask the bartender for a key to the nearby portal to Thalasia and the town of Portico specifically.
Waking up in the morning, with just a slight headache for some, the group decided to follow up on the idea and approached the barkeep. They were a bit surprised because the tall fellow who was there yesterday was absent and they were greeted by a halfling who explained that the he had to cover for a time. Either way, they quickly learned what they wanted, even having the option to buy a key for the nearby portal which happened to be a shrimp and a piece of pineapple3. When Ydwin learned that there were also giant shrimp on sale, for reasons of her own, she decided to purchase one. With the giant shrimp in an aquarium on Zorin’s back, they made their way to the portal and through it, landed on a beach in Thalasia.
Usually, our beloved adventuring group is more or less, well, less but still, focused on the task at hand. This time however, the sudden appearance of Polly has thrown them into disarray. Who is Polly you ask? I ask that you venture into the corridors of memory and try to remember a certain impulse purchase that Ydwin made back in the World Serpent Inn…
A prime example of the so called emperor shrimp, calmly contemplated all of existence, while Zorin carried it in its aquarium on his back. Slowly turning around its own axis, it contemplated higher dimensions, unfettered by the physical realm that surrounded it. Muffled voices, were quite literally drowned out by the water in which it was submerged, providing good background harmonics for the perception of the infinite. Yet there were moments, when the voices became too loud and caused the emperor shrimp to loose its attunement to the multiverse. It wondered what had been the reason for the humanoids’ discord.
Dodoma named the shrimp Polly. Its aquarium were to heavy for her to carry so she asked Zorin to do it. The Rashemi agreed, but noted that he would like to be in charge of cooking the shrimp later. That remark was not exactly what the gnomish sorceress wanted to hear. She had already planned for Polly to become her trusty steed, once Milo made a saddle for her. Irsa and Ydwin tried to somehow diffuse the situation, suggesting that maybe in Portico they will find a new home for Polly. All the while, the group walked towards the town they could see over the horizon and Milo quietly drafted plans for the saddle.
The voices were finally quiet, but the shrimp did not mind them in truth. In-between the philosophical journey it was on, it also took in its surroundings, enjoying the view of the lush island. At one point, once she was carried into town, there appeared a lightly blue skinned man, with white hair carried by the wind. He talked with the group that had taken her on this journey for a moment. Then, the glass container in which the shrimp travelled exchanged hands, well, backs really, and it could see the group slowly moving away as the blue skinned man carried it away. Ah, the higher dimensions await…
Along the way to Portico, it was decided that Polly would be passed on to a good owner who will take care of her so that she has a good life...however long might that be. Upon entering the town, they started to look around and caught the attention of one of the fishermen. The air genasi that approached them was kind enough to give them some pointers about the town and mention that the best way to get the water they are after, would be in a submersible or a with magic that would allow them to breathe undewater. A few of said vehicles arrive in town from time to time. During the conversation, Gale, as his name was, expressed interest in the giant shrimp that Zorin carried and ended up getting paid by Dodoma to take give it the best life he can.
Once the shrimp business was concluded, they made their way to the nearest tavern to grab a bite to eat and discuss their options. While doing so, an idea appeared to reach out to Vash’Noth and pick his brain, since based on what they knew about him, he might be of some help here. Moments later Ydwin sent him a message by virtue of her magic and within the hour, surprisingly, the githyanki crossed the doors of the tavern. His apparel changed over the years, now looking like a rag-tag pirate admiral, which as it turned out he became after some events in his life that started when he was saved by Ydwin and the rest of the group. Focusing on the matter at hand, he was able to procure for them a vial of the requested water, but what would be more problematic was finding an Oceanus dragon to attest its purity. The overgrown lizards did not like it when someone made away with what they considered their treasure.
Vash’Noth was able to help with that as well, as he knew a dragonborn, related to the Oceanus dragons, so it stood to reason that that dragonborn would be able to attest the water. The only problem was, that when the gith got the message he was on a scouting mission to find said dragonborn, or rather the neogi slavers who snatched them. Milo as it turned out had very strong feelings towards slavers and what to do with their ilk, so he opted for helping Vash’Noth, luckily so did the rest of the group. All in agreement, they left the tavern and using the githyanki’s planar amulet made their way4 to the Astral Plane, where the neogi ship was moored.
Time did not pass on the Astral, so it was hard to say how long it took them, but at some point they arrived in front of a floating arm of a long dead power, a giant metal spider-like ship moored at its thumb. They quickly made their way to one of the access hatches and opened it with Milo’s help. Inside, a maze of corridors riddled with small circular hatches. They pondered their purpose for a moment but continued inwards anyhow.
Vash’Noth surprised everyone when he reprimanded them on their formation while advancing further into the ship. A short discussion and a few stern looks from the githyanki later, and everyone was walking in formation. This caused a few smirks and grunts of disapproval, but nevertheless, everyone stuck with their assigned position, Milo up front, seconded by Ydwin and her latest skeleton, Vash’Noth, Dodoma and Irsa in the middle, closed up by Zorin to guard their backs. The strategy paid of in the next few minutes when they’ve encountered their first minotaur guard on the ship.
While they tried diplomacy and wanted to convince the minotaur not to fight them, the price named for letting them pass – the minotaur’s weight in gold – was a bit too steep for them. The moment the minotaur charged, two of the small hatches opened and neogis reared their eel-like heads from each of them. Zorin and Dodoma could feel the slippery presence invade their minds, but managed to shrug it off, while Milo and Ydwin kept the minotaur busy. Irsa and Vash’Noth supported them with their magic and the group managed to make quick work of the adversaries. The neogis and the minotaur quickly retreated to whence they came. After this quick skirmish, our adventurers pressed forward.
Continuing deeper into the ship, the group realized that it would very risky to just try to find on their own where the slaves are kept. The tunnels seemed without end and the hatches allowed the neogi quick access and retreat in combat. Following that line of thought, they set up a makeshift camp and a magical alarm to try and lure their attackers. In the end, they still had the candle from Snorpu and they could speak to a corpse of a neogi, they just needed one.
An hour or two later, the alarm was set off and they noticed two minotaurs coming at them from different directions. They did prepare for that and set themselves up in a corner which would be easier to defend and manage potential enemies. Using that advantage, the fight went according to their plan, and in some ways also unexpectedly, because while two neogi ran away, one died and Irsa managed to charm one of the minotaurs with her spells. Having questioned the minotaur and the dead neogi, they learned in which direction is the area where the slaves are kept. Armed with that knowledge, they made their way, navigating by the numbers on the inside of the access hatches.
Surprisingly enough, after maybe half an hours, one of the hatches opened and a neogi appeared, wanting to talk. Within a quarter, Vash’Noth was able to strike a bargain with the creature and arrange for the release of the dragonborn they needed. While letting the slave traders operate undisturbed did not sit right with Milo and some of our group, they decided that it would be unwise to try and make their way through the maze at the time. Coming back later, with more information on the ship and how to get through it was a better option, for another day. After they were escorted out by the neogi, the bargain was concluded and everyone parted ways.
At this point their gith acquaintance admitted that he might have stretched the truth a bit. He promised he will get them the water they need, but first he needs to return the dragonborn to a pirate called Silverbeard and get a vial of the fluid Ydwin and the rest needed, once he gets it from the pirate. He did mention that said pirate owed him so getting the vial was a formality, but should it no happen he will do whatever he can to obtain it from another source, should he not deliver on his promise directly to Erben within a day. Not exactly happy about the outcome, the group agreed, and split up, making their way through the Astral to the nearest colour pool that would lead them to the Outlands.
They arrived at Erben’s without issue and it turned out that Vash’Noth managed to make good on his promise. A day later, Dodoma’s uncle was able to hold up his end of the bargain and after using the water from Oceanus as a catalyst, he managed to create the prismatic ink he was after. The group noticed, that what he was using as a container for them, looked exactly like the vial they recovered for Shame and that it’s cork matched the description of what they heard about the Slaad’s Inkwell. When asked, Erben mentioned that this was all arranged and commissioned by someone years ago. He then asked them to wait a day while he painted the ship for Ydwin.
Following the instructions from Erben, they made their way to the Astral and burned the painting there. Then, after a longer moment, they heard a noise, akin to glass being bent and with a crack, a ship appeared in front of them, crewed by thirteen skeletons. Ydwin could not sense them they way she could her other necromantic creations, which made her conclude that these were magical constructs made to look like skeletons. What the group also discovered, was a shadow that clung to the wall behind the spelljamming helm of the ship. Once noticed, the shadow moved over to them and made itself more corporeal, looking like a tall, lean slaad-like creature, with two stars for eyes and a smile full of teeth.
Tizzix introdcued themselves and when asked, explained that they were a black slaad who would be a part of the ship and observe Ydwin’s actions – apparently using the ink from what must have then been the real Slaad’s Inkwell, had some unforeseen consequences. According to what their newest acquaintance said, their was no ill will here, just the need to observe and see what happens next. A bit on edge, but then again not being able to do much about it, the group decided to set sail over to Baelnorn’s Haven to get some rest and their bearings about the ship.