Ttharg, the egg is unharmed. As you check it over, you feel a pulse of warmth and gratitude, flavored with a sort of inarticulate curiosity and concern about the orc.
Spoiler: Medicine 10+ on the Orc
Show
Examining the orc, you find scars and markings of some kind of arcane ritual, all surrounding a diamond embedded in the flesh of her back. She was dying when she left the station.
Spoiler: Religion or Arcana 10+
Show
It looks like Trionyx had to go to some unusual lengths to bring her back. Putting the soul beyond resurrection or interrogation is likely another function of the necrotic spell that killed her, but Trionyx has access to dark magics of his own...
Servius, examining each key, you see Quaalith letters hidden in the embellishments -- each key of the 8 keys has a unique letter. The sea chest is brought on deck where it can be examined. The lock is magical, and although the abjuration magic masks anything further it might do, the traces on the keys of conjuration give you a good clue. This is a Chest of Many Faces, a trunk with different interiors depending on the key used.
Spoiler: A
Show
Turning this key in the lock, the chest does not open, but begins to glow with Transfiguration magic. It becomes a mimic and attacks you!
You are strong enough to put it down easily, but it's probably a good deterrent against casual thieves. Once it's defeated, the chest is a 'normal' chest again.
Spoiler: B
Show
Turning this key in the lock, the chest does not open, but begins to glow with Transfiguration magic. You are able to change its appearance; because you do not have any particular appearance in mind, it transforms from a battered old sea-chest into something sleeker and more obviously of illithid design, probably its original shape.
Spoiler: C
Show
When this key is turned in the lock, the trunk shifts into the ethereal plane, leaving only a lock, which weighs about a pound. The lock can be moved around and even stored in a pocket. Turning the key again brings the chest back.
Spoiler: D
Show
This is the first key that actually opens an interior. It contains the curled up body of Eye-of-the-Storm, the lizardman she was posing as. He is wearing two unusual rings, which bear further examination.
-The first is a ring of Gentle Repose which keeps the body intact.
-The second is a ring of Speak with Dead, which allows you to interrogate a freshly-dead corpse.
The logic here seems obvious.
Spoiler: E
Show
This chamber contains the orc's personal effects. Most of them are mundane and uninteresting, such as clean socks.
You see the armor you saw her wearing; it is of a different design but functionally identical to the Serpent Scale Armor sold in Malatra. There are some daggers, which are not obviously magical -- you remember that the spiked chain she dropped in the station wasn't directly magical either, just a channel for her psionic energy.
Finally, there is a holy image of an orc goddess, but it is cracked in two and wrapped in paper at the bottom of the trunk. Siduri identifies it as the Orc Goddess Luthic.
Spoiler: F
Show
In a leather bag, you find several items that radiate powerful divine energy. There is a single grey pearl, etched with an eye and pupil, and several ivory teeth strung in a necklace. You are able to connect these to the divine items tampered with by the flameharrow, and Siduri, an expert in reptilian religions, confirms; these were stolen from Gavia's Jaws. It all fits together with the undead dragon seen there, and the damage reported to temples.
Spoiler: Investigation 10+
Show
It seems clear the undead dragon brought Orodruin to Gavia's Jaws, and while it distracted the locals she despoiled the temples for Trionyx. Then she took ship for Malatra and arrived just ahead of the news. She must have replaced Eye-of-the-Storm then and come aboard in his place.
The pearl is taken from an idol of Gorgo, the medusa goddess.
"The Stheno would be ecstatic to get that back. Or if I kept it... my ability to petrify enemies would be dramatically improved." She hesitates.
"No... I remain pentitent. Give it back to them at the meeting, it will go a long way."
The teeth are from the ceremonial garb of the lizardfolk shamans, and carry powerful energies of rage and hunger. Tegu has no such qualms and grabs these for herself.
Spoiler: G
Show
This chamber is simply full of gold, platinum and gems, no doubt plundered from the hoards of the metallic dragons of Cagway.
Spoiler: H
Show
This chamber seems to be unused.
Re: Privateers of Lssthp II [IC]
Reply With Quote