At 5:30 PM on the 7th of Alturiak, the party stood in silence, feeling a lingering sense of unease and a faint scent of sulfur in the air. It was early evening, and while they were not yet fatigued, they knew that using up their spells could lead to a challenging battle. They observed Quilro standing before a magically trapped door, which they believed was enchanted based on their conversation with Brenkan Oarfell, the sentient sword. Apart from the sulfur smell, the passageway was eerily quiet, except for a boisterous sea shanty that only Quilro could hear.

"Do any of you have the ability to identify magical items?" asked Kailute. "We have some items that need to be examined, like the magic Pirate Trident and the ring we took from our Tigris. We don't know what they do. Quilro, can you take a closer look?"

Quilro inspected the items and described them to the group. The trident appeared to be a matte bone white with interconnected ribbons resembling serpents, and it seemed to shift in size depending on the wielder. Its age was estimated to be around 600 to 800 years, dating back to the height of Myth Drannor. It had sophisticated magic and seemed to possess defensive properties, with a significant capacity for spells. As for the ring, it didn't bear any bird motifs and didn't seem to be of elven or giantish origin.

"I'll keep the trident," Quilro decided.

The party realized that Klavikus was attempting to strike a deal where he would gain control over a vast number of undead souls, which could potentially grant him prestige and possibly lead to his release from his current conditions. In exchange, he offered to create a Demiplane that would serve as a punishment realm for followers of deities who didn't adhere to their doctrines. Although Klavikus recognized the party's power and saw them as a threat, he hadn't revealed any specific terms or demands. Furthermore, the heroes found the offer revolting, particularly Quilro.

"He's just looking to amass an enormous amount of undead power," said DonBrapp dismissively.

"He's asking for a lot of shit," agreed Kailute.

The negotiations seemed to revolve around Klavikus gaining control over an area where undead could roam and terrorize the living. However, the heroes were opposed to such an idea. Quilro mentioned knowing of harmless places where undead could exist peacefully without posing a threat to the living. DonBrapp expressed concerns about Klavikus's ability to maintain control and questioned how they could possibly stop him if they were to oppose his plans.

The heroes deliberated on their next course of action. They contemplated confronting Klavikus directly, either by forcefully entering the room or finding a different approach. However, they also wondered about the cost of convincing him to back down, even if he didn't reveal the information they sought. Kailute suggested that perhaps misleading them in the search for the factory could be a way for Klavikus to serve his current master, Orcus.
Amidst the discussions, the dwarf in the group, not swayed by revulsion towards Klavikus, raised a question about Klavikus's allegiance and the difficulty he would face if he were to betray Orcus. The heroes also noted that demons at Klavikus's power level had the ability to grant wishes, which might factor into their negotiations.

The discussions continued, with the heroes weighing the risks and potential consequences of their actions. They acknowledged the numerous individuals in the room they would be facing and contemplated different strategies.

Kailute, DonBrapp, and Quilro gathered in the crypt of the Sembian pirate Branken Oarfell. They had just battled through two enormous bleeding leather demons and were now planning their next move to rescue Draxos from the clutches of the demon Klavikus and his companions.
Quilro, utilizing the power of the moonblade, had dealt a fatal blow to one of the demons, while Kailute had taken a beating in close combat. DonBrapp, using the attenuarium, deduced the existence of another portal beneath the castle, possibly connected to the negative material plane, but they suspected that the lich Zengyhi had already ascended.

Moving cautiously up a magically concealed marble staircase, Quilro detected several abyssal traps, and the party proceeded stealthily. Bursting into an abandoned room through a trap door, they noticed a rhythmic pulsing and a sudden silence from the north. As they assessed the situation, an otherworldly tear in reality appeared behind Draxos. Two massive arms emerged, belonging to a room filled with fiendish cat-like creatures surrounding a large stone table. Before they could react, Draxos was snatched and pulled through the portal, leaving the party momentarily stunned.

Regaining their composure, the heroes examined their surroundings. They discovered a door with the Sembian coat of arms, indicating the Oarfell lineage, and a dark mahogany sarcophagus illuminated by Underdark candles. Magical cutlasses were racked nearby, alongside a desk bearing a map of the realms.

Engaging in a discussion, the group explored a potential strategy involving a connection to the negative material plane and the use of negative material orbs to amplify their attacks against abyssal creatures. They debated whether to engage in a direct confrontation or retreat and rest to replenish their strength and spells.

Amidst their deliberations, they received a mental image of Draxos in a large, book-filled chamber. Seated beside him were two imposing tiger-like humanoids and several armed female torsos atop a marilith. Klavikus, the demon lord, observed them from afar. The vision vanished, leaving the heroes with a sense of urgency.

Considering their options, they agreed to seek refuge in the pirate's room to rest and recover. However, they were aware that time was of the essence and that Klavikus was fully aware of their presence. They contemplated the risks and uncertainties of their impending battle, acknowledging the formidable power of the demons they would face.

With resolve, they prepared to confront Klavikus and his minions, determined to rescue Draxos and put an end to the demonic threat.

In the crypt of the Sembian pirate Branken Oarfell, Kailute, DonBrapp, and Quilro gathered to discuss their plan to rescue Draxos from the clutches of the Demon Klavikus and his companions. As they surveyed their surroundings, a vision of Klavikus appeared before them, causing them to question its authenticity.

Quilro wondered if he was the only one who saw the vision, but Kailute reassured him that all the heroes of Way witnessed it. Quilro expressed his desire to rest in the crypt for a moment due to his wounds, but Kailute insisted they needed him right where he was.

Realizing that their initial plan of charging in recklessly wouldn't work, they acknowledged the need for a better strategy. They debated whether to extract Draxos and face the demons in a separate encounter or engage in a direct fight from the beginning.

Quilro sensed that their crypt location held more secrets that could aid them if they took the time to investigate. However, they also knew that their presence wouldn't go unnoticed by Klavikus or others within the castle.

Despite the risks, they agreed that taking down Klavikus was crucial. DonBrapp suggested communicating with Klavikus, offering him a specific timeframe for their return with an enticing proposition. They decided not to send the message just yet, as they needed more time to plan.

Quilro proposed the idea of infiltrating invisibly, but Kailute pointed out the potential risks due to polymorphing and magic resistance. They discussed the effectiveness of their magical abilities and the need to neutralize the Type 5 demons to focus on Klavikus and the rakshasas.

The group contemplated sacrificing magic items to enhance their protection from evil spell, which could provide an advantage in the upcoming battle. They considered the logistics of the plan and the proximity of their location to Vergadain.

They agreed to approach Klavikus with a proposal to confer with their god and ascertain their interest in his proposition. They would offer the book DonBrapp brought as a sign of goodwill and request time to prepare. During their rest, they would recharge and make the necessary sacrifices to strengthen their protection.

With their plan in motion, they prepared to communicate with Klavikus once more and enter the fight with a fortified protection from evil spell. They hoped that their strategic positioning and preparations would give them an upper hand in rescuing Draxos and defeating Klavikus.

"I need to know where the valuable items are hidden," Kailute insisted.
DonBrapp chimed in, "Yes, please tell us. We still haven't found them. Where are they?"
"The Sahaugin weapon, do you recognize it? It allows underwater movement and is useful in fights against aquatic creatures," Quilro explained.

"That sounds helpful," Kailute agreed.

"But what exactly is this 'good stuff' you're talking about?" DonBrapp asked.

"It refers to my creature comforts, things that make me comfortable. But it's not enough for you, is it? You want to know what kind of pirate I was. Well, I mostly murdered people and put them in barrels," the pirate confessed.

"Don't forget the time he put that one guy in the barrel," Quilro added.

"Yes, that counts as real pirating," DonBrapp confirmed.

As they continued their discussion, they realized that defeating Klavikus would deal a severe blow to his career and plans. They considered isolating him and forcing him into submission, using the opportunity to extract information about Zenger's phylactery from him.
"If we defeat him and banish him back to the abyss, it would be a significant setback for Klavikus," Quilro suggested.

"Agreed. We could negotiate with him, offering something like Ravenloft in exchange for the phylactery's location, and then double-cross him," Kailute proposed.

With their plan in mind, they decided to rest before executing it. However, there was a brief disagreement about whether to rest immediately or wait until the next day.

"We should rest now," DonBrapp argued, "so we can be fully prepared."

After some discussion, they settled on resting for the night and reconvening in the morning.
During the rest, DonBrapp identified the magical items they possessed, including a ring that required identification. They agreed to cast spells and prepare for battle before waking Draxos, intending to arm him once the melee began.

The conversation turned to Klavikus and his desire to be free from Zenghyi's control. They speculated on how to break his contract and considered the idea of teleporting the Tarrasque into Zhentil Keep to cause chaos.

As they finalized their plans, they prepared their spell lists and DonBrapp cast spells to heal and create food and water. They discussed crafting and the use of negative material orbs to enhance their abilities.