S61: Everything That Glitters

Dorus and Krom stand over an almost completely golden Nom. Her single eye darts back and forth slightly concerned at her current situation. Dorus’ eyes catch a glimpse of strange symbols on the fragment of the offering plate that he had broken free with a mighty hammer strike only moments before. He picks up the fragment. The symbols look foreign. Until they do not. Before his eyes the glyphs change into his native language “ur ambition and desire f”. Quickly surmising the text is part of a larger sentence he holds the broken segment against its greater part and magically mends it together. The writing is on the bottom of the plate. Laying on his back he looks up at the bottom of the plate. It reads “Adorn yourself with this necklace, mortal, and let its golden chains bind you not only in opulence but in the allure of power and wealth. Wear it proudly as a testament to your ambition and desire for greatness, for in its gleam, others shall see the reflection of my favor upon you. Upon adorning the necklace the contract  for greatness is bound. Full contract available upon request.” As Dorus finishes reading the aptly positioned words out loud Krom begins to fume. He raises his golden makeshift hax (hammer/axe made out of a barbell with a single plate) lets out a barbaric yell and begins to bash the golden smiling demonic statue. Dorus rolls out of the way just in time. Strike after strike Krom assaults the statue. Alora and Mokon had worked their way down the elevator shaft just in time to hear Dorus and see Krom rage. The statue dents and bends as Krom swings. A chunk of its leg breaks free and skitters across the floor, the golden plate is split in two, and with Krom’s final strike the face of the smiling golden demon is sunken deep into its golden skull. Who's smiling now? Krom pants.

Mokon speaks up from the back saying he wants to see the contract. The statue begins to bend and groan. The sound of thick bending gold is strange to hear as the demon slowly wakes. It stretches its large frame and long arms. It is too tall to stand fully upright. Pausing, it reaches for its face pulling it outward to reform the original shape. An even wider smile stretches across the statue's face. A long arm reaches for the broken section of knee. It reattaches the section with ease. The statue then sits once more, mends the broken offering plate, and rests it on the floor close-by. “Congratulation on taking on the mantle of  Mammon's Mortal of Magnificence. I am Mee-Aalek dignitary for the great Mammon. Who…?” Its golden eyes dart to each party member until resting on Nom. “Oh, I see. Let’s take care of that.” Making no discernable special movements, Nom's body returns to normal. The only noticeable change. The necklace appears to be gone. And Nom looks somehow… more valuable. Weird. Mee-Aalek continues,”The great Mammon could not be here, however he has asked me to speak on his behalf. Mee-Aalek clears his throat. “You are my esteemed ally in the pursuit of opulence. Together, we shall carve our names in the annals of wealth and power, for you are the harbinger of prosperity, the custodian of coin, and the executor of our mutual ambition. Here is a copy of your contract.” It hands Nom a 5-foot-long yellowed scroll with extremely small writing. “Are there any questions?” The group has many, especially Alora. As the group fires questions one after another, Mee-Aalek responds with unhelpful answers such as, “That is not for me to say.”, ”I dare not guess.” and, “Unfortunately, I do not know the answer to that particular question.” Nom and Alora take turns methodically reading the contract. The only real information gleaned from the conversation is that Nom is now working with/for Mammon, a powerful devil from the third level of the nine hells. (Not to be confused with the birthplace of demons called the Abyss which has 666 levels). Mee-Aalek is quite content in his role for Mammon. The contract can be changed at any time by Mammon. And Nom can possess nothing of value above iron ore. Wait… what? Mokon, curious what this means, tosses Nom a silver coin. As she catches the coin a thick silver mist is absorbed into her skin. This feels nice. Krom tosses Nom a gold coin with similar result in golden form. This feels even better. Dorus, wondering if his hammer which is almost too heavy to wield in its current golden state, tosses it to Nom. Instantly, the golden hue of the hammer changes to a liquid-like golden mist and is absorbed by Nom. She gasps delight as her body is healed from all her internal wounds. She tosses Dorus' hammer which is iron once more. 

Realizing they are going to get very few answers they leave with Dorus in the forefront. “We’ll find you if we need to. Just keep doing what you're doing. And congratulations again Nom.” The statue groans back to its original state. The group climbs upward. Past floors of acidic mist, past floors of golden laced chests, and past a floor full of precious artwork and mirrors. 

The SOG climb to the first floor of Jarnigol Holdings. They are tired and beaten. All except Nom who feels great. They begin to discuss next moves. Some say Milbin, some mention Benny, but all say they need to get rest before moving forward with their plan. Alora decides to take the lead, sneaking toward the entrance to the bank down the long corridors from which they had arrived. She hears a slow clap as hyenic laughs begin to break the silence. Arkak steps out to greet her as she notices almost fifty gnolls lying in wait. Alora sprints backwards trying to close the large vault door. It is too heavy. Dorus and Krom rush up to Alora in her defense while Mokon and Nom take an alternate route hoping to get an advantage in case of a battle (not fully knowing how many gnolls are at the gates.) Arkak cackles, “Get them”, as a swarm of bloodthirsty gnolls rush Alora, Dorus, and Krom. Two grab Alora. Four secure Krom. And another four hold Dorus tightly. “There are others.” Three more gnolls rush past looking for Mokon and Nom.

Dorus, Alora, and Krom are led outside, where Arkak waits. “Did you really think you could outsmart me? Leaving only two of my most pathetic followers at the door? Where did you think we all went?.” Arkak begins to laugh as do his followers. “Give me the horn. Now.” Knowing they are outmatched Dorus and Alora have the same idea. Alora sends Dorus a message in his mind confirming what he already planned to do. Feigning defeat, Dorus agrees to Arkak’s request. Slowly Dorus reaches into his back with his trunk. He feels for the end of the roughly hollowed out demon horn. He blows. An underworldy braaam screams from Dorus pack. Arkaks eyes go wide. “What have you done?” The gnolls begin to scatter. Arkak looks fearful for the first time as he slowly backs away from Dorus. Hearing the horn, Mokon and Nom exit Jarnigol Holdings. Dorus, Krom, and Alora feel a seering heat behind them. They turn to see a jagged line of fire rip through thin air. It grows taller and begins to swell as a massive 30-foot horned minotaur rips his way from the Abyss. Panting it stands beside Dorus. All are quiet. The beast looks at his summoner, looks at Arkak and then across a burning Therack. Its eyes turn back to Dorus. In a low bellow. “What would you have me do?” Dorus tells him to kill them all. It looks toward Arkak once more. Arkaks eyes are wide in fear. “Very well.” The beast then bursts forward. It lifts Arkak into the air, sundering him in two pieces, swallowing his torso and tossing his lower portions into the river in a single movement. He then backhand swipes at Arkak’s second in command (a hulking feral looking gnoll) knocking him far into the river. The beast runs forward toward Therack and out of sight of the SOG. They listen as gnolls are silenced and buildings are destroyed with each step of the mighty demon. They also begin to hear the screams of humans. Humans that were lucky enough to stay hidden from gnolls are now exhumed from their hidden spaces. Clearly the demon considers all worthy of death. 

The group seems to be in shock. Not expecting a demon. Not expecting a huge demon. Not expecting that demon to destroy Arkak in one bite. Not expecting the demon to ravage Therack, gnolls, and citizens alike. and not expecting the demon to be as efficient and as fast killing as it appears to be. Dorus blows the horn once more. The devastation stops. A slow thumping is heard. The demon approaches the group once more. It stops. Slightly bows its large head. Then turns to leave through a similar rift from which it arrived. 

The party is exhausted. It has been a long day. Unconcerned with their current location or that there still could be many gnolls close by, they decide to camp twenty feet from where the demon/gnoll carnage took place. They test the ability for Alora’s magical hut to float on water. The hut does float, but Alora does not as her now drenched body can testify.

The group decides to leave while they can. They head back to their campsite from the previous night just on the outskirts of town. Echo and Torin await their arrival. Torin is jumping with excitement. “Did you see that thing? Did you hear all the screams? I bet it killed a lot of people.” Dorus and Alora do their best to explain they had little choice but to use a demon horn for escape. Torin agrees, but his eyes say otherwise. Echo says nothing.

Alora ritualistically creates a tiny hut where the group takes a much needed rest. (Although they did have a hard time falling asleep since they had rested only 10 hours earlier. Moving forward they feel as though they could only long rest once in a 24 hour period.)

They wake refreshed and revitalized. Nom realizes she is not hungry. She is also not thirsty -- strange. 

Mokon and Nom decide to test the gnoll-load of the town. Kill them slowly. Kill them systematically. Mokon summons his mighty steed Thump. He then tells Thump to run into the town, annoy some gnolls with various acts and bodily liquids and then lead some of them out of town for a good ol’ fashioned Mokon/Nom death ambush. Thump does just that. He runs into town. The group can hear the angry cackles of gnolls, soon followed by a retreating black steed, and a line of 15-20 gnolls hot on his heels. Thump is much too fast for the gnolls to catch and easily escapes their view as the gnoll pack meanders slightly winded. Clearly there are quite a few gnolls left in the city.

The group discusses next steps. All but Alora believe going back into Therack to get Krom a weapon is the best idea. Dorus, remembering how the gnolls reacted to the demonic horn, raises it high and walks toward the gnoll pack. As the gnolls realize what Dorus holds they back away. Apparently, they are uninterested in being eaten by a huge demon. Dorus orders the gnolls to leave the town and to relocate in the northern Blightish Swamp. The gnolls tilt their head in confusion and give the general feeling of “not-interested”. One of the gnolls barks, “Our new leader is being chosen. We will do as he commands.” Dorus continues to walk forward with the SOG, Torin, and Echo closely behind. Dorus moves the horn toward his lips as if to blow it once more, but stops as if in contemplation of the act.

The group passes through the south-easterly gates of Therack. The gnolls bark and cackle in low tones from the shadows. Dorus continues to hold the horn high, walking toward Dragon’s Edge and Krom’s next weapon. The gnolls seem unwilling to get too close. They continue forward when Alora begins to notice the gnolls getting louder. Are they agitated? Are they excited? Just then Dorus feels a heaviness to the demon’s horn as if it is being held in place. He turns to see Arkak’s second, Urknik, his hand holding the horn firmly. His face only inches away from Dorus. Urknik’s rotting breath blowing across Dorus' face. Dorus, still getting accustomed to how his druidic powers work, instinctually changes into a bear. All Dorus belongings magically hidden within his new brown bear shape. All except the horn. Which now rests alone in Urknik’s hand. Not expecting this turn of fate, Urknik stands surprised. Giving Krom just enough time to rush the large gnoll, wrap her lips around the horn, and blow. Another braaam explodes from the horn. This tone is different.

The ground begins to shake. Then swell. Then the ground collapses in a 20 foot hole of fire and brimstone. Heat and fragments of molten metal explode from the second rift to the abyss the SOG have created today. The sound of grinding gears and stretched chains echo from the demonic pit. As they watch, a single gigantic black clawed hand reaches out of the hold and grips the earth. Then a second. Heaving itself upward through the rift a fang filled maw emerges. An iron mask. A main of razor sharp hackles. A muscular body of black fur, scars, and thick metal armor. A deafening roar is unleashed into the air as Yeenoghu, demon lord of gnolls, stands before the group. “Why have you summoned me? No matter. This will be fun.” Yeenoghu quickly reaches toward Krom. Krom feels his body split. His face elongates. His bones break. His limbs lengthen. Krom feels only chaos, destruction, rage, and hunger as he darts into the streets of Therack to feast on those who were lucky enough to escape the gnoll horde. Dorus is next his Grizzlodon from changing and morphing into a disgusting version of what he once was. He roars in a frenzy and rushes into the streets of Therack to feed. Alora, Nom, and Mokon stare in awe. (Nom momentarily thankful that this was not her doing… this time.) “Let’s get this party started,” Yeenoghu cackles as he raises the horn to his lips. Alora, needing to do something other than watch everything get destroyed, teleports to Yeenoghu’s shoulder. She tries to move his large fingers, but the gnoll lord is too strong. Yeenoghu turns his head slightly, as his large bloodshot left eye pivots to meet Alora’s through a thick steel mask. He smiles. Alora quickly leans forward. And blows. “I like you. Ha Ha Ha.” A slow laugh escapes Yeenoghu’s lips as a third unique braaam from the horn unleashes. Alora, Nom, Mokon, Echo, and Torin feel their bodies wrack in pain as they too are changed. Thick black fur sprouts from their bodies. Their nails grow long black and thick as their bodies are changed into the gnoll lord’s minions. Eat. Kill. Chaos. Pain. These are the only feelings the SOG feel as they do exactly that. The last thing they remember is Yeenoghu laughing in unhinged euphoria.

Hours later the Alora, Nom, Dorus, Mokon, and Krom awaken positioned haphazardly around Therack. Alora and Dorus find themselves together, neck deep in the carcase of a long dead mule. Dorus finds himself in a pile of hay closeby the remnants of Honor’s Weapon shop. Krom finds himself covered in blood and human remains. Mokon finds himself “canoodling” a lonely she-gnoll. (He’s had worse.) Each of the SOG remember exactly what they had done. They remember everything. Every act of violence. Every kill. Every look of fear from their victim’s eyes. Alora and Dorus are broken. They have lost themselves. Mokon needs to help. He begins to tell the few civilians he can find to go to the arena. There is safety in numbers. Krom hears the order of Mokon joining him and following his lead directing those still alive to head to the area. Strangely, they find no gnolls on their way to Upper Therack. Nom helps Alora stand and leads her toward Dragon’s Edge. Alora is almost catatonic. Her body is alive, but her mind cannot make sense of what she has done -- 23 innocent lives taken by her hand alone. How? Why? Dorus sits. He does not move. He also does not understand how Eldath could let this happen. Why didn’t she help them?

Alora and Nom meet Krom and Mokon in the central plaza of Upper Therack. Dorus hears Mokon commanding relocation at the arena. Still he does not move. Therack has been and its inhabitants have been utterly destroyed. In the far northwest of Therack the group hears Yeenoghu usher his hundreds of minions out of the city.