She crept up to the next turn in the tunnel. She paused and waved us forward. “Little guy, big bear. Fighting two golems.” She touched the brooch at her throat. “Do you remember Tarkelar? I got this brooch — ”

She was interrupted by a strange voice. “Are you quite sure they are golems? Let me through. I would look at them.” A strange elf pushed past me and stood beside Cinder. After a moment she turned around. “Oh. Indeed. Golems. I’ll just wait back here, shall I?”

As she walked past, Sadi grabbed her arm. “Who are you?” Sadi had one hand on the hilt of her sword.
“I am Elenriel Annanole. But people call me many names. So you may call me Various. And you are…..?” She peered seriously at Sadi.
“Impatient.” Sadi pulled out her sword.

“OK. Everyone just calm down.” Myntilly put herself between Sadi and the elf. “I am called Myntilly. What brings you to this place?”
“I am Various. I visit all the planes. I like Occipitus. This looks like a nice place to vacation or buy a house.”

Everyone looked at her. “This is an evil place. You realize that, don’t you?” Acgar had come up beside her and put a hand on her arm.

Various looked at Acgar, seeing her for the first time. “You are a motley bunch, aren’t you! A half-dragon, by the look of you.” She pointed at Kaurophon. “Demon.” Then at me, Sadi and Myntilly. “Human. Human. Human.” She turned to Cinder. “Thank the goddess! One familiar face. Oh, are you a wood elf, perchance? Hmmmm. No chance you’d have any books then.” She turned back towards the battle. “Why don’t you deal with those golems and then we’ll talk more, hmmm?” She opened a book and turned away from us.

Cinder opened her mouth. “What was that?”
“Later.” Sadi pointed at the golems. The little guy, as Cinder had called him, was darting in and slashing at one of the golems. He had a bear fighting beside him. Just past the golems, you could see an altar with a large black stone.

“They could use our help.” Sadi got out her quiver of arrows. “Did you say you have a brooch? I remember it, now. Golembane.”

Cinder nodded. “Indira can you bless my bow? I think this scarab will really help me in this fight.”
I cast greater magical weapon so that Cinder’s arrows would fly true and fast to the target. Myntilly added a focus spell as well, so that Cinder had even more power behind each shot.
Kaurophon moved out towards the first golem.

He stayed out of reach of the massive clay hands. He cast a spell — I didn’t quite catch it. Perhaps magic missile. Sometimes it is hard to discern his spells. The golem glowed for a moment and then nothing. Acgar moved up beside Kaurophon and opened her mouth to spray acid at the golems.

I heard Various behind me. She made a clucking noise. “I shouldn’t have done that if I were you.”
I whirled around. “What are you talking about?!”

“Acid.” Various blinked at me and put a finger in her book to mark the page. “Acid heals clay golems.” She frowned. “Didn’t you know that?

Perhaps, I could do a little something to speed this up.” And she reached into her pack and pulled out a square of paper. She unfolded it and turned to face the golems. She blew hard and dust swirled into the air. It stuck to the clay figures and floated around their heads.

As I started to ask her what it was, Various crumpled the paper, patted my arm and said, “Think of it as fairy dust, my dear. Probably too complicated to explain to you. They will be partially blinded for a time. Magic won’t affect them. Go smash them with your little mace, alright? I am going to have a look at that altar. The stone is…. unusual.”

As we engaged the first golem, the little man and his bear moved to fight the second golem. Sadi and Cinder shot arrow after arrow.

Acgar and I moved in close with spear and mace. Neither Myntilly nor Kaurophon could do much to help so they eadged around the battle and towards the altar. Various followed.

Acgar punctured the golem’s foot. The spear stayed in; Acgar could not free it. So she threw her weight against the shaft to drive it deeper into the creature’s foot.

I do not remember who landed the killing blow, but the golem suddenly went rigid. He dropped his pickaxe and shattered into about eight large piece.

…………To be continued.

Pain. Searing pain, centered in my chest. Looking down, I see a six-fingered hand erupt through my chest holding a bright sphere of white light.

Gasping, I awake and look around the safe hemisphere Myntilly cast before we went to sleep. Indira, Myntilly, Sadi, all asleep. Alek on watch outside, Acgar heading to bed after her watch, Cinder wrapping her listening coin in layers of cloth and burying it in her pack. Rolling over, I try again to sleep.

Light slowly fades to show a face above the sphere of light. Weakness. I drop to my knees before the six-fingered demon prince.

“What a price you are willing to pay,” he cackles. He holds the still gleaming orb in one out-stretched arm. “Arise. A realm is yours, and my greatest general will lead with you.” He uses his other hand to beckon behind me. “Occipitus, come to me.”

Looking up, I see legs and torso appear below a cloud of smoke and flames. The demon prince extends his free hand. Reaching into Occipitus’ chest, he pulls out a non-reflective black sphere. He pauses a moment with arms outstretched, then turns and pushes the white sphere into Occipitus’ chest. “My lord…” Occipitus groans and falls to his knees, cracking the ground beneath him.

The demon prince turns to me. “And now, your turn.” As he pushes the black sphere into my chest, darkness falls.

Awake again, I hear voices. Alek, Cinder, a high voice I don’t recognize. Then Acgar? Sadi? Disoriented, I look around. Indira and Myntilly are still asleep. I listen a while, then stretch and try again to sleep.

A pristine landscape. Snow covered mountain peaks, a lush valley, a sparkling lake, all under an azure sky. I am soaring above it. Following the valley toward a sea that stretches as far as I can see.

A scream, gaining higher and higher pitch as it grows louder. Then, falling past me, the scream lowers in tone. Occipitus hurtles through the sky to the landscape below. As he strikes the ground, it shakes violently, and cracks radiate outward from his body. The mountains begin to crumble and rush into the chasm that widens, widens, widens…Fires erupt all around. Occipitus roars in pain as his body slowly sinks into the ground and his flesh flows outward onto the land. Eventually, nothing is left but his skull, half submerged, and lava erupts from one eye socket.

There is something wrong about her. I know the story, the sad story of the curse and maybe that is what niggles at the back of my mind when I look at her. I wish I knew.

I agree with Sadi that since Ragnara loaned me her hat of disguise, that she would not mind if we keep it. The rest of her gear should be burned with her. As I understand her faith, she will want her gear with her when she enters the Great Hall of her ancestors. That means that the Adamantine great axe, the mithril breastplate, the vest of enlarge, those things belong with her on the pyre.

Her death at the hands of the Fire Giant was sudden and senseless. I cannot help but blame myself. She was such a wonderful soul. Simple and full of joy. The magic doors delighted her and if I’d cautioned her or if I had taken the time to heal her properly, perhaps she would be walking beside me still.

We wisely decided to retreat from the Giant. The glowing hot anvils that he used as missiles were too much for our group. He killed Ragnara in two blows. How could we have prevailed? And, now that I think back to those crazy few minutes, perhaps it was the confused look on Submera’s face when we discussed in quick, hushed voices how to retrieve Raggy’s body, maybe that is what is really bothering me about her. I’ll need to ask Acgar, but I am pretty sure that she even voiced surprise aloud that we would risk ourselves to get Ragnara’s body. Who is this woman?

Myntilly’s solution was brilliant — greater invisibility — to cover herself and Ragnara. A quick levitate spell and we had the body. Now, the question was where to go to find Alek.

We decided to back to the intersection where the Hill Giants attacked. The boulders were still there, of course. Past the boulders, to the right was another set of magic double doors. As I stepped close, the doors opened to reveal a large beautiful room and four 10-foot wide moles.

Their tails were long, furry and thick. The sound of the tails flicking against the polished stone floor was eerie.

I get the feeling the moles had been enlarged by magic. They were awkward in their movements; their attacks ill-coordinated. I heard Cinder give a sad sigh as she reached for an arrow. I understand the sorrow at killing the creatures. This is not a fight they would choose. One more unnatural and evil thing I have seen in my travels. We made short work of them — as I said it was more a chore than a fight. Cinder, from atop one of the boulders had a clear shot at the lead mole.

Once the moles were dead, we started to search the room. Myntilly, Acgar and Sadi moved to the far end of the room. As they got towards the archway, three beautiful angels appeared. Their wings shimmered in the light.

The one in front held out a large golden chalice and in a soft, resonant voice she said, “We give thanks to the brave adventurers! You have restored our temple to it’s glory. You have destroyed the vermin that desecrated it! Rejoice and drink deep! All of your hurts will fall away!” And she held the cup out to Myntilly. Myntilly reached towards the cup, instinctively.

But before her fingers could touch it, both Sadi and Acgar yelled “Don’t drink it!” And at their words, the angels became bent, ugly hags. The lead hag threw the cup at Myntilly and lunged at her with hands spread, claw-like fingernails poised to rip flesh. The second one reached out with one finger to Acgar and touched her arm in a almost gentle stroke. The third waved her arms and the dead mole beside me stirred. “Great,” I thought. “We have to kill the poor moles all over again.”

Why is this half-elf so angry? I asked myself that same question when I spied Felian at the Lucky monkey. Didn’t we help her out of a tight spot at the Dixie Mattress Company? Didn’t we help reclaim this very inn? Where’s the gratitude?

I’m getting ahead of my story. Let’s start with the interrogation.

With Acgar’s police background, she suggested we question the captives separately. Lucky for us a young cleric of Pelor, LeRoy had prepared a zone of truth spell. I had not prepared it for the day so I am thankful for his help. We had Zeke in one room with me and Cinder and LeRoy.
Acgar and Elvis had the other man, Zack in an adjoining room. We got some useful information. We also received some devastating news. It would appear that we were duped. By Celeste or by someone who duped her into hiring us. God help us, Zenith was the final piece they needed to begin the final destruction of Cauldron. He was the last “marked one” and now they can begin to purify those marked and in doing so, they summon the Overlord (who ever that is). Some of it makes no sense. I just know that my heart sunk as I realized the enormity of our mistake. In my despair, I asked Zeke, “if you were in my shoes, what would be your next step?” I believe he answered from the heart: “Join us.” But those words are the words of a godless man. With Pelor guiding my hand, I cannot fail.

After the questioning, we took them to Quinlan for safe keeping. We were due at the Lucky Monkey grand reopening. As we left the city, we were informed by a guard that we would be taxed upon re-entry.

I shook that from my mind; I was looking forward to meeting this Alec fellow that Jenya thinks so highly of. Not long after we arrived we realized that Felian was glowering in the corner. He literally jumped Sadi and started yelling. “Why’d you do it? Why did you take Zenith? Fools!”

I’m glad that he was not the one to break the news to us. I’m glad that we had time to process the error on our own. Oddly enough Sadi, who doesn’t like anyone, took a shine to him and they went to a table with a bottle of whiskey.

I got to meet Alec. I can understand why Jenya is so besotted. He is quite comely, if you like brawn over brains. He told a tall tale about angels and magic mirrors. And about his plan to challenge the mayor of Cauldron. He, as a scion of the city, can call for a vote of no confidence.

We have him to thank for the scene that greeted us on our return to Cauldron. After we’d paid our entry tax and been informed that there is an “adventurer tax” on the horizon, we headed to the town square where a anti-tax demonstration was taking place.

Alec, in conjunction with the merchant prince, Mauvern had organized this gathering right outside the town hall. There were hundreds of Cauldronites in attendance. Mauvern stirred the crowd with his oratory. We tried to spread ourselves through the crowd in case there was trouble.

There was trouble. A riot broke out when a lone police officer tried to arrest Mauvern. Eight people attacked him. Then punches started flying all over.

Thanks to a quick and powerful entangle spell by Sadi, a mad gallop to St. Cuthbert’s by Kiriana for cleric backup, and the golden tongue of Kyrlscar, disaster was averted. As a small bonus, Cinder killed a Yin Yang member in the crowd and looted his body. Not something I would have tried, of course, but I am glad to have one less villain on the streets.

I just remembered that the day before we left for the Lucky Monkey, on a lark, I stopped in at a soothsayer’s not far from the Pelorian temple. She read my palm and looked deep in my eyes. “The streets are not safe for you. Seek the company of trees and birds.”

Zenith

I stepped inside the door. Dyssko was overhead and to the left. He was overwhelmed by the sight of a dozen corpses hanging upside down from the ceiling. The top of their heads had been cut off.

They swayed gently. I could not tell if they were dead or undead. So I quickly cast my turn undead spell. The corpses continued to sway. Since I now knew that they were not a threat, I could take my eyes off the bodies. Dyssko moved closer to the dwarf on the throne. Ohme moved slowly under him, ready to give protection. The others moved into the room.

The dwarf did not move. He slumped listlessly in the throne. His left hand held a glowing orb. There were banners on either side of the throne, upside down. They seemed to depict him, in the same position he took now. There was also a glowing circle etched into the stone floor. Four pillars seemed to stand guard around the circle.

Dyssko got very close to the throne and still the dwarf did not move. Acgar, who was standing beside me, murmured “Do you think that is Zenith?” It felt like weeks before that we’d been at the Cusp of Sunrise talking with the wizened dwarf Darvith about his lost son Zenith.
“It’s hard to know, but he’s the first dwarf we’ve seen.”

Dyssko dropped from the ceiling. “Ta-da!” The dwarf simply sighed.
“Are you Zenith Splintershield? I have a message for you!”
The dwarf opened one eye and said vehemently, “You will lose an eye!” Then he slumped back.
Cinder drew her bow. Acgar and I moved to the far side of the throne.
“Are you Zenith?”
He pointed a finger at me. “Beware the man in blue!” And then his finger dropped to his lap as though that was the hardest thing he’d ever done.
Dyssko spoke from the side of his mouth: “I’m gonna give this guy a cheer.”

He straightened his tunic. Cleared his throat and began an elaborate cheer based on the letters in the name Zenith Splintershield. When it was over, the dwarf managed a small smile.
Dyssko beamed. “You are Zenith! I knew it. Your father sent us to rescue you.”
“My…. father? Yes. No…. I can’t leave the people. I can’t leave the Mother…..” His voice trailed off and his eyes closed. A moment later they popped open and he yelled at Dyssko, “You will lose an ear and the blood will stain your collar!”
“It’s working,” said Dyssko. “I’m going to do it again.

He went through the whole cheer again. Zenith almost lifted himself off the throne. As his left hand moved, he seemed to realize that he held the orb. He lobbed the orb against the back wall where it shattered. A gray fog flowed out of the shards and dissipated.

Dyssko clapped and hopped up and down. “I got one more cheer I can do today. Third time’s a charm!” And he drew a deep breath to do the cheer again. While he was working the spell, Myntilly moved to the circle. “What do you think it is?” Everyone but Dyssko turned to her. “This circle. What do you think it is?”
Offhandedly Cinder said, “You could poke it with your staff.”
Myntilly nodded and shoved her staff into the circle. She vanished.

“Oh my god! Myntilly!” We rushed to the circle, but didn’t touch it. “Where does this go?” I demanded of the dwarf. He was on his feet. The cheer had done some good.
“To the Mother.”
“Do you mean the lobster goddess? Is that where this goes?”
He shrugged. “The Mother takes many forms.”
I pushed thoughts of Myntilly from my mind. “Will you come with us? Your father is dying. He wants to see you. We came here just to find you.”
“I hate myself for loving him! He’s dying? I must go to him.”
I reached out my hand. “Can you help us find our friend?”
“She is with the Mother. The Mother. I cannot leave her!” And he ran right into the circle.

We followed without hesitation and sure enough, we found ourselves at the base of the lobster-headed goddess. Myntilly heard us and came out from under the stage. With a few minutes of ardent persuasion, we were all headed out of the temple. As we reached the main hallway, we heard a metallic sound. It was coming from the hall behind the portcullis. “Hey! Don’t leave me!”
We stopped. Acgar and I walked up to the bars of the portcullis. “Who are you?”
“My name is Cherrit. Don’t leave me here! The Kua Toa are evil.”
“How did you get here?” Asked Acgar. “Where are you from,” I asked.
“Around. Around here. I was trapped. Fooled! Tricked by someone I thought was my friend!” His voice went up at the end.

Another voice, deeper than the first, said, “You tricked me! Take me out of here. Leave him.”
“And who are you and where are you from?” Acgar called out.
“I am called White Eye. Son of Black Eye. And I am unjustly imprisoned here.”

Cinder came over to us. “Why are you chatting? We got what we came for.” She gestured to Zenith who was standing between the half-orcs (in case he decided to run off again).
“These people need our help,” cried Acgar. “We can’t just leave them!”
“Oh yes we can! We don’t know who those jokers are”

Acgar and Cinder stood toe to toe. I drew Cinder away. “Look. Acgar never asks for anything. Could you just look around for the lever that opens the portcullis?”
Cinder rolled her eyes.
“Five minutes. I’m asking you to give her five minutes.”
“Fine.” She threw up her hands. “But I’m not going to look very hard.”
And indeed, she did not find any way to open the gate.

“OK, let’s go.”
“Wait!” Both voices cried out. “You can’t leave us.”
Acgar looked crushed. “Cinder is right,” I said. “Zenith’s rescue is our mission.”
“Four thousand gold pieces each. Each. That’s our mission.”
“Wait! I have money!” cried the deep voice.
“No you don’t!” said the other. “I have money, though and it is yours if you rescue me.”
Cinder paused in mid-step. “Nah. Forget it. You’re bluffing.”
I whispered to Acgar: “We will come back. You have my word. We will come back for them.”

At the shore we stopped. No boat. Myntilly walked the edge of the water.
Suddenly we heard the sound of a paddle cutting the water. Our old friend the Kua Toa boatman approached. Myntilly waved and he let loose with a stream of babble. She turned to me.
“Damn. I have no idea what he’s saying. I forgot to prepare the tongues spell.”
He came to the shore anyway. We piled in and made it easily across the lake.

Once we were above ground Dyssko got very excited. “We’re gonna camp right? Camping? Oh man! Yeah. I was hoping…. Hold on.” He rummaged through his pack.
“Here it is. Leomund’s Tiny Hut!” He held a scroll. In a few minutes we had a light orange sphere to sleep in.

As I closed my eyes, I whispered a prayer of thanks to Pelor. “Thank you for allowing me to see the stars once more.”