In a special performance , Dyskko added a new installment to his ongoing saga of the Dungeon Divas.  Known for what he calls “‘special effects,” his story-telling incorporates bardic magic to make you feel you are part of the story.

In true Dyskko style, audience members felt the heat of Moltenwing the Dragon.  They cried along with Buzz, as he wondered what to do after the death of his mentor, Indira.  The audience cheered when the Divas freed the Shackled Ones from the Great Tree.

Dyskko says this was a final ending to the Divas saga. “I’m ready for something new now.”  Even though his tales have always been fantastical, they have still been grounded in reality.  “I’ve always wondered what it would be like to travel amongst the stars.  I’ve also wondered what if there were no magic? Yes, I think I’ll turn my tales toward some of these ideas.”

Character Epilogues

After killing the beholder Orbius who had posed as Oskar Vhalantru for the last 15 years, the Divas were at a crossroads.  Are there enough people left in the Org Chart of Evil to fulfill their plans?  Do we stop here, or do we pursue them further?  Or do we need to get back to helping the evacuees from Cauldron rebuild?

The Divas made a final attempt to visit the Fiery Sanctum.  There, they discovered that Rmongor had killed all the Shackled Ones in the Tree and no more energy was being channeled.  Looking at the Org Chart of Evil, they realized all the people left to kill were people they hadn’t met.  Where would they be? The Divas spent time at the Church of Pelor reviewing their notes, organizing their supplies and inventorying their loot.  After a long day of discussion, the decision was clear: Use the loot to invest in the City of Cauldron, help the people rebuild, and stay wary for the Cagewrights should they start on the next phase of their plan.

Myntilly – Hoping to spark some renewed energy into the local economy, Myntilly purchased an abandoned building in the NW Business District of Cauldron.  She refitted the ground floor with her own Tatoo Parlor, and moved into the second floor apartment.  Inspired by her leadership, many young adventurers come to discuss their dreams and plans and ask Myntilly for her wisdom while she inks.  Even Cora Lanthanmire has been spotted getting a tatoo.

Sadi – Was last seen heading out of town.  Her plans are to travel to Sasserine, then spend some quiet time traveling along the coast.  “I hope to purchase a small boat and spend some quiet time in peaceful reflection.”  The year has been hard on Sadi, dying not once, but twice, and reincarnated twice.  It puts a touch of darkness on you.  Then spending so much time either underground or in a big city has been difficult.  “I come from a long line of gypsies.  I need to spend some time roaming.”

Ian and Brus – Returned to Kingfisher Hollow.  This city grew a bit following the evacuation of Cauldron.  Many people moved there, thinking it would be temporary, but fell in love with the Amedio forest on the border.  “Now that the town is a bit bigger, there’s a lot I can do here.  There’s a lot of new construction that I can help with, and we can start a second druid hall on the other end of the town.”  There is still some strange sounds coming from the forest, and rumors of undead, but Ian feels up to the challenge.

Acgar – Has become a new prominent figure in the Cauldron Town Guard.  Acgar has become Lead Trainer for the Magical Threats Agency.  “Quinlan had a good idea with this organization, but they need better discipline if they’re going to respond to threats.  That, and they need some strong analysis tools to investigate evidence left behind.”  Acgar is developing a new field called “forensics.”  It also helps the new recruits pay attention when she mentions that she keeps a killer frog in a box.

Indira – It’s taken some time for her his fellow clerics to get used to the new dwarf body, but Indira continues to work to spread the good word of Pelor.  Kristoff remains as head cleric of the Church, and continuing to lead the young headstrong Indira will be a continuing challenge.  Thankfully, Indira has the goblins and Buzz to keep her busy.

Buzz – Speaking of Buzz, he is working to bridge new ties between the differing churches of Cauldron.  The new head cleric at the Temple of Wee Jas, is rebuilding temple after the construction accident last solstice.  Buzz is working to negotiate a construction plan that will be a tribute to Wee Jas without blocking the Church of Pelor from the rising sun.  He is also working toward more unity between all the worshipping halls (to St. Cuthbert, Kord, Wee Jas, Fharlaghn, Pelor) in preparation for this winter’s Flood Festival.  “Last winter there was rivalry between the worshippers and Cauldron really suffered.  This winter will be different.”  Ah Buzz, remember when we first met him?

Elvis Krylscar- For his leadership and commitment to the City of Cauldron, Elvis was awarded a Key to the City. (Standing next to him are at left, Severen Navalant, Mayor, newly returned to the city and at right Quinlan Ghelve, Captain of the Town Guard).  He continues to grow in his leadership role on the City Council.  Sounds like he’ll run for Mayor again.

I closed my eyes. “Pelor. Pelor shine your light upon us. It is our darkest hour.” Acgar hefted her bow. “Amen.”

As Sadi bounded up the wall, Orbius turned and looked at her, causing her magic boots to fail. She tumbled to the ground.

Ian yelled so that the beholder turned around. He seemed to consider the scene for a moment and then he flung slime at Ian.

“The slime has a paralyzing effect. Ian will be stunned for about a minute. Maybe longer.”

Myntilly, from the relative safety of her bunker, flung another sonic lance at Orbius. Slime flew off and more of it landed on Ian. “That is physics.” Acgar had a satisfied sound in her voice. I shook my head. “Slime. It’s just so — Sunbeam!” Acgar looked at me. “What?” I smiled. “Sunbeam. It kills slime on contact. Ha ha!” I closed my eyes, gathered my thoughts and flung my hand at the beholder. Rays of bright sunlight shot from my fingers.

Gobs of slime dropped from the beholder. I tried to hold my hand steady, burning one eye stalk and taking a good third of the slime off.

Ian was soon able to move again and he tossed a fire seed high into the air, hoping I think, that it would stick to some slimy places. The explosion rocked the beholder and he lost some altitude. Sadi had regained her feet and her magic boots, since the beholder’s main eye was suddenly pointing my way. She began to climb the wall again. With a lazy flick, Orbius spattered her with slime and she froze in place. Acgar aimed an arrow right for the center eye. She just missed and for her effort, Orbius put her to sleep. He turned and pointed an eye at Ian. Suddenly Ian was a stone statue. I felt the beholder’s eyes turn to me. I was overcome with fear. I am ashamed, but I dropped my axe and covered my face. I shook with sobs.

Brus, I found out later, nudged Acgar awake. And then he lumbered past and came over to me. I felt a warm, wet snout pressing against my covered face. My breathing slowed. Brus snorted and I laughed. That snort seemed to say “You have got to be kidding me. Big dwarf like you, afraid of a sack of eyes?” I patted his strong back and stood up. He’s almost as tall as me, but I could see over him. I saw arrows go from Acgar and Sadi. They hit home.

Myntilly zapped another spell at Orbius as he swooped down and Terrem climbed on his back. His eye stalks started aiming at the ceiling and bits of rock fell away. “He’s trying to blast his way out!”
“Nooooooo!” Myntilly stood up as the table in front of her shattered into tiny pieces.

I felt wind blow my beard and the wall cracked behind me. I raised my hand to attempt my sunbeams again when time suddenly slowed. I felt a force come up against me like the tide and it fell away and Brus turned to stone. Sadi was practically point blank and she shot arrow after arrow, hitting two more eye stalks.

One of Orbius’ far eyes turned to look at Sadi and timed slowed again. I knew somehow that it was a disintegrate spell. I saw it hit Sadi and glow green for a brief moment. She and Myntilly screamed at the same moment. I was torn as to who to run to first. I could reach Myntilly, so I started that way. Myntilly strode towards me and I had a moment to think “She seems fine. She doesn’t need my help.” Then she was directly below Orbius and she flicked her hand up and he exploded into a million little pieces.

On the opposite side of the room Myntilly was studying a painting. It showed Cauldron under a fiery sky. “It’s hard to say but I think this is a Betelle. It has his distinctive brush strokes. This is not his usual color palette, of course or his usual subject matter but –”
Acgar interrupted her. “It’s scrying.”
“Wha?”
“It looks like a painting but it’s actually scrying. I believe this is what it looks like up there.” She jabbed her finger upwards.

Sadi pointed at the double doors. “This is where we go next.”

We flung open the doors and saw a giant hazy object surrounded by three figures. The figures were swaying back and forth and chanting. Acgar, with her keen eyesight, said “That’s Orbius. I don’t know what he’s doing, but we should stop it.”

Before any of us could move, the chanting reached a pitch and the figures glowed white and crumbled to dust. The haze lifted and there was Orbius.

He looked better than when we’d last seen him. Then of course, we had almost killed him. He was now covered in some sort of gloop, some sort of slime.

I heard Myntilly beside me, “That’s just….. gross.”
“Part of the ritual, you think? A by product, perhaps?” Acgar sounded intrigued. “We can ask him later, OK?” Sadi smiled. “First, we kill him.”

Terrem saw Orbius, yelled with excitement and ran into the chamber. “Aw crap. Well there goes any chance of using a fireball.” Sadi cocked her head. “Why’s that?” I pointed. “Terrem’s in there! And –” She winked at me.

Myntilly stopped beside me. “Let’s get this party started.” She raised her hands and cast sound lance. You could see some slime fly off and his eyestalks vibrate from the spell.
“Nice.” Sadi reached inside her tunic and I saw her flick a fireball bead into the chamber. It rolled just past where Orbius was floating and exploded.

I whirled around to face her. “I can’t believe that you just did that! Terrem could have been hurt.” A spell whizzed past her head. Orbius had begun his attack. “We’ll talk later! OK?”
Acgar muttered to herself, “Slime and acid… eh probably neutralize the… Holy Storm. Yes!” And she began chanting as rain drop fell on Orbius.

He flew above the rain cloud and just out of sight. Unless we entered the chamber, we couldn’t see to hit him. Smart beholder.

To be continued……

Myntilly read out a sleep spell and the door opened to reveal….. flames. It was a room full of flames. I heard Terrem say “Yes! I was right!”

“Um, there are people in there.” Sadi was at my elbow. “I can’t see anything! Are you sure.”
“Oh yeah. At least two.”

OK. I thought. Ice shield. And suddenly I was wreathed in a ring of cold. I remotely heard Ian say: “I’ve got quench prepared. Maybe I can put out a few of these flames.” And I walked into the room. The cold shield kept me feeling just fine. I advanced another two steps and suddenly a gush of water poured over me and the flames around me. When the water made contact with my armor, the ice shield froze it solid. I suddenly weighed an extra 50 pounds.

The others followed me at least as far as the water had put out the flames.
I heard a voice say “You have come to pay tribute? What is your name, cold one?” I saw a female figure that was flame and flesh combined. Beside her was a dwarf, a fiery dwarf. He and I exchanged curt nods (it’s a dwarf thing) and I bowed low to the female.
“My name is Indira Burningwood.”
She nodded. “That is a good name. You bring tribute to my beauty?”
I fumbled with my pouch. I had diamonds left from the resurrection spell. It was probably less than 10,000gp.
“Indeed.” And I opened the bag and poured a few diamonds on to my hand. “These baubles are nothing compared to your beauty. Will they suffice?” My hands were wet from the melting ice and the diamonds looked even prettier.

The dwarf came forward to take the pouch from my hand. “Burningwood?  What mountain are you from? I don’t know of any Burningwood dwarves.” Before I could answer, the female demon coughed and the dwarf bowed and backed away to her side.

“They are sufficient. You may go.”
I heard my fellows bristle at that. “May I ask your beauty a question before we go?”
I could hear the flames crackle in the ensuing silence.
“Very well.”
“Why are you here. In this place?”
“I am a flame warden.” I nodded. “So this is a sacred space.”
“No. I was hired to guard this place.” I heard a rustling behind me. Myntilly piped up: “We’re lost. How do we get out?”  The flame warden cocked her head. “The way you came in should work.”
“How did you get in?” Myntilly persisted.
“You would not survive the way I travel.” She paused. “I am done conversing. Be thankful that I was bored and that you were charming, otherwise I would have killed you.”
An anger I didn’t know existed reared up inside me. I bowed low. “I feel exactly the same way, madame.” And then, realizing what I’d just said, I backed up quickly, pushing the others out the door.

We were still talking about the wish while walking back down the hall. Durilin and Ian stopped at a patch of rough stone. “Yes! You can still hear it!” Ian gestured for Sadi to come up beside him. “Do you hear it?”
Sadi put her ear to the stone. Her face curled up. “It sounds like Obi drinking water.”
Durilin nodded. “Oh yeah. I was thinking goats being milked, but the same concept.”

“We don’t know what’s there, but we think we can bring the all down pretty easily.” Ian ran his hands over the stone.
Durilin nodded. “<Grund and grong>, as my grandmother used to say. Nice and easy.”

They worked for a few minutes and then, as if opening a door, the stone fell forward into a chamber.

There was a moment of silence as the rocks finished tumbling to the marble floor. And we realized what was making the noises. There were two goblins and three tall creatures, all black and glossy and their feet stuck to the ground. As they lifted a foot to move, the sucking noise happened.
“What in Pelor’s name….?” My mouth hung open.
“<Grobi>” Durilin’s voice was grim. “That doesn’t really help me.” Buzz’s voice sounded from the back. “What the hell are they?”
“I believe <grobi> is dwarvish for goblin. Begging your pardon, Lingaub.” Acgar bowed in his direction. “Those,” she pointed to the tall, black creatures, “those are Farastu.”

Ian fumbled in his bag. “Is that tar? Are they covered in tar?”
“Farastu, also known as tarry demodand have a tar-like secretion that –” Ian cut Acgar short. “That’s great. Thanks.” And he lobbed an acorn at the one on the left. It immediately caught fire. He turned to me. “I love fire seed. And don’t worry! I have quench prepared as well.”

Over his words, I heard the sqwilching sound of the Farastu walking. It was headed right towards Ian. Lingaub shot a magic missile from the wand we gave him. Myntilly did a sound lance. That didn’t stop the Farastu from pulling Ian into a bear hug. Poor Ian, he’d barely survived the last time he’d been grappled.

Sadi began to whistle. She pulled a bead from her necklace and tossed it towards the back of the room. The bead exploded in a ball of fire. To continue the blaze, I pulled a flamestrike down on the goblins and the other Farastu. Durilin, who was beside me, let out a yell and buried her axe in the Farastu attacking Ian. I couldn’t tell that it did anything except lodge her axe in the gooey tar of the creature’s body.

Acgar strode past me and slammed her Holy Avenger sword into the Farastu. Like Durilin, she had trouble extracting it. The tarry substance was playing hell on our weapons. Luckily the Farastu collapsed in a heap on top of Ian, so after pulling the body off Ian, Acgar and Durilin were able to grab their blades.

Lingaub came up beside Acgar. “Loot?”
“Not yet”, said Acgar grimly. “We have a little more work to do.

Once he realized that Ian was OK, Brus thundered through the door and leaped at the last goblin standing. As Brus’ teeth bit into the goblin’s neck, I heard Lingaub say “Farewell, child of Drakthar.”