Voyage of the Unsinkable II, Interview with Tabasco

                      Aias Interviews Tobasco, The Mummy lord

From the DoubleCross campaign.

Played by email.

The deafening roar from the fireball’s explosion has subsided, leaving a very annoying high-pitched whine.

Aias glanced around the top of the Ziggurat checking his crew. Alas, the manwitch Artemis still lived, his purple suit in tatters, the odd purple stovepipe hat smoking, his face blacked with soot and ash from the magical trap. But he was still very much alive. Susquehanna and Garrick were pointing at him and laughing, the red one, Cole looked positively healthy despite the considerable fireball that had just exploded around them as they had tried to open the stone doors to the inner chambers of the Ziggurat. 

Another of Gruel's traps thought Aias, that dammed Necromancer laid more traps out than Aias had unpaid tavern bills.  

The massive stone doors that barred the entrance to the Ziggurat were now smoking rubble; the fireball had destroyed them. Beyond the wreckage lay a tunnel descending into the Ziggurat. Aias thought it looked it looked like a gaping maw of broken, smoking teeth. 

As Aias and the crew gathered around the entrance atop the Ziggurat, the rotting corpse of the giant serpent they had fought minutes ago slid into the flooded lake surrounding the Ziggurat with a loud plop. 

Roger, the cabin boy, stepped forward into the tunnel, holding a storm lantern out in front of him illuminating the forward path. Turning to face Aias, the boy was the picture a grim determination.

“Good lad” Said Aias softly, as he patted the boy on the shoulder, urging him into the tunnel, he was a brave lad.

“Forward” roared Aias, his voice full of authority. Birds disturbed by the roar took flight from jungle canopy.

With Roger beside him, Aias strode through the rubble into the tunnel. The crew at his back followed.

DM: Aias, you are in the Ziggurat entrance chamber, the dusty tunnel slopes downward descending gently towards the center of the Ziggurat.

The 10’ wide, 10’ high tunnel looks man-made, dusty stone blocks in the fashion of the old ones who ruled the coast and islands millennia ago. (History the ancient race known as the Azuropoli or old ones are famous for demon worship and death cults).

The light from Rogers lantern pierces the smoke and dust. The tunnel looks empty.

After 40 feet the tunnel opens out into a chamber, with stairs descending clockwise around the walls. Roger leans over the edge and gasps, the orange light of the lantern illuminates a seemingly endless stair winding down a dark shaft.

What do you do...?

Aias

(Aias actions in bold font from here in)

cast light on an apple and tosses it down the stairs. 

The ‘light-apple’ bounces down the stairs, its radiance illumining a dusty stone staircase running down with the walls of the shaft on its left. The shaft is square, each flight of stairs roughly 20’ long and 10’ wide. 

The apple stops bouncing down on the flight of stairs turning to the right.

The staircase

As you take a step down onto the staircase, the flagstones groan under your weight, Roger looks back at you baring his teeth, his eyebrows seem to attempt to flee from his forehead. Dust billows from the stairs into the shaft.

Garrick shrieks, his high-pitched wail is very unmanly. You turn, Garrick is rocking back from the lip of the of the staircase on his heels. Susquehanna’s hand tight on Garrick's sword belt.

“You are a fucking cock Susquehanna.” Garrick says to the barbarian who’s laughing so hard he almost falls into the shaft himself.

The climb down is nerve-wracking but uneventful.

At the bottom of the stone staircase, a dusty stone chamber with a sandy floor has a single exit, a 10’ x 10’ tunnel in the opposite wall (sloping down).

Several ancient looking urns are stacked haphazardly against the walls, and several have been knocked over.

(investigate – black sand can be seen around the rim of the toppled earns and across much of the floor).

Using thaumaturgy Aias booms down the tunnel : 'Warm greetings great Seer Tabasco. I Aias tempest  humble servant almighty Zeus all father seek audience with you ' 

Aias rolls the apple ahead of him and strides down the slope, holding shield, but no weapon.

…

As you cross the room Susquehanna cries out behind you; you turn to see him sinking into the floor, up to his calves, Garrick rushes to pull him out but is himself trapped in what appears to be sinking sand. Several of the upright urns topple over, and black sand pours from them out onto the floor, far more sand than could possibly be contained in the urns.

Garrick and Susquehanna are trapped.

Artemis skips over the floor of the chamber being careful not to step in the ‘puddles of sand’ and beckons you.  

“Come on; it’s this way.”

He says, smirking at the trapped pirates.

Aias hands Roger a rope, hammer & iron spike, instruct him to stay here, secure the spike tie one end of the rope to it and toss the other end to the trapped pirates, then stride after Artemis

…

As you move into the tunnel the ‘Lite Apple’ shakes on the floor of the tunnel, it seems to be covered for a moment, shrinks then collapses, or rather melts into lots of little pieces of light then disappears.  

A foul smell assaults your senses. The swaying of the lantern, stench and the generally claustrophobic atmosphere of the tomb makes you feel nauseous. 

A wave of dizziness overwhelms you; it seems like the walls are moving.  

“Tap”

Something fell on to your helmet.

Small beetles scuttle down the front of your mail.

“Clank”

Something the size of your fist bounced off your shield.

You look down.

“Crunch”

Your sandals splatter several cockroaches underfoot. A beetle, the size of your foot scuttles off into the now moving, living floor.

…

Cast light on shield. Start running after Artemis

…

The tunnel descends in a gentle gradient.

Huffing and puffing, your mighty thighs pump away, crushing nameless insects beneath you.

Artemis is nowhere to be seen.

Behind you Cole shouts something incomprehensible and blasts away with his gun, the echo of the shot bounces down the tunnel from wall to wall. The insect tunnel bursts into manic activity, scuttling bugs, crawling cockroaches, creeping centipedes and worms wriggle on the walls, floor and drop from above. Just then an eerie pale white light starts growing in the ceiling, your gaze adjusts, and it’s no light at all but the reflection of the lantern on sickly flesh, the masses of insect’s part revealing a gigantic luminous slug the size of a cow above Cole. In a horrifying moment it drops from the writhing mass on the ceiling right on top of him, enveloping him.

The giant white slug has completely smothered Cole, only one of his eyes and his nostrils are free, that eye stares back at you in horror as the nostrils flare, sucking in fetid air.  The slug secretes a waxy slime.

“Is it safe now?”

You can’t see Artemis, but that is undoubtedly his voice. He steps daintily into the tunnel from behind you completely unruffled, well apart from the torn purple suit, charred hat and powder burns from the fireball that is.

…

Aias prays to Zeus for true sight and disbelieves what he is seeing with his eyes as Artemis' illusions. 

Aias then mutters 'all powerful Lord Zeus, Lord of all, protect this your humble servant from good & evil.  It lasts 10minutes, continue with resolve down tunnel.

Thaumaturgy again booming out 'Seer Tabasco, we mean you no harm, just information on the fiend gruel the necromancer & how to defeat him'

Artemis and Roger wait for you to cast your spell.  All the while the insects infesting the tunnel skitter and slither over your open sandals.

Artemis wriggles and writhes.

“Oh its fallen down my pants” he screams and prances off, down the tunnel.

Charge down the tunnel shield raised in front but peering over the top, not running blind

The tunnel ends in a large set of polished bronze doors; the reflected light from your shield creates an orange glow at this end of the tunnel.

Artemis is admiring himself in the light bathed reflections of the doors; he seems delighted with the results. 

You hear him muttering.

"You, handsome devil you.”

He says, stroking his forked beard and cocking a brow.

Yes, your still very pretty,

Aias knocks on the door, muttering how manners maketh the man, & that it always pays to be courteous, waits for a moment, then pushes the doors open & enters.

The Bronze Doors open out into a vast stone chasm of a chamber, the cavern is lit by what seems to be starlight.

Artemis does not follow you.  Roger tugs at Artemis ragged trousers, but he doesn’t notice in fact he seems utterly infatuated with his own reflection and is rooted to the spot.

…

Best stay here boy, look after this rake here, make sure he doesn't hurt his self.

Aias walks into the room, greetings Tabasco, great Seer of renown

The giant roof is lit by an imperceptibly complex network of tiny bright white lights that glow with heavenly glory. If you were not, underground in a magically trapped tomb filled with gigantic insects surrounded by zombies, you might almost have your breath taken away. It is just then that you realise the lights above is a replica of the stars of the night sky, down to this very season.

Gigantic steps matching each other is size, the inverse of the Ziggurat above, more than the height of a man lead down to the floor on which lies a single stone sarcophagus at the bottom of and in the centre of the chamber.

The awe-inspiring dimensions and artistic perfection of the scene almost, almost prevent you from the realisation that the room is seething, moving, creeping with millions of the giant insects you encountered in the tunnel earlier.

…

Aias gives a low appreciative whistle, 'great Lord Zeus master of all the heavens, grant me the wisdom, strength courage and resolve to fulfill this task.'

Aias moves towards the sarcophagus, 'apologies for disturbing your peace Tabasco' .

Aias gently taps the sarcophagus and steps back head bowed

…

The Zeus Star shines brightly in the constellations above.

The crawling mass off insects infesting the tomb creates a tide of creeping biting stinging death. 

You must think of a way to part them, in order to proceed.

Great tempest sky master, all seeing father bestow upon your humble servant mastery of the air (Aias casts gust of wind, sweeping 60ft long by 10ft wide blast clearing path)

DM - how long does your Gust of Wind last Aias?

 A great wind (larger than you have ever summoned) sweeps pathway clear for you through the critters.  A waterfall of insect’s cascades down on the levels below.

Girding your lions, you stomp forward, clambering down the giant steps to the bottom level.

Despite the disconcerting immense volume of slimy, skittery, creepy crawlies cascading down the giant steps around you, you swell with confidence.

Is it your imagination or is the Zeus star and its constellation burning brighter in the vault above you?

After a few lung bursting moments clambering down the steps, guiding you spell you finally reach the bottom level.

The gale has parts the insect tide.  The bugs are so many, they deeper here at the bottom, each side of your path is several feet high, the sheer amount of them would be overwhelming without your faith and the power of Zeus.  You are certain none of the other crew would have survived this trial.

Ahead of you, your goal.

A large sarcophagus built from transparent eerie green crystal lies at the center of the room. 

Inside you make out a humanoid mummified body.

Across the lid of the sarcophagus lies a thick chain of strange black metal.

Something tugs at the skirt of your shiny mail, you almost jump out of it.  Sweat beads down your forehead, you turn.

Roger is right behind you, the plucky cabin boy followed you through that carpet of creeping death. 

He looks at you and gulps.

"This is it Captain Aias." 

Spell lasts for 1 minute

By the gods boy, what did I tell ye, you'll be the death of me boy

Well now ya here, what you make of this black chain,  are there any arcane runes visible, inspect the chain

Under false starlight, deep in the bowls of Tabasco's Ziggurat and surrounded by a plague of insect creeping death.  Roger edges toward the eerie green Sarcophagus.

His dirty bare feet almost as black as the flagstones of the floor.  All the time the chittering, scratching sound of millions of ants, beetles, cockroaches, centipedes, and Zeus knows what else thrum around you.

"I..I..can see thin red sigils on the black chain captain."

Says Roger, raising his voice to shout above the crawling cacophony. 

Roger, just a few feet from the translucent green sarcophagus, stops mid-step, paralyzed.

You gasp.

Roger does not move.  He seems paralyzed.

The chittering, scratching, insect horde closes around you.  The breath of Zeus is almost gone.

What do you do...

…

Cast dispel magic on the chain

…

The simple chain of thick black metal that is stretched over the sarcophagus snaps.

 Time stands still.

 Cold sweat runs down your back.

It is getting darker…

The starlight fades, one constellation after another. Leaving you in darkness.

Utter darkness.

 Then shaking, no rumbling, shaking and rumbling.

Skittering and shrieking noises come from what you presume to be the insects. Things are crawling over you in the darkness, Roger screams, he’s holding your hand, arm, you think its Roger.

The shrieking grows, into a howl, wind buffets your face, you feel it pushing against you, far stronger than your magic, stronger than gale force wind.

And all of sudden it stops.

It’s still dark, pitch black in fact.

A grating sound heavy stone on heavy stone, Roger whimpers … or was that you?

Aias cantrips light on his shield

…

The faintest light, from high in the void, from deep in the darkness shines out.

The Zeus Star! Its dim light like the warmest sun.  Your shield, your holy symbol, your savior glows with light from the lightening god.  Crackling blue light brings you out of the darkness. 

Roger gasps.

One by one the constellations return to the fantastic night sky scene of the upper chamber, and the radiant light illuminates the room. Of the creepy crawly, skittery, slithery plague there is no sight. The starlit tomb has been swept clean of the crawling corruption.

“Thank you so much for dropping in.” 

The voice; a pleasant baritone comes from behind you. In the darkness, you must have turned away from the sarcophagus.

It probably was Aias whimpering, to cover it he makes an excuse for his stomach and something about missing second breakfast, Aias pull Roger behind him, So that Aias is between the sarcophagus and Roger, and starts eating an apple

Rogers eyes are so wide you think they might actually pop out as you push him behind your considerable flanks.

You turn and your skin crawls, you are overwhelmed by the urge to run.

Sitting one leg casually crossed over the other, on the lip of the now open sarcophagus is Tabasco.  Tabasco, Seer, Reader of the Dead and now he is only five feet in front of you very obviously a mummy lord.

My dear boy, it must have been simply awful for you, climbing down through that muck, those dirty insects…”

Roger beside you is frozen to the spot; his eyes bulge from the sockets, tears streaming down his face, shaking he seems paralysed unable to move.

“Oh, I am sorry, young man” sighs Tabasco.

“It’s my evil aura” he tilts his head raising his palms upwards shrugging his shoulders.

“What can you do?”

Aias turn & bows, 'Greetings great Seer of renown, Lord Tabasco please forgive our unannounced intrusion, trespass and disturbance of your restful solitude, but our need is great, & your legendary foresight unsurpassed, we humbly seek your counsel on the foul wretch of the Necromancer known as Gruel'

“Ah…Gruel”

Says the mummy, Tabasco.   If it possible for a mummy to frown, he appears to be doing it.  One of the bandages on his leg unravels spilling onto the floor and unfurling along the floor toward you. 

The air thins, Roger shudders then is sick, vomiting black fluid on your sandals.  You gasp, the apple in your hand is rotting, decayed, your hand is full of white meal worm. You have a splitting headache, the veins on your arms stand out, it feels like your heart is going to burst.

“Yes, Gruel” The voice is no longer the pleasant convincing baritone but now broken glass burrowing into your ears.

“Tell me about you and Gruel”

…

Aias recalls the story from the beginning, landing near Double Cross with Garrick, the plague of the stirges, the following investigation, ruining Gruel's plans at the old Orphanage and the encounters with his agents; the Slayers and Edwin the halfling assassin.  The ensuing voyage to find Tabasco, the cliffs, the giant zombie boa constrictor and the fireball trap at the entrance to Tabasco’s Ziggurat, right up to present position.

“I see” Tabasco says in a smooth baritone.  

The pressure on your throat and the pain in your ears subsides. 

“So, it would seem, we have a common enemy”

“And the enemy of my enemy is friend, well I am sure you have read the book…”

“My book, Gruel, Gruel you are a sniveling worm” Tabasco drops his feet to the floor and walks toward you.

The pressure on your throat returns, it feels like the very molecules of the air are vibrating in a way that is painful to you as the Dread Mummy Lord approaches you.  He is very tall and can can look you straight in the eye, that is if he had eyes.  Where his eyes should be are viscous red lights boring through your eyes into your skull. 

“Yes, I know Gruel the Necromancer” purrs the undead.

“He was the one who trapped me here, in my own house!”

Did the floor just shake?

“What’s the matter dear boy, cat got your tongue?”

He shakes your shoulder gently.  Tabasco’s strength is awesome, and his touch is ice

“Gruel and I were partners.” He says, charming and warm again

“We planned to use one of the Gates of Power, he would rule the inland sea and I would rule what you now call The Blight.  But he tricked me burying, me here for all eternity.”

“Until you came along”

“Dear boy would you like a cup of tea?”

…

That Gruel is a discourteous little shit and no mistake, by the Gods his time is running out, and hopefully with your help his hiding places too.

As the instrument in breaking your shackles, I trust that this action will find you favorable in working together to the destruction of Gruel & his minions; & the annulation of his empire.

Whatever information you can provide on his operations, minions, and personal weaknesses would be greatly appreciated. 

Even better would be any magical assistance or weapon even that strips him of his powers. 

Should we be successful in Gruels downfall would you be willing to reward his deliverance, should you wish his body, I can't promise he'd be alive, but I am sure for a Lord of your power, life or death is irrelevant to you being able to prolong his suffering until your vengeance is quenched. 

I am myself working towards a treasure horde enough for a fast frigate.

“So, is that a no to Tea?”

I will take tea with you

(Aias will purify food & drink prior to it passing his lips)

“Excellent” Says Tabasco, leading you by the shoulder to a portion of the lower wall.

“Open the door Bones” He says, addressing what seems to be bare stone to you.

A hidden doorway swings open into an antechamber that is lit with oil lamps in the ancient fashion.

Stepping through the door you emerge into a large room with a low ceiling room.  In the center a brass table and three chairs, on the table a fine china tea set with two china cups.  Standing at attention in the chamber a skeleton with a brass ornamental breastplate and matching headdress nods as you enter.

Around the room, other similarly ‘dressed’ skeletons, sweep, polish and clean.

“Please, sit” says Tabasco.

“Try the tea, it’s from Khitai”.

He says.

A skeleton enters the room carrying the fear frozen Roger.  It sets Roger down on one of the seats at the table.

Tabasco sashays past the table towards a long bronze reflecting glass.  He studies his reflection for several moments.

“No, no, no, this just won’t do.” He says.

“Bones, fetch me a dressing gown and some fresh bandages would you please?”

“Please excuse me, dear boy, I look positively ghastly” he says as he elegantly sits in one of the chairs cocking one leg over the other and pouring tea”

“One lump or two?” Tabasco says congenially.  He looks you up and down, slipping several more sugar lumps into your cup.

“I do envy you, Aias.” he says.  I haven’t had anything to eat for over a thousand years and I must admit, I miss it.

“Now, you were saying, about revenge?”

“Ah yes, revenge, best served cold and all that.

How can we best assist one another in dealing with the Gruel question”?

“First, let me tell you what I know of the Necromancer.”

Says Tabasco.

“Gruel’s childhood was an unhappy one, an orphan.  He was sold for sacrifice to a Merrow tribe in the Shallows, but they saw into his dark heart and were impressed, thinking him a gift from that idiotic demon god of theirs Demogorgon and raised him, using him and his friend Edwin as their land servants.  The boys would spy out villages and ships for the Merrow to raid.

From this time, he swore revenge on Double-Cross, as it was the towns own orphan master who had sold him to the Merrow.

Over time he grew in power, and connections. 

To where we see him today. A powerful necromancer with many alliances.  The Merrow are his family, the Goblins of the Sina Warrens pay him tribute, he invests heavily in the infamous Slayer guild and being a necromancer, he has a not so small army of undead to hand.  Oh, did I mention he is a favorite of the Demogorgon and I hear he has been courting Orcus too.

Of his plans, I know some, I can tell you he seeks the Gate of Power, the Gate that opens a portal to the Shadowfell.  Once it was a marvel of my people, a sacred oracle that pilgrims traveled from far to wonder at.  However, following the cataclysm that befell my people, the temple that house the gate sank into the sea and now it lies somewhere on the ocean floor, in the ruins of the temple it was housed in. 

Gruel and I worked together through the ancient scripts, books, and scrolls for months to find an idea of its location and when we found it, well that is when the villain double crossed me and trapped me here.

I can also tell you he seeks the destruction of Double Cross.  Perhaps his plotting for the colony’s downfall put him on this path.

And I can tell you that he seeks to carve his own realm in the region harnessing the power from the Shadowfell to make him ruler in these lands.

He has ambition, we must give him that!

…

What are the Merrow?

…

Perversions of the Merfolk, worshipers of the Demogorgon.

…

So, we need to weaken his position, destroying his allies:

The goblins of Sina Warrens, I am sure we can deal with.

I am concerned about dealing with Slayers guild as more information required, numbers and location in particular.

The Merrow, also pose a problem, as I presume their stronghold is below the waves and not above them, I don't see how we can infiltrate and destroy them.

Do you have any influence with either the slayers or merrows? Can you leave this place, or are you tied to the inside of this structure?

…

“I have to disagree, the Goblins of the Warrens were a significant threat when I was alive and they breed like no other, the warrens must be teaming with them.  We bribed them or encouraged them to choose weaker targets.”

“The Slayers Guild I know little off, a minor entry in the annuls of history to my thinking.”

“The Merrow inhabit an Island in The Shallows, Black Sand I believe it is called.  It is not far from Double Cross, the Merrow have history with the Colony.”

“As or me, I am free to travel should I wish to, but I will not leave my Ziggurat whilst that jumped up Zombie Samedi runs the town below.  If I were to leave, there is no knowing what he would do to my beloved palace.”

“Ah your friends have arrived.”

Tabasco folds one leg elegantly over the other and gestures across the chamber.

A group of skeletons appear though another door way carrying four large carpets.

“I had them wrapped for you to take away, thought it might be easier on their sanity, you know?”

“Not everyone has the stomach for this business”

Tabasco laughs gaily

…

Where do you recommend, we strike first then- Black Sand?

How large is their colony?

Are there significant numbers of magic users or are they in awe of Gruel as he is the only one?

...

“Oh dear” “I think I may have overestimated you.”

Tabasco’s disappointment is evident.  He sighs, standing he admires himself in the mirror.  Clean robe and bandages. 

“Can you breathe underwater? “

“It’s a rhetorical question”.

He’s says dryly.

“If I were you and thank the underworld I am not, and I were of a mind to take on a powerful necromancer with powerful friends.”

“I would gather knowledge of his plans and weaknesses, and weapons that would allow me to harm him and his creatures. Do you have any magic blades?”

“I would make alliances that would threaten him, and I would aim to break the weaker alliances he has made.”

“I would harry his plans to find The Shadowfell Gate.  Once he’s found that it is over for us all.”

“You will also need to find him.  His lair is a contraption that he moves around the sea bed, it never stays in one place for long and is powered by elemental magic. Your friend the redhead knows this, he’s has been on it.  Did he not mention it to you?”

As I spoke earlier these are precisely the reasons we sought your guidance to ascertain his plans & weakness. To discover his alliances.

We very may not be as clever as you wish, but we are dogged and annoyingly persistent.

I don't think you will be disappointed with our results and working together we are your best shot at recovering your book, the book gruel stole from you.

And also, I alluded to earlier, we do need magical assistance in regards to weapons or items to assist in defeating gruel & his associates. and maybe some magical talisman that could help us locate/track his movements.

"Well, dear boy" the baritone is thick honey in your ears.

"I do like your style, dogged and annoyingly persistent it is"

The mummy fixes you with that blood-curdling glare again, before examining his non-existing fingernails.  He counts off a list of suggestions one finger at a time.

"One, equip yourselves, look to the Tomb of the smith Druggedin for weapons, his work is of the highest quality.  You would also be wise to build up your capability to work at and beneath the sea.  To that point my people the ancient Azuropoli were masters of the waves, learn our history and seek out other ruins and salvage what you can from them."

"Two, build your alliances.  You were wise to seek me out and brave to find me.  I will guide you toward our mutual objective. You are already allied to a powerful wizard in the mage of Double-Cross, his old adventuring partners Brown Eye and The Yar-Gnoll would provide useful support, and there are other ... powers in the region ."

"Three, increase the knowledge of your enemy.  Mayor Savage, The Yar Gnoll, and the Ranger Brown-Eye put flame to the Merrow some years ago, so ask them for advice. 

"Four, until you have the strength to take on Gruel on head-on, continue to harry his plans and thwart his schemes, become such a nuisance that he becomes distracted from his goal"

"And five, locate his lair.  Your red friend has been there after all."

"Here, take this"

Tabasco hands you an ivory scroll case with papyrus inside.

"Your friend the Warlock, will be able to read it.  It is a spell of scrying that will help you locate Gruel or his lair.  But it will only work once and to ensure it has the best chance of working learn as much as you possibly can to give you the best chance of it working."

…Thank you Lord Tabasco

Would you have any charts or maps where we can find the Tomb of the Dwarven Smith Druggedin or of the Azuropoli terroritory; I must confess my knowledge is left wanting also on your peoples history.

Do you have any tomes I might peruse prior to our departure?

“Well then dear Aias, a history lesson you shall have.  From one who was there no less.”

Tabasco is absolutely purring now; your flattery and grovelling are working wonders.

History of The Azuropoli, The Blight & The Shallows

“In ancient times the land and sea here was ruled over by a race of skilled builders and brave sailors.  We called ourselves the Azuropoli, or people of the Azure Sea, what you now call the Sea of Gearnat. Our cities could be found on the Ashanti in the south and the Drachenscrab and across the eastern archipelago now known as the Islands of the Brethren”.

“For centuries we prospered.  Our people knew no disease nor hunger. We built schools and hospitals. We practiced philosophy, medicine, law, theology, art, and magic.  Our temples and cities dominated, our people enjoyed great games and theater, our ships ranged far and wide, we were the center of trade, merchants came from all points of the compass to trade in our free cities and enjoy our wealth”. 

“But in time we grew decadent.  Cults of demon and devil worship grew, paralleling and indeed in some cases influencing political ambitions across our federation of city states.  As the factions grew, so did the powers of the priests and wizards”.  

“Ultimately civil war destroyed us as the differing factions fell upon each other.  Entire cities sank beneath the waves, much of our knowledge lost”. 

“Little is left of our legacy now. Ruined cities beneath the waves or hidden in cursed realms like The Shallows and the fog shrouded sea your folk call The Blight you sailed through to find me. Even Sudderham is now lost to the subhumans.  Only Zol Cavar remains, bastard city of the Azuropoli, its wizards, sorcerers, and mechromancers jealously guard some of our knowledge”. 

“A few of us remain, like I, Tabasco.  Clinging to rocks in the sea like old memories, cursed for eternity.  If you look hard enough in the dark places you will find us”.

“If I truly ruled this Island Golgoleth you would enjoy my great library, but alas it is in the remains of the city where Baron Samedi and his zombie horde fester, fester on my very door step.  I would not venture there myself, and neither should you if you value your life”.

“As for Drugedinns lost forge, all you need do is climb to the top of this very Ziggurat and look North West through the Harpies Teets and you should see Stone Tooth Island biting the sky at the horizon.  Druggedin built his Forge in the mountain itself.  But beware, the Stone Tooth is now infested with orcs and worse…”

Thank you then Lord Tabasco for your hospitality, advise and sharing of your knowledge with us, especially with our poor manners of disturbing you without first invitation or forewarning.

With your permission I shall depart with my shipmates and we shall begin the task at hand.

Come along Roger, show some manners thank his lordship.

Gruels strengths

Merrow tribe that raised him

Goblin mercenaries & assassins from the Sina Warrens

The Slayer Brotherhood

Support of several Demons

Gruels weaknesses

The Demons grasping for power, Dagon and Demogorgon and Orcus all have designs on the region. They seek ownership of the known Gates to the plane of Shadowfell and the plane of Water. Harnessing and using the power of one Gate alone would be incredible.  If you could turn them against each other the loose alliance in place would be broken and Gruel could be turned on by one or more jealous demon prince.