After defeating the three Frost Giants while the treasures the three giants had are stored on the ship, Garret Levistusson looks over the large piece of parchment with directions to the monastery of the distressed body written in giant with Markus' help since Garret doesn't read Giant.

Garret blinks and points to a section that Markus had just translated for him and says, "It says here that there is a guard that is rumored to know everything... and that they were to capture someone to be forced to pay the 'price' to acquire the directions to the Ice That Never Melts. Well, that sounds ominous... good thing they won't be able to complete their task... however what prevents other Frost Giants from attempting the same once they realize this group failed?"

OOC: Picking up right were we left off in Roll20, that fight with the three frost giants has ended and the party was storing the loot on the airship. Since this isn't a combat situation right now, there is no posting order at the moment.

Lucy says, "I may have felt discomfort for killing the first reasonable giants in a long time*, but that is a huge weight off. Now we can focus on hurrying to our destination. And maybe while we're at it, we can find out who this guard is and what all this stuff means."

*we did have reasonable giants once before that even do stuff for us now.

Zerry is already finished climbing all over the corpses of the giants and says, "Well then let's get going!" she zooms off to the ship, looks over at the group and then zooms back to them to offer a ride to anyone who wants it, then zooms back to the ship. As usual, Lucy will take Zerry up on that offer, but only after she lets others have a chance to opt for a ride first.

Varis focuses on making sure the newly acquired 'loot' is stored on the airship while Zerry has her fun climbing on things. Upon learning about the directions and the 'guardian with knowledge' Varis speaks up, “At least those directions will help us in reaching our destination, although I am rather worried about that knowledgable guard, and the price that guard asks for knowledge.”

Markus shrugs as he says, “We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. The one issue we'll have is dealing with the part of the directions that say to enter a cave system, since we can fly over the mountains we don't have to do that but we don't know where the exit is to reach the monastery so we may have to explore once we reach that spot to see what we can find. A monastery shouldn't be too hard to spot from the air assuming it isn't concealed by clouds or underground.”

  Zerry. Half horse. Acts like a spider and occasional vulture.

  "If we don't see it, just consider the most inconvenient spot for an air landing and it will probably be around there."  It would be a bit TOO flagrantly gamey for Tark to just point at the tunnel exit when his auto-map fills, 'Fly your airship in circles smashing the scanner button' style.

Jack shrugs.  "I dunno.  Evil is evil regardless of the level of politeness or common sense.  Well...  Ugly goes a long way there, I think.  If they were adorable little puppies that looked up at me with tear-filled eyes and asked me, 'Why, Mr. Jack?  Why would you hurt me after I offered to let you live long enough to see me usher in my tyranny of ice?' I think that would make me uncomfortable."

He's sure to offer Lucy the end of his rope so she can have Zerry enjoy being a tow truck while she's handing out horsey rides to pretty clerics.

"Oooh!  Can I yodel at them to ask for directions?"

His voice magically takes on an inside-a-cave sounding reverb.  <yodeled>"How do we get to yoooouuu?"</yodeled>
This message was last edited by the player at 04:29, Sun 30 June 2019.

Lucy gives Jack a sad smile and a shrug. "I feel like the giants are trying to rob me of what compassion I have left. Please allow me to have compassion where I may, or I might just give up being compassionate entirely."

She takes the offered rope, hops onto Zerry and then glances at Varis. "Why worried?"

Zerry jogs in place, but is moving forward slowly at about the pace of the others who are walking.

Varis turns to Lucy and says, “What prevents other Frost Giants from trying to get the location of the Ring of Winter or as they call it the Ice that Never Melts. Or Fire Giants asking where the remaining Vonindod fragments are. Although we could ask a question about why the Giants are running amok now. And that brings me to the second part of my concern, what is the price for such information. For all we know, it is a demon of some sort that trades information for souls.”

Markus shrugs and says, “Let's focus on getting there first. If it turns out that the guardian is something fiendish then the solution is simple... destroy it. Although things rarely turn out that simple...and since we can't plan for what we don't know, don't worry about it at this time. Instead, we should worry about what else we might encounter while trying to get there as we have another day's travel to reach the cave system entrance.”

  Jack's musings are why you need boring party members like Tark or Darkthornes.  Just decent enough to save orphans and not derail by eating the hostage, just mean enough to stab/smash evil orphans trying to in the face.

  "Well, you were never exactly hesitant to smash evil's skull open when needed Lucy.  Which means you won't have as much of an impact from disillusionment and have no problems staying a decent person.  I can only imagine how a pacifist would take it though." Maybe they would start stuffing souls into snow globes?... Nah, that would be crazy.

  At Varis and Markus's musings, he adds "Hey, this might just be me. But how about not talking about the prospect of destroying someone who can see the future, when trying to find said person who can see the future?"...Well, not like simply refraining from SAYING it would make a difference there.  But it would at least make it less obvious.

Jack said he'd be uncomfortable with the evil puppy's tears.  He never said he'd let the evil puppy get away with his evil schemes.

He gives Lucy a sympathetic look.  "Some day we may find a giant on whom your compassion would not be wasted.  But I agree with Tark that no amount of encounters with those silly brutes will ever lessen your kindness toward the victims of villainy."

Though Jack would be sorely tempted to point and laugh if Snob Lady wound up an aboleth's thrall.

"But just in case we ever encounter the elusive un-evil giant, I've devised several morality tests for our foes.  Such as seeing whether they turn violent after I claim we're going to destroy a dangerous magic item.  Our thick-headed enemies make it pretty easy to sleep at night when they fail simple tests like, 'don't squish the smallfolk for being small.' before even getting to the, 'don't be provoked to murderous violence over the slightest tease' test."

Lucy smiles from the reassurances of her companions. Then says, "Alright. Well let's get going and we'll figure out what to do once we've met this guardian."

Once aboard the airship, Lucy helps where needed to get the thing on its way.

After everyone is on the airship, the group resumes heading towards the destination and the following morning the airship approaches the area where the cave entrance for the lost laboratory and the monastery of the distressed body is supposed to be.

Within half an hour of reaching the area and beginning to search and the group comes across what seems to be a battle between four stone giants and almost a dozen people with four constructs of some sort. Fortunately for the people, they have taken cover behind boulders and trees to have cover from the boulders the giants throw. It seems that the projectiles two of the constructs and the arrows from the people are enough to discourage the giants from approaching into melee ranges.

  That pesky conscience makes disinclined to sit back and watch (And Tark can't read the nameplates that say 'thug').  But it's weary experience makes Tark have no expectations the constructs have anything to do with Giants being scared of willingly entering melee combat.

  OOC: Initiative, got a 4. Durp.

Jack was going to fly out there and make himself a tempting target for the giants to prove that these are not the elusive non-evil giants.  Buut memories of how much getting hit with a rock hurts restrain him.  So he does the sensible thing and has his illusory double fly out there for him.

"Oh would you please cease this violence?" the double pleads, making itself an easy target, "I am an expert negotiator and will be happy to help you resolve your differences peaceably."

What evil giant would be able to resist throwing a rock at that?!  None Jack knows.

"Lets see how well they play, 'Don't kill the peacemaker,'" Jack thinks at his friends.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:35, Thu 11 July 2019.

Lucy thinks back, "Stone giants. I predict they will fail within 15 seconds."

Zerry joins the telepathic conversation, "Next time, can I be the illusion? And then you could have me majestically galloping on air towards them in slow motion?"

Zerry gallops a circle around the team on the deck, and hops a few times with excitement as she looks on to see what's going to happen.

A Stone Giant (#2) responds to Jack's statement by throwing a boulder through the illusion, which is a good thing it was an illusion since otherwise, it would have possibly taken Jack's head off.

The bard moves out of cover to try to use Vicious Mockery on Stone Giant 4 but it resists as the bard moves back into cover.

"Well that answers that question," Jack concludes.

Jack guesses that Varis will be focusing fire on SG4, so points at it.  Owlbert then harasses SG4.

"Good people, and awesome constructs!  We will be assisting in defeating these giants.  I trust there are no objections."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:02, Sun 14 July 2019.

Two of the Thugs (#2 & #7) move out from their cover and fire their heavy crossbows at Stone Giant #2 but miss as they scurry back behind their cover.

Autonomous Defender 1 takes evasive maneuvers while being ready to protect the war machine next to it if needed. (Dodge action)

Markus casts Synaptic Static centered to hit the four Stone Giants, three of which fail to resist its effects.

OOC: While Stone Giant #2 only takes 13 psychic damage, the other three stone giants take 26 and until they make a successful intelligence save or 10 rounds pass they roll a d6 and subtract that number rolled from all of its attack rolls, ability checks, and Constitution Saving Throws to maintain concentration.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:16, Sun 14 July 2019.

Three more Thugs (#9, #8, and #4) move out of cover, take a shot with their heavy crossbow, and then move back behind cover.... but all three shots fail to harm Stone Giant #2, although one bolt does come close to piercing the giant's skin.

Autonomous War Machine #1 fires an explosive bolt that hits the four stone giants and while Stone Giants #1 and #3 resist the blast, Stone Giants #2 and #4 take the full brunt of the blast.

OOC: Stone Giants #1 and #3 take 5 Fire damage, while Stone Giants #2 and #4 take 10 fire damage.

"I'll take their silence as a, 'No problem, keep it up.'"

He summons some mini meteors that the sends at the closest giants.

"Haha!  Giants so dumb!  They throw rocks instead of get close and smash!"

Another Thug (#5) Moves out, fires a shot which misses Stone Giant #2, and then moves back into cover.

Varis is still on his broom of flying so he uses his bonus action for Cunning Action to Disengage, then flys up to Stone Giant #4 and uses his Giant Slayer Rapier to attakc with Booming Blade along with a dose of poison from his Assassin Touch Gloves, and while the Giant resists the full effect of the poison with the distraction by Owlbert, Varis manages to inflict a severe wound on Stone Giant #4 before flying off 10ft.

OOC: OOC Booming Blade hits for a total of 48 damage and Stone Giant #4 takes 2d8 more Thunder damage if he moves before Varis' next turn.

Stone Giant #4 retaliates by throwing a rock at Varis since the giant doesn't want to suffer more damage due to moving, but the rock narrowly misses Varis due to the elf's Cloak of Displacement.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:38, Sun 14 July 2019.

Elric remains near Markus since there isn't much he can safely do right now.

Thug #10 moves out, misses his shot at Stone Giant #2 with a crossbow, and then moves back into cover.

Autonomous War Machine #2 lobs an explosive Bolt that catches the four Stone Giants and this time only Stone Giant #3 manages to resist the blast.

OOC: Stone Giant #3 takes 9 fire damage from resisting the explosive bolt, while the other 3 Stone Giants take 18 fire damage.

Lucy raises her hand to the sky with a stern expression. Sunbeams part a cloud and fall into her hand, collecting into a massive ball of fire that she hurls at the giants. KABOOM! One giant falls and the others get burned! "I am so SICK of you evil monsters and your senseless desire for wanton murder! Well I have a pre-ordained sentence of death passed down through me by the gods! You are but dust to them and you will be crushed and cast out like the worthless trash that you are!"

Normally, her text is pink, but the narration department decided red was more appropriate right now.

Two more Thugs (#6 and #1) both move out of cover, take shots at Stone Giant #2 and miss, and then move back into cover.

Like a rubberband that has been waiting to right itself, Zerry SNAPS into action, zooming across the battlefield, her giant-slaying halberd beginning to glow, and she skewers giant2 as if he was merely in the way of her real target! The giant collapses, but not faster than Zerry turns to stab and hit the other giant next to her! STAB! BIFF! The other giant topples to the ground, though still alive. "WOOOOOO DIVINE JUDGEMENT! In the afterlife, I'm gonna gallop around Heaven and yell Neener Neener Neeeeeener! at you from above!"

Zerry's text is normally red. No cause for alarm.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:14, Sun 14 July 2019.

Stone Giant #1 stands back up and tries so smack Zerry twice with his great club but due to the distraction from Synaptic Static both attacks miss. Furthermore, the Synaptic Static continues to affect Stone Giant #1.

Thug #3 pulls the same move out, shoot the crossbow at Stone Giant #1, and move back that the others have done, but is just as ineffective.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:19, Sun 14 July 2019.

  Talk walks up a ways, and the Javelin Of Missing lives up to it's name on the first throw.  He manages to plink away with a second toss to add some insult to all the proper injury it already has.

OOC: Miss, hit. 12+7 = 19 DMG total.  Goading strike's DC is 18 wis. If they fail they will have disad on attacks not vs me.

Stone Giant #3 moves up and around to flank Zerry with Stone Giant #1, but again the Synaptic Static distracts the Giant enough to miss on both strikes. Additionally, the Static itself persists.

Felix flies over to a tree to get a better view of the remainder of the fight while taking evasive maneuvers to be safe. (OOC: Dodge and movement)

Autonomous Defender #2 dodges to avoid attacks and remain where it is to protect the War machine next to it.

The Bard successfully taunts Stone Giant #3 so he'll have disadvantage on ability checks, attack rolls, and saving throws until the bard's next turn, but the Stone Giant still manages to resist the Bard's Vicious Mockery.

Owlbert flies up and distracts Stone Giant #1 and then flies back a bit.

Thug #2 moves, shoots and misses Stone Giant #1 and then moves back into cover.

Autonomous Defender #1 remains where it is ready to dodge anything that attacks it while staying in place to protect the war machine next to him.

Thug #7 moves, shoots and misses Stone Giant #1 and then moves back into cover.

Markus Hexes Stone Giant #1 and uses Eldritch Blast, but only one bolt lands, but it inflicts enough damage to drop the giant.

OOC: The one Eldritch Blast with Hex does 17 damage which drops Stone Giant #1

Thugs #9 and #8 moves out of cover and fire their heavy crossbows at the last Stone Giant (#3) and manage to hit the giant while Thug #4's shot misses before all three thugs move back into cover.

OOC: The two bolts inflict a combined total of 10 damage.


Autonomous War Machine #1 fires two Lancing Bolts at Stone Giant #3 but both shots miss.
OOC: Autonomous War Machine #1 does not recharge its Explosive Bolt.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:57, Sun 14 July 2019.

"Why must I have such awesome friends?" Jack pines, "I suppose it is my fate and I must accept it."

Two more meteors slam into the last giant while Jack corkscrew attacks with his fancy new sword, ending up flanking with Zerry.

While Thug #5 moves out of cover, misses with his shot, and then moves back into cover, Varis flies over to flank Stone Giant #3 with Jack and uses his Giant Slayer Rapier to attack with Booming Blade before moving back slightly although the precise blow deals enough damage to drop the Stone Giant.

OOC: The Booming Blade inflicted 42 damage due to giant slayer bonus and sneak attack damage which was enough to kill Stone Giant #3.

Zerry twirls on one hoof to face the others, arms spread in a welcoming pose. "Hello! Is everyone OK?"

Lucy flies down next to Zerry and lands.

The Bard amongst those that had sought cover from the four Stone Giants replies to Zerry, "We're fine now. Those four Giants had us pinned down behind these rocks and if it wasn't for the autonomous guards I had with me I think we'd have been dead before you all arrived."

Varis says, “Let's see if they had a clue as to why they were here in the first place.. after all the previous group of giants we dispatched was a group of Frost Giants that had a map to a monastery where they planned to get information from some guard about the location of an artifact that they could use to plunge the world into an eternal winter..”

When Varis searches the four Stone Giants he finds 1,200 gold pieces and a dozen Alexandrite gems, each worth 500pg, along with a bag of dried mushrooms, a small bag of salt, a Bronze Gong, and a Tombstone that no longer has a name carved on it as whatever was previously carved onto it has been worn away. Varis also proceeds with taking the noses off the giants for the 300gp bounty for each Stone Giant but doesn't touch the giant-sized great clubs as they aren't worth taking along with a value under 1gp yet they weigh over 40 pounds each.

The bard responds to what Varis says with, "Actually we're heading to that Monastery, it's called the Monastery of the Distressed Body. While we planned on traveling through the cave behind us, with your airship it would be possible to reach the monastery from the air. Although the guardian would still intercept you to test whether you are worthy to enter the monastery."

Lucy says, "That is good to know. Thanks for the info. It will be crowded with you all on the ship, but if it isn't far from here, I see no problem with taking you all with us. Though I would like to know what your purpose was for heading there."

Zerry climbs all over the giant corpses just so she can say she did. She'll help Varis with the noses if he wants the help. But after that, she is sure to gallop a circle around the recently met/rescued group.

And if the bard is very OBVIOUSLY dressed as a bard, Zerry will ask, "Ooooo are you a bard?"

The bard turns to Lucy and says, "I was bringing my associates to the Monastery of the Distressed Body as they wished to join it. I have made the journey a few times before which is why they entrusted me with these constructed companions to help make the journey a safe one, however with the increase in hostility by giants I fear that further precautions will be necessary. Traveling on your airship would significantly shorten the remaining journey and avoid any possibility of further dangers within the cave system. Sometimes hostile creatures enter the caves. I've heard rumors that a Froghemoth has taken refuges in a remote part of the caves. "

While the bard's clothing doesn't scream 'bard' combined with the equipment including a musical instrument he has with him, he does look like a bard. Thus when Zerry asks, the bard nods as he answers, "Yes I am a bard."

Markus and Elric hang back to keep an eye on things since he isn't sure he can trust the bard and his companions and hopes they don't try something stupid like trying to steal their airship.

  No Zerry, there are lots of dead-oh She means people who probably matter.

  "So you hear a lot about what visitors want from such a place, but what do those who intend to stay there have in mind they consider worth the trip?"

"Wheeee!"

Jack is a tad dizzy from the spinning Zerry trip, so after dismounting, his flourishing bow to the newcomers is on the wobbly side.

"Jack the Bard at your service."

He introduces the others as well, using impressive sounding titles.  Tark, Smasher of Kneecaps.  Zerry Lightningclimber.  Varis Worldstrider.  Marcus RealityRender.  Lucy Mooncrusher.

"I'd love to have a froghemoth for a pet, but I'm afraid time constraints constrain me from going hunting for one.

"Wunna jam on the airship?"

Lucy is happy for Zerry and Jack's excited nature and their anticipation of potential jam sessions... she too would like to join in a musical session, but she nods to what Tark said. "Yes. Tark speaks my mind here; I'm curious what it is the monks do that your companions wish to join their order, and by extension, what your companions expect to be doing once they join."

Zerry grins, holding her fists up to her cheeks with a shrug in excitement. "Jack, Lucy and the new guy gonna share music and stories!"

The bard smiles slightly at the curious nature of the adventurers as he explains "The Monastery of the Distressed Body is a site where people who have had a troubled life can find salvation from the distressing world we live in. Through dedication and hard work, individuals can become more in tune with their true nature and find contentment and happiness." It is clear that the bard has made this explanation several times in the past.

The bard turns to Jack and replies, "And I am Trevor and depending on how quickly your airship moves we may or may not have time to practice our arts on the remainder of this journey."

Varis joins Markus in keeping an eye on the 'passengers' after getting the newly acquired 'treasures' and bounty marks stored away on the airship.

Varis also has Felix join in with Elric in discreetly monitoring the passengers just in case there is trouble.

  "Oh, one of those. Those seem to be real popular, but most settle for more easily accessible locations that this one." It's a lot harder to donate all your worldly possessions to am incredibly vague scam cult when you have to travel to distant mountains, even without the giants.

  Tark expects this one to share just enough similarities to fake religions to be annoying, while also juuuust legitimate enough to be needed.  Like the Order of the Smiling Fist.

Wouldn't that be more a distressed mind than body?  Well I guess if you went with The Monastery of the Distressed Mind you'd sound like a insane asylum.

"Oh there's aalways time for music."

Jack sings the first song to come to mind.

♪♫ "Everyone loves
Magical Trevor
'cause the tricks that he does
Are ever so clever
Look at him now
Disappearing a cow."♬

Lucy listens and plays along with Jack until the song's finish, then claps excitedly and says, "Oo! You know Magical Trevor! I used to listen to that as a little girl! I was thinking of that same tune when Trevor introduced himself. I was gonna suggest Row Row Row Your Boat since we're on an airship, and see how much we could spice it up. Wanna try?" she smiles brightly at Trevor. The halfling side of her upbringing is showing. Lucy, of course, invites and encourages her teammates to join in the music.

Zerry provides surprisingly well-timed, rhythmic hoof clops for the music as the group travels.

The men that Trevor the bard was escorting along with the four 'constructs' he has with him mill about on deck as there isn't much for them to do. A few of the men chuckle at Jack's antics but most are just looking around as they haven't been on an airship before.

As for Trevor himself, he says, "Unfortunately I have to guide this ship to the monastery as we should be able to reach it in an hour or so, but the directions I have are distances and directions through the tunnels so translating that to how the crow flies isn't as simple as just pointing in a direction and saying that way since we have to navigate through the mountains since if we just go higher than all the mountains we'll not find the monastery due to clouds concealing the location."

Markus and Varis continue to monitor the guests while helping to direct the airship along the path Trevor dictates to reach the monastery.

OOC: We'll have one more round of posts before the monastery comes into view.

  Halflings do seem to have mastered the art of all of the party with half the property damage and hangover, yes.

  "If you were given directions with proper distances included, I could work out the overland location easily.  Though, that depends entirely if you were given proper distances, and not 'Walk down incline then walk into yet another tunnel' you see passed off as directions."

Trevor replies to Tark, "The directions I have are mostly in distances and taking left or right turns, although there are a few landmarks within the tunnels that won't be helpful with this rout, the directions should be easy for you to translate."

Jack grins brightly.  "Wonderful suggestion, Lucy!  Glad to hear we were on the same wavelength for that last song."

Considering Jack can loop any contributions and add instrumental accompaniment using magic, what follows is possibly the most epic version of Row Row Row Your Boat that ever was performed.  (( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeCD4bIkQwg ))  He bobs his head happily to Zerry's percussion during the performance.

Zerry is more than happy to show the men around the airship, her cheerful demeanor showing the joy of the deity she follows. She is, in her own way, monitoring the guests just like Markus and Varis.

Of course, Jack appreciating the beat makes Zerry all the happier.

Lucy continues to perform, though perhaps lower energy music for a bit so as to help calm the probably overly excited Zerry as well as calming anyone who is new to an airship. She is oh so happy to be in the team she's in.

Tark being useful for easy directions and such, Lucy says, "Thanks, Tark!"

The 'guests' are quite interested in seeing the airship and while not gentlemen and have minimal educations they are at least staying polite.

Meanwhile, Trevor himself is busy with Tark handling the directions so they don't overshoot their mark and miss the monastery as Trevor speaks up, "See that valley between several of the mountains, the monastery is there," as a gap between several of the mountains comes into view. Although looking at it, the valley seems to be almost more of a crater as it's more of a large depression surrounded by mountains than a lengthy valley.

However, possibly the most interesting bit is what appears to be the monastery itself, as a floating island comes into view. There are several buildings visible on top of the 'island' and a faint roar can be heard, possibly from the wind or some other source.

  "Least I can do, Lucy.  Not like it's my map or anything."  But this trip does now fall under Tark's Maps qualifications.

  At the monastery finally comes into view, he asks "So if you normally make the trip on foot, how do you tend to get up there?  And is it large enough for Giants to not be too big to fit through?"

Trevor answers Tark's question by pointing to what appears to be a small protrusion on one of the mountains surrounding the valley, "That is where the cave system exits into the valley and there is a platform there where a flying ferry takes those who pass the Sphinx's test to the monastery. Don't bother trying to just fly to the monastery, the Sphinx would intercept us up here."

Jack lights up.  "Ooh!  A sphinx riddle!  I've only heard about such things!  So looking forward to this!"

Lucy is a little nervous about meeting a real sphynx. On one hand, meeting what she thought was just legend or myth. On the other hand, the sphynx is likely dangerous. Though there is the sort-of reassurance of the thing being passed off as more a benevolent guardian?

Lucy asks, "Anyone know what the test is? And what happens if you fail?"

Trevor laughs at Jack, "Alas, I fear you'll be saddened to know this Sphinx is a bit of an oddball... instead of you solving a riddle to pass... you must present a riddle or question that the Sphinx cannot answer. But once you do, you are free to pass as often as you like, but while I've passed, those I'm escorting have not so they would have to face the challenge. At least your group and the group I'm leading can work as groups instead of everyone with their own attempt."

Trevor then frowns as he faces Lucy, "I do know what happens if you fail, the Sphinx drains a bit of an individuals mind or soul... one drain per failed attempt."

  Well, if an proper Sphinx is involved then this place certainly put more effort in than the average fly by night scam cult... Oh this is probably a real mystic monastery then, huh.

  "There are so many ways to interpret that last bit.  In some cases it's a temporary inconvenience with a melodramatic claim, and others it's more permanent harm."  Still, this is certainly one of those times where the team's habit of spending ten minutes lurking outside the door of their latest problem is a sound plan.

While Gearbox remains silent, Garret Levistusson speaks up, "Better to assume the drain is permanent until the Sphinx is killed or otherwise its 'curse' is somehow lifted. So any suggestions on how to ask it a riddle or question it can't answer?"

Markus sighs as he says, “This must be the creature the giants wanted to question... ask where the Ring of Winter is, and when they are given an answer force a prisoner they brought along to pay the 'fee' for failing to stump the sphinx. So an alternative would be to just kill the Sphinx if it is compelled to answer any question asked of it if that could be abused by the giants to bring about the end of the world as we know it. Hopefully, it won't come to that, but the situation has to be mentioned.”

"Even better!

"'You remember that time I asked a Sphinx a riddle it couldn't solve?'

"What fun!"

He looks concerned for Garret.  "Hmm.  You could try your riddles out on us."

Jack skews his lips at the conversation about giants and side-stepping the consequences.  "Nothing says we can't mention to the Sphinx that we defeated the giants that were coming to take advantage of her.  Then ask her the details of the consequences for failing her challenge.  And if she even could answer the giants at all."

Lucy doesn't like the idea of killing a being just for existing in a way that is inconvenient. "The sphynx may not have a choice. But we will have to remember to phrase questions in the form of statements so it doesn't take life force from us just for having a conversation."

Zerry chimes in, "We could write up our desires ahead of time and present it to the sphynx, including the fact some giants plan to use a work around in order to get the sphynx to answer questions for free."

Varis speaks up, “And then depending on the response we get from the Sphinx, will decide if we take the challenge or kill the sphinx, although if we do fight I suggest the land the airship and at least let our guests off the airship and presumably try to fight off the airship since while I doubt the sphinx could destroy our ship, would prefer to avoid the damage... that and it wouldn't hurt us if we kept the option of the weapons on the airship being utilized against the sphinx by our constructed guards and unseen crew.”

  "Honestly, we probably shouldn't bother fighting it unless it's about to go on a rampage or is part of some scam where after a certain amount of soul bits worse problems happen.  This world is lousy with prophecy and artifacts, so I'd bet five whole coppers the giants going after the Sphinx is only because it was the most convenient one at the time."

  ...It's going to be a not so secret asshole sphinx isn't it?  Thus dashing daydreams of 1/2 horse girls hanging out with 3/4 Lion girls sharing fashion tips... Man, he's been hanging out with Jack a lot.

Jack nods.  "Yeah.  Standard minimum morality bar of 'would you kill someone just for being there?' will most certainly be applied.  Besides.  This world is much more fun with sphinxes guarding monasteries than without.  So if she gets hostile for perceived rudeness, I'm willing to let that slide.  Unless she attacks one of you all.  Then it's on.  She will discover the riddle of how a large creature can be swallowed by a bard."

Markus turns to Tark and says, “Who knows, it might also be possible to reason with the sphinx and provide it with something other than a riddle or question to get past it without paying part of a soul or something. Until we encounter and question the sphinx we can only guess.”

Lucy and Zerry write up a statement ahead of time that explains the situation with the giants and why the team is here.

Lucy nods to Jack. "I will not tolerate any attempts to kill the innocent or kill heroes. I will also not tolerate attempts to permanently maim any of you. But as Markus said, we won't really know till we meet the sphinx."

Zerry then says, "If it comes down to riddles, we can use personal riddles where it involves something like how many giants we've killed. Either way, I'm ready."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:40, Sun 11 Aug 2019.

  "This does sound hopefully more annoying at worst, rather than immediately hostile, yeah.  Though they may demand it be something we know the answer too, in which case 'We've lost count isn't much of a clarification for giant slaying.  Otherwise you'd be getting a lot of people getting inside by asking obscure metaphysical questions."

Varis shrugs and says, “There is always an alternative, such as logic paradoxes. Like what happens when you have a Genie that grants wishes and you 'wish for this wish to not be granted,' But then again depending on if Tark is right such a question may be invalid.”

Jack smiles and thumbs-ups to Lucy's backing him up.

"I love paradoxes.  'All statements are false.  Including this one.'  Hah!  I'll be curious to see what sorts of clever answers the sphinx has.  Annoying or no."

As the airship draws closer the monastery and the floating island it is on becomes clear. Floating hundreds of feet in the air at the center of the valley is a large island of rock. Enormous chimney engines extend from the bottom of this island, burning with fitful, deep-red fires that appear to keep the island aloft. A series of odd structures rise from the rock,
appearing almost like metallic crystals.

Farther down the cliff-side ledge is a flat metal dock, on which reclines a feline monstrosity with a female humanoid head—a regal gynosphinx. A matching dock is thrust out from the floating rock island across from this dock, but there is no obvious way to cross the hundreds
of feet of open space between them. The gynosphinx notices the airship and flies up to intercept it to ensure that those on the airship can't reach the monastery without passing her test.

The gynosphinx appears to have suffered ancient injuries to its head, which have healed and been replaced by mechanical components. Both the creature’s eyes are now glowing blue lenses, and its head is orbited by a number of spinning metallic devices.
“While it is clever to use an airship to try to fly to the monastery, you still must pass my test. So entreat with me,” the sphinx says, “if you wish to cross to the monastery. You do not appear entirely ignorant, and I look forward to adding whatever small knowledge you might possess to my collection.”

Lucy says, "Greetings. We have a statement prepared for you; please hear us out."

She reads the statement. And then adds, "Although this does not mean we wish to bypass tradition or dodge answering your questions, we do hope you will take our words to heart. Personally, I am flattered beyond words that you would consider what little I know to be worth adding to your knowledge."

The Sphinx looks over the paper and chuckles as she's dealt with adventurers in the past and some were even more paranoid than this bunch... but in this case, there is a legitimate cause for concern. "Hmm the Giants are getting all uppity after... what has occurred which has upended the rules and hierarchy that the Giants have lived by for centuries. But I see the dilemma of what would happen if they asked me where the Ring of Winter, or as they call it the Ice that never melts is located. And yes I do know and could tell them. And yes they could force someone among their group to pay the price if that person was willing... so a prisoner or slave wouldn't work. Then again the giants might be willing to make the sacrifice themselves in that case. But no I'm not like a twisted genie that will try to twist anything that could be a question into an attempt to gain access to the monastery so I can claim they have failed and thus demand the penalty."

  Tark is so used to dealing with wildly unreasonable people unless they also happen to be merchant opportunities, that he can't decide if he should be surprised or not a legendary beast with a taste for nibbling on souls is one of the more reasonable things he's run into.

  "Well, that certainly lines up with people being willing to come back to this place.  Rumors of horrible things don't seem to need any survivors to spread."

"Fantastic!  So glad to hear you're not going to make talking with you difficult.  So to be clear: the challenge is to pose to you a riddle.  If you solve it, one among the group must surrender a part of their mind or soul to you that they can never get back.  But if you cannot solve it, you allow passage to the Monestary.  Or answer a question to the best of your knowledge.  Is that correct?"

He smiles at Lucy and adds, "And I'm flattered beyond words that you would consider me worthy of your radiant smile, your warm company, your kind friendship, and so many more things I've had the privilege to enjoy from you."

Lucy is dumbstruck by Jack, her cheeks turning red and she stares at the ground. "Thanks..."

Zerry says, "So with the immediate worry aside, we step aside and discuss the riddle we will present to the sphynx! I'm so excited!"

The Sphinx looks to Jack and says, "That is partially correct in that the challenge is to ask me a question I do not have an answer to. Be successful and you can enter the monastery, fail and pay the consequence. Where you are wrong is that I do not answer a question for free or need them to pass the challenge first. Those seeking such knowledge just ask the question to which they want the answer and when I answer it, they pay the price for failing to ask a question I cannot answer and then go on their way. It isn't often that someone does that, but it has come up from time to time. I believe the Giants you said you faced would have done just that. Unfortunately for some when posed as a challenge question I am compelled to answer truthfully so if the Frost Giants did ask where that artifact was, I would be bound to tell them and they would then pay the price....regardless of whether I would want them to be able to find that ring or not."

The Sphinx doesn't really care what the party discusses so long as they don't try to sneak past her or take a hostile action.

Markus shrugs as he telepaths the group with, 'So have we at least figured on a style of question to go with? Trivia based, obscure knowledge, logical paradox. I mean a question like 'which of these following two statements is incorrect? The following statement is the truth. The previous statement is a lie,' may or may not work.'

Varis contemplates Markus' question and telepathically replies with, 'That might work, or it might not but it is something to consider. But we also have to take into account what the sphinx just said about the compelled to answer truthfully...I'd rather not harm her since she isn't really a threat, it's what she knows that is a danger....'

  While it has been quite useful in the past, Tark finds his incredibly boring nature to be a disadvantage when attempting to think up legitimate questions that will flabbergast mythical beings.

  'If not for our suspicious we need to know the answer to the question we ask, I would have been tempted to ask her 'When will you be satisfied?'.  Hanging around a mountain in search of trivia would, in theory, have an end point, after all.

Jack is soo happy to have made such an impact on Lucy.  But here I thought she already knew and I was just re-stating the obvious.  Hmm.  Note to self.  Ensure every member of the team knows how highly he thinks of them.  In song!

Then in actual telepathic conversation, Jack replies, "If it were me, I would answer the first one with, 'The first statement is incorrect.  Because the truth is deeper than what can be contained within a simple short statement.'  Or maybe, 'That depends on what you mean by "truth."'  But then you could get into an endless philosophical debate that would just waste time.

"And for Tark's question, I would answer, 'At the end of my next meal.'  It would be a correct answer in the strictest sense.

"I've got a ton of riddles in my noodle that I know the answer to, but I'd bet a fortune the Sphinx has heard them all.  And to be honest, I'd rather ask a question that I want the answer to.  Like, 'What is the recipe for the cheesecake considered tastiest by the most people in all history?'  Or... other question I'm too embarrassed to say."

To the Sphinx he explains, "We're having a powwow to decide on a challenge question.  So this question is not a challenge question, but just one to clarify: Do unanswerable questions that no one should be able to answer count?  Such as, 'On a scale of one to ten, exactly how stupid is the average giant, one being the least stupid creature in creation and ten being the most stupid?'  (I'm guessing you're not omniscient nor do you have a precise measurement for the stupidity of even one giant much less all of them.)  Or questions worded specifically to be unanswerable.  'Pick the correct answer: A) falsehood, or B) error.' leaving no option for a third choice?" 
This message was last edited by the player at 04:42, Mon 16 Sept 2019.

Lucy says, "At least we have established she is not hostile."

Zerry says, "I'm sure we all have things we are tempted to ask. Like climbing her. Or maybe some of the secrets of the old ones that the old ones won't share with you. Or how much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood. But as tempting as any question may be, we must focus on a question that will get us past her."

Telepathically, Lucy says, "Actually, the idea of an old one's secret isn't a bad one, but given the price of her being able to answer a question, we can't take the chance an old one would give her the answer out of spite. So instead, I still say we stick with something we know she couldn't know, save for reading our minds (which would be cheating). So Jack's suggestion of an embarrassing question may be the solution. I am willing to be the one embarrassed if nobody else is."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:31, Wed 25 Sept 2019.

The Sphinx waits while the group has its mental discussion and seems to be somewhat unnerving when the Sphinx is able to tell who is telepathically talking to the group by subtle body language, not that such signs reveal what is being said. When Jack speaks to the sphinx, the sphinx nods and replies, "A wise precaution, using telepathy to discuss things without others overhearing... Unanswerable questions due to being opinionative, ill-worded or overly specified to not have a valid answer would not count as a challenge question since for it to be a successful challenge you must be able to tell me the correct answer after I either give up or give a wrong answer. If you can not provide an answer to the question, it will not count. That also rules out the common logical paradox trap questions. The point of the challenge is to provide me with information that I do not already have. The easiest way to do that is to provide a question I can't answer and the new knowledge is the answer that I would be given to confirm I failed the challenge."

The sphinx glances over her shoulder at the floating monastery and then back at the group as if pondering a question of her own. "But for adventurers that are capable of defeating groups of giants... there may be an alternative if you are willing to make a deal. In the monastery, there are Brains in jars, and each has an advanced intellect and due to their undead nature, a unique perspective of the world along with years to have studied aspects of the monastery no one else in this world knows, not even me. If you all accept a Geas from me to bring me one of these Brains in a Jar, I will let you enter the monastery without the toll. I will warn you that the Geas will last until you complete the task, and I will know if you try to use magic to remove it. Whether the attempt to escape from the Geass is successful or not I will consider such actions to be a violation of the deal and will then hunt you down and kill you. So I will leave it up to you, a challenge question or this deal."

Varis is not surprised by how the Sphinx answers Jack's question and realizes that while common logical paradoxes would not work a paradox question nor would it work with a logical conundrum or logical loop. Upon hearing the Sphinx's offer for a deal, Varis blinks and asks, “Before we can answer regarding the deal, what can you tell us about these Brains in a Jar? Obviously they aren't easy to acquire or take since you are only offering this deal since we are capable of defeating adversaries on par with Giants.”

The Sphinx nods and answers, "They roughly the size of one of you due to the apparatus the brain is contained within but cannot move around on their own. Unlike most undead, these entities are all individually motivated and are not defined by a typical mindset or motivation. They can detect sentient beings around them, even creatures that are only partially sentient such as anything more intelligent than a typical animal. They also have some psionic abilities, and they are used to control parts of the monastery. Although, with that Modron ally you have, he could take over the functions in the monastery that the Brains in a Jar control."

Gearbox speaks up, "I would be willing to do that if it came to it.

Markus telepathically asks the others, “So do we take the deal or do we come up with a question for the challenge and risk the toll?”

  Tark doesn't feel quite as bad as not thinking up a good question as his player, because Tark hasn't had nearly as much time to think about it in character as his player should have.

  "So while normally I would be hazy on 'oh, you could just loot the place you are asking permission to enter'... using brains to run your infrastructure isn't the least responsible thing I've seen, but I's probably not a good sign and 'at least they aren't fueling machines with demons' isn't a very high bar in the first place."

  How many minutes to hours until the joke of 'Lucy, you can't just smash those brains because they are undead'! pause for effect 'Because we need them to open the doors first', we wonder?

Jack chuckles at Zerry admitting she wants to climb the sphinx.  "You too, huh?"

That applies for the other questions Zerry mentions as well.  When he notices the sphinx following the conversation, Jack smiles and poorly lip-syncs his words when he telepaths.  (Or rather, perfectly lip-syncs as if he were speaking aloud in Elven.)

"Remind me again why we're wanting to get inside so badly?  Outside simply sating my insatiable curiosity about how fantastic the inside of a floating monastery would be.  We've kindly delivered our friends here to the bridge safely, we've stopped the giants that were after the doomsday relic, and third thing.  At this point, a hero would simply ask where the doomsday relic is, take the penalty for asking an answerable question, then get on with recovering it so we can make sure it never falls into the wrong hands.  As much as I want to some day tell the tale of how I was put under mind control, slaughtered my way through innocent monks, released the evil lich brain from it's rightful prison, and crashed their one-of-a-kind floating temple because I trusted the word of a sphinx I just met that the brain's job was totally doable by anyone else...  OK maybe I don't want to some day tell that tale...  But you see where I'm going with this?  I'm all for adventure, but this is honestly looking like one of those you just simply walk away from if you don't want to be a villain."

Jack makes it obvious to his friends that he's pretending to have forgotten about the threat of a fire giant attack for the information inside the temple.

"Unless of course there's a way to verify that the monks have unjustly imprisoned undead brains and it would be the right thing to do to release it from it's prison.  Because if this were all above-board, there'd be no reason why the nice monks couldn't arrange for the nice sphinx to have an innocent chat with the nice immortal brain.

"Oh.  And we should release the sphinx from this curse since we know she's not evil."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:36, Sat 26 Oct 2019.

Zerry says quietly, "I could climb a brain.."

She shakes it off. Then looks at Jack as he makes his points. She says, "I... yes. We are heroes. We do not desire to do anything cruel or harmful to innocent folk."

Telepathically, Zerry says, "I'd rather take her up on her deal if we find out there is nothing untoward about it."

Lucy says, "Without knowing much about what's inside..." she then looks at the people they just escorted. "Since you guys already have access inside, would you go in and get what we're after for us while we wait here? It is in the monk's best interest for heroes to have that stuff rather than fire giants attack their monastery. You could also find out about what all goes on in there so we know if bringing a brain to the sphynx is a good idea or a bad one."

She looks up at the sphynx. "No offense, mind you. There could be factors neither we *nor* you know about such as the brains being used to hold off an ancient horror or something."

Trevor, the bard, that the party escorted shakes his head and says, "Unfortunately we don't have access to that part of the Monastery. However from what I do know, the monks call the entities that the sphinx calls a Brain in a Jar, the 'enlightened ones' so they probably wouldn't approve... not to mention that the sphinx did say that they are what is keeping the monastery in the air, although your Modron friend could take over that task. However, I'm not sure if the monks realize their 'enlightened ones' are undead creatures as they don't directly communicate with them, except for the grandmaster. So you would have to ask the grandmaster of the monastery about the matter, which means you'd have to enter the monastery yourself."

  Tark is very glad Lucy asked that important question... Though it does figure it would not be that east.

  "Well, I'm glad for the clarification that these things keep the place flying, rather than simply work the internal parts... If we do this, we should probably make sure we steal or swap out one that manages an needlessly elaborate library sorter or something.  Replacing the thing keeping an island in the air would probably be messy even with a replacement."

With a theatrical flair, Jack attempts to recap what he's been hearing, along with a little conjecture.  "The Curse of the Gate Guardian!  'Until the curse is broken, you may not leave your post!  (Except for areal attacks upon anyone who's trying to bypass the gate by getting into the guarded place by air.  If two or more groups attempt a simultaneous pincer maneuver to get past you, prioritize the group with the most attractive women.)  My flawless security logic is as follows!  You may only allow in anyone who can ask you a question that has a legitimate answer, but that you cannot answer!  Those that fail at trivia will be brain food for you!  Only the best trivia players may enter!  (You may only answer the question of how to break the curse with a riddle.  Thought you were clever, did you, heroes?!  Ha!  You lose!)  HOWEVER!  You may allow in foolhardy adventurers willing to bypass my security in order to get you the things inside that you want, but they must be under a geas to only bypass my security for the specific thing you're after.'"

Jack shakes his head.  "Either we've been lied to about the details of this supposed gate guardian curse, or the one who inflicted the oddly specific curse with bizarre loopholes was a very very strange person.  Either way, I'm very strongly opposed to accepting a geas for the purposes presented.  I'm all for non-violence whenever possible, but I'm becoming very convinced that the only sane solution here is to knock out (for their own good!) the sphynx and the silly monks inside who are unwilling or unable to ask a question of their grandmaster on behalf of heroes trying to save their temple."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:32, Fri 01 Nov 2019.

The Sphinx chuckles a bit at spoken banter between the adventurers and replies, "It isn't so much a loophole as the wording of the objective, to get free passage into the monastery you have to give me the knowledge I did not already have. For most that are accomplished with a riddle I can't solve and the answer to that riddle. But there are alternatives that will fulfill the same goal. As to the replacement, I know that your modron companion can handle the task since I know enough about the monastery's operation to know that a modron can interface with it and take over those functions before the brains are removed as the construct could take over control prior to removing one or more brains in a jar. As to why you would want to enter the monastery I can say this. I know you are looking for Kwalish's notes, which are in the monastery's treasury room. You aren't the first group that Anaxi Zephries has sent looking for those notes but you could be the first to get past me. And if you don't get those notes... Fire Giants will eventually seek them out either directly or through agents, since those notes would help in the reconstruction and even enhancement of the Vonindod and if they can answer my riddle or provide me with new knowledge by other means I have to let them enter the monastery. Also, I do know that if Stone Giants find the monastery they will try to destroy it by throwing boulders at it... and since they wouldn't be trying to enter the Monastery I wouldn't have to commit suicide by trying to take on a dozen or more Stone Giants at once. And they would eventually bring it down since the current owner of the monastery refuses to try and find a way to move it from its current floating position or to improve its defenses to handle such an assault. I know there is more going on here than what you know but the 'curse' as you call it also prevents me from revealing specifics about the one running the Monastery but I can say this, be careful when you deal with him... he is not what he seems."

The Sphinx then waits to see how the adventurers respond.

Lucy looks quite frustrated and angry. She telepaths to the team, "Once again, it seems fate has dictated that the only answer is violence. The truly frustrating part is that I feel like it's my fault that we now have to be bullies and beat up someone for being under a curse, just because I'm too stupid to come up with a riddle I'm sure this sphynx couldn't answer. But with our lifeforces on the line, or the risk of harming other people we know so little about, I see that our only course of action is, in fact, what Jack suggests. Knock out the sphynx, knock out monks who are minding their own business, take their lunch money, and then leave."

Zerry places a hand on Lucy's shoulder. Then looks at the sphynx. "Is it possible you could simply place a geas on me to go, get the information my friends seek, perhaps ask a question of your choice to the brains, and then immediately return?"

  "I should probably to with Zerry, but only some of us dealing with the Geas instead of all of us does sound simpler compared to other extremes."  Also regardless of player bias, Tark is still way more expendable than Lucy.

Jack offers a comforting arm-around to Lucy and softly assures her, "Not your fault.  It is the fault of the crazy persons who set up this silly situation.  And let's not forget the giants who want to murder everything not a giant.  Sometimes villains will use human shields and heroes have to make tough choices about bruising a few to save the lives of many.  I consider us blessed that we haven't had to bruise bystanders near as much as I was expecting.

"I remain opposed to my friends willingly accepting a geas from a person we've just met and is themselves under a magical compulsion.  For all we know, every word out of this person's mouth has been a complete fabrication, the monks inside give out free lollipops, are perfectly reasonable and will gladly explain they've done everything they can to prepare for giants, will freely give us what we ask for, and there are no floating undead brains much less ones that keep the temple from crashing.  But I won't be that guy who opens fire without warning to force a fight."

Jack looks to the sphynx and adds, "But out of morbid curiosity, what are the 'alternatives that will fulfill the same goal' you just mentioned?  Or were you referring to what's already been covered?"

The Sphinx listens to what the group is saying about how some would go and others stay behind. She knows that would be dangerous for those who go and sighs, "I am referring to what has already been presented and I recommend either all take the offer and stay together or none accept and try an alternative. And while I can't alleviate your concerns by telling you specifics about those residing on the monastery, I can say this Kwalish was driven from this place by a Bone Devil that has not returned from whence it came nor has it left the monastery grounds so it is somewhere on the grounds. Thus it would be foolish to split your forces up. I cannot say how the monastery has been able to survive with the Bone Devil on the grounds, so they may have it imprisoned or it may be lurking in the shadows."

Markus glances to the group and frowns as he telepathically messages the group, 'A bone devil on the grounds is not a good sign and since it drove Kwalish away it obviously isn't some rogue devil that has decided to reject its infernal nature and repent or otherwise be benign.'

Varis glares at the Sphinx and remains quiet as he telepathically responds, 'I think the Sphinx is desperate for us to work together to get a brain in a jar since she must know that unless we all go we won't be able to succeed.... would be nice if she led off with the bit about the devil that is somewhere on the grounds but is probably restricted by whatever Kwalish did to her to make her into the guardian for this place. So she must be trying to exploit loopholes to find a way to get free... that would explain the thirst for new knowledge she doesn't already know.... but she probably can't outright ask to be freed. In light of this new revelation what should we do?'
This message was last edited by the player at 02:50, Sat 04 Jan 2020.

Zerry looks stumped.

Lucy telepaths, "We self-defense her into unconsciousness. We're going in there and if she tries to stop us, we beat her up. There is a slim chance she might leave us be and everything has been a bluff. And if she attacks and we defeat her, we will have been well within our rights to defend ourselves. She clearly thinks we are capable. I hate to beat up someone under a compulsion, but as Jack said sometimes there is no other choice. This will just be one of those cases we care that she isn't killed. After we beat her, we go in and get what we came for and if there are issues to be solved inside the place, we solve those too. But whatever course we decide on will only work if we're all in agreement. I've given my vote."

Zerry slowly nods and telepaths, "I'll follow along with that. In the long run, we're helping her too."

Lucy telepaths, "Actually, I have an idea. What if we simply give the sphynx a Runesend stone and tell her she can keep us updated on the status of the temple? She could call us if anyone comes looking for the ring or trying to get into the temple. Until then, this really isn't our problem since the obstacle in our way is such that I'd have to feel an immediate threat to someone's life to do any of the options we've been given."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:51, Sun 05 Jan 2020.

  '...I'm so used to everything being 'disaster is happening right now', that the fact unlike most people we can decide to just deal with it later even if giants attack again never crossed my mind.  It's a shame the sphinx wants riddle based novelties, because 'Adventurers gave the monster a magic artifact, and not the other way around' is probably rare all on it's own.'

  Smart Lucy is smart.

  'I expect a few people will complain about us turning around, but not like they were going to get in there safely without us anyways.  So they're still better off dealing with us on our time than never getting what they want.'

Jack claps his hands together with a big smile.  "Yes!  Fantastic!  Brilliant!  Yay!  Thank you so much, Lucy!"

He moves to wrap his arms around her for a big thank-you bear-hug.

"I tell ya.  That bit about a devil allowed to run around freely inside, true or not, gives me all the less incentive to take any of the offered options.  So it sure is nice to be allowed to just move on.  With any luck, we'll deal with the Giant threat before ever having to come back here.  And maybe by then we'll have some curse-removal relic we can boop the Sphinx on the nose with."

Jack pretends to boop a Sphinx on the nose.  "Boop!  Curse lifted!  Now you don't have to tell us any more lies about the nice monks inside!  Who aren't dumb enough to allow a bone devil to run amok among them after all!"

The sphinx watches the group as she listens to what little is spoken aloud instead of telepathically.

She then sees the Elf, Varis, approach her with a carved stone in his hand and asks, “Will you be able to use this to contact us without using magic to first determine the Runesend stone code to access our other Runesend stone?”

The Sphinx then blinks as she looks at the stone and repeats the wording of the question back in her mind as she knows she could easily use divination magic to determine the code, but the question asks if she could without such magic... which she knows... she can't determine what code would be needed and then as she knows the group is refusing the Geass option yet might be her best chance to get one of the Brains in a Jar she asks, "I would have to use divination magic to learn that if you did not provide the Runesend stone code for the stone you would be keeping. And by admitting that... you have successfully asked a question I cannot answer... so provide the answer and your group will have access to the Monastery without the need of a Geass. Although in any case if you do come across a Brain in a Jar that you would have no qualms with giving me, I'd still appreciate it and can come to some terms of trade for it."

Varis replies, “The code to contact our stone is 6346197.”

The sphinx then nods and takes the stone and places it near her head where it starts floating with the other stones there as the Enhanced Sphinx speaks up, "And now you have permission to enter the Monastery but before you approach, I think you should land the airship long enough for your other guests to disembark so they can ask their riddle to me."

Markus blinks as he watches this unfold and telepath, “Okay I realize how that worked but that does change things since we no longer have to consider the Geass if we wish to go to the monastery, so do we wish to check it out since it is right here and with our airship, we could leave at any time. Plus we don't have to steal a Brain in a Jar, although if we find one that is not necessary to keep the monastery working that happens to be an evil monster, we could possibly get something useful in trade for it.”

OOC: I rolled for the Sphinx to be able to guess the codes but the DC of 30 is beyond her ability although she rolled insanely well with a 27 and 26... still it wasn't enough. And now the party can approach the Monastery without a Geass. So unless people say otherwise the ship should land temporarily to let the Bard and his construct minions along with the thugs disembark at the Sphinx's platform along with the Sphinx before the party decides to either head to the floating monastery or to head elsewhere.

Lucy says, "With no risk if geas or to our life force just to gain entry, I don't see why we can't go in there, get the notes we're after and make sure the place is safe and devoid of evil."

Zerry cannot wait to climb the jars and devil, but she feels saying such at this point would be repeating herself and/or stating the obvious. So instead she says, "I agree that now that we are allowed in without any more conditions, and we have contact with the outside on top, in case giants come while we're inside, we have little reason to pass up the chance to do what we came to do."

  Well, that was obvious in hindsight.  But Tark is hardly going to complain about progress in these circumstances.

  "Well, the whole reason to take advantage of 'we can come back later' was to wait until we could get around that problem... And it's not a problem anymore.  So, yeah doing it now sounds good."

Jack claps.  "Thank. You. Varis!"

He smiles at his team.  "You guys are the best!  So happy to be a member of your fantastic team!"

And who wouldn't want to climb a brain in a jar??

"Still expecting to find out that most everything we've been told by the Sphinx is untrue.  But won't complain if I can add 'Brain in a Jar' to the lyrics of the song I'll be writing of this adventure.  Hmm.  May need a few good synonyms for it if it's going to be a major plot point.  Smart Pickles?  Jar Jar Thinks?"

Markus and Varis work with the others to land the airship at the Sphinx's platform so the Sphinx and their 'recent guests' can depart before the party and their assistants head over to the floating monastery itself.

Varis nods to Jack and replies, “Your welcome.”

Markus shrugs at Jack's question about lyrics as he suggests, “The Brain in a Jar was drained in a bar? Although I don't think we want to tap a brain in the jar like a keg and let dwarves get drunk on it to see if it makes them smarter. Not sure if a fermented brain would make for good drinking unless you're a mind flayer.”

It doesn't take long for the group to reach the Monastery Dock, where there is a merrenoloth ferry that seems ready to travel to the Sphinx's platform.

A figure dressed as a hooded monk is also at the dock and grins as the party's airship docks next to the ferry. Although he does not lower his cowl he greets the party warmly after the airship docks, "Congratulations on your finding us! The Monastery of the Distressed Body remains ever open to new prospects. I am sure the Grand Master will find suitable uses for your bodies... or your minds. May I take you to him now?"

Lucy giggles musically to Markus' comment about brain jar fluid making dwarves smarter, but cannot deny dwarves might try it on a dare or even a whim.

Lucy looks to Jack and sings as she strums her lyre, "I know you're a bard, singing of brain in a jar, but try not to wrack your brain too haaaard..."

Upon hearing the monk's greetings, Lucy is thinking "That didn't sound creepy at ALL..." but keeps her mouth shut.

Zerry says, "I'm a climber. If the brains ever wanted to know the charm of climbing things, they have the right cent-erm... hello! Thank you for the warm welcome. And certainly! We would like to meet the Grand Master. So many questions haunt our minds even as we came here to help in more ways than you're probably used to."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:09, Mon 27 Jan 2020.

  With monks acting like this, it is just another reminder why 'Giant Sphinx that might eat part of your soul' felt like one of the more reasonable people they have met in their travels.

  "I know this place is regarded as full of answers, but you do know Giants tried to kill your latest group of visitors, right?" After all, it's not just an adventure party here for the guided tour.

Upon hearing the 1-2 pun combo from Markus and Lucy, Jack's head snaps back from the force and he falls backward in slow motion as a reverberating voice announces, "K.O.!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djlM0dEuXOk

Jack picks himself up off the ground and smiles.  "That was amazing, you two!"

Seeing the merrenoloth ferry, Jack's mouth drops open.  Hearing the hooded monk's sinister words, his eyes bug out.

To the innocent bystanders he comments, "I'm getting the distinct impression that his place is a ^teeeeny bit less healthy than advertised.  ^Miiight want to consider looking into alternative avenues for dealing with your troubles.  Just sayin'."

Lean Meimbaol nods in response to Tark's statement and says, "I'm aware that Stone Giants have been trying to attack the monastery, but fortunately they can't reach the monastery with their thrown boulders and even if they could, we do have defenses that would stop such attacks. As a group of sky pirates claiming to be working for some Fire Giants found out the hard way. But the Grand Master used those defenses to drive those sky pirates off without them ever setting foot on monastery grounds. They didn't even get close enough for the Sphinx to get involved. But if you wish to know more about that, you'd have to speak with the Grand Master about it."

Lean glances up at the party's airship and notices the constructs that are guarding it before glancing back to the party and adding, "This way to the Grand Master."

As Lean leads the party to the Grand Master the party learns that the monastery is laid out as a large campus composed of sharp-angled buildings that jut out of the ground like massive metallic crystals. Between the buildings are scraggly gardens and paths. Five monks led by an elder, like Lean, are silently going about the business of gardening, observing prayers, scrubbing flagstones, and other mundane activities.

However, Lucy and Varis notice that there is graffiti scratched into the walls of the buildings, which Varis telepathically points out are written in thieves' cant. Other messages are written in a strange language. When pointed out to Markus, he telepathically replies that the messages are written in Infernal and reveals sentiments on how the doubtful are punished and that only service to the monastery keeps it aloft.

Lucy also notices that the original metal of the structures has been melted and reworked in many places into a preponderance of leering skulls. Additionally, Lucy notices unnatural creatures lurking in the shadowy corners of the grounds. When Lucy manages to get a good look at one, it appears to be a magically animated leather face that quickly flutters away.

Lucy and Varis both notice that strange wiring runs throughout the grounds and seeming all connect the buildings together with their origins coming from a single building. (Marked M8 on the Roll20 map)

Varis telepathically says, “I am starting to think that the Sphinx didn't lie at all about the demonic presence here.”

Markus responds with, “As troublesome as that is, I'm more worried that our guide said that the Fire Giants have hired someone with an airship to attack this place. Although I would love to learn more about how the Grand Master managed to drive them off at a distance. Is that defense something that can be used against us?”

Lucy's reaction to the sights get increasingly horrified. Much like Kermit's in this roll call: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyKwJRzfz60 (please at least watch all the way to 1:20)

When Markus makes his comment, Lucy gives him the biggest WTF expression she's ever given him. Remaining telepathic, of course, she answers, "More worried?! What have you been smoking? Even if demonic spirits and flying leather faces fluttering in the shadows were somehow less scary than pirates hired by giants* (which, I remind you pirates are *terrified* of spirits), we are here now and in the belly of it."

*strange the kind of comparisons adventurers give.

Lucy then sighs and calms herself before continuing. "Sorry, Markus. Guess it just hit me from left field right when I was feeling quite scared of our surroundings. As we were just informed, this place easily dealt with the pirates. Yes, it *is* concerning that giants are hiring pirates, but it wouldn't be the first time we found out giants were willing to outsource to smaller folk. We really should be concerned about the here and now."

*Which also reminds me of yet another quote from a D&D RP I was in recently: "People should be befriended rather than digested."

Zerry has an excited grin on her face the more she takes in the surroundings and squeaks from Lucy's telepathic outburst. "We are together and that's what matters. Together, we will overcome whatever is thrown at us."

Apparently there were some perception checks that everyone but Lucy failed.

Jack telepaths, "Um...  I missed the fluttering faces.  But uh...  I'm beginning to believe that the most horrible thing around is the Grand Master and his apparent death cult.  Hmm.  I guess it's too late to turn back.  So considering just how over-the-top evil this place is turning out to be, it's probably best that we pretend to be closer to Neutral in our worldview.  We should let them believe that our motivation is solely profit."

Out loud, he asks, "What's with the skulls and graffiti?"

Lean Meimbaol continues to lead the group to the Central Abbey as he answers Jack's question with an explanation that while not rehearsed is obviously one he's given before, "The skulls are symbolic symbols of the struggle to endure in spite of physical or mental distress that the world inflicts upon the individual...they have been around for decades, while the graffiti is kept around as a reminder that threats will always exist, so we must be ever vigilant in our duties to insure threats to our way of life are eliminated."

Markus telepaths in response to Lucy's 'mental statement', 'Since whatever otherworldly threat resides in this monastery has not left the monastery in all these years it is obvious that it lacks the power to project its desires beyond this monastery, thus it isn't as grave of a threat as airships being hired by the Fire Giants to scour for pieces of Vonindod as we have done... plus this means that our own airship can be vulnerable to attack from such hostile airships. In a related matter, Lean has indicated that the monastery has the means to fend off an airship attack... and what prevents that from being used against us? And can the infernal creature that dwells where utilize that power against us? We don't know yet...but whatever we face on this monastery we'll be able to handle it if we stick together and remain calm.'

Varis remains alert to what transpires around the group as they are led to the Central Abbey but remains quiet at this time.

  Right, Tark liked it better when his lowest bar was a money grubbing scam cult rather than 'we will make a wallet out of your face, and then use the rest as a bat' cult.

  'You know, I know we've become complacent with privacy and all.  But if we are surrounded by brains powered artifacts what are the odds they can listen in on telepathic chats?'
This message was lightly edited by the player at 06:14, Thu 06 Feb 2020.

Markus pretty much says what Zerry just said, but expounded on why he considered air pirates more dangerous than demon-ridden place controlled by evil brains in jars. Lucy nods to Markus. "Together." she telepaths to affirm Zerry and Markus' statements. "A hug and a warm meal with yummy deserts to celebrate when this is over."

She looks at Tark and telepaths, "That's a good point; if they can read our telepathic conversations, that means they can read our thoughts. Which means we may as well continue telepathing freely because they would have known our intent anyway. Tark also has a point in that we should be prepared for the enemy knowing any plans we try to come up with whether we think we are heard or not. We'll continue with telepathy since most people here probably can't read our thoughts."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:26, Thu 06 Feb 2020.

Zerry answers Lean out loud, "You should wash the graffiti. You don't need it as a reminder and it only serves to encourage and embolden those who vandalize. It's the same reason broken windows are repaired immediately; broken windows attract vandalism and soon you have another broken window, a marred wall and so on."

Her tone sounds similar to a child telling an adult they should wash their hands after using the bathroom if the adult fails to do so. But even as she does, she stretches a leg. Then another leg. Whether she knows Lean is giving a BS excuse or not, she stands by her answer. But to further test Lean's BS, Zerry asks, "What's with the flying leather faces?"

To the telepath conversation, she comments, "We'll need to upgrade our airship to make it nigh impossible to sink so that when we're attacked by enemy ships, we can focus on sinking them and not worry about losing the ship. And maybe get proactive and hunt down any known pirate ships."

Varis remains quiet as Lean Meimbaol quickly responds to Zerry's comment, "That would be up to the Grand Master of the monastery, but I will admit there are several of us monks that would like to clean away the graffiti but the Grand Master says that to do so would be to try to erase the mistakes of the past, which must not be forgotten lest they are repeated."

Lean pauses for a moment, when asked about the leather faces, before he answers, "They are all that remains of previous monks who have lived their lives in service to this monastery so that they can continue to aid and watch over the grounds even when their mortal bodies have turned to ash and dust," Lean seems solemn about the faces as if he isn't sure if they should be revered or pitied.

Varis then telepathically mentions, 'I think 'go ask the Grand Master of the Abbey' is Lean's way of either saying he won't or can't answer a question.'

Markus telepathically adds to the telepathic conversation, 'Well if it is any consolation, nothing can eavesdrop on my thoughts or my mind without my permission. Given how Lean paused before answering Zerry's question I think he isn't happy we brought up the faces.' Markus

To Lucy's suggestion, Jack replies with a telepathic yum emoji.  =9  "So glad to hear your telepathy is immune to eavesdropping, Marcus."

The flying faces?  You weren't supposed to see those.  How embarrassing.

"I was already thinking that our adventures were too over-the-top for anyone to believe when we recovered that elemental that could have sparked a calamity if unleashed.  But at least it all made for something you could merrily sing at a family pub without getting dirty looks from the mothers in the audience.  I'll need to replace the flappa-flapping faces with something else if I'm ever to make a song about this one.  Bats?  Or is that too disrespectful of the dearly departed?"

Because, you know, turning your dead friends into flying faces is so much more respectful.

"Books!  They'll be flying books.  That's respectfully kid friendly."

Telepathically, Jack assures, "Not really going to alter the truth with my lyrics.  Will just give content warnings for those songs some audiences might find disturbing.  Just don't want these loonies to think their evil will become legendary."

"I'm happy to hear that your culture acknowledges mistakes made in the past in order to avoid repeating them.  I'm curious.  What specific mistake was it that resulted in the graffiti?"

Telepathically, Jack assures, "I agree with you, Zerry.  But I'm certain that helpful suggestions on basic civics will not be accepted.  Case in point, his immediately dismissing your helpful suggestion, offering a weak argument as the reason."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:07, Sun 09 Feb 2020.

Lean Meimbaol answer's Jack's latest question, "It is said that the great wizard Kwalish opened a portal to the Nine Hells in this Monastery and was punished for opening a doorway to that realm. The graffiti now serves as a reminder to not try to breach the dimensional barrier without first knowing where the other side of the door would be and if anything from that side could cross over into our plane of existence."

  Tark is very glad his baseless paranoia was indeed baseless paranoia, and not 'Oddly specific fears came true' horrible murder carpet style.

  Preston isn't in this campaign, but would like to place a copyright claim against flying faces using the term 'flappa-flappa'.  Nevermind that the absent flying snake doesn't actually own the term, jerk faces made of jerky dried faces don't deserve it.

  "That is the most responsible thing I've ever heard regarding other planes of existence. Which is kind of sad given the context."

Zerry telepaths back, "Well it was worth a try bringing up the faces. If these people are trying to do subtle, they're doing it wrong. I am quite aware I can be rather dense and even I'm seeing their attempts as wanting. Though wouldn't it be just downright hilarious if they were actually telling the truth?"

Lucy paths, "There is probably some truth mixed in with their lies. I don't think it would be funny if it's all true, I think it would be sad. But not as sad as what I expect to actually be the case."

Zerry then says aloud, "I apologize. I do not mean to bring up soar topics. We're just very foreign to this place is all. But given how often and well you speak of the grandmaster, how soon can we see him?"

Lucy is silent. Though to Tark, she thinks a moment and then slowly nods in agreement as if it hadn't occurred to her before he said anything. Then again, her mind was primarily on how wrong everything is around here.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:04, Tue 11 Feb 2020.

Jack is visibly confused. "O...K...  Yes.  I would think it kindof obvious that one should not do magic in such an irresponsible way.  But I've never before seen a community react in such a way.  Public service messages like, 'Don't be cuckoo like Kwalish.  Think before you cast,' would be what I would expect to see.  The messages I see instead seem rather unconnected.  Unless...  It was the Troll District of 7th Hell that he opened a portal to and the devils that poured through scrawled the first random inflammatory messages that came to mind.  Heh.  No pun intended."

Lean Meimbaol points to a building just ahead of them as he says, "This is the Central Abbey. The Grand Master is inside."

The building Lean points to has a massive pair of cathedral doors open onto a long nave. Rows of balconies line the walls, occupied by a couple of dozen hooded monks seemingly come to watch the audience about to take place.

At the far end of the nave, a throne resembling a twisted metal captain's chair rises from a metallic dais backed by an ornate arch. There sits the Grande Master of the Distressed Body, a bone devil flanked by two massive bodyguards. The Grandmaster wears a patchwork leather robe and a gleaming crown, and it carries a scepter set with odd crystal bumps and metal flanges. With its other hand, the devil taps the arm of the throne, showing off nails set with gleaming metallic shards.

"Welcome," the Grand Master says. "We get few supplicants here of your obvious experience and skill. You shall do well in service here at the monastery. But will that service be with the strength of your bodies or the strength of your minds?"

Markus telepaths the group, 'Well, now we know what became of the devil that the Sphinx spoke of. I still think the odds of the Grand Master being a reformed devil are low... but at least the devil seems chatty... so what now?'

Varis remains silent as he telepathically adds what he notices to the conversation before the group approaches the dais with the Grand Master and its two bodyguards, 'The leather cloak... it's crafted from flayed faces of people...and the scepter and crown appear almost mechanical in nature...'

Lucy also notices what Varis has commented upon plus she realizes that large rings on the devil's arms and tail, which are worn like bracelets, seem to be crafted of the same materials as the crown and scepter.

  Everyone knows the best graffiti is 'Bane Rulz' anyways, yes even in settings where they aren't even a deity.

  "Well, on my end I mostly wanted a chance to meet whoever seemed like such a big deal to travelers wishing to join you, rampaging giants, and huge sphinxes." Which is even a true comment!

  This guy clearly has way more to be impressed with himself over than 'undead lords love their undead horses enough to mail order new saddles'.

Zerry gives the devil a curtsy!*

*Legs like this: https://farm4.static.flickr.co...87083_a389cf5222.jpg
Torso like this: https://i.pinimg.com/736x/04/c...fox-photo-shoots.jpg

Zerry says, "Greetings! And thanks for the warm welcome! I imagine we will bring both body and mind, Mister Grandmaster sir. I'm Zerry, Paladin of Lliira, the goddess of Joy! These are my friends; Jack, Lucy, Markus, Tark, and Varis. Like others before us, we have come to learn of the monastary and its teachings, as well as to aid the monastary. Though perhaps not the same way others have before us. Your defenses have proven effective against the advances of the giants, but we plan to make them lose interest in this place entirely if possible."

Zerry isn't saying HOW just yet, but at least everything she says is the truth. She just doesn't like deception and only uses it when absolutely necessary.

Also she is holding back her desire to ask about climbing things (and people) for now. Best to learn about what she's climbing before climbing it, after all.

---

Part of a conversation I had with Will:

Me: Meanwhile, I'm trying to figure out how Zerry will approach talking to this devil.

Will:
"CAN"
No.
"I"
Noooooo
"CLIMB YOU"
Damnit zerry

Me:
9.9 Zerry has... a Liiiiiiiiiiittle more restraint than that.
"Hi there! I'm Zerry! Paladin of Lliira the goddess of Joy! I would love to bring joy and feel that is how I would be helpful here canIclimbyou"
"Ah yes-waitwhat?!"
*climb!*

Yeah the place is all epic and spooky and all, but...  Jack's mind immediately goes to bad puns.  *Looks at cloak and plays a tune*  Time to face the music!  *Looks at fancy regalia*  This devil sure has a lot of details.  *Looks at big guards*  Are they just regular guards or distressed body guards?  *Looks at metal chair*  That thing must weigh a skele-TON.

They just keep flooding Jack's mind.

Zerry announcing that she's a paladin snaps him out of it.  He telepaths to the group, "When I suggested we should let them believe that our motivation is solely profit, and nobody objected, I took that to mean that we were going to go with that.  But now that the devil boss knows that we're goodie-goodies, I guess we're going to have to fight our way out.

"Just as well.  I sure as hell wasn't liking the idea of leaving numb-skull alive.  But so long as he's being chatty..."

Jack addresses the Grand Master, "Greetings back atcha.  I am Jack.  Musician and historian.  On the way here we were told that Kwalish once opened a portal to the 9 Hells.  What was his punishment?  And was it you that popped through and scratched those Infernal-eze messages on the walls outside?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:43, Fri 14 Feb 2020.

The Grand Master listens to Zerry's and Jack's introductions of themselves and the group. When asked about Kwalish, the Grand Master nods and says, "Others that came through the portal wrote those messages, but I was the one to drove Kwalish away from here and took over this island to create the monastery. Kwalish fled towards what is now the ancient and now lost Netherese city of Daoine Gloine, which I know from Kwalish' notes to be east of Jalanthar in the Nether Mountains. From what I have learned, he caused that city to be abandoned with his extraplanar meddling. The fool didn't learn his lesson here.. I never did find out how many people in that city died due to his actions."

The Grand Master rubs his chin with a claw and then looks to Lean Meimbaol and almost snarls as he says, "Lean, you forget that those outside the order are to leave their weapons outside this building... we'll deal with the repercussions of this later since you never know who might attempt to assassinate me or someone else here." as the Grand Master notices Markus looking ready to speak up.

Markus waits until the Grand Master nods to him as the Warlock asks, “With the recent attacks by various Giants and their minions, that is understandable. Which brings up a question of how did the Monastery of the Distressed Body repel an attack by sky pirates?”

Lean looks fearful but sighs in relief when the Grand Master turns his attention back to the party the elder monk has brought before him, completely unaware that the only reason the Grand Master hasn't ordered him to be punished or made an example of is the distraction inadvertently created by Markus as the Grand Master smiles as before eagerly boasting, "One of the wonders of this floating island is the Teleportation-Field Devices some of which I have set up to rescue anyone who somehow manages to fall off the island. I used several of them to redirect the siege weapon projectiles from the airship to send them back from whence they came. While it didn't cripple the airship, it did scare the crew off. I would use the same tactic against the Stone Giants, but the boulders they occasionally toss at the island from the nearby mountain peaks always fall short of the island."

Varis blinks as the telepathically the group 'That sounds a lot like how Markus' Cosmic Rifts spell works... just over a far larger area. That is actually quite impressive.'

  "As my friend says, it is rough with a job as simple as trading and transportation these days.  I'm probably the most heavily armed half-orc in the country at this point, and it was minimum requirement to make it through your front door.  What seems like common sense means you probably won't see many more applicants until things settle down. Also, as a former miner for less than... considerate, employers.  I really wish more people had something like you, even without the wonderful mental image of throwing rocks back at giants."

  It is the (seemingly) intended purpose Tark wants to loot the dungeon for, should things come to open combat.  Even if he knows his friends will understandably be more concerned with the already proven combat applications.

Zerry blushes and telepaths, "Oops... sorry, Jack! I forgot!"

Lucy paths, "...sure as hell? Numb-skull? I see what you did there, Jack. Well since we're not disguising, let's still be careful what we say, OK? For example, Varis keeping Markus' spell to our telepathic conversation was smart; they don't need to know what we're capable of. And I'm guessing he won't be keen on us getting Kwalish's notes. I'm sure nobody in the monastary is keen on that even if they trusted us, given the result of Kwalish's folly."

Zerry telepathically asks, "What if they ASK what we're capable of?"

Lucy paths, "Then we'll stay vague. And if they ask specifics... we'll let them know up to the third-most powerful things we can do?"

Zerry considers asking about the brains in jars, but thinks of a more pertinent question. "Grand Master, many a giant will come here also to try and get information on where the Ring of Winter is. Since nobody but the giants want them getting their hands on that, we were hoping to either get to the ring before they do, or provide a way for the sphinx to not tell them. This would be one of the ways we plan to aid the monastery. If you have an idea for that, of course, we're all ears."

"Fascinating.  Thanks for that enlightening slice of history."

Regarding the magical defenses, Jack laughs.  "I sure hope the spell comes with a loud announcement, 'Stop hitting yourself!' every time it activates.  Fantastic!"

He boggles at Tark's point.  "Wow.  Yeah.  Imagine how many lives could be saved.  I imagine it's too cost-prohibitive for most places of employment, sadly."

Jack sends a telepathic smile and shrug to Zerry.  "Like I said.  I'm kinda hoping the badguy gives us an excuse to kill him."

To Lucy he sends a telepathic grin and wink.  ;D  "Thanks for noticing!"

To the Grandmaster he says, "Now before you object, saying, 'Not my problem,' since the giants would be focused on the Sphinx and not your sanctuary, consider that this Ring of Winter could cause an ice-age so severe that you'll never get any more supplicants."

(( OOC: All this talk of Floating Island makes me think of Knuckles showing up and punching out the devil. ))
This message was last edited by the player at 01:20, Sat 15 Feb 2020.

The Grandmaster suspects a silent communication is going on between the adventurers but is more concerned with how to respond to Zerry's question made regarding how Frost Giants, since no other type of Giant would care, want to get the location of the Ring of Winter from the Enhanced Sphinx which guards the monastery.

The Grand Master responds by saying "Since you all didn't kill the Enhanced Sphinx before coming here, it is clear that you would prefer a solution that avoids that. And the Sphinx has been a good guardian for the Monastery but it would be impossible for me to make it so that the Sphinx could avoid answering without unleashing her which would be bad as then she'd be free to explore the world and take any knowledge she came across that interested her... and I assume you are aware she is capable of literally devouring someone's intellect... so letting her try to become the smartest being on the planet by draining everyone else's minds is not something I could allow. But I can reposition some of the constructs which are bound to be loyal to the Monastery in order to prevent Frost Giants from reaching the Sphinx."

Markus telepaths, 'He must be referring to those constructs which were assisting that group we found on the way here. A group of those might be sufficient as long as they don't encounter a large war party of Frost Giants.'

The Grand Master continues as he addresses Jack's comment, "I know that if the Ring of Winter was used to create an eternal winter, the changes in weather would end up crippling the Monastery and causing it to crash into the ground." The Grand Master then taps a few 'gems' on his throne.

The Grand Master then adds, "And as far as the Teleportation Field Devices, they won't work when removed from the Monastery grounds which would also hinder widespread usage."

  "Well, hopefully such a supposedly smart Sphinx would realize you can't learn everything new if you eat all the differing viewpoints." As much because it would feel incredibly redundant to have to turn around and swat the Sphinx later.

  Then comes the location specific reveal for teleport toys "That's oddly consistent for a magical artifact.  But I'll just be thankful there was a sensible answer regarding it instead of more 'Of course it explodes!'"

Lucy was under the impression the sphynx was neutral, not evil. The way this bone devil tells it makes it sound like the sphynx would indiscriminately go around eating brains like some illithid. But then, this is a bone devil speaking.

Lucy telepaths to the team, "With a bone devil saying such about the sphynx, now I trust her a little more. I can't think of any other questions that this guy would answer us honestly. Can you guys?"

Zerry sure can. Climbing is her next question. But even she is sure she knows the answer and that the devil would immediately take such an act as aggressive and a fight would break out. She'll save climbing the devil for when he's defeated in combat.

Asking about the brains in jars is out. She telepaths to the group, "I'd like to have a look around the city and see where all we can explore. I'm sure he'll probably assign us a new guide or something. But aside from that, I can't think of any other questions."

Jack kinda shrugs.  "Not for lack of trying to get us to kill her.  She's convinced me to be pretty OK with her winding up dead.  Partly due to the whole, 'I'll eat your mind,' thing, yes.  So yeah.  Sparing a few golems to keep an eye on her sounds like a smart move."

He chuckles from Tark's comment.  "Right?"

Jack then gives a smile to the bone devil.  "What a productive conversation this has been!  Considering all we had to go on was the word of the Sphinx, I wasn't expecting so much helpfulness.  Thank you for your kind hospitality.  If I may impose a tiny bit more on your generosity, might my friends and I be permitted to take in a few more sights of your one-of-a-kind Monastery?  I must say, this whole experience has been inspirational, and I'm in the process of putting it to song."

A certain Kender bard would have quite the metal song title by now already.

Markus glances at the two guards with the Grand Master as the bond devil turns to Zerry and Jack and replies to their inquiries, "Only members of the order are permitted to freely wander and explore the Monastery. Even if you don't wish to live here forever, a single year's service within the monastery would be most enlightening."

Varis telepathically comments, 'Somehow I don't think he'd appreciate us saying no... he must need people here for something. Might have to deal with the graffiti that said that service to the monastery is what keeps it aloft. Even if we agreed, I doubt he'd let us go after a year.'

Markus telepathically replies with, 'Your probably right. I do wonder what his goal in all this is.'

  Tark throws his partymembers under the bus wagon, though in a lightly petty way rather than some dramatic betrayal.

  "Considering my current employment, I'll have to confer with my associates on that matter."

Zerry asks with a smile, "What would you want us to do? We don't shy from good, hard work, but at the same time, we like knowing what we're getting into."

Lucy telepaths, "Our business may be self-sustaining, but I would think after 4 months or so, Toothix will assume we died. Not that we have that kind of time. Part of me hopes the bone devil loses patience with us soon."

Is it really throwing your team under the wagon when they are all pretty much raring for a fight anyway? We're sure even if the answer is "yes" the team won't care. And Jack will likely thank Tark for it.

Jack lightly chuckles.  "Quite so!  With how enlightening just this short conversation's been, it's hard to imagine just how much more enlightening a year here would be.

"Currently we run a delivery business.  Recent events hint at our being able to strike upon a mutually profitable arrangement.  In exchange for enlightenment, we deliver more supplicants safely to your doorstep.  Of course, if there's something else you would like delivered to you as well, I'm sure we can procure what it is you may need in a timely manner."

Jack telepaths, "Access to the places we need to get to in exchange for empty promises isn't something I think a devil will fall for, but figured it worth a shot."

The Grand Master appears to be caught slightly off-guard by the party's 'counter offer' and ponders the suggestion the party has brought forth.

After a few moments, the Grand Master responds, "Before you could properly bring others here, you'd need to spend time here to learn about the place and how things are done. That takes time, I'd say at least six months since it also would include learning the answers to common questions potentials often ask through experience."

The Grand Master then looks over to Lean Meimbaol and adds, "Speaking of experience. It is time for you to experience your punishment for your failure to remember the rules about having visitors leave their weapons outside." The Grand Master turns to his two bodyguards and continues, "Kill him." The Grand Master then turns back to the party and resumes, "And now back to the matter at hand, I think that six months here would be ample time to learn what you'd need to for finding and bringing applicants here, and with your abilities, it should not be difficult to keep in contact with your company."

OOC: If the party wishes to interview and save Lean from being killed by the bodyguards, roll initiative.

"Well if you don't want him anymore, I'll gladly take him off your hands."

Jack walks up Lean and gives him a friendly pat on the shoulder, turning the guy invisible!

He then whispers, "Things probably about to get pretty explody.  Might want to back away for the few moments it'll take us to turn him into glue.  To deal with this devil.  To pick a bone with him.  To beat him till he's bone tired... you get the idea."

Lean Meimbaol remains silent after listening to Jack and while faint footsteps can be heard, his exact position is now unknown.

One of the Elder Monks points his force pike at the group but holds off on attacking since he isn't sure what just happened. While three of the monks murmur to each other.

West Wind moves up to try and attack Jack figuring that if he can break Jack's Concentration, that Lean would reappear... however Jack is able to use his cutting words to distract West Wind so that the half-orc misses with his attacks. (OOC: 2 of the 3 attacks missed due to Jack's AC + cloak of displacement, while Jack had to use Cutting words to make the 3rd attack miss (a 1 would succeed at the attempt figured Jack would not want to risk his concentration so soon.)

Varis then moves up and triggers a charge of his assassin touch gloves as he viciously strikes at West Wind with his Booming Blade cantrip, which combined with West Wind succumbing to the Giant Ant Queen Poison nearly keels over dead from the single blow from Varis' Rose Rapier.  Before using cunning action to disengage so he can move to a better position. (OOC: Attack dealt 57 damage total due to poison and sneak attack due to ally also adjacent to West Wind)

Markus quickly follows up with a Synaptic Static spell cast to catch West Wind, East Wind, and the Grand Master who all fail to resist its effects, which drops West Wind. (OOC: All three fail their saves even with the Grand Master having advantage on his save and thus suffer 25 damage and are muddled until they make an Int save at the end of one of their turns OR 10 turns pass.)

Two more monks react to this and look ready to flee with how these visitors just dropped West Wind like he was a rank amateur and even managed to use magic that their Grand Master failed to resist.

The Grand Master's hands and tail move from the rest of his body as the metal rings on each limb seem to actually be a pair of rings that split apart with each claw and the tail stinger moving to strike at Markus, Varis, and Jack, but due to still being muddled by the Synaptic Static, two of those attacks miss while the stinger attack would have missed even without being muddled. (OOC: Grand Master also failed his int save to end being Muddled. Synaptic Static is awesome like that.)

Two of the Elder Monks take potshots at the party with their Force Pikes but miss wildly, possibly due to fear while seven other monks murmur about either wanting to jump in to help or flee for their lives from the balcony.

Felix just hovers out of the way while subtly observing Lean since the Tryssem can detect invisible creatures within 60ft of him, but makes no overt motions that would reveal Lean's position although he telepathically reveals that information to Varis, who passes it along to the rest of the party via their telepathic bond so no one accidentally bumps into him.


East Wind then tries to break Jack's concentration but while muddled manages to miss the first two swings and then on the third swing misses so hard with his Polymorph Blade he ends up Polymorphing HIMSELF into a rat and is still muddled by the Synaptic Static. (OOC: He actually rolled a natural 1 on an attack and to make it even more amusing the -d6 rolled a 6 so the final result was a 0 for the attack, and he failed his Wisdom DC 15 save to resist the effect so he ended up turned into a Rat via the polymorph spell.)


OOC: It is now Jerry's turn, I figure Owlbert will do a flyby to grant advantage on someone, not sure who but will assume it will be the Grand Master as that is the only incapacitated person left to fight right now... after West Wind is defeated and East Wind screwed up so hard he turned himself into a Rat... Although the Grand Master will probably end that effect as soon as he can by attacking the rat to end the Polymorph effect. (But that will eat up one of his three attacks on his part so there is that.)

Owlbert does the flyby thing that grants advantage. OvO

Zerry yells in a stern voice, "Hey!" and stabs the grand master. "No attacking my friends!"

Although Zerry misses two of her three attacks, she would have missed three if not for Owlbert!

She does keep a mental note of Lean's position.

Zerry takes a look around real quick and says, "You are right to hesitate! All who aid the grand master forfeit their lives! As you saw, Lean made one small, innocent mistake and the grand master was going to kill him! The grand master is NOT your friend!"
This message was last edited by the player at 03:35, Mon 16 Mar 2020.

Another of the Elder Monks takes a shot at Zerry with his Force Pike but the shot goes wide.
Meanwhile one of the monks points at the rat that was East Wind and laughs.

OOC: It is now Lucy's turn. Also, Elric is just going to hover out of the way so no need for Tark to wait on a post from Elric.

  Tark steps up to the bone devil with questionable business practices, and slams his several times over enchanted Maul into him.  The Devil easily resists the magical enchantment of the Maul... then falls over anyways due to the caveman logic of 'Half-Orc hit with heavy thing!'.

  We would make some joke about how 'Unlike a Paladin, fighters are just fine with hitting somebody while they are down!' but Zerry has proven to be very sensible about such things where it counts.

  OOC: Took my turn a week ago but then forgot to post about it, duuuuur.  Even with remembering my extra crit dice for once, RNG was detemined to give me as many 1s as possible for damage.  So even using my equivilant of a 'once a short rest' nuke leaves the boss with 15 HP.  But, they are prone. And also Goaded (Disad on any attacks not vs me until end of my next turn).

Lucy hurls her sacred flame at the bone devil, but the bone devil dodges despite being knocked prone by a beefy half-orc. "...not bad." Lucy commends.

Figuring Zerry is better at persuasion, Lucy doesn't try to add to Zerry's commentary. Besides, she is more concerned about keeping track of the battlefield and what is going on.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:45, Mon 30 Mar 2020.

Now a larger group of the monks are murmuring about what is going and how they should respond given that one of the West Wind is dead, East Wind screwed up so bad that the turned himself into a Rat, which has several monks chuckling, and the Grand Master is practically being taken apart without being able to so much as land a blow on these adventurers. The monks realize that to face these adventurers would be to throw away their lives...but to flee right now would risk the Grand Master unleashing something upon them.

OOC: It is now Jack's turn, also remember you are concentrating on the Invsibility spell on Lean, so I'd recommend against casting a spell that requires concentration.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:41, Mon 30 Mar 2020.

Jack snaps his fingers!  The enormous ornate arch that was framing the throne and dais springs to life!  It picks up the throne and crushes the bone devil with it!

"Ladies and Gentlemen.  The Chairman has the floor.  What's that?  Nothing to say now that you're an Arch devil?"

He looks at the monks.  "Your bonehead boss is dead!" Then suddenly switching to a dead-serious tone he adds, "Drop.  Your.  Weapons."

(( Whee!  Animate Objects is so fun!  And deals the most damage out of all my options. ))

The site of the Archway behind the Grand Master being animated and then killing the Grand Master with his own throne has the monks and elder monks dropping their weapons and fleeing in panic at the party's declarations, not caring that Lean is visible once more. With the death of the Grand Master, the three sets of Teleportation-Field Devices that the Grand Master was using to attack from afar reactive leaving the severed tail and hands of the Grand Master falling to the floor.

Lean himself looks lost for words as, within a span of approximately six seconds, this group not only slaughtered the Grand Master in a most humiliating fashion but took out West Wind and have East Wind at their mercy while he's polymorphed into being a Rat.

As the monks and Elder Monks flee, they are too preoccupied to notice that the slain body of the Grand Master is revealed to not be that of a Bone Devil but instead some sort of advanced war machine, presumed to be of Kwalish's design. As those on the balconies flee, not bothering to try and look or revolt for fear of being slaughtered. Movement in the wreckage of what was the Grand Master reveals that it was piloted by a quasit that is now crawling out of the wreckage seemingly dazed from how it was defeated. The Quasit groans and looks up at the party now that other than himself only they, Lean Meimbal, Garret Levistusson, and Gearbox remain in the Central Abbey and holds his hands up, "I surrender... don't kill me."

Lean is quite surprised at the discovery while Gearbox looks confused at the deception, while Garret looks somewhat saddened and disappointed. Garret sighs and asks, "Well if you aren't the Bone Devil that the Sphinx spoke of, what became of that devil? I can't see such a creature being bested by a Quasit, and frankly am disappointed that I didn't realize the Grand Master wasn't a real Bone Devil... the personality wasn't right...but now it makes sense...."

As Gearbox heads over to inspect the ruined war machine, the throne, and the animated archway with a near morbid fascination, or as much as a modron can display, the Quasit answers Garret hoping to placate the group that just ruined everything for him, "He met his demise after forcing Kwalish's exile. It was drawn into the laboratory's machinery while trying to convert the site into the monastery. This rendered the devil into a Brain in a Jar that is now located within the treasury. As a servant of his, I was present when that happened and figured I could take advantage of it. I found Kwalish's war machine designs and managed to build it using the bone devil's exoskeleton and since then I finished the conversion and kept up the guise of being the bone devil to serve as the Grand Master."

Garret tilts his head as he hears the explanation and accepts it as reasonable since he couldn't figure out how a Quasit could defeat a Bone Devil... and fortunately for Garret's brain, the answer is the Quasit didn't.

Markus frowns for a bit and shakes his head, “Garret is right that the behavior unusual for a Bone Devil fits that of a Quasit. I can see why Garret is disappointed, but then again this Quasit has been pulling off this ruse for centuries. So what should we do with this Quasit?”

Varis rubs his chin and says, “Well setting it loose to cause more mischief is definitely out of the question.”

OOC: The Initiative order is paused for the moment until the party decides what to do with the Quasit and East Wind, who is still polymorphed as a Rat.
The fleeing monks and elder monks drop their weapons and are so scared that they don't even notice that their Grand Master wasn't what he appeared to be. This is a good thing as otherwise, they'd start looting and revolting. Instead, they are simply fleeing for their lives and others will probably abandon their work... which might not be a good thing... after all it was said that without work the monastery will fall.
Current loot:
   20 Hooked Polearm: Weight 6lbs. Melee Weapon Attack, reach 5ft, Hit: 1d6+str piercing damage plus if the target is a Medium or smaller creature it is grappled unless it escapes with a DC of 8 + Wielder's Strength bonus + Wielder's proficiency bonus. Until the grapple ends, the wielder cannot use its polearm on another target.
   4 Force Pike: Weight 3lbs. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack, reach 5ft. or range 40/100ft. one creature. This weapon has the Finesse property, so it can be used with Strength or Dexterity. Hit:1d10+Str force damage. The attack has disadvantage against any target with a polished metal armor or shield and has its range halved when firing through smoke or fog. (Uses an energy cell with up to 20 charges)
   The Shards of a Vorpal Sword embedded within the severed claws of the Grand Master. (Also has the ruined remains of the 'war machine'.)
   3 Teleportation-Field Devices (each is a matched pair of rings that will only function in areas configured for their operation such as the area around the Monastery grounds.)
   The West Wind's Blade of the Medusa, effects currently unknown to the party.
East Wind currently polymorphed into a Rat (It is unknown what he'll try to do when the effect ends but if defeated he'll drop the Polymorph Blade, and the party can guess what it is supposed to do and that it is not without risk.)
   The Grand Master's Crown and Scepter, both are crafted from rare metal alloys and set with jeweled crystalline buttons of unknown origins. While their use is currently unknown, as objects of art the crown is worth 500gp and the Scepter is worth 750gp.)

  At lot has happened in spite of the short in character time, so he is trying to remember if the Sphinx still wanted a brain or if they can skip that whole aspect now.

  "Right, we probably should not be letting the devil brain outside... On that note, it sounds a little too convenient for our luck that they are harmlessly tucked away in a vault even with an opportunist underling.  Given all the talk about extracted brains so far is their function in running parts of this place.  Kwhalish was supposedly too want a trophy."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 21:27, Tue 31 Mar 2020.

Lucy says, "Very good job, everyone. Nice use of that spell, Jack. Entertaining as Hell." Pun intended.

Lucy motions to Lean. "Lean... it's OK, the so-called Grand Master won't be putting you to death. So stick with us and remain protected."

She looks at the loot and says, "Markus, if you could, please find a way to safely collect the loot. Be careful since we don't know which items are cursed or flat-out evil. They could be dangerous to handle."

Lucy has no idea what a bone devil or a quasit are supposed to act like, so she figures Markus treating those things like it is common knowledge is just Markus being Markus again.

Lucy then looks to the Quasit. "We will not harm you as long as you cooperate, but you can be sure you are a prisoner."

Zerry is climbing all over the bone devil mech and the portals... "Weeeeeee! Climbing!"

She then zooms over to Jack. "Jack! I loved your puns! LovedemLovedemLovedem!" she holds her fists to her chin while galloping in place at high speeds, her hooves sounding like a machine gun. Then she pauses and says, "You were WAITING to use those ever since you heard he was a bone devil, weren't ya? High five!"

She offers Jack a high five.

Zerry then zooms over to East Wind and says, "Squeak "shave and a haircut" if you surrender!"

She demonstrates by clopping the shave-and-a-haircut ditty while singing "Shave and a haircut; Two bits!"

Jack watches the monks flee in shock.  "Ohmygosh!  Sensible enemies!?"

He has mixed feelings about the quazit revelation.  "On the one hand, neat-o gizmo!  On the other, not many puns are coming to me for this little devil.  Though I suppose he had a hell of a time keeping up the facade, I believe he had a catchphrase for marrowly avoiding suspicion.  Hmmm.  What quazit?

"I'll bet the model name of this unusual apparatus was the quazit-moto!  Just a hunch."

Jack nods to Varis and Tark's points.  "Yes.  Proper heroes don't leave things half done."

He grins at Lucy's pun and gives her a fancy bow.  "Thank you!"

Zerry's antics makes Jack laugh, and he gladly returns the high-five!  "Thank you too!  Yes."

Then he laughs all the more!  "Squeaking a song!  Zerry, you're a genius!"
This message was last edited by the player at 07:00, Thu 02 Apr 2020.

Lean nods to Lucy but remains quiet as he is still somewhat stunned by what just happened and has been revealed.

Varis wonders why Lucy asks Markus to retrieve the dropped weapons when he is the one with the Mage Hand cantrip... which he promptly starts to uses to create a pile of weapons in the middle of the room by moving one weapon at a time.

Markus is about to reply to Lucy when Varis starts using his invisible mage hand and chuckles, “Varis is already taking care of collecting those items.” Markus glances over to the animated archway and asks Jack, “Can you put that back to how it was before you stop animating it... It might be more useful intact than broken.”

The Quasit nods to Lucy knowing if he tries anything ending back in Hell is the least of his worries as this group could probably find a way to end his existence.

The Rat that is East Wind squeaks after being picked up by Zerry, but it is hard to tell what he means by the squeak.

  Tark can only assume it is Zerry's size category that makes her antics stand out more than Jack's.  Well, that or longer time to become complacent with the Bard.

  No, no. Clearly if Jack climbed over the remains of their enemies it wouldn't be the same.

  "If things go like I think they will Lean, then you and the Quasit may end up with a slightly less horrible version of your old job.  Well, unless this place is only sustainable long term by collecting fresh brains under false pretenses."

  Wait a minute.

  Tark asks the littlest wizard of Oz "So, are you actually able to answer a wide variety of questions? Or was that just an act.  Either way, i don't think the Giants would believe us if we told them 'They don't know where the Ring of Winter is, it was a tiny demon in a suit the whole time'"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:15, Tue 07 Apr 2020.

Zerry gets super girly squee over the rat squeaking and rubs her cheek on it. "Yay! He squeaked!"

She then watches over the rat, expecting the spell to wear off. "The spell on him will wear off, right? I hafta wait for that in order to tie him up or whatever."

Zerry will be sad to see the dancing portal no longer dance, but what must be done must be done and all good shows come to an end.

Lucy doesn't add to what is being said.

As for why she asked Markus and not Varis, that's easy. Varis is a rogue and when you think rogue, you don't think caster. Markus, on the other hand, is a caster. And when you think magic, you think caster.

But in retrospect, she should have thought of Varis since he's usually the first to loot stuff.

Lucy expects Jack will comply with the request to put the portal back where it belongs. But for now, she watches to see how the Quasit will respond.

The giant archway takes a bow then returns to where it was before and un-animates.

Jack is a little disappointed his quazit jokes didn't get any laughs.  He was rather proud of 'em.  There were only 2 stock puns in that set.  Still, cute Zerry being cute, so he can't help but smile.

Jack readies polymorph for if the rat guy gives any trouble.  "Considering our history, I'm sure we can find a beneficial arrangement for this quazit.  Maybe a few years service with our goblin acolytes?"

Zerry definitely enjoyed the puns. And appreciated Jack's compliment on her squeak theory. But player was simply drained when he made Zerry's post and felt like a brain in a jar minus the brain.

Lean nods in response to Tark's statement while the Quasit shakes his head, "No the Brain in a Jar are maintaining the vital systems of the Monastery and additional ones would let me remove ones that are problematic from the system. The ones created by Kwalish are still in the system and some of them really don't like that Kwalish was driven from this place since they knew him in life. If your worried about this place's remaining aloft I'd be more worried about the engine room... with my defeat if those in the engine room abandon it, this place will fall from the sky in 24 hours as the engines run out of fuel without people to shovel more ore mined from the mountains into the system. And while I can answer many questions, especially about Kwalish, his work, and the monastery as I served the Bone Devil that drove Kwalish away, but I can not answer as many questions, not as the Enhanced Sphinx that guards the entrance to the monastery. The Forst giants wouldn't need or want to see me or even care I exist, it's her they'd want to talk with. They'd get what they want from her and probably have a slave or prisoner be the sacrifice for asking a question she knew the answer to."

The Quasit then glances at Zerry and sighs, "Yes, the effects of that sword will wear off in an hour if the Polymorph isn't broken by other means." The Quasit then arches an eyebrow at hearing about how the PCs have goblin acolytes and wonders how the group has managed to get goblins to remain on task without being directly present.

Markus glances over to the Quasit and asks, “Other than the engine room, which will probably be our next stop if only to keep this place from falling out of the sky tomorrow. What other areas should we be aware of?”

Varis chimes in, “If all that needs to be done is shovel ore into an opening like a furnace then we could have some of the constructs on our ship handle that, at least until we can bring in some from other facilities, plus we could look into the Rockseeker siblings setting up a mine in these mountains for ores in addition to whatever is used to keep this place in the air. Although if we just need heat, why not get a fire elemental bound into the furnace to provide endless fire without fuel like in an airship?”

The Quasit looks at Markus and Varis and sighs before he answers, "Other than the Engine Room, there are The Dormitories where residents sleep. The Prison Cells where prisoners are kept when not working in the engine room or mining ore to feed the engines. The Leather works which was made out of some sort of healer's facility. The leather masks were made there from the faces of the residents... acquiring the masks and using any sort of healing magic will restore someone's face. That is why everyone wears hoods and doesn't show their face. There is also the Control Room where the enlightened ones, or the Brain in a Jar, reside they are also the ones who control the floating bridge that provides the only access to the Treasury which is where Kwalish conducted his experiments while here. It's surrounded by an anti-magic field that prevents flight or teleportation. The Treasury is also managed by a single Brain in a Jar... and that brain belonged to the Bone Devil who arrogantly poked his nose into something that he should not have and ended up as well a Brain in a Jar which left me in charge of things... he's still rather angry that I won't give him a body since I know he'd turn around and kill me the first chance he got. He's always been spiteful like that."

Varis sighs, “Looks like we'll be hitting the Prison cells after the engine room although we probably will want to hit the Leather Works before the prison cells to be able to undo the damage done to their faces. And we'll definitely need to bring in several dozen constructs to handle shoveling the ore and mining it even with the assistance of the Rockseeker siblings. Although we might be able to repurpose the constructs this place has like those that were aiding the bard on the way here. I wonder if those ring things that let the bone devil's claws and tail move across the room would be useful for getting ore from the mining area to the engine room.”

The Quasit shrugs and says, "The Teleportation-Field Devices work within the parts of the mines close to the Monastery, there are several of the devices that collect people who fall off the Monastery and deposit them into the Cells. The mining groups I send out tend to use a set to get the ore to the Engine Room without having to lug it all back up manually. There are maps of the mine and the minerals that have been encountered stored in the Control Room. I could access those maps from the throne if I needed with my crown and scepter, but they can also be accessed in the Control Room."

Gearbox seems rather interested in the Control Room while Garret Levistusson is just annoyed since it turned out the way it has which in his mind is quite the hassle... as Garret eyes the Scepter and Crown that the 'Grand Master' wore.

OOC: And yes I did realize this is an opportunity to bring the three dwarven Rockseeker siblings back into the story in a minor capacity.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:41, Fri 20 Nov 2020.

  'Do we need new brains?' 'You can use the OLD brains!'.  Not quite what Tark meant, but still technically a correct answer.

  "You know, ancient information can become outdated very easily.  So going back to plan 'get the ring first' means the Sphinx won't have an answer for the Giants unless, like many, they would rather have things try to kill them than admit they don't know the answer to a question anymore."  The eternal cycle of 'annoyingly smart, until they are annoyingly dumb' is not something the Sphinx is probably too legendary to be free of.

  "...Okay I'm glad face replacements are a possibility, but not it for face fetching, so hard." Tark does not want to chase faces with a butterfly net, for starters.

Zerry says, "I wanna go on a face chase. I'll chase the face like an ace with a mace while I trace the place!" she does a little dance. Then pauses. "In all seriousness, though, tracking down the faces could take enough time we should all hit the engine room right away. Fast and hard."

She looks at Jack. "Hey Jack! If you want to hold onto the whosit quasit, I'll give you a ride. Meanwhile, I dub thee; Sir Prancing Portal."

Lucy says, "Then we're all in agreement. Engine room first. Then we'll figure out where to go from there."

Lucy smiles and bows back to the portal before looking back to Jack with a wink. Then to Lean, she says, "Lead the way, Lean. I promise we will protect you the whole way just as we did moments ago."

Jack chuckles.  "Love the rhyme!  And thanks for the noble title!"

He takes Zerry's suggestion to mount up with the Quazit then returns Lucy's wink.  "Sounds like a plan!"
This message was last edited by the player at 03:58, Sat 09 May 2020.

It doesn't take Lean Meimbaol long to lead the group, which is still keeping the Quasit captive, to the building that is the Engine Room (M5 on the map). It is a massive chamber filled with the deafening hum and roar of machinery. Piles of rough rock ore are spread throughout the area, around which a prisoner work gang toils in the sweltering heat. Smooth metallic columns rise to the ceiling, with open hatches set into their sides at ground level. Haggard prisoners frantically shovel ore into these hatches, which pulse with a deep-red glow.
As you watch, a prisoner collapses from exhaustion. Under orders from the overseeing monks, other workers toss his body out of the way into a corner in a quick and callous disposal.

Given how no one is fleeing, it is obvious that word of the Grand Master's defeat has not reached this area yet since the group remembers that the Quasit said that if work in this chamber stops, the monastery would plunge into the valley after 24 hours when the furnaces stop burning.

As the group watches the prisoners having to toss one of their number into a corner, the group quickly realizes that there are only five monks lead by an elder monk having twenty prisoners toiling away to keep the engines fueled.

Varis makes use of the telepathic bond ritual Markus maintains on the group 'So what is the plan, just remember after we free these prisoners we'll probably need to bring at least six and possibly as many as ten of the constructs from our airship here to keep these furnaces going until we can figure out a more permanent solution.'

Markus rolls his eyes and telepathically replies, ' That will probably only buy us a week or two before the ores in this room would be expended... Which should be enough time for us to work with the Rockseeker siblings for us to have Varis teleport in teams of miners to continue gathering ores from the surrounding mountains to keep bringing more ore in, which the Rockseeker siblings could help with and could become profitable by collecting and selling valuable ores and continuing to dump the low-grade ores we see here into the furnaces. Probably would need to make sure they had guards as well, probably some construct assistants and protectors as well if we can manage it.'

  Tark is hardly surprised at how wrong this is. No, not morals wise.  The constant failure that is 'work them to death because we don't have enough workers!' 'But we don't have enough workers because you work them to death'.

  "I got into the adventure business to get away from this sort of thing, but I guess the only difference now is how big the accidents can get."

Lucy telepaths, "If I were to undo the guy's exhaustion, he would immediately be put back to work anyway. He should be safe for now, but I want to get to helping him as soon as possible."

So she gets her medical kit ready to stabilize him. "Markus is right. We replace the prisoners with our own workers and then quickly get some help. But that is only part of the problem. How do we free the prisoners without hurting the prisoners? I suppose our best bet is to inform the wardens of the defeat of their master..?"

Zerry telepaths, "I vote we put some of the evil people to work. But since Lean is a local who we rescued, he might know best how this should be handled without trying to lie to us."

"I say we take everything of value, evacuate the people we deem worthy of living, then let this thrice-damned place crash."

He's kinda hoping the monks get hostile, so he's not bothering with telepathy at this point.

Jack thinks on it and smirks.  "Though we could go with Zerry's idea and make this the final destination for our enemies.  If they stop working, they all die.  Win win.

"But in all seriousness, why in the hell do we care if this place stays afloat after we've evacuated the victims?  Was there some weird plan to make this a tourist attraction I wasn't aware of?"

Jack loses patience with the taskmasters REAL fast.  He conjures up a rotten tomato and kersplats the next one to raise a hand against one of the prisoners.

Markus speaks aloud to answer Jack since Jack has decided to not use telepathy, “The reason we can't let this place crash is twofold. First, an object this large crashing into the ground will cause a lot of damage to the surrounding area. Probably on par with a major earthquake at least. Yes it is a remote region but earthquakes can alter the course of rivers...so not something to risk as it could harm villages that get their water from rivers flowing from the surrounding mountains. Second, once this place is on the ground, nothing would prevent scavengers from picking through the remains and possibly finding stuff they could use for evil plots and stuff. And yes now that we've dealt with the Grand Master I suspect some will flee others will try and loot the place before fleeing, but once we've rescued those in need of it, I suspect we could use this place as a base of operations for the mining the Rockseeker siblings do in the area. Plus it could make for a really cool flying airship factory for our company.”

Varis starts twirling the Grand Master's crown around a finger after pulling it out of a pouch as a visual clue that the Monastery's Grand Master was defeated as he says, “A flying facility could be of use for many things, could also use it as a warehouse for secure storage of materials as well. We might even be able to set up a teleport circle here to reach this place from Tresendar Manor or any of our other properties.”

Several of the Monks overhear Jack, Markus, and Varis and look shocked at seeing the Grand Master's Crown displayed by Varis and seem to be a combination of enraged and desperate since this group of strangers has seemingly defeated their Grand Master and is currently blocking their only way out of the engine room...

The prisoners quickly notice the lack of attention by the 'overseers' and stop working and try to get away from the 'overseers' since they both fear that the overseers will try to use them as hostages to escape before killing them, or might try to kill them out of spite. Unlike the monks, the prisoners have no fear of being near these strangers so they gravitate towards the group hoping to be protected against the monks and elder monk.

Jack chuckles.  "You had me at 'earthquake' but yeah.  Floating airship factory sounds awesome!"

  Tark may seem like some communist cliche at times, but he is all too aware of his role as a super capitalist hitting evil with representations of his material wealth.  So more surprising is literally anyone expressing the least bit of concern over his presence.

  "Is this going to go reasonably for once, or are we in for more fire giant logic where they say one thing and act another?" He wonders, as he removes his old habits die hard mundane javelin quivers and tosses them to the ground.

  He doubts any of the prisoners will so much as look at them, but sharp objects not representing their slavery might be comforting to some of them, who knows? Supposedly a lot are ex criminals after all.

Lucy looks to the slavers and says, "We want this island to remain afloat. So do you. So just do as we say and everyone will get out of this alright. We will be providing workers soon, but it won't be this bunch." Lucy motions to the slaves that were already taking refuge behind the team.

Zerry adds in a matter-of-fact tone, "To clarify, if you DON'T do as we say, me and my team here will get out of this just fine, but you won't. The worst that will happen if you resist us is you die and we have to search maybe an extra 10 to 30 minutes for someone to replace you. Understood?"

The monks in the Engine room glance around as the prisoners heading over to the weapons to arm themselves as the only exit is blocked by a group of adventurers that have defeated the grandmaster... realizing they can't win and to try and fight their way out of the engine room is likely to get them killed, they throw down their weapons and surrender.

Varis grins slightly as he telepaths to the group, “Honestly I hadn't expected that to work...so either they are smarter than we expected or their self-preservation instinct kicked in.”

Markus telepaths back, “Well between us blocking the only exit and the prisoners arming themselves, they probably realized if they fought even just to try to flee, they would probably be killed in the attempt.”

Jack is pleasantly surprised as well.  "Well well!  Wise choice."

He smiles at his friends and comments, "Can't wait to see their faces when they find out what their boss really was."

  Tark is part of Jack's pleasantly surprised club.  "I'm so used to people talking up how smart they are for existing only to die just to spite us."

  Of course, more survivors than usual also includes working through what prisoners deserved to be worked to death and then have their faces turned into imitation bats, and which ones were airquotes ""prisoners"".  Good thing his friends know entire zones of truth instead of having to rely on 'probably would not hold up in fantasy court' clarifications one at a time.

Zerry's stern demeanor turns to cheerful elation at the compliance of the enemies. "Good choice! You will live and we will protect your lives as long as you continue being good!"

Lucy looks to Markus and Varis. "That did in fact go perfectly. And now we can employ the constructs as planned."

(Good for fast-forward if this is a good spot for such)

It takes the group around an hour to get some of the constructs from the airship and have them start fueling the Monastery's engines in part since it took a while to keep the now freed prisoners from killing the monks that had been tormenting them and forcing them to slave away in the Engine room. In the end, the monks had to be restrained with rope as the now freed prisoners are waiting to have their 'faces restored' before they'll take the chance to escape from the Monastery using an air skiff to get back to the Sphinx platform before following the marked trail to safely get out of the Barrier Peaks. The freed prisoners warn the group that there are another ten prisoners in the prison cell area along with three more that have been driven somewhat insane which the Monks refer to as the 'immured ones' who are rather hostile to anyone that isn't able to calm them down. Additionally, the group is informed that there are another group of 5 monks led by an Elder monk in the prison cell area, the Leatherworks area, and most likely in the Dormitories for the monks.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:37, Sun 28 Mar 2021.