Deck Of Illusions:
CHES 25th (THE CLAW OF SUNSETS)
01:25 am
Alley and Zarek assess their situation and check for any more foes that might threaten them both. They appear to be safe and so the Rogue ponders the Illusions, while the Bard take her ‘Potion of Greater Healing’, which she had stored in a small leather wine skin and she feels better for it.
Zarek had already been healed by Alley and had taken his ‘Potion of Greater Healing’, which he also had in a leather wine skin, and so he proceeded to check the dead bodies of the Sahuagin and Sahuagin Priestess. The Rogue finds nothing of interest and they may have come directly to the Lower Deck of Illusions and were not scavenging around the Neverluster.
Alley: “I wonder then what were the Sea Spawn doing here, another group searching the sunken ship? I don’t believe in coincidences so that mean that they were aligned with the Sahuagin doing the actual scavenging.” The Bard notes.
Fountain of Illusions:
Zarek remember that the Sahuagin Priestess was particularly interested in the Fountain and so the Rogue swam over to investigate it further.
The central basin is filled with crystal-clear water. The fountain has four spouts, each carved into the likeness of a different Elemental Creature:
However, as Alley stands guarding the rear, Zarek is unable to remember or distinguish the true names of the creatures. Starting from the top right he sees:
1. A Kuo-Toa (WATER)
2. A Lizard of some sort. It is in fact a Salamander (FIRE)
3. A Deep Gnome (EARTH/ROCK)
4. A Spirt of some sort or Undead creature. It is in fact an Invisible Stalker (AIR/WIND)
The Rogue can see that the only one of the spouts currently active was the Kuo-Toa spout that had water pouring from it into the basin. Or was that too more Illusions?
The Rogue attempts to unravel the significance of the creatures, their purpose or their meaning but he had insufficient facts to deal with.
Zarek: “We need to investigate further and find clues as the meaning of these creatures.” The Rogue determines.
Then the Rogue did something impulsive and he stuck his hand directly into the basin and was met with a shocking bolt of cold that felt like it froze his arm and Zarek took damage from the encounter.
As the Tieflings looks u at the Fountains skeletal demonic face and curses it, the Rogues keen eyes spots a symbol carved on the idol’s forehead.
A shape in the form of a drop of liquid with a gap on the left-hand side making the shape incomplete and the line not fully joined up.
Zarek: “What could that be a Clue to sure.”
The Bard checked the Rogue over and was very concern regarding his actions and the danger posed by the Fountain.
As the Arcane Trickster had the Spell ‘Alter Self’ currently running he decided to continue searching.
The Rogue looks at a Coffin and finds no markings or writing upon it, just more Illusions.
Then the Rogue investigates the 2 Mirrors that are on either side and he believes that they must be in some way connect to the Fountain and he endeavours to find their purpose but they do appear to be purely functional. The Rogue does discover that most of the Illusions cover existing items and make them appear to be new and pristine.
The Rogue prepares to search the remaining Lower Deck and signals to Alley to follow him. The Bard does so and they swim Aft one on either side of the Neverluster, Port and Starboard.
Fireplace of Illusions:
They both see that the items on the Neverluster Lower Deck appear in pristine conditions, Illusions, and there meaning or reason for being there was unclear to them both. They find several small tables with items on them including a bowl, Jug and glasses. There is a Fireplace on the Starboard side of the Neverluster midway down.
Mechanical Bird of Illusions:
Then on the opposite side, the Port side, there is a Mechanical Bird which moves, flaps its wings and appears to move its beak and sings, though this cannot be heard underwater.
Zarek: “Is everything on the Neverluster just Illusions?” Zarek ponders to himself.
The pair continue Aft and discover 2 doors, leading to small cabins, and they are both closed and possibly locked. In between them is a small area which contains stairs leading up and at the base of the stairs is a Garden area with rock, grass and flowers.
Zarek: “I wonder where these stairs go? I can remember seeing any above this area leading downward.” The Rogue muses as he looks up to see that the stairs end at a trap door in the Orlop Deck.
Garden of Illusions:
Zarek looks at the Garden, more Illusions, area and is distracted by the stairs and so misses anything of interest that will later be of use.
Zarek: “More Illusions.”
The Rogue then points to the doors and the Bard takes cover behind a carved pillar as the former investigates the doors.
The door on the Port side door has a word upon it in Elvish script, ORDER.
The Rogue feeling this is important swims to the Starboard side door and there too is writing but in Dwarvish this time, FOUR PARTS.
The Rouge returns to the Port side door, checks the door for Traps, not wanting to be caught out again, and attempts to pick the lock. The Rogue is unsuccessful on 2 occasions before he finally manages to do so.
Inside the small cabin the Rogue finds an Office of sorts, with a table and other furnishings. Zarek looks through the items in an attempt to find any reference or clues as to the creature on the Fountain or how to active it.
The Rogue then swims over to the second door and this time is able to open the lock at the first attempt.
Zarek thinks that he may need to practice more with his Lockpicks as he is sure they will be needed through their current adventure.
Zarek: “I always have the ‘Chime of Opening’ as a guaranteed back-up, though it does make a loud sound when used. I must remember that.”
The second room has a table and is filled with books of all kinds. The Sage endeavours to find information but soon realises that it would take days, if not weeks and then he realised that the clues must be in the open on one of the Illusions possibly.
Zarek points back at the fountain and the pair head back, swimming down the Lower Deck. Then as they pass the Mechanical Bird, the Rogue feels compelled to look at it again.
Zarek then attempts to sense Magic in the area by casting ‘Detect Magic’ from the ‘Wand of Magic Detection’ which they had found in the John. Again, most of the items in the Lower Hold emanated Magic and this also included the ships timbers.
Zarek: “Of course, Zelifarn did say there was a Magic enchantment placed upon it.”
Most items have the ‘Illusion’ school of Magic emanating from them and the Rogue thinks that there are a few odd, out of place items that he needs to examine further.
They swim over to the Mechanical Bird and the Rogue takes his time in looking over the item in detail.
The Rogue finds another symbol on the bird formed by coloured feathers on its breast.
A spiral ending in a tail which is a wave and points to the right.
There is also writing, in Elvish script, along the pedestal which the bird is Mechanical Bird upon.
“Sings a song without a voice. I move beneath the sun, but do not cast a shadow.”
Zarek: “Ahh, I think I can see what this all is.” The Rogue says but realises that he needs to communicate with Alley.
Alley and Zarek communicate with the Rogues Spell ‘Message’ and he cancels the ‘Detect Magic’ Spell that he had running.
Zarek shows Alley what he has found and then points over to the Fire Place. Once there, and with the Rogue knowing what to look for this time, he finds a third Symbol and another script in Elvish.
The Symbol is like the Drop of Liquid, found on the Fountain, but it has two peaks or tips, one lower than the other.
The inscription is also in Elvish Scrip and reads:
“Feed me and I will live; give me drink and I will die. I have no legs, but I dance with joy.”
Zarek: “Look Alley, I can conclude that it is a Symbol representing Fire and the other on the Fountain is for Water.”
Alley: “By Tymora Zarek, you are right. Excellent work.”
Zarek: “Then it means that the Symbol on the Mechanical Bird is for Air.”
Alley: “So we are missing the last piece of the Puzzle?”
Zarek: “Correct, to match the Creatures on the Spouts and follow the directions on the doors possibly. We shall see.”
Zarek also comprehends that the animals must also match the Four Elements, Water, Fire Earth and Wind, which will make it easier to know what the animals are.
The Rogue then remembers that the Garden is the final piece and as he looks over the area for a second time, he quickly find both the last symbol and another inscription.
The last Symbol is of two peaks joined by a curl at the base of them both.
“From this you were born, to this you shall return. I can slip through your fingers, yet my weight can crush you.”
They realise that there is a final Elvish Script to locate on the Fountain, which the Rogue finds at the back of the Fountain, and to name the Animals that form the spouts.
The Rogue now is able to correctly identify the creature, with a little help from Alley’s ‘Guidance’ Spell when needed.
The final, or first, inscription is also in Elvish Scrip and reads:
“Alive without breath, runs without legs, as cold as death, ever drinking, but without a thirst.”
Zarek: “Which means the creatures are as follows.”
1. A Kuo-Toa (WATER)
2. A Salamander (FIRE)
3. A Deep Gnome (EARTH/ROCK)
4. An Invisible Stalker (AIR/WIND)
The Rogue then goes back to the fireplace and endeavours to feed the Illusionary fire with wood carved off a piece of furniture. Nothing happens and the Spouts remain the same.
Zarek realises that they are looking at the wrong areas, distracted by all the Illusions, and those were the information and so that meant that the Fountain was what heeded to be manipulated in order to have all the Spouts activate. Alley and Zarek swim back to the Fountain in a bid to reveal its secrets behind the Illusions.
The Rogue and Bard look at the Spouts once again, now with the knowledge that they need to be activated in order to uncover its secret.
Alley: “The Water Spout, the Kuo-Toa, is already activated that is a clue.”
Zarek looks at the closest spout of the Deep Gnome, and can see that it is holding a tray of some sort and when touched it flips down, as if to empty its contents into the Basin. The Rogue has an idea and swims back to the Garden to retrieve some gravel which he then places on the tray.
The gravel trips the tray and it falls into the Basin but nothing happens.
Zarek: “Balance and Four Parts.” The Rogue says out loud.
Then all of a sudden Alley is violently attacked by an invisible assailant, no more Illusions.
Zarek: “How is that possible, Alley can see Magically Invisible creatures? It must be transparent.”
As ever, young Zarek is the first to react and manages to strike the liquid construct, which appears to diminish its size.
Alley is held and crushed by a creature resembling a Dragon and which is formed from the very water that was held within the Basin. The Bard cries out as she is damaged by the creature not being able to attempt to decern what it in fact was.
The Rogue is fortunate that Alley is constricted as this allowed the Rogue to use his Sneak Attack Skill and to be able to see the Water Weird and once again possibly saves the life of his companion Alley.
The Water Weird releases the Bard and immediately disappears from sight, possibly to recover in its healing waters.
The Rogue and Bard take a breath and put their Sages hat on to see through the Illusions and put together the clues found.
They realise that the Spouts needed to be activated in unison and in order of their positions
A Kuo-Toa (WATER) and the Deep Gnome (EARTH/ROCK)
Then the second pair of:
A Salamander (FIRE) and the Invisible Stalker (AIR/WIND)
Then it was relatively easy to see that Water, which was provided by the salty sea, had activated the Kuo-Toa Spout.
Then it just became a question of how to produce the Air, Fire and Earth to active the remaining Spouts.
Alley could cast Prestidigitation, which allowed her to create a Magical Gust of Wind and Zarek had the Alchemist Fire that would be use to active the Salamander Spout. They did however, need to provide Air to allow the Fire to burn and rest the Water Spout and activate it in conjunction with the Earth Spout and the Rogue cleverly remembers the air pocket in the dining area.
Zarek swam off to restive the Air, using a Jug found on one of the small tables and with this in hand the Rogue and Bard were able to active the Spouts and that in turn revealed a hidden item with the Basin.
A medium sized leather pouch, the size of a pack of cards, which had a flip top attached by a cord.
Zarek open the pouch and inside he found Cards.
Alley: “Don’t touch them they could be the most power of the Magical Items on Faerûn.”
Zarek: “I think not Alley, remember where we are, Illusions may be a clue.”
Alley and Zarek laugh, more from relief than from a sense of accomplishment.
The Rogue and Bard decide to move off and head to the Sea Maidens fair and they discuss the possible ways of doing so.
- Use the ‘Animal Friendship’ Potion to persuade the Aquatic Lizard to take them.
- Attempt to recover the Rowboat and head off that way.
- Swim directly there as they still had their ‘Water Breathing’ Spell working.
They decide to leave the door to the Aquatic Lizard’s Cell open and swim there. However, before they left Zarek remembered that he still had the water damaged letter found with the Gold Bar to repair.
They both swim to the Neverluster’s Dining room, which had the air pocket, and there the Rogue would cast his ‘Mending’ Spell in order to read the damage parchment.
Once cast, the Rogue can read the following.
The Gold in hidden and locked under the Captains Bed and I hope this sample is proof enough for you.
The pair swim of to the Captain’s Cabin, check for traps and unlock the chest to find another 6 Bars of Gold.
Alley: “I think it is time we head off, a job well done.”
Zarek: “Indeed and we have the scars to prove it.”
The two Heroes then swim off towards the Eyecatcher having left the Illusions behind them in the deep of Waterdeep Harbour.
Zarek may not have realised but Alley noticed that once they had reached the area where the Eyecatcher was anchored, there was a lot less Sharks or any other large predators. Zelifarn may be about keeping a low profile so as not to alert the crew of the Eyecatcher.
Alley and Zarek submerge under the water and approach the Eyecatcher. From a distance they could perceive that the ship was exactly the same design as that of the Hellraiser and Heartbreaker. The Sailors onboard appeared as Humans and so that meant that the Eyecatcher also had the Illusions cast upon them.
The Eyecatcher was also more on alert, because of the presence of Captain Zardoz Zord and there were no Carnies or Animal Handlers.
Good news as when the Sea Maidens Fair leaves for the parade to Shipwrights’ House on Ches 25th, today effetely, and there set up local attractions for the evening as part of the Shipwrights’ Ball, it would mean fewer Crew and less alertness aboard. A Win, Win situation along with their knowledge of the Eyecatchers layout.
However, what was more immediate was the large Red Submersible that was appearing in front of their eyes as they approached the Eyecatcher. The Scarlet Marpenoth as they saw in the High House of Wonders.
The Scarlet Marpenoth is constructed from metal and there appears to be no obvious way into the Red Submersible.
Alley make the sign to Zarek to cast his ‘Message’ Spell and the Rogue obliged the Bard.
Alley: “I will stay near the surface but under the water and I will cast ‘Invisibility’ on you. This should allow you to sneak about and discover all that we may need to discover.”
Zarek: “I will thank you now and hope that Tymora blesses me with good fortune.
The Bard casts her Spell and also drop a coin into the depths of the Sea for good Fortune.
Zarek swims to the Scarlet Marpenoth’s Starboard side to investigate the Red Submersible. The shadow cast by the Eyecatcher and the heavy silt makes it hard for the Rogue to distinguish anything important, except for that is find the front of the Scarlet Marpenoth has a window or screen made from some hard metal material that is completely transparent. This would allow those manoeuvring the vessel to see where they are going.
The Rogue then decides to swim over to the Port side of the Red Submersible, there hoping to have a better view of its workings and internal layout.
The Port side was clearer and the Rogue was able to view inside the vessel.
The front section of the Scarlet Marpenoth had two levels and both were in complete darkness making it hard for some to see inside, but not for the young Tiefling.
This area is full of what looks like controls and levers.
The control room has two levels: an observation deck and a command center, with two ladders running between levels. Two large circular soundproof windows are embedded in the port and starboard bulkheads. The window panes are made of a resilient metal magically rendered transparent.
2 Gnomes are seated in the chairs here.
The Observation Deck and it is an elevated, 10’ foot-high metal platform with a grilled floor, supported by two metal columns. Two padded swivel chairs are bolted to the deck, which is enclosed by a thin steel railing. The height of each chair can be adjusted to accommodate a small or medium creature. Between the two chairs is a bronze periscope that can be raised or lowered whenever the submarine is detached from the Eyecatcher.
The Command Center is below the Observation Deck and here the Rogue spots One Gnome is on duty here and 2 Drow Warriors, wearing Armour, with a Shortswords and Hand Crossbows at their hips. The Drow Warriors guard the control room and the Gnomes must be tasked with running and maintaining the Scarlet Marpenoth.
The swivel chairs, which is bolted to the floor and can be lowered or raised to accommodate a small or medium creature. The chairs are situated before a panel of dials, levers, and buttons. Along the back wall, monitoring gauges show the Scarlet Marpenoth’s information.
A copper speaking tube enables them to communicate with other parts of the Scarlet Marpenoth, Zarek thinks.
The Rogue thinks that this may be a way in to both recover the special ‘Crystal Ball’ belonging to Zelifarn’s mother, Asphosis, and gain access to the Eyecatcher and Captain Zardoz Zord’s Cabin. There, they need to find out who owns, if sold, the Nimblewright that killed Iomhar; or if that Nimblewright is on the Eyecatcher under the command of Captain Zardoz Zord.
Then again there is also this Jarlaxle Baenre who has been talked about. What is his part in all this?
Alley and Zarek then decide to swim off back to the Sea Maidens Fair and wrap the evening up, before grabbing some well-earned rest before:
- Their visit to the Cassalanter Villa to meet Ammalia & Victoro Cassalanter
- Request update from Vincent Trench, the human detective, regarding Urstul Floxin
- Contact Renaer Neverember and find out Dalakhar’s last known place of residence
- Possibly watching the parade to Shipwrights’ House
- Carry out the Heist on the Eyecatcher & Scarlet Marpenoth
The Rogue knowing that he first needed to report his mission outcome to Vajra Safahr.
As they reach the surface, they realise that the Harbour is covered by a thick fog. The Rogue and Bard swim back to the dock by the Sea Maidens Fair and find a discreet roof to hide and spy upon the two ships.
Then unexpectedly:
“A thick fog unexpectedly rises along the water, engulfing vessels and docks alike. As the gray miasma thickens, the creaking sound of shifting ships becomes increasingly haunting. Suddenly, you spot three shadows gliding through the gloom like Elves slipping through a forest. Where they came from and where they’re going, you don’t know.”