S63: A Game of Souls

The SOG stand beside a mammoth-sized (currently stable) rift to the shadowfell. Milbin and Jeb bicker incessantly while Banli continues flickering in and out of this realm. Torin and Echo watch and listen. 

The group has many unanswered questions, many potential world-ending concerns, and many choices to make. Milbin is the go-to source for knowledge while Jebediah stumbles into insightful (albeit often confusing) words of wisdom. 

The main topics on the minds of our party are, what to do about Yeenoghu, and how we get all of Adeline Gummnibbler's soul fragments. Al0ra and Dorus begin to throw questions at Milbin about Yeenoghu and where he may be heading and how they could defeat him. Miblin currently is too interested in connecting his massive, newly acquired, white diamond to his not-as-newly-acquired (but still pretty new) and totally disregards incoming words. “Through a process of arcane attunement, conducted by adept sorcerers versed in the intricacies of gemstone harmonics, the red and white diamonds are brought into a state of sympathetic resonance. Utilizing a network of ley lines and arcane conduits, the diamonds' energies are synchronized in a delicate balance, their wavelengths oscillating in perfect harmony.” Milbin trails off as he continues to explain the intricate details. Upon completing his rambling he approaches Dorus and Krom.  “Move this to there.” He points to the white diamond and then to the general direction of the red. Dorus and Krom eagerly accept the challenge and easily complete it. Arcane sparks begin to crackle between the two massive stones as Milbin recites ancient words of magic. “There… HAHA… perfect. Now, what did you want?”

Jeb, who is typically busy completing somewhat useless tasks and half paying attention when in direct conversation with someone speaks up. “You know. When I was young I was pretty thin… and small… (Jeb goes into a little too much detail, then continues…) I used to have a job as a town crier. Being so small most people couldn’t hear me too well so I found a box. When I climbed on the box people could see me better, but more importantly, they could hear me much better.” Jeb blinks a couple of times then goes back to trying to figure out which button on his shirt started the misalignment of the left and right side. The group stands confused. As does Milbin.

Upon listening to Jeb finish this reminiscent story of his youth Alora recalls a statement Jeb had mumbled earlier. “Sometimes resetting the board is the only option.” She asks Jeb what he meant. “Oh, I don’t know. It's just that when I play a game of Dragon Gates (a form of checkers) if me and the other guy hit a stalemate we just start over. No point in moving forward if neither side can win -- just start over!” Jeb’s simplistic yet strangely relevant comment begins a discussion in the group about the potential of Milbin sending them back in time before Yeenoghu’s horn was blown. If the horn was never blown, Yeenoghu would never be summoned. The group looks to Milbin, “Yes, I suppose, in theory, I could send you back in time. I am a very powerful chronomancy wizard after all. However, I’m unsure if I have enough power to do so. Not skill. Power. It would take a great deal of energy to make this happen for such a large group. And although Torin and Jeb are quite capable in the arcane, they do not have the amount of energy I would need. In theory of course. I would need to delve deeper.” This begins another conversation in the group that leads to Adeline Gummnibler. Maybe her soul would be powerful enough. But what do they really know about Adeline? Milbin has few thoughts on Adeline and is also very involved with his new rift diamond. Jeb, although knowing only what he has read and heard in stories about Adeline, has reason to pause. “Well, I don’t know the lady on a personal level, but what I do know is power is dangerous. The more power you have the more dangerous you become. It all depends on how that power is used. I’d just err on the side of caution.”

They would need to have a conversation with Malaak. But how to make the journey? And how to get back to Huther? And how to get the soul fragment from Huther? Or any of the other people with soul fragments? So many questions. 

Krom speaks up asking Jeb if he knows how to make a soul coin. He doesn’t, but he does happen to have one in his pack. “Hey Euk, come here.” A crash followed by a clatter is heard in the far corner of the room. A door swings wide as Euk images covered in some sort of substance that resembles mayonnaise. “Damnit Euk! What did I tell you? You need to eat veggies, not whatever this is. You are a total mess. Now, I gotta clean you up.” Jeb begins to vigorously clean the dried white goop from Euk’s face and neck. Krom speaks up gently, reminding Jeb of his purpose. “Oh yeah,” he rushes around Euk and begins to fumble around in a saddle pack. Before long he lets out a grimace. “Yep, found it. Remember don’t touch the thing. They house the poor souls of the dead. Not typically a pretty picture.” Mokon’s curiosity gets the better of him as he grabs the coin from Jeb. Instantly Mokon is transported away. He is in a dark, tight area. A small round wooden room. Looking up he sees the last glimpse of two men as the sliver of light disappears. Pounding. Hammering. The room, no, the barrel is pushed to its side with a thud. Muffled voices can be heard outside. Then a falling sensation and a splash. Water begins to rush in. Mokon feels intense fear. A cold liquid begins to soak into the space. It rises. Mokon begins to choke on salty water. The air pocket disappears. Mokon’s heart pounds. Then he inhales.

To the group, this entire Mokon merely touches the coin for a moment then begins to choke and cough. But to Mokon, he felt himself die. “Yep, that was dumb.” Jeb isn’t impressed.

It is time to move.

As they are about to leave. Jeb speaks up once more. “Did I ever tell you about the Grelch beetle? Well, the Grelch beetle is pretty big. A lot bigger than your average beetle. He looks mean too. And he likes to fight. The problem is that he ain’t got nothing to fight with. Skinny legs, weak mandibles. Nine times out of ten the Grelch will get his ass kicked cause he don’t know enough to run away… or not to fight in the first place. Stubborn and dumb. Sometimes fighting ain’t what you should do. Oh, and if yer leaving. Why don’t you let the boy stay with us? No since putting him in danger for no reason. Milbin you got any pie back there?” And Milbin walks into the same back room Euk had wandered from a few moments ago. Torin and Echo agree to stay here for now. Plus Torin has a whole love square to figure out between himself, Alora (who is old news), Vortexx, and the lovely Sweets.

“Hey you,” Alora hears Milbin's voice close by. “You’ll need these.” Milbin rolls his hand in a circle as a clouded sphere appears in his palm. With a quick movement, he slams his hand into Alora’s head. Alora’s mind rushes, connecting all her new memories with the old. Blank spaces in her mind come alive with memories. She gasps as her consciousness is once again clear and complete. “Now, go, and don’t be an asshole.” Milbin storms off, back to his work. Nom, potentially seeing an opportunity, asks if Milbin could turn her back into a half-orc. “No,” he yells, “ask Jeb.”

Nom yells to Jeb, who is currently on the hunt for pie. “What, sure yep, not a problem.” Jeb’s head and upper body poke out from behind a thick wooden door. His cream-covered face clearly shows he has, in fact, found pie. With a wave of his hand, Nom’s body morphs back into her former beautiful half-orc self.

The group says their goodbyes and makes their way to their gas balloon which just happens to be fully inflated and ready to go. They climb inside and lift off realizing how late it is in the day. They have not rested in some time. Twenty feet in the air Mokon locks the immovable rod into place -- the perfect place for a long rest. In the distance they see a maelstrom of purple hues sucked downward into the forest. They have not seen the purple sky of the culling behave in this manor before. Strange. 

Dorus begins to do pull-ups in the name of Eldath. Mokon has a few precious moments with his somewhat creepy stringless marionette. Alora and Krom discuss the history of their group now that Alora has her memory back. And Nom, well, Nom doesn’t learn. Nom hears Dorus pray to Eldath with each repetition. Even though this has not worked in the past. Nom is nothing if not a creature of not learning from her mistakes. Nom begins to also do pullups speaking out Mammon’s name while “secretly” speaking to Eldath. She hears a low laugh in her mind. “Hmmmm, cute.” She feels the telltale sign her contract has been changed.

As the light of day breaks the group feels rested and refreshed. Well, all but Nom. Nom feels exhausted. Very exhausted. She had not fulfilled her daily contract requirements for Mammon. It has been noted. 

The crew travels quickly to the swamp, Malaak’s home, with the help of Mokon as he detects precisely where his muddy artistic rendition of Ilmater resides. Finding an empty patch of dry land the balloon lands.

Malaak’s hut looks unchanged. Mokon’s mud sculpture of Ilmater… slightly weather-beaten. One by one the party enters Malaak’s home. No knocks, no hellos, just forced entry. Mallak stands behind her large snake-adorned cauldron and in a monotonous voice responds “Hello.” Disembodied voices ring out similar niceties in various tones and hushes. Quickly getting to the point Dorus asks about Ton. “Ton is well. He is currently in the forest.” Concerned Dorus asks if Ton is in the same elven form he was previously. “Ton is closer to Eldath than he has ever been. His form was almost overtaken by the gnoll blight. He is better now.” Dorus never receives a true answer to his question. They continue to explain how they have found all six of the soul fragments. “Where are they?” Of course, none of them are currently with the group so Malaak will just have to trust them on this one. “I will need you to bring the souls to me.” Just then Mokon, very proud of his little marionette friend, pulls it from his pack. Malaak gasps and steps back. “Where did you get that? This should not be here.” In whispers, the group hears equal concerns. “She is not of this path. This is not right.” Confused, Alora asks more questions about the wooden doll. “It is the husk of Adeline. She must be destroyed.” 

Mokon, hearing the plan for his wooden friend, runs. He runs into the swamp and away from the group-- away from Malaak. Dorus knows they must have the doll and must destroy it so he follows suit. Seeing Dorus in pursuit Mokon summons his steed and races deeper into the swamp. Dorus quickly morphs into a giant eagle easily catching up to a swamp-slowed Mokon. After a short discussion Mokon, against his better judgment, agrees to return to Malaak’s hut with Adeline’s husk in tow.

Meanwhile, Alora, Krom, and Nom stay with Malaak. They ask her various questions about soul coins, the strange voices, and Adeline. Malaak does not know how to make soul coins and she is not interested in asking for a favor from an acquaintance who may. Malaak is also less than forthcoming when it comes to the voices as she believes it to be a far too intrusive question. She is however eager to speak of Adeline,” Adeline is not to be trusted. She must be destroyed. The souls must be brought to me. We need the power to follow the correct path.” Noticing strange movement under Malaak’s robes and unsatisfied with the strange-voices answer, in particular, Alora decides she wants a little glimpse under the robes of Malaak. As Krom questions Malaak further about soul coins Alora stealthily casts mage hand and begins to raise her robe. A long toed foot comes crashing down on the magical hand and the corner of the robe. “Stop… it.” Nom joins in to try to help Alora with a magic hand of her own. Malaak is not amused and again asks them to stop. Nom gets a little more aggressive in her desires. Malaak has had enough and with a wave of her hand, Nom is frozen in place, unable to speak or move.

However, her mind is still free. She begins to try to bargain with Mammon to free her from the frozen prison. She hears no reply. Nom then tries to play to his greed explaining that she can’t get him gold if she can’t move. She hears nothing. Nom then resorts to threats telling him she won’t get him any gold, instead, she will just do nothing. This time she does hear a reply. “Careful girl. You are of little consequence to me. I have thousands of “you” across hundreds of planes. You would be wise to mind your tongue and do what you're told.” Nom waits to feel the contract change. She feels nothing -- but then again… she is paralyzed. 

Mokon and Dorus return to Malaak’s glade. Mokon begrudgingly hands Adele’s husk to his friend. As Dorus approaches the hut he is met by Alora who begins to voice her concerns about destroying Adele’s husk. Something does feel right. Dorus is insistent the husk be destroyed. Mokon is fine with it, even though he will miss his secret confidant. Entering the hut Dorus looks for more opinions. Krom is absolutely on board to destroy the creepy-as-shit doll. Nom says nothing as she is still frozen in place. Malaak agrees to set her free if Dorus will keep her in line. Nom's muscles loosen and she too agrees with destroying the doll. Dorus stretches his trunk toward Malaak who looks genuinely scared to touch the wooden Adeline. A sickly purple magical hand takes the doll, tosses it into a wicker basket, and closes the lid. With a wave of her hand, Malaak encases the wicker basket in a magical field -- for safekeeping. At least, until she can destroy the abomination properly. 

Alora can’t seem to let the strange voices go so Malaak eventually succumbs to the pestering. “The voices you hear are not they, for the voices are we. We see many paths… many futures… we see much.” Not a great answer, but an answer nevertheless. 

“I have created a special pendant for you. But…” An uncomfortably long arm reaches out and a long-fingered hand snatches the white tracking gem from Dorus's neck. Smashing the pendant and gem together the device springs to life. Multiple colors instantly appear around the parameter of the pendant - black, white, purple, orange, green, pink, and red. Red, green, and purple point in a similar direction toward the direction they had traveled in the balloon. Pink in the opposite direction toward Therack. White points toward Malaak. Black toward Adeline’s husk. And orange spastically glows and fades bouncing in many different directions. “This pendant will help you track each soul individually. Touching the pendant to the being who has trapped the soul will release the soul into the pendant. The being may or may not survive the process. It is hard to determine. I have protected myself against such a fate.” Alora is concerned. Nom is curious. 

With a thought, Nom reaches into the mind of Malaak to see her true intentions. At least ten streams of consciousness assault Nom’s mind. “We need the power. It is necessary to follow the correct path. Adele is dangerous. We need the souls.” Nom releases Malaaks mind.

Dorus explains he is worried about Torin and what will happen to his small friend. Malaak seems uninterested in the fate of a single being for the greater good. Unanimously the group decides the best test will be Huther as all but Dorus would love to see Huther dead. The issue is getting to Huther by way of the mirror realm. Kloci has a very particular soul coin payment in mind of which the group has only one -- six short of the necessary amount. Still, what option do they have? Overhearing the conversation, and understanding the need for a reflective surface, Malaak eagerly offers her arcane services. She pushes past the group. Once outside she creates a large jagged block of ice. “I will make sure this gate stays intact while you are away. An easy way to return to us… me. Do what you will. Go.”

The reflective surface is not very smooth. Jagged crevices and random spikes poke out of the slab of ice. Mokon is on it. With his significant sculpturing ability he begins to work and smooth frozen mass. Finite pieces of ice and shavings chip away, eventually revealing a pristinely flat mirrored surface. Nom touches the mirror shard to the reflective surface of the ice. It warbles and moves exactly the same way the mirror had moved in the past. Nom however isn’t done here. She tells her friends to enter, and she will follow. One by one the SOG enter the mirror gate. 

Nom yells to Malaak. “Go, you have souls to collect.” Nom insists Malaak come outside. Nom prepares only inches away from the gate. As soon as Malaak is within view Nom probes her mind deeper. Nom hears only a mind-numbing NO in her mind. Nom’s mind numbs and her vision blurs. When she refocuses, Malaak's face sits only inches from Nom’s. Malaak's deep-set black eyes stare directly into Nom’s. Long bony fingers dig into Nom’s shoulder. “Be careful child. Be careful.” And with an unexpected strength, Malaak tosses Nom through the mirror gate.

The group finds themselves once again in the mirror plane. Although entering at a different point, it is the same scene. Kloci does not notice the group enter. He and his “pet” sit facing a small campfire. This is all new to Krom, Alora fills him in on the strange details of this place. They approach Kloci. He looks up at them, then back down at the fire. “Go ahead, your balance has been paid in full.” Confused, the group looks at one another. Huh? Well, don’t look a gift horse in the m… Alora asks how. “Your friend paid the full amount in souls. This is more than I should need. I just need to find a buyer.” They ask who. “Who what? Who paid? Your dead friend. The elf. Fay… I believe. She found enough soul coins to pay your way. Where do you want to go?” 

Ilmater is a god well-known for suffering. Mokon, being a follower of Illmater, is drawn to pain and suffering -- most often to take it upon themselves. He asks Kloci if he can touch a soul coin. “Why would you want to… oh I don’t care. Don’t take any, but feel free to touch away… Weirdo.” As mokon reaches for a coin Nom pushes past. Her finger touches the topmost coin. The rust-colored coin begins to corrode dust like particles swirl and then are pulled into Nom's body. Nom grasps her head in pain as the death of the being whose soul was trapped in the coin also becomes one with Nom. “What are you doing? Why would you? What have you done? I had the ten coins I needed. You must pay!” The group looks at Nom with a mixture of anger and disgust. What was she thinking? Nom was thinking of a way to pay her debt to Mammon. The group does not agree with her timing to do so.

Kloci is irate. He stares all Nom with little demon rage.

Mokon, of course, has the soul coin Jeb had gifted to him. Although he does not want to give it up he eventually agrees to do so. Offering it to Nom. Upon doing so this coin also begins to corrode. Nom ingests the rusty particles and feels another death become one with her body. 

Kloci watches, mouth agape. “What are you doing? What have you done? You are ruining everything!” Nom does her best to convince a very distraught Kloci to trade contracts (not knowing if it will actually work or not), but Kloci is very against being one of Mammon’s minions.

The SOG stand in a mirror realm beside a rage-filled mini-demon with no foreseeable way to leave.